In Trang An polyclinics in Ha Noi, with ELISA technique, 35 healthy people (27 female aged 20-38, 8 male aged 25-37) undergone an examination of serum CA153-3 and 31 other healthy people (17 female aged 21-38, 14 male aged 22-41) an examination of resum CA125. The technique is complicated needing precaution and accuracy; for each examination, it is recommended a standard graphic with a standard sample determined antigen concentration. CA15-3 normal concentration is 2.37-18.17 U/ml, and CA125 is 7.17-38.37 U/ml
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; serum

OBJECTIVETo evaluate chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), electrochemiluminescent immunoassay (ECLIA) and ELISA in determination of low level HBsAg.

METHODSAccording to the standard of CLIA Architect i2000, 70 samples were divided into three groups by HBsAg concentration : <1 ng/ml, 1-5 ng/ml and >4 ng/ml. The samples were also determined by ECLIA MODULAR170 and ELISA, and the results were compared with those measured by CLIA Architect i2000.

RESULTSThe concordance rates of ECLIA MODULAR170 with Architect i2000 was 79.2% for <1 ng/ml group, 100% for 1-5 ng/ml group, 100% for >4 ng/ml group. And the concordance rates of ELISA with Architect i2000 was 0 % for <1 ng/ml group, 45.5% for 1-5 ng/ml group and 100 % for >4 ng/ml group.

CONCLUSIONFor determination of low level HBsAg,CLIA Architect i2000 and ECLIA MODULAR170 have high credibility. ELISA is also credible when HBsAg >5 ng/ml, but not for low level HBsAg, especially for HBsAg <1 ng/ml.

OBJECTIVETo identify a cost-efficient alternative antibody testing strategy for screening and confirmation of HIV infection by rapid simple tests (RSTs) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

METHODSFour RSTs (RST1, RST2, RST3, and RST4) and five ELISAs (ELISA1, ELISA2, ELISA3, ELISA4, and ELISA5) were evaluated in two phases by using banked and serum specimens prospectively collected at regional hospitals and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers in Beijing. A total of 200 banked serum specimens were included in the first phase, including 62 HIV-positive, 127 HIV-negative and 11 indeterminate specimens. All specimens were tested by four RSTs and five ELISAs respectively. The second phase involved prospective testing of 389 routine specimens, including 92 HIV-positive, 287 HIV-negative, and 10 indeterminate specimens. All the specimens were tested by two RSTs (RST2 and RST4) and three ELISAs (ELISA1, ELISA3, and ELISA4), which were selected for their respective excellent sensitivity and/or specificity. Western blot (WB) was used as a gold standard for confirming the reactivity of all the specimens.

RESULTSSensitivity, specificity, and efficacy were calculated for each assay in two phases. In the first phase, four assays (ELISA4, RST2, RST3, and RST4) had a specificity of 100%. For the determination of efficacy, ELISA4, RST2, and RST4 were selected in the second phase. ELISA1 and ELISA3 which have a sensitivity of 95.9% and 93.2% respectively also entered this phase. In the second phase, all the five assays (ELISA1, ELISA3, ELISA4, RST2, and RST4) had a sensitivity and specifity of over 90%. ELISA1 had a sensitivity of 99% and ELISA4 a specificity of 99%.

CONCLUSIONThe sensitivity ELISA1 and the specificit of ELISA4 are comparable to ELISA/WB standard strategy. Application of this alternative testing strategy provides a cost-effective method for determining HIV prevalence in Beijing.

PURPOSE: Homeless patients usually live outside and are therefore frequently exposed to injury and tetanus infection. Thus, after visits to an emergency department (ED) due to injury, homeless patients need to be vaccinated for the prevention of tetanus infection with tetanus immunoglobulin regardless of tetanus antibody titer or previous vaccination history. Because the exact history of previous tetanus vaccination in homeless patients is unclear, the tetanus antibody titer between homeless patients and general patients was assessed. METHODS: Subjects who visited the ED after injury from October 2008 to February 2010 were enrolled. All participants answered questions on age, gender, previous vaccination or prophylaxis history, and military service. The Tetanus Immunoglobulin G ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method was used for the analysis of serum samples. Propensity score-matched analysis was used to control for age, gender, previous vaccination or prophylaxis history, and military service. RESULTS: A total of 1325 samples were analyzed. There was 83 samples from homeless patients and 1242 samples from general patients. After matched analysis using the propensity score, 56 subjects were matched. The geometric mean titer of tetanus antibody was 0.204+/-0.392 IU/mL in homeless patients and 0.105+/-0.143 IU/mL in general patients (p=0.078). The proportion of patients with a safe tetanus antibody titer was 66.1 percent of homeless patients and 23.2 percent of general patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Homeless patients had a higher mean titer and a statistically higher proportion had a safe titer compared to general patients.
Emergencies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Methods ; Military Personnel ; Propensity Score ; Tetanus* ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: Homeless patients usually live outside and are therefore frequently exposed to injury and tetanus infection. Thus, after visits to an emergency department (ED) due to injury, homeless patients need to be vaccinated for the prevention of tetanus infection with tetanus immunoglobulin regardless of tetanus antibody titer or previous vaccination history. Because the exact history of previous tetanus vaccination in homeless patients is unclear, the tetanus antibody titer between homeless patients and general patients was assessed. METHODS: Subjects who visited the ED after injury from October 2008 to February 2010 were enrolled. All participants answered questions on age, gender, previous vaccination or prophylaxis history, and military service. The Tetanus Immunoglobulin G ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method was used for the analysis of serum samples. Propensity score-matched analysis was used to control for age, gender, previous vaccination or prophylaxis history, and military service. RESULTS: A total of 1325 samples were analyzed. There was 83 samples from homeless patients and 1242 samples from general patients. After matched analysis using the propensity score, 56 subjects were matched. The geometric mean titer of tetanus antibody was 0.204+/-0.392 IU/mL in homeless patients and 0.105+/-0.143 IU/mL in general patients (p=0.078). The proportion of patients with a safe tetanus antibody titer was 66.1 percent of homeless patients and 23.2 percent of general patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Homeless patients had a higher mean titer and a statistically higher proportion had a safe titer compared to general patients.
Emergencies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Methods ; Military Personnel ; Propensity Score ; Tetanus* ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2) is expressed and released predominantly activated T lymphocyte. Increased serum levels of soluble IL-2R have been noted in a variety of autoimmune diseases and in conditions associated with T lymphocyte activation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine whether the T lymphocyte activation has any association with the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. METHOD: We have measured the serum level of soluble IL-2R in serum samples obtained from 67 patients with Behçet's disease and 30 healthy people as a control group, using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. RESULTS: Serum soluble IL-2R levels were found to be significantly elevated in the group of Behçet's disease as compared with the control group. No significant differences were found within clinical subtypes of Behçet's disease. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the presence of an ongoing T lymphocyte activation in this disease process.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; Methods ; Receptors, Interleukin-2*

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2) is expressed and released predominantly activated T lymphocyte. Increased serum levels of soluble IL-2R have been noted in a variety of autoimmune diseases and in conditions associated with T lymphocyte activation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine whether the T lymphocyte activation has any association with the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. METHOD: We have measured the serum level of soluble IL-2R in serum samples obtained from 67 patients with Behçet's disease and 30 healthy people as a control group, using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. RESULTS: Serum soluble IL-2R levels were found to be significantly elevated in the group of Behçet's disease as compared with the control group. No significant differences were found within clinical subtypes of Behçet's disease. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the presence of an ongoing T lymphocyte activation in this disease process.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; Methods ; Receptors, Interleukin-2*

PURPOSE: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease and is responsible for two million deaths annually. For the identification and quantitation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), a causative agent of TB, a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against the MPT64 protein of M. tuberculosis, an antigen marker of the M. tuberculosis complex, was developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MPT64 protein was expressed, and anti-MPT64 monoclonal antibodies were prepared. A sandwich ELISA was established using recombinant MPT64 protein and anti-MPT64 monoclonal antibodies. The sandwich MPT64 ELISA was evaluated using reference and clinical mycobacterial strains. RESULTS: The sandwich MPT64 ELISA detected MPT64 protein from 2.1 ng/mL to 250 ng/mL (equivalent to 1.7x10(4) CFU/mL and 2.0x10(6) CFU/mL). All 389 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates tested positive in the sandwich MPT64 ELISA (sensitivity, 100%), and the assay showed no cross reactivity to any tested nontuberculous mycobacterial strain (specificity, 100%). CONCLUSION: The sandwich MPT64 ELISA is a highly sensitive and quantitative test for MPT64 protein, which can identify M. tuberculosis.
Antigens, Bacterial/*analysis/immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/*methods ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*immunology

BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS), otherwise called myofascial pain is one of the most common temporomandibular disorders, which in turn is the most common cause of orofacial pain of non-dental origin. Its etiology is multifactorial and still poorly understood. Psychological factors have been shown to play a role in the etiology. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between anxiety and salivary cortisol levels in patients with myofascial pain. METHODS: Twenty patients suffering from myofascial pain were recruited as the study group. The same number of age and sex matched healthy individuals were taken as the control group. The salivary samples collected between 9-9:15 am from both groups were analyzed for cortisol levels with the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Anxiety levels of 40 patients were measured using Hamilton's anxiety scale. RESULTS: The mean serum cortisol level of the MPDS group showed a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) from the controls. The mean anxiety scores of the MPDS group showed a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) from the controls. A positive correlation was found between anxiety and the salivary cortisol levels in MPDS patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that anxiety plays a vital role in the etio-pathogenesis of MPDS; thus, besides pharmacological treatment, psychological support is also needed.
Anxiety* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Facial Pain ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Methods ; Psychology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

OBJECTIVE: α-synuclein, Nogo-A and Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have neuromodulatory roles for human brain. Therefore, abnormalities of these molecules are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Although some serum studies in the other disorders have been made, serum study of α-synuclein, Nogo-A and UCH-L1 is not present in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Therefore, our aim was to compare serum levels of α-synuclein, Nogo-A and UCH-L1 of the patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-four patients with schizophrenia who is followed by psychotic disorders unit, and 40 healthy control were included in this study. Socio-demographic form and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was applied to patients, and sociodemographic form was applied to control group. Fasting bloods were collected and the serum levels of α-synuclein, Nogo-A and UCH-L1 were measured by ELISA method. RESULTS: Serum α-synuclein [patient: 12.73 (5.18–31.84) ng/mL; control: 41.77 (15.12–66.98) ng/mL], Nogo-A [patient: 33.58 (3.09–77.26) ng/mL; control: 286.05 (136.56–346.82) ng/mL] and UCH-L1 [patient: 5.26 (1.64–10.87) ng/mL; control: 20.48 (11.01–20.81) ng/mL] levels of the patients with schizophrenia were significianly lower than healthy controls (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study results added new evidence for explaining the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia on the basis of neurochemical markers.
Biomarkers ; Brain ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasting ; Humans ; Methods ; Psychotic Disorders ; Schizophrenia* ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase