• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제69권6호
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• pp.442-449
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• 2010

Background: Melanoma antigen genes (MAGE) are expressed in many human malignant cells and are silent in normal tissues other than in testis and in placenta. But MAGE expression in benign lung diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis or cases with severe inflammation, needs further evaluation to overcome false-positive findings. We evaluated detection rates of the melanoma antigen genes (MAGE) RT-nested PCR in bronchoscopic washing samples from patients with benign lung disease, as well as in patients with malignancies. Methods: Bronchial washing fluid from 122 patients was used for cytological examination and MAGE gene detection using RT-nested-PCR of common A1-6 mRNA. We compared the results from the RT-nested PCR and the pathologic or bacteriologic diagnosis. We also analyzed the expression rate and false positive rate of MAGE gene. Results: Among 122 subjects, lung cancer was diagnosed in 23 patients and benign lung disease was diagnosed in 99 patients. In patients with lung cancer, the positive rate of MAGE expression was 47.8% (11/23) and in benign lung disease group, the expression rate was 14.1% (14/99). Among benign lung disease group, the expression rate of MAGE gene (25.0%) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (11/44) was especially high. Conclusion: MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR of bronchial washing fluid can be used as a complementary method in lung cancer, but that test results in a high false positive rate in tuberculosis patients.

• 대한바이러스학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.171-178
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• 2000

Herpes simplex virus, Varicella zoster virus and Human herpes virus-6 caused central nervous system infections and latent infections but there is no data of the 3 viruses being tested from the same cerebrospinal fluid samples with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis in adults patients. These viruses produced similar neurologic symptoms but difficulties existed in differentiating of etiologic agents and therefore the viruses needed to be detected in the early state. Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) in adults, if not treated promptly was fatal. If treated with antiviral drugs in the early phase of encephalitis, neurologic sequales decreased by 65%. Recently, a PCR method for detection of HSVE with CSF was developed. VZV primary and secondary infections caused neurologic symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis. The second frequency of adult encephalitis that caused VZV were reported. HHV-6 caused CNS latent infection that was studied with normal adults brains. But there is no data of HSV, VZV and HHV-6 for aseptic meningitis and encephalitis of Korean adults through etiologic study. We cultured CSFs on HEp-2 cells and simultaneously tested for HSV PCR, VZV nested PCR and HHV-6 PCR with 8 specific primers. The PCR results of CSF from meningitis Korean adults were 13/19 (68.4%) for HSV, 10/19 (52.6%) for VZV and 12/19 (63.2%) for HHV-67/19 (36.8%) cases were triple infected HSV PCR, VZV PCR and HHV-6 PCR positive; 3/19 (15.8%) cases were dual infected HSV PCR and HHV-6 PCR positive; 1119 (0.5%) cases was VZV PCR positive. Strong viral DNA amplification of CSF means a causative virus may be present in aseptic meningitis or encephalitis patients and may cause clinical neurologic symptoms. HSV and HHV-6 viruses detection rate were higher than VZV by PCR with CSFs.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.81-87
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• 2016

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is produced by Aspergillus flavus growing in feedstuffs. Early detection of maize contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi is advantageous since aflatoxins exert adverse health effects. In this study, we report the development of an optimized conventional PCR for AFB1 detection and a rapid, sensitive and simple screening Real-time PCR (qPCR) with SYBR Green and two pairs of primers targeting the aflR genes which involved aflatoxin biosynthesis. AFB1 contaminated maize samples were divided into three groups by the toxin concentration. Genomic DNA was extracted from those samples. The target genes for A. flavus were tested by conventional PCR and the PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis. A conventional PCR was carried out as nested PCR to verify the gene amplicon sizes. PCR-RFLP patterns, obtained with Hinc II and Pvu II enzyme analysis showed the differences to distinguish aflatoxin-producing fungi. However, they are not quantitative and need a separation of the products on gel and their visualization under UV light. On the other hand, qPCR facilitates the monitoring of the reaction as it progresses. It does not require post-PCR handling, which reduces the risk of cross-contamination and handling errors. It results in a much faster throughout. We found that the optimal primer annealing temperature was $65^{\circ}C$. The optimized template and primer concentration were $1.5{\mu}L\;(50ng/{\mu}L)$ and $3{\mu}L\;(10{\mu}M/{\mu}L)$ respectively. SYBR Green qPCR of four genes demonstrated amplification curves and melting peaks for tub1, afIM, afIR, and afID genes are at $88.0^{\circ}C$, $87.5^{\circ}C$, $83.5^{\circ}C$, and $89.5^{\circ}C$ respectively. Consequently, it was found that the four primers had elevated annealing temperatures, nevertheless it is desirable since it enhances the DNA binding specificity of the dye. New qPCR protocol could be employed for the determination of aflatoxin content in feedstuff samples.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.123-131
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• 2017

노로바이러스는 국내에서도 지속적으로 유행성 바이러스성 위장염을 일으키고 있다. 노로바이러스 저감화사업단(NOROTECL)의 1중 2세부과제에서는 농산물의 노로바이러스 오염 원인을 추적조사하여 노로바이러스 전파를 예방하고 저감화하기 위한 과제를 수행하였다. 2015년 1월부터 11월 사이에 노로바이러스와 관련이 있을 것으로 추정되는 80개 농산물, 80개 토양, 78개 인체분변, 3개 가축분변, 80개 농업용수, 80개 하천수 시료를 대상으로 노로바이러스, Male specific coliphage (MSC), 위생지표세균(Coliform, E. coli) 세 가지 검사를 통해 오염현황을 조사하였다. Semi-nested PCR과 DNA sequencing을 통해 18개의 Genogroup I과 3개의 Genogroup II 노로바이러스가 총 18개의 시료에서 발견되었다. Genogroup이 확정된 노로바이러스에 대하여 RT-PCR을 진행하였다. 대장균군과 대장균은 농산물에서 68%와 1%, 토양에서 88%와 7.5%, 인체분변에서 44%와 12.8%, 가축 분변에서 67%와 67%, 농업용수에서 74%와 30%, 하천수에서 96%와 51%의 검출율을 각각 나타냈다. MSC 결과에서는 14개의 시료가 양성으로 나타났다.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.180-185
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• 2005

목적: 정상세포와는 달리 종양세포에서만 비교적 특이적으로 발현되는 것을 tumor specific antigens이라고 하며 대표적인 것은 악성흑색종에서 처음 발견된 MAGE (melanoma antigen)가 있다. 위암조직에서의 MAGE subtype의 발현율은 약 $20{\sim}40%$ 정도로 알려져 있는데 진행성 위암은 전체적으로 예후가 불량하기 때문에 면역치료법과 같은 새로운 치료법을 고려해 볼 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 술 후에 얻은 정상 및 암 조직에서의 MAGE의 발현정도를 각 subtypes에 공통으로 존재하는 유전자를 Primers로 이용하여 조사하였다. 대상 및 방법: 내시경에서 진행성 암으로 진단된 후 수술받은 환자 53명을 대상으로 하였으며, 수술 중 절제된 위에서 정상조직과 암 조직을 얻어 $-70^{\circ}C$에서 보관하였다. 환자는 남자가 35명, 여자가 18명이었고 이들의 평균 연령은 57세였다. 보관된 조직에서 m-RNA를 분리한 후 RT-PCR과 nested PCR로 MAGE의 발현여부를 알아보았다. 기존에 알려진 MAGE gene의 subtypes에 공통으로 존재하는 oligonucleotides를 일차 primers로 이용하여 증폭시켰다. 그 후 또 다른 primers를 이용한 nested RT-PCR을 시행하여 각 조직에서의 발현율을 조사하였다. 결과: 위암환자에서 53예의 암조직 중 13개(24.5%)에서 MAGE gene이 양성으로 나왔고 정상조직에서는 MAGE gene이 모두 음성이었다. 위암의 조직형, ABO type, CEA, CA19-9와 cancer의 위치와는 상관관계가 없었다. 결론: 위암환자의 $20{\sim}30%$에서 MAGE gene이 발현되었으며, 이에 MAGE gene을 이용한 면역치료법의 시도가 필요 할 것으로 생각한다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.607-611
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• 2017

Primary maternal infection with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is frequently associated with transplacental transmission of the parasite to the fetus. This study was conducted to test the utility of PCR assay to detect recent infections with Toxoplasma in aborted women at various gestational ages who referred to Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Alavi Hospital in Ardabil during 2014 and 2016. Two hundred women with a history of single or repeated abortion were investigated in this study. Blood samples were tested for specific anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA. According to the results, 53.5% of the women under study were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies: 4.0% of them had IgM, 43.0% had IgG, and 6.5% had both IgM and IgG. Subsequently, Nested-PCR analysis was used to detect T. gondii DNA in the placenta of subjects. In 10.5% of the women, the results were positive for 529 bp element of T. gondii. Among them, 5 (23.8%) cases were IgM positive, 1 (4.8%) case was IgG positive, and 11 (52.4%) were both IgM and IgG positive. In 4 (19.0%) patients, none of the antibodies were found to be positive. In total, 16 patients had positive results in both ELISA and PCR methods, and 174 cases had negative results for new infection. The findings of this study revealed that T. gondii might be one of the significant factors leading to abortion, and that the analysis of placenta can be important in order to achieve increased detection sensitivity.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.309-316
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• 2006

This is a case report on the occurrence of caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) disease among dairy goats in a local farm located in Yeongdong-gun, Chungbuk. Previously, it was reported that the farm experienced intermittent deaths numbering 15 of the 97 goats raised for 5 months. Most of the goats less than 6 months of age were suffering from ataxia and posterior paresis, body tremor and abnormal head posterior. Affected animals frequently had stunted growth and had a rough coat. Goats more than 6 months of age were affected with an insidious, chronic arthritis characterized by articular swelling ('big knee') of the carpal, hock, and stifle joints. Necropsy revealed severely swollen mesenteric lymph nodes, under- flow of 2-3ml synovial fluid in the articular space and fibrous proliferation of synovial membrane. Histopathological examination showed perivascular accumulations of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the white matter of the brain, proliferative synovitis characterized by villous hypertrophy, synovial cell hyperplasia and infiltration by mononuclear inflammatory cells. Pulmonary lesions consists of patchy interstitial pneumonia with hyperplasia of lymphoid tissues and an extensive mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration into the alveolar septa. Confirmation by nested PCR involves amplification of a 296 bp (lst PCR) and 184 bp (2nd PCR) fragments corresponding to the gag region of the CAE virus. This is the first time CAE has been reported in a local farm in Korea and emphasizes the importances of developing preventive measures against CAE.

• 대한바이러스학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.29-37
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• 2000

The aim of this study was to investigate viral etiology in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or nested reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), and characterize the enteroviral RNA presented in the clinical specimens. Twenty-eight paraffin-embedded heart tissue samples were assayed to detect cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus type 1, type 2, parvovirus, adenovirus, and enterovirus (EV) with each specific primer. Of these 28 patients (mean age: 27, M: 24, F: 4), 26 were histologically diagnosed as DCM and 2 as myocardial infarction (MI). Nested RT-PCR detected enteroviral RNA in 7 (26.9%) of 26 patients with DCM, and none of patients with MI. And none of DNA viruses tested were detected from the samples. Amplified products were also genotyped by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Three subtypes can be differentiated from 7 clinical specimens. Furthermore, direct sequence analysis was performed to determine whether genetic variation of EV is present in the explanted heart tissues from patients with DCM. Although most of the sequences among the wild isolates have the greatest similarity to those of coxsackievirus B3, there are specific regions of variable sequences (no 490 - no 510). The data suggest that enterovirus may be a major viral pathogen for the DCM in Korea and nucleotide sequence data indicate that coxsackievirus B3 may be a leading etiologic agent of DCM.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.229-231
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• 2012

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite resulting in human infections and one of the infectious pathogens leading to uveitis and retinochoroiditis. The present study was performed to assess T. gondii infection in 20 ocular patients with chronic irregular recurrent uveitis (20 aqueous humor and 20 peripheral blood samples) using PCR. All samples were analyzed by nested PCR targeting a specific B1 gene of T. gondii. The PCR-positive rate was 25% (5/20), including 5% (1) in blood samples, 25% (5) in aqueous humor samples, and 5% (1) in both sample types. A molecular screening test for T. gondii infection in ocular patients with common clinical findings of an unclear retinal margin and an inflammatory membrane over the retina, as seen by fundus examination, may be helpful for early diagnosis and treatment.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2007

목 적 : 지금까지 코로나바이러스는 대부분 상기도 감염을 일으키며 임상적으로 큰 의미가 없는 것으로 여겨져 왔다. 하지만 최근에 발견된 코로나 바이러스인 hCoV-NL63와 hCoV-HKU1는 하부 호흡기 질환과의 연관성이 있는 것으로 보고되면서 임상적 의의에 대한 연구가 필요한 실정이다. 이에 저자들은 폐렴으로 입원한 소아 환자에서 최근에 발견된 hCoV-NL63과 hCoV-HKU1을 포함한 코로나바이러스 감염의 유병률을 알아보기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법 : 2006년 3월부터 2007년 1월까지 폐렴으로 상계백병원에 입원한 소아에게서 비인두 흡인물을 수집하였다. Multiplex RT-PCR 방법을 이용하여 RSV, influenza A, influenza B, parainfluenzavirus 및 adenovirus 감염을 진단하였으며, F 유전자 시발체를 이용한 nested RT-PCR에 의해 hMPV 감염을 진단하였다. 코로나바이러스 감염을 진단하기 위해 hCoVNL63, hCoV-OC43, hCoV-229E 및 hCoV-HKU1에 각각 특이적 시발체를 이용하여 nested RT-PCR을 시행하였다. 결 과 : 총 217명의 입원한 15세 이하의 폐렴 환아에게서 수집한 비인두 흡인물에서 multiplex PCR 방법에 의해 RSV 양성은 32명, hMPV는 18명, parainfluenza virus는 10명, influenza virus A는 2명, adenovirus는 6명에서 양성이었다. RT-PCR에 의해 hMPV 양성은 18명에서 확인되었다. 코로나바이러스는 RT-PCR 방법에 의해 8명 (3.7%)에서 양성이었으며, hCoV-229E 1명, hCoV-NL63 3명, 그리고 hCoV-OC43가 4명에서 검출되었다. 하지만 hCoV- HKU1는 연구 대상군에서 검출되지 않았다. 결 론 : 아직 추가 연구가 필요하지만 최근에 발견된 hCoV-HKU1와 hCoV-NL63은 폐렴으로 입원한 국내 소아에서 임상적인 중요성이 적을 것으로 생각된다.