Low temperature techniques for X-ray microanalysis in pathology: Alternatives to cryoultramicrotomy |
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Authors: | Joanna Wroblewski Romuald Wróblewski Godfried M. Roomans |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Medical Cell Biology, Medical Nobel Institute, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden;2. Department of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Many diseases are associated with a change in the distribution of diffusible ions at the cell or tissue level. These diseases can profitably be studied by X-ray microanalysis. This technique for the study of ion distribution requires the use of cryoprepared specimens. Analysis at low or medium resolution can be carried out on thick or semi-thick cryosections, or on frozenhydrated or freeze-dried embedded bulk samples. Such analyses are particularly useful in the initial stages of an investigation or when data from a large number of samples have to be acquired. Also X-ray microanalysis of cultured or single cells prepared by freeze-drying can be used to rapidly collect information on a large number of cells. Analysis at high resolution has to be carried out on thin sections: Cryosections or sections of freeze-substituted or freeze-dried embedded tissue. For the latter type of specimens, the use of low-temperature embedding methods may have important advantages. |
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Keywords: | X-ray microanalysis Pathology Diagnosis Cryo(ultra)-microtomy Cultured cells Freeze-drying Freeze-substitution Low-temperature embedding |
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