Biomedical subjects

W K Fong

Publications and source records attributed to W K Fong.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Rapid solid-phase immunoassay for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using cycling probe technology.

A Cycling Probe Technology (CPT) assay with a lateral-flow device (strip) was developed for the detection of the mecA gene from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cultures. The assay uses a mecA probe (DNA-RNA-DNA) labeled with fluorescein at the 5' terminus and biotin at the 3' terminus. The CPT reaction occurs at a constant temperature, which allows the probe to anneal to the target DNA. RNase H cuts the RNA portion of the probe, allowing the cleaved fragments to dissociate from the target DNA, making the target available for further cycling. The strip detection step uses a nitrocellulose membrane with streptavidin and immunoglobulin G antibody impregnated on the surface. In the absence of the mecA gene, the uncut probe is bound to an antifluorescein-gold conjugate and is then captured by the streptavidin to form a test line. In the presence of the mecA gene, the probe is cut and no test line is formed on the strip. A screen of 324 S. aureus clinical isolates by the CPT-strip assay showed a 99.4% sensitivity and a 100% specificity compared to the results of PCR for the detection of the mecA gene. Specificity testing showed that the CPT-strip assay did not exhibit any cross-reactivity with a panel of mecA-negative non-S. aureus isolates. The CPT-strip assay is simple and does not require sophisticated equipment. Furthermore, the assay takes 1.5 h starting from a primary culture to the time to detection of the mecA gene in S. aureus isolates.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1995

Impact resistance of Transitions Plus spectacle lenses.

Although it has been shown that photochromic glass industrial lenses do not provide adequate occupational impact protection, they are frequently requested by outdoor workers wanting sunglasses. The recent introduction of Transitions Plus (TP), a photochromic plastic lens, may meet the needs of these workers. The impact resistance of 60 TP lenses of dress thickness was studied using a ballistic test. Lenses were edged and mounted in metal industrial frames. The completed spectacles were placed on a headform for ballistic testing using a 6.5 mm (1/4 in) steel ball propelled from an airgun. The lenses were divided into test groups that received: (1) a single impact at the geometrical center by a ball traveling at 18 m/s (59 ft/s) and (2) 50 consecutive impacts at 18 m/s, or (3) a single impact at 46.5 m/s (152 ft/s). All lenses passed the single impact test at 18 m/s. Four lenses broke under repeated impact. All lenses subjected to the high-speed impact test failed, either breaking or being dislodged from the frame. These findings show that dress thickness TP lenses provide impact protection from small blunt missiles traveling at moderate speed, and that they are durable under repeated low energy impact. However, thicker lenses must be used when the wearer has a high risk of ocular exposure to small high-speed missiles in the workplace. It can be concluded that TP lenses may be used in occupational eyewear for many outdoor workers who want photochromic sunglass lenses, provided that other needs for vision and occupational safety are also satisfied.

Equipment Safety↗

PubMed1992

Topographical differences in cell area at the surface of the corneal epithelium of the pigmented rabbit.

Corneas from female pigmented rabbits were prepared for scanning electron microscopy at 15.00 h. The superior-temporal and inferior-nasal quadrants were evaluated at 500X at-stage magnification, normal to the corneal surface, at central, paracentral and peripheral sites. Non-parametric statistical analyses of the histograms of cell surface areas at each site from seven corneas revealed significant differences between the three sites but not between superior and inferior quadrants.

Animals↗