Vol.3 No.1 2010

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Research paper : Biomarker analysis on microchips (M. Kataoka et al.)−52−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.3 No.1 (2010) 4 Approach based on clinical experienceComment (Motoyuki Akamatsu)While I understand that the approach from the standpoint of biological researchers with clinical experience is highly valuable, what exactly is based on clinical experience is not explained. For example, one could readily see, even without clinical experience, that the treatment time and device size are issues to be solved. I think you should clearly describe the points seen from the clinical side.Answer (Masatoshi Kataoka)In the construction of the personal-level health monitoring system for home use, we are considering an approach for the development of the POCT device, toward the construction of the blood biomarker device that can be used in daily living. Therefore, we are aiming to realize the device as soon as possible, using the microchip substrate that is a currently available technology. We also added that from a clinical standpoint, in cases where emergency surgical procedure is necessary, the device will allow obtaining information useful to determine the treatments, such as the presence and status of the infections or systemic disease.5 Approach of combining the existing technologiesComment (Motoyuki Akamatsu)I understand that the individual technologies are not original, but the combination of these technologies makes this research original. However, when you claim the originality of the combination technology, I would like to see the discussion of why you did not select the other elemental technologies. Overall, there are explanations about the things that were done using the technologies that you selected. However, as a Synthesiology paper, I would like you to explain how you selected the technologies.Answer (Masatoshi Kataoka)As you indicated, cost reduction can be expected because the commercially-available microchip electrophoresis device, supplementary chip, and analysis software can be used directly for the various biological experimental methods. We explained this point. For the selection of the elemental technologies, we addressed the combination of existing technologies in the selection of the microchip. Also, we explained that the reason for selecting Hitachi SV1100 was because the migration gels and buffer solutions could be changed easily. The reason for focusing on the hydrolysis of G6 and G3 in the amylase measurement was because they could be easily separated by electrophoresis. The reasons for selecting the PICP were because of its high disease specificity (as osteoporosis and cancer metastasis markers) and because highly specific (good) antibodies are commercially available. The antibody specificity is extremely important, and we placed weight on this point. Also, for the antibody fixing method in the antigen-antibody reaction in microspace such as the micro flow channel, we added the comparison with the beads method.We also described that we were able to demonstrate the potential of the current individual technologies without spending much time, and yet for the future product realization as a device, collaboration with engineering and medical fields is necessary.6 Amylase of pancreatic and salivary gland originQuestion (Motoyuki Akamatsu)In section 3.1.2, you explain the necessity of separating the amylase of pancreatic origin and the one of salivary gland origin. However, in actual clinical practice, the presenting symptoms are completely different (swelling occurs in different places) in pancreatitis and sialadenitis, and there is very low chance of missing the diagnosis. Even so, is it necessary to separate the two? Of course, there is the advantage of detecting the disease before the symptoms manifest, but looking at the patients, I think there are very few people with which the disease must be caught before the inflammations occur. What do you think?Answer (Masatoshi Kataoka)As you mentioned, the parts affected by pancreatitis and sialadenitis are completely different. Therefore, differential diagnosis can be made easily from the clinical symptoms such as swelling and inflammation, but blood amylase is measured as a marker to see the clinical state of the diseases. As described in the text, there are two types of blood amylase, one of pancreatic origin and other of salivary gland origin. About 40 % originates from the pancreas, and 60 % from the salivary gland. This ratio depends on the individual, age, and gender. Therefore, to understand the clinical state and to determine the treatment efficacy, it is necessary to accurately measure the amylases originating from each organ. The pancreatic-origin amylase is also used as a marker in the follow-up observation of acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic carcinoma.

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