ABSTRACT
【Objective】 To establish an efficient digital PCR method for Babesia detection, so as to provide data reference for the follow-up studies and the evaluation of blood supply safety in China. 【Methods】 18S rRNA conservative gene sequence of Babesia spp. was downloaded from Genbank, and primers were designed according to the common part of the sequence to establish a highly sensitive and absolutely quantitative digital PCR detection method for Babesia detection. A total of 1000 red blood cell samples collected from voluntary blood donors in Mudanjiang City from July 19, 2016 to August 24, 2016 were detected using this new digital PCR method. 【Results】 The established digital PCR method for Babesia detection showed a good repeatability and could steadily detect the mono-copied nuclear acid. The positive rate was 0.2%(2/1 000)by this method. The two blood donors were further confirmed positive by Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA), and preliminarily judged as asymptomatic infection. 【Discussion】 The digital PCR method for Babesia detection established in this study has high sensitivity and stability, and the its application on blood screening is conductive to reduce the threats of asymptomatic infection to blood safety
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the value of anti-carbamylated protein (CarP) antibody in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods The clinical data and serum of 247 in-patients with joint pain of Department of Rheumatology,General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University admitted during September 1,2015 to June 1,2016 were collected and divided into two groups according to the final diagnosis:RA group (case group) which included 126 patients and the non-RA group which included 121 patients (control group).The concentration of anti-CarP antibody in serum was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The serum rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies were detected at the same time.Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test for statistical analysis,receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to determine the cut-off value of anti-CarP antibody to RA diagnosis and to analyze its diagnostic efficacy.Results The ROC curve showed that the anti-CarP antibody had a cutoff value of 63.77 U/ml,with the sensitivity of 74.60％,and specificity of 71.07％.Compared with RF and anti-CCP antibody,the area under the ROC curve (A) were:Aanti-cyclic citrullinted peptide(anti-CCP)antibody (0.88)＞ARF (0.85)＞Anti-CarP antibody (0.78).There was no significant difference between the Aanti-CCP antibodies and ARF as well as ARF and Aanti-CarP antibodies (Z=1.29,P=0.20;Z=1.30,P=0.20),but there was significant difference between Aanti-CCP antibody and A anti Carp antibody (Z=2.28,P=0.02).Conclusion Anti-CarP antibody has certain value in the diagnosis of RA,and can be used as the serological index for RA diagnosis.