AIM: We compared polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to cell culture isolation for the laboratory diagnosis of ocular herpes simplex virus (HSV) disease.METHODS: Laboratory and medical records of consecutive patients were reviewed for results of (1) HSV PCR testing, (2) HSV cell culture isolation, and (3) clinical diagnosis. PCR results were statistically compared to cell culture isolation and patients initially diagnosed for ocular HSV infection.RESULTS: Of 581 cases submitted for laboratory testing,520 were PCR negative, cell culture negative (89.6％); 0 was PCR negative, cell culture positive (0％); 27 were PCR positive, cell culture negative (4.6％); and 34 were PCR positive, cell culture positive (5. 8％). PCR tested more positive than cell culture isolation (McNemar's, P=0.0001 ). Of 47 HSV PCR positive cases with complete medical records, 19 were cell culture negative for HSV and 28 were cell culture positive for HSV. Fourteen of 19 cell culture negative cases (74％) (Without PCR, 5 cases of HSV would be missed) and 25 of the 28 cell culture positive cases (89％) ( Laboratory testing was necessary for diagnosing 3 cases) were clinically diagnosed with HSV at the initial examination.CONCLUSION: PCR was a more definitive test for diagnosingHSVocularinfectionthancellculture isolation. Cell culture isolation alone can miss an atypical presentation of HSV ocular infection.

There is evidence that a substantial part of genetic predisposition to prostate cancer (PCa) may be due to lower penetrance genes which are found by genome-wide association studies. We have recently conducted such a study and seven new regions of the genome linked to PCa risk have been identified. Three of these loci contain candidate susceptibility genes: MSMB, LMTK2 and KLK2/3. The MSMB and KLK2/3 genes may be useful for PCa screening, and the LMTK2 gene might provide a potential therapeutic target. Together with results from other groups, there are now 23 germline genetic variants which have been reported. These results have the potential to be developed into a genetic test. However, we consider that marketing of tests to the public is premature, as PCa risk can not be evaluated fully at this stage and the appropriate screening protocols need to be developed. Follow-up validation studies, as well as studies to explore the psychological implications of genetic profile testing, will be vital prior to roll out into healthcare.
Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Kallikreins ; genetics ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Prostatic Secretory Proteins ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Risk Factors