Development of a HA1-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against pandemic influenza virus A H1N1

PURPOSE: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been used in the diverse field to evaluate influenza virus infection; for the surveillance, diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, and development of the vaccine. The aim of this study was to establish an ELISA for detecting HA strain-specific antibodies using recombinant pandemic A H1N1 (pH1N1) HA1 (rHA1) protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: rHA1 was produced in baculovirus system. The clinical performance of the developed ELISA was validated using human serum samples, by comparison with standard methods for detecting a neutralizing antibody; hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and microneutralization test (MNT). The ability of the ELISA system to evaluate the efficacy test of an influenza vaccine was explored by measuring antibody levels in the serum of vaccinated mice. RESULTS: Our ELISA could detect anti-rHA1 antibody in influenza-infected patients and vaccinated subjects. Compared to HI assay and MNT as reference methods, our method showed good performance in detection of anti-rHA1 antibody. Detection of the anti-rHA1 antibody in vaccinated mice and its correlation with titers in HI assay was also proved in a mice model. CONCLUSION: An ELISA system using rHA1 of pH1N1 influenza virus was developed, and showed good clinical performance in diagnosis of influenza virus infection and evaluation of the vaccination efficacy in both human and animal models.

The Long-term Nutritional Effects of Amino-Acid Based Dialysis Solution (IPAA) in Malnourished CAPD Patients : Comparison of Responders and Non-responders / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: IPAA provide nutritional benefit, at least in the short term. However, the long-term efficacy of IPAA in PD patients remains unclear. An attempt was made to evaluate long-term efficacy of IPAA and to ascertain possible factors associated with improved nutritional status after IPAA. METHODS: The 46 malnourished CAPD patients were treated with IPAA (one exchange of Nutrineal daily) for one year. Various nutritional, boichemical variables, urea kinetic study and measurement of lean body mass based on creatinine excretion (LBMCr) were carried out at baseline, and at 3- month interval thereafter. Responders was defined as those patients who had an increment of mean LBMCr more than 2.0 kg and/or an increase in mean %LBMCr (LBMCr/Body weight) more than 5% during IPAA treatment. RESULTS: After administration of IPAA, BUN, Cr, LBMCr, %LBMCr, nPNA, SGA, and exercise capacity increased significantly. But, protein and albumin level showed no significant change. Increment of IGF-1 level was significant. At baseline, responders had a significantly higher hand grip and back lift strength compared to non-responders. IPAA treatment significantly increased in BUN, PNA and nPNA in both groups, but the increment of them was pronounced in responders. IPAA resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine (10.6+/-2.1 vs. 11.8+/-2.6 mg/dL, p<0.05) and %LBMCr (70.8+/-8.9 vs. 76.4+/-9.2%, p<0.05), hand grip strength (23.2+/-7.3 vs. 24.3+/-7.7 kg, p<0.05) and back lift strength (67.0+/-27.4 vs. 75.3+/-26.6 kg, p<0.05) only in responders. Serum albumin level remained stable after IPAA treatment in responders. CONCLUSION: IPAA treatment for 12 months provided some nutritional benefits in malnourished CAPD patients. And, our data suggest that response to IPAA is more pronounced in CAPD patients with a better preserved nutritional status, especially in those patients with higher back lift and hand grip strength at baseline.

Coronary Angiographic Findings and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease in ESRD Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

No abstract available.

A Case of Nutcracker Syndrome in a Patient with Gross Hermaturia / 대한신장학회잡지

Nutcracker syndrome(renal vein entrapment syndrome) is probably more common than previously suspected. The nutcracker phenomenon refers to compression of left renal vein between aorta and superior mesenteric artery that results in elevation of pressure in left renal vein and develoment of collateral veins. This syndrome occurs in relatively young and previously healthy patients and is characterized by intermittent gross hematuria due to left renal vein hypertension, at times associated with flank pain, abdominal pain or varicocele. We report a 17 years-old male patient with this syndrome presented with flank pain, abdominal pain, and intermittent gross hematuria for 3 months. Urinalysis revealed protein(-), blood(+++), many RBC with only 1% of dysmorphic RBC. IVP and cystoscopy showed no remarkable finding but doppler ultrasonography and abdominal spiral CT revealed compression of left renal vein between aorta and superior mesenteric artery. Renal venography showed compression of left renal vein and collateral circulation to left gonadal vein and the pressure gradient between left renal vein and inferior vena cava was 11mmHg. The nutcracker syndrome should be considered as one of the causes of nonglomerular hematuria. All patients with unexplained severe left flank or abdominal pain, or unilateral hematuria from the left on cystoscopy, should be studied by selective renal venography and pressure measurement in inferior vena cava and renal veins. The patient with this typical syndrome could be treated surgically, by transposition of left renal vein and resection of collateral veins as the procedure of choice to correct the underlying pathologic process and eliminate these troublesome symptoms.

Serum Albumin as a Predictor of Morbidity and Mortality in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis(CAPD) Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

Serum albumin(SA) is a powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis(HD) population. In CAPD patients, SA may be more severely compromised because of large dialysate protein losses and lower protein intake relative to HD patients. However, the usefulness of SA as a marker for increased morbidity and mortality in CAPD patients remains undefined. To investigate the role of SA and other risk factors as predictors of peritonitis, hospitalization and death in CAPD patients, we conducted this retrospective study on 782 patients who were followed-up for more than 3 months after initiation of CAPD at Severance Hospital from January 1985 through August 1995. For each patient the following data were collected: age, sex, duration on dialysis, presence of diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease, and monthly biochemical data including SA. 1) The mean age of the patients was 45.5+/-13.6 years(range, 14-80) with sex ratio 1.2:1 and mean duration on dialysis was 30.8+/-25.6 months(range, 3- 122). 2) Independent factors affecting serum albumin level were creatinine(beta=0.301, por=4.0g/dL), and incidence of peritonitis, hospitalization and death were compared among them. Compared to group 2 and group 3, group 1 had significantly higher peritonitis rate(1.18 vs. 0.87, 0.66 times/year/patient, p<0.05) and hospitalization(7.93 vs. 4.70, 3.36 days/year/patient, p<0.05). The 5- year survival rates in group 1, group 2 and group 3 were 43.4%, 60.9% and 84.1%, respectively (p<0.05). In conclusion, low SA is an important and strong predictor for morbidity and mortality in CAPD patients. Prospective studies are needed to determine if aggressive intervention with nutritional supplements could improve the SA level and to determine if such an improvement would impact on morbidity and mortality.

Surgical Management of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Patients admitted with the clinical symptomatology of a progressive myelopathy associated with radiologic findings compatible with spondylotic degeneration of the cervical spine and who manifest appropriate neurophysiological abnormalities should be considered as candidates for surgical treatment. The authors have undertaken a study of 20 patients who had received decompressive surgical procedures and possible follow up studies for CSM, which was defined as a myelopathy related to osteophytic overgrowth and ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) in the cervical spinal canal causing impingement upon the spinal cord from Sep.93. To Aug. 1995. It was concluded with the following results. 1) man was exclusively prevalent in most cases. 2) age at surgery: There was a signigicant negative correlation between the age at surgery and the recovery rate. 3) Original cause of compression: There was no signigicant difference between the CSM and OPLL. 4) The involved level : three level involvement was the most common(8cases), followed by two level(6 cases), four level(3 cases), and single level(2 cases). There was no correlation between the preoperative Harsh scale and the number of the involved level. 5) Recovery rate: excellent(Grade O.I). 12 cases(60%), good(Grade II, IIIA), 4 cases(20%), poor(Grade IIIc, IV, V), 4 cases(20%).

A Clinical Analysis of the Primary Spinal Tumors

With the advent of magnetic resonance image (MRI), direct visualization of the spinal cord tumors and their relationship to the surrounding structures becomes possible. A clinical analysis was done retrospectively in forty patients suffering from primary spinal tumors and were treated surgically from November 1991 to November 1995. There were 19 male and 21 female patients, peak incidence occurs in the sixth decade of life. The tumor with the highest incidence was neurogenic tumor (42.5%), followed by glial tumor and meningioma. The most frequent symptom was pain. On radiological evaluation, simple plain X-ray showed abnormality in 37.5% of cases, in which the most common positive finding was pedicle erosion (20%). CT was performed in 38 cases and MRI in 31. The MRI reveals not only morphologic abnormalities but also diversities in signal intensity. These findings helped us to establish pathologic diagnosis and operative planning. Surgery was performed via anterior(5%) and posterior(95%) approaches. Total removal was possible in 70% of the cases and subtotal removal in 30%. Evaluation of the patient's symptom and neurologic deficit was done one month after operation, it was found that about 80% of the patients recovered or have their conditions improved. Complications were developed in 3 cases.