A novel real-time nested-PCR assay was developed to quantify integrated human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) DNA with high specificity and sensitivity. This assay reproducibly allowed the detection of three copies of integrated HIV DNA in a background of 100,000 cell equivalents of human chromosomal DNA. The non-specific amplification of unintegrated HIV-1 DNA was significantly inhibited in this assay and the specificity of this assay was much higher than the previously reported method. This assay showed that kinetics in viral DNA synthesis was cell-type dependent and that the kinetics of HIV-1 DNA integration was very rapid in Jurkat T cell line. This method may provide new insights into the integration processes and be useful in evaluating future integrase inhibitors.

To investigate the influence of sex hormones on the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we examined the estrogen receptor (ER) expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with SLE using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan) method. The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for ER alpha (ERa) was increased and expression of ER beta (ERb) mRNA was decreased in PBMC from SLE patients compared with PBMC from normal controls. These findings may be useful for elucidation of the pathophysiology of SLE.

Background. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are a causative agent of digestive disease. Although a proton pump inhibitor combined with amoxicillin-clarithromycin is the accepted drug treatment for H. pylori eradication in Japan, there is no consensus treatment for hemodialysis patients. Study. Seventy-seven hemodialysis patients underwent upper digestive tract endoscopy. Biopsy specimens were taken, and histological findings, culture, and rapid urease tests were performed to confirm the presence of H. pylori. H. pylori-positive patients were then administered at random either a seven-day lansoprazole (60 mg a day)-amoxicillin (750 mg a day)-clarithromycin (400 mg a day) (LAC) regimen or a seven-day lansoprazole (60 mg a day)-clarithromycin (400 mg a day) (LC) regimen. The success of H. pylori eradication was determined from histological findings, culture, and rapid urease tests. Results. In 13 of 77 patients (13.6%), ulcers and/or ulcer scars were seen by endoscopy. Thirty-one patients (40.3%) were positive for H. pylori, and 20 patients among them were randomized to one of two regimens: one is seven-day LAC regimen (eleven patients) and the other is seven-day LC regimen (nine patients). Eradication was successful in nine of the eleven patients (72.7%) receiving the LAC regimen, but in only three of the nine patients (33.3%) who underwent the LC regimen. No serious adverse effects were observed with either regimen, and 95% of the patients reported complete compliance. Conclusion. A seven-day low dose LAC regimen is safe and effective and recommended for treatment of H. pylori infection in hemodialysis patients.

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Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a common disease in young adults