Molecular cloning of cDNA of mammalian and chicken II gonadotropin-releasing hormones (mGnRHs and cGnRH-II) in the beluga (Huso huso) and the disruptive effect of methylmercury on gene expression.

Two gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) isoforms were identified in the beluga (Huso huso) brain by cDNA sequencing: prepro-mammalian GnRH (mGnRH) and prepro-chicken GnRH-II (cGnRH-II). The nucleotide sequences of the beluga mGnRH and cGnRH-II precursors are 273 and 258 base pairs (bp) long, encoding peptides of 91 and 86 amino acids, respectively. To investigate the effect of methylmercury (MeHg) on GnRH gene expression, animals were fed with four diets containing increasing levels of MeHg (0 mg kg(-1) [control]; 0.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in HIV-infected patients with isolated hepatitis B core antibody.

Objective: Detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA without detectable hepatitis B surfaceantigen (HBsAg) is defined as occult HBV infection. In patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HBV, HIV interferes with the natural history of HBV infection by enhancing HBV replication, leading to more severe liver disease. The aim of this study was to assess occult HBV infection in Iranian HIV-positive patients with isolated hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc).

Frequency of hepatitis G virus infection among HIV positive subjects with parenteral and sexual exposure.

Background: Epidemiological data indicate that Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is transmitted predominantly through parenteral routes, with a high seroprevalence among injection drug users (IDUs), although sexual transmission has also been reported. In this study our objective was to compare the frequency of HGV infection in two groups of HIV-positive patients including IDUs and those with sexual risk of exposure.

Methods: Presence of HGV-RNA was analyzed in serum samples from 82 HIV-infected patients including 52 IDUs and 30 cases with sexual (heterosexuals) risk of exposure by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction.

Frequency and genotype of GB virus C among Iranian patients infected with HIV.

GB virus C (GBV-C) infection is frequent in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to similar transmission routes of these viruses. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of infection and genotypic characteristics of GBV-C in this population. The presence of GBV-C RNA was determined in serum samples of 106 patients infected with HIV by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction.