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Biomedical subjects

M V King

Publications and source records attributed to M V King.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Dimensional changes in cells and tissues during specimen preparation for the electron microscope.

Studies on dimensional changes incurred during preparation of tissue specimens for the transmission and scanning electron microscopes are reviewed, with emphasis on quantitative measurements pertinent to morphometry and three-dimensional reconstruction. The scope of the review includes fixation, dehydration, plastic embedment, critical-point drying, and freeze-drying. Recommendations are presented for monitoring dimensional changes; a strategy for the choice of method of specimen preparation is outlined.

Artifacts↗
PubMed1990

[The cross desensitization and modulation of Cl currents activated by gamma-aminobutyric acid and L-glutamate in the isolated neurons of Aplysia].

Chlorine conductance gated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and L-glutamate in the medial pleural neurons of aplysia was studied using voltage clamp technique and a continuous microperfusion system that allowed rapid agonist application. Both GABA and glutamate elicited current responses that rapidly activated and then decayed. Glutamate response could be blocked by perfusion of aspartate or taurine and the GABA current showed voltage dependence. Thus the currents exhibited cross desensitization. It has been found that very low concentrations of acetylcholine (10(-8) to 10(-14) M) which have no electrophysiologic responses of their own, modulate the response to a constant application of GABA. During cooling the preparation blocked this effect, it is possible to suggest that the small doses of acetylcholine effect the membrane chemosensitivity through the cell biochemical mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

A procedure for making phosphor viewing screens for the transmission electron microscope.

A technique is described for preparing uniform, durable phosphor layers for viewing screens suitable for the transmission electron microscope; a settling procedure is used. The example described here is for a high-voltage instrument, but with adjustment of the coating density, the technique should be equally suitable for screen preparation for transmission electron microscopes that operate at lower acceleration voltages.

Microscopy, Electron↗
PubMed1988

Asbestos-contaminated drinking water: its impact on household air.

Asbestos contamination in excess of 10 billion fibers per liter was detected in a community's drinking water. To assess the possibility of waterborne asbestos becoming airborne, air samples were collected from impacted houses receiving contaminated water from three control houses. Collected within each house were three samples on 0.6-micrometer-pore Nuclepore filters and three samples on 0.8-micrometer-pore Millipore filters. In addition, bulk samples of suspect material and water samples were collected. Mean waterborne asbestos concentrations were 24 million fibers per liter (MFL) in the impacted houses versus only 1.1 MFL in the control houses. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that airborne asbestos concentrations were highest in impacted houses, with airborne asbestos concentrations positively correlated with waterborne concentrations. For fiber and mass measurements on both filter types, airborne asbestos concentrations were significantly higher in the impacted houses: mean concentrations in impacted houses were 0.12 fibers/cm3 and 1.7 ng/m3 on Nuclepore filters and 0.053 fibers/cm3 and 2.3 ng/m3 on Millipore filters versus only 0.037 fibers/cm3 and 0.31 ng/m3 on Nuclepore filters and 0.0077 fibers/cm3 and 0.14 ng/m3 on Millipore filters from control houses. Also detected in the air samples from impacted houses were clusters of chrysotile, often with several hundreds of fibers. When estimates of these individual fibers were added to the total fiber count, the difference between the impacted and control houses became even greater. The increased concentrations in impacted houses were due primarily to short (less than 1 micrometer) fibers. Bulk samples did not reveal likely materials within the impacted houses to account for these differences. Thus high levels of waterborne asbestos were apparently the source of increased concentrations of airborne asbestos within these houses.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1988

Ultrastructural characterization of isolated human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells. Assessment of isopycnic centrifugation.

In an experiment to evaluate the merit of isopycnic centrifugation as a method of separating cell types in human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, cells have been isolated from four specimens of these tumors and subjected to isopycnic centrifugation in continuous Percoll gradients. Cell types were identified by electron microscopy. The R- (ribosome-rich), T- (tonofilament-rich), and RT- (intermediate) cell types yielded broad bands overlapping extensively with one another, and partially with the bands of leukocytes. The pattern differed for each tumor studied, so that universal density levels separating given cell types could not be found. Isopycnic centrifugation proves less suitable in analyzing cells dispersed from solid tumors than for cells in suspended culture, blood, effusions, etc., probably because of heterogeneous growth conditions of cells in solid tumors.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1987

Detection and characterization of circulating rat mammary tumor cells in buffy coat and correlation with metastasis.

A new method for detecting bloodborne TMT-081 rat mammary tumor cells in buffy coat has revealed dose-dependent variations in the latency period after inoculation of tumor cells, the concentration of circulating tumor cells, and the incidence of metastases. Cells isolated from buffy coat of right ventricular blood were more tumorigenic than tryptically dispersed cells from solid tumors. With the new method circulating tumor cells can be detected at concentrations as low as 3 cells/microliter of buffy coat, or approximately 60 cells/ml of whole blood. The morphologic and ultrastructural features of the primary tumor were generally retained in both the circulating and tryptically dispersed cells, as shown by light and electron microscopy. A sparse distribution of intermediate filaments was revealed by high-voltage electron microscopy, although the filaments were not evident in conventional transmission electron micrographs. They were identified as keratin by immunofluorescence studies.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

A quantitative sampling device for use at hazardous waste sites.

A device to draw air through up to 10 direct reading indicator tubes simultaneously has been developed. The qualitative results obtained can be used to obtain a rapid preliminary classification of the unknown chemical substances at spill scenes or at hazardous waste sites, and to devise protocols for laboratory sample analysis.

Equipment and Supplies↗
PubMed1982

Protecting workers who clean up hazardous waste sites.

On April 21, 1980, an explosion and fire among the 40 000 drums of unlabeled chemical wastes at the former site of Chemical Control Corporation in Elizabeth, New Jersey, attracted national attention and raised serious concern about the health and safety of workers who would be called upon to clean up the disaster site. Evaluation of workers' exposure during clean up operation and an assessment of the level of respiratory protection needed were necessary. NIOSH conducted 8 days of air monitoring. The chemicals of concern were organic vapors, metals, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, cyanide compounds, and dioxins (TCDD). No excessive exposure to chemical substances by inhalation was found. However, continuous use of respiratory protective equipment and other personal protective devices was necessary because of frequent drum ruptures.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1981

Mock stereo.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Use of fast x-ray film for low-influence biological electron microscopy at 100 kV and 1000 kV.

A user evaluation has been made by electron microscopists of an X-ray film for routine electron microscopy. The recent improvements in mammographic X-ray films, with the attempt to reduce the patient dose required to produce a high-resolution mammogram, have resulted in some useful films for medium- and high-voltage electron microscopy. They can yield essential cytological information with a reduction of the electron fluence (exposure) applied to the specimen of more than an order of magnitude compared with conventional electron-microscope films. Their use is indicated in situations where beam damage is severe.

Electrons↗
PubMed1978

A perspicuous technique for directly visualizing radiation-damage artefacts in biological electron microscopy.

Levels of impairment of electron-microscopic images of biological specimens stemming from radiation damage are assessed in a rapid visual procedure that involves taking a pair of low-fluence micrographs of a specimen area before and after a fraction of the picture area has been more seriously damaged by applying a measured electron fluence. The pair of micrographs is treated as a mock-stereo pair and is given contrasting colours. Lateral displacements of specimen details appear as false relief and changes in electron lucency as false colour.

Animals↗