No abstract available.
Carrier State*

The ultimate goal of blood donor screening for anti-hepatitis C virus(HCV) antibodies is the specific exclusion of vital carriers from the blood donor population. Recently, a third-generation anti-HCV screening (Lucky HCD 3.0) and immunoblot assay (Lucky Confirm) using antigens derived from the core and different nonstructural regioris (NS3, NS4 and NS5) of the HCV vital genome were developed. To evaluate the usefulness of these assays, anti-HCV reaction patterns of the RIBA-2 and the presence of HCV-RNA detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) were examined in 180 sera, which were repeatedly positive in Abbott EIA-2, and HCV seroconversion panel sera. The reaction intensity of HCD 3.0 was higher than that of HCD 2.0. The sensitivity and positive predictive value for vital carrier state of HCD 3.0 were 98.4% and 85.4%, respectively. HCD 3.0 assay enabled the detection of the antibody response 2 weeks earlier than did other second-generation EIAs. RT-PCR testing of sera with RIBA-2-indetermihate results showed that 33.3%(10/30) had evidence of HCV-RNA. However, all of nine Lucky Confirm-indeterminate cases were negative for HCV-RNA. The sensitivity and specificity of Lucky Confirm test were 99.2% and 76.4%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 90.5% and 97.7%, respectively.
Antibodies ; Antibody Formation ; Blood Donors ; Carrier State ; Genome ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques* ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a typical pathogen of nosocomial infection, and has recently emerged as an important community-acquired pathogen. MRSA is notorious as a multidrug-resistant organism. Its resistance to all beta-lactams is mediated by PBP2a which is encoded by mecA, and it is also resistant to many antimicrobials of other classes due to frequently co-carrying resistance genes, which accounts for becoming a clinical and laboratory issue. This article reviews the microbiological characteristics, surveillance methods, and molecular epidemiology of MRSA.
Adenosine ; beta-Lactams ; Carrier State ; Cross Infection ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Molecular Epidemiology

Carrier State ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; Humans ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence rate of upper respiratory tract group A Streptococcus (GAS) carriage in school-age children from Xinjiang Province.

METHODSA total of 478 children at age of 9-12 years from Tulufan City and Buerjin County of Xinjiang Province were enrolled by random cluster sampling. Throat swab cultures were performed once each season for the determination of presence of GAS.

RESULTSIn the 1 827 samples, 196 GAS strains were isolated, with a GAS carrier rate of 10.7%. The prevalence rate of GAS carrier in Tulufan City ranged from 3.7%-16.5% compared with 4.7%-21.4% in Buerjin County (P < 0.05). The prevalence rate of GAS carrier in winter is the highest, followed by in autumn, spring and summer in both regions. There were significant differences in the GAS carriage rate in autumn between the two regions. There were no significant differences in the GAS carriage rate between boys and girls. Of the 196 GAS strains, 133 from Han, 22 from Uygur and 41 from Hazakh children. There were significant differences in the prevalence rate of GAS carriage among children with different ethic groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence rate of GAS carriage is high in school-age children from Tulufan and Buerjin of Xinjiang Province. The GAS carrier rate is associated with the season and ethic group. The children from Buerjin County present a higher GAS carrier rate than those from Tulufan City.

Carrier State ; microbiology ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Respiratory System ; microbiology ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; isolation & purification

Carrier State ; epidemiology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) related infections are increased in patients with Diabetes Mellitus and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of MRSA nasal colonization among individuals with diabetes mellitus. METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective cross-sectional study that included adult Filipino patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Nasal swab samples were analyzed for the presence of MRSA. RESULTS: MRSA nasal colonization has a prevalence rate of 6.8% which was associated with a history of antibiotic use. The isolates exhibited resistance to Benzypenicillin/Oxacillin (100%), Clindamycin (42.9%), Vancomycin, and Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (14.3%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MRSA in this population is higher compared with other Asian countries. No diabetic-related risk factors were identified to be associated with MRSA nasal colonization. The presence of resistance to most commonly used antibiotics should prompt clinicians appropriately treat infections caused by this organism.
Carrier State ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Nasal Mucosa ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Asymptomatic Infections ; Betacoronavirus ; Carrier State ; Coronavirus Infections ; transmission ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; transmission

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the change in the hippocampal volume and shape in early-onset mild cognitive impairment (EO-MCI) associated with the APOE ε4 carrier state. METHODS: This study had 50 subjects aged 55–63 years, all of whom were diagnosed with MCI at baseline via the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet. The EO-MCI patients were divided into the MCI continued (MCIcont) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) converted (ADconv) groups 2 years later. The hippocampal volume and shape were measured for all the subjects. The local shape analysis (LSA) was used to conduct based on the 2-year-interval magnetic resonance imaging scans. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between APOE ε4 allele and hippocampal volume atrophy. Over two years, the volume reduction in the left hippocampus was found to be faster than that in the right hippocampus, especially in the APOE ε4 carriers. LSA showed that the 2 subfields were significantly affected in the left hippocampus. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the possession of APOE ε4 allele may lead to greater predilection for left hippocampal atrophy in EO-MCI, and some specific subfields of the hippocampus may be more prominently involved.
Alleles ; Alzheimer Disease ; Apolipoproteins E ; Atrophy ; Carrier State ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mild Cognitive Impairment*

Carrier State ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Cluster Analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Nasopharynx ; Pneumococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pneumoniae