[2 normal methods for the determination of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphera and an statistical study of their analytical technic. Part II. Method of the para-rosanilin method].
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Until now methods using tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for electron microscopy (TMB-EM methods) are all unable to provide a maximum demonstration of transported horseradish peroxidase (HRP) while maintaining good ultrastructural tissue preservation. In order to solve this problem, we have attempted to adapt a newly developed, highly sensitive TMB method using sodium tungstate (ST) as the stabilizer (TMB-ST method) for HRP electron microscopic retrograde and anterograde fiber tracing. The present study shows that the TMB-ST method combined with diaminobenzidine-cobalt (DAB-Co) is more sensitive than existing TMB-EM methods and that ultrastructural details are well preserved with this combined method. The resultant reaction product complex after osmication is stable and is observed as characteristic crystal-like structures which are extremely electron dense and often aggregated into clumps. In contrast, the TMB-ST method without the DAB-Co step frequently produces a moderate electron-dense reaction product. Therefore, we recommend the TMB-ST method combined with DAB-Co for HRP electron microscopy.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of frozen-thawed spermatozoa recovered through the SpermPrep (ZBL, Inc., Lexington, KY) filtration method or the swim-up technique for the purpose of intrauterine insemination (IUI) or other techniques for assisted reproduction. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS: Thirty pairs of frozen specimens purchased from three commercial semen suppliers were used in this study. Each pair consisted of two aliquots from the same semen specimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spermatozoa recovered via the SpermPrep filtration and swim-up processes were evaluated for sperm numbers recovered, sperm motility, grade of sperm motility, percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, the response of spermatozoa to a hypo-osmotic environment (hypo-osmotic swelling test), and the amount of debris present. RESULTS: Application of the SpermPrep filtration method resulted in recovery of significantly greater numbers of spermatozoa (P less than 0.01) than were recovered with the swim-up method (31.1 +/- 3.2 x 10(6) versus 10.2 +/- 1.8 x 10(6) spermatozoa, respectively). This represents a mean recovery of approximately one half (49%) of all spermatozoa applied to the filter, whereas for the swim-up method, it was only 15%. The overall quality of recovered spermatozoa was virtually identical between the two methods (P greater than 0.05). The percent motile sperm improved by a mean of 18% to 20%, the grade of motility improved by a mean of 0.4 points (scale 0 to 4), the percent of morphologically normal spermatozoa increased by a mean of approximately 10%, the percent of spermatozoa reactive to a hypo-osmotic medium test increased by a mean of approximately 9%, and the debris score decreased by a mean of 0.2 to 0.3 points (scale 0 to 4). Most importantly, the mean total number of motile, morphologically normal spermatozoa after filtration through the SpermPrep column was 20.2 +/- 1.1 x 10(6), representing a mean recovery of 73% of the normal spermatozoa originally applied to the column. This was 316% greater than the yield obtained with the swim-up method (6.4 +/- 0.8 x 10(6)), which was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than that recovered via the swim-up method. Also, the time required to harvest sperm through SpermPrep filtration was 20 to 25 minutes versus 80 minutes required for the swim-up method (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Considering that the effectiveness of frozen-thawed semen is already limited when compared with fresh semen, SpermPrep filtration is the method of choice over the swim-up technique of sperm selection because the former provides significantly greater numbers of high quality sperm. It should be considered as an adjunct in semen preparation for IUI or other forms of assisted reproduction.
We compared the Ivy bleeding time method and two alternatives of the Simplate II method (incisions in horizontal and vertical direction) with each other, with regard to the sensitivity, the specificity, the costs and the burden for the patient. In the aspirin study an aspirin-induced bleeding defect was used. Seventy-two healthy volunteers were randomized to receive either 500 mg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or a placebo. Double blinding was maintained throughout the study. In the anticoagulation study 62 patients participated, who received oral anticoagulants (OAC) for various reasons. All participants received two bleeding time methods. The burden for the participants of each method was screened by a small standard questionnaire. The differences in sensitivity and specificity between the three methods proved minimal. The Ivy method was more often preferred by the participants than the Simplate methods. Since a choice on the basis of sensitivity and specificity appears not possible, we prefer the Ivy method because of lower costs and less burden.
Recent developments in protein structure prediction have allowed the use of this previously limited source of information at genome-wide scales. It has been proposed that the use of structural information may offer advantages over sequences in phylogenetic reconstruction, due to their slower rate of evolution and direct correlation to function. Here, we examined how recently developed methods for structure-based homology search and tree reconstruction compare with current state-of-the-art sequence-based methods in reconstructing genome-wide collections of gene phylogenies (i.e. phylomes). While structure-based methods can be useful in specific scenarios, we found that their current performance does not justify using the newly developed structure-based methods as a default choice in large-scale phylogenetic studies. On the one hand, the best performing sequence-based tree reconstruction methods still outperform structure-based methods for this task. On the other hand, structure-based homology detection methods provide larger lists of candidate homologs, as previously reported. However, this comes at the expense of missing hits identified by sequence-based methods, as well as providing sets of homolog candidates with higher fractions of false positives. These insights help to guide the use of structural data in comparative genomics and highlight the need to continue improving structure-based approaches. Our pipeline is fully reproducible and has been implemented in a Snakemake workflow. This will facilitate a continuous assessment of future improvements of structure-based tools in the AlphaFold era.
We have developed a new PCR-RFLP method for HLA-DQB1 typing. This method was easy to follow, requiring only one DQB1 generic amplification and 5 endonucleases to assign 14 out of 15 HLA-DQB1 alleles. In addition, we determined that by using one generic amplification and two enzymes (Sau96 I and Hae III) it was possible to type the generic specificities: DQw2, DQw4, DQw5, DQw6, and DQw7, DQw8-9, providing a practical alternative for serological HLA-DQ generic typing. We also performed a side-by-side correlation with a PCR-SSO typing method and found an almost 100% concordance between the methods. The limitations of these methods were: 1) the PCR-RFLP method did not allow the differentiation between the HLA-DQB1*0602 and *0603 alleles; 2) the PCR-SSO method gave crosshybridization signals in the detection of *0302 or *0303 alleles. Our results suggested that both methods, PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSO, are useful alternatives for HLA-DQB1 typing.
Two immunohistochemical methods, using the enzyme horseradish peroxidase, the direct immunoperoxidase (DIP) and the immunoglobulin-enzyme bridge (IEB) method were applied on 129 skin specimens of 81 patients with lupus erythematosus, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris and rosacea. These methods were compared with each other and with the immunofluorescence (IF) method. The DIP method was preferred to the IEB method because of the greater contrast between the specific staining and the nonspecific staining of the former. The results obtained with both peroxidase methods were comparable with those of the IF method.
A comparative study of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) by single-point method and multi-point method in dextran coated charcoal assay (DCC) was carried out in 50 and 47 cases of breast cancer, respectively. Taking 10 fmol/mg protein as the positive value, the conformation rate of both methods in ER measurement was 96.0% (48/50) with r = 0.978 by linear regression analysis (P less than 0.001). In PgR measurement, the conformation rate of both methods was 95.7% with r = 0.988 (P less than 0.001). Statistically, the difference between single-point method and multi-point method in the ER and PgR measurements was not significant (P greater than 0.5) both in rank-sum test and in paired t-test. The authors suggest that ER and PgR of breast cancer samples be measured with single-point method for its simplicity and less tumor tissue required.
The results of 42 fecal flora analysis of healthy adult men were compared by using a newly developed method and an old conventional method. Statistical estimate indicate, that with the new method the total counts and the counts of bifidobacteria, catenabacteria (eubacteria and anaerobic lactobacilli), peptostreptococci, and clostridia (except Cl. perfringens) as well as the occurences of peptostreptococci and spirillaceae were significant higher than with the use of the old method. On the other hand the counts and occurences of bifidobacteria, veillonellae, Cl. perfringens, Megasphaerae and aerobes were similar with both method. With the new method the total counts of feces of healthy adult men nubmered 1-2 X 10(11) per g wet weight, and fastidious anaerobes, such as bacteroides, catenabacteria and peptostreptococci, were always occurred as predominant flora. The results suggest that the conventional anaerobic jar method is inadequate for the isolation of fastidiuos anaerobes and indicate that the use of modified medium 10 in combination with strict anaerobic technique is necessary for the analysis of fecal flora.
Radial immunodiffusion, which is a presently accepted reference method, was compared with the mechanized immunoprecipitation. Each of these specific methods was compared with two normal clinical-chemical methods for the determination of albumin and transferrin, and an enzymic method for the determination of ceruloplasmin. The correlation coefficients, the mean slope for regression, and the percentage variation of the average values from those of the average values of the reference methods are presented. In the determination of albumin and ceruloplasmin, radial immunodiffusion and mechanized immunoprecipitation give the same results. Surprisingly, these two specific methods give different results in the determination of transferrin. In as far as there is no doubt concerning the accuracy of the mechanized immunoprecipitation, this method is recommended, since it also has the advantage of being less demanding in cost and time.
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) remain a major global health threat, affecting both human and animal populations. Whole-genome sequencing is essential for monitoring viral evolution, zoonotic transmission, and emerging variants. However, conventional RT-PCR methods often result in incomplete gene coverage, amplification biases, and reduced sequencing accuracy, particularly in clinical samples. We developed a robust In-house method for IAV full-genome sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing platform. This method integrates an in-house multisegment Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-PCR) method with a streamlined 2-pool primer design targeting all eight IAV gene segments. RNA extracted from clinical and stock virus samples was reverse-transcribed and amplified using Superscript IV-based chemistry, followed by magnetic bead purification to ensure high-quality amplicons. Sequencing libraries were prepared with the Native Barcoding Kit 24 (SQK-NBD114.24) and sequenced on R10.4.1 flow cells on the MinION MK1C device. Data analysis using the Iterative Refinement Meta-Assembler (IRMA) confirmed improved read depth, uniform coverage, and complete genome recovery. Compared to conventional methods, our In-House Multisegment 2-Pool (IH-MS2P) RT-PCR method generated higher numbers of matched read counts, minimized chimeric artifacts, and delivered superior genome coverage across human, swine, and avian isolates. This optimized RT-PCR method provides a high-performance, time-efficient, and portable solution for influenza genomics, demonstrating robust applicability even with clinical samples of low RNA yield.
Two separate courses in clinical pathology were presented to two groups of second-year medical students. The first (large) group was taught by the conventional lecture method; the other (small) group, by a self-instructional method for roughly half of the course, followed by the conventional lecture method for the second half of the course. The effectivenesses of the two methods were compared, based on performances on the final written examination. It was found that the self-instructional method was as effective as the conventional method in teaching clinical pathology, at least in teaching basic principles and interpretive clinical chemistry, as judged by the performances of the two groups. Surprisingly, the two groups differed significantly in performances on the portion of the course taught by similar methods.
The methods of Bessey et al. and Hausamen et al. for serum alkaline phosphatase determination were compared. Determinations were carried out using sera from healthy blood donors and sera from patients suffering from different hepatobiliary diseases. A high reproducibility of values obtained using both methods was noted. The sensitivity of the method of Hausamen et al. is about four times greater than that of the method of Bessey et al., even though the former method employed a lower reaction temperature. A high degree of correlation exists between the two methods and the data reported indicate that both methods are completely valid.
Human thyroid epithelial cells were isolated from surgically resected human thyroid gland with collagenase and cultured for one week under EGF-supplemented conditions to allow them to proliferate. Then the cells were transferred to the following three-dimensional culture systems. One was a culture of isolated cells between floating double layers of collagen gel, designated the "floating sandwich method." The other was a culture of isolated cells mixed with collagen gel, designated the "dispersed embedding method." Many folliclelike structures with lumina of appreciable size were obtained by the former method. The cells cultured by the floating sandwich method exhibited a distinct polarity shown by the presence of numerous microvilli at the apical surface and close contact with collagen gels at the basal surface. On the other hand, only a few folliclelike structures were obtained by the dispersed embedding method, in which the folliclelike structures were small in size and the cells showed less distinct polarity than those observed in the floating sandwich method. Thus, the floating sandwich method appears to be suitable for studying the process and mechanism of in vitro organization of follicular structures by human thyroid epithelial cells.
1) We evaluated the method for calibrating the pneumotachograph according to flow rate by the software on personal computer. Flow volume was detected using the approximated equation (y = 1.294x2 + 0.989x + 35.824, r = 0.976, p less than 0.01) from various mean flow rate and integration of output voltage. The error between syringe volume (21) and the estimated value on the equation was 10 +/- 8 ml (0.48 +/- 0.42%). 2) Using the method described in 1), we developed computer-controlled-system for assessing respiratory gas exchange by mixing chamber method. To evaluate the accuracy of the system as compared with the Douglas Bag method, we measured the gas parameters of the both methods for two male subjects at rest(3 and 5min) and steady state exercise (3 min., 60-240watt). The error between the both methods were within +/- 5% in ventilation(VE), mixed expired O2 (FEO2) and CO2 (FECO2) concentration, and were within +/- 8% in O2 uptake(VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2). There were high positive correlation (r greater than 0.99, p less than 0.01) between the both methods in the all parameters. These results indicate that the system in this study would be practical use, that VE can be measured in only one pneumotachograph, even if the range of flow rate was wide(e.g. from rest to heavy exercise).
A method for determination of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in mitochondria and tissue homogenates was developed. The method was based on a spectrophotometric monitoring of p-nitroaniline acetylation under conditions required to ensure correct stoichiometric course of the reaction. In rat tissues absolute amounts of the enzyme activity, determined by the method, were found to be several-fold lower as compared with the values determined by the conventional ferricyanide method. Within 24 hrs after a single administration of hydroxythiamin into rats (400 mg per 1 kg of body weight) the pyruvate dehydrogenase activity was decreased 1.5-fold in heart (as estimated by the reaction of p-nitroaniline acetylation) and did not alter in liver tissue. While if the determinations were carried out by the method of terricyanide reduction the enzyme activity was decreas 7- and 2-fold, respectively, in heart and liver tissue. The data obtained suggest that hydroxythiamin impaired reactions of electron transport in tissues; on the other hand, the data obtained showed that the method for determination of the pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, based on the acetylation reaction, was more specific than the conventional method which involved measuring of ferricyanide reduction.