Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of thecervical/urethral swabs with voided urine specimens for thedetection of genitourinary tract infection with Chlamydia tra-chomatis and determine whether urine...Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of thecervical/urethral swabs with voided urine specimens for thedetection of genitourinary tract infection with Chlamydia tra-chomatis and determine whether urine specimens can replacethe cervical/urethral swabs in detection of C. thachomatis. Methods: The matched cervical/urethral swabs and voidedurine specimens were collected from 569 patients of STD clinics.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay specific for C. tra-chomatis plasmid DNA and rapid antigen testing (Clear viewassay) was used to detect C trachomatis. Standard criteria thatdefined 'true' positive included: 1) positive PCR results both incervical/urethral swab and voided urine specimen or 2) positivevoided urine results both by PCR assay and clear view test or 3)positive results in both PCR assay of cervical/urethral swab andclear view test of voided urine. For statistical analysis, thechi-square test was used. Results: The prevalence of C trachomatis in patients withsymptoms was 12.1% (28/231) in women and 10.4%(10/96) inmen, with no significant difference between them (x^2=0.21,P>0.05). The prevalence of C trachomatis in patients with nosymptoms was 11.0% (11/100) in women and 15.5% (22/142) inmen, with a significant difference existing between them. (x^2=4.0, P<0.05). No significant difference (P>0.05) existed betweenPCR testing of swabs (sensitivity 87.3%; specificity 99.2%) andPCR testing of urine (sensitivity 88.7%: specificity 98.8%). Asfor clear view assay, sensitivity was 60.6% and specificity was100%. Conclusions: PCR assay is superior to clear view in detectingC trachomatis. Although both PCR testing of swabs and PCRtesting of urine specimens both have high sensitivity and speci-ficity, urine specimen testing is more cost-effective, practical andnoninvasive. Thus urine specimens can take the place of theswabs in PCR testing for chlamydia.展开更多
This study was done to define the human genital immune response to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The semen specimens were obtained from 15 patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infection in the acute and conv...This study was done to define the human genital immune response to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The semen specimens were obtained from 15 patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infection in the acute and convalescent phases and 15 men with uninfected control- After precipitated with amoniasulfate,the semen was tested against the outer membrane protein of gonococcal isolates from the same patients to examine antigen-antibody interactions by use of the western blot technique. The antibodies in the semen reacted with more gonococcal antigens in the acute phase than in the convalescent phase. IgA in the semen reacted with more antigens than did IgG in the same specimens. The predominant reacted antigens were protein I, protein II, 46～ 48, kD, 14 ～16 kD and 88～ 90 kD protein.展开更多
Neopterin is bioactive substance released by the activated monocyte/macrophage, and an early and sensitive marker used for reflection of cellular immune activation status induced by the lymphocyte macrophage system. O...Neopterin is bioactive substance released by the activated monocyte/macrophage, and an early and sensitive marker used for reflection of cellular immune activation status induced by the lymphocyte macrophage system. Observation of neopterin levels is conducive to the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases. This article reviews the existing evidence that neopterin has an important role in cardiovascular risk, infectious diseases, malignancy, autoimmune diseases and transplantaiton.展开更多
文摘Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of thecervical/urethral swabs with voided urine specimens for thedetection of genitourinary tract infection with Chlamydia tra-chomatis and determine whether urine specimens can replacethe cervical/urethral swabs in detection of C. thachomatis. Methods: The matched cervical/urethral swabs and voidedurine specimens were collected from 569 patients of STD clinics.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay specific for C. tra-chomatis plasmid DNA and rapid antigen testing (Clear viewassay) was used to detect C trachomatis. Standard criteria thatdefined 'true' positive included: 1) positive PCR results both incervical/urethral swab and voided urine specimen or 2) positivevoided urine results both by PCR assay and clear view test or 3)positive results in both PCR assay of cervical/urethral swab andclear view test of voided urine. For statistical analysis, thechi-square test was used. Results: The prevalence of C trachomatis in patients withsymptoms was 12.1% (28/231) in women and 10.4%(10/96) inmen, with no significant difference between them (x^2=0.21,P>0.05). The prevalence of C trachomatis in patients with nosymptoms was 11.0% (11/100) in women and 15.5% (22/142) inmen, with a significant difference existing between them. (x^2=4.0, P<0.05). No significant difference (P>0.05) existed betweenPCR testing of swabs (sensitivity 87.3%; specificity 99.2%) andPCR testing of urine (sensitivity 88.7%: specificity 98.8%). Asfor clear view assay, sensitivity was 60.6% and specificity was100%. Conclusions: PCR assay is superior to clear view in detectingC trachomatis. Although both PCR testing of swabs and PCRtesting of urine specimens both have high sensitivity and speci-ficity, urine specimen testing is more cost-effective, practical andnoninvasive. Thus urine specimens can take the place of theswabs in PCR testing for chlamydia.
文摘This study was done to define the human genital immune response to infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The semen specimens were obtained from 15 patients with uncomplicated gonococcal infection in the acute and convalescent phases and 15 men with uninfected control- After precipitated with amoniasulfate,the semen was tested against the outer membrane protein of gonococcal isolates from the same patients to examine antigen-antibody interactions by use of the western blot technique. The antibodies in the semen reacted with more gonococcal antigens in the acute phase than in the convalescent phase. IgA in the semen reacted with more antigens than did IgG in the same specimens. The predominant reacted antigens were protein I, protein II, 46～ 48, kD, 14 ～16 kD and 88～ 90 kD protein.
文摘Neopterin is bioactive substance released by the activated monocyte/macrophage, and an early and sensitive marker used for reflection of cellular immune activation status induced by the lymphocyte macrophage system. Observation of neopterin levels is conducive to the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases. This article reviews the existing evidence that neopterin has an important role in cardiovascular risk, infectious diseases, malignancy, autoimmune diseases and transplantaiton.
