• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.315-323
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• 2009

Purpose : This study aimed to perform a systematic review of the reports on Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in the last 30 years (1980-2006) to investigate the intervals between outbreaks, change in the peak incidence age, and diagnostic methods. We also aimed to validate the proper diagnostic criteria for M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods : We reviewed 62 original articles on M. pneumoniae pneumonia in Korean children. We analyzed the annual or seasonal variation, study areas, patient age, journal names, and the date of each report. Further, we checked the methods and criteria used for the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia. We also confirmed the proper mycoplasma antibody cutoff using the mycoplasma IgM titer as the gold standard. Results : In the last 30 years, epidemic outbreaks of M. pneumoniae pneumonia occurred every 3 years, except in 1993-1994 and 1996-1997. Seasonal variations were also present and were most prevalent in October and November. The number of preschool children, especially those aged 3 years or younger, with M. pneumoniae pneumonia has increased (P<0.05). The mycoplasma antibody titer of 1:640 or greater was appropriate for diagnosing M. pneumoniae pneumonia, with an acceptable sensitivity and specificity of detection. Conclusion : We analyzed the results of studies on M. pneumoniae pneumonia in Korean children during the last 30 years. Infection in younger children is increasing, and further research is required to reveal the major cause of the changing epidemics.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.226-238
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• 2021

Purpose: Although several reports have described the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, information about the association between periodontal disease and the progression of degenerative aortic stenosis (AS) is lacking. Therefore, we performed a retrospective, single-center, pilot study to provide insight into this potential association. Methods: Data from 45 consecutive patients (19 men; median age, 83 years) with mild or moderate degenerative aortic stenosis were analyzed for a mean observation period of 3.3±1.9 years. The total amount of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis and titers of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) against periodontal bacteria and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were evaluated. Aortic valve area (AVA), maximal velocity (Vmax), mean pressure gradient (mean PG), and the Doppler velocity index (DVI) were evaluated. The change in each parameter per year ([Parameter_LATEST-Parameter_BASELINE]/Follow-up Years) was calculated from the retrospective follow-up echocardiographic data (baseline vs. the most recently collected data [latest]). Results: No correlation was found between the concentration of periodontopathic bacteria in the saliva and AS status/progression. The anti-P. gingivalis antibody titer in the serum showed a significant positive correlation with AVA and DVI. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between the anti-P. gingivalis IgG antibody titer and mean PG. The hs-CRP concentration showed positive correlations with Vmax and mean PG. Meanwhile, a negative correlation was observed between the anti-P. gingivalis IgG antibody titer and ΔAVA/year and Δmean PG/year. The hs-CRP concentration showed positive correlations with Vmax and mean PG, and it was significantly higher in patients with rapid aortic stenosis progression (ΔAVA/year <-0.1) than in their counterparts. Conclusions: Our results suggest that periodontopathic bacteria such as A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis are not directly related to the status/progression of degenerative AS. However, inflammation and a lower immune response may be associated with disease progression.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1498-1504
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• 2005

Competitive direct ELISA was developed to detect gentamicin residues. Mice immunized with gentamicin-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) conjugate developed good antiserum titers, which gradually increased with booster injections, indicating immunization was successfully processed. Monoclonal antibody against gentamicin was prepared using hybridoma cells cloned by limit dilution of fused cells. IgG was purified from ascites fluid of hybridoma cell-injected mice through ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex G-25 gel filtration. After the gel filtration, fractions of high antibody titer were further purified through affinity chromatography on protein A/G column. Monoclonal antibody against gentamicin was confirmed as IgG1, which has kappa light chain. Cross-reactivities ($CR_{50}$) of gentamicin monoclonal antibody to other aminoglycosides (kanamycin, neomycin, and streptomycin) were less than 0.005%, indicating the monoclonal antibody was highly specific for gentamicin. Standard curve constructed through competitive direct ELISA showed measurement range (from 80 to 20% of B/$B_0$ ratio) of gentamicin was between 1 and 40 ng/ml, and 50% of B/$B_0$ ratio was about 4 ng/ml. The gentamicin concentration rapidly increased to 1,300 ng/ml after the intramuscular administration up to 2 h, then sharply decreased to less than 300 ng/ml after 4 h of withdrawal, during which the elimination half-life ($t_{1/2}$) of gentamicin in the rabbit plasma was estimated to be 1.8 h. Competitive direct ELISA method developed in this study using the prepared monoclonal antibody is highly sensitive for gentamicin, and could be useful for detecting gentamicin residues in plasma of live animals.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1327-1338
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• 2013

The humanized anti-hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) monoclonal antibody (mAb) YYB-101 is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating various cancers. In this study, we developed a bioprocess for large-scale production of YYB-101 and evaluated its therapeutic potential for tumor treatment using a xenograft mouse model. By screening diverse chemically defined basal media formulations and by assessing the effects of various feed supplements and feeding schedules on cell growth and antibody production, we established an optimal medium and feeding method to produce 757 mg/l of YYB-101 in flask cultures, representing a 7.5-fold increase in titer compared with that obtained under non-optimized conditions. The optimal dissolved oxygen concentration for antibody production was 70% $pO_2$. A pH shift from 7.2 to 7.0, rather than controlled pH of either 7.0 or 7.2, resulted in productivity improvement in 5 L and 200 L bioreactors, yielding 737 and 830 mg/ml of YYB-101, respectively. The YYB-101 mAb highly purified by affinity chromatography using a Protein A column and two-step ion exchange chromatography effectively neutralized HGF in a cell-based assay and showed potent tumor suppression activity in a mouse xenograft model established with human glioblastoma cells.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2013

Objectives: Outbreaks of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) occur every 3-4 years in Korea, most recently in 2011. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal time to perform indirect particle agglutination antibody assays to improve early diagnosis of MP pneumonia in children. Methods: A database of 206 pediatric patients treated for pneumonia at the Hanyang University Hospital from June to October 2011 was analyzed retrospectively for demographic characteristics and laboratory test results. Results: Among the 206 patients treated for pneumonia during the study period, there were 160 children (mean age, 5.44 years) diagnosed with MP pneumonia, who were studied further. The mean age of these MP pneumonia patients was 5.44 years. Antibody titers increased with increasing time between symptom onset and the collection of serum collection: MP titers were <1:640 for sera collected after 5.44 days and titers ${\geq}1:640$ for those collected after 8.58 days; P<0.001). Antibody titers were considered positive when they reached ${\geq}1:640$. In 42 MP pneumonia patients in whom there was a four-fold or greater increase in titer between successive serum samples, the optimal cut-off time-point for distinguishing between the initial and second titer groups was 7.5 days after the onset of symptoms (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.9%). Conclusions: Negative MP antibody titers earlier than 8 days after the onset of symptoms in children with pneumonia may require repeating to confirm the diagnosis. This finding could optimize diagnosis and result in better therapeutic outcomes of MP pneumonia in children.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.633-642
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• 2002

Enteric colibacillosis has economically become an important disease of young animals as a result of increasing intensification of farrowing management. The objective of this experiment is to isolate fimbrial antigen from enterotoxigenic E. coli F41, to develop specific polyclonal IgY which can effectively neutralize or reduce the proliferation of pathogens in feed or living animal system, and to apply IgY technologies to animal industry. The results obtained were as follows: The molecular weight of the purified F41 antigen was 29,500 dalton on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Fimbrial antigen was confirmed by the western blot method. It was observed that after immunization the level of serum antibody titer of laying hen was shown in two weeks and gradually increased. The antibody titer in egg yolk appeared two weeks after it was shown in serum antibody. The titers of egg yolk antibody were gradually increased to the maximum level of 320,000 (antigen 50${\mu}g$/$m\ell$), 450,000 (antigen 200${\mu}g$/$m\ell$), and 320,000 (antigen 600${\mu}g$/$m\ell$). According to the results of specificity test by ELISA, the anti-F41 antibodies from chicken serum and egg yolk reacted only with ETEC F41 antigen. There was no cross reaction with other ETEC strains (K88, K99, and 987P). In vitro condition, as a result of antigen binding ability of yolk antibodies, bacterial concentration was rapidly decreased to $10^5$ CFU/$m\ell$ from $10^9$ CFU/$m\ell$ when 2${\sim}$4 mg/$m\ell$ of freeze dried WSF (water soluble fraction) was added.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2001

Background : Bell's palsy(BP) is defined as an idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis of acute onset, accounting for more than 50% of all cases of facial paralysis. Different theories on the etiology of BP have been proposed. Herpes simplex virus-1(HSV) has been the most suspicious causative agent, but varicella zoster virus(VZV) also is suspected. Objectives : We evaluated the serological changes of IgG and IgM titer of HSV and VZV to know the causative agent of BP. Materials and Methods : Subjects consisted of 35 patients who developed acute idiopathic unilateral facial palsy(16 men and 19 women from 9 to 78 years old) within a week of onset. We took the serum of the acute and convalescent stages, respectively. Serum IgG and IgM titer of HSV and VZV were measured in acute and convalescent stages by EIA method. Results : Only the HSV IgG titer showed statistically significant elevation in the convalescent stage(p=0.0291). Others did not show any significant change between the acute and convalescent stage. Conclusion : We concluded that HSV may be related to the causative agent of BP.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.297-307
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• 1990

To establish an agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test for detection of antibodies to Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV) in swine, the precipitating antigens were prepared by four procedures using the Aujeszky's disease virus, NYJ-1-87 strain isolated from the affected piglets in Korea. The optimal condition for AGID test and the properties of the antigens were investigated. To determine the optimal concentration of antigens, four antigens were experimentally prepared by concentrating the viral fluids by 1/30 to 1/200. It was proved that the antigen precipitated with ammonium sulfate at concentration of 1/100 was the most efficient to detect ADV antibodies by AGID test. When the relationship between the concentration of the antigens and the size of precipitating in radial immunodiffusion test was investigated, a high correlation coefficiency at r=0.95 (y=0.23x+23.4) was estimated, In study on the effects of various buffered salt solutions and agars on the sensitivity of AGID test by using the experimental ADV antigens, it was found that 0.05M tris buffer without sodium chloride at pH 7.2 induced the most distinctive precipitating lines, and that there was no significant differences in the sensitivity between the agarose and Noble's special agar. When the efficiency of AGID test was compared with serum neutralization(SN) test, the sensitivity of AGID test was 100% in SN titer over 1 : 16, 91.7% in SN titer of 1 : 8 and 57.1% in SN titer of 1 : 4. The specificity of AGID test compared with the sera with SN titer under 1 : 2 was 98.4%. Protein analysis of the antigens by SDS-PAGE indicated that antigen I and antigen III showed a specific band of polypeptides with molecular weight of 116 K in comparison with the control antigen. Antigen IV, treated with tween-80 and ammonium sulfate, revealed specific polypeptides bands at the molecular weights 45K, 98K and 150 K.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2012

Vibrio vulnificus ghosts (VVG) were generated using a mobilizable vector including a thermosensitive expression cassette by conjugation. The vaccine potential of VVG was investigated in mouse. Mice immunized with VVG showed significantly higher antibody titer than those with formalin-killed V. vulnificus. The present study supports the conceptive usefulness of bacterial ghosts as vaccine candidates.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.135-139
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• 1998

High titer rabbit polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) which show a specificity for saikosaponin a (SSA), have been generated. The immunogen used was a conjugate of SSA linked through its glucose moiety to bovine serum albumin by periodate oxidation method. The antibody titers obtained from two rabbits, innoculated with the immunogen, reached a plateau after the fourth and third booster injection, respectively. The specificity of the pAbs was determined by hapten inhibition assays using several SSA-like structures. SSA competitively inhibited the binding of the rabbit anti-SSA pAbs to SSA-ovalbumin on solid phase, a coated antigen on the well. The antibodies showed high specificity to SSA, exhibiting no significant cross-reactivity with any of SSA analogues tested.