Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2025 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 5 Articles
HBeAg serves as a marker of wild-type viral replication of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The detection of HBeAg is of significant clinical importance in the classification of chronic hepatitis B. Given the high frequency of mutations that can occur in the HBeAg gene, viral DNA detection is the most accurate marker of viral replication. In countries with limited resources, the cost of molecular tests represents a significant obstacle to their accessibility. Accordingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of HBeAg in conjunction with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for the purpose of making therapeutic decisions. The objective of this study was twofold: firstly, to evaluate the suitability of HBeAg and HBV DNA for the clinical management of individuals infected with HBV in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; secondly, to ascertain the diagnostic performance of the Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) for the detection of HBeAg. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, at the “Assaut-Hépatites” center in Bobo-Dioulasso. The study population consisted of patients who were HBsAgpositive and who presented to the laboratory for HBeAg testing and DNA quantification as part of an initial evaluation. HBeAg testing was conducted using the VIDAS HBe/Anti-HBe kit (Biomérieux, Marcy-l’Etoile, France),while HBV DNA quantification was performed by real-time PCR using the GENERIC HBV VIRAL LOAD version 2.0 (GHBV-CV) kit (BIOCENTRIC, Bandol, France). A total of 128 patients who tested negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 34.82 ± 11.02 years. The presence of HBeAg was identified in 5.5% (7/128) of participants. The presence of HBV DNA was confirmed in all participants, and 7.8% (10/128) exhibited a viral load (VL) exceeding 20,000 IU/mL. The sensitivity of the VIDAS HBe/anti-HBe test ranged from 18.51% for a viral DNA detection threshold of >2000 IU/mL to 75.00% for a threshold of >2,000,000 IU/mL. Notwithstanding the low diagnostic sensitivity of the test, the results demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between the proportions of individuals eligible for treatment on the basis of HBeAg (5.5%) and VL (7.8%)....
Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a primary contributor to the global health burden, and early detection is vital for optimal outcomes. Standard detection techniques, including colonoscopy and fecal occult blood tests, have been confirmed effective yet their invasiveness and poor sensitivity are a limitation. MicroRNA (miRNA) are now recognized as stable non-invasive biomarkers with differential expression in cancerous tissues, but reports have been heterogeneous and studied under different settings. This study, completed based on PRISMA guidelines, was a systematic review of miRNA signature diagnostic accuracy to detect early CRC. Case-case control studies, cross-sectional, and cohort research published between 2014–2024 were identified through the Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. We extracted diagnostic metrics such as sensitivity and specificity while assessing bias with the ROBINS-e tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses showed that miRNA panels have high diagnostic accuracy with a pooled sensitivity of 1.84 (95% CI: 1.48–2.19) and a pooled specificity of 1.43 (95% CI: 1.01–1.85). The accuracy of miRNA-139-3p was the highest among all panels. Meta-regression did not reveal any significant confounders, while publication bias was not detected. These results highlight the miRNA panels’ potential as non-invasive biomarkers in early CRC detection, providing a promising alternative to conventional screening methods, with miRNA-139-3p as the most diagnostically accurate biomarker....
Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is influenced by polymorphisms in the HLA molecules. Only a few studies assessed the presence of an association between HLA class I genes and RA. Moreover, ethnic background influences the association of HLA molecules and RA. HLA-I molecules are essential for the activation of CD8 T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. The implication of these cells in RA pathogenesis is controversial. Therefore, we investigated the presence of associations between HLA-I alleles and RA in Omani patients. Methods: HLA class I alleles were genotyped in a total of 206 volunteers (102 RA patients and 104 controls). The control group included volunteers who were not affected by any known disease. The Chi square test was used to investigate the significance of the associations between the HLA alleles and the occurrence of RA. A corrected p value (pc) was calculated using the Bonferroni correction. Results: The frequency of HLA-B*58 was ≈2.7-fold lower in RA patients (10.8%) compared to the control group (28.8%; pc = 0.0324). Moreover, the frequency of HLA-C*02 in RA patient was ≈8-fold higher compared to the control group (pc = 0.0104). Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate the presence of association between HLA-B*58 and HLA-C*02 and the occurrence of RA, which could guide future research on targeted therapies. It also suggests that these HLA alleles might influence CD8 T cells and NK cells implication in RA pathogenesis....
Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist with a global distribution, frequently found in humans and various animals. Despite its prevalence, its role in human health remains debated, oscillating between being a harmless commensal and a potential pathogen. It has also been associated with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In Italy, the genetic and spatial diversity of Blastocystis remains understudied, despite the country’s diverse urbanized and environmental landscapes. This study investigates the haplotypic and spatial diversity of clinical isolates of Blastocystis across two different Italian regions, with an emphasis on subtype distribution and genetic variation. Using a network-based haplotype analysis, the study reveals a heterogeneous subtype distribution, with subtype ST4 (47.3%) being the most prevalent, followed by ST3 (20%), ST1 (16.4%), ST2 (12.7%), ST6 (1.8%) and ST7 (1.8%). The overall infection rate detected from symptomatic patients is 9.75%. Notably, ST4 shows limited haplotypic variation, suggesting a more stable population structure that is potentially linked to a human-adapted lineage. In contrast, ST1 and ST2 exhibit greater haplotypic diversity, likely due to ongoing zoonotic transmission. These findings enhance our understanding of the epidemiology of Blastocystis in Italy and underscore the need for further research on its pathogenic potential and transmission dynamics....
There are two forms of DNA polymerase δ in human cells, Pol δ4 and Pol δ3, which differ based on their possession of the p12 subunit. The degradation of p12 has emerged as an important regulatory mechanism that controls the generation of Pol δ3. The underlying importance of this system lies in the altered enzymatic properties of the two forms of Pol δ engendered by the influence of p12. We briefly review how the balance of these two forms is regulated through the degradation of p12. We focus on the roles of Pol δ4, whose cellular functions are less well known. This is significant because recent studies show that this is the form engaged in the homology-dependent repair of double-strand breaks. We consider new horizons for future research into this system and their potential involvement in tumorigenesis....
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