• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3057-3062
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• 2013

Background: Selecting chemotherapy regimens guided by chemosensitivity tests can provide individualized therapies for cancer patients. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2Htetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay is one in vitro assay which has become widely used to evaluate the sensitivity to anticancer agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical applicability and accuracy of MTS assay for predicting chemotherapeutic response in unresectable NSCLC patients. Methods: Cancer cells were isolated from malignant pleural effusions of patients by density gradient centrifugation, and their sensitivity to eight chemotherapeutic agents was examined by MTS assay and compared with clinical response. Results: A total of 37 patients participated in this study, and MTS assay produced results successfully in 34 patients (91.9%). The sensitivity rates ranged from 8.8% to 88.2%. Twenty-four of 34 patients who received chemotherapy were evaluated for in vitro-in vivo response analysis. The correlation between in vitro chemosensitivity result and in vivo response was highly significant (P=0.003), and the total predictive accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for MTS assay were 87.5%, 94.1%, 71.4%, 88.9%, and 83.3%, respectively. The in vitro sensitivity for CDDP also showed a significant correlation with in vivo response (P=0.018, r=0.522). Conclusion: MTS assay is a preferable in vitro chemosensitivity assay that could be use to predict the response to chemotherapy and select the appropriate chemotherapy regimens for unresectable NSCLC patients, which could greatly improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce unnecessary adverse effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 2022

Background: With the introduction of Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert), its incorporation into tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic algorithm has become an important issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Xpert assay in comparison with a commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Methods: Medical records of patients having results of both Xpert and AdvanSure TB/NTM real-time PCR (AdvanSure) assays using the same bronchial washing specimens were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 1,297 patients included in this study, 205 (15.8%) were diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Using mycobacterial culture as the reference method, sensitivity of the Xpert assay using smear-positive specimens was 97.5%, which was comparable to that of the AdvanSure assay (96.3%, p=0.193). However, the sensitivity of the Xpert assay using smear-negative specimens was 70.6%, which was significantly higher than that of the AdvanSure assay (52.9%, p=0.018). Usng phenotypic drug susceptibility testing as the reference method, sensitivity and specificity for detecting rifampicin resistance were 100% and 99.1%, respectively. Moreover, a median turnaround time of the Xpert assay was 1 day, which was significantly shorter than 3 days of the AdvanSure assay (p<0.001). Conclusion: In comparison with the AdvanSure assay, the Xpert assay had a higher sensitivity using smear-negative specimens, a shorter turnaround time, and could reliably predict rifampin resistance. Therefore, the Xpert assay might be preferentially recommended over TB-PCR in Korean TB diagnostic algorithm.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2019

Background: The Automated Fluorescent Immunoassay System (AFIAS) rotavirus assay (Boditech Med Inc., Chuncheon, Korea) is a new rapid antigen test for rotavirus detection. We evaluated the performance of this assay for detecting rotaviruses and their specific genotypes in clinical stool samples. Methods: AFIAS rotavirus assay was performed in 103 rotavirus-positive and 103 rotavirus-negative stool samples (confirmed by both PCR and ELISA), and its results were compared with those of PCR, ELISA, and immunochromatographic assay (ICA). We evaluated diagnostic sensitivity/specificity, the detectability of rotavirus subtypes, lower limit of detection (LLOD), reproducibility, cross-reactivity, and interference of AFIAS rotavirus assay. Results: Based on PCR and ELISA results, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the AFIAS rotavirus assay were both 99.0%. LLOD results showed that the AFIAS assay had sensitivity similar to or greater than ICA and ELISA. High reproducibility was confirmed, and no cross-reactivity or interference was detected. This assay could detect genotypes G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[6], G4P[8], G8P[4], G8P[8], G9P[4], and G9P[8]. Conclusions: The AFIAS rotavirus assay showed high reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity as well as excellent agreement with ELISA, PCR, and ICA. It detected the most common as well as unusual genotypes of rotavirus prevalent in Korea. It could be a useful onsite assay for rapid, convenient, and cost-effective detection of rotavirus infection.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2008

Salmonella typhi is frequent causes of foodborne illness and its detection is important for monitoring disease progression. In this study, by using general PCR and novel LAMP (Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) assay, we evaluated the usefulness of LAMP assay for detection of Salmonella typhi. In this LAMP assay, forward inner primer (FIP) and back inner primer (BIP) was specially designed for recognizing target invA gene. Target DNA was amplified and visualized as ladder-like pattern of bands on agarose gel within 60 min under isothermal conditions at $65^{\circ}C$. When the sensitivity and reproducibility of LAMP were compared to general PCR, there was no difference of reproducibility but sensitivity of LAMP assay was more efficient than PCR (the detection limit of LAMP assay was 30 fg, while the PCR assay was 3 pg). These results indicate that the LAMP assay is a potential and valuable means for detection of Salmonella typhi, especially for its rapidity, simplicity and low cost.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2013

A field applicable diagnostic technique, the dipstick assay, was evaluated for its sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing human Schistosoma mansoni infection. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) against S. mansoni adult worm tegumental antigen (AWTA) was employed in dipstick and sandwich ELISA for detection of circulating schistosome antigen (CSA) in both serum and urine samples. Based on clinical and parasitological examinations, 60 S. mansoni-infected patients, 30 patients infected with parasites other than schistosomiasis, and 30 uninfected healthy individuals were selected. The sensitivity and specificity of dipstick assay in urine samples were 86.7% and 90.0%, respectively, compared to 90.0% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity of sandwich ELISA. In serum samples, the sensitivity and specificity were 88.3% and 91.7% for dipstick assay vs. 91.7% and 95.0% for sandwich ELISA, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of dipstick assay in urine and serum samples was 88.3% and 90.0%, while it was 90.8% and 93.3% for sandwich ELISA, respectively. The diagnostic indices of dipstick assay and ELISA either in serum or in urine were statistically comparable (P>0.05). In conclusion, the dipstick assay offers an alternative simple, rapid, non-invasive technique in detecting CSA or complement to stool examinations especially in field studies.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.387-392
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• 2011

Enzymes are being used in various fields due to their unique property of substrate specificity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) has enabled the detection of various antigens by reporting the binding event of antigen and antibody via enzyme-catalyzed reaction. However, the sensitivity improvement of conventional ELISA has been limited because only one enzyme molecule is conjugated to one molecule of antibody. To overcome this limitation and further improve the sensitivity of ELISA, there have been efforts to increase the number ratio of enzymes to antibody. Recently, the nanobiocatalytic approaches, with their successful enzyme stabilization, improved the performance stability as well as sensitivity in a modified protocol of ELISA. The present paper introduces the basic principle of ELISA, and the recent efforts to improve sensitivity and performance stability of ELISA by using the nanobiocatalytic approaches.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.443-447
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• 1997

We have developed a novel method for assays of spermidine and spermine synthase (aminopropyltransferase) activities using antibody against 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA). A new assay is reported here which is based on the observation that MTA is formed as a stoichiometric by-product of the spermidine and spermine synthases reactions. In order to determine MTA, a radioimmunoassay method with sensitivity and rapidity was used. (Lee and Cho, 1997). In this assay, adenine must be added in the reaction mixture, since it effectively inhibits the action of MTA phosphorylase by which MTA is metabolized. This assay is a improvement in term of sensitivity and time saving, compared to the currently used methods. It has a level of sensitivity (100 fmol) sufficient to monitor aminopropyltransferase activities in incubations containing as little as $10{\mu}g$ protein prepared from rat tissue homogenate. The results obtained showed that this method is particularly useful for cultured cells with low enzyme concentration. Moreover, this assay has the advantage which allows studies using alternative substrates (other amines). Spermidine synthase activity was high in rat liver, but low in rat kidney. The activity of spermine synthase was in most rat tissues very low as compared to that of spermidine synthase, but was high in brain.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.689-692
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate correlations between adenosine triphosphate chemotherapy response assay (ATP-CRA) and clinical outcomes after ATP-CRA-based chemotherapy for drug selection in patients receiving intravesical chemotherapy to prevent recurrence of superficial bladder cancer after surgery. Methods: The chemosensitivities of 12 anticancer drugs were evaluated, including 5-Fu ADM, and EPI, using ATP-CRA and primary tumor cell culture in 54 patients. In addition, a further 58 patients were treated according to clinical experience. Differences in post-chemotherapeutical effects between drug sensitivity assay and experience groups were compared. Results: The evaluable rate of the test was 96.3%, the clinical effective rate was 80.8%, the sensitivity rate was 97.6% (41/42), the specificity was 20%, the total predicting accuracy was 74.3%, the positive predictive value was 83.7% (41/49), the negative predictive value was 66.7% (2/3); in the drug sensitivity test group, the clinical effective rate was 80.8%, the experience group response rate was 63.8%, with a significant difference in clinical effects between the ATP-based sensitivity and experience groups (${\chi}^2$=7.0153, P<0.01). Conclusion: ATP-CRA is a stable, accurate and potentially practical chemosensitivity test providing a predictor of chemotherapeutic response in patients with superficial bladder cancer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.43 no.1 s.133
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• pp.15-18
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• 2005

The diagnosis of human hydatidosis is primarily made using radiological and serological methods. Radiological methods are generally of low specificity and serological methods lack sensitivity, especially for pulmonary disease. In this study the capabilities of a new rapid test, the hydatid antigen dot immunobinding assay (HA-DIA), which was developed for the diagnosis of pulmonary hydatidosis, were studied and compared with another immunodiagnostic method, indirect hemagglutination (IHA). The study subjects included 18 patients, 9 women, 9 men; range 7 to 63 years; mean 30 years, with surgically proven pulmonary hydatidosis, a control group comprised of 14 patients; viral respiratory infections (1), cirrhosis (2), connective tissue disease (2), taeniasis (3), and 6 healthy donors. We found that the HA-DIA test had a sensitivity of $67\%$ and specificity of $100\%$, and that the IHA test had a sensitivity of $50\%$ and specificity of $100\%$. We conclude that HA-DIA is a simple, rapid, low cost assay that does not require instrumentation and has a higher sensitivity than IHA for the diagnosis of pulmonary hydatidosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 1999

This test process on screening method for the detection of residual antibiotics in milk is simple, economic, sensitive to residual antibiotics and was given approval international organs. Thus, this study was carried out the comparison of Disk assay method and TTC-II method for sensitivity and minimum detectable range of antibiotics in raw milk. The results of this study was summarized as follows ; 1. The number of samples requested for treatment of mastitis was 198 samples. Comparison or analytical results among the methods of TTC-II, disk assay and Delve sp was that TTC-II 37 samples(18.6% ), Disk assay 125samples(63.1%), Delve SP 130 samples(65.7% ) reacted positively. Conformity rate of Delve SP and Disk assay was 70%. 2. Detectable limits of disk assay method in some antibiotics were more sensitive than those of official method(0.05-0.0025ppm in the $\beta$-lactams, 1ppm in two aminoglycoside, 0.2 ppm in one tetracycline, similar in one macrolide) 3. For sensitivity of residual sulfonamides TTC-II was much more sensitive than disk assay. Detectable limits of sulfamethazine and sulfadimethoxine were 30 to 50ppm levels. 4. The best medium preservation period is 1-2 days. 5. Concentration of brome cresol purple related to resistance for B stearothermophilus culture was 24ppm/ml. These results show that disk assay method for screening detection of antibiotics residuces in milk is worthy of use.