Objective: To develop a new sandwich based lateral flow immunochromatographic strip for rapid detection of circulating Schistosoma mansoni antigen in serum and urine samples of patients with active schistosomiasis. Methods: This lateral flow immunochromatographic strip was prepared by using anti-Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen monoclonal antibody conjugated gold nanoparticles (MAb-AuNPs) as antigen-detecting antibody, while crystalline material (MCM)-41-MAb bioconjugate was immobilized at the test line as antigen-capturing antibody. Both antigen capturing and detecting antibodies formed sandwich complexes with circulating Schistosoma mansoni antigen in the positive samples. Sandwich complexes immobilized at the test line gave distinct red color. The assay reliability was examined by using urine and serum samples of 60 Schistosoma mansoni infected patients, 20 patients infected with parasites other than Schistosoma, and 20 healthy individuals as negative controls. Results were compared with those obtained via sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The detection limit of circulating Schistosoma mansoni antigen by lateral flow immunochromatographic strip was lower (3 ng/mL) than the detection limit by ELISA (30 ng/mL). The sensitivity and specificity of lateral flow immunochromatographic strip in urine samples were 98.3％ and 97.5％, respectively compared to 93.5％ and 90.0％ by ELISA. In serum samples, they were 100.0％ and 97.5％, respectively compared to 97.0％ and 95.0％ by ELISA. The strip test took approximately 10 min to complete. Conclusions: This new lateral flow immunochromatographic strip offers a sensitive, rapid, and field applicable technique for diagnosis of active schistosomiasis.

Background: The absorption rates of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) may be influenced by the concomitant use of omeprazole. Methods: One hundred kidney transplant patients were recruited during their outpatient visits, including 50 on MMF and 50 on EC-MPS. At the clinic, a predose mycophenolic acid (MPA) sample (C0) was collected; subsequently, the participants received the proton-pump inhibitor omeprazole along with either MMF or EC-MPS. Two more blood samples were collected at 1.5 and 3.5 hours and used to estimate an area under the curve (AUC) from zero to 12 hours [AUC (0-12)]. Results: The mean number of months after transplant was 92 months. The median AUC (0-12) and C0 results were 62.2 mg·h/L and 2.0 mg/L for the MMF group and 71.9 mg·h/L and 1.8 mg/L for the EC-MPS group (P = 0.160 and 0.225, respectively). Interestingly, 54% of the MMF group and 62% of the EC-MPS group showed AUCs above the target values. The correlation between MPA C0 and the predicted AUC was poor in both groups. Conclusion Omeprazole can be safely co-administered with either MMF or EC-MPS, as it did not compromise the MPA exposure. Unexpectedly, however, a high percentage of patients presented MPA AUCs exceeding the target value, highlighting the importance of periodically assessing MPA level.

Background: The absorption rates of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) may be influenced by the concomitant use of omeprazole. Methods: One hundred kidney transplant patients were recruited during their outpatient visits, including 50 on MMF and 50 on EC-MPS. At the clinic, a predose mycophenolic acid (MPA) sample (C0) was collected; subsequently, the participants received the proton-pump inhibitor omeprazole along with either MMF or EC-MPS. Two more blood samples were collected at 1.5 and 3.5 hours and used to estimate an area under the curve (AUC) from zero to 12 hours [AUC (0-12)]. Results: The mean number of months after transplant was 92 months. The median AUC (0-12) and C0 results were 62.2 mg·h/L and 2.0 mg/L for the MMF group and 71.9 mg·h/L and 1.8 mg/L for the EC-MPS group (P = 0.160 and 0.225, respectively). Interestingly, 54% of the MMF group and 62% of the EC-MPS group showed AUCs above the target values. The correlation between MPA C0 and the predicted AUC was poor in both groups. Conclusion Omeprazole can be safely co-administered with either MMF or EC-MPS, as it did not compromise the MPA exposure. Unexpectedly, however, a high percentage of patients presented MPA AUCs exceeding the target value, highlighting the importance of periodically assessing MPA level.

Objective: To develop a new sandwich based lateral flow immunochromatographic strip for rapid detection of circulating Schistosoma mansoni antigen in serum and urine samples of patients with active schistosomiasis. Methods: This lateral flow immunochromatographic strip was prepared by using anti-Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen monoclonal antibody conjugated gold nanoparticles (MAb-AuNPs) as antigen-detecting antibody, while crystalline material (MCM)-41-MAb bioconjugate was immobilized at the test line as antigen-capturing antibody. Both antigen capturing and detecting antibodies formed sandwich complexes with circulating Schistosoma mansoni antigen in the positive samples. Sandwich complexes immobilized at the test line gave distinct red color. The assay reliability was examined by using urine and serum samples of 60 Schistosoma mansoni infected patients, 20 patients infected with parasites other than Schistosoma, and 20 healthy individuals as negative controls. Results were compared with those obtained via sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The detection limit of circulating Schistosoma mansoni antigen by lateral flow immunochromatographic strip was lower (3 ng/mL) than the detection limit by ELISA (30 ng/mL). The sensitivity and specificity of lateral flow immunochromatographic strip in urine samples were 98.3% and 97.5%, respectively compared to 93.5% and 90.0% by ELISA. In serum samples, they were 100.0% and 97.5%, respectively compared to 97.0% and 95.0% by ELISA. The strip test took approximately 10 min to complete. Conclusions: This new lateral flow immunochromatographic strip offers a sensitive, rapid, and field applicable technique for diagnosis of active schistosomiasis.