BACKGROUND The haptoglobin gene (HP) has 2 common codominant alleles (HP(1) and HP(2)) that account for 3 phenotypes. HP(2) is generated by a 1.7-kb intragenic duplication of HP(1). METHODS We used the real-time TaqMan PCR system to develop an effective method for HP genotyping that allows us to evaluate the relative number of copies of the HP(2) allele-specific junctional region of the 1.7-k...

Background and Objectives: Iran, as a developing country, is experiencing high burdens of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated non-communicable diseases. Hp stool antigen test (HpSA) is widely used as an inexpensive and feasible noninvasive method to diagnose Hp infection, instead of invasive approaches. The current study aimed at evaluating th...

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcomes of acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) fixation with hook plate (HP) and continuous loop double endobutton fixation (CLDE) in treatment of the acute acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation. Methods: In this retrospective study, 8 patients with HP and 9 patients with CLDE fixations were compared for acute ACJ dislocations. ...

BACKGROUND Haptoglobin polymorphism is associated with the prevalence of infections, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and other disorders. Congenital haptoglobin deficiency is associated with anaphylactic transfusion reactions in anhaptoglobinaemic patients with antihaptoglobin antibody. AIMS To investigate haptoglobin genotypic distribution (including the Hp(0) allele) and assoc...

BACKGROUND We investigated the genotypic distribution of Hp(del) in healthy subjects and cancer patients in Taiwan. METHODS Blood samples were collected from 244 randomly selected healthy Taiwanese volunteers and 737 patients with various cancers. Samples were analyzed for the haptoglobin (Hp) gene, and the presence of the Hp(del) allele was determined from genomic DNA by an Hp(del)-specific ...

BACKGROUND Increased insulin resistance is an extragastrointestinal manifestation of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. HP changes the level of inflammatory markers and cytokines and changes the adipocyte function by altering the adiponectin level. Given the high prevalence of HP and diabetes in our society, we evaluated the association between HP and serum adiponectin level. In this cross-sec...