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GERMS is published by MDPI from Volume 15 Issue 4 (2025). Previous articles were published by another publisher in Open Access under a CC-BY (or CC-BY-NC-ND) licence, and they are hosted by MDPI on mdpi.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with the former publisher Infection Science Forum.

GERMS, Volume 5, Issue 2 (06 2015) – 4 articles

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Editorial
Why a Stem Cell Diagnosis Is Quite Difficult
by Mugurel Constantin Rusu
GERMS 2015, 5(2), 38; https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2015.1068 - 2 Jun 2015
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 22
Abstract
If one is interested in finding information by use of the key terms “stem cells” and “liver” more than 10,000 papers will be indicated[...] Full article
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Communication
Seroprevalence of Rubella Virus IgG in Pregnant Women in Harare, Zimbabwe
by Tafadzwa Shepherd Mamvura, Nyasha Chin'Ombe, Vurayai Ruhanya and Pasipanodya Nziramasanga
GERMS 2015, 5(2), 50-52; https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2015.1071 - 1 Jun 2015
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 26
Abstract
Rubella is an infectious disease caused by a virus belonging to the family Togaviridae[...] Full article
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Article
HLA Class II Alleles in Romanian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
by Loredana Gheorghe, Sorin Rugină, Irina Magdalena Dumitru, Irina Franciuc, Alina Martinescu and Iulia Balaș
GERMS 2015, 5(2), 44-49; https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2015.1070 - 1 Jun 2015
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 24
Abstract
Introduction: The objective of the study was to determine the association of host human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genotype DRB1 alleles with the response to interferon therapy, viral loads and extent of liver fibrosis in a group of Romanian patients diagnosed with [...] Read more.
Introduction: The objective of the study was to determine the association of host human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genotype DRB1 alleles with the response to interferon therapy, viral loads and extent of liver fibrosis in a group of Romanian patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, with different clinical outcomes. Class II HLA genes, particularly the HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 genes, have been shown to have an important role in self-limiting or persistent viral infection, in different genetic populations. In chronic hepatitis C both susceptible and protective alleles have been described, influencing the development of autoimmunity and progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: The study included 54 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, registered and monitored from January 2014 to January 2015 at the Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Constanţa, Romania. The selected patients were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and HCV-RNA, with screening laboratory results indicating HCV genotype 1b. The method used for the assignment of alleles at HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 loci was molecular genotyping, by the sequence specific oligonucleotide (SSO) hybridization method, and when required, by the sequence specific primers method (SSP). The presence of different alleles in patients has been analyzed for statistical significance. Results: The presence of HLA-DRB1*0301 had a high frequency (14.8%) in null-responders (NR) while alleles DRB1*0701 (11.1%), DRB1*11# (22.2%) and DRB1*0101 (16.7%) were prevalent in sustained virologic responders (SVR). No significant correlation was found between the presence of HLA-DRB1* alleles and viral loads or liver fibrosis with p values not statistically significant after the Bonferroni correction. Conclusion: The presented data suggest that in this group of Romanian patients, certain HLA alleles influence the therapeutic response in HCV infection and genetic predisposition may play a role in hepatitis C virus infection in those patients. Full article
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Article
Vancomycin Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations and Lethality in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
by Felipe Sulla, Daniel T. Bussius, Felipe Acquesta, Alessandra Navarini, Suzethe M. Sasagawa and Marcelo J. Mimica
GERMS 2015, 5(2), 39-43; https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2015.1069 - 1 Jun 2015
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 29
Abstract
Background: After the dissemination of penicillin and oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin resistant isolates have been reported. Even between isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) within the susceptible range, some authors have demonstrated that higher MICs correlate with higher lethality. [...] Read more.
Background: After the dissemination of penicillin and oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin resistant isolates have been reported. Even between isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) within the susceptible range, some authors have demonstrated that higher MICs correlate with higher lethality. Methods: To test this hypothesis in our setting, we compared vancomycin MICs evaluated by two methods and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with S. aureus bacteremia. Results: We compared lethality in patients infected with isolates that had MICs under or over 2 mg/L. Among patients infected with isolates that had microdilution MICs <2 mg/L, the lethality was 25%; among patients infected with strains that had microdilution MICs ≥2 mg/L, 33% died. Among patients infected with isolates that had Etest MICs <2 mg/L, 23% died; in comparison, patients infected with strains that had Etest MICs ≥2 mg/L had a lethality of 44%. Conclusion: Our results showed a slight tendency of higher lethality when higher MICs were present. However, this difference did not reach statistical significance, possibly due to the relatively small number of patients included in the study. Future prospective studies are needed to further evaluate this correlation and to help clinicians guide antimicrobial therapy. Full article
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