• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the seropositive prevalence of blood-borne infection in neurotrauma patients who underwent emergent surgical intervention, especially patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis and human immunodefIciency virus (HIV). Methods: A retrospective review identified 559 patients with traumatic brain injury and spinal trauma who underwent emergent surgery between 2007 and 2014. We reviewed the medical records and extracted data, including age, sex, location of lesion, result of serologic tests, time interval of admission and surgery after presenting to emergency room. Serologic tests for HBV, HCV, syphilis and HIV were performed and analyzed to determine whether the seropositive results were confirmed by the surgeon before surgery. Results: The majority of the patients were male (74.6%), and the mean age was $55.4{\pm}20.2years$. Most patients underwent surgery due to traumatic brain injury (90.0%). Fifty-three patients (10.0%) showed a positive result on at least one serologic test. Seropositive rates according to pathogens were 0.5% for syphilis, 5.2% for HBV and 3.9% for HCV. No positive results were noted on the serologic tests for HIV. HBV in patients with spinal cord injury and age from 40 to 49 years were associated with high serologic positive rate, and that result was statistically significant. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the other variables. Serologic results could not confirmed before surgery in the majority of the cases (62.1%), and 10.4% of these patients showed seropositive results. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the importance of taking precautions and conducting rapid serologic testing in preventing the occupational transmission of blood-borne viruses to health-care workers.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.124-127
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• 2012

Syphilis is an infectious and sexually transmitted chronic disease caused by Treponema pallidum. On the basis of clinical findings, the disease has been divided into a series of overlapping stages, which are used to help guide treatment and follow-up. Persons who have syphilis might seek treatment for signs or symptoms of primary infection, secondary infection and tertiary infection. Latent infections are detected by serologic testing. A presumptive diagnosis of syphilis is possible with the use of two types of serologic tests: nontreponemal tests and treponemal tests assay. The use of only one type of serologic test is insufficient for diagnosis, because each type of test has limitations, including the possibility of false-positive test results in persons without syphilis. KFDA published Koreans guideline of Sexually transmitted infections in 2011. Two hundred samples were tested by RPR card test and Mediace RPR test with simultaneously. The agreement between RPR card test and Mediace RPR test was 95%, the discrepant samples was 5%. The characteristics of 10 discrepant samples was RPR card Positive and Mediace RPR negative nine samples, RPR card negative and Mediace RPR positive one sample. The nine samples were confirmed as FTA-ABS by KFDA guideline of syphilis test algorism, all IgM test was Negative, all IgG test was reactive. So, these cases were past or latent syphilis. The one sample was false-positive reaction.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.81-88
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• 2013

Purpose: Among patients with multiple traumatic fractures, a tendency to form more callus exists in groups with multiple fractures combined with traumatic brain injury. This retrospective study evaluated the hematologic factors that might be useful to predict callus formation by comparing serologic tests and clinical and radiologic results in two groups. Methods: From January 2000 to December 2010, patients with femur shaft fractures were divided in two groups: one without traumatic brain injury (control group: 32 cases), and the other with traumatic brain injury (study group: 44 cases). We evaluated routine serologic exams and the amount of callus formation during the follow-up period. Results: Only the alkaline phosphatase level was statistically different between the two groups, not the White blood cell count, C-reactive protein, total calcium, and lactate dehydrogenase level. The amount of callus formation on the antero-posterior radiograph at the last follow up period was 74.9% in the study group and 42.1% in the control group. Then lateral radiograph showed 73.2% callus formation rate in the study group and 31.8% in the control group. Conclusion: In routine serologic exams, the two groups had no significant differences, except for the alkaline phosphatase level. The group with traumatic brain injury had much more callus formation, but there was no reliable factor to predict callus formation on the routine serologic exam.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.315-329
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• 2008

A total of 710 bovine serum samples which are composed 532 bovine serum samples showed negative reaction and 178 bovine serum samples showed positive reaction with tube agglutination test (TAT) from North area of Gyeong-nam, Korea were tested using all the 3 assays which are Rose-Bengal test(RBT), tube agglutination test (TAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, two types) and analyzed for evaluation of specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility and predictive value. In the comparison of serum antibody titer agglutination test, RBT showed almost agreement with TAT. In the comparison of TAT and two types of ELISA method, they showed difference in specificity and sensitivity about 5%. But there is no significant difference in detecting sensitivity between two types of ELISA method and TAT. In serologic tests for bovine brucellosis, the new assay ELISA would be a good candidate for serologic survey for bovine brucellosis in Korea because it is efficient in detecting many test samples quickly. But the serum agglutination tests (RBT, TAT) are more economical and easy assay for detection. In the test of comparison of antibody titer between first day of finding and 10 days after finding by TAT, there was no change in 55% (76/139) of positive cattle.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.630-639
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• 2000

The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) establishes long-term chronic infection that can lead to atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. H. pylori, which express cytotoxic genes is now recohnized as a cause of peptic ulcer and is also a major risk factor for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. We performed this study 1) to assess the detection rate of H. pylori according to direct investigation of bacteria of gastric biopsy specimen and two serologic tests of GAP test and Helico blot 2.0 system in the symptomatic and non-symptomatic group 2) to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two serologic tests of GAP test and Helico blot 2.0 system for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Forty-nine patients were positive for H pylori infection based on direct investigation of bacteria by histology. The detection rates of H. pylori infection based on direct investigation of bacteria by histology. The detection rates of H. phlori were significantly lower in gastric cancer than in other gastroduodenal disease(p<0.05). The concordance of two serologic tests of GAP test and Helico blot 2.0 system is poor. There was no statistically significant difference between the expression rate of CagA and VacA in the symptomatic and non-symptomatic group. Although Helico blot 2.0 system may not displace GAP test, it was a very sensitive serologic test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection and it was used to detect IgG antibodies to H. pylori-specific antigens, including CagA, VacA and the various urease subunit. Our data suggest that further investigation is needed to determine whether or not the serologic expression of cytotoxic gene may be clinical usefulness of diagnostic methods in the gastroduodenal disease.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.548-558
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• 2018

Objective : Diagnosing acute cerebral infarction is crucial in determining prognosis of stroke patients. Although many serologic tests for prompt diagnosis are available, the clinical application of serologic tests is currently limited. We investigated whether $S100{\beta}$, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), D-dimer, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) can be used as biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction. Methods : Focal cerebral ischemia was induced using the modified intraluminal filament technique. Mice were randomly assigned to 30-minute occlusion (n=10), 60-minute occlusion (n=10), or sham (n=5) groups. Four hours later, neurological deficits were evaluated and blood samples were obtained. Infarction volumes were calculated and plasma $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, D-dimer, and HSP70 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : The average infarction volume was $12.32{\pm}2.31mm^3$ and $46.9{\pm}7.43mm^3$ in the 30- and 60-minute groups, respectively. The mean neurological score in the two ischemic groups was $1.6{\pm}0.55$ and $3.2{\pm}0.70$, respectively. $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 expressions significantly increased after 4 hours of ischemia (p=0.001). Furthermore, $S100{\beta}$ and MMP-9 expressions correlated with infarction volumes (p<0.001) and neurological deficits (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in D-dimer expression between groups (p=0.843). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) showed high sensitivity and specificity for MMP-9, HSP70 (AUC=1), and $S100{\beta}$ (AUC=0.98). Conclusion : $S100{\beta}$, MMP-9, and HSP70 can complement current diagnostic tools to assess cerebral infarction, suggesting their use as potential biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.385-391
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• 2007

A novel enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is described and compared with other established serologic tests for bovine brucellosis, namely the rose bengal test (RBT), the complement fixation test (CFT), and the tube agglutination test (TAT) approved and used in Korea. A total of 109 bovine serum samples were tested using all the 4 assays and analyzed as to specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility and predictive value. The ELISA showed 100% agreement with the CFT. The least agreement between ELISA was observed with the TAT. The agreement between the ELISA and RBT was not significantly different from that observed between the CFT and the ELISA. It is concluded that the new assay would be a good candidate for routine serologic survey for brucellosis in Korea. A protocol combining the ELISA and the CFT would increase the power for detection of serologically positive individuals and herds.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2016

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy in the world and still remains the third and fifth leading cause of cancer death in male and female, respectively. In terms of the cancer survival, the survival of gastric cancer is low in the West with showed 5-year survival rates of 10-30%, whereas the survival rates in Asia is more than 50%. The reason of the higher survival rate from gastric cancer in Asia partially related with the availability of gastric cancer screening programs, however, the population-based screening for gastric cancer has been conducted just in Korea and Japan. Therefore, more effective method for detecting the gastric cancer is needed for countries without a population-based gastric cancer screening. Endoscopy is the most effective method for diagnosis of gastric cancer however, it requires a large infrastructure including a large number of endoscopic equipment and well-trained endoscopists. To overcome these problems, several noninvasive methods (such as serologic markers, biomarkers, cancer autoantibodies, and exhaled breath analysis) for diagnosis of gastric cancer screening are suggested. This review addresses the conventional methods and the emerging methods for gastric cancer screening.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2018

This prospective study was aimed to detect acute and chronic ocular toxoplasmosis by comparison of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibody levels and IgG avidity test. One hundred and seventeen patients with ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) who referred to the Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran were included in this study. Of the patients, 77 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG, and 8 cases were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM. IgG avidity test revealed 11, 4, and 102 cases were low, intermediate, and high, respectively, and 6.8% and 9.4% of cases were positive for IgM and IgG avidity tests, respectively (P=0.632). Agreement (Kappa value) between paired tests IgG-IgM, IgG-IgG avidity, and IgM-IgG avidity was 0.080, 0.099, and 0.721, respectively (P<0.05). This study showed that conventional serologic tests (IgM and IgG levels) and IgG avidity correlate well each other and can be used to differentiate recent infections from old OT. It seems that reactivated old infections rather than recently acquired infections are majority of Iranian OT patients.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1968

For the effective control of Syphilis, many investigators have developed a more rapid, simple and economical screening serological test which is adequately sensitive and specific. To fulfill the requirements of a more rapid serologic test for syphlis, a substitute for the conventional serum specimen was needed since considerable time and labor are involved in the processing of blood to serum. Burdon suggested the use of plasma in the serologic tests for syphilis as a substitute for serum. He noticed that plasma was more sensitive than serum in the Kline and Kahn tests, and attributed this to the presence of more antibody-like substance, "reagin" in plasma than in serum. However, to make plasma sufficiently sensitive, it was necessary to inactivate plasma by heating at a temperature of $56^{\circ}C$ for about 30 minutes. Heating of plasma resulted in the precipitation of fibrinogen which made centrifugation necessary to obtain dear plasma. Since the chief disadvantage to the use of unheated plasma(or serum) was a reduction in sensitivity of results-which probably was due to a labile factor such as complement-Portnoy et al began to consider rapid chemical methods of inactivation of plasma(or serum). They experienced that choline chloirde was shown to be anticomplementary which suggested its use as an inactivating agent for unheated plasma(or serum). In 1959 Portnoy et al reported the Rapid Plasma Reagin(RPR) Test for syphilis which is a more rapid, economical and simple. But still this test has many disadvantages as a rapid performing, field and office procedure, because it requires the usual laboratory equipments such as centrifuge, rotating machine, microscope etc. To substitute these disadvantages of the RPR test, in 1962, Portnoy et al developed the Rapid Plasma Reagin(RPR) card test for syphilis, which has the following advantages: a) Simplicity and rapidity of performance, b) Requires no laboratory equipments, c) Stable antigen suspension, d) Adequate sensitivity and specificity. This RPR card test can be used as a rapidly performing and screening test in field investigation, outpatient clinics, small laboratories and hospitals doing limited syphilis serology, and predonor in blood bank. Private clinic which has limited laboratory equipment and technic for syphilis serology can also use this RPR card test as a tool in the rapid diagnosis of syphilis. It was thought that this RPR card test is a useful tool in Korea for private physician and mass survey for syphilis diagnosis. But Portnoy patented the reagents needed for the performing the RPR card test. Therefore authors developed newly the reagents and according to Portnoy's method evaluated the newly developed. RPR card test compared with the VDRL, Kolmer CF, and RPCF tests. The RPR card and VDRL tests were performed plasma and serum from the total 1,132 cases. Among these 1,131 cases, 521 were syphilis suspected laboratory specimens, and 611 were syphilis unsuspected healthy young men. After screening with these two tests, the RPR card and VDRL tests, reactive specimens to the above one or both tests were retested by the Kolmer CF and RPCF tests.