scholarly journals Evaluation of an Immunochromatographic Assay as a Canine Rabies Surveillance Tool in Goa, India

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yale ◽  
Gibson ◽  
Mani ◽  
P.K. ◽  
Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Immunochromatographic Assay ◽  
Human Rabies ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Test Kit ◽  
The Government

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal. More than 95% of the human rabies cases in India are attributed to exposure to rabid dogs. This study evaluated the utility of a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFA) (Anigen Rapid Rabies Ag Test Kit, Bionote, Hwaseong-si, Korea) for rapid post mortem diagnosis of rabies in dogs. Brain tissue was collected from 202 animals that were screened through the Government of Goa rabies surveillance system. The brain tissue samples were obtained from 188 dogs, nine cats, three bovines, one jackal and one monkey. In addition, 10 dogs that died due to trauma from road accidents were included as negative controls for the study. The diagnostic performance of LFA was evaluated using results from direct fluorescence antibody test (dFT); the current gold standard post mortem test for rabies infection. Three samples were removed from the analysis as they were autolysed and not fit for testing by dFT. Of the 209 samples tested, 117 tested positive by LFA and 92 tested negative, while 121 tested positive by dFT and 88 tested negative. Estimates of LFA sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 (95% CI 0.91–0.99) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.94–1.00), respectively. The LFA is a simple and low-cost assay that aids in the rapid diagnosis of rabies in the field without the need for expensive laboratory equipment or technical expertise. This study found that Bionote LFA has potential as a screening tool in rabies endemic countries.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a Rapid Immunochromatographic test kit to the Gold Standard Fluorescent Antibody test for diagnosis of rabies in animals in Bhutan

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tenzin Tenzin ◽  
Kelzang Lhamo ◽  
Purna B Rai ◽  
Dawa Tshering ◽  
Pema Gyamtsho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Standard ◽  
Fluorescent Antibody ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Perfect Agreement ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Test Kit ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Test Result

Abstract Background: Rabies kills approximately 59,000 people in the world each year worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of rabies is important for instituting rapid containment measures and for advising the exposed people for postexposure treatment. The application of a rapid diagnostic tests in the field can greatly enhance disease surveillance activities, especially in resource poor settings.Methods: From 2012 to 2017, a total of 179 brain tissue samples collected from different animal species (113 dogs, 50 cattle, 10 cats, 3 goats, 2 horses, and 1 bear) suspected of having died due to rabies were selected and tested using the rapid immunochromatographic kit from BioNote© company and compared to the Gold Standard Fluorescent Antibody test (FAT) for diagnosis of rabies.Results: Among 179 samples examined in this study, there was concordance in results by the rapid test and FAT in 115 positive samples and 54 negative samples. Test result were discordant in 10 samples which were positive by FAT, but negative (false negative) by rapid kit. The rapid test kit showed a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI: 85.9 – 95.6) and specificity of 100% (95% CI: 93.4 – 100) using FAT as the gold standard. The positive and negative predicative values were found to be 100% (95% CI:96.7 – 100) and 84% (95% CI: 73.6 – 91.3), respectively. Overall there was 94.41% (95% CI: 90 – 96.9) test agreement (almost perfect agreement) between rapid test and FAT (Kappa value = 0.874).Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the potential value of the rapid test kit for countries with limited diagnostic resources, including Bhutan. The rapid kit’s inability to correctly detect 10 FAT-positive samples (10 out of 179 (5.6%) were false negatives) in our study could have been due to the low viral load in the samples (< 102.0LD50/0.03ml) which could not be detected by the rapid kit as compared with the FAT. The human factor related to the varying experiences of the technicians who performed the test in the field also may have influenced the test result. The rapid test kit is inexpensive, rapid and easy to use in the field or in laboratory setting without the need for special training and can support to enhance rabies surveillance in resource poor countries.

An ELISA kit with two detection modes for the diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis

2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 552-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Wongkamchai ◽  
W. Satimai ◽  
S. Loymek ◽  
H. Nochot ◽  
J.J. Boitano
Keyword(s):  
Lymphatic Filariasis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Kappa Statistic ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Elisa Kit ◽  
Naked Eye ◽  
Test Kit ◽  
Endemic Areas

AbstractThe aim of this study was to develop a low-cost antifilarial immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 detection kit for the diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis. The kit was designed to be used by minimally trained personnel without the constraints of expensive laboratory equipment. We provide a description of the development and validation of a single-serum-dilution based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit with ready-to-use reagents for measuring antifilarial IgG4 antibodies. The kit was tested on residents in Brugia malayi-endemic areas in southern Thailand. Detection was performed by naked-eye observation of the resultant colour of the immunological reactivity. The coefficient of variation (CV) was used to assess the reproducibility of the results. Long-term stability was measured over a 6-month period. Sensitivity of the test kit was 97% when compared with microfilariae detection in thick blood smears. Specificity was 98.7% based on the sera of 57 patients living outside the endemic areas who were infected with other parasites and 100 parasite-free subjects. All positive CVs were < 10%. The test kit was remarkably stable over 6 months. Field validation was performed by the detection of antifilarial IgG4 in 4365 serum samples collected from residents of brugian filariasis-endemic areas and compared with outcome colours of the test samples by the naked eye. Subsequent ELISA evaluation of these results using an ELISA reader indicated high agreement by the kappa statistic. These results demonstrate that the test kit is efficient and useful for public health laboratories as an alternative tool for the diagnosis of lymphatic filarial infection.

scholarly journals Metabolomic Profiling of Cerebral Palsy Brain Tissue Reveals Novel Central Biomarkers and Biochemical Pathways Associated with the Disease: A Pilot Study

Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Alpay Savasan ◽  
Ali Yilmaz ◽  
Zafer Ugur ◽  
Buket Aydas ◽  
Ray Bahado-Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
1H Nmr ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Estrogen Metabolism ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Motor Disability ◽  
Metabolomic Profiling ◽  
Concentration Changes

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common causes of motor disability in childhood, with complex and heterogeneous etiopathophysiology and clinical presentation. Understanding the metabolic processes associated with the disease may aid in the discovery of preventive measures and therapy. Tissue samples (caudate nucleus) were obtained from post-mortem CP cases (n = 9) and age- and gender-matched control subjects (n = 11). We employed a targeted metabolomics approach using both 1H NMR and direct injection liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (DI/LC-MS/MS). We accurately identified and quantified 55 metabolites using 1H NMR and 186 using DI/LC-MS/MS. Among the 222 detected metabolites, 27 showed significant concentration changes between CP cases and controls. Glycerophospholipids and urea were the most commonly selected metabolites used to develop predictive models capable of discriminating between CP and controls. Metabolomics enrichment analysis identified folate, propanoate, and androgen/estrogen metabolism as the top three significantly perturbed pathways. We report for the first time the metabolomic profiling of post-mortem brain tissue from patients who died from cerebral palsy. These findings could help to further investigate the complex etiopathophysiology of CP while identifying predictive, central biomarkers of CP.

scholarly journals Transcriptome Analysis of Post-Mortem Brain Tissue Reveals Up-Regulation of the Complement Cascade in a Subgroup of Schizophrenia Patients

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1242
Author(s):  
Eva Lindholm Carlström ◽  
Adnan Niazi ◽  
Mitra Etemadikhah ◽  
Jonatan Halvardson ◽  
Stefan Enroth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
P Value ◽  
Complement Cascade ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Significant Differential Expression ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Disease Etiology ◽  
Post Mortem Brain ◽  
Elevated Expression

Schizophrenia is a genetically complex neuropsychiatric disorder with largely unresolved mechanisms of pathology. Identification of genes and pathways associated with schizophrenia is important for understanding the development, progression and treatment of schizophrenia. In this study, pathways associated with schizophrenia were explored at the level of gene expression. The study included post-mortem brain tissue samples from 68 schizophrenia patients and 44 age and sex-matched control subjects. Whole transcriptome poly-A selected paired-end RNA sequencing was performed on tissue from the prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex. RNA expression differences were detected between case and control individuals, focusing both on single genes and pathways. The results were validated with RT-qPCR. Significant differential expression between patient and controls groups was found for 71 genes. Gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed an up-regulation of multiple genes in immune response among the patients (corrected p-value = 0.004). Several genes in the category belong to the complement system, including C1R, C1S, C7, FCN3, SERPING1, C4A and CFI. The increased complement expression is primarily driven by a subgroup of patients with increased expression of immune/inflammatory response genes, pointing to important differences in disease etiology within the patient group. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis highlighted networks associated with both synaptic transmission and activation of the immune response. Our results demonstrate the importance of immune-related pathways in schizophrenia and provide evidence for elevated expression of the complement cascade as an important pathway in schizophrenia pathology.

scholarly journals Skin specimen as an alternative to brain tissue for post mortem rabies diagnosis in animals to scale up animal rabies surveillance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna S ◽  
Abraham Susan Swapna ◽  
GS Ajithkumar ◽  
Sujatha Chintha ◽  
PR Prathiush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Fluorescent Antibody ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Skin Sample ◽  
Rabies Diagnosis ◽  
Skin Specimen

Background: Detection of the virus or some of its specific components using WHO and OIE recommended standard laboratory tests is the only way to get a reliable diagnosis of rabies. Brain tissue is the preferred specimen for post-mortem diagnosis of rabies in both humans and animals. Higher biosecurity requirements, skill and transportation facilities required for collection and transport of brain or whole carcass to the laboratory is one of the reasons for the poor rabies surveillance in animals. Point of care testing with simple, reliable and easy to operate devices would be an ideal approach for providing rapid results. Methods: The study evaluated diagnostic performance of two reference tests, DFAT and RTPCR on skin specimen, to assess its suitability as an alternative of brain tissue for post mortem rabies diagnosis in animals. Brain tissue and skin sample belonging to different species of animals (n=90) collected at necropsy were compared using Fluorescent Antibody Test and RT PCR, internationally approved methods for rabies diagnosis.  Results: Validation of RT-PCR on skin and DFAT on skin in comparison with DFAT on brain as gold standard gave a sensitivity of 98% (95% CI:94.1-100) and 80% (95%CI:71.8-88.2) respectively.  Specificity was 100% in both tests. Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential of skin specimen for improving rabies surveillance in animals especially in resource poor countries.

The system of indicators of the quality of the carbon-carbon composite materials and technologies of their production

2018 ◽  
pp. 127-132
Author(s):  
T. N. Antipova ◽  
D. S. Shiroyan
Keyword(s):  
Composite Material ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Carbon Matrix ◽  
Carbon Composite ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Carbon Composite Material ◽  
Carbon Composite Materials

The system of indicators of quality of carbon-carbon composite material and technological operations of its production is proved in the work. As a result of the experimental studies, with respect to the existing laboratory equipment, the optimal number of cycles of saturation of the reinforcing frame with a carbon matrix is determined. It was found that to obtain a carbon-carbon composite material with a low cost and the required quality indicators, it is necessary to introduce additional parameters of the pitch melt at the impregnation stage.

scholarly journals Safety profile of the transcription factor EB (TFEB)-based gene therapy through intracranial injection in mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-250
Author(s):  
Zhenyu Li ◽  
Guangqian Ding ◽  
Yudi Wang ◽  
Zelong Zheng ◽  
Jianping Lv
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Virus Serotype ◽  
Transcription Factor Eb ◽  
The Brain

AbstractTranscription factor EB (TFEB)-based gene therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy in treating neurodegenerative diseases by promoting autophagy/lysosome-mediated degradation and clearance of misfolded proteins that contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases. However, recent findings have shown that TFEB has proinflammatory properties, raising the safety concerns about its clinical application. To investigate whether TFEB induces significant inflammatory responses in the brain, male C57BL/6 mice were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) vectors overexpressing mouse TFEB (pAAV8-CMV-mTFEB), or AAV8 vectors expressing green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) in the barrel cortex. The brain tissue samples were collected at 2 months after injection. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining showed that mTFEB protein levels were significantly increased in the brain tissue samples of mice injected with mTFEB-overexpressing vectors compared with those injected with PBS or GFP-overexpressing vectors. pAAV8-CMV-mTFEB injection resulted in significant elevations in the mRNA and protein levels of lysosomal biogenesis indicators in the brain tissue samples. No significant changes were observed in the expressions of GFAP, Iba1, and proinflammation mediators in the pAAV8-CMV-mTFEB-injected brain compared with those in the control groups. Collectively, our results suggest that AAV8 successfully mediates mTFEB overexpression in the mouse brain without inducing apparent local inflammation, supporting the safety of TFEB-based gene therapy in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

The Use of Microcomputer Simulations in Undergraduate Neurophysiology Experiments

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Microcomputer System ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Teaching Objectives ◽  
Compound Action Potentials ◽  
Experimental Management ◽  
And Performance

Practical classes in neurophysiology reinforce and complement the theoretical background in a number of ways, including demonstration of concepts, practice in planning and performance of experiments, and the production and maintenance of viable neural preparations. The balance of teaching objectives will depend upon the particular group of students involved. A technique is described which allows the embedding of real compound action potentials from one of the most basic introductory neurophysiology experiments—frog sciatic nerve, into interactive programs for student use. These retain all the elements of the “real experiment” in terms of appearance, presentation, experimental management and measurement by the student. Laboratory reports by the students show that the experiments are carefully and enthusiastically performed and the material is well absorbed. Three groups of student derive most benefit from their use. First, students whose future careers will not involve animal experiments do not spend time developing dissecting skills they will not use, but more time fulfilling the other teaching objectives. Second, relatively inexperienced students, struggling to produce viable neural material and master complicated laboratory equipment, who are often left with little time or motivation to take accurate readings or ponder upon neurophysiological concepts. Third, students in institutions where neurophysiology is taught with difficulty because of the high cost of equipment and lack of specific expertise, may well have access to a low cost general purpose microcomputer system.

scholarly journals Testing the Effectiveness of CSR Dimensions for Small Business Entrepreneurs

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Nor Hadi ◽  
Udin Udin
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Production Equipment ◽  
Loan Terms ◽  
The Government ◽  
Contract Implementation ◽  
Corporate Social

This article is intended to empirically test the effectiveness of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) dimension of assistance to Small Business Entrepreneurs (SMEs) under companies’ guidance of Semen Indonesia in Central and East Java. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation for Small Business Entrepreneurs (SMEs), besides as a social contract implementation, is also an effort to increase legitimacy. This study is essential to obtain effective and relevant CSR dimensions recommended for the SME empowering program. The study was conducted at SMEs domiciled around the mining area and the cement factory. Out of 250 SMEs, 92 SMEs were involved in this study. The research data was primary, including respondents’ opinions, where the data were taken using survey and interview procedures. Data analysis using statistics was a factorial analysis. The results showed that of the eight programs included in CSR in the field of assistance for empowering SMEs, two were effective for empowering SMEs: (1) low-cost revolving funds and (2) production equipment assistance for SMEs. Meanwhile, six other CSR programs showed ineffectiveness: (1) mentoring, (2) marketing, (3) ease of procedure and relief of loan terms, (4) education and training, (5) accessibility of obtaining loans, and (6) the involvement of parties in the implementation of CSR. It indicated that the six CSR programs were not effective in helping to build image and legitimacy. The results of the research make an important contribution to the government and corporations and show that the construction of CSR programs must give attention to the real conditions and needs of SMEs in order to achieve effectiveness in solving problems by SMEs. Especially for the government, regulations are needed that can systemically encourage companies to implement CSR. This research still has limitations, therefore further research should be developed, especially in the area of empirical testing related to the contextual dimensions of CSR that are relevant to assisted stakeholders. Development-based research should be considered.

scholarly journals Do Institutional Transplants Succeed? Regulating Raiffeisen Cooperatives in South India, 1930–1960

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Maanik Nath
Keyword(s):  
South India ◽  
Financial Regulation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Credit Market ◽  
Rural Credit ◽  
Market State ◽  
The Government ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Rural Credit Market

The government in British-ruled India established cooperative banks to compete with private moneylenders in the rural credit market. State officials expected greater competition to increase the supply of low-cost credit, thereby expanding investment potential for the rural poor. Cooperatives did increase credit supply but captured a small share of the credit market and reported net losses throughout the late colonial and early postcolonial period. The article asks why this experiment did not succeed and offers two explanations. First, low savings restricted the role of social capital and mutual supervision as methods of financial regulation in the cooperative sector. Second, a political-economic ideology that privileged equity over efficiency made for weak administrative regulation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document