Biomedical subjects

Jilan Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Jilan Liu.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Ultrasound-accelerated tissue fixation/processing achieves superior morphology and macromolecule integrity with storage stability.

We demonstrate that high-frequency and high-intensity ultrasound (US) can be applied to both tissue fixation and tissue processing to complete the conventional overnight formalin-fixation and paraffin-embedding (FFPE) procedures within 1 hr. US-facilitated FFPE retains superior tissue morphology and long-term room temperature storage stability than conventional FFPE. There is less alteration of protein antigenicity after US-FFPE preservation so that rapid immunohistochemical reactions occur with higher sensitivity and intensity, reducing the need for antigen retrieval pretreatment. US-FFPE tissues present storage stability so that room temperature storage up to 7 years does not significantly affect tissue morphology, protein antigenic properties, RNA distribution, localization, and quantitation. In addition, during fixation, tissue displays physical changes that can be monitored and reflected as changes in transmission US signals. As far as we know, this is the first effort to monitor tissue physical changes during fixation. Further study of this phenomenon may provide a method to control and to monitor the level of fixation for quality controls. The mechanism of less alteration of protein antigenicity by US-FFPE was discussed.

Autopsy↗

PubMed2005

A nondestructive molecule extraction method allowing morphological and molecular analyses using a single tissue section.

In clinical practice, molecular analysis of tumor specimens is often restricted by available technology for sample preparation. Virtually all current methods require homogenization of tissues for molecule extraction. We have developed a simple, rapid, nondestructive molecule extraction (NDME) method to extract proteins and nucleic acids directly from a single fixed or frozen tissue section without destroying the tissue morphology. The NDME method is based upon exposure of micron-thick tissue section to extraction buffer with the help of heating and/or intact physical forces (ultrasound and microwave) to facilitate release of macromolecules into the buffer. The extracted proteins and nucleic acids can be used directly without further purification for downstream SDS-PAGE analysis, immunoblotting, protein array, mass spectra protein profiling, PCR, and RT-PCR reactions. Most importantly, the NDME procedure also serves as an antigen retrieval treatment, so that after NDME, the same tissue section can be used for histopathological analyses, such as H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Thus, the NDME method allows, for the first time, both histological diagnosis and molecular analysis on a single tissue section, whether it is from frozen or fixed tissue specimens.

Animals↗