Novel KIR genotypes and gene copy number variations in northeastern Thais

KIR (Killer Immunoglobulin‐like Receptor) variants influence immune responses and are genetic factors in disease susceptibility. Using sequence‐specific priming PCR, we have previously described the diversity of KIR genes in term of presence/absence in northeastern Thais (NETs). To provide additional resolution beyond conventional methods, quantitative PCR was applied to determine KIR copy number profiles. Novel expanded and contracted KIR copy number profiles were identified at cumulatively high frequencies. These all comprise haplotypes with duplication (6·9%) or deletion (2·7%) of KIR3DL1/S1 along with adjacent genes. Five expanded KIR profiles comprised haplotypes with duplications of KIR2DP1, 2DL1, 3DP1, 2DL4, 3DL1/S1 and 2DS1/4, whereas two contracted profiles contained only a single copy of KIR3DP1, 3DL1/S1 and 2DL4. Using a KIR haplotype prediction program (KIR Haplotype Identifier), 14% of NET haplotypes carried atypical haplotypes based on the gene copy number data.     

Genetic study of KIR and HLA ligands in 235 individuals from Northeastern Thailand

The diversity of 17 KIR and HLA ligands (HLA-C1, C2, Bw4, A11) were investigated in two hundred and thirty-five unrelated healthy donors in Northeastern Thais (NETs) by the polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method. The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) was used to verify genotyping method for dimorphic KIR and HLA. They were in HWE (p > 0.05). KIR and HLA ligands frequencies, genotypes, haplotypes and linkage disequilibrium (LD) were presented. The genetic data are available in allele Frequencies Net Database.     

Trichinosis： Epidemiology in Thailand

INTRODUCTIONTrichinosis is one of the most widespread helminthic zoonoses.Unlike other parasitic infections,it has been a major public health problem and reported in many Asian countries,including China,Japan,Korea and Thailand[1-7].Since1835,controversy …     

Haplotype associations of the major histocompatibility complex with psoriasis in Northeastern Thais

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the distributions of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) at class I and II loci that may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to psoriasis patients in the north-eastern Thai population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the allelic frequencies of HLA class I and II by using the polymerase chain reaction-amplification refractory mutation system (PCR-ARMS) technique and polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), respectively, in 140 north-eastern Thais with psoriasis that were sudivided into two groups: one with age at onset < 40 years (type I psoriasis; 95 cases) and the other with age at onset > 40 years (type II psoriasis; 45 cases). Three hundred healthy unrelated north-eastern Thais were used as controls. RESULTS: HLA-A*01, -A*0207, -A*30, -B*08, -B*13, -B*4601, -B*57, -Cw*01, -Cw*0602, and -DRB1*07 were positively associated with type I psoriasis, whereas HLA-A*24, -A*33, and -Cw*04 were negatively associated with type I psoriasis with statistical significance when compared to the controls. The Cw*0602 allele showed the strongest correlation with this type. In addition, the frequencies of HLA-A*0207, -A*30, -Cw*01, and -DRB1*1401 were significantly increased in type II psoriasis. HLA-A*207, -B*4601, -Cw*01, -DRB1*09, -DQB1*0303 (AH46.1), HLA-A*01-B*57-Cw*0602-DRB1*07-DQB1*0303 (AH57.1), and HLA-A*30, -B*13, -Cw*0602, -DRB1*07, and -DQB1*02 (AH13.1) were identified as high-risk major histocompatibility complex (MHC) halotypes for psoriasis patients in the early onset group in north-eastern Thais. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates not only the differential association between HLA markers and types of psoriasis according to age at onset, but also a newly found high-risk and a protective haplotype in Thai psoriasis patients.     

Verification of complete bisulfite modification using Calponin-specific primer sets

ObjectivesTo verify complete bisulfite modification.Design and methodsBisulfite modified DNA was screened by PCR with Calponin-specific primer sets prior to detecting methylation status of 14-3-3σ by methylation-specific PCR.ResultsFalse positive methylation was obtained from incomplete bisulfite modification. The lower detection limit of wild type Calponin-specific primer is approximately 0.375 ng of unmodified DNA.ConclusionsVerification of complete bisulfite modification by Calponin-specific primer sets can reduce misinterpretation of methylation.     

Mental problems and risk factors for depression among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Prevalence of depression is high among medical students and several mental problems are identified as risk factors. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causes difficulties that could adversely affect mental health. However, data concerning prevalence of mental problems, and whether or not these problems remain risk factors for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in medical students are scarce. To investigate the prevalence of depression, social media addiction, game addiction, sleep quality, eating disorder risk, and perceived stress among Thai medical students, risk factors for depression were investigated. Online surveys via our faculty’s learning portals were advertized to medical students who engaged online learning and 224 respondents provided complete data. Study-related medical students’ data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, the Social-Media Addiction Screening Scale for social media addiction, the Game Addiction Screening Test for game addiction, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep quality, the Eating Attitudes Test for eating disorder risk, and the Perceived Stress Scale for perceived stress. Depression was reported in 35.7% of medical students, social-media addiction in 22.3%, game addiction in 4.5%, eating disorder risk in 4.9%, poor sleep quality in 80.8%, and moderate-to-high perceived stress in 71.4%. The independent predictors of depression were lower grade point average, social media addiction, and moderate-to-high perceived stress. A high prevalence of depression, stress, and poor sleep was found among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students who are stressed, have lower grades, and/or who are addicted to social media warrant depression screening.     

A Comparative Study of Psychosocial Interventions for Internet Gaming Disorder Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - The present study is a quasi-experimental, prospective study of interventions for internet gaming disorder (IGD). One hundred four parents and...