448 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from clinical specimens of patients from the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, were phage-typed. These included 35 strains causing two separate outbreaks of infection, one in surgical Ward 6B and another in the Special Care Nursery (SCN). Antibiograms of these outbreak strains in Ward 6B and SCN were entirely different. Phage-typing revealed that 72% of the MRSA isolates were typable. They were typed entirely by Group III phages, the majority (76%) of which were phage type 85. There was only one isolate in SCN which was typed by Group I (phage 80) and Group III phages. None were typed by phages 94, 95, 96 and Group II phages. 14.6% of the typable isolates gave the long pattern reaction of the phage 6/47/54/75/77/83A/84/85 complex. The majority of the outbreak strains in Ward 6B were of phage type 85, whereas those in the SCN were all of the 6/47/54/75/77/83A/84 phage pattern with the exception of one isolate which was also typed by phage 80, a Group I phage.
Bacteriophages ; Group I ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Patients' Rooms ; Methicillin

We have discovered copy number variations (CNVs) in 3,578 Korean individuals with the Affymetrix Genome-Wide SNP array 5.0, and 4,003 copy number variation regions (CNVRs) were defined in a previous study. To explore the details of the variants easily in related studies, we built a database, cataloging the CNVs and related information. This system helps researchers browsing these variants with gene and structure variant annotations. Users can easily find specific regions with search options and verify them from system-integrated genome browsers with annotations.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cataloging ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Genome ; Humans

BACKGROUND: CETP(Cholesteryl ester transfer Protein) is the essential protein for 'reverse cholesterol transport' which transfers cholesteryl ester from HDL particles to other lipoproteins. The subjects with CETP deficiency caused by genetic mutation in the CETP gene have very high HDL levels that CETP deficiency implies anti-atherogenic effect. A missense mutation in the exon 15(D442G) and a splicing defect in the intron 14(Int 14A) in the CETP gene are reported to be popular among Japanese population which overall prevalence of both mutations is up to 10%. METHODS: To identify the CETP mutaion such as D442G or Int 14A among Koreans, seven subjects who have high HDL level above 80mg/dl and 14 first-degree relatives of them were included in this study. RESULTS: Of 21 subjects in 7 familes, 5 subjects in 2 families were confirmed as D442G mutation of CETP gene, but Int 14A mutation is not found. Subjects with D442G mutation have high apo A-I levels as well as HDL levels. CONCLUSION: The D442G mutation of CETP gene is firstly confirmed in Koreans. The CETP deficiency caused by genetic mutation in the CETP gene seems to be prevalent among Korean population.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cholesterol ; Exons ; Humans ; Introns ; Korea ; Lipoproteins ; Mutation, Missense ; Prevalence

The effect of daily walking on body fat distribution was investigated using an electronic pedometer and ultrasonography. Subjects were 77 women, aged 31 to 72 years. They were divided into four groups according to the average number of steps they walked per day(I<7, 500, 7, 500≤II<10, 000, 10, 000≤III<12, 500, 12, 500≤IV). Subcutaneous fat in the trunk and limbs, and the minimum thickness of subcutaneous fat(Smin) and the maximum thickness of preperitoneal fat(Pmax) below the xiphoid process were measured by ultrasonography. Abdominal wall fat index (AFI) reflecting the intra−abdominal fat accumulation was obtained by dividing Pmax by Smin. Fat distribution was analyzed by ANCOVA, controlled for age, body mass index(BMI), percent body fat, and menopausal status. Energy and macronutrient intake were obtained through a nutritional survey. There were no significant differences in anthropometric variables, energy and macronutrient intake, and subcutaneous fat thickness in trunk and limbs. Pmax of Group I was significantly higher than Group IV. Furthermore. Group I showed significantly higher AFI than the other three Groups (II, III, IV). The results of this study suggested that women who walked less than 7, 500 steps per day tend to have significantly increased intra−abdominal fat accumulation.
Fatty acid glycerol esters ; Group I ; Walking ; Roman Numeral IV ; Amniotic Fluid Index

INTRODUCTION: Treadmill walking is a cheap and attainable form of exercise, which carries a low injury risk and confers other health benefit. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of 3-month treadmill walking on biochemical bone markers in Thai postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thai postmenopausal women participated in a 3-month supervised treadmill walking program. The program consisted of treadmill walking, the intensity of which was 55-70% of maximal heart rate, with duration of 30 min per day, at a frequency of 3 days a week. Crosslinked C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX-I) and N-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen (PINP) level were measured at baseline and at 1 week after 3-month training. RESULTS: Eighteen women completed the training program. The average age of patients was 59.39 ± 4.18 years. The average period after menopause was 9.28 ± 6.52 years. CTX-I and PINP levels at baseline were 0.43 ± 0.14 and 52.15 ± 13.43 ng/ml. CTX-I and PINP levels after 3-month training were 0.80 ± 0.26 and 66.77 ± 22.82 ng/ml. Bone resorption and formation markers were significantly increased after treadmill walking (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Bone turnover increases after 3-month supervised treadmill walking in Thai postmenopausal women.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Bone Remodeling* ; Bone Resorption ; Collagen Type I ; Education ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Menopause ; Walking*

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Perinatal Death

OBJECTIVETo analyze the HLA class I alleles and haplotypes in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

METHODSSequencing based typing-polymerase chain reaction (SBT-PCR) was used to investigate the HLA class I alleles of 146 PBC patients and 500 normal controls in northern China. The frequencies of alleles and haplotypes were calculated and compared for the two groups. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTSThere were 26, 51 and 21 alleles identified at the HLA-A, B and C loci respectively, and the frequencies of these alleles were not significantly different between the PBC and normal control groups.However, the frequencies of A *11:01-B*40:06 and A*02:01-B*l5:01 haplotypes were significantly higher in the PBC group than in the normal control group (7.53% vs. 1.40%, P<0.01, OR=5.38; 6.85% vs. 2.00%, P=0.003, OR=3.425).

CONCLUSIONThis study established the role of HLA class I haplotypes in determining PBC susceptibility in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Several latest guidelines and consensus statements from Europe and the United States specify that there is no need for fasting prior to routine lipid tests. However, the latest Chinese guidelines still recommend fasting tests owing to a lack of local evidence. This study aimed to investigate postprandial lipid concentrations and daytime biological variation of lipids in a healthy Chinese population. METHODS: Venous blood samples were collected from 41 ostensibly healthy Chinese volunteers at five time points during the day (06:30, 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 18:30). The same batch of reagents was used to determine lipid concentrations. A nested ANOVA was performed to calculate within-subject biological variation (CVI) and between-subject biological variation (CVG). RESULTS: Postprandial concentrations of triglyceride were higher than fasting concentrations, with the maximum change occurring at 12:00 (0.5 hours after lunch, 0.21±0.65 mmol/L difference). The daytime biological variation of triglycerides was relatively high (CVI=25%, CVG=35.9%). The postprandial concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, and apolipoprotein B were mostly lower than the fasting concentrations, and their daytime biological variations were relatively low (CVI=2.4–4.4%, CVG=11.8–18.7%). CONCLUSIONS: As most daytime lipid concentrations changed only slightly, non-fasting samples could be used for routine lipid tests. However, in cases of abnormal postprandial triglyceride concentrations, dietary factors and fasting time should be considered when interpreting the results.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Apolipoproteins ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Cholesterol ; Consensus ; Europe ; Fasting ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Lipoproteins ; Lunch ; Triglycerides ; United States ; Volunteers

Two trials of external quality assessment were performed in 2015, with 13 test items grouped into four test categories. The first trial materials were sent on May 19, 2015 and the second trial was performed on November 9, 2015 with 13 items including tumor markers, thyroid hormones, cardiac marker troponin (troponin T or troponin I), and procalcitonin (PCT) as biomarkers by immunoassay methods. The bone marker, carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) was replaced by procalcitonin since 2014, because a limited number of institutions performed assays with CTX. External quality surveys of 13 immunoassay test items with 16 control materials were conducted, as scheduled. In total, 13 control materials were used, which consisted of six tumor markers, namely alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carcinoma antigen (CA) 125, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), and prostate specific antigen (PSA). In addition to tumor markers, 5 thyroid markers, namely thyroid hormone (T)3, T4, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4, and thyroglobulin (TG) were included. Furthermore, troponin, as a cardiac marker, and procalcitonin, as a new biomarker, have been adopted since 2014. Five home-made pooled sera and 3 commercial control sera were used as survey materials. MAS Tri-point Liquimmune level 3 (Medical Analysis Systems Inc., USA) was used for thyroid hormones. Procalcitonin and troponin control materials were from Elecsys Precis Control Varia and Elecsys Precis Control Troponin (Roche, Germany), respectively. The number of laboratories participating in the external quality assessment for Immunoassay Subcommittee was 719 institutions in the first trial survey (response rate 98.7%) and 730 institutions in the second survey (94.9%). The test items most frequently used in immunoassays were TSH (93.2%, 93.1%), free T4 (90.3%, 90.2%), and AFP (89.4%, 89.0%), whereas recently adopted biomarkers were less frequently used: troponin I (36.6%, 37.1%), procalcitonin (24.1%, 26.7%), and thyroglobulin (10.3%, 10.7%). The quality of the laboratories participating in the survey seems to be continuously improving, according to their peer group results.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Biomarkers ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Chorion ; Collagen ; Humans ; Immunoassay* ; Korea* ; Peer Group ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin ; Troponin ; Troponin I

BACKGROUND: Anti-HLA antibodies are most frequently induced by transfusion or pregnancy, and these anibodies can be used as antisera for HLA typing. However these antibodies may elicit adverse reactions such as transfusion reaction or rejection of transplanted organs. In this study, frequency and specificities of antibodies against HLA class I antigens were determined in multiparous Korean women. METHODS: Sera from 671 multiparous women were tested for anti-HLA antibody screening by standard microlymphocytotoxicity test using 49~50 lymphocyte panels. PRA(panel reactive antibody) values were calculated as percentage of postive panels among total lymphocyte panels tested. HLA antibody specificities and reaction strengths were determined by analysis of serologic reaction patterns. RESULTS: A total of 671 sera were tested and 124 sera(18.5%) were positive for HLA antibodies. Among HLA antibody-positive sera(n=124), 117(94.4%) showed PRA values of < OR = 50% and only 7(5.6%) showed PRA values of >50%. Specificities of HLA antibodies were identified in 51 sera(41.1%) and 18 sera(14.5%) contained reagent quality antibodies(r> or =0.8, SI> or =70%), corresponding to 2.7% of total multiparous women. Among these, 4 sera had monospecific HLA antibodies and 14 sera had HLA antibodies against two or more antigens: 4 sera containing HLA antibodies against 7 CREG(cross reactive group), 5 sera containing antibodies against 5 CREG. CONCLUSION: Through the analysis of frequency and specificity of HLA antibodies in 671 multiparous women, it is concluded that HLA antisera can be obtained from multiparous women as effectively as from pregnant women. The frequency of high level of sensitization(PRA>50%), which can elicit problems in relation to transfusion or organ transplantation, is very low(1.0%).
Antibodies* ; Antibody Specificity ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Female ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Organ Transplantation ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transplants