The importance of being heterozygote: effects of RHD-genotype-sex interaction on the physical and mental health of a non-clinical population.

Human populations, especially European, are polymorphic in the RHD gene. A significant fraction of their members carry no copy of the coding section of RHD gene, which results in their Rh-negative blood type. Theoretically, this polymorphism should be unstable.

Examination of specific DNA by PCR in patients with different forms of Lyme borreliosis.

Background: Borrelial specific DNA was examined in a group of 62 patients with different forms of Lyme borreliosis (LB) (32 patients suffered from neuroborreliosis, 19 manifested erythema migrans, and 11 joint involvement).

Methods: Nested-PCR system with five newly derived primers was used in parallel. The study was organized prospectively, the presence of DNA was tested for plasma, CSF, joint fluid and urine before treatment, and plasma, joint fluid and urine were examined after treatment.

HLA DRB1, DQB1 and insulin promoter VNTR polymorphisms: interactions and the association with adult-onset diabetes mellitus in Czech patients.

Both the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 and the HLA DQB1 gene loci play a role in the development and progression of autoimmune diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Similarly, the insulin promoter variable number tandem repeats (INS-VNTR) polymorphism is also involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). We studied the association between each of these polymorphisms and DM diagnosed in patients older than age 35 years.

KCNJ11 E23K polymorphism and diabetes mellitus with adult onset in Czech patients.

In this work, we studied the association of the E23K polymorphism of the Kir6.2 ATP-sensitive potassium channels in 212 Czech patients with diabetes mellitus who were diagnosed after the age of 35. Patients were classified into T1DM, LADA and T2DM groups based on C-peptide and GADA levels.

[First experience with detecting bacterial DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with purulent meningitis using broad spectrum multiplex nested PCR].

Objectives: To propose and verify a PCR assay for detecting Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis serogroups B and C in a single sample of the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with purulent meningitis.

Material And Methods: DNA from the cerebrospinal fluid was isolated using the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit. PCR was performed as two-step amplification (nested PCR).