Biomedical subjects

J Weidmann

Publications and source records attributed to J Weidmann.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Specialized preparative devices are not needed for liquid-based, thin-layer cytology: an alternate manual method using a metastable alcoholic gel.

The blending and use of a metastable alcoholic gel is described. The gel creates durable, uniform suspensions of cells and small aggregates of cells. It allows the random, uniform transfer of virtually any liquid-fixed cytology specimens to a glass slide without the use of specialized devices, proprietary disposables, or adhesive-coated glass slides. The method is inexpensive and can be performed in a timely fashion, not impacting laboratory turnaround times or requiring the specimen to be processed by other laboratories. It empowers cytology laboratories of any size or level of complexity to make slides from readily available commercial cytology fixatives. It allows the total contents of liquid-based cytology specimen vials to be examined, providing a "cytological method" for quality assuring liquid-based cytology samples.

Alcohols↗

PubMed2001

Manual method for liquid-based cytology: a demonstration using 1,000 gynecological cytologies collected directly to vial and prepared by a smear-slide technique.

We report on the formulation and use of an alcoholic-agar additive solution generally useful for rapid, inexpensive liquid-based cytology slide preparation. Gynecological cytology specimens were collected from 1,000 women. Two hundred fifty aliquots each of CytoRich, CytoRich Red (Tripath Imaging, Inc., Burlington, NC), Preservcyt (Cytyc Corp., Boxborough, MA), and DINA*TRANS (DINA*CYT Corp., Portland, OR) fixatives were used for this study. Fixed cell suspensions from 1,000 women, seen consecutively by a general obstetrics and gynecology practice, were vortex-mixed and transferred into a premeasured amount of alcoholic-agar in test tubes. Test tubes were conventionally centrifuged, cells were trapped in a spontaneously formed agar-gel, and the supernatant solutions were decanted. Vortex-mixing cell buttons caused a rapid gel-to-sol transition, affording viscous cell suspensions that were applied to slides, smeared, and stained using Papanicolaou stains. Slides showed unclumped, monolayered, uniform, random cell-spreads. All of the fixatives afforded crisp presentation of normal and abnormal cells. There was an about 3-fold increase in HSIL+ (0.7-1.8%) and LSIL diagnoses (1.3-4.4%), and a 45% reduction in ASCUS diagnoses (3.3-1.8%), as compared to our cytology laboratory's previous year's patients' statistics with a concurrent 0.2% unsatisfactory rate, due solely to inadequate sampling. This manual method makes liquid-based cytology inexpensive and does not require specialized preparative devices.

Centrifugation↗

PubMed1999

Modification of CytoRich Red fixative system for use on bloody Pap and fine-needle aspiration smears.

Recent work has shown CytoRich Red fixative system is effective in lysing red blood cells and reducing background in bloody fluid specimens. The scope of this study was to see whether CytoRich Red can lyse red blood cells in freshly prepared Pap and fine-needle aspiration smears. Paired smears from 20 bloody fine-needle aspirations were prepared. One slide was initially placed in CytoRich Red for up to 30 sec, removed, and then fixed in 95% alcohol. The other slide was placed directly into 95% alcohol. Ten paired Pap smears, one fixed with a commercial fixative and another immersed in a solution of CytoRich Red, were evaluated. All slides were stained with the Papanicolaou stain and analyzed for the amount of red blood cells, background material, and nuclear and cytoplasmic staining. In 100% of all smears utilizing CytoRich Red, red blood cells were significantly reduced without hindering staining. Significant loss of cells from the slides sent in CytoRich Red solution was not observed. CytoRich Red fixative can be effective in reducing red blood cells and background on freshly made smears. In both gynecological and nongynecological cases, diagnostic cells were well preserved and not compromised by blood.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed1988

Interaction of human immunodeficiency virus with human sperm in vitro.

Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in semen by sexual intercourse is believed to be a major etiological factor in the spread of the disease. In order to explore the role of sperm in this transmission, cell-free HIV-1(IIIB) was coincubated with human sperm for 5 h. After incubation, unattached HIV-1 was extensively washed off the cells and the presence and location of HIV-1 in or on the sperm was determined by electron microscopic (EM) and immunofluorescence methods. Examination of sperm at the EM level showed that HIV-1 attaches to the sperm surface and enters the sperm through the intact cell membrane. Immunofluorescence studies, using polyvalent anti-HIV antibodies, demonstrated the presence of small round fluorescent particles in 5-10% of sperm heads after 5 h of incubation. A search for HIV-1 receptors (CD4 epitopes) revealed the presence of OKT4 epitopes, including OKT4A, B, D, and F on 5-10% of sperm by epifluorescence microscopy and on 10-20% of sperm by flow-cytometric analysis. These in vitro data suggest that human sperm may be the primary cellular element in the transmission of HIV by semen.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Using a CompuCyte Pathfinder to evaluate cytotechnology student diagnostic performance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Pathfinder Cytology System facilitates comparison of initial student diagnoses to rescreener diagnoses; provides a platform for collection, storage and retrieval of data on student screening performance; and generates a student screening "score." STUDY DESIGN: Using two CompuCyte Pathfinder units networked to a PC server and printer, eight cytotechnology students prescreened 1,224 gynecologic cases and entered their results into the Pathfinder database. Five staff cytotechnologists rescreened the cases and entered their diagnoses. The database containing the initial and rescreen diagnoses were transferred to a modified scoring grid that computed a screening "score" for each of the students. RESULTS: Student diagnoses matched cytotechnologist target diagnoses in 1,107 to 1,224 total cases (90.4%). Of these 1,107 cases, 996 (81.3%) were reported as "within normal limits" (negative) by both student and cytotechnologist, and 111 (9.1%) were target diagnosed as abnormal (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS] or above) by both student and cytotechnologist. Of 117 remaining cases, 112 (9.2%) were considered minor discrepancies (one-step discrepancy--e.g., benign cell change-reactive vs. ASCUS--favor reactive), and 5 (0.4%) were considered significant discrepancies (two or more diagnostic categories of difference between student and cytotechnologist-within normal limits vs. low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion). The modified scoring grid developed by CompuCyte for this study was able to compute a numerical score for each student. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary assessment indicated that Pathfinder will facilitate evaluation of student performance. The system shows potential for eliminating the "paper trail" and manual dotting required for traditional student evaluation and, with the addition of a scoring program, may be standardized for use in both educational and clinical settings.

Automation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cellular fixation. A study of CytoRich Red and Cytospin Collection Fluid.

OBJECTIVE: To test a new fixative system (Roche Image Analysis System, Inc. [RIAS]) that may create a background free of blood and blood products, and to determine if the CytoRich Red system has a potential for automation of nongynecologic cytology. We compared the amount of red blood cells, background material and diagnostic ability in 40 bloody specimens prepared using the CytoRich Red system and our routine fixative, Cytospin Collection Fluid (Shandon, Inc.). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty bloody, nongynecologic specimens and 10 fresh FNA surgical specimens were prepared by adding specimen to equal volumes (10 mL) of CytoRich Red Fixative and Cytospin Collection Fluid. After initial centrifugation, the specimens were resuspended and cytocentrifuged using the Cytospin III (Shandon, Inc.) and the Hettich Universal cytocentrifuge. To test system dependency, specimens from each fixative were prepared using the alternate method of cytocentrifugation. Slides from both fixatives were stained, coverslipped and reviewed for the presence of red blood cells, background and diagnostic ability. RESULTS: Of the 40 CytoRich Red specimens, 92.5% (37) had little or no red blood cells as compared to 22.5% (9) of the 40 Cytospin Collection Fluid specimens. Seventy five percent (30) of the 40 CytoRich Red specimens showed reduction of background material in contrast to 15% (6) of the 40 Cytospin Collection Fluid specimens. Diagnostic ability using CytoRich Red was enhanced by the reduction of red blood cells and background material. CytoRich Red performed equally as well with each cytocentrifugation device. CONCLUSION: CytoRich Red reduces red blood cells and background. Nuclear and cytoplasmic stain appear improved. This allows better evaluation of the cytologic features and interpretation of bloody specimens. It is non-system dependent and can be used with any method of preparation. Also, the reduction of background and blood lends itself to adaptation in the automation of nongynecologic cytology.

Biopsy, Needle↗