Multiple allergen simultaneous test is useful in assessing allergen sensitization and its geographic variations by the Geographic Information System-based approach

Purpose@#To evaluate allergen sensitization in Koreans and assess regional differences in it using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based modeling techniques. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST) results collected from 2,017 clinics and hospitals nationwide between 2018 and 2020. The AdvanSure™ AlloScreen (LG Chem, Seoul, Korea) was used to test for 47 allergens. Then, we created maps to visualize the sensitization prediction rate by using the ordinary kriging method. @*Results@#The total number of participants were 196,419; 104,371 (53.1%) were sensitized to one or more allergens. The most frequent allergen causing sensitization was Dermatophagoides farinae (34.0%), followed by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (32.3%), house dust (26.2%), cat dander (13.6%), Acarus siro (12.5%), rye grass pollen (8.8%), and birch tree pollen (8.2%), respectively. Perennial allergens, such as mites and cat dander, were more common than seasonal allergens. Sensitization rates to grasses were generally higher than those to tree and weed allergens. The sensitization rates to Hymenoptera venoms were 4.8% in honey bee and 2.2% in yellow jacket. The sensitization prediction rate against Dermatophagoides farinae calculated by GIS-based mapping showed geographical differences even within the same administrative district. @*Conclusion@#Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were found to be the most prevalent sensitizing allergens throughout Korea. GIS-based spatial pattern analysis using MAST revealed different sensitization patterns between geographic areas and at the subdistrict level. These data could assist in prevention and management of allergic diseases and provide valuable evidence for environmental and public health policymakers.

Performance Evaluation of the JEOL BioMajesty JCA-BM6010/C Automated Clinical Chemistry Analyzer

BACKGROUND: JEOL BioMajesty JCA-BM6010/C (JCA-BM6010/C, JEOL Ltd., Japan) is a recently developed ultra-compact automated clinical chemistry analyzer with a throughput of 1,200 tests per hour. Here, we present the first performance evaluation of JCA-BM6010/C. METHODS: We evaluated the precision, linearity, correlation, accuracy, and carryover of 11 analytes (ALP, ALT, AST, calcium, creatinine, GGT, glucose, LDH, total bilirubin, total protein, and uric acid) using the JEOL closed reagent (JEOL Ltd.) according to the guidelines of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Linearity was further evaluated for ALT, AST, and GGT using open reagents by Sekisui (Japan). The performance of JCA-BM6010/C was compared to that of the Roche-Hitachi Cobas 8000 c702 chemistry autoanalyzer (Cobas 8000, Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). Its performance using open reagents from Denka Seiken (Japan), Roche, and Sekisui was also evaluated. RESULTS: The total coefficients of variation (CV) for all analytes were 1.0–2.7%. Linearity was observed for all analytes over the entire tested analytical range (R²≥0.99). The results of JCA-BM6010/C strongly correlated (r≥0.988) with those of Cobas 8000 for all evaluated analytes except LDH (r=0.963), as well as for all open reagents. Recovery rates for creatinine, glucose, calcium, and uric acid were 96.6–101.5% and 98.7–109.3% with the JEOL exclusive and open reagents, respectively. Sample carryover was less than 0.34%. CONCLUSIONS: JCA-BM6010/C showed acceptable performance in the precision, linearity, correlation, accuracy, and sample carryover analyses and in the method comparison. Therefore, it could be a useful routine laboratory medical analyzer.

First Case of Human Brucellosis Caused by Brucella melitensis in Korea

No abstract available.