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 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.

OBJECTIVEEvaluating the accuracy and safety as well as the equivalence compared with the control kit of RIDA QUICK Norovirus detection kit(R-Biopharm, Germany).

METHODSBased on the results of commercially available IDEA Norovirus detection kit (ELISA), the sensitivity and specificity and accuracy of RIDA QUICK Norovirus detection kit (immunochromatographic assay) were evaluated.

RESULTSThe sensitivity and specificity of RIDA QUICK Norovirus detection kit were 98.4% and 92.4%, and the accuracy was 97.6% compared with the control kit.

CONCLUSIONRIDA QUICK Norovirus detection kit has good sensitivity and specificity for the detection of norovirus antigens.

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.

Fecal samples obtained from wild boar habitats are useful for the surveillance of diseases in wild boar populations; however, it is difficult to determine the species of origin of feces collected in natural habitats. In this study, a fecal IgA ELISA was evaluated as a method for identifying the porcine species from fecal samples. Both domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) and wild boars (Sus scrofa coreanus) showed significantly higher levels of fecal IgA than other animal species. Additionally, age dependent changes in the level of Ig A in wild boars and domestic pigs were identified; Titers of Ig A were highest in suckling period and lowest in weanling period.
Animals* ; Antibodies* ; Ecosystem ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Feces ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Methods ; Sus scrofa*

BACKGROUND: Soluble ST2 (sST2) has emerged as a biomarker of heart failure. Previous studies indicated 35 ng/mL of sST2 as the clinically prognostic cut-off value. This study aims to establish reference intervals in a Korean population using an sST2 assay and to evaluate the applicability of the cut-off value. METHODS: From March to May 2014, sST2 levels were assayed in serum samples of 255 cardio-healthy Koreans (128 men and 127 women) using the Presage ST2 ELISA kit (Critical Diagnostics, USA). The reference interval for sST2 was defined using the nonparametric percentile method according to the CLSI EP28-A3c guideline. RESULTS: The median sST2 concentrations were 23.8 ng/mL (interquartile range (IQR), 19.0-28.7), 26.6 ng/mL (IQR, 21.0-30.9), and 21.9 ng/mL (IQR, 17.3-26.5) for the entire cohort, men, and women, respectively. sST2 levels were significantly higher in men than in women (P<0.0001). The 97.5th percentile upper reference limits for sST2 were 43.8 ng/mL, 49.6 ng/mL, and 35.4 ng/mL for the cohort, men, and women, respectively. Gender-specific upper reference limits were similar to limits reported by other studies. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that gender-specific reference intervals should be used for the Korean population, as application of a single cut-off value of 35 ng/mL may be overcautious of the possibility of false positivity, especially in men.
Cohort Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Male ; Methods

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rat periodontal ligament cell viability under 0℃/2 MPa condition up to one week using in vivo 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-y1)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As soon as 110 upper molar teeth of rats were extracted, they were stored in Hartman's solution under 0℃/2 MPa condition for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 days each. All specimens were treated with in vivo MTT assay and the value of optical density was measured by ELISA reader. These values were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA. RESULT: There was no statistical difference on MTT value between immediate and 1 day storage group. There were statistically significant differences between 1 day and 2 days tsorage, 2 and 3 days storage groups, respectively. Teeth of 3,4, and 7 days storage groups showed significantly lower MTT valuesc ompared with shorter period storage groups. CONCLUSION: When the MTT values were substituted in standard curve, 1 day storage group at 0℃/2 MPa condition showed 68% cell viability when compared with immediate group. It dropped to 13% at 2 days, and to less than 5% at 3 days or more.
Animals ; Cell Survival ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Methods* ; Molar ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Rats* ; Tooth

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

PURPOSE: To evaluate a recently marketed commercial glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpEIA) kit, the VaccZyme(TM) VZV gpEIA, for measuring the immunity of varicella-vaccinated children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the accuracy and reproducibility of the VaccZyme(TM) VZV gpEIA kit for the detection of antibodies to VZV. We also examined the sensitivity, specificity, and correlation between antibody titers calculated with gpEIA versus fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) by using sera of 349 children, ranging from 1 to 6 years old. RESULTS: VaccZyme(TM) VZV gpEIA gave precise and reproducible intra- and inter-assay results. FAMA and gpEIA titers showed a linear correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.987). The sensitivity and specificity of the VaccZyme(TM) gpEIA was 31.4% and 100%, respectively, when the guidelines of the gpEIA (<100 mIU/mL) and FAMA 1:4 were adopted as cutoff values. However, the maximum sensitivity and specificity were 88.9% and 95.1%, respectively, with the highest correlation (kappa=0.840), if the cutoff values were set with gpEIA at 49.7 mIU/mL and FAMA 1:16. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the VaccZyme(TM) VZV gpEIA kit gave precise and reproducible data for measuring antibody titer after varicella vaccination. The results also showed that the antibody titer calculated with the VaccZyme(TM) gpEIA kit strongly correlated with the FAMA titer. However, cutoff values should be re-optimized for the evaluation of vaccine immunity.
Antibodies ; Chickenpox* ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Glycoproteins* ; Humans ; Membranes ; Methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vaccination

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