Comparison of immunofluorescence with enzyme immunoassay for detection of Q fever

To evaluate enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as an alternative to indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to screen for Q fever in humans, 157 serum samples from patients suspected of having the disease were tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies to Coxiella burnetii. The agreement between the tests and the sensitivity of EIA were excellent (96.8% and 98.4%, respectively) when an IFA titer of > 1/160 was considered positive. All serum samples with a titer of > 1/320 in the IFA were also positive by the EIA. The EIA seems to be an acceptable alternative to IFA for screening for Q fever.     

Rapid chromosome detection in human gametes, zygotes, and preimplantation embryos using the PRINS technique

PURPOSE: The analysis of the chromosomal constitution of human gametes and embryos is of particular importance for investigation of aneuploidy occurrence and diagnostic purposes. The PRINS method constitutes an alternative to FISH for in situ chromosomal identification. We have adapted this method to human gametes, zygotes, and preimplantation embryos. RESULTS: Chromosome-specific labeling was obtained in gametes, zygotes, and isolated blastomeres. Simultaneous detection of two or three chromosomes can be completed in less than 3 hr using fluorochrome-labeled nucleotides. CONCLUSIONS: The PRINS technique appears to be more efficient than FISH for detection and discrimination of alpha-satellite DNA sequences. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of PRINS for chromosomal screening and preimplantation diagnosis.     

Modern noninvasive methods for early detection of chromosome anomalies

Chromosome abnormalities may be a major cause of perinatal death and handicaps, and that is why the most common indication for invasive prenatal diagnosis is the risk or suspicion that there are certain cytogenetic abnormalities. In order to determine high-risk women for invasive diagnosis, it is necessary to establish noninvasive screening methods which would be performed in a major part of pregnant population. This article reviews contemporary noninvasive methods for early detecting of certain chromosome abnormalities such as ultrasound and biochemical markers. Combined application of these methods enables detection of more than 80% of fetuses with chromosome anomalies in the second-trimester pregnancies.     

Immunoglobulin V region variants in hybridoma cells. II. Recombination between V genes

The mouse hybridoma line B1-8.delta 1 secretes a monoclonal IgD, lambda 1 anti-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP) antibody with defined idiotypic determinants. Two spontaneous V-region variants (B1-8.V1/V2) with altered idiotope pattern were selected and the structural variation was located to the variable region of the heavy chain. The amino acid sequences of the B1-8. delta 1 and variant heavy chain V regions were determined. The variant VH regions are identical. Wild-type and variant VH regions differ in 10 positions. Single amino acid exchanges are found in the first and second framework at positions 20 and 43. The majority of replacements (eight substitutions) is clustered in the second complementary-determining region (CDR 2). There are no differences in CDR 1 and CRD 3 and the JH region. The variant, which at first glance appears to have undergone a series of point mutations, arose by recombination, possibly gene conversion, between the rearranged VDJ gene of the wild-type (B1-8.delta 1) and a neighbouring germ line VH gene encoding all of the substitutions.     

Modified technique for efficient detection of microsporidia

Changes in temperature (from room temperature to 50 degrees C) and staining time (from 90 to 10 min) were evaluated as a means of improving the detection of microsporidia from stool specimens. A blinded and independent comparison of 50 known positive matched-specimen pairs by three technologists resulted in consistently easier microscopic detection. The background is clearer, and spores stain more intensely. Staining time is reduced by 80 min.     

A selective medium for the rapid detection by an impedance technique of Pseudomonas spp. associated with poultry meat

IS511 is an endogenous insertion sequence (IS) of the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus strain CB15 and it is the first Caulobacter IS to be characterized at the molecular level. We determined the 1266-bp nucleotide sequence of IS511 and investigated its genetic organization, relationship to other ISs, and transposition properties. IS511 belongs to a distinct branch of the IS3 family that includes ISR1, IS476, and IS1222, based on nucleotide sequence similarity. The nucleotide sequence of IS511 encodes open reading frames (orfs) designated here as orfA and orfB, and their relative organization and amino acid sequences of the predicted protein products are very similar to those of orfAs and orfBs of other IS3 family members. Nuclease S1 protection assays identified an IS511 RNA, and its 5' end maps approximately 16 nucleotides upstream of orfA and about six nucleotides downstream of a sequence that is similar to the consensus sequence of C. crescentus housekeeping promoters. Evidence is presented that IS511 is capable of precise excision from the chromosome, and transposition from the chromosome to a plasmid. Transpositional insertions of IS511 occurred within sequences with a relatively high G + C content, and they were usually, but not always, flanked by a 4-bp direct repeat that matches a sequence at the site of insertion. We also determined the nucleotide sequence flanking the four endogenous IS511 elements that reside in the chromosome of C. crescentus. Our findings demonstrate that IS511 is a transposable IS that belongs to a branch of the IS3 family.     

Assessing vocational interests of those with epilepsy.

Assessed the vocational interests of 47 male and 24 female (post-high-school aged) hospital-affiliated outpatients with epilepsy, utilizing 9 scales from the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory. The scales included 6 general occupational theme scales (i.e., Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional), 2 special scales (i.e., Academic Orientation and occupational Introversion–Extroversion), and 1 basic interest scale (i.e., Adventure). Ss' scores were compared to those of the Strong-Campbell (1974) normative groups. Results show that the vocational interest scores of epileptics on the 6 occupational theme scales and 3 additional scales were not greatly different from those of the norm groups. When differences did occur, it appeared that males with epilepsy were affected: Males with major motor seizures and early seizure onset had lower Investigative scores, and males with major motor seizure had lower Academic Orientation scores, than did the nondisabled. These more impaired males appear at risk for restricted interests and may profit from supportive interventions that increase their range of life activity. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with cis-diamminedichloro-platinum. II. An experimental study in dogs with a balloon-occlusion technique for repeated high-dose treatment

Isolated organ perfusion is attractive for regional high-dose chemotherapy because of its advantage to reduce whole body toxicity. Intraoperative hyperthermic isolated perfusion procedures involving a heart-lung machine have been developed, but repeated treatments carry a high risk of vessel and tissue damage. Therefore, a study of isolated hyperthermic limb perfusion in four dogs was conducted using a balloon-occlusion technique including a hyperthermia unit, two low-flow rotary pumps, a bubble oxygenator, and two polyurethane balloon catheters. After 15 min infusion of cisplatinum the concentrations of serum platinum (Pt) in the isolated limb and in the whole body were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Regional exposure to Pt was more than 10-fold higher than systemic exposure. After 60 min isolated limb perfusion, the area under the curve (AUC) of Pt concentrations in the isolated limb showed values between 767.4 and 1055.6 micrograms/l x 60 min, whereas in the whole body values between 59.8 and 75.9 micrograms/l x 60 min were obtained. Repeated isolated limb perfusions with the balloon-occlusion technique were performed in three dogs without systemic side effects. This model of regional chemotherapy may be useful for preoperative chemotherapy in malignant tumors of the limbs.     

Correlates of life satisfaction in those with disabling conditions.

Examined the life satisfaction (LS) of individuals with disabling conditions, focusing on the relationship among LS and physical and functional limitations, economic circumstances, and social factors. Data were analyzed from telephone interviews with 675 working-age individuals (aged 16–64 yrs) participating in the International Center for the Disabled (ICD) Survey of Disabled Americans (ICD, 1986). LS related to age of respondent, age at onset of disabling condition, type of condition, severity of condition, employment status, income, and marital status. LS was also dependent on individuals considering themselves disabled or their being identified as disabled by others. Comparison of Ss' data with data from 1,064 nondisabled individuals (Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., 1985) is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A PCR assay for detection of a 2RL.2BS wheat-rye chromosome translocation

A 2RL.2BS wheat-rye translocation, present in the wheat germplasm line Hamlet, carries a gene for resistance to Hessian fly biotype L, one of the most virulent biotypes presently encountered in wheat production environments. Unlike several other wheat-rye chromosome translocations common in wheat breeding programs, 2RL lacks genes encoding storage proteins or other easily selected markers. Oligonucleotide primers synthesized from published sequences derived from the R173 family of moderately repetitive rye DNA were used in the DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify specific markers for 2RL. The same primers, when used with DNA extracted from additional wheat-rye translocation lines of importance to the wheat breeding community, gave distinctive PCR products for each genotype. The single primer pair, PAWS5 and PAWS6, may, therefore, have wide applicability for the identification of wheat-rye chromosomal translocations presently encountered in wheat breeding populations.     

Combining various projection access schemes with the algebraic reconstruction technique for low-contrast detection in computed tomography

We separately applied three different projection access orders (the multilevel scheme (MLS), the sequence access scheme (SAS) and the random permutation scheme (RPS)) to the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) in an attempt to improve low-contrast object detection in computed tomography (CT). We used both simulated (from various numbers of projections of low-contrast and contrast detail phantoms) and actual data (from megavoltage portal CT) during our study. When coupled with ART, SAS and RPS led to poor low-contrast detection and required multiple iterations for convergence. In contrast, one-iteration MLS yielded the most uniform reconstructions with the highest contrast-to-noise ratios. Therefore, MLS-ART provides the highest dose efficiency of all current reconstruction techniques for imaging low-contrast objects from a small number of projections.     

Prenatal diagnosis. II. Importance of ultrasonographic markers in prenatal diagnosis of chromosome abnormalities]

The Medical Genetic Unit of the University of Zulia (MGUUZ) has developed a Prenatal Diagnosis Program (PDP) since January-1993, in which Genetic Risk Factors are determined in couples who request prenatal genetic counseling. In this program, different prenatal diagnostic procedures are performed to detect congenital defects during intrauterine life. One of these procedures is the Fetal Sonogram (FS). FS is a non invasive technique which permits the prenatal diagnosis of many genetic dysmorphic syndromes. Through the search of abnormal specific characteristics in the fetus, chromosomopathies may be suspected. These findings are named "Echosonographic Markers of Chromosomal Abnormalities" (EMCA). During three years (January-1993 to December-1996), patients attended in the PDP included 321 pregnant women in which 312 FS were performed. Abnormal outcomes were 22 (17 with isolated congenital malformations and 5 with EMCA). Only one fetus with chromosome abnormality (46,XX21q-) could not be detected by FS. The goals of this paper are: 1) to report 5 patients with sonographic markers suggestive of chromosomal abnormalities and 2) to show the FS usefulness in prenatal diagnosis of chromosompathies. We conclude that, in the search of the EMCA the FS should be offered systematically to all pregnant women without recognizable genetic risk. They are the main group with optimal reproductive age and in consequence, with the possibility of having a relatively major number of conception outcomes with congenital defects, with or without chromosomic etiology. The majority of those defects can be detected by FS and could allow us to select the patients in which the use of an invasive prenatal diagnostic procedure could be justified.     

The power of science in furthering professional practice: Opportunities for those with vision.

Describes initiatives within the National Institutes of Health and within the military to use behavioral, cognitive, psychological, and applied psychophysiological research findings to improve clinical intervention with a vast array of health problems, including substance abuse. Psychologists in the military are leading new initiatives to deal with the problems of obesity, physical pain, headaches, environmental effects, and the full range of physical health and mental health problems. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

探伤交货的Q345B钢冶炼工艺的改进

武钢集团鄂钢公司炼钢厂生产的Q345B钢交货前进行探伤检测,合格率仅40%。对Q345B探伤不合格钢板进行金相分析及夹杂物能谱分析,结果表明钛化物、氧化铝夹杂物、硫化锰、氢为造成探伤不合格的主要原因。对Q345B钢的生产工艺进行了系统的改进,采用转炉—板坯连铸—铸坯热送的转炉直上工艺生产的Q345B钢,探伤合格率可达到91%以上,实现了低成本工艺冶炼探伤交货的Q345B钢的目的。     

Guilty knowledge technique: Application of signal detection measures.

Applied procedures for the computation of optimal cutoff points suggested by signal detection theory to an information detection situation with 60 undergraduates. The use of different payoff matrices relevant to a security screening situation and to a criminal court case produces different cutoff points to be used to classify the GSRs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of proficient technique and successful lesion detection in breast self-examination.

73 18–73 yr old women attending a health fair completed a questionnaire about breast self-examination (BSE) that included a measure of locus of control and performed a breast examination (BE) on a life-like model while 2 observers recorded their behavior. Results show that BSE performance was predictable based on the self-confidence exhibited in conducting the BE, previous practice, knowledge of the procedure, chance, and on a powerful others health locus of control. Behavior was generally not related to health belief model variables. Findings suggest that lesion detection was related to behavioral skills, and techniques were determined by psychosocial variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A laminar flow superfusion technique with much increased sensitivity for the detection of smooth muscle-stimulating substances

The classical superfusion technique was modified by immersing the isolated assay tissues in mineral oil, making it possible to superfuse the preparations through the oil with a drip of Krebs solution at very low flow rates (0.1 - 0.2 ml/min). In this way the sensitivity of the preparation for the detection and quantitation of endogenous biologically active substances was extended to the picogram level.