• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.207-212
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• 2011

Rapid serodiagnostic methods for Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats are urgently needed for effective control of transmission routes toward human infections. In this work, 4 recombinant T. gondii antigens (SAG1, SAG2, GRA3, and GRA6) were produced and tested for the development of rapid diagnostic test (RDT). The proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, affinity-purified, and applied onto the nitrocellulose membrane of the test strip. The recombinant SAG1 (rSAG1) showed the strongest antigenic activity and highest specificity among them. We also performed clinical evaluation of the rSAG1-loaded RDT in 182 cat sera (55 household and 127 stray cats). The kit showed 0.88 of kappa value comparing with a commercialized ELISA kit, which indicated a significant correlation between rSAG1-loaded RDT and the ELISA kit. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the RDT were 100% (23/23) and 99.4% (158/159), respectively. The rSAG1-loaded RDT is rapid, easy to use, and highly accurate. Thus, it would be a suitable diagnostic tool for rapid detection of antibodies in T. gondii-infected cats under field conditions.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.213-219
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• 2005

Vitellogenin (VTG) was purified from the blood plasma of estradiol-17$\beta$ ($E_2$)-treated male marbled sole (Limanda yokohamae) using gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. The purity of the marbled sole VTG (msVTG) was confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The purified msVTG was used to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in mice and rabbits, respectively, and the specificity of the polyclonal antisera for msVTG was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The antibodies cross­reacted with a protein of molecular mass approximately 160 kDa in the plasma samples of mature female marbled sole. No cross-reactivity was observed with the plasma of male fish. A direct non-competitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using the monoclonal anti-msVTG and polyclonal anti-msVTG antibodies, with purified msVTG as the standard protein. The values of the intra- and inter-assay variations were within the ranges of $8.l-9.8\%$ and $8.5-12.2\%$, respectively. The sensitivity was about 0.3 ng/mL. Serial dilutions of plasma from mature female sole reacted with the msVTG-antibodies in the sandwich ELISA, whereas the plasma from male fish did not. The results indicate that the maturation status of female marbled sole can be identified using a sandwich ELISA for msVTG.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.158-164
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• 2014

Substance P and neuropeptide Y were discovered as early diagnostic biomarkers of acute myocardial infarction in Korean patients and confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We screened 12 peptides from the sera of Korean acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and detected 3 peptides (neuropeptide Y, substance P, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) to be elevated from patients' sera by liquid chromatography mass/mass spectrometry. The elevated concentration of 3 peptides was confirmed by ELISA. The screening results revealed the substance P, neuropeptide Y, and pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (47-76) concentrations were higher in patients' sera than in healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of substance P for AMI diagnostic marker were 80% and 83%, respectively, and those of neuropeptide Y were 87% and 90%, respectively compared to healthy controls. These results suggest that substance P and neuropeptide Y could be used as early diagnostic biomarkers in patients with AMI.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.306-311
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• 2005

In this study, a biosensor was developed to rapidly diagnose the swine sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabies var. suis). The ELISA was modified to reduce the processing time for rapid diagnosis. The biosensor consists of a biological reaction part, and a measurement and control part. The biological reaction part was designed for using micro-pumps and valves for fluid transportation, and the measurement control part composed of a photodiode, a light-emitting diode fur light measurement, and a microcomputer to implement assay A polystyrene covet was used as a reaction chamber. Signal output was read as the rate of change in optical density at 645nm. Eighteen pigs diagnosed with sacroptic mange and 19 control pigs were tested. Fifteen sacbies-infested pigs showed positive results ($83.3\%$ sensitivity). Sixteen control pigs showed negative results ($84.2\%$ specificity). The system could execute a diagnosis cycle in about 45 min. The results suggest that this biosensor is useful for the rapid diagnosis of swine sacroptic mange.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.149-155
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to analyze data from the planned national serological monitoring program for Aujeszky's disease (AD) using a simulation model to evaluate probable outcomes expected in the sample derived from the simulated herds at predefined within-herd prevalence and herd prevalence. Additionally, prevalence at animal- and herd-level estimated by the stochastic simulation model based on the distributions of the proportion of infected herds and test-positive animals was compared with those of data from a national serological survey in 2006, in which 106,762 fattening pigs from 5,325 herds were tested for AD using a commercial ELISA kit. A fixed value of 95% was used for test sensitivity, and the specificity was modeled with a minimum, most likely and maximum of 95, 97 and 99%, respectively. The within-herd prevalence and herd prevalence was modeled using Pert and Triang distributions, respectively with a minimum, most likely and maximum point values. In all calculations, population size of 1,000 was used due to lack of representative information. The mean number of infected herds and true test-positives was estimated to be 27 herds (median = 25; 95% percentile 44) and 214 pigs (median = 196; 95% percentile 423), respectively. When testing 20 pigs (mean of 2006 survey) in each herd, there was a 3.3% probability that the potential for false-positive reactions due to less than 100% specificity of the ELISA test would be detected. It was found that the model showed prevalence of 0.21% (99% percentile 0.50%) and 0.5% (99% percentile 0.99%) at animal- and herd-level, respectively. These rates were much similar to data from the 2006 survey (0.62% versus 0.83%). The overall mean herd-level sensitivity of the 2006 survey for fattening pigs was 99.9%, with only a 0.2% probability of failing to detect at least one infected herd.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.73-86
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• 1988

간흡충(Clonorchis sinensis)의 조항원(WWA), 정제항원(ABA)의 민감도와 특이도를 비교해 보는 한편, 발육단계별로 충란 항원(EGA)-피낭유충 항원(MEA)-성충 항원(WWA)의 단백질 구성물질의 차이를 SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)로 관찰하고 이들 항원의 유용성을 효소면역반응(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: ELISA)으로 비교하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 간흡충의 조항원으로부터 정제된 항원(ABA)은 항체와 결합한 결합항원(affinity-purified antibody(IgG) binding antigen:ABA)으로서 Ouchterlony 반응으로 간흡충 감염 가토혈청과 4개의 침모대 (WWA는 7개)를 형성하였다. WWA의 major protein들은 분자량 16,300∼18,500 및 28,000∼29,000 dalton의 Polypeptide band였고, ABA는 분자량 18,000∼21,000 및 29,000∼31,000 dalton의 단백질로 다소의 차이를 보였다. ELISA시첩에서 ABA는 WWA에 비해 현저히 민감도가 낮았다. WWA와 ABA에 대한 폐흡충 감염 사람혈청의 ELISA 정사에서 WWA는 Ouchterlony 양성자 8예중 3예에서 교차반응을 나타내었으나 ABA는 교차반응을 나타내지 않았다. 간흡충의 발육단계별 항원 단백질의 분자량 범위는 WWA 11,000∼80,000, MEA 15,000∼100,000, EGA 15,000∼200,000 dalton이었다. 주류원 단백질의 분자량은 EGA는 각각 36,600 (band No. 22), 38,500(No. 20), 64,000(No. 9), 62,000(No. 10), 54,500(No. 11), 53,000(No. 12) dalton, MEA는 각각 65,600(No. 3), 44,700 (No.7), 43,900(No. 8) dalton, WWA는 각각 16,300∼18,500(No. 31-32), 28,000∼29,000(No. 25), 11,000w13,000 (No. 35) 및 31,000(No. 24) dalton이었다. 즉, MEA와 EGA가 WWA보다 고분자의 단백질로 구성되어 있었다. 각 발육단계별 항원의 항원성은 ELISA 반응으로 볼 때 WWA가 가장 높았고, MEA는 약한 항원성만을 나타내었으며 EGA는 음성이었다. WWA와 간흡충 감염 가토혈청은 감염 4∼6주에 OD>1.0, 12주 이후 항체가의 plateau를 나타내었으나 MEA는 Ouchterlony 반응에서 EGA와 함께 음성반응을 보였다. ELISA에서도 중감염군(12∼20주)에서만 OD>0.6으로 미약한 항원성이 인정되었으며 경감염군은 전감염기간중 OD<0.6를 나타내었다. 이상의 결과로 보아 성충 항원이 가장 강력한 함원성 물질을 포함하고 있음이 명백하다고 생각된다. 그러나 성충 조항원은 면역진단에 사용할 겹우 타흡충과의 빈번한 교차반응이 예상되므로 민감도 및 특이도가 높은 정제 항원물질을 분리하는 일이 중요하다고 생각된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.1281-1287
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• 2015

Background: Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma using serological markers with better sensitivity and specificity than alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is needed. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum sICAM-1, ${\beta}$-catenin, IL-8, proteasome and sTNFR-II in early detection of HCC. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of IL-8, sICAM-1, sTNFR-II, proteasome and ${\beta}$-catenin were measured by ELISA assay in 479 serum samples from 192 patients with HCC, 96 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), 96 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and 95 healthy controls. Results: Serum levels of proteasome, sICAM-1, ${\beta}$-catenin and ${\alpha}FP$ were significantly elevated in HCC group compared to other groups (P-value<0.001), where serum level of IL-8 was significantly elevated in the LC and HCC groups compared to CHC and control groups (P-value <0.001), while no significant difference was noticed in patients with HCC and LC (P-value=0.09). Serum level of sTNFR-II was significantly elevated in patients with LC compared to HCC, CHC and control groups (P-value <0.001); also it was significantly higher in HCC compared to CHC and control groups (P-value <0.001). ROC curve analysis of the studied markers between HCC and other groups revealed that the serum level of proteasome had sensitivity of 75.9% and specificity of 73.4% at a cut-off value of $0.32{\mu}g/ml$ with AUC 0.803 sICAM-1 at cut off value of 778ng/ml, the sensitivity was 75.8% and the specificity was 71.8% with AUC 0.776. ${\beta}$-catenin had sensitivity and specificity of 70% and 68.6% respectively at a cut off value of 8.75ng/ml with an AUC of 0.729. sTNFR-II showed sensitivity of 86.3% and specificity of 51.8% at a cut off value of 6239.5pg/ml with an AUC of 0.722. IL-8 had sensitivity of 70.4% and specificity of 52.3% at a cut off value of 51.5pg/ml with AUC 0.631. Conclusions: Our data supported the role of proteasome, sICAM-1, sTNFR-II and ${\beta}$-catenin in early detection of HCC. Also, using this panel of serological markers in combination with ${\alpha}FP$ may offer improved diagnostic performance over ${\alpha}FP$ alone in the early detection of HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.505-509
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• 2012

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are proteolytic enzymes that are essentially involved in turnover of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The aim was to investigate the diagnostic value of MMP-7 and MMP-10 as tumor markers in pleural effusion (PE) and evaluate the value of combining MMP-7, MMP-10 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assays as diagnostic aids for malignant cells. Materials and Methods: A total of 179 patients with PE (87 malignant and 92 benign) were included in this study. The levels of MMP-7 and MMP-10 were measured using ELISA. Results: Values for MMP-7 and MMP-10 were significantly higher in malignant PE than those in benign PE (P<0.01). Among all variables evaluated, logistic regression found that MMP-7 and MMP-10 were significantly correlated with the presence of malignant disease (P<0.01). Analysis of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves showed that the area under the curve of MMP-10 (0.806) was significantly larger than that of MMP-7 (0.771) and CEA (0.789) (P<0.01). With parallel interpretation, the combination of MMP-10 and CEA achieved the higher sensitivity of 94.6%. The combination of MMP-7 and CEA in serial interpretation was able to boost the specificity to 95.7%. The combination of MMP-7, MMP-10 and CEA produced better sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV than MMP-7 and MMP-10 alone. Conclusion: MMP-7 and MMP-10 in PE may represent helpful adjuncts to conventional diagnostic tools in ruling out malignancy as a probable diagnosis, thus guiding the selection of patients who might benefit from further invasive procedures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.3819-3823
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• 2013

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The outcome of HCC depends mainly on its early diagnosis. To date, the performance of traditional biomarkers is unsatisfactory. Talins were firstly identified as cytoplasmic protein partners of integrins but Talin-1 appears to play a crucial role in cancer formation and progression. Our study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of serum Talin-1 (TLN1) compared to the most feasible traditional biomarker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of HCC. Methods: TLN1 was detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from 120 Egyptian subjects including 40 with HCC, 40 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 40 healthy controls (HC). Results: ROC curve analysis was used to create a predictive model for TLN1 relative to AFP in HCC diagnosis. Serum levels of TLN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients were significantly higher compared to the other groups (p<0.0001). The diagnostic accuracy of TLN1 was higher than that of AFP regarding sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in diagnosis of HCC. Conclusions: The present study showed for the first time that Talin-1 (TLN1) is a potential diagnostic marker for HCC, with a higher sensitivity and specificity compared to the traditional biomarker AFP.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.763-766
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• 2013

A synthetic peptide was prepared based on the antigenic region of Paragonimus westermani pre-procathepsin L, and its applicability for immunodiagnosis for human paragonimiasis (due to Paragonimus heterotremus) was tested using an ELISA to detect IgG4 antibodies in the sera of patients. Sera from other helminthiases, tuberculosis, and healthy volunteers were used as the references. This peptide-based assay system gave sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of 100%, 94.6%, 96.2%, 100%, and 88.9%, respectively. Cross reactivity was frequently seen against the sera of fascioliasis (75%) and hookworm infections (50%). Since differential diagnosis between paragonimiasis and fascioliasis can be easily done by clinical presentation and fascioliasis serology, this cross reaction is not a serious problem. Sera from patients with other parasitoses (0-25%) rarely responded to this synthetic antigen. This synthetic peptide antigen seems to be useful for development of a standardized diagnostic system for paragonimiasis.