Red blood cell distribution width and serum CA-125 level as prognostic markers in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a primary cause of hospitalization and death in COPD. Serum CA-125 and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) are related to AECOPD. We investigated correlations between serum markers and AECOPD. METHODS: In total, 132 patients with AECOPD were included from January 2017 to December 2019. Participants were followed for 1 year. Patients were assigned to the poor prognosis (n = 40) or good prognosis (n = 92) group. We collected serum samples and general clinical information and conducted routine blood tests. We used logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and area under the ROC curve (AUC) analyses to assess differences between groups. RESULTS: We found significant differences between groups (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) for age (1.046, 1.005-1.09), RDW (2.012, 1.339-3.023), and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125; 1.022, 1.006-1.039); these remained risk factors for AECOPD prognosis in multivariate analyses. RDW and CA-125 in combination was significant in ROC curve analysis. The AUC of RDW, CA-125, and these combined were 0.691, 0.779, and 0.772, respectively. Patients with RDW >12.75% and CA-125 >15.65 U/mL were predicted to have poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: We found that RDW and CA-125 are potential prognostic indicators for AECOPD.

Antibodies to Crohn's disease peptide 353 as a diagnostic marker for pediatric Crohn's disease: a prospective multicenter study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Various serologic markers such as anti-glycoprotein 2 antibodies and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies have been reported to be diagnostically useful in Crohn's disease. Mitsuyama et al. reported that antibodies to Crohn's disease peptide 353, a newly proposed serologic marker, were more useful in Japanese adults than anti-Saccharomyces. We addressed the same issue in Japanese children and adolescents. METHODS: Prospectively enrolled subjects under 17 years old assessed and treated at 12 pediatric centers in Japan included groups with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, other intestinal diseases, or good health. The 3 serum markers were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Enrolled subjects, numbering 367, included 120 with Crohn's disease, 148 with ulcerative colitis, 56 with other intestinal diseases, and 43 healthy subjects. In Crohn's disease, anti-Crohn's disease peptide 353, anti-glycoprotein 2, and anti-Saccharomyces concentrations (median, 2.25, 3.0, and 8.9 U/mL) were significantly greater than in ulcerative colitis (1.1, 1.9, and 3.4; all P < 0.001), other intestinal diseases (1.1, 1.85, and 2.95; all P < 0.001), and healthy controls (1.1, 1.7, and 2.8; all P < 0.001), respectively. At 95% specificity, sensitivity of anti-Crohn's disease peptide (45.0%) was significantly higher than for anti-glycoprotein 2 (30.8%; P < 0.05) or anti-Saccharomyces (26.7%; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-Crohn's disease peptide 353 proved more useful for diagnosis of Crohn's disease in Japanese children than the other 2 markers. To our knowledge, this is the first pediatric report to that effect.

Serologic Diagnosis of Celiac Disease: New Biomarkers.

Most patients affected by celiac disease (CD) are asymptomatic or hyposymptomatic and undiagnosed, and are at risk of preventable complications. Therefore, early diagnosis is highly recommended. Multiple diagnostic antibodies are available; the most frequently used is IgA to tissue transglutaminase (IgA-tTg). It may yield false results and, alone, does not address IgA deficiency. Recently, a new generation of anti-neo-epitope tTg check (IgG + IgA) has become available. It is highly sensitive and specific, covers IgA-deficient patients with CD, reflects intestinal damage, and has predictive potential in the diagnosis of CD.

Current status and future prospects of serological prenatal screening / 中华检验医学杂志

Prenatal screening has undergone from simple age screening, serological prenatal screening, multiple serological screening, to combined screening with cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood (non-invasive prenatal testing, NIPT). prenatal screening plays an important role in the detection and prevention of birth defects, such as chromosomal abnormalities and open neural tube defects(ONTD). With the emergence of NIPT technology, serological test result in prenatal screening has been outgrowth from the functional surrogate of the development status of fetus and placenta to the predictors of pre-eclampsia and fetal growth retardation(FGR). Therefore, large scale screening program will further improve maternal safety and reduce birth defects.

[Relationship between the HBsAg-positive infection status of mothers and the non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine of their infants].

Objective: To explore the relationship between the status of HBsAg-positive infection of mothers and the non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine of their infants. Methods: A total of 225 pairs of mothers and their infants were recruited in our cohort from June 2011 to July 2013. Infants were given three doses of hepatitis B vaccine at hour 24, first month and month 6(t)h respectively and were followed up for one year after birth. HBV serological markers and HBV DNA in the peripheral blood of both mothers and infants were detected by Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay and fluorescence quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results: Six HBV infection models were detected in HBsAg-positive mothers, and "HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+), anti-HBc (+)" (model one) and "HBsAg (+), anti-HBe (+), anti-HBc (+)" (model two) accounted for 92.5%(208/225) of all the models. Rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to mothers in model one was lower than those in model two, the differences are statistically significant (χ(2)=4.80, P=0.029). The rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants showed a downward trend with the rising of HBeAg level in their mothers (χ(2)=4.86, P=0.028). Results from the unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the HBeAg of the HBsAg-positive mothers was significantly correlated with the low risk of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants (OR=0.598, 95%CI: 0.378-0.947). The positive rate of serum HBV DNA in HBsAg-positive mothers was 54.2%, while the rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to HBV DNA positive mothers was similar to those infants born to HBV DNA negative mothers (χ(2)=0.22, P=0.640). Conclusions: "HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+), anti-HBc (+)" and "HBsAg (+), anti-HBe(+), anti-HBc (+)" were the common models seen in HBsAg-positive mothers, and the rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine was different between the two models. HBeAg of HBsAg-positive mothers might have positive effects on the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants but the mechanisms remained not clear. HBV DNA of the HBsAg-positive mothers did not seem to be correlated with the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants.

Relationship between the HBsAg-positive infection status of mothers and the non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine of their infants / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between the status of HBsAg-positive infection of mothers and the non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine of their infants.Methods A total of 225 pairs of mothers and their infants were recruited in our cohort from June 2011 to July 2013.Infants were given three doses of hepatitis B vaccine at hour 24,first month and month 6th respectively and were followed up for one year after birth.HBV serological markers and HBV DNA in the peripheral blood of both mothers and infants were detected by Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay and fluorescence quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction.Results Six HBV infection models were detected in HBsAg-positive mothers,and "HBsAg (+),HBeAg (+),anti-HBc (+)" (model one) and "HBsAg (+),anti-HBe (+),anti-HBc (+)" (model two) accounted for 92.5％ (208/225) of all the models.Rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to mothers in model one was lower than those in model two,the differences are statistically significant (x2=4.80,P=0.029).The rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants showed a downward trend with the rising of HBeAg level in their mothers (x2=4.86,P=0.028).Results from the unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the HBeAg of the HBsAg-positive mothers was significantly correlated with the low risk of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants (OR=0.598,95％CI:0.378-0.947).The positive rate of serum HBV DNA in HBsAg-positive mothers was 54.2％,while the rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to HBV DNA positive mothers was similar to those infants born to HBV DNA negative mothers (X2=0.22,P=0.640).Conclusions "HBsAg (+),HBeAg (+),anti-HBc (+)" and "HBsAg (+),anti-HBe(+),anti-HBc (+)" were the common models seen in HBsAg-positive mothers,and the rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine was different between the two models.HBeAg of HBsAg-positive mothers might have positive effects on the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants but the mechanisms remained not clear.HBV DNA of the HBsAg-positive mothers did not seem to be correlated with the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants.

Relationship between the HBsAg-positive infection status of mothers and the non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine of their infants / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between the status of HBsAg-positive infection of mothers and the non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine of their infants.Methods A total of 225 pairs of mothers and their infants were recruited in our cohort from June 2011 to July 2013.Infants were given three doses of hepatitis B vaccine at hour 24,first month and month 6th respectively and were followed up for one year after birth.HBV serological markers and HBV DNA in the peripheral blood of both mothers and infants were detected by Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay and fluorescence quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction.Results Six HBV infection models were detected in HBsAg-positive mothers,and "HBsAg (+),HBeAg (+),anti-HBc (+)" (model one) and "HBsAg (+),anti-HBe (+),anti-HBc (+)" (model two) accounted for 92.5％ (208/225) of all the models.Rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to mothers in model one was lower than those in model two,the differences are statistically significant (x2=4.80,P=0.029).The rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants showed a downward trend with the rising of HBeAg level in their mothers (x2=4.86,P=0.028).Results from the unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that the HBeAg of the HBsAg-positive mothers was significantly correlated with the low risk of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants (OR=0.598,95％CI:0.378-0.947).The positive rate of serum HBV DNA in HBsAg-positive mothers was 54.2％,while the rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born to HBV DNA positive mothers was similar to those infants born to HBV DNA negative mothers (X2=0.22,P=0.640).Conclusions "HBsAg (+),HBeAg (+),anti-HBc (+)" and "HBsAg (+),anti-HBe(+),anti-HBc (+)" were the common models seen in HBsAg-positive mothers,and the rate of non/low-response to hepatitis B vaccine was different between the two models.HBeAg of HBsAg-positive mothers might have positive effects on the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants but the mechanisms remained not clear.HBV DNA of the HBsAg-positive mothers did not seem to be correlated with the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants.

Serorreactividad al antígeno de superficie del virus de la hepatitis B en mujeres que acudieron al laboratorio central de salud pública. Asunción, Paraguay / Seroreactivity against the hepatitis B virus surface antigen in women who attended the central public health laboratory. Asunción, Paraguay

La hepatitis B es un grave problema de salud pública a nivel mundial, aproximadamente cerca de 2 billones de personas tienen evidencia serológica de infección por el virus de la hepatitis B. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la frecuencia de hepatitis B e identificar los factores de riesgo asociados en mujeres en edad fértil que acudieron al Laboratorio Central de Salud Pública entre diciembre de 2013 y junio de 2014. Fue un estudio observacional analítico de corte transverso que, previo consentimiento informado, analizó suero de mujeres entre 15 y 44 años con una edad promedio de 26,6 (±6,8) años. Mediante la detección del antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis B por ELISA se identificaron seis casos positivos (0,4%), indicando una endemicidad baja; cifra que ha variado según perfil socio demográfico: según edad, las de 20 y más años presentaron una frecuencia mayor en comparación a las demás (p>0,05). No se observaron diferencias significativas al evaluar la seropositividad según el estado civil, el nivel de escolaridad, la condición de gravidez, los antecedentes de transfusiones, sin embargo, la seropositividad era mayor en las portadoras de tatuajes/piercing que entre las no portadoras, lo que representaba un riesgo 6,2 veces mayor (OR:6,2 IC95%:1,3-31,3). En conclusión, la frecuencia del HBsAg en nuestra población es baja, y el factor de riesgo asociado a su detección fue la presencia de tatuajes y/o piercing.

Hepatitis B is a serious public health problem worldwide; approximately about 2 billionpeople have serologic evidence of infection with hepatitis B virus. The aim of this analyticcross-sectional study was to describe the frequency of hepatitis B and identify risk factorsin women of child bearing age who attended the Central Public Health Laboratory in theperiod 2013 to 2014. Prior informed consent, antigen detection of hepatitis B surface wasperformed by ELISA in women between 15 and 44 years with a mean age of 26.6 (±6.8)years. The identification of six serologic positive cases (0.4%) indicates low endemicity.This figure varied according to socio-demographic profile: according to age, those whowere 20 years old or older had an increased frequency compared to the others (p> 0.05). No significant differences were observed in seropositivity by marital status, level ofeducation, pregnancy, history of transfusion, while seropositivity was higher amongcarriers of tattoos/piercing than among non-carriers, which represented a 6.2 times higherrisk (OR 6.2 95% CI 1.3 to 31.3). In conclusion, the frequency of HBsAg in our populationwas low. The risk factor associated with its detection was the presence of tattoos and / or piercings.

The value of serum retinol-binding protein 4 levels for determining disease severity in patients with chronic liver disease / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is known to be a specific transport protein for retinol, and has recently been reported to be associated with insulin resistance. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a well-known marker of liver fibrosis. In this study, the degree to which serum RBP4 levels can be used to predict disease severity in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) was evaluated. METHODS: Serum levels of RBP4 and HA were measured in 573 CLD patients [235 with chronic hepatitis (CH), 230 with liver cirrhosis Child-Pugh grade (Child) A, and 108 with liver cirrhosis with Child B and C] and 40 normal controls. RESULTS: The mean age of the whole cohort was 53.1 years and the causes of CLD were hepatitis B virus (61.9%), hepatitis C virus (9.8%), alcohol (9.0%), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (3.8%). Serum levels of RBP4 significantly reduced and HA increased with disease condition, from none (normal controls) to advanced cirrhosis (normal control: RBP4 4.3+/-0.1 mg/dL, HA 25.3+/-28.1 ng/mL; CH: RBP4 3.6+/-0.1 mg/dL, HA 75.5+/-7.8 ng/mL; cirrhosis with Child A: RBP4 2.6+/-0.1 mg/dL, HA 184.4+/-14.5 ng/mL; and cirrhosis with Child B and C: RBP4 1.6+/-0.1 mg/dL, HA 656.5+/-86.7 ng/mL; P<0.001, respectively). Serum RBP4 level was a distinguishing factor at the early stage of CLD between CH and Child A cirrhosis (post-hoc test; P<0.001) and was correlated with histological fibrosis score (n=80, P<0.05) and several biochemical factors. Antiviral therapy (n=45, median interval 1,205 days) resulted in an improvement in serum RBP4 levels (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that RBP4 is a serologic marker for disease severity in patients with CLD. It could also be useful as an early marker of CLD and of the relative success of antiviral therapy.

Serologic Markers of Viral Hepatitis of Korea University Medical Center Patients / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: As an endemic area of viral hepatitis B, many studies on hepatitis B and C have been reported in Korea, but no on all five viral types, A, B, C, D, and E. We surveyed ten serologic markers for the five different viral hepatitis and reviewed the seropositivity of each viral hepatitis and concurrent infection. METHODS: Ten serologic markers of five viral hepatitis (anti-HAV IgM, anti-HAV IgG, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HCV, anti-HDV, and anti-HEV IgM) were tested for 260,488 samples requested for viral marker studies at three hospitals of Korea University Medical Centers from January through December, 2003. Anti-HAV IgM, anti-HAV IgG, anti-HDV, and anti-HEV IgM were tested by RIA and HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HCV were analysed by ELISA or RIA method. RESULTS: Anti-HAV IgM and IgG seropositivity was 1.2% and 88.0%, respectively. Anti-HAV IgM seropositivity was high in a patient group 20 to 29 years of age. The overall seropositivity of HBsAg was 10.4% and for anti-HBs 60.4%. The seropositivity was 1.3% for anti-HCV, 1.1% for anti-HDV, and 22.2% for anti-HEV IgM. The concurrent positivity of HBsAg and anti-HBs was 4.0%. HBsAg was positive in 7 (0.1%) of anti-HCV positive patients; anti-HEV IgM was positive in 2 (25%) of anti-HAV IgM positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis A infection was rare in children but increased in patient group 20 to 29 years of age. The concurrent infection rate of hepatitis A with hepatitis E was high, suggesting that hepatitis E should be considered in hepatitis A patients. In view of the finding that the concurrent infection of hepatis B and C was detected, though at a relatively low rate, patients with viral hepatitis need to be assessed for the possibility of concurrent infection with other types of hepatitis.

The Patterns, the Survival, and the Change of Serologic Markers after Recurrence in Patients with Breast Cancer

It is difficult to predict the recurrence of or the prognosis for breast cancer because of its tortuous postoperative course. There are many clinical factors and serologic markers which might be associated with the recurrence of the breast cancer, their relationship to recurrence has not been settled. For this reason, carried out a clinical study to determine the risk of recurrence according to the clinical factors, to evaluate the survival rate after recurrence, and to determine the usefulness of several serologic markers which might be associated with recurrence. To that end, medical records of 365 out of 415 patients (except stage IV patient and patients of underknown whereabouts) with breast cancer who underwent surgical therapy between January 1986 and June 1996 at the Department of General Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital, were retrospectively reviewed. By the time of follow up, recurrence had occurred in 58 of those 365 patients. The DNA ploidy pattern, the primary tumor size, and primary lymph-node metastasis were associated with recurrence. The last two were high risk factors for recurrence of breast cancer. The most common site of recurrence was the locoregional area, followed by the visceral organs and bones. There was a significant differece in survival according to the location of recurrence. The poorest prognosis was obtained for patients with multiple metastases, followed by visceral and bone metastases. Patients with a locoregional metastasis has a better prognosis than others. The serologic markers that significantly increased at recurrence were CEA, ESR, alkaline phosphatase and r-glutamyl transferase. They should be useful serologic markers for diagnosing the recurrence of breast cancer. However, CA15-3 failed to show any statistical difference because of its low concentration. Therefore, better statistical data are required for CA15-3.