The most frequently used serodiagnostic test for syphilis in Korea is VDRL test, which is one of several flocculation tests utilizing cardiolipin-lecithin as antigen. This test remains popular because it is easily performed, inexpensive, is standard for screening purposes, and is useful for following the serologic response to treatment. A common problem is weakly reactive (or 'rough' result) VDRL test or reactive VDRL in the absence of definite evidence of present or past syphilis; the diagnosis of syphilis in these cases should be confirmed by using the specific treponemal antigen tests. The Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption (FTA-ARS) test is the result of continued attempts to improve the original FTA procedures. This test uses virulent T. pallidum (Nichols strain) as antigen and uses fluorescein-tagged antihuman globulin as reaction indicator. The FTA-ABS test is very sensitive in all stage of syphilis, especially in early syphilis. The FTA-ABS test was carried out on 448 persons with reactive and weakly reactive VDRL tests and divided the groups of routine physical check and out patients. (countinued..)
Diagnosis ; Flocculation Tests ; Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients ; Syphilis*

Rupioid syphilid is a type of pustular syphilis which accounts for <2% of cases of secondary syphilis. In pustular syphilis, pustules undergo central necrosis giving rise to "limpet-like" crusts resembling an "oyster shell." When the clinical findings are atypical, a diagnosis is made based on serologic testing. The prozone phenomenon occurs in <1% of patients with primary or secondary syphilis. This is a false negative reaction that occurs when very high antibodies in the serum prevent the formation of the antibody-antigen lattice needed to visualize a flocculation reaction. We report a case of rupioid syphilid in a pregnant woman accompanied by the prozone phenomenon. An accurate diagnosis was delayed because of atypical clinical findings and false-negative serologic results.
Antibodies ; False Negative Reactions ; Female ; Flocculation ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Pregnant Women ; Serologic Tests ; Syphilis ; Syphilis, Cutaneous

The cation-dependent galactose-specific flocculation activity of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe null mutant of lkh1⁺, the gene encoding LAMMER kinase homolog, has previously been reported by our group. Here, we show that disruption of prk1⁺, another flocculation associated regulatory kinase encoding gene, also resulted in cation-dependent galactose-specific flocculation. Deletion of prk1 increased the flocculation phenotype of the lkh1⁺ null mutant and its overexpression reversed the flocculation of cells caused by lkh1 deletion. Transcript levels of prk1⁺ were also decreased by lkh1⁺ deletion. Cumulatively, these results indicate that Lkh1 is one of the negative regulators acting upstream of Prk1, regulating non-sexual flocculation in fission yeast.
Flocculation* ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases* ; Schizosaccharomyces*

The serodiagnostic test of syphilis employed with the greatest freguency in this country is the VDRL procedure which is one of the flocculation test utilizing cardiolipin-lecithin as an antigen. As well known, the immunologically nonspecific nature of this test relegates it only to screening test, so that all the sera displaying weakly reactive or reactive VDRL in the absence of definite evidence of present or past syphilis should be confirmed by using the specific treponemal antigen tests. However, there are only lirnited numbers of institutions at which the specific treponemal antigen tests are carried out, because the tests usually need quite coaiplicatnl technology and specifically trained personnel. The Treponema. pallidum hema.gglutination assay (TPHA) which was first described by Rathlev in 1965 and established as more improved and standardized procedure in serodia,gnosis of syphilis by Tornizaxva and Kasamatsu (1966) has been found to h as sensitive and specific as the technically more complicated Fluorescent treponemaI antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) or Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) po cedure by rnany investigators from different parts of the world during these 10 years. The TPHA has also been found to have definite advantage over the other tests because it is easy to perform and economic. The present authors felt. that the TPHA meight be the most reasonable method to be used in this country and decided to evaluate it in the serodiagnosis of problem cases. Sera from 516 presumed normal persons, 686 pregnant women ancl 1345 patients with various diseases other than syphilis were screened with the standard VDRL procedure as described and recommanded by USPHS. Out of these, 475 of t.he presumed normal persons, 646 of the pregnant women and 1243 of the patient group wit;h various diseases other than syphilis v;ere serologically nonreactive and 10, 12 and Rl sera from each of the above groups, respectively, were found to be true syphilitc with definite evidence of clinical signs or history of syphilis. Thirty-one out of the presumed normal persons, 28 out of the pregnant women and 71 out of the patient group with various diseases other than syphilis showed either weakly reactive or reactive VDRI, in undiluted sera without definite evidence of syphilis and these 130 sera from 130 persons were the subject of the present study. The TPHA was carried out on these 130 sera. according to the ma.nual MEA-TP instructed by National Institute of Health, Japan. The reagents used in this study rvere rnanufactured and supplied hy the Fujizoki Pharmaceutical Co. Ten (32.3%) out of the R1 sera from preaumed normal persons, 11 (39.4%) out of the 28 sera from pregna.nt women a.nd 28 (69.4%) out of the patient group with various disea ses other then syphilis showed reactive TPHA. Eighty-seven of the total 130 sera showed weakly reactive VDRL so called rough result and 19 (21.8%) Of these 87 sera showed reactive TPHA, while 30(69.8%) of the 43 sera which showed reactive VDRL were found to be TPHA reactive. These results arc in general agreement with those of other investigators confirmed by the more complicated FTA-ABS or TPI. The overall incidence of syphilis was 3.87%, 3.35% and 4.38% in presumed normal persons, in pregnant women and in patient group with various diseases other than syphilis respectively. Considering the relative lack of study concerning to the false positive reactions in this country, these results may be helpful to the clinician to rnake a cert.ain diagnostic decision when they meet such a patient whose VDRL is weakly reactive or reactive in the absence of definite evidence of syphilis. The authors concluded that: the MHA-TP technique is easy in performance, economic and highly specific in serodiagnosis and that this technique is highly recommanded in this country. * The authors thank Fujizoki Pharrnaceutical Company, Tokyo, Japan which provided the TPHA reagents used in this study.
Absorption ; Bezafibrate ; False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Flocculation Tests ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Indicators and Reagents ; Japan ; Mass Screening ; Pregnant Women ; Research Personnel ; Serologic Tests* ; Syphilis* ; Treponema ; Treponema pallidum ; United States Public Health Service

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a modified small bowel follow-through (SBFT) and to optimize this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-nine subjects without small bowel pathology underwent modified SBFT using oral administration of methylcellulose after taking 100ml of 120% or 100, 150, or 200ml of 70% barium. Thirty-three and 39 normal subjects undergoing enteroclysis or conventional SBFT, respectively, were also evaluated for comparison of image qualities and transit time. RESULTS: Enteroclysis was the most successful ofthree types of small bowel examination for obtaining the best quality of bowel transradiency and distension. Modified SBFT was, however much superior to the conventional series for obtaining good bowel transradiency and rapid transity time (mean, 37-49 minutes). The use of 150ml of 70% barium was better than the other three modified techniques in achieving good bowel transradiency, rapid transit time, and less flocculation. CONCLUSION: Our modified SBFT is a simple and safe method for easily improving bowel transradiency and transit time.
Administration, Oral ; Barium ; Flocculation ; Methylcellulose* ; Pathology

Microalgae have been identified as promising candidates for biorefinery of value-added molecules. The valuable products from microalgae include polyunsaturated fatty acids and pigments, clean and sustainable energy (e.g. biodiesel). Nevertheless, high cost for microalgae biomass harvesting has restricted the industrial application of microalgae. Flocculation, compared with other microalgae harvesting methods, has distinguished itself as a promising method with low cost and easy operation. Here, we reviewed the methods of microalgae harvesting using flocculation, including chemical flocculation, physical flocculation and biological flocculation, and the progress and prospect in bio-flocculation are especially focused. Harvesting microalgae via bio-flocculation, especially using bio-flocculant and microalgal strains that is self-flocculated, is one of the eco-friendly, cost-effective and efficient microalgae harvesting methods.
Biofuels ; Biomass ; Flocculation ; Microalgae ; growth & development

Intense utilization and mining of fossil fuels for energy production have resulted in environmental pollution and climate change. Compared to fossil fuels, microalgae is considered as a promising candidate for biodiesel production due to its fast growth rate, high lipid content and no occupying arable land. However, monocultural microalgae bear high cost of harvesting, and are prone to contamination, making them incompetent compared with traditional renewable energy sources. Co-culture system induces self-flocculation, which may reduce the cost of microalgae harvesting and the possibility of contamination. In addition, the productivity of lipid and high-value by-products are higher in co-culture system. Therefore, co-culture system represents an economic, energy saving, and efficient technology. This review aims to highlight the advances in the co-culture system, including the mechanisms of interactions between microalgae and other microorganisms, the factors affecting the lipid production of co-culture, and the potential applications of co-culture system. Finally, the prospects and challenges to algal co-culture systems were also discussed.
Biofuels ; Biomass ; Coculture Techniques ; Flocculation ; Microalgae

OBJECTIVETo isolate the bioflocculant-producing bacteria from activated sludge and investigate the flocculating characteristics of the newly isolated bioflocculant.

METHODSBacteria were screened from activated sludge samples to isolate bioflocculant-producing bacteria. Flocculating activity was used as a measure of the flocculating capability of the bioflocculant.

RESULTSA novel bioflocculant-producing bacterium was isolated, which was identified to belong to genus Aeromonas and named as Aeromonas sp. N11. Flocculating activity increased in the presence of K+, Na+, or Ca2+. The highest flocculating activities for kaolin suspension were obtained in acidic pH ranges, and optimum pHs for it were 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 with 1 mmol/L K+, Ca+, and Na+ present, respectively. The highest flocculating activities for soil suspension were observed at pH 8.0. The bioflocculant had a good flocculating activity and could achieve a flocculating activity of 92.4% for kaolin suspension at a dosage of only 1 mgxL(-1), and its activity in kaolin suspension was decreased by only 9.2% after heating at 100 degrees C for 60 min.

CONCLUSIONThe bioflocculant produced by Aeromonas sp. N11 has strong flocculating activity and high stability, which affords high possibility of its practical use.

Propionic acid, a major inhibitor to yeast cells, was accumulated during continuous ethanol fermentation from corn meal hydrolysate by the flocculating yeast under stillage backset conditions. Based on its inhibition mechanism in yeast cells, strategies were developed for alleviating this effect. Firstly, high temperature processes such as medium sterilization generated more propionic acid, which should be avoided. Propionic acid was reduced significantly during ethanol fermentation without medium sterilization, and concentrations of biomass and ethanol increased by 59.3% and 7.4%, respectively. Secondly, the running time of stillage backset should be controlled so that propionic acid accumulated would be lower than its half inhibition concentration IC50 (40 mmol/L). Finally, because low pH augmented propionic acid inhibition in yeast cells, a higher pH of 5.5 was validated to be suitable for ethanol fermentation under the stillage backset condition.
Biomass ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Flocculation ; Propionates ; chemistry ; Yeasts ; metabolism

PURPOSE: To compare modified small bowel follow-through (SBFT) using methylcellulose after the administrationof barium suspension with a conventional series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to evaluate small bowelpathology, modified SBFT was performed in 155 patients during a 15 month period. All patients received 600mL ofmethylcellulose ; 98 had taken 250mL of 40% wt/vol barium suspension and 57 had taken 150mL of 70% barium. For thegroup of 98, the barium suspension was prepared by mixing barium powder with water (n=46) or with methylcellulosein(n=52). For comparison with a modified series, 49 patients who underwent conventional SBFT using 500mL of 40%wt/vol barium were lso included. Image quality was rated by three radiologists as "poor", "fair", "good", or"excellent". We analyzed the relationship between image quality, transit time and small bowel pathology;the sensitivity and specificity of each technique was also determined. RESULT: Among the four techniques, modifiedSBFT with 250mL of 40% wt/vol barium suspension, prepared by mixing barium powder with methylcellulose, showed thebest image quality ["excellent" result in 33 of the 52 patients (63%)] and shortest transit time to the cecum. Thehigh image quality of this technique was not affected by the presence of small bowel pathology;its use resulted inthe lowest incidence and slowest development of flocculation. The sensitivity (91-95%) of the three modified SBFTprocedures was superior to that of a conventional series(76%), but there was no difference in specificity. CONCLUSION: Modified SBFT using methylcellulose after administering barium suspension with barium powder as amixing agent is a simple technique. Its use easily improves the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of peroralSBFT.
Barium* ; Cecum ; Flocculation ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methylcellulose* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Water