Interferometric detection of prostate specific antigen based on enzyme immunoassay

AbstractInterferometric detection of Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) based on enzyme immunoassay are investigated. Refractive index changes of substrate are measured for PSA detection. Michelson scheme of optical interferometer was used so as to be applicable to a disposable fluidic chip. When interferometer is used for the measurements of refractive index changes, the detection is over 8 times more sensitive than that of absorbance changes for the same amount of target protein

A Long-Term Treatment Outcome of Abdominal Sacrocolpopexy

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term treatment outcome and major complication rates of abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 57 Korean women who underwent ASC with mesh for symptomatic uterine or vault prolapse and attended follow-up visits for at least 5 years. Forty-seven women with urodynamic stress incontinence concomitantly received a modified Burch colposuspension. The long-term anatomical and functional outcomes and complication rates were assessed. Results: The median follow-up was 66 months (range 60-108). Overall anatomical success rates (no recurrence of any prolapse ≥ stage II according to the pelvic organ prolapse-quantification system) were 86.0%. Urinary urgency and voiding dysfunction were significantly improved after surgery, however, recurrent stress urinary incontinence developed in 44.7 % (21/47) of cases and half of them developed within 1-3 months post-op. Bowel function (constipation and fecal incontinence) and sexual function (sexual activity and dyspareunia) did not significantly change after surgery. Major complication requiring reoperation or intensive care developed in 12 (21.0%) cases. Conclusion: ASC provides durable pelvic support, however, it may be ineffective for alleviating pelvic floor dysfunction except for urinary urgency and voiding dysfunction, and it contains major complication risk that cannot be overlooked

Association between toothbrushing and cardiovascular risk factors: a cross-sectional study using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2017

Background: Previous studies have suggested that frequent toothbrushing is associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular events. We sought to investigate further the relationship between toothbrushing, cardiovascular risk factors, and lifestyle behaviours. / Methods: We analysed a cross-sectional survey including 13,761 adults aged 30 years or older without a history of cardiovascular diseases from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. Conventional cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, lipid profiles, and fasting glucose), and inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], and white blood cell counts [WBC]) were investigated in relation to the frequency of toothbrushing. / Results: The estimated 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, calculated using the pooled cohort equations was 13.7%, 9.1%, and 7.3% for participants who reported toothbrushing 0–1, 2, and ≥ 3 times a day, respectively. Both conventional risk factors and inflammatory markers were significantly associated with frequent toothbrushing. However, after adjusting potential confounding factors such as age, sex, comorbidities, and lifestyle behaviours, only inflammatory markers were remained as significant factors. / Conclusions: Oral hygiene behaviours are closely linked to cardiovascular risk factors. This study suggests that reduced systemic inflammatory burden may explain the benefit of improved oral hygiene in terms of cardiovascular risk

TSCOT + Thymic Epithelial Cell-Mediated Sensitive CD4 Tolerance by Direct Presentation

Although much effort has been directed at dissecting the mechanisms of central tolerance, the role of thymic stromal cells remains elusive. In order to further characterize this event, we developed a mouse model restricting LacZ to thymic stromal cotransporter (TSCOT)-expressing thymic stromal cells (TDLacZ). The thymus of this mouse contains approximately 4,300 TSCOT+ cells, each expressing several thousand molecules of the LacZ antigen. TSCOT+ cells express the cortical marker CDR1, CD40, CD80, CD54, and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII). When examining endogenous responses directed against LacZ, we observed significant tolerance. This was evidenced in a diverse T cell repertoire as measured by both a CD4 T cell proliferation assay and an antigen-specific antibody isotype analysis. This tolerance process was at least partially independent of Autoimmune Regulatory Element gene expression. When TDLacZ mice were crossed to a novel CD4 T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic reactive against LacZ (BgII), there was a complete deletion of double-positive thymocytes. Fetal thymic reaggregate culture of CD45- and UEA-depleted thymic stromal cells from TDLacZ and sorted TCR-bearing thymocytes excluded the possibility of cross presentation by thymic dendritic cells and medullary epithelial cells for the deletion. Overall, these results demonstrate that the introduction of a neoantigen into TSCOT-expressing cells can efficiently establish complete tolerance and suggest a possible application for the deletion of antigen-specific T cells by antigen introduction into TSCOT+ cells

In Vivo MR Imaging of Magnetically Labeled Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rat Model of Renal Ischemia

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate in vivo MR imaging for the depiction of intraarterially injected superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in an experimental rat model of renal ischemia. Materials and Methods: Left renal ischemia was induced in 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats by use of the catheter lodging method. In vivo MR signal intensity variations depicted on T2*-weighted sequences were evaluated in both the left and right kidneys prior to injection (n = 2), two hours (n = 4), 15 hours (n = 2), 30 hours (n = 2) and 72 hours (n = 2) after injection of SPIO-labeled MSCs in both kidneys. Signal intensity variations were correlated with the number of Prussian blue stain-positive cells as visualized in histological specimens. Results: In an in vivo study, it was determined that there was a significant difference in signal intensity variation for both the left and right cortex (40.8 +/- 4.12 and 26.4 +/- 7.92, respectively) and for both the left and right medulla (23.2 +/- 3.32 and 15.2 +/- 3.31, respectively) until two hours after injection (p < 0.05). In addition, signal intensity variation in the left renal cortex was well correlated with the number of Prussian blue stain-positive cells per high power field (r = 0.98, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Intraarterial injected SPIO-labeled MSCs in an experimental rat model of renal ischemia can be detected with the use of in vivo MR imaging immediately after injection.This study was partly supported by a grant from the Seoul Research and Business Development Program 10548 and by a grant (A062260) from the Innovative Research Institute for Cell Therapy, Republic of Korea.Ittrich H, 2007, J MAGN RESON IMAGING, V25, P1179, DOI 10.1002/jmri.20925Hauger O, 2006, RADIOLOGY, V238, P200, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2381041668Togel F, 2005, AM J PHYSIOL-RENAL, V289, pF31, DOI 10.1152/ajprenal.00007.2005Bos C, 2004, RADIOLOGY, V233, P781, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2333031714Bulte JWM, 2004, NMR BIOMED, V17, P484, DOI 10.1002/nbm.924Grove JE, 2004, STEM CELLS, V22, P487Herzog EL, 2003, BLOOD, V102, P3483, DOI 10.1182/blood-2003-05-1664Kalish H, 2003, MAGNET RESON MED, V50, P275, DOI 10.1002/mrm.10556Frank JA, 2003, RADIOLOGY, V228, P480, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2281020638Jo SK, 2003, KIDNEY INT, V64, P43Kale S, 2003, J CLIN INVEST, V112, P42, DOI 10.1172/JCI200317856Bulte JWM, 2003, MAGNET RESON MED, V50, P201, DOI 10.1002/mrm.10511Kraitchman DL, 2003, CIRCULATION, V107, P2290, DOI 10.1161/01.CIR.0000070931.62772.4EGupta S, 2002, KIDNEY INT, V62, P1285Krause DS, 2002, GENE THER, V9, P754Bulte JWM, 2001, NAT BIOTECHNOL, V19, P1141Lewin M, 2000, NAT BIOTECHNOL, V18, P410Kelly KJ, 2000, SEMIN NEPHROL, V20, P4Firbank MJ, 1999, PHYS MED BIOL, V44, pN261, DOI 10.1088/0031-9155/44/12/403Josephson L, 1999, BIOCONJUGATE CHEM, V10, P186Sutton TA, 1998, SEMIN NEPHROL, V18, P490Thadhani R, 1996, NEW ENGL J MED, V334, P1448SHANLEY PF, 1986, AM J PATHOL, V122, P462

The First Very Long Baseline Interferometry Image of 44 GHz Methanol Maser with the KVN and VERA Array (KaVA)

We have carried out the first very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging of 44 GHz class I methanol maser (7_{0}-6_{1}A^{+}) associated with a millimeter core MM2 in a massive star-forming region IRAS 18151-1208 with KaVA (KVN and VERA Array), which is a newly combined array of KVN (Korean VLBI Network) and VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry). We have succeeded in imaging compact maser features with a synthesized beam size of 2.7 milliarcseconds x 1.5 milliarcseconds (mas). These features are detected at a limited number of baselines within the length of shorter than approximately 650 km corresponding to 100 Mlambda in the uv-coverage. The central velocity and the velocity width of the 44 GHz methanol maser are consistent with those of the quiescent gas rather than the outflow traced by the SiO thermal line. The minimum component size among the maser features is ~ 5 mas x 2 mas, which corresponds to the linear size of ~ 15 AU x 6 AU assuming a distance of 3 kpc. The brightness temperatures of these features range from ~ 3.5 x 10^{8} to 1.0 x 10^{10} K, which are higher than estimated lower limit from a previous Very Large Array observation with the highest spatial resolution of ~ 50 mas. The 44 GHz class I methanol maser in IRAS 18151-1208 is found to be associated with the MM2 core, which is thought to be less evolved than another millimeter core MM1 associated with the 6.7 GHz class II methanol maser.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figure