Analysis of IL-4 promoter and VNTR polymorphisms in Thai patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Thailand. Cytokines play important roles in defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Interleukin (IL)-4 is one of the anti-inflammatory cytokines and has been found to be elevated in TB patients.

Lack of Association between IL-10 Gene Promoter Polymorphisms and Susceptible to Tuberculosis in Thai Patients.

Background: Cytokines play a major role in defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Polymorphisms in the genes encoding various cytokines have been associated with tuberculosis susceptibility. Polymorphisms of the regulatoy cytokine gene, the interleukin (IL)-10 is associated with the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in different populations.

Comparison of Droplet Digital PCR and Real Time PCR Method for HBV DNA Quantification.

Background: HBV infection causes a potential serious public health problem. The ability to detect HBV DNA concentration is an important issue that had been continuously improved. When using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), several factors are of concern, for example, sources of material, standard curve calibration, and PCR efficiency.

CTLA-4 and its ligands on the surface of T- and B-lymphocyte subsets in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background: During chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection, a number of co-stimulatory, co-inhibitory molecules and theirs ligands play a prominent role in the immune-regulation.

Objective: To compare the number of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells expressing co-inhibitory marker, cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and program cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) between CHB infected patients and healthy controls.

Material And Method: Peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 19 CHB-infected patients and nine healthy controls were stained with specific combinations of the following monoclonal antibodies: CD3-PE/cy5, CD4-APC, CD8-APC, CD152-PE (CTLA-4), CD19PE/Cy5, CD80-FITC (B7-1), CD86-PE (B7-2) and CD274-FITC (B 7-H1) according to standard protocol.

Cytokine profiles in HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE infected individuals with different rates of diseases progression: a multiplex immunoassay.

Objective: Cytokines play an important role in controlling the homeostasis of the immune system and contribute to the pathogenesis of HIV infection. The measurement soluble cytokines in plasma of HIV-1 infected individuals with different rates of disease progression may provide additional information to complement prognostic markers and understand disease process. The aim of the present study was to determine the cytokine profiles in plasma of Thai HIV-1 CRFO1_AE infected individuals with different rates of disease progression by using a multiplex system for simultaneous detection of 7 cytokines.

A whole blood lymphocyte proliferation assay in healthy Thais: comparison of heparinized blood and acid citrate dextrose blood.

The lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) is a technique to determine T-lymphocyte functions in vitro. The standard LPA using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) separated from heparinized blood requires a large blood sample, time consuming and expensive. It is more useful if acid citrate dextrose (ACD) blood could be used not only for LPA but also for other purposes.

The comparative study of depression between gifted children and normal children.

Background: Gifted children have more depression than normal children because of their expectation to be the first.

Objective: Compare depression between gifted children and normal children.

Material And Method: The subjects, aged 9-12 years from Patai School, were 40 gifted children and 40 normal children.

ZAP-70 positive cells in treated and untreated HIV-1 infected patients.

ZAP-70 is a critical protein tyrosine kinase in T-cell activation and proliferation processes. Defective recruitment of ZAP-70 molecules results in termination of the T-cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction pathway. Impairment of this pathway is one of the early markers of disease progression in HIV-1 infected individuals.

Structure and function of HIV-1 CRF01_AE envelope proteins from blood and genital fluid isolates.

The recombinant envelope protein (gp120) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) CRF01_AE env gene isolated from the corresponding blood (rgp120-F36PC) and genital fluid (rgp120-F36VC) specimens obtained from HIV infected individuals was successfully produced in both prokaryote and eukaryote cells. The yields of HIV-1 recombinant envelope proteins rgp120-F36PC and rgp120-F36VC produced in E. coli and in mammalian cells were 1.

The prevalence of anti-hepatitis E in occupational risk groups.

The seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) IgG was investigated by using ELISA commercial anti HEV test kit in 408 healthy adults who lived in central part of Thailand, 168 of which were swine workers, 102 were poultry farmers and 138 were government officers. The overall rate of seroprevalence of IgG anti-HEV was 23.3 % (range 16.

Cytokine production in NK and NKT cells from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected patients.

Tuberculosis, a major health problem in developing countries, has re-emerged in recent years in many countries. While it is accepted that various lymphocyte subsets are important responses to mycobacterial infection, the roles of NK and NKT cells in producing cytokines are still unclear. Thus we have evaluated, in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the frequency of cytokine producing cells by flow cytometry.

Distribution of CD38 molecules on CD3+ and CD8+ T- lymphocyte in adulthood HIV-1-uninfected Thais.

The expression of CD38 on CD8+ T-lymphocyte is a significant predictive value in disease progression of HIV infected individuals and in monitoring a response to therapy. CD38 molecules expressing on CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells were measured quantitatively by flow cytometry in 30 healthy Thai adults. In each experiment, the known amount of fluorochrome in CD38 antibodies bound per cell of QuantiBRITE PE beads was plotted, and set a regression line.

Binding antibody to neutralizing epitope gp41 in HIV-1 subtype CRF 01_AE infection related to stage of disease.

The responsiveness of gp41 antibody against epitope ELDKWA in HIV-1 infected subjects is of importance in neutralizing viral infectivity and for being related to disease progression. In this study, antibody titers to this neutralizing epitope from HIV-1 infected subjects at asymptomatic and AIDS stages in Thailand were investigated by peptide ELISA. The results showed that the frequency of antibody production against this neutralizing epitope was low (15-35%).

Conserved neutralizing epitopes of HIV type 1 CRF01_AE against primary isolates in long-term nonprogressors.

Linear conserved B cell epitopes in envelope glycoprotein of long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) HIV-1 CRF01_AE were determined. The envelope sequences of HIV-1 subtype E from Thailand were aligned to define consensus sequences. Then the peptides corresponding to these predicted regions were synthesized as peptides represent C1, C2, C3, C5, V2, V3, and gp41 regions.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in malaria infected individuals living in an endemic area.

Development of partial immunity in people living in malaria endemic area is complex. For better understanding, the lymphocyte subpopulations from infected patients were evaluated by flow cytometer before any antimalarial treatment. In P.

Molecular and phenotypic characteristics of neurotropic HIV-1 subtype E.

Although HIV-1 subtype E associated with neurological dysfunction is common, the virological characteristics of HIV-1 isolated from the CNS for this subtype have not yet been identified. In this study, paired blood and CSF isolated from patients with AIDs-defining illnesses were cultured, sequenced and aligned. Phylogenetic tree and nucleotide-distances from both blood and CSF were investigated.

Differential susceptibility of quiescent CD4+ lymphocytes to syncytial-inducing and non-syncytial-inducing isolates of HIV-1.

It is generally believed that quiescent CD4+ T cells are not susceptible to HIV-1 infection. However, infection of unstimulated peripheral mononuclear cells by syncytial-inducing (SI) viruses has been shown to be much more efficient than with non-syncytial-inducing (NSI) viruses. This suggested that SI, CXCR4-tropic viruses may be able to infect quiescent CD4+ T cells.

The effects of cigarette smoking on peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocyte subpopulations: an urban population-based study in Thailand.

Preliminary studies for peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets were done in smokers and non-smokers. There were 20 smokers (smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day) for more than a year and 20 non-smokers (smoked less than 20 cigarettes/20 years). Ages of smokers and non-smokers were respectively 21-57, and 18-55 years.

The effect of standardized ginseng extract on peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets: a preliminary study in young health adults.

The present study was undertaken in twenty young, healthy Thai males to investigate the effects of prolonged administration of standardized ginseng extract on peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets. The subjects were divided into two equal groups as ginseng and placebo groups. The first group received two capsules daily of standardized ginseng extract 150 mg per capsule for 8 weeks.

Effect of zinc supplementation on zinc status, copper status and cellular immunity in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

This preliminary study was to investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on Zn status, Cu status, serum macrominerals and lymphocyte subsets in elderly diabetic patients. The results of Zn supplementation can correct plasma Zn levels to normal values. However, this treatment did not affect the cellular Zn, copper status and serum macrominerals.