Direct STR typing from human bones.

Identification by STR analysis of bones is time-consuming, mainly due to the lengthy decalcification required and complex DNA extraction process. To streamline this process, we developed a direct STR typing protocol from bone samples. We optimized bone sample amounts using femur and tibia and two commercial PCR kits (Identifiler™ Plus and IDplex Plus kits).

A novel, 4-h DNA extraction method for STR typing of casework bone samples.

Bones are often found in mass grave crime scene. To increase DNA identification success rates, a highly efficient DNA extraction method should be selected. Several DNA extraction methods for human bones have been published yet never been systematically compared, and some are time-consuming or complex.

Direct-STR typing from presumptively-tested and untreated body fluids.

Body fluids provide key pieces of information for a forensic investigation. However, sometimes only a small amount of body fluids is found and/or DNA are also degraded by environmental factors at the crime scene. In extreme cases, a forensic analyst may have to decide whether to perform a presumptive test on the stains or proceed straightaway to DNA profiling, which could be wasteful for non-biological stains.

Randomized study of antiinflammatory and immune-modulatory effects of enteral immunonutrition during concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) induces toxicities from inflammation and immunological suppression. Omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, and arginine are therapeutic factors that can attenuate such inflammation and promote cellular immunity. The question is whether immunonutrition (IN) during CCRT reduces inflammation and improves the immune function in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Quantitative analysis of cell-free Epstein-Barr virus DNA in the plasma of patients with peripheral T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas and peripheral T-cell proliferative diseases.

Background: The level of circulating EBV DNA is a prognostic marker in patients with some EBV-associated malignant diseases.

Objectives: To investigate the presence and nature of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the plasma and to evaluate the correlation of plasma concentrations of EBV DNA with the EBV genomic status in peripheral blood T-cells and neoplastic cells and with the clinical outcome of patients with peripheral T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas (PTCL) and peripheral T-cell proliferative diseases (PTPD).

Study Design: EBV DNA in the plasma of 45 patients and 45 controls was measured using real-time PCR.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the sinonasal tract and nasopharynx in Thailand.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is highly associated with specific subtypes of malignant lymphoma. In our previous report on nodal malignant lymphoma in Thailand, we found that 64% of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), 51% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, T-cell (NHL-T), and 13% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, B-cell (NHL-B) were EBV-related. In the present research, we conducted a retrospective study of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the sinonasal tract (e-NHL-ST) and primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the nasopharynx (e-NHL-NP) in Southern Thailand, between 1997 and 2004.

A prospective evaluation of four immunodiagnotic assays for human leptospirosis.

This was a prospective evaluation of four immunodiagnostic assays for human leptospirosis, including the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFA), the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), the LEPTO dipstick, and the latex agglutination (LA) test. Four hundred ninety-two serum samples were collected from 348 patients who presented with acute fever without localizing signs. The sensitivities of the IFA, MAT, Dipstick, and LA were 91.

Hepatic cytotoxic T-cell infiltrates in patients with peripheral T-cell proliferative diseases/lymphomas: clinicopathological and molecular analysis.

Seventy patients with various types of peripheral T-cell proliferative disease/lymphoma who manifested with prolonged fever, weight loss, anemia, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and elevated serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and/or lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated. Histopathological examination of the livers revealed T-cell infiltration into the hepatic sinusoids and portal tracts. The morphology of the infiltrated T cells varied from mature small lymphocytes to malignant lymphoid cells.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated nodal malignant lymphoma in Thailand.

Specific subtypes of malignant lymphoma are highly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In the present study, the authors evaluated EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) expression by in situ hybridization in 300 cases of malignant lymphomas diagnosed by lymph node biopsy, with 100 cases of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia in lymph nodes as controls, for comparison. There were 100 consecutive cases of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), 100 consecutive cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, B cell (NHL-B), and 100 consecutive cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, T cell (NHL-T).

Epstein-Barr virus-associated peripheral T-cell lymphoma with gastrointestinal tract involvement.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a group of diseases which are common in Asia and areas of South and Central America. They are highly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In the present study the authors evaluated patients with gastrointestinal involvement of PTCL with respect to clinical findings and outcome, pathologic features, and molecular analysis for EBV infection and the clonality of tumor cells.

The etiology of acute pyrexia of unknown origin in children after a flood.

Acute pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) is a major public health problem in Thailand. We studied the etiology of 180 cases of acute PUO in children after a sudden severe flood in Hat Yai city in 2000. Dengue infection and leptospirosis accounted for more than half of the total cases.

High tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in the patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated peripheral T-cell proliferative disease/lymphoma.

We have attempted to find out any relationships between circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated peripheral T-cell and NK-cell proliferative disease/lymphoma (PTPD/L) status. The distribution of TNF-alpha level was significantly higher (P<0.05) in patients than in controls.

Epstein-barr virus-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B-cell origin, Hodgkin's disease, acute leukemia, and systemic lupus erythematosus: a serologic and molecular analysis.

Parallel studies of (a) patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated peripheral T-cell proliferative disease/lymphomas and (b) a group of patients with a prolonged fever from other causes were conducted at Songklanagarind University Hospital from 1997 through 2000. (Reports on EBV-associated peripheral T-cell and NK-cell proliferative disease/lymphomas have been published elsewhere) In this study, the authors identified 58 patients; 14 were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B-cell origin (NHL-B), 8 were Hodgkin's disease, 6 were acute leukemia, 9 were systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 21 were patients with other diseases. Serologic tests for the EBV infection, the study of EBV genome in circulating non-T-cells (CD3-cells) and T-cells (CD3+ cells), and the EBV-RNA study in the tumor cells were performed.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated peripheral T-cell and NK-cell proliferative disease/lymphoma: clinicopathologic, serologic, and molecular analysis.

Peripheral T-cell proliferative disease/lymphoma is a group of diseases which exhibits heterogeneity in clinical manifestations, pathological findings and outcomes. They are highly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. It is likely that EBV plays an important role in the tumorigenesis.