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Background Detection of anti-tetanus antibody levels is necessary for both determination of the immune status of individuals and also for planning preventive measures. ELISA is the preferred test among in vitro tests however it can be affected by the cross reacting antibodies. A previously developed in-house ELISA test was found not reliable for the antibody levels ≤ 1.0 IU/ml. A new method was developed to detect low antibody levels correctly. The aim of the present study was to compare the results of the newly developed in-house biotin-avidin tetanus IgG ELISA test with the in vivo mouse neutralization test, for the antibody levels ≤ 1.0 IU/ml. Methods A total of 54 serum samples with the antibody levels of three different levels, = 0.01 IU/ml, 0.01–0.1 IU/ml, 0.1–1 IU/ml, which were detected by in vivo mouse neutralization test were studied by the newly developed in-house biotin-avidin tetanus IgG ELISA test. Test was validated by using five different concentrations (0.01 IU/ml, 0.06 IU/ml, 0.2 IU/ml, 0.5 IU/ml, 1.0 IU/ml). Results A statistically significant correlation (r2 = 0.9967 p = 0,001) between in vivo mouse neutralization test and in-house biotin-avidin tetanus IgG ELISA test, was observed. For the tested concentrations intra-assay, inter-assay, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and coefficients of variations were determined as ≤ 15%. Conclusion In-house biotin-avidin tetanus IgG ELISA test can be an alternative method to in vivo mouse neutralization method for the detection of levels ≤ 1.0 IU/ml. By using in-house biotin-avidin tetanus IgG ELISA test, individuals with non protective levels, will be reliably detected.

BRAF(V600E) mutation was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 96 consecutive cases with classical variant papillary thyroid cancer, and immunohistochemical staining of Na+/I- symporter (NIS) protein was evaluated. Localization (intracellular or membranous), density, and the intensity of cytoplasmic staining were characterized semiquantitatively. Extrathyroidal invasion, surgical margin positivity, and lymph node metastasis were compared with BRAF(V600E) mutation and NIS expression. Eighty-eight patients who had at least 24-month follow-up were also included in survival analysis. BRAF(V600E) mutation was determined in 78.1% (75/96) and functional NIS activity in 74% (71/96) of the cases. There were statistically significant differences in mean ages between BRAF(V600E) mutation-positive (48.6) and BRAF(V600E) mutation-negative cases (37.3; Levene test, P=.419; Student t test, P=.001). The surgical margin positivity (46.7%) and extrathyroidal extension percentage (54.7%) in the BRAF(V600E) mutation-positive group were higher than the negative (28.6% and 33.3%, respectively) group, without statistical significance (P=.138 and P=.084, respectively). Functional NIS activity was higher in BRAF(V600E) mutation-positive cases (78.1%) than mutation-negative ones (57.1%; P=.047). The possibility of moderate and intense cytoplasmic staining in BRAF(V600E) mutation-positive cases (72%) was 6.3 times higher than the possibility of weak staining (28%) in the mutation-positive cases (95% confidence interval, 2.2-18.8; P=.001). Functional NIS expression is higher in patients with classical variant papillary thyroid cancer with BRAF(V600E) mutation. However, the clinical features were not found to be associated with NIS expression. There may be different mechanisms determining the outcome of therapy.

This study was designed to assess reliability of interpretation of Gram-stained vaginal smears by using Nugent's scoring system for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) across three different centers in Turkey: two in Ankara and one in Trabzon. The vaginal smears were collected from clients attending a family planning clinic in Trabzon, Turkey during October-December 1997. One slide taken from each client was prepared according to the standard methods and enumerated. One evaluator from each center examined the slides independently for the presence of BV and none of them had access to the evaluation of the others. Out of 372 slides, 301 (81%) were found to be satisfactory for scoring by all three evaluators and included in the analysis. Nugent's scores from 1-10 reported from each evaluator were compared by Spearman correlation coefficients and Kappa statistics. The difference in the proportions of BV diagnosis in three centers was evaluated by chi2 test. There was good agreement for the interpretation of Gram-stained vaginal smears by Nugent's scoring system for diagnosis of BV. These results indicate that it is a reliable method in diagnosis of BV at different settings.