Use Of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay Research Articles

α-Synuclein Heteromers in Red Blood Cells of Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia Patients.

Red blood cells (RBCs) contain the majority of α-synuclein (α-syn) in blood, representing an interesting model for studying the peripheral pathological alterations proved in neurodegeneration. The current study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of total α-syn, amyloid-β (Aβ1-42), tau, and their heteroaggregates in RBCs of Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC). By the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, RBCs concentrations of total α-syn, Aβ1-42, tau, and their heteroaggregates (α-syn/Aβ1-42 and α-syn/tau) were measured in 27 individuals with LBD (Parkinson's disease dementia, n = 17; dementia with Lewy bodies, n = 10), 51 individuals with AD (AD dementia, n = 37; prodromal AD, n = 14), and HC (n = 60). The total α-syn and tau concentrations as well as α-syn/tau heterodimers were significantly lower in the LBD group and the AD group compared with HC, whereas α-syn/Aβ1-42 concentrations were significantly lower in the AD dementia group only. RBC α-syn/tau heterodimers had a higher diagnostic accuracy for differentiating patients with LBD versus HC (AUROC = 0.80). RBC α-syn heteromers may be useful for differentiating between neurodegenerative dementias (LBD and AD) and HC. In particular, RBC α-syn/tau heterodimers have demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy for differentiating LBD from HC. However, they are not consistently different between LBD and AD. Our findings also suggest that α-syn, Aβ1-42, and tau interact in vivo to promote the aggregation and accumulation of each other.

Complement Component 3 Is Required for Tissue Damage, Neutrophil Infiltration, and Ensuring NET Formation in Acute Pancreatitis

Background: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play an important role in the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis (AP). Activation of the complement cascade has been shown to occur in AP. The aim of this study was to examine whether complement component 3 is involved in the generation of NETs in AP. Methods: AP was induced in wild-type and C3-deficient mice by retrograde infusion of taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. Blood, lung, and pancreas tissue were collected and MPO activity was determined in lung and pancreas tissue. Histological examination of the inflamed pancreas was performed. Plasma levels of CXCL2, MMP-9, IL-6, and DNA-histone complexes as well as pancreatic levels of CXCL1 and CXCL2 were determined by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NETs were detected in the pancreas by electron microscopy. The amount of MPO and citrullinated histone 3 in neutrophils isolated from bone marrow was examined using flow cytometry. Results: In C3-deficient mice, challenge with taurocholate yielded much fewer NETs in the pancreatic tissue compared with wild-type controls. Taurocholate-induced blood levels of amylase, tissue injury, and neutrophil recruitment in the pancreas were markedly reduced in the mice lacking C3. Furthermore, MPO levels in the lung, and plasma levels of IL-6, MMP-9, and CXCL2 were significantly lower in the C3-deficient mice compared to wild-type mice after the induction of AP. In vitro studies revealed that neutrophils from C3-deficient mice had normal NET-forming ability and recombinant C3a was not capable of directly inducing NETs formation in the wild-type neutrophils. Conclusion: C3 plays an important role in the pathophysiology of AP as it is necessary for the recruitment of neutrophils into the pancreas and ensuring NETs formation. Targeting C3 could hence be a potential strategy to ameliorate local damage as well as remote organ dysfunction in AP.

PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN LIVER AND KIDNEYS OF PIGLETS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE EFFECTS OF DON AND T2-TOXIN

The article describes the pathomorphological changes in the organs of newborn piglets under the influence of known concentrations of T-2 toxin and DON, determined in homogenates of the liver and kidneys with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Analysis of the effectiveness of the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of leukemia in cattle during health-improving activities

The aim of the work is to analyze the efficiency of using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of cattle leukemia when carrying out health-improving measures in livestock enterprises that are unfavorable for this disease. Indicators of infection of cattle with leukemia virus on 6 farms of agricultural enterprises of the Tomsk region are presented. For serological diagnostics, the immunodiffusion reaction and enzyme immunoassay were used. It has been established that while carrying out health-improving measures in enterprises unfavorable for leukemia in cattle, the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serological diagnosis of the disease enabled to identify a greater number of seropositive animals in comparison with a low-sensitivity immunodiffusion reaction. With a decrease in the herd infection rate to single cases of detection of animals infected with the leukemia virus at the final stages of rehabilitation of the enterprise, the number of additional seropositive animals detected by enzyme immunoassay increases. In the final period of herd recovery, the number of animals with a low level of antibodies to the leukemia virus, inaccessible to detection by immunodiffusion, increases. The use of an expensive and labor-consuming delivery of an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies to the cattle leukemia virus is advisable at the final stages of an enterprise’s recovery. This enables to identify animals with a low level of antibodies to the leukemia virus, to speed up the negative result of a serological test of the entire herd and to exclude repeated outbreaks of infection of animals with this virus in a rehabilitated enterprise.

Clinical Utility of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Hepatitis C Core Antigen Quantification in Diagnosis and Monitoring Patients Treated with Direct-Acting Antivirals in A Resource Limited Setting

Background: Hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCV-cAg) assay has been proposed as a more economical alternative to HCV RNA detection. Aim of the work: To evaluate the clinical utility of ELISA for HCV-cAg quantification in diagnosis and monitoring treatment outcomes in patients treated with direct acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C. Patients and Methods: A prospective study on 40 subjects recruited from hepatology department and outpatient clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals. Group I included 20 patients with positive anti-HCV antibody. Group II included 20 healthy subjects. The patient group received a combination of sofosbuvir 400 mg and daclatasvir 60 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The levels for both HCV-cAg and HCV RNA were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks after completion of therapy. Results: Baseline HCV-cAg levels showed good correlation with HCV viral load (r=0.808, p 8 IU/ml. Conclusion: ELISA for HCV-cAg can replace the high sensitivity HCV RNA molecular assay to confirm the presence of HCV infection and to monitor treatment outcome.

Clinical Utility of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Hepatitis C Core Antigen Quantification in Diagnosis and Monitoring Patients Treated with Direct-Acting Antivirals in A Resource Limited Setting

Background: Hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCV-cAg) assay has been proposed as a more economical alternative to HCV RNA detection. Aim of the work: To evaluate the clinical utility of ELISA for HCV-cAg quantification in diagnosis and monitoring treatment outcomes in patients treated with direct acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C. Patients and Methods: A prospective study on 40 subjects recruited from hepatology department and outpatient clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals. Group I included 20 patients with positive anti-HCV antibody. Group II included 20 healthy subjects. The patient group received a combination of sofosbuvir 400 mg and daclatasvir 60 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The levels for both HCV-cAg and HCV RNA were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks after completion of therapy. Results: Baseline HCV-cAg levels showed good correlation with HCV viral load (r=0.808, p 8 IU/ml. Conclusion: ELISA for HCV-cAg can replace the high sensitivity HCV RNA molecular assay to confirm the presence of HCV infection and to monitor treatment outcome.

How to Determine When SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing Is or Is Not Useful for Population Screening: A Tutorial.

Extensive testing lies at the heart of any strategy to effectively combat the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. In recent months, the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay–based antibody tests has gained a lot of attention. These tests can potentially be used to assess SARS-COV-2 immunity status in individuals (e.g., essential health care personnel). They can also be used as a screening tool to identify people that had COVID-19 asymptomatically, thus getting a better estimate of the true spread of the disease, gain important insights on disease severity, and to better evaluate the effectiveness of policy measures implemented to combat the pandemic. But the usefulness of these tests depends not only on the quality of the test but also, critically, on how far disease has already spread in the population. For example, when only very few people in a population are infected, a positive test result has a high chance of being a false positive. As a consequence, the spread of the disease in a population as well as individuals’ immunity status may be systematically misinterpreted. SARS-COV-2 infection rates vary greatly across both time and space. In many places, the infection rates are very low but can quickly skyrocket when the virus spreads unchecked. Here, we present two tools, natural frequency trees and positive and negative predictive value graphs, that allow one to assess the usefulness of antibody testing for a specific context at a glance. These tools should be used to support individual doctor-patient consultation for assessing individual immunity status as well as to inform policy discussions on testing initiatives.

PMS68 PROMONITOR FOR THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH ADALIMUMAB IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Adalimumab is used for severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its efficacy is hampered by the presence of low drug levels and anti-drug antibodies (ADAs). Although not currently part of standard National Health Service (NHS) practice, patients who achieve remission may be eligible for supervised dose tapering. This could be done through the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, capable of measuring both drug and ADAs concentrations, alongside conventional clinical assessment. In this study, the economic outcomes of adding therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) using Promonitor (Grifols–Progenika) assays to standard care in people with severe RA (Disease Activity Score 28>5.1) treated with adalimumab who had either achieved remission or low disease activity were evaluated. A cost-utility analysis based on a decision tree model was informed by a non-randomised trial INGEBIO identified following a systematic review. Since there is a substantial variation in clinical practice for TDM testing, dose-tapering and flare-management strategies in people with RA, and the actual cost of adalimumab to the NHS, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated for various clinically plausible scenarios and discounts for the list price of adalimumab (Humira®, AbbVie). Costs and resource use were considered from the NHS and Personal Social Services perspective. No discounting was applied to costs and effects due to the short-term time horizon of 18 months. ICERs in all except two scenarios were located in the north-east quadrant of the cost-effectiveness plane and ranged from £4,230 to £164,009 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. When the frequency of testing was one test per year or the cost of phlebotomy appointments to collect trough samples was excluded, the intervention dominated standard care. The cost-effectiveness of TDM with Promonitor for optimizing adalimumab treatment in people with RA is highly uncertain due to data limitations. Thus, future clinical studies are warranted.

Monitoring pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-a practical overview.

The presence of pharmaceuticals, which are considered as contaminants of emerging concern, in natural waters is currently recognized as a widespread problem. Monitoring these contaminants in the environment has been an important field of research since their presence can affect the ecosystems even at very low levels. Several analytical techniques have been developed to detect and quantify trace concentrations of these contaminants in the aquatic environment, namely high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis, usually coupled to different types of detectors, which need to be complemented with time-consuming and costly sample cleaning and pre-concentration procedures. Generally, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), as other immunoassay methodologies, is mostly used in biological samples (most frequently urine and blood). However, during the last years, the number of studies referring the use of ELISA for the analysis of pharmaceuticals in complex environmental samples has been growing. Therefore, this work aims to present an overview of the application of ELISA for screening and quantification of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, namely in water samples and biological tissues. The experimental procedures together with the main advantages and limitations of the assay are addressed, as well as new incomes related with the application of molecular imprinted polymers to mimic antibodies in similar, but alternative, approaches. Graphical Abstract.

Do Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibodies Represent a Distinct Syndrome?

Do Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibodies Represent a Distinct Syndrome?

Efficacy of vortioxetine combined cognitive behaviour intervention therapy on brain-derived neurotrophic factor level on depressive patients.

To evaluate the effect of vortioxetine combined with cognitive behaviour intervention on the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the serum of patients with depression and its therapeutic effect. A total of 82 depressive patients treated at the School of Basic Medicine, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to June 2017 were randomised into a control group (n = 41) and intervention group (n = 41) according to a random number table. Both groups were given vortioxetine treatment, while the intervention group adopted an additional cognitive-behavioural therapy at the same time. The therapeutic effect was evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). The cognitive function was evaluated using continuous performance test (CPT) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). The changes of BDNF level were detected with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The HAMD score of the intervention group was obviously lower than that of the control group after treatment (P < 0.001). WCST test showed that the number of trials, perseverative errors and non-perseverative errors in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group, while the correct matching number and the number of categories achieved were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.001). Results of CPT showed that the correct number of responses to stimulus, the verbal fluency and the fluency of classification in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Moreover, after treatment, the serum BDNF level of the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Vortioxetine combined with cognitive behavioural therapy has a good clinical effect and can largely improve the cognitive function of depressive patients.

Evaluation of a Novel Anti-H. pylori Antibody Detection Kit by Latex Turbidimetric Immunoassay

While all modalities used for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) have demonstrated sufficient sensitivity and specificity, each test has advantages and limitations. The serum test for anti-H. pylori antibody with the latex method is noninvasive, easy, and inexpensive; it is thus a useful tool for mass-screening for H. pylori. In this study, we evaluated the utility of a newly developed latex kit, in comparison with other serum diagnostic kits based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In total, 187 subjects (77: H. pylori-positive, 75: H. pylori-negative, 35: previous infection with H. pylori) seen at Oita University Hospital during the period from January 1988 to September 2014 were enrolled in the study. All subjects were evaluated with 4 types of serum H. pylori antibody kits. One modality was based on the use of latex (Denka Kit, Denka Seiken Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Three kits were based on the use of ELISA. The E-Plate II Eiken (Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) is henceforth referred to as Kit A. The Premier H. pylori kit (Meridian Bioscience, Inc., USA) is referred to as Kit B. The Platelia H. pylori IgG (Bio-Rad, Marnes-la-Coquette, France) is referred to as Kit C. Evaluation of 152 study participants, including some who were positive for H. pylori and some who were negative, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values were as follows: for the Denka kit, these values were, respec-tively, 92.2%, 93.3%, and 92.8%. For Kit A, these values were 88.3%, 100.0%, and 194.1%. For Kit B, these values were 98.7%, 76.0%, and 87.5%. For Kit C, these values were 98.7%, 80.0%, and 89.5%. The specificity of Kit A was > 90%. Sensitivity was > 90% for Kits B and C. For the Denka kit, both sensitivity and specificity were > 90%. Among the 35 subjects previously infected with H. pylori, the rate of positive diagnosis was 48.6% (17/35) with the Denka kit, 17.1% (6/35) with Kit A, 54.3% (19/35) with Kit B, and 54.3% (19/35) with Kit C. The rate of positive diagnosis was significantly higher with the Denka kit than with Kit A (p < 0.05). An assay based on use of the latex method, H. pylori-latex Seiken, demonstrated satisfactory sensitivity and specificity for detecting serum levels of H. pylori antibody. The performance of this kit was equivalent to that of ELISA kits currently used for the same purpose. This kit is therefore considered to be extremely suitable for diagnosis of H. pylori and mass-screening of patients at high risk for gastric cancer.

Evaluation of aflatoxin contamination of stored maize in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana: Poster

This study assessed the aflatoxin contamination and the presence of fungi in three maize varieties (Obatanpa, Abontem and Aburohemaa) stored using different storage methods namely storage in hermetic bags, woven polypropylene sacks and local crib in the Nkoranza-South district of the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. A factorial design arrangement was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The isolation and identification of fungal pathogens associated with maize samples before and after storage were carried out on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Total flatoxin levels in the three maize varieties was determined by the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 450 nm wavelength. Six fungi species were identified in the maize namely: Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium sp, Fusarium sp., Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gleosporioides and Rhizopus. Before storage, Abontem variety recorded significantly higher (p < 0.05) total aflatoxin levels (113.56 ppb) compared to Obatanpa (2.91 ppb) and Aburohemaa (2.96 ppb). Maize samples stored in the polypropylene sack established significantly higher (p < 0.05) total aflatoxin levels of 82.9 ppb compared to hermetic bags (48.9 ppb) and local crib (48.9 ppb) after storage for six months. Aflatoxin levels under the interactive effect of variety and storage method was significant (p < 0.05). Overall storage of maize in hermetic bags significantly reduced aflatoxin levels hence the need to encourage maize farmers and traders to adopt hermetic bag storage technology.

Hyaluronic Acid Is a Biomarker for Allograft Dysfunction and Predicts 1-Year Graft Loss After Liver Transplantation

BackgroundAllograft dysfunction after liver transplantation has a profound impact on the risks of death and retransplantation within the first year. We tested whether elevated hyaluronic acid (HA; a glycosaminoglycan cleared by hepatic sinusoidal endothelium) levels may predict excess risk of graft loss. MethodsThis was a retrospective single-center prognostic cohort study. Patients with either a plasma sample before transplantation, an early post-transplantation sample nearest day 30 (range 10–89 d, 80% within days 15–60), or both were included. Plasma HA was measured with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The primary end point was 1-year graft loss (all-cause mortality and retransplantation). A secondary end point was biliary stricture. ResultsIn this study, 169 of 196 patients who received a liver transplant in the study period were included. Pre-transplantation HA (n = 152) did not predict graft loss. Post-transplantation HA (n = 124) was higher among patients with graft loss (median, 177 μg/L [interquartile range (IQR), 89–465] vs 54 μg/L [IQR 37–93]) and was a strong predictor of this outcome (hazard ratio per 50 μg/L, 1.24 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–1.34]). The discriminatory ability of HA was high (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.77–0.94]) and noninferior to other liver function tests. When adjusted for known risk factors of graft loss, HA remained an independent predictor of graft loss. ConclusionsHigh post-transplantation plasma HA level was a strong predictor of 1-year all-cause mortality and retransplantation, whereas pre-transplantation levels were not, despite variety in the time span of blood sampling. Prospective studies are warranted to assess the utility of HA in liver transplantation.

Isolation of spilanthol from Acmella oleracea based on Green Chemistry and evaluation of its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity

Acmella oleracea (jambu) is a South American plant whose pharmacological properties include antimalarial, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the compounds contributing to the anti-inflammatory effect have received little attention. In this study, the active compound spilanthol was isolated using a Green Chemistry approach and presented significant anti-inflammatory activity in a lipopolysaccharide-activated human neutrophil model. First, the aerial parts of jambu were extracted and fractionated using supercritical carbon dioxide. The spilanthol-enriched fractions obtained were then subjected to further purification by flash chromatography, yielding spilanthol with 97% purity. Use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed a reduction in the release of Interleukin-8 and Tumor Necrosis Factor - alpha by leukocytes exposed to spilanthol. In conclusion, this new approach enabled spilanthol to be obtained at high purity, in a fairly rapid procedure, while the results of the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity study indicated that the compound could be a promising new therapeutic agent.

Prostaglandins and Thromboxane Status in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Aims: Prostaglandins and Thromboxane A2 are prostanoids, with platelet aggregator and vasoconstrictor properties. This study was carried out to assess the prostaglandins and thromboxane status of patients with cardiovascular diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria. &#x0D; Study Design: This is a comparative study.&#x0D; Methodology: Two hundred patients with various cardiovascular diseases (Stroke, Ischemic heart disease, Hypertension, Hypertension with diabetes and Hypertension with Obesity) were recruited from Federal Teaching Hospital, Iddo Ekiti and Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti. Thirty subjects without cardiovascular diseases were used as a control. Their age range was between 30 and 90 years. Plasma prostaglandin, PGD-2, PGE-1 and thromboxane TXA2 were evaluated in all groups by the use of Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data obtained was subjected to student t-test and ANOVA. &#x0D; Results: The results showed a significant increase (P&gt;0.05) in the plasma levels of prostaglandin (PGD-2, PGE-1) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in all the cardiovascular groups when compared with the control. Plasma levels of TXA2 were found to be significantly higher (P&gt;0.05) in stroke patients when compared with the other type of diseased cardiovascular patients.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study shows that the assessment of plasma prostaglandin and thromboxane levels in cardiovascular disease could be an essential tool in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.

Zinc transporter 8 autoantibody (ZnT8A) by ELISA for diagnosing type 1 diabetes among Chinese people

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure ZnT8A for diagnosing type 1 diabetes among Chinese people. We recruited a group of 95 patients with type 1 diabetes, 130 patients with type 2 diabetes, and 110 subjects without diabetes. We measured ZnT8A level by ELISA and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) level by radioimmunoassay. We collected data on their history-based variables, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and lipid levels. 24.2% were positive for ZnT8A in type 1 diabetics, compared to 0.0% in type 2 diabetics and 0.9% in the participants without diabetes (both p < 0.001). And the type 1 diabetics had higher ZnT8A level compared with the latter two groups (both p < 0.001). The frequency of ZnT8A in the “classical” type 1 diabetics was higher than that in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (45.0 vs. 18.7%, p < 0.05). The frequency/level of ZnT8A was higher in the youngest group (all p < 0.05). The ROC curve area was 0.892. The combination of ZnT8A and GADA increased the diagnostic sensitivity. The ZnT8A level was correlated with the GADA level. ZnT8A-positive type 1 diabetics had younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.022), lower BMI scores (p = 0.016), and more frequent ketosis (p = 0.034) and needed more insulin (p = 0.041) than ZnT8A-negative type 1 diabetics. This study demonstrated the value of ZnT8A in addition to GADA for the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

Seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies among market workers and food handlers in the central state of Malaysia.

The high prevalence of leptospirosis in humans is of great public health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of leptospiral antibodies and distribution of serovars, and to assess the usefulness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a screening method for leptospiral antibodies in a high-risk healthy community. Cross-sectional study of 231 market workers and food handlers in wet markets and food premises from two localities in central Malaysia. Respondents' background information was obtained using a questionnaire. Serum samples were tested for leptospiral antibodies using ELISA and microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Seroprevalence of leptospirosis among healthy workers was 46.3%. Detection of seropositivity was higher by MAT (46%) than ELISA (15%). We observed high seropositivity among local workers (49%), food handlers (49.5%), females (60.8%) and those aged 34years and older (46.3%). Local strain LEP175 was the predominant serovar, followed by WHO strain Patoc. Overall seroprevalence among healthy food handlers and market workers was high in this study. The workplace places susceptible individuals at risk of leptospirosis.

Elevated Surfactant Protein Levels and Increased Flow of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Surfactant proteins (SPs) are a multifunctional group of proteins, responsible for the regulation of rheological properties of body fluids, host defense, and cellular waste clearance. Their concentrations are changed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients suffering from communicating hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalic conditions are accompanied by altered CSF flow dynamics; however, the association of CSF-SP concentrations and CSF flow has not yet been investigated. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between SP concentrations in the CSF and marked CSF flow phenomena at different anatomical landmarks of CSF spaces. Sixty-one individuals (15 healthy subjects and 46 hydrocephalus patients) were included in this study. CSF specimens were analyzed for SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D concentrations by the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). CSF flow was evaluated in axial T2_turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM)-weighted and sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging sections using a 4-grade scale (1-no flow, 2-subtle flow, 3-moderate flow, and 4-strong flow). CSF-SP concentrations (mean ± standard deviation) of the overall collective were as follows: SP-A = 0.73 ± 0.58ng/ml, SP-B = 0.17 ± 0.93ng/ml, SP-C = 0.95 ± 0.75ng/ml, and SP-D = 7.43 ± 5.17ng/ml. The difference between healthy controls and hydrocephalic patients regarding CSF concentrations of SP-A (0.34 ± 0.22 vs. 0.81 ± 0.59ng/ml) and SP-C (0.48 ± 0.29 vs. 1.10 ± 0.79ng/ml) revealed to be statistically significant as calculated by means of ANOVA (p values of 0.022 and 0.007, respectively). CSF flow voids were detectable at all investigated landmarks of the CSF spaces (foramina of Monro, third ventricle, mesencephalic aqueduct, prepontine cistern, fourth ventricle, cisterna magna, and craniocervical junction). CSF flow voids, reported as mean ± standard deviation, revealed to be significantly increased in hydrocephalic patients compared to controls as calculated by means of ANOVA (respective p values are given in brackets following values of descriptive statistics) at the following sites: foramina of Monro (1.60 ± 0.91 vs. 2.37 ± 0.99, p = 0.01), fourth ventricle (1.67 ± 0.98 vs. 2.52 ± 1.05, p = 0.007), and the cisterna magna (1.93 ± 1.10 vs. 2.72 ± 1.13, p = 0.022). Spearman's rank order calculation identified significant correlations for CSF flow voids at the foramina of Monro and the third ventricle with SP-A (r = 0.429, p = 0.001 and r = 0.464, p < 0.001) and CSF flow void at the mesencephalic duct with SP-D (r = - 0.371, p = 0.039). Furthermore, SP-C showed a moderate inverse correlation with age (r = - 0.302, p = 0.022). The present study confirmed statistically significant differences in SP-CSF concentrations between healthy controls and hydrocephalic patients. Additionally, significant correlations between SP concentrations in CSF with increased CSF flow were identified. These findings underline the role of SPs as regulators of CSF rheology.

Use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to screen for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and deoxynivalenol in dry pet foods.

The objective of this study was to perform a market survey on dry pet foods using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect total aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), and deoxynivalenol (DON). Pet food products (n = 58) marketed for dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits were tested in duplicate with ELISA, and results above the limit of quantitation were confirmed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). OTA was detected in one product (rabbit food) and AFs were detected in two products (one dog treat and one bird treat). In contrast, DON was detected in the majority (74%) of products tested. Bird and rabbit products were the most affected by DON, with levels above 0.5μg/g in 50 and 80% of samples, respectively. One rabbit sample tested positive for both OTA and DON. Overall, the findings of this study revealed a low incidence of AFs and OTA in commercial pet food. Although DON was detected in numerous products, the levels were well below those associated with acute toxic effects.