Immunochromatography-Application Example and POCT Type Genetic Testing.

Membrane-based rapid test reagents including immunochromatography are widely used in clinical practice. Recently, high-sensitive reagents based on the immunochromatography method, such as silver amplification method and time resolved fluorescence method for influenza testing, has been developed and early confirmation of infection can be achieved. Furthermore, genetic testing, automated all the steps from extraction till detection, is getting popular. Genetic testing of mycoplasma by Smart Gene Myco system and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test is a good example of membrane-based rapid test reagents. This system uses silica particle-containing membrane filter and enable to shorten the assay time by automates pre-treatment process for removing contamination substances in the sample which affect polymerase-chain-reaction amplification. We hope utilized genetic testing application will help quick confirmation of COVID-19 positive patient and prevent the collapse of medical system under COVID-19 development.

Zinc ascorbate has superoxide dismutase-like activity and in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological disease, and its pathogenesis is multifactorial. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the ascorbic acid derivative zinc ascorbate has superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. SOD is an enzyme that controls reactive oxygen species production. In addition, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of zinc ascorbate against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli was tested either alone or in combination with a variety of antimicrobial agents; their fractional inhibitory concentration index was determined using checkerboard tests. METHODS: The SOD-like activity was measured in comparison with other ascorbic acid derivatives (ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and sodium ascorbyl phosphate) and zinc. The antimicrobial susceptibility of twelve strains each of S. aureus and E. coli isolated from patients with dermatological infections was tested, in comparison to a type strain of S. aureus and E. coli. RESULTS: Zinc ascorbate had significant (P < 0.001) SOD-like activity compared with other ascorbic acid derivatives and zinc. Moreover, it showed antimicrobial activity against a type strain of S. aureus and E. coli, and its concentration (0.064% and 0.128% for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively) was sufficiently lower than the normal dose (5%) of other ascorbic acid derivatives. Furthermore, combinations of zinc ascorbate with clindamycin, erythromycin, and imipenem against S. aureus (average fractional inhibitory concentration, 0.59-0.90), and with imipenem against E. coli (average fractional inhibitory concentration, 0.64) isolated from patients with dermatological infections showed an additive effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide novel evidence that zinc ascorbate may be effective for acne treatment.

Susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from patients with acne vulgaris to zinc ascorbate and antibiotics.

PURPOSE: The in vitro antimicrobial activity of ascorbic acid derivatives against Propionibacterium acnes was tested either alone or in combination with a variety of antimicrobial agents, and their fractional inhibitory concentration index was determined using checkerboard tests. The antimicrobial effectiveness of zinc ascorbate in the treatment of acne vulgaris, either alone or in combination with antibiotics such as clindamycin that are commonly used in Japan for the treatment of acne vulgaris, was therefore examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antimicrobial susceptibility of 41 strains of clindamycin-sensitive and/or clindamycin-resistant P. acnes isolated from acne vulgaris patients was tested, in comparison with a type strain of P. acnes. RESULTS: Zinc ascorbate showed antimicrobial activity against a type strain of P. acnes and its concentration (0.064%) was sufficiently lower than the normal dose (5%) of other ascorbic acid derivatives. Combinations of zinc ascorbate with clindamycin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol showed an additive effect, and zinc ascorbate alone effectively inhibited the growth of all P. acnes including clindamycin-resistant strains. CONCLUSION: The results provide novel evidence that the combination of zinc ascorbate and clindamycin is effective for acne vulgaris treatment.

A study of urinary myo-inositol as a sensitive marker of glucose intolerance.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the possibility of using myo-inositol as a marker of glucose intolerance. METHODS: We measured urinary myo-inositol enzymatically before and 2 h after a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test in 564 volunteers, who were divided into four groups [normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and diabetes mellitus (DM)]. Furthermore, we classified NGT into NGT-A (2-h blood glucose <120 mg/dl and 2-h glucosuria <50 mg/dl) and NGT-B (remaining NGT subjects). We then compared deltamyo-inositol (myo-inositol/creatinine ratio: 2-h after glucose load--before load) of each group to investigate the relationship between glucose intolerance and deltamyo-inositol. RESULTS: The glucose tolerance of NGT-B appeared to have deteriorated compared with NGT-A as determined by blood glucose, insulin, and glucosuria. There was very little effect of gender or age on deltamyo-inositol in NGT-A. deltamyo-inositol was significantly higher than that in NGT-A (0.5+/-7.1 mg/g Cr) not only in IFG (8.7+/-19.5 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001), IGT (14.8+/-22.9 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001) and DM (79.5+/-37.1 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001), but in NGT-B (7.4+/-12.7 mg/g Cr, P<0.0001). With 2 mg/g Cr as a tentative cut-off for deltamyo-inositol to detect NGT-A, sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 72%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The deltamyo-inositol can be use of a non-invasive and sensitive marker for glucose intolerance.

Determination of urinary myo-inositol concentration by an improved enzymatic cycling method using myo-inositol dehydrogenase from Flavobacterium sp.

BACKGROUND: To determine myo-inositol more accurately, we improved the enzymatic cycling method. METHODS: We screened myo-inositol dehydrogenase (MIDH; EC.1.1.1.18) from Flavobacterium sp., which was highly specific to myo-inositol. We measured urinary myo-inositol/creatinine ratio 2 h after 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (2 h MI) of 71 volunteers, and investigated the relationship between diabetes and urinary myo-inositol concentration. RESULTS: The calibration curve was linear (r = 1.00) up to 2000 micromol/l, and the detection limit was 10 micromol/l. Within-run and between-run CVs were 0.5-1.1% and 0.4-1.3%, respectively. The 2 h MI of impaired fasting glycemia (IFG; 65.1 +/- 46.6 mg/g Cr, P < 0.005), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; 85.0 +/- 73.7 mg/g Cr, P < 0.001) and diabetes (163.4 +/- 73.7 mg/g Cr, P < 0.0001) increased significantly compared with that of normal glucose tolerance (NGT; 24.0 +/- 14.4 mg/g Cr). From receiver operating characteristic analyses on 2 h MI, with 50 mg/g Cr as a tentative cutoff value to detect diabetes, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 77%, respectively. With 40 mg/g Cr as a tentative cutoff value to detect NGT, the sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The myo-inositol measurement method demonstrated high specificity and yielded accurate results. The results of clinical trials suggested that 2 h MI could not only determine diabetes but also distinguish IFG and IGT from NGT.