Development and Evaluation of a Robust Sandwich Immunoassay System Detecting Serum WFA-Reactive IgA1 for Diagnosis of IgA Nephropathy.

Aberrant glycosylation of IgA1 is involved in the development of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). There are many reports of IgAN markers focusing on the glycoform of IgA1. None have been clinically applied as a routine test.

Clinical evaluation of a new creatine kinase MB activity reagent abrogating the effect of mitochondrial creatine kinase.

Background: Measuring creatine kinase (CK) MB activity using the immunoinhibition method remains useful in clinical laboratories. CK-MB activity is abnormally high when macro CK type 2 (mitochondrial creatine kinase, MtCK) is present in patient serum. In order to improve the accuracy of the CK-MB activity assay, we developed a new CK-MB activity method using highly specific anti-MtCK antibodies.

Preparation of highly purified monomeric human serum albumin as secondary reference material for standardization of urinary albumin immunoassays.

Background: International external quality assessments have shown variation in results of urinary albumin among various immunoassays. A well-defined candidate reference material for urine albumin (cRM-UA) was prepared to improve standardization.

Methods: cRM-UA was prepared from a commercially available preparation of human serum albumin by using gel-filtration HPLC.

[Clinical evaluation of the new creatine kinase MB reagent kit "L-System CK-MB MtO"].

The creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) activity assay, which is based on the immunoinhibition method, has long been used in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) because of its good cost-performance ratio and simplicity. However, the immunoinhibition method can not differentiate between CK-MB and MtCK, and therefore, CK-MB activity determined using this method is higher than the actual value in the sample which MtCK appears; this may lead to the misdiagnosis of AMI. We, therefore, evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of a new CK-MB reagent kit "L-System CK-MB MtO," which can inhibit MtCK.

Development and performance of an enzyme immunoassay to detect creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity using anti-mitochondrial creatine kinase monoclonal antibodies.

Objective: The MB fraction of creatine kinase (CK-MB) has long been used as a cardiac marker. It is known that the CK-MB immunoinhibition method lacks selectivity and accuracy, because the appearance of macro CK type 2, corresponding to mitochondrial creatine kinase (MtCK) in some patient serum may render CK-MB activity measured by conventional method abnormally high. Thus, to improve the specificity and accuracy of the CK-MB assay, we developed two types of monoclonal anti-MtCK antibodies against sarcomeric MtCK and ubiquitous MtCK, and present herein the performance of a new method using these antibodies.

[Clinical significance of urinary cholesterol/total protein ratio as a marker of selectivity of proteinuria: comparison with selectivity index].

Selectivity index (SI) has been reported to reflect the selectivity of proteinuria, and it has a relationship with tubulointerstitial damage. Moreover it has a predictive value on functional outcome. However, it is necessary to measure serum IgG, serum transferrin, urinary IgG, and urinary transferrin to calculate SI.

[A case of posterior mediastinal mature teratoma].

The chest radiograph of a 57-year-old man, complaining of paroxysmal dyspnea, suggested the probably of a tumor. Chest CT showed a tumor containing calcification, behind the left crus of the diaphragm. Chest MRI suggested lipid components and a cystic lesion within the tumor.

[A case of occult thyroid cancer detected as a solitary nodular lung metastasis].

An 82-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with cough and back pain. A chest radiograph showed a solitary nodular lesion in the right lower lung field. It was diagnosed by a transbronchial biopsy as lung metastasis of a papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid.

[A case of AIDS-complicated lung infection mimicking acute eosinophilic pneumonia].

A 34-year-old man was admitted with dyspnea and low grade fever. Chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral, ground glass opacities and perihilar consolidation. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration presenting increased serum CA19-9 and CA125.

A 39-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of a consolidated shadow and clarification of the cause of serum tumor marker elevation (CA19-9 496.2 U/ml, CA125 160.6 U/ml).