• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.435-437
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• 2019

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is endemic in many Latin American countries. Diagnosis is based on serologic testing and the WHO recommends two or more serological tests for confirmation. Acidic ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi showed strong reactivity against positive sera of patients, and we cloned the protein after fragmenting it to enhance its antigenicity and solubility. Twelve positive sera of Chagas disease patients were reacted with the fragmented ribosomal P protein using western blot. Detection rate and density for each fragment were determined. Fragments F1R1, F1R2, and F2R1 showed 100% rate of detection, and average density scoring of 2.00, 1.67, and 2.42 from a maximum of 3.0, respectively. Therefore, the F2R1 fragment of the ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi could be a promising antigen to use in the diagnosis of Chagas disease in endemic regions with high specificity and sensitivity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권10호
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• pp.5307-5312
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• 2012

Introduction: Breast cancer cells and tumor stroma produce different cytokines and soluble factors. Cytokines, while playing crucial roles in immune responses to tumors, also favour tumor growth and progression. IL-7 and G-CSF are two cytokines that may exert influences on the pathophysiology of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Sera were collected from 136 females with breast cancer before receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The control group comprised of 60 healthy age-matched females without any acute or chronic diseases with no family history of breast cancer. Serum levels of IL-7 and G-CSF were measured by commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: While there was no significant difference in the level of G-CSF between patients ($92.81{\pm}594.54$ pg/ml) and controls (0.00 pg/ml), G-CSF level in sera of patients with advanced stages of breast cancer was elevated compared to early stages (p=0.0001). Moreover, the highest level of G-CSF was seen in patients with N3 phase tumors (p=0.0001). IL-7 was slightly but not significantly higher in the control group ($0.04{\pm}0.11$ pg/ml) in comparison with patients ($0.02{\pm}0.10$ pg/ml). Interestingly, a significant increase in the level of IL-7 in patients with skin involvement was observed (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed an elevation of G-CSF in sera of patients with advanced stages of tumor, while IL-7 elevation correlated with skin involvement of breast cancer. IL-7 can be produced by keratinocytes in skin tissue and may be involved in the pathologic establishment of metastatic tumor cells in skin.

• 대한미생물학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.79-89
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• 1985

It is important to discriminate between tuberculosis and tuberculosis-like disease by Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. But because common antigens share among Mycobacteria, their antigenicities to human are similar. Therefore degree of cross-reactivity of antibody in the sera of patients with tuberculosis between M. tuberculosis and Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis should be checked to increase the specificity in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. The activity levels of IgG antibody in the sera of 106 patients confirmed as active pulmonary tuberculosis and 30 normal healthy control person to the pressate extract antigen (TE, BE, AE, and FE antigen) from M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. avium, and M. fortuitum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the crossreactivity of IgG antibody with mycobacterial species was analysed. The results were as follows; 1. The activity level(O.D. at 492nm) of IgG to TE antigen in sera of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was $0.228{\pm}0.167$ in minimal tuberculosis; moderately advanced, $0.556{\pm}0.616$; far advanced, $1.116{\pm}0.651$ and $0.315{\pm}0.245$ in miliary tuberculosis. 2. The activity level (O.D. at 492nm) of IgG to BE antigen in sera of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was $0.190{\pm}0.162$ in minimal tuberculosis; moderately advanced, $0.337{\pm}0.361$; far advanced, $0.713[\pm}0.460$ and $0.204{\pm}0.162$ in miliary tuberculosis. 3. The activity level (O.D. at 492nm) of IgG to AE antigen in sera of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was $0.165{\pm}0.114$ in minimal tuberculosis; moderately advanced, $0.392{\pm}0.494$; far advenced, $0.751{\pm}0.512$ and $0.233{\pm}0.191$ in miliary tuberculosis. 4. The activity level (O.D. at 492nm) of IgG to FE antigen in sera of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was $0.280{\pm}0.227$ in minimal tuberculosis; moderately advanced, $0.460{\pm}0.564$ ; far advanced, $0.845{\pm}0.573$ and $0.257{\pm}0.103$ in miliary tuberculosis. 5. The activity level (O.D. at 492nm) of IgG in sera of healthy control person was $0.126{\pm}0.084$ to TE antigen. $0.105{\pm}0.041$ to BE antigen, $0.103{\pm}0.052$ to AE antigen, and $0.095{\pm}0.061$ to FE antigen. 6. Degree of correlation(r) in activity level of IgG between TE antigen and BE antigen was 0.905 ; between TE antigen and AE antigen, 0.760; between TE antigen and FE antigen, 0.790, and between AE antigen and FE antigen, 0.945. 7. As O.D. above 0.200 was determined positive for the serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, the sensitivity and specificity in ELISA using TE antigen were 80% and 87% respectively, whereas in the case of using BE antigen, 66% and 100%; in the case of using AE antigen, 62% and 100%, and in the case of using FE antigen, 72% and 93%, respecitively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5225-5230
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• 2013

Background: There is a Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance and expression of IL-17 in patients with brain tumours. We aimed to compare the levels of IL-17A and IL-6 in sera of glioma, meningioma and schwannoma patients as well as in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: IL-17A and IL-6 levels were measured in sera of 38 glioma, 24 meningioma and 18 schwannoma patients for comparison with 26 healthy controls by commercial ELISA assays. Results: We observed an increase in the IL-17A in 30% of glioma patients while only 4% and 5.5% of meningioma and schwannoma patients and none of the healthy controls showed elevated IL-17A in their sera ($0.29{\pm}0.54$, $0.03{\pm}0.15$ and $0.16{\pm}0.68$ vs. $0.00{\pm}0.00pg/ml$; p=0.01, p=0.01 and p=0.001, respectively). There was also a significant decrease in the level of IL-6 in glioma patients compared to healthy controls ($2.34{\pm}4.35$ vs. $4.67{\pm}4.32pg/ml$; p=0.01). There was a direct correlation between the level of IL-17A and age in glioma patients (p=0.005). Glioma patients over 30 years of age had higher IL-17A and lower IL-6 in their sera compared to the young patients. In addition, a non-significant grade-specific inverse trend between IL-17A and IL-6 was observed in glioma patients, where high-grade gliomas had higher IL-17A and lower IL-6. Conclusions: Our data suggest a Th17 mediated inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of glioma. Moreover, tuning of IL-6 and IL-17A inflammatory cytokines occurs during progression of glioma. IL-17A may be a potential biomarker and/or immunotherapeutic target in glioma cases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권22호
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• pp.9797-9800
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• 2014

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common cancer in Southern China and Southeast Asia. Alu elements are among the most prevalent repetitive sequences and constitute 11% of the human genome. Although Alu methylation has been evaluated in many types of cancer, few studies have examined the levels of this modification in serum from NPC patients. Objective: To compare the Alu methylation levels and patterns between serum from NPC patients and normal controls. Materials and Methods: Sera from 50 NPC patients and 140 controls were examined. Quantitative combined bisulfite restriction analysis-Alu (qCOBRA-Alu) was applied to measure Alu methylation levels and characterize Alu methylation patterns. Amplified products were classified into four patterns according to the methylation status of 2 CpG sites: hypermethylated (methylation at both loci), partially methylated (methylation of either of the two loci), and hypomethylated (unmethylated at both loci). Results: A comparison of normal control sera with NPC sera revealed that the latter presented a significantly lower methylation level (p=0.0002) and a significantly higher percentage of hypomethylated loci (p=0.0002). The sensitivity of the higher percentage of Alu hypomethyted loci for distinguishing NPC patients from normal controls was 96%. Conclusions: Alu elements in the circulating DNA of NPC patients are hypomethylated. Moreover, Alu hypomethylated loci may represent a potential biomarker for NPC screening.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.219-225
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• 2009

The seroprevalence of cryptosporidiosis was examined using patients' sera collected from hospitals located in 4 different areas of the Republic of Korea. ELISA was used to measure antibody titers against Cryptosporidium parvum antigens from a total of 2,394 serum samples, which were collected randomly from patients in local hospitals; 1)Chungbuk National University Hospital, 2) Konkuk University Hospital, 3) local hospitals in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do (province), 4) Jeonnam National University Hospital, from 2002 through 2003. Of the2,394 samples assayed, 34%, 26%, and 56% were positive for C. parvum-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies, respectively, Positive IgG titers were most common in sera from Jeonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, and positive IgM titers were most common in sera from Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Chuncheonqbuk-do. The seropositivity was positively correlated with age for both the IgG and IgA antibodies but was negatively correlated with age for the IgM antibodies. Western blotting revealed that 92%, 83%, and 77% of sera positive for IgG, IgM, and IgA ELISA reacted with 27-kDa antigens, respectively. These results suggested that infection with Cryptosporidium in hospital patients occurs more commonly than previously reported in the Republic of Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.75-84
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• 2000

Antibody responses in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with active and chronic paragonimiasis and in sera from patients on whom follow-up studies were done after praziquantel treatment were analyzed using antigens of Paragonimus westermani prepared from eggs, metacercariae, juveniles of 4-and 7-week old, adult worms and recombinant protein of 28 kDa cruzipain-like cysteine protease (rPw28CCP). The patient sera/CSFs of active and chronic paragonimiasis revealed strong antibody reactions against the crude extracts of 4-and 7-week old juveniles as well as against those from egg and adult. rPw28CCP also showed specific reaction to the sera with active paragonimiasis. After the treatment, levels of specific antibodies in the sera gradually decreased to negative range in most patients. In some cases with persisting high antibody levels, however, the reactions at 27 kDa egg Protein were sustained throughout the observation period of 34 months. The reactions at 35 and 32 kDa in adult extract and rPw28CCP disappeared rapidly after the treatment. Persistent antibody reactions even after successful treatment are provoked by continuous antigenic challenge from eggs which were not resolved by treatment.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.174-181
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• 2017

Purpose: Epitope spreading is a phenomenon in which distinct subdominant epitopes become major targets of the immune response. Heat shock protein (HSP) 60 from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgHSP60) and peptide 19 from PgHSP60 (Pep19) are immunodominant epitopes in autoimmune disease patients, including those with periodontitis. It remains unclear whether Pep19 is a dominant epitope in subjects without periodontitis or autoimmune disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the epitope spreading pattern and verify Pep19 as an immunodominant epitope in healthy teenagers using dot immunoblot analysis. The patterns of epitope spreading in age-matched patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) and healthy 20- to 29-year old subjects were compared with those of healthy teenagers. Methods: Peptide from PgHSP60, Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP60 (MtHSP60), and Chlamydia pneumoniae HSP60 (CpHSP60) was synthesized for comparative recognition by sera from healthy subjects and patients with autoimmune disease (type 1 DM). Dot immunoblot analysis against a panel of peptides of PgHSP60 and human HSP60 (HuHSP60) was performed to identify epitope spreading, and a densitometric image analysis was conducted. Results: Of the peptide from PgHSP60, MtHSP60, and CpHSP60, PgHSP60 was the predominant epitope and was most consistently recognized by the serum samples of healthy teenagers. Most sera from healthy subjects and patients with type 1 DM reacted more strongly with PgHSP60 and Pep19 than the other peptides. The relative intensity of antibody reactivity to Pep19 was higher in the type 1 DM group than in the healthy groups. Conclusions: Pep19 is an immunodominant epitope, not only in autoimmune disease patients, but also in healthy young subjects, as evidenced by their robust immunoreactivity. This result suggests that the Pep19-specific immune response may be an initiator that triggers autoimmune diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.137-147
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• 1993

The purpose of this study is to identify the presence of the circulating antibodies directed toward ovarian proteins{antiovarian antibodies, AOA) and the nature of antigenic ovarian structure by comparing the binding activities to 4 types of ovarian proteins, particulated and solubilized forms of pig ovarian and granulosa cell membranes in sera of patients with premature ovarian failure(POF) and to evaluate the usefulness of circulating AOA as a follow up tool after treatment. Measurements of AOA were performed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in sera of 58 patients with POF, 51 had normal chromosomes and 7 had X chromosome abnormalities. Sera of 21 natural menopausal women and 17 castrated women were also tested and sera of 32 healthy premenopausal women were served as controls. ELISA reactivities against particulated porcine granulosa cell membrane proteins was the greatest among 4 different ovarian proteins. Fifteen(29%) of 51 POF patients with normal chromosome and 1(14.3%) of 7 POF patients with X chromosome abnormalities had AOA while none of 32 controls and 21 natural menopausal women and 17 castrated women had AOA. One POF patient with 47, XXX was identified AOA positive. The ELISA reactivities were followed up monthly up to 5 months in 4 AOA positive POF patients after estrogen-progestin{E-P) therapy. There was a decreasing tendency of the ELISA reactivities in all these patients after E-P therapy and two of them converted to AOA negative. These data suggest that antigenic structure may be components of granulosa cell membrane and the determination of circulating AOA may be useful in the follow up after treatment in patients with autoimmune POF.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.137-140
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• 2004

Ocular toxocariasis named also ocular larva migrans is caused by larvae of the roundworm Toxocara spp. The purpose of this study was to find out the seroprevalence of Toxocara antibodies in patients suspected of ocular toxocariasis. Between January 2001 and December 2003, sera from 239 ocular patients, aged 3 to 80 years, were examined by ELISA and confirmed by Western blot test. Out of the 239 patients, 172 (72%) were seronegative and 67 (28%) were Toxocara seropositive; 95% CI (22-34%). The median age of Toxocara seropositive patients was 37.6 years. There was no significant difference in the number of Toxocara positive sera between the younger age group (${\leq}14$ years) and the older age group (＞14 years), p＞0.05. A high rate of Toxocara seropositivity in ocular patients should alert the ophthalmologists in Slovenia to include toxocariasis in the differential diagnosis of eye diseases more frequently.