METHODS: A total of 222 blood samples were collected from healthy, unrelated Malay, Chinese and Indian individuals. Their HNA-1, -3 and -4 and HNA-5 loci were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays.
RESULTS: All HNA loci are polymorphic, except for HNA -4. Geneotypes HNA-1a/1b, -3a/3b and -4a/4a were observed most frequently at these three loci in all three ethnic groups. In contrast, HNA-5a/5b and -5a/5a were observed as the predominant genotypes in Malays vs. Chinese and Indians, respectively. The Malays, Chinese and Indians shared HNA -3a (0.505-0.527), HNA -4a (1.000) and -5a (0.676-0.854) as the most frequent alleles. However, HNA-1a was found to be the most common in Malays (0.506) and Chinese (0.504) and HNA-1b for Indians (0.525).
CONCLUSION: Combined with HNA data that have been published for Malay subethnic and Orang Asli groups, this study provides the first fully comprehensive HNA dataset for populations to be found in Peninsular Malaysia. Overall, our findings provide further evidence of genetic complexity in the region. This now publicly available HNA dataset can be used as a reliable reference source for improving medical outcomes.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Antibody testing results between the years 2013 and 2015 with relevant patient demographic data and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion history were retrieved. Cumulative alloimmunization incidence and evanescence to MUT and Mur were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis in relation to the number of RBC units transfused and time.
RESULTS: Of 70,543 selected patients, 6186 nonalloimmunized subjects with available antibody testing results posttransfusion were identified. Cumulative alloimmunization incidence for MUT increased from 0.12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03-0.21) to 0.63% (95% CI, 0.25-1.01), while for Mur it increased from 0.04% (95% CI, 0-0.09) to 0.42% (95% CI, 0.05-0.79) when a patient was transfused 2 RBC units as compared to 12. Both antibodies had high evanescence rates and at 1 year, anti-MUT and -Mur will be detected in only 45% (95% CI, 35%-57%) and 27% (95% CI, 17%-43%), respectively, of previously positive patients. MUT and Mur immunogenicity was estimated to be 1.7 and 1.2 times higher than E when their rate of evanescence was taken into account.
CONCLUSION: Antibodies to MUT and Mur develop following multiple RBC exposures. Immunogenicity of MUT/Mur and evanescence rates of the corresponding antibodies is higher compared to anti-E. Appropriate selection of antibody screening cells is needed in view of the high prevalence, immunogenicity, and evanescence of the antibodies.
METHODS: Sera from 27 patients from Finland and 18 from the United States with latex allergy and control sera from nonsensitive individuals were studied for latex-specific IgE antibodies. Four antigen preparations were used: two extracted from gloves and one each extracted from rubber tree sap from Malaysia and India. All 45 patients had skin prick test results that were positive to latex antigens, and all sera were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the various antigens.
RESULTS: There were considerable differences in the reactivity of patient sera with the different antigens. Only 50% of the sera from patients with latex allergy from Finland demonstrated significant levels of IgE to latex as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These patients showed more reactivity with rubber tree sap antigens than with glove antigens. However, 72% of the patients from the United States demonstrated antibodies to latex, and no marked differences were noted between the antigen extracts.
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that reagents such as rubber tree sap, which contain multiple clinically significant antigenic components, should be included in evaluation of latex allergy and that differences in patient populations may result in serologic variances.
METHODS: This was a multicenter study of 489 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 69 patients with NAFLD-related or cryptogenic HCC. Antihepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) was used to detect the previous HBV infection.
RESULTS: In the biopsy cohort, positive anti-HBc was associated with lower steatosis grade but higher fibrosis stage. 18.8% and 7.5% of patients with positive and negative anti-HBc had cirrhosis, respectively (P < 0.001). The association between anti-HBc and cirrhosis remained significant after adjusting for age and metabolic factors (adjusted odds ratio 2.232; 95% confidence interval, 1.202-4.147). At a mean follow-up of 6.2 years, patients with positive anti-HBc had a higher incidence of HCC or cirrhotic complications (6.5% vs 2.2%; P = 0.039). Among patients with NAFLD-related or cryptogenic HCC, 73.9% had positive anti-HBc. None of the patients had positive serum HBV DNA. By contrast, antihepatitis B surface antibody did not correlate with histological severity.
DISCUSSION: Positive anti-HBc is associated with cirrhosis and possibly HCC and cirrhotic complications in patients with NAFLD. Because a significant proportion of NAFLD-related HCC may develop in noncirrhotic patients, future studies should define the role of anti-HBc in selecting noncirrhotic patients with NAFLD for HCC surveillance.