Global health impacts of ambient fine particulate pollution associated with climate variability

Air pollution is a key global environmental problem raising human health concern. It is essential to comprehensively assess the long-term characteristics of air pollution and the resultant health impacts. We first assessed the global trends of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during 1980-2020 using a monthly global PM2.5 reanalysis dataset, and evaluated their association with three types of climate variability including El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole and North Atlantic Oscillation. We then estimated PM2.5-attributable premature deaths using integrated exposure-response functions. Results show a significant increasing trend of ambient PM2.5 during 1980-2020 due to increases in anthropogenic emissions. Ambient PM2.5 caused a total of ∼ 135 million premature deaths globally during the four decades. Occurrence of air pollution episodes was strongly associated with climate variability, which were associated with up to 14 % increase in annual global PM2.5-attributable premature deaths.

Influences of approaching tropical cyclones on water vapor and aerosols in the atmospheric boundary layer of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area of China

The outer circulation of tropical cyclones (TCs) on the western North Pacific has been reported to substantially influence the atmospheric environment over the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China, whereas dynamic evolution and redistribution of water vapor and aerosol in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) responding to moving TCs have yet to be understood. This study aims to answer three key research questions related to the influences of the approaching TCs: (1) how do water vapor and aerosol particles over the GBA change during the TC approaching stage? (2) how does the ABL in terms of vertical wind structure respond to the approaching TCs? and (3) how does turbulence influence the vertical profile of aerosol during the approaching stage? Based on an intensive analysis of three-year reanalysis and Doppler LiDAR data, this study identified a dry-polluted time over the GBA when a TC was located at ~1000 km away on South China Sea. Before that, horizontal wind has consistently come from the northeast, creating a favorable condition for weak transboundary air pollution to the GBA. During the dry-polluted time, the highest surface PM_2.5 concentration was resulted from the enhanced downdraft and early-stage wind shear, i.e., stronger wind started occurring at upper-level ABL, while the further turbulent mixing induced by wind shear enhancement and updrafts recovery pumped surface pollution upward to the upper level when TCs became closer. Our findings are expected to improve both weather and PM_2.5 forecasts under the impacts of approaching TCs.

Active Volcanism Revealed from a Seismicity Conduit in the Long-resting Tatun Volcano Group of Northern Taiwan

Abundant earthquakes clustered within a particular zone often reflect an active geological feature, such as clustering seismicity along a fault zone and a huge number of volcanic-earthquakes around the erupting conduit. Herein we perform a double-difference tomographic inversion and relocate the seismicity at the long-resting Tatun volcano group (TVG) in northern Taiwan. A dramatic improvement of the earthquake location model surprisingly show that, from 2014 to 2017, two clustered seismic zones are identified in the TVG. One major group of events (>1000) persistently clustered within a ~500 m diameter vertical conduit with a ~2 km height. The clustering seismicity conduit is just located nearby Dayoukeng, one of the strongest fumaroles in the TVG, and is connected to a fracture zone characterized by low Vp/Vs in the shallow crust. The other group of events is clustered within a sphere-like zone beneath Mt. Chihsin around the depths between 0.5 km and 2 km. Both seismic zones are probably triggered by the significantly volcanic gases and fluids ascending from the deep magma reservoir. Combined with a variety of results from literature, the seismicity conduit near the strong fumarole is the evidence for an active volcano and also identifies a likely pathway for ascending magma if the TVG erupts again in the future. But possibility of developing different magma pathways at other clustered seismic zones such as beneath Mt. Chihsin may not be totally excluded.

Synthesis and characterization of iodine molecular wires in channels of zeolite AEL single crystals

Well-aligned iodine molecular wires were synthesized by means of loading iodine molecules in the elliptical nanometer-scale channels of AlPO(4)-11 (AEL) single crystals. Polarized Raman spectra reveal that the iodine molecular wires are oriented along the crystal channel direction by lining iodine molecules on the yz plane, where y and z represent the channel direction and the major-axial direction of the elliptical rings, respectively. Natural iodine wires are unstable, but they are very stable in the AEL channels. The template technique offers us an ideal platform to study the novel properties of these molecular wires.

A novel mutation in neonatal isolated sulphite oxidase deficiency

Isolated sulphite oxidase deficiency (ISOD) is a very rare hereditary metabolic disorder. Imaging findings of the neonatal form of ISOD, including multicystic leukoencephalopathy with brain atrophy, resemble those of severe ischemic changes of the brain. We report the case of a ten-month-old boy who exhibited neonatal seizures on the 24th day after birth. Excessive quantities of sulphite and S-sulphocysteine in the urine and normal blood uric acid were noted. These findings were consistent with those of ISOD. Point mutations were found in two alleles of the sulphite oxidase (SUOX) gene. One of the mutations was a 1029 C > G mutation, which resulted in an amino acid substitution of tyrosine to a stop code (Y343 X); and the other was a 479 G > A mutation, which resulted in an amino acid substitution of arginine to glutamine (R160 Q). Y343 X is a novel SUOX gene mutation. A review of the literature, including data from this report, showed that 3 of 6 cases had typical imaging findings characterized by initial cerebral edema followed by dramatic multicystic leukoencephalopathy. We emphasize that neonatal ISOD should be included in the differential diagnosis of neonates with unexplained hypoxic-ischemic changes on neuroimaging studies.

Formation and photodissociation of M(+)-C(6)H(6) (M(+) = V(+) and Ta(+)) and Ta(+)-C(6)H(4) complexes in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer

A series of cyclic hydrocarbons were introduced to react with V(+) and Ta(+) using a pulsed beam expansion source in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The third-row metal Ta(+) displayed high reactivity in dehydrogenation to form benzyne complexes, whereas benzene complexes were the terminal products for V(+). M(+)-C(6)H(6) (M(+) = V(+) and Ta(+)) and Ta(+)-C(6)H(4) were selected to perform the photodissociation experiments. In contrast to the V(+) fragment formation via simple cleavage of the V(+)-C(6)H(6) bond, a photoinduced loss of C(2)H(2) occurred in both the Ta(+)-C(6)H(6) and Ta(+)-C(6)H(4) complexes. Plausible explanations involved in the formation of Ta(+)-C(6)H(6) and Ta(+)-C(6)H(4) complexes are given for observing such photo-induced dissociation. The observed photodissociation in Ta(+)-C(6)H(6) is analogous to the dissociative process previously investigated in metal ion-molecule reactions. The photodissociation spectrum of Ta(+)-C(6)H(4) was obtained by recording the appearance of Ta(+)-C(4)H(2) as a function of wavelength and yielded a dissociation energy of 91 +/- 1 kcal mol(-1).

Hyperbaric oxygen for carbon monoxide poisoning-induced delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae

The clinical manifestations of delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae after carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication are variable. In addition, there is no specific therapy for these complications. Fortunately, these complications have occurred less frequently in recent years, probably due to the usage of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. We report an 8-year-old boy who developed late psychiatric disturbances 2 days after full recovery of consciousness from initial CO intoxication. His neuropsychiatric symptoms included consciousness disturbance, motor dysfunction, chorea, aphasia and agnosias. He received HBO therapy at 2.0 barr for 60 minutes once a day for 7 consecutive days. Three weeks later, he was functioning normally with no neuropsychiatric symptoms. A literature review concluded that HBO may be effective in treating neuropsychiatric sequelae. Moreover, immediate administration of HBO during acute CO intoxication may prevent these complications.

Zellweger syndrome: report of one case

Zellweger syndrome is a fatal autosomal-recessive hereditary disease characterized by the absence of peroxisomes in liver and kidneys. The absence of peroxisomes results in impairment of many metabolic pathways, especially beta-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). We report a case of a three-month-old male infant with facial dysmorphism, hypotonia, psychomotor retardation, and hepatomegaly. He had an elder brother with the same facial features and hypotonia who died of hepatic failure at four months of age. Biochemical studies revealed elevation of blood pipecolic acid and VLCFAs, compatible with peroxisomal disorder. Electron microscopy of liver biopsy revealed absence of peroxisomes. Zellweger syndrome was diagnosed. Because this syndrome is usually fatal in early life, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis are crucial.

[Immunity against diphtheria in Taiwan]

The vaccination of combined diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) vaccine provides good immunity against childhood diphtheria in Taiwan. However, a waning protective antibody level has been observed with an increase in age. Therefore, we assessed diphtheria immunoglobulin (DIG) level in Taipei City as representatives of urban dwellers and in King-Shan County as representatives of rural dwellers to evaluate the status of immunity against diphtheria in the population of Taiwan. In total, 1239 serum samples collected from the resident population, age 0-91 years, were detected by toxin neutralization test with VERO cells. The DIG level > or = 0.01 IU/mL was considered to be seropositive and > or = 0.1 IU/mL was considered to be fully protective. The positive rate and fully protective rate for all persons were 79.9% and 36.6%, respectively. The age specific positive rate and fully protective rate for children under 14 years of age were 97.0% and 78.0%, for 20-29 years of age group, were 38.0% and 8.3%, respectively, to be the lowest record among tested age groups. Then, both rates increased proportionately with age. Among those birth cohorts born in the diphtheria immunization era (since 1955), the antibody levels were inversely correlated with age, suggesting a decreased opportunity for exposure to natural diphtheria infection in the recent years and the duration of the vaccine inoculation. This finding indicates the need of a booster vaccination for young adults to ensure a full term protection and a long lasting diphtheria control.

Purification and characterization of a 94 KD high molecular weight allergen from house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

House dust mite allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is an important cause of severe allergic asthma and rhinitis in many countries. Although several low to medium molecular weight allergens had been well characterized, limited studies on the high molecular weight IgE-binding components were reported. In this study, a 94 kD high molecular weight allergen from crude mite body extract of D. pteronyssinus was purified and characterized. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) affinity chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography were used to purify 94 kD allergen. Its antigenicity and allergenicity were confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies. Two mAbs 2205-3.45 and 2220-7.25 specific to 94 kD high molecular weight component of D. pteronyssinus were generated. The epitopes recognized by these mAbs were species-specific. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of IgE reactivity in the sera from 40 asthmatic children allergic to D. pteronyssinus showed that 37.5% of them had significantly higher optical density values (range 0.011 to 0.452) than normal (range 0.013 to 0.035). In in vivo skin test showed that 9 out of 20 (45%) asthmatic children were positive to 94 kD allergen. The results demonstrate that 94 kD high molecular weight component is an important allergen existing in house dust mite in Taiwan.

Sclerotherapy--an adjuvant therapy to endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

Recurrent endometriomas after medical or surgical treatment is a difficult clinical problem for those patients who wish to perform ovulation induction. Therefore we tried to investigate the efficacy of sclerotherapy as an adjuvant management before ovulation induction to preserve more ovarian tissue for folliculogenesis in ART program.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients with persistent or recurrent endometrioma after surgical or medical treatment were included in this study. Transvaginal ultrasound needle guided aspiration of the cyst followed by tetracycline instillation was performed before ovulation induction.

RESULTS

There is an encouraging clinical pregnancy rate of 34.37%. Also, there is a disappointing recurrent rate of 46.87% in 12 months follow-up course.

CONCLUSION

The increased interest in cost-effective outpatient therapy and the expected difficulty in surgical treatment of recurrent endometriomas made aspiration and sclerotherapy of endometrioma an attractive option before ovulation induction.

Identification of immunodominant, group-specific and subcomplex-specific, continuous epitopes in the core regions of Japanese encephalitis virus using synthetic peptides

Two flaviviruses, Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus and Dengue (DEN) virus which have high pathogenicity for humans, continue to pose a serious public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries of the world. In order to identify the immunodominant B-cell epitopes for diagnostic application, we have prepared a series of 15-mer synthetic peptides from JE virus core protein based on computer analysis. Four linear, immunodominant epitopes corresponding to amino acids 91-105 (P78), 1-15 (P73), 8-22 (P74), and 34-48 (P75) of JE virus core proteins were identified by employing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using high-titered immune sera from JE-vaccinated children. P78 was found to be the most immunodominant. The sero-specificity of these peptides was tested by binding to seroconverted samples from JE and DEN-1 patients. P78 and P74 belonged to group-specific epitopes which reacted with both JE and DEN-1 patient sera. P73 and P75 belonged to subcomplex-specific epitopes which reacted only with JE but not with DEN-1 patient sera. The study suggests that these peptides corresponding to the immunodominant epitopes of JE virus core protein might have the potential to be used as peptide-based diagnostic reagents for the detection and differentiation of JE and DEN antibody responses.

Increased invasive activity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells is associated with an overexpression of thyroid hormone beta 1 nuclear receptor and low expression of the anti-metastatic nm23 gene

To understand the role of thyroid hormone in metastasis, we studied the expression of the anti-metastatic nm23 gene in eight human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. These cells differentially expressed the anti-metastatic nm23 gene. A low level of nm23 proteins was found to have a high in vitro invasive activity which correlated closely with an overexpression of the thyroid hormone beta 1 nuclear receptor (h-TR beta 1). Concurrent with the down-regulation of h-TR beta 1, the invasive activity of HCC cells was suppressed by the thyroid hormone, 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3). These results indicate that the invasive activity of HCC cells was regulated by T3, suggesting that T3 could be involved in modulating the functions of nm23.

Sequencing analysis of hepatitis C virus mixed genotype in a hemodialysis patients

It has become clear that the genotypes of HCV vary with respect to pathogenicity, infectivity, response to antiviral therapy and geographic clustering. The prevalence of genotype distribution of HCV infection in Taiwan was investigated by typing with type-specific DNA primers in HCV core region. Using a design by Okamoto et al., it was found that in 280 serum samples examined, 3.3% (4/122) of the virus detected were mixed type. The implication of mixed type infection remains to be clarified: whether it is a single infection with a new variant, or infection with two HCV virions at different times or confusion with type-specific DNA primers themselves. The nucleotide sequences of the recombinant plasmid DNAs and the PCR products recovered from gel electrophoresis were analyzed by autosequencer. Gene sequences of HCV cDNAs of the two blood donors were used as control. To double check the results, we have also analyzed the DNA sequences of the cloned plasmids in the NS5 region with the primer system designed by Chayama et al. Results indicated that the hemodialysis patient was doubly infected with HCV, rather than by a HCV variant.

Causes of reduced survival of neonatal pigs by medium-chain triglycerides: blood metabolite and behavioral activity approaches

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the causes of the failure of orally dosed medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) in improving the survival of neonatal pigs. In Exp. 1, four litters consisting of 24 unsuckled neonatal pigs were either dosed with 6 mL/kg BW.75 of MCT or the dosing process was mimicked by inserting and withdrawing the feeding tube at 10 and 18 h after birth. Blood beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration was increased (P < .06) and the depletion of liver glycogen was reduced (P < .05) by MCT. Plasma octanoate (C8) concentration peaked at 1 h and was minimized at 4 to 8 h after each MCT dosage; decanoate (C10) concentration increased (P < .001) gradually after each dosage. Activity of pigs was decreased (P < .01) by MCT. In Exp. 2, 94 litters consisting of 887 neonatal pigs were dosed with either 6 mL/kg BW.75 of MCT, coconut oil (CO), or saline at 10 to 14 and 20 to 28 h after birth. Milk intake (P < .05) and weight gain were reduced (P < .01) in 1- to 2-d-old pigs dosed with MCT compared with intake and gain of pigs dosed with saline. Mortality of large pigs (> 1 kg) was increased (P < .05) but mortality of small pigs (< 1 kg) was not affected by MCT. Mortality of small pigs was reduced (P < .05) but mortality of large pigs (> 1 kg) was not affected by CO. Standing, walking, and suckling behaviors of pigs were not affected by MCT or CO. Coma was evident in 9.7% of pigs dosed with MCT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The amino-terminal peptide of HIV-1 glycoprotein 41 fuses human erythrocytes

The ability of synthetic peptides based on the amino-terminus of HIV-1 glycoprotein 41,000 (gp41) to fuse human erythrocytes was investigated. Previous site-directed mutagenesis studies have shown an important role for the N-terminal gp41 domain in HIV-fusion, in which replacement of hydrophobic amino acids with polar residues inhibits viral infection and syncytia formation. Here, a synthetic peptide (FP; 23 amino acid residues 519-541) corresponding to the N-terminus of HIV-1 gp41, and also a FP analog (FP526L/R) with Arg replacing Leu-526, were prepared with solid phase techniques. The lipid mixing and leakage of resealed ghosts triggered by these peptides were examined with fluorescence quenching techniques. Peptide-induced aggregation of human erythrocytes was studied using Coulter counter sizing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using resealed erythrocyte ghosts at physiologic pH, FP induces rapid lipid mixing between red cell membranes at doses previously shown to hemolyze intact cells. FP also causes leakage from resealed ghosts, and promotes the formation of multicelled aggregates with whole erythrocytes. Contrarily, similar FP526L/R concentrations did not induce red cell lysis, lipid mixing, leakage or aggregation. Since the fusogenic potency of FP and FP526L/R parallels earlier gp41 mutagenesis studies showing that substitution of Arg for Leu-526 blocks fusion activity, these data suggest that the N-terminal gp41 domain in intact HIV participates in fusion.

Immunity to diphtheria in children three-to-six year of age in four counties of Taiwan

An immunization program against diphtheria has been implemented in Taiwan since 1955, using combined diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccine. Diphtheria immunoglobulin (DIG) level was assessed in serum samples obtained from 1138 children, aged 3-6 years from north, south, east and central part of Taiwan by the VERO cell neutralization method. Specimens were collected by simple random sampling of residents from Hsinchu, Taichung, Pingtung and Hwalien counties, including both aborigines and non-aborigines. The former lived in one or two villages in each county, and the latter lived in a single village next to the former. Ninety-five percent (1086/1138) had a DIG titre > or = 0.01 IU/ml. There was no significant difference by sex, or by residential area. Seventy-nine percent (901/1138) of the children had completed the primary immunization schedule (at the age of 2, 4, 6 and 18 months), and the prevalence of DIG titre > or = 0.1 IU/ml considered to be long-term protective was as follows: 74.6% for 3-year group; 74.5% for 4-year group; 67.9% for 5-year group; 84.7% for 6-year group (including 52.2% who had had a booster shot at early primary school). These findings show that the diphtheria vaccination program provides good immunity in childhood.

Genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan

To investigate the prevalence of genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan, genotypes were identified in 122 (36 anti-HCV-positive blood donors, 44 anti-HCV-positive aborigines, 28 hemodialysis patients, and 14 patients with chronic liver diseases) of 280 subjects, using polymerase chain reaction by Okamoto's type-specific primer method. Type II was the dominant (66.7%) type among anti-HCV-positive blood donors, followed by type III and type IV with the same percentages (16.7%), while none of type I was detected. The prevalence of genotype distribution were 75.0%, 81.1%, and 64.3% for type II, 4.6%, 17.9%, and 21.4% for type III, 13.6%, 0%, and 7.1% for type IV, for the aborigines, hemodialysis, and chronic liver diseases groups, respectively. Four subjects revealed mixed infections by two different genotypes: two cases of II and III; and each one case of II and IV, and III and IV. Diverse genotype distributions in two hemodialysis groups disclose the existence of obvious regional differences even within a region. The results reveal the highest prevalence of type II as in Japan. However, there is a higher prevalence rate of type IV than in Japan.

Energy value of medium-chain triglycerides and their efficacy in improving survival of neonatal pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the energy value of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and to assess whether oral doses of MCT could improve the survival of neonatal pigs. Twenty 6-d-old pigs from seven litters were fed a milk replacer containing 0, 5, 10, or 20% MCT. Feces and urine were collected for 10 d to determine the energy value of MCT. The determined GE, DE, ME, and N-corrected ME of MCT were 8,279, 8,693, 7,867, and 7,781 kcal/kg, respectively. Two hundred forty-eight neonatal pigs from 23 litters were orally dosed with 6 mL/kg.75 of either MCT or saline twice (14 and 26 h of age), and the growth and mortality of pigs at 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 28 d of age were observed. The growth of pigs from birth to 28 d of age was not affected (P > .05) by MCT. Medium-chain triglycerides increased (P < .05) the mortality of large (> 1.5 kg) pigs during 0 to 7 and 0 to 28 d of age and did not reduce (P > .05) the mortality of small (< 1 kg) or medium (1 to 1.5 kg) pigs. In summary, MCT was effective as an energy source for pigs, but neonatal pigs dosed with MCT did not have improved growth or survival from birth to weaning.

Detection and identification of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 strains by a simplified polymerase chain reaction method

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with three oligonucleotide primers was used to amplify both 184 bp and 425 bp DNA fragments of cholera toxin A subunit gene (ctxA) for detection and identification of toxigenic V. cholerae O1 strains in one step. For enhancing the sensitivity, we have used the chemiluminescent detection system for Southern hybridization. A total of 92 Vibrio strains were tested by both PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three E. coli (ETEC) strains, one toxigenic V. mimicus, and one toxigenic V. cholerae non-O1 were also tested for cross reactivities. Our results indicated that the correlation between the immunological ELISA method and the molecular biological PCR method were very well. The lowest detectable amount of the purified serotype Inaba chromosomal DNA by PCR is 2 pg and 0.4 pg by chemiluminescent detection system. In this work we report a PCR assay with a combination of three primers to detect and identify the ctxA of V. cholerae O1 in one step. The simplified and accurate method is useful for toxigenic V. cholerae O1 detection and identification.

High prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in aborigines in Taiwan

In Taiwan, the epidemiological status of HCV infection is similar to those observed in other areas of the world, with 1.0% prevalence among adult volunteer blood donors and high prevalences among the high risk groups, by the detection of anti-HCV with synthetic peptide antigens. However, unusually high prevalences, 35.1%, 15.8% and 14.2%, were observed among adult populations in three of the five aboriginal communities. No difference in sex specificity was noted. In 37 (75.0%) of the 48 anti-HCV-positive cases, HCV-RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. None of such particular risk factors as tattooing, sexual promiscuity, operation, blood transfusion, nor intravenous drug abuse could be accounted for this high prevalence of HCV infection. No helpful supporting evidence for ethnic specificity was noted, either. Although a possible sexual transmission between spouses was observed, it is unlikely to be the main cause of the high prevalence in these aboriginal communities. We conclude that the unusually high prevalence of HCV infection observed in some aboriginal communities in Taiwan could be ascribed to poor anti-septic medical practice derived from insufficiency of medical personnel and facilities in these communities as compared with the other regions in Taiwan at the time before twenty years ago.

[Improvement of the EIA kit for the detection of tetanus immunoglobulin in human sera]

For the program to eliminate tetanus neonatorum in this country, we have improved the sensitivity of enzyme immunoassay kit (EIA kit) prepared on 1987 for the detection of human tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) by competitive principle. (Chinese J Microbiol Immunol 1987; 20: 269-278) Horse-radish peroxidase-conjugated to tetanus toxoid monoclonal antibody was involved in the new kit, and tetanus hybridoma clones were prepared by this laboratory. The lowest detectable TIG level is 0.05 IU/ml serum instead of 0.1 IU/ml serum. The dose-response curve and cut-off determination system of the new EIA kit are better than those of the original one. We proposed that the newly designed EIA kit could be used for understanding the TIG level in women who are in the age group for giving birth and in the tetanus vaccination group.

[Clinical evaluation of a domestically prepared enzyme immunoassay kit for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen]

National Institute of Preventive Medicine (NIPM) has succeeded in the development of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen. The sandwich principle was used for the test. Guinea pig anti-HBs IgG was used for coating microtiter plates and Horseradish peroxidase was conjugated with goat specific anti-HBs. Its stability is longer than 4 months. The lowest detectable dose is 0.7 ng/ml or better for subtype ad of HBsAg tested with Hepatitis Sensitivity Panel, Bureau of Drug and Food, Department of Health. The regression curve was determined by testing 66 samples with Auszyme II (EIA Kit. Abbott Lab.) and NIPM Kit, while Auszyme II used as a reference kit. The two EIA kits correlated well with a coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.86. Evaluation on 1,157 patients' and officers' serum samples in Tri-Service General Hospital showed that the positive rate was 24.7% (286/1,157) by RIA (Clinical Assays, Travenol Lab., USA) and that of NIPM EIA Kit was 24.4% (282/1,157). There was no statistical significance in terms of positive rate (p greater than 0.05). The positive rates of 534 blood donors are 22.1% (118/534) and 21.9% (117/534) respectively. Another evaluation on 974 serum samples in National Taiwan University Hospital showed that the positive rate was 27.2% (265/974) by Ausria II-125 (RIA. Abbott Lab.) and that of NIPM EIA Kit was 27.4% (267/974). The undetectable rate and false positive rate of NIPM EIA Kit were 0.41% (4/974) and 0.62% (6/974) respectively. In comparison with four other kind of commercial EIA Kits, the results of NIPM EIA Kit were satisfactory also. We have scaled up the reagent preparations for the kit, except the antibody coated microtiter plate preparation. At the end of March 1985 we will supply 850 EIA kits for the Development Center for Biotechnology for their hepatitis B vaccine production program.

Preparation of enzyme immunoassay kit for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen

An attempt was made to prepare enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The diagnostic reagents were prepared by the 'sandwich" principle in which polystyrene microtiter plates were used. Two-step glutaraldehyde coupling procedure was used for the preparation of antibody-peroxidase (horseradish) conjugate. Purified anti-HBs IgG fraction of guinea pig antisera was used for coating plates and for antibody-enzyme conjugate preparation. This method had been compared with Ausria II-125 (RIA, Abbott Lab.) in 423 government employees. Among 80 (18.9%) positive results six were inconsistent reactions by Ausria II-125. Only one of the six positive specimens was repeatedly positive and was confirmed by Auszyme II (EIA, Abbott Lab.). 14 out of the 343 (81.1%) negative results were positive reactions detected by Ausria II-125. A half of them was still negative detected by Auszyme II. The lowest detectable dose of our EIA, in which the Hepatitis Sensitivity Panel-5 (Abbott Lab.) was used and incubation period was set for 2 hr., was 3.2 ng/ml for ad subtype of HBsAg. While that of Auszyme II was 0.93 ng/ml.

Dynamic changes of horse serum T-globulin immunization with snake venoms, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids

In course of immunizing horses with snake venoms, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, a new serum component, T-globulin, was formed and migrated between the beta- and gamma-globulins. The T-globulin content was parallel with the antibody titre after the middle course of immunization. There were many components in snake antivenin and T-globulin was composed of most of those components. The components of diphtheria T-globulin were the same as those of crude antitoxin and tetanus T-globulin except one precipitin.

Purification of Bungarus multicinctus antivenin by affinity chromatography

Bungarus multicinctus horse antivenin was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 column, and affinity chromatography. The specific neutralizing capacity of the antibody preparations showed 2.21-fold, 3.12-fold, and 29.6-fold higher than that of the crude antivenin, respectively.

The life cycle of Echinoparyphium ralphaudyi sp. n. (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae)

The life cycel and morphology of Echinoparyphium ralphaudyi sp. n. is described. Natural infections were found in Bulinus truncatus from Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Yemen Arab Republic, and later in B. forskalii and B. sericinus from Ethiopia. Sporocysts develop near the places of miracidial entry into the snail (the head-foot region, mantle edge, pseudobranch, and antennae). Rediae occur mainly in the ovotestis and in tissues anterior to the liver. The first cercariae are released 24 days postexposure. Metacercariae encyst in various freshwater snails and are localized in the pericardial sac and the posterior part of the kidney. Adult worms live in the small intestine of a variety of experimental animals: hamsters, rats, mice, chicks, ducklings, pigeons, and finches.

How to shoot a patient without really trying. Radiation hazard, 1972

Dr. Henry F. Lee had an early interest in nuclear physics when it was a very young science and before he switched to medicine. His continuing interest is manifest in this article. He is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, and Director of Pediatrics at the Chestnut Hill Hospital and has maintained a busy office practice in Philadelphia since 1947. Forthcoming in the near future is a book for parents based on his practice experience.