ABSTRACT
Mixed-genotypes hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are normally ignored in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of mixedgenotypes infections among hemodialysis patients in Pahang province, Malaysia. Reverse-transcription and polymerase chain reaction methods were performed using two different sets of primers, targeting the 5’ untranslated region and nonstructural 5B region. Target region base sequences were obtained by direct sequencing. Discrepancy in outcomes from phylogenetic analysis of both regions suggests double infections. Of 40 subjects in eight hemodialysis centres, evidence of mixed-genotypes infections was found in 5 subjects (12.5%) from three different centres. Four patients were infected with mixed genotypes 3 and 1 and one with genotypes 3 and 4. Cases of mixed HCV genotypes infection were considered high among hemodialysis patients in Pahang. However, further investigation is needed to confirm whether they are true mixed infections or perhaps infection with recombinant virus and also to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics of the infection.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this project was to compare dual and tri-colour reagents for lymphocyte immunophenotyping. A total of 37 patient and normal specimens were immunophenotyped concurrently with the following mean values (% dual vs tri-colour): CD3 (69.4 vs 68.3) CD4 (24.0 vs 24.2) and CD19 (13.9 vs 12.6). A comparison of the results obtained using the paired t test showed that there were no significant differences for cells expressing CD3, CD4 and CD19. However, there was a significant difference in the NK (18.3 vs 16.3) cell component. A major advantage in using 3 colour immunophenotyping is the ability to analyse specimens that cannot be analysed using dual colour reagents due to debris or contamination of the gate with non-lymphocytic cells.