• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 2006

Background: Several biochemical mediators, such as substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and prostaglandin $E_2$, have been demonstrated to be involved in herniated or degenerated disc-induced radiculopathy. The authors tested the hypothesis that these mediators would existed in the epidural space of humans. Methods: Thirty nine patients were divided into two groups; 27 patients, who were diagnosed with spinal stenosis (stenosis group), and 12 scheduled for epidural anesthesia, without a history of back pain (control group). Under fluoroscopic guidance, an epidural catheter was introduced through the caudal space and placed into the anterior and posterior spaces, up to and around the epidural adhesive area, in the stenosis group. In the control group, the catheter was placed into the posterior epidural space through the L3⁣-4 or L4⁣-5 intervertebral space. Epidural irrigation was performed with 10 ml of saline, via an epidural catheter. Aspirated lavage fluid was collected, and the concentrations of biochemical mediators (substance P, CGRP and prostaglandin $E_2$) measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. Results: Substance P, CGRP and prostaglandin $E_2$ were detected in all the epidural lavage fluids from both groups. The concentrations of substance P and prostaglandin $E_2$ in the stenosis group were higher than those of the control (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference in the CGRP levels between the two groups. In the stenosis group, the concentrations of these three mediators in the anterior epidural space were no different to those in the posterior space. Conclusions: These results suggest that biochemical mediators, such as substance P and prostaglandin $E_2$, in the epidural space might be partly involved in pain mechanism associated with spinal stenosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 2009

Individual immunochromatographic assays (ICG) for ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEA) were optimized and used in the development of a one-step simultaneous immunochromatographic assay (OS-ICG) for the rapid multianalysis of two mycotoxins in corn samples. The nitrocellulose membrane of the OS-ICG was treated with OTA-bovine serum albumin (BSA), ZEA-ovalbumin (OVA), and anti-mouse IgG in the OTA test, ZEA test, and control zones, respectively. Monoclonal antibody-gold conjugates (OTA3 MAb-gold and ZEA2C5 MAb-gold) were sprayed onto the conjugate pad. The visual detection limits were 2.5 and 5 ng/ml for OTA and ZEA, respectively, and the results were obtained within 15 min after starting the analysis. An efficient, simple, and rapid extraction method using 30% MeOH/PBS was established and validated by analyzing the corn samples spiked with OTA/ZEA mixtures (0/0, 5/10, 10/20, and $20/30\;{\mu}g/kg$). The cut-off values of the OS-ICG for the spiked corn were 5 and $10\;{\mu}g/kg$ for OTA and ZEA, respectively. Natural corn samples were analyzed by OS-ICG, direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DC-ELISA), and HPLC. Results of the OS-ICG were in good agreement with those obtained by DC-ELISA and HPLC. The developed OS-ICG offers a rapid, easy-to-use, and portable analytical system and can be used as a convenient qualitative tool for the on-site simultaneous determination of OTA and ZEA in cereals, food, and agricultural products in one analytical cycle.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1683-1690
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• 2018

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of influenza infection is essential to enable early antiviral treatment and reduce the mortality associated with seasonal and epidemic infections. Immunochromatography is one of the most common methods used for the diagnosis of seasonal human influenza; however, it is less effective in diagnosing pandemic influenza virus. Currently, rapid diagnostic kits for pandemic influenza virus rely on the detection of nucleoprotein (NP) or hemagglutinin (HA). NP detection shows higher specificity and is more sensitive than HA detection. In this study, we time-dependently screened expression conditions, and herein report optimal conditions for the expression of recombinant nucleoprotein (rNP), which was 48 h after infection. In addition, we report the use of the expressed rNP in a rapid influenza diagnostic test (SGT i-flex Influenza A&B Test). We constructed expression vectors that synthesized rNP (antigen) of influenza A and B in insect cells (Sf9 cells), employed the purified rNP to the immunoassay test kit, and clearly distinguished NPs of influenza A and influenza B using this rapid influenza diagnostic kit. This approach may improve the development of rapid test kits for influenza using NP.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2000

The etiology of rheumatic arthritis (RA) is associated with a number of genetic and environmental factors, but is not definitively elucidated. Recently, more attention has been paid to the possibility of microbial etiology in the pathogenesis of RA, because many different infectious agents have been reported to precede the onset or exacerbation of RA. Adenovirus (ADV) may be one cause of persistent or recurrent inflammatory arthritis. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) arthritis is detected frequently in RA patients treated with low dose methotrexate. The demonstration of simultaneous presence of both viral agents of specific viral nucleic acid in synovial fluids from synovitis patients would provide more direct evidence for arthritis etiological relationship, but there are no confirmed results. Therefore, we studied the ability of adenovirus and VZV to establish coinfection and persistent infection in synovial fluid from synovitis patients. The presence of viral agents in the synovial fluid demonstrated by isolation of cell culture, enzyme immunoassay and nested-PCR. The synovial fluids were also investgated for the presence of viral nucleic acid by nested-PCR using specific primer. ADV produced 220 bp and VZV produced 447 bp by each nested-PCR with specific primers. We detected 4/6 cases (66.7%) with persistent infection of ADV and 5/6 cases (83.3%) of VZV with 13 synovial fluids (between 7 to 52 day intervals) from synovitis patients by monoclonal ErA and nested-PCR. 21/28 cases (75%) with coinfection of adenovirus and VZV with synovial fluids from synovitis patients by nested-PCR. ADV and VZV coinfection and persistent infection of synovial fluids may provide a chronic antigenic stimuli to the immune system therefore provoking a continuing inflammatory response and caused the possibility of synovitis and arthritis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.186-192
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• 2002

Special attention has been paid to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for athlete doping control because it stimulates the endogenous production of testosterone and epitestosterone without increasing the T/E ratio which is a doping indicator for the exogenous administration of testosterone. Even though the IOC banned the use of hCG, a detection method has not been decided upon since there are a variety of immunoassay kits available on the market. We evaluated three kits in terms of their performance characteristics. The assay value of the control sample varied depending on the kit, resulting in 198 mIU/ml for the MAIA kit, 172mIU/ml for the IRMA kit, and 143 mIU/ml for the MEIA kit. Considering the IOC inter-lab distribution of results(55-312 mIU/ml) using 27 different kits and the mean value (178$\pm$56 mIU/ml), all three kits are within the range of －15.8% - ＋5.6% of the mean value, which proves them useful for the hCG assay. The MEIA kit resulted in lower hCG values because it detects only intact hCG molecules, in contrast to the other two kits which detect intact hCG and -hCG together. However, it is suitable for screening purposes because of its advantage of being an automated system. When 123 urine samples of athletes were analyzed in 22 batches using this system, the variation of control values fell within $\pm$ 10% of the mean values, and an specimens tested negative with hCG values less than the detection limit of 2 mIU/ml.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Many inborn errors of metabolism can be completely cured with early detection and early treatment. This is why neonatal screening on inborn errors of metabolism is implemented worldwide. In 1991, the Ministry of Health & Social affairs adopted a nationwide service program for neonatal screening of phenylketonuria, galactosemia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia and congenital hypothyroidism for newborns delivered from low class pregnant women registered in health centers. Government decreased the test items from six to two, PKU and congenital hypothyroidism to increase test numbers with same budget from 1995. 78 laboratories wanted to participate for neonatal screening test in 1999. Government decided to screen six items of PKU, congenital hypothyroidism, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, galactosemia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 2006. In 2014, thirteen laboratories are participating. Inter laboratory quality control was started 6 times a year from 1994. In case a patient with an inherited metabolic disease is diagnosed by screening of government program, special milk is provided at government's expense. According to the government project, from 1997 to 2013, 7,080,569 newborns were screened. 144 PKU, 2.451 congenital hypothyroidism were detected. So incidence of PKU is 1/49,170 and congenital hypothyroidism is 1/2,888. The cost benefit of performing screening procedures coupled with treatment has been estimated to be as high as 1.77 times in PKU, 11.11 times in congenital hypothyroidism than cost without screening. By January 2007, many European countries had expanded of their newborn screening programs by inclusion of Tandem mass spectrometry. We are trying to increase the budget to test all newborns for Tandem mass spectrometry from 2016. We are considering four to five central laboratories which cover all newborns and are equipped with tandem mass spectrometer & enzyme immunoassay for TSH, 17OHP & enzyme colorimetric assay for galactose. And I hope to expand test including Wilson disease screening test and lysosomal storage diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.706-712
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• 2012

The present study was aimed to produce a chicken polyclonal antibody against Cronobacter muytjensii and to develop an immunoassay for its detection. Purification of anti-C. muytjensii IgY from egg yolk was accomplished using various methods such as water dilution and salt precipitation. As a result, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis produced two bands around 30 and 66 kDa, corresponding to a light and a heavy chain, respectively. Indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA) was performed to determine the effectiveness of the chicken IgY against C. muytjensii. The optimum conditions for detecting C. muytjensii by indirect ELISA and checkerboard titration of the antigen revealed an optimum average absorbance at the concentration of 18 ${\mu}g/mL$, having ca. $10^8$ coated cells per well. The anti-C. muytjensii IgY antibody had high specificity for C. muytjensii and low cross-reactivity with other tested pathogens. In this assay, no cross-reactivity was observed with the other genera of pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes. In addition, detection of C. muytjensii in infant formula powder showed a low matrix effect on the detection curve of IC-ELISA for C. muytjensii, with similar detection limit of $10^5$ CFU/mL as shown in standard curve. These findings demonstrate that the developed method is able to detect C. muytjensii in infant formula powder. Due to the stable antibody supply without sacrificing animals, this IgY can have wide applications for the rapid and accurate detection of C. muytjensii in dairy foods samples.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.785-791
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• 2005

Corydalis Tuber has traditionally been used for the treatment of water retention in the body. Administration of the aqueous extract of Corydalis Tuber has been known to be effective for the control of pain and treatment of arthritis. It was reported that Corydalis Tuber possesses anti-inflammatory activity and modulates the intestinal immune system. The effect of Corydalis Tuber against LPS-stimulated expressions of COX-2, iNOS, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in cells of the murine RAW 264.7 macrophages was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), $PGE_2$ immunoassay, and NO detection. The aqueous extract of Corydalis Tuber was shown to suppress $PGE_2$ production by inhibition on the LPS-stimulated enhancement of COX-2 enzyme activity, $IL-1{\beta}$, and iNOS expression in the RAW 264.7 macrophages. Present results suggest that Corydalis Tuber exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects probably by suppressing of COX-2, iNOS, and $IL-1{\beta}$ expressions, resulting in inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis. Corydalis Tuber has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects probably by suppressing of COX-2, iNOS, and $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA expressions, resulting in inhibition of $PGE_2$ and NO synthesis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2014

PCR detection of intestinal protozoa is often restrained by a poor DNA recovery or by inhibitors present in feces. The need for an extraction protocol that can overcome these obstacles is therefore clear. $QIAamp^{(R)}$ DNA Stool Mini Kit (Qiagen) was evaluated for its ability to recover DNA from oocysts/cysts directly from feces. Twenty-five Giardia-positive, 15 Cryptosporidium-positive, 15 Entamoeba histolytica-positive, and 45 protozoa-free samples were processed as control by microscopy and immunoassay tests. DNA extracts were amplified using 3 sets of published primers. Following the manufacturer's protocol, the kit showed sensitivity and specificity of 100% towards Giardia and Entamoeba. However, for Cryptosporidium, the sensitivity and specificity were 60% (9/15) and 100%, respectively. A series of optimization experiments involving various steps of the kit's protocol were conducted using Cryptosporidium-positive samples. The best DNA recoveries were gained by raising the lysis temperature to the boiling point for 10 min and the incubation time of the InhibitEX tablet to 5 min. Also, using a pre-cooled ethanol for nucleic acid precipitation and small elution volume ($50-100{\mu}l$) were valuable. The sensitivity of the amended protocol to Cryptosporidium was raised to 100%. Cryptosporidium DNA was successfully amplified by either the first or the second primer set. When applied on parasite-free feces spiked with variable oocysts/cysts counts, ${\approx}2$ oocysts/cysts were theoretically enough for detection by PCR. To conclude, the Qiagen kit with the amended protocol was proved to be suitable for protozoan DNA extraction directly from feces and support PCR diagnosis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.112-123
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• 1994

${\gamma}$-Glutamyltransferase (GGT: E.C. 2.3.2.2.) is a glycoprotein enzyme which is involved in glutathione metabolism and amino acid transport through the plasma membrane. It is distributed widely in several organs including liver and kidney. Several isozymes of GGT have been reported and some of the isozymes may be associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. We have produced six monoclnal antibodies (mAbs) against GGT purified from the liver of 2-acetamidofluorene (AAF) treated rats. All of the six mAbs were obtained by immunizing mice with liver GGT Six hybridomas which produced anti-GGT Abs were extensively subcloned and injected into the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice to obtain large quantities of Abs. These mAbs were purified from ascites by ammonium sulfate precipitation and protein A sepharose CL-4B column chromatography. Using these mAbs we preformed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and autoradiography (ARG) to study the distribution of GGT isozyme in tissue. The results indicate that GGT-mAb 1 is specific for the AAF treated liver GGT, GGT-mAb 5 for the normal liver GGT, and GGT-mAb 6 for the normal kindey GGT. These mAbs may be used to evaluate the distribution of GGT isozymes in different tissues.