Production, characterization, and cross-reactivity studies of monoclonal antibodies against the coccidiostat nicarbazin.

A cELISA was developed for the coccidiostat nicarbazin. On the basis of previous computer-assisted molecular modeling studies, p-nitrosuccinanilic acid (PNA-S) was selected as a hapten to produce antibodies to 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), the active component of the coccidiostat nicarbazin. Synthesis is described for the hapten [p-nitro-cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxanilic acid (PNA-C)] used in a BSA conjugate as a plate coating antigen. Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were isolated that compete with nicarbazin, having IgM(kappa) isotype. Because of the lack of water solubility of nicarbazin, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (3%, v/v) and acetonitrile (ACN) (10%, v/v) were added to the assay buffer to achieve solubility of nicarbazin and related compounds. The Nic 6 Mabs had an IC(35) value for nicarbazin of 0.92 nmol/mL, with a limit of detection of 0.33 nmol/mL. Nic 6 exhibited high cross-reactivity for PNA-S and PNA-C, and 3-nitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol, and 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl) urea. However, Nic 6 had little or no cross-reactivity with 15 other related compounds.

Effect of an oral health training program on knowledge and behavior of state agency long-term-care surveyors.

This study examines the effect of a training program on long-term-care (LTC) surveyors' knowledge of factors affecting oral health and their behavior in citing oral health deficiencies of LTC residents. Twenty surveyors were recruited for the experimental group, along with a non-equivalent comparison group of 31 surveyors. The experimental group participated in a three-hour interactive, case-based training program. The experimental group had a significant increase in total knowledge (p < 0.002) post-test scores with a moderate effect size, eta 2 = 0.115. The training program resulted in a statistically significant increase (p < 0.0001) in oral health citation behavior for the experimental group for six months following training. This study provides evidence that an interactive case-based training program can affect participants' knowledge regarding oral health of LTC residents and participants' oral health citation behavior. As the elderly population experiences an increased life expectancy with increased need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), similar training programs will become an important factor in assessing the quality of care provided to LTC residents.