Genotyping for Dombrock blood group alleles in Northern Pakistani blood donors.

Genotyping can be used to identify rare blood group antigens and to solve suspected blood group discrepancies, particularly when serologic methods are limited. Unfortunately, only a few such studies have been performed in Pakistan. The present study was conducted to determine the frequency of Dombrock blood group alleles by genotyping samples from blood donors from the north of Pakistan. Blood samples were taken with consent from 300 blood donors; DNA was extracted and tested for DO*01 and DO*02 alleles by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP), followed by gel electrophoresis. Allele frequencies were calculated. The observed and expected genotype frequencies were compared using the χ2 test. The allele frequencies for DO*01 and DO*02 were 0.40 and 0.60, respectively. Genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This study in Pakistani blood donors provides Dombrock blood group allele frequencies by PCR-SSP. This approach is efficient and economical and can be applied in developing countries. The findings can contribute to the development of in-house red blood cell panels, identification of rare blood types, and establishment of a national rare blood donor program.Genotyping can be used to identify rare blood group antigens and to solve suspected blood group discrepancies, particularly when serologic methods are limited. Unfortunately, only a few such studies have been performed in Pakistan. The present study was conducted to determine the frequency of Dombrock blood group alleles by genotyping samples from blood donors from the north of Pakistan. Blood samples were taken with consent from 300 blood donors; DNA was extracted and tested for DO*01 and DO*02 alleles by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP), followed by gel electrophoresis. Allele frequencies were calculated. The observed and expected genotype frequencies were compared using the χ2 test. The allele frequencies for DO*01 and DO*02 were 0.40 and 0.60, respectively. Genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This study in Pakistani blood donors provides Dombrock blood group allele frequencies by PCR-SSP. This approach is efficient and economical and can be applied in developing countries. The findings can contribute to the development of in-house red blood cell panels, identification of rare blood types, and establishment of a national rare blood donor program.

Cytotoxicity of set polymer nanocomposite resin root-end filling materials.

AIM: To evaluate the cytotoxicity of two forms of the novel root-end filling materials, polymer nanocomposite (PNC) resins [C-18 Amine montmorillonate (MMT) and VODAC MMT] both containing Chlorhexidine Diacetate Salt Hydrate 2%, and to compare it to that of two widely accepted commercially available materials, ProRoot® MTA and Geristore®. METHODOLOGY: Elutes of experimental materials extracted after 24 h, 1, 2 and 3 weeks were interacted with the mouse fibroblasts L-929 using a colorimetric cell viability assay (MTS) based on mitochondrial dehydrogenases activity. Using 100% and 50% concentrations of the extracted elutes of the experimental materials the effect of different concentrations of elutes on the cells was analysed. In the positive control group Hygrogold® was added to the cell culture to arrest cells bioactivity. In the negative control group, fresh Dulbecco's Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum was used to enhance cell bioactivity. Differences in mean bioactivity values were assessed using a t-test and one-way anova (P<0.05). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in cytotoxicity between ProRoot® MTA, Geristore® and PNC resin C-18 Amine MMT on 24 h, 1, 2 and 3 weeks samples. Sample elutes of PNC resin VODAC MMT, however, revealed cytotoxic activity during most of these experiments. CONCLUSION: Cytotoxicity of the elutes of PNC resin C-18 Amine MMT was not significantly different from that of ProRoot® and Geristore®. PNC resin VODAC MMT, revealed significantly more cytotoxicity compared to the other tested materials.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B, C and HIV in blood donors in northern Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To study the seroprevalence and trends of Hepatitis B, C and HIV sero markers in healthy blood donors of Northern Pakistan. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood donated by healthy donors from both Armed Forces and civilian population, collected from Jan 1996 to Dec 2000 were tested by Enzyme Linked Immunoassay at Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Demographic data of these donors was also studied. RESULTS: Of 103858 blood donors, 3.3% (95% CI 3.20%-3.41%) were HBsAg, 4.0% (95% CI 3.91%-4.11%) were anti HCV and 0.007% anti HIV positive. Their average was 28 years. HBsAg positive donors were a decade younger than anti HCV positive donors. Pattern in Armed Forces and civilians donors was similar but there was significant reduction in the prevalence of HBsAg carriage in all blood donors. CONCLUSION: This study supports the changing trends in HBV/HCV seroprevalence in blood donors and a low prevalence of HIV in Pakistani population.