Search results for " kit"
showing 10 items of 62 documents
Performance characteristics of the new Abbott Real Time MTB assay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens
2015
The performance of the Abbott Real Time MTB assay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens was evaluated using a standard culture as the reference. The overall concordance between both methods was 0.95. The assay displayed an excellent sensitivity (100% for smear-positive/92.3% for smear-negative specimens) and specificity (100%).
IgA anti-actin antibodies ELISA in coeliac disease: A multicentre study.
2007
Previous studies have demonstrated that serum anti-actin antibodies are a reliable marker of intestinal damage severity in coeliac disease.To validate in a multicentre study the clinical usefulness of serum IgA anti-actin antibody ELISA and its possible use in monitoring intestinal mucosa lesions during gluten-free diet.Four centres recruited 205 newly diagnosed coeliac disease patients with villous atrophy, 80 healthy controls and 81 "disease" controls. Twelve coeliac disease patients on gluten-free diet but with persistent symptoms underwent serum IgA anti-actin antibody assay and intestinal histology evaluation. IgA anti-actin antibody ELISA was performed with a commercial kit. All coeli…
New tools for detecting latent tuberculosis infection: evaluation of RD1-specific long-term response
2009
Abstract Background Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRAs) were designed to detect latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, discrepancies were found between the tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRAs results that cannot be attributed to prior Bacille Calmètte Guerin vaccinations. The aim of this study was to evaluate tools for improving LTBI diagnosis by analyzing the IFN-γ response to RD1 proteins in prolonged (long-term response) whole blood tests in those subjects resulting negative to assays such as QuantiFERON-TB Gold In tube (QFT-IT). Methods The study population included 106 healthy TST+ individuals with suspected LTBI (recent contact of smear-positive TB and homeless) c…
Detection of IgM antibodies specific for measles virus by capture and indirect enzyme immunoassays.
1995
Summary During a measles outbreak, 112 serum specimens from 88 hospitalized patients were received in our laboratory for investigation of a morbilliform rash. These specimens (88 acute- and 24 convalescent-phase) were tested for the presence of measles-specific IgM antibodies by a capture EIA (enzyme immunoassay) using peroxidase-conjugated measles virus antigens and by an indirect EIA. Commercially available indirect EIA kits for measles-specific IgM antibodies were also used and compared with our homemade EIAs. Specificity studies included a collection of serum specimens containing rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies or IgM antibodies specific to other viruses, and sera from blood d…
Evaluation of whole antioxidant defenses of human mononuclear cells by a new in vitro biological test: lack of correlation between erythrocyte and mo…
2009
1873-2933 (Electronic) Journal Article; OBJECTIVES: This work aims to evaluate the resistance of mononuclear cells to oxidative stress using a "KRL" test, formerly utilized to evaluate the resistance of erythrocyte to free radicals. METHODS: The "KRL" test evaluates the resistance to lysis of cells treated by free radicals generated under standardized conditions. RESULTS: We defined new analytical parameters (level of radical production, time course, number of cells) to obtain an accurate assay determining the resistance to oxidative stress of mononuclear cells, in comparison to that of erythrocytes. This test allows the evaluation of change in the redox state of mononuclear cells (improved…
Exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mast-cell-deficient KitW-sh/W-sh mice
2011
Mast cell (MC)-deficient c-Kit mutant Kit(W/W-v) mice are protected against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis, suggesting a detrimental role for MCs in this disease. To further investigate the role of MCs in EAE, we took advantage of a recently characterized model of MC deficiency, Kit(W-sh/W-sh). Surprisingly, we observed that myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)(35-55)-induced chronic EAE was exacerbated in Kit(W-sh/W-sh) compared with Kit(+/+) mice. Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice showed more inflammatory foci in the central nervous system (CNS) and increased T-cell response against myelin. To understand whether the discrepant results obtaine…
ProC Global: the first functional screening assay for the complete protein C pathway.
1997
Abstract In clinical practice, venous thromboembolic complications are much more frequent than bleeding disorders. In fact, disturbances within the protein C pathway due to coagulation factor V (FV) Leiden mutation and deficiency of protein C or protein S are the most frequent abnormalities in hereditary thrombophilia. Furthermore, acquired dysfunctions of the protein C system may predispose the single individual to an increased thrombotic risk. A routine-suited screening assay that would allow the monitoring of the proper interplay of factors in the protein C pathway could add an important factor to the basic coagulation profile. This consists of the prothrombin time and of the activated p…
Clostridium baratii bacteremia associated with Kawasaki syndrome. First case report
2007
We experienced a case of a 3-year-old boy who presented signs and symptoms of Kawasaki syndrome. Two blood culture sets were processed by the hospital microbiology laboratory using a standard blood culturing system. The anaerobic bottles gave a positive result at day 3 after inoculation. The biochemical profiles produced by the RapID ANA II System showed that the organism was Clostridium baratii with a probability of 99%. Our case highlights the importance of C. baratii as a potential human pathogen and reports the associations with manifestations, which, to our knowledge, have not been previously described concomitantly with a clostridial infection.
The colonization of sicily by the Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
2003
I describe the colonization of the black kites (Milvus migrans) in Sicily. The ancient ornithologists of the ninth century considered this species as occasional and rare in Sicily. The black kite has been classified as the second mosto common species observed in the Strait of Messina in spring and is also most abundant during fall migration. Habitats suitable for nesting are available along the migratory route. This species is reproducing and remaining during the winter in an approximate area of 100 kmq located in the center of Sicily. The first confirmed reproductive data was reported in 1979, later a more extensive colonization followed. Stadia tardla was recorded during vehicle censuses …
Observation of a superfluid component within solid helium
2011
We demonstrate by neutron scattering that a localized superfluid component exists at high pressures within solid helium in aerogel. Its existence is deduced from the observation of two sharp phonon-roton spectra which are clearly distinguishable from modes in bulk superfluid helium. These roton excitations exhibit different roton gap parameters than the roton observed in the bulk fluid at freezing pressure. One of the roton modes disappears after annealing the samples. Comparison with theoretical calculations suggests that the model that reproduces the observed data best is that of superfluid double layers within the solid and at the helium-substrate interface. peerReviewed