• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.371-374
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• 2012

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the major agents of infectious abortions and due to its worldwide distribution can threat healthy pregnant women who had no previous exposure to this parasite. The present study was designed to investigate the contribution of T. gondii to spontaneous abortions in Zanjan, Northwest of Iran, using ELISA method. Blood Samples were collected from 264 mothers referred to the provincial hospitals of Zanjan due to spontaneous abortion. The sera were isolated and subjected to evaluate the anti-Toxoplasma IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies. The results showed IgG positive ($IgG^+$) in 99 cases (37.5%). A total of 68 women (25.8%) showed seroconversion with IgM or IgA or both IgM and IgA. They included: $IgM^+$ in 21 (8.0%), $IgA^+$ in 23 (8.7%) and both $IgM^+$ and $IgA^+$ in 24 (9.1%) subjects. In 23 cases, positive titers of IgM and IgG were accompanied. In general, the analysis of anti-Toxoplasma antibody patterns, showed that about 17% of the spontaneous abortions were associated with serological patterns of acute infection. According to these findings, a considerable proportion of spontaneous abortions can be attributed to T. gondii in the study area.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2005

Purpose : Hypogammaglobulinemia has been observed in nephrotic syndrome, but its pathophysiology remains unknown. We evaluated serum immunoglobulins, IgG subclasses, and vaccine-induced viral antibodies(anti-hepatitis B surface IgG and anti-measles IgG) in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome(MCNS). Methods : Using the stored sera, the levels of immunoglobulin(IgC, IgM, IgA, and IgC) and IgG subclasses(IgG 1, 2, ,3, and 4), anti-HBs Ab and anti-measles IgG of 21 children with MCNS were analyzed and compared to those of 25 age-matched healthy children. Results : The mean values of IgG and IgG1 were $390{\pm}187\;mg/dL$ and $287{\pm}120\;mg/dL$ in nephrotic children, and $1,025{\pm}284\;mg/dL$ and $785{\pm}19\;mg/dL$ in control children, respectively. The values of the total IgG and the 4 IgG subclasses in nephrotic children were all significantly depressed(P<0.001), but the IgM($251{\pm}183\;mg/dL\;vs. 153{\pm}55\;mg/dL$, P=0.02) and IgE values(P=0.01) were elevated, and the IgA values were not changed. The seropositivity of anti-HBs IgG was 42.9$\%$(9 of 21 cases) in the MCNS group and 52$\%$(13/25) in the control group, and that of anti-measles IgG was 75$\%$(16/21) and 92$\%$(23/25), respectively, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion : IgG and IgG subclass levels in MCNS children are all depressed without significant seronegativity of the vaccine-induced viral antibodies. Further studies are needed to resolve the cause of hypogammaglobulinemia in MCNS. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:143-148)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.112-121
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• 1987

After a detailed review of the literature availabe on the problems of immunoglobulin level in colostrum and blood serum of calves and after a discussion of its impact on health condition, the following investigations on this subject are presented. 1. Calves to fail ill in the rearing period show significantly lower serum Ig levels even during the first two days of life, when they are still clinically healthy, as well as up to the end of the first week of life than those of calves remaining in good health. 2. Ig values sharply rise during the disease period, IgA and IgM responding more rapidly than IgG. 3. In calves suffering from a disease of the gastrointestinal tract serum IgM titer is lowest, while in calves suffering from a disease of the respiratory duct serum IgA titer is lowest and in those suffering or dying from both disease complexes all Ig titers are reduced. 4. Calves showing high serum Ig levels during the first three days of life reveal higher daily gains in weight than those with lower serum Ig levels during that period.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.416-421
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• 2007

Many previous studies have proved that human allergic disease resulted from the formation of antibodies belonging to a unique immunoglobulin isotype termed immunoglobulin E (IgE). Most of IgE-producing plasma cells are found in the lymphoid tissue associated with the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. IgE may be found free in the mucosal secretions of these tissues, bound to local mast cells, or distributed by the systemic circulation to mast cells and basophils throughout the body. Total serum IgE concentrations tend to be higher in allergic adults and children compared with non-allergic individuals, but the value of total serum IgE as a screening test for allergic disease is limited. Total serum IgE levels are related to the probability of an individual having detectable allergen-specific IgE. Allergen-specific IgE concentrations vary with a person's age, the degree and duration of the recent allergen or cross-reactive allergen exposure. The value of quantitative assays for allergen-specific IgE has been suggested in recent studies. Serum IgE increases in many non-allergic diseases, including infectious and parasitic diseases. The IgE changes appear to be specific to the infectious agents, whereas non-specific in other diseases. The increased serum IgE in some of these conditions probably results from alterations in immune function. This review summarizes the clinical significance of total and allergen-specific IgE examinations in allergic diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2004

Toxoplasmosis has been well known as an important human infection to consider especially in pregnant women. Although many serologic methods are available, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis can be extremely difficult. The presence of increased levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies indicates an infection, but it does not differentiate between a recent and past infection. The purpose of our study was to compare the performance of the ELISA T. gondii IgG/IgM test, a widely used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, to the ELISA IgG avidity method. One hundred and four serum samples (from 38 males and 66 females) were tested and evaluated from symptomatic patients (chorioretinitis, lymphadenopathy), and from women in their first trimester of pregnancy who were suspected of having toxoplasmosis, The high IgG avidity and ELISA IgG antibody levels were in agreement for 51 of the specimens (49.0％). Thirty-eight discrepant (borderline) results from the IgG avidity method were positive for IgM (3 specimens) and IgG (37 specimens). Interestingly, out of the eight serum samples that were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies, two samples were low IgG avidity, and three samples were borderline. There was no statistically significant relation observed between the results of the IgG avidity method and the ELISA IgG test, and the IgG avidity method and ELISA IgM test (X$^2$=1.987; p=0.370 and X$^2$=2.152; p=0.341, respectively). The IgG avidity method was considered easy to perform and an acceptable approach for the differentiation of discrepant results (recent/chronic) and for the current detection of T. gondii antibodies. We concluded that the determination of IgG avidity is a helpful tool for the diagnosis of the ocular form of toxoplasmosis and it is a safe method for screening this disease in the first trimester of pregnancy.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.81-85
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• 2011

IgA nephropathy is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis and chronic glomerular disease worldwide including Korea. Familial gathering of IgA nephropathy suggests that genetic factors contribute to the development of this disease. Although there have been many reports on familial IgA nephropathy with genetic analysis and their pedigrees, there has been few reports in Korea. We reported a partial familial IgA nephropathy pedigree with a brief review of the literatures.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has become a serious epidemic in Korean children. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin C, E and other nutrients, and serum total IgE/specific IgE levels in children with AD. A total of 119 children (0-24 mo) diagnosed with AD were recruited for this cross-sectional study from a medical center in Seoul. A 24 h recall was used to assess dietary intakes. Serum total and six food-allergen specific IgE levels were measured by CAP-FEIA. Serum vitamin E was also measured but only in 25 out of the total 119 participants. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the coefficients between serum IgE levels and dietary intake as well as serum vitamin E. Serum vitamin E levels showed a significantly inverse association with serum total IgE and all specific IgE levels (P < 0.05). Fat intake was inversely related with specific-IgEs for egg whites, milk, buck wheat, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Positive associations were found between carbohydrate (CHO) intake and total IgE and specific IgEs to egg whites, milk, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Vitamin C, E and n-3/n-6 fatty acids were not related with serum total IgE and specific IgE levels except for the association between buck wheat and vitamin E. In addition, there were no significant differences between males and females in dietary intake and serum IgE levels by student's t-test. Although dietary vitamin E showed no association with serum IgE levels, serum vitamin E drew a significant inverse relationship with serum IgE levels. The evidence seems to suggest that vitamin E may possibly lower total and specific-IgEs in children with AD, and that it is important to maintain a relatively high serum vitamin E level in children with AD.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.445-451
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• 2005

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is needed for Ig class switch recombination (CSR). We explored the effect of LPS on the expression of AID during B cell differentiation, and the role of AID in IgA isotype expression. In normal spleen B cells, LPS increased AID transcription up to 48 h post-stimulation, i.e. around the time of Ig CSR. TGF-${\beta}1$ and AID were required for IgA expression, and LPS contributed to $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA production largely by inducing AID. Interestingly, LPS repressed AID transcription in $sIgA^+$ B cells but still stimulated IgA production mainly by increasing the rate of IgA secretion. Our data indicate that LPS contributes to $TGF{\beta}1$-induced IgA isotype expression in at least two ways: by stimulating AID transcription before CSR and by enhancing the IgA secretion rate after CSR.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 1995

To observe the production of IgA in Balb/c mice with neodiplostomiasis, 20 mice were infected with each 200 metacercariae of Neoniplostomum seoulenis. Sera and the duodenums were obtained 3, 7, 14, 28 days post-infection (PI) from five mice each group Neodipeostomum specific IgA in serum by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay increased from 7 days PI and persisted till 28 days PI. Immunohistochemistry for lgA was done with sections of the duodenum. The IgA-positive reaction was generally seen in the lamina propria and submucosa. Some of epithelial cells were positive at 7 and 14 days PI. The present finding showed that Neodiplostomun specific IgA antibody increased in serum and that there was local reaction of IgA in the mucosa and submucosa of the duodenum but not directly related with worm expulsion.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2004

Babesia bovis rap-1 and B equi ema-1 intergenic(IG) nucleotides were analyzed and compared for identifying putative promoter sites using computer programs. The reason to initiate this research was to determine if IG nucleotides of Babesia genes that are predicted to be involved in erythrocyte invasion have functions regulating gene transcription and translation, which can be applied to functional gene knockout. Four IG sequences used included BbIG5(B bovis rap-1 5' IG), BblG3(B bovis rap-1 3' IG), BeIG5(B equi ema-1 5' IG) and BeIG3(B equi ema-1 3' IG). BbIG5 contained a putative promoter at nucleotide 197-246 with a predicted TATA-box and a transcription start site. BbIG3 had a putative promoter at nucleotide 270-320 with two predicted TATA-boxes and a transcription start site. BeIG3 had a putative promoter at nucleotide 155-205 with a predicted TATA-box and a transcription start site. Putative promoter sites in these three sequences mentioned above were identified with score cutoff 0.8, which means detection of about 40% recognized promoters with 0.1-0.4% false positives. In contrast, BeIG5 had a putative promoter at nucleotide 163-213 with score cutoff 0.8, but neither TATA-box nor transcription start site were recognized. However, BeIG5 had a putative promoter at nucleotide 388-438 with a predicted TATA-box and a transcription start site when score cutoff was decreased to 0.18, which means detection of about 70% recognized promoters with 2.2-5.3% false positives. These sequences with putative promoters can be tested if they have functions regulating gene transcription and translation.