Same Specimen (same + specimen)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


P-26 CONVENTIONAL V THIN LAYER TECHNIQUES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BRONCHIAL SPECIMENS USING CONVENTIONAL AND TWO LBC METHODS, THINPREP AND SUREPATH

CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 2006
J. L. Conachan
The current, conventional method used is quick, easy and reasonably cheap but the nature of bronchial specimens themselves creates the need for a better preparation technique. Bronchial specimens often present with many obscuring features, such as blood and mucus, which can affect definitive diagnosis. In the study, the bronchial specimens underwent routine conventional preparation and that remaining was used to prepare an LBC slide. Both LBC methods were separately evaluated alongside the conventional method where, of the 44 specimens used, half were prepared using the conventional and ThinPrep and half with the conventional and SurePath. Evaluation forms were completed by pathologists who assessed all preparations. The results showed both LBC methods produced superior preparations that were better fixed, more cellular and had improved nuclear detail. They also removed a high percentage of background debris, were more diagnostically accurate and reduced the inadequate rate by a third. The conventional slides prepared from the same specimen as the SurePath had a lower average than those prepared with the ThinPrep. This indicated that the specimens used to evaluate the SurePath method were in fact inferior to those used for ThinPrep, with the SurePath slides showing only a slight improvement in overall quality. Despite LBC preparations reducing pathologist screening and reporting time, both methods are more labour intensive and less cost effective. The majority of laboratories are not in the financial situation to trial new methods that require extra training and more staff hours, and as such this study has highlighted an important question ,Do the benefits of better quality preparation and diagnostic accuracy offset an increase in time and cost'. [source]


"Pachyostosis" in aquatic amniotes: a review

INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2009
Alexandra HOUSSAYE
Abstract During the course of amniote evolution, numerous taxa secondarily adapted to an aquatic life. It appears that many of these taxa primitively display "pachyostosis," an osseous specialization characterized by an increase in bone compactness and/or volume. The term "pachyostosis" is used in morphological and histological descriptions to describe what in fact corresponds to different patterns. The aim of this paper is to present the current state of knowledge relative to this adaptation among aquatic amniotes. All the taxa that have returned to an aquatic environment are listed. Moreover, their degree of adaptation to the marine environment, their life environment, and the nature of their "pachyostotic" pattern, when present, are described. This inventory enables the evaluation of the current quality of the data relative to this specialization and provides an indication of the work that remains to be done. The functional consequences of "pachyostosis," and notably its importance for buoyancy control in the context of hydrostatic regulation of the body trim, are discussed and opposed to the requirement of improved swimming abilities in the case of a hydrodynamic mode of trim regulation. Questions are posed about the signification of the polymorphism displayed by this specialization between different taxa, different specimens of the same taxon and different bones of the same specimen, and the problem of quantification of pachyostosis is discussed. [source]


Leptin and leptin receptor in human seminal plasma and in human spermatozoa

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 6 2003
T. Jope
Summary Leptin, a 167 amino acid peptide, is known to influence the gonads via direct and indirect effects. Recent studies provide contradictory proposition about the peripheral impact of leptin in the male gonads. Thus, we examined leptin and its receptors in human seminal plasma and in human ejaculated spermatozoa by Western blot technique and fluorescence microscopy. In seminal plasma we found a free leptin band (16 kDa) by an anti-leptin polyclonal antibody. Incubation of seminal plasma with recombinant leptin caused a statistically significant increase in the amount of free leptin (p < 0.01) and supports this finding. Furthermore, a soluble leptin receptor (145 kDa) was found in human seminal plasma in the same specimen. We also detected a 145-kDa leptin receptor isoform in ejaculated spermatozoa as a possible target of leptin action in the male genital tract, which was localized at the tail of spermatozoa by immunofluorescence microscopy only. This receptor was significantly associated with the intactness of sperm plasma membranes. Spermatozoa with deteriorated membranes contained 49.2 ± 6.9% leptin receptor signal intensity compared with spermatozoa having intact membranes (p < 0.01). This finding is difficult to interpret and may be caused by a leakage of OB-R due to loss of membrane integrity. In conclusion, these data provide further hints for a peripheral role of leptin in the male genital tract, possibly, by an interaction between leptin and spermatozoa via sperm leptin receptors. [source]


Molecular imaging in small animals,roles for micro-CT

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue S39 2002
Erik L. Ritman
Abstract X-ray micro-CT is currently used primarily to generate 3D images of micro-architecture (and the function that can be deduced from it) and the regional distribution of administered radiopaque indicators, within intact rodent organs or biopsies from large animals and humans. Current use of X-ray micro-CT can be extended in three ways to increase the quantitative imaging of molecular transport and accumulation within such specimens. (1) By use of heavy elements, other than the usual iodine, attached to molecules of interest or to surrogates for those molecules. The accumulation of the indicator in the physiological compartments, and the transport to and from such compartments, can be quantitated from the imaged spatial distribution of these contrast agents. (2) The high spatial resolution of conventional X-ray attenuation-based CT images can be used to improve the quantitative nature of radionuclide-based tomographic images (SPECT & PET) by providing correction for attenuation of the emitted gamma rays and the accurate delineation of physiological spaces known to selectively accumulate those indicators. Similarly, other imaging modalities which also localize functions in 2D images (such as histological sections subsequently obtained from the same specimen), can provide a synergistic combination with CT-based 3D microstructure. (3) By increasing the sensitivity and specificity of X-ray CT image contrast by use of methods such as: K-edge subtraction imaging, X-ray fluorescence imaging, imaging of the various types of scattered X-ray and the consequences of the change in the speed of X-rays through different tissues, such as refraction and phase shift. These other methods of X-ray imaging can increase contrast by more than an order of magnitude over that due to conventionally-used attenuation of X-ray. To fully exploit their potentials, much development of radiopaque indicators, scanner hardware and image reconstruction and analysis software will be needed. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 39: 116,124, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Evaluation of postmortem changes in tissue structure in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Megan F. Mckenna
Abstract Postmortem changes in geometry, density, and sound speed within organs and tissues (melon, bone, blubber, and mandibular fat) of the dolphin head were evaluated using computed tomography (CT) scans of live and postmortem bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Specimens were classified into three different treatment groups: live, recently dead, and frozen followed by thawing. Organs and tissues in similar anatomical regions of the head were compared in CT scans of the specimens to identify postmortem changes in morphology. In addition, comparisons of Hounsfield units in the CT scans were used to evaluate postmortem changes in the density of melon, bone, blubber, and mandibular fat. Sound speed measurements from melon, blubber, connective tissue, and muscle were collected from fresh and frozen samples in the same specimen to evaluate effects due to freezing and thawing process on sound speed measurements. Similar results in tissue and organ geometry, density, and sound speed measurements suggested that postmortem material is a reliable approximation for live melon, bone, blubber, muscle, connective tissue, and mandibular fat. These results have implications for examining viscoelastic properties and the accuracy of simulating sound transmission in postmortem material. Anat Rec, 290:1023,1032, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Anomalous origin and cervical course of the vertebral artery in the presence of a retroesophageal right subclavian artery

CLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 4 2004
Valéria Paula Sassoli Fazan
Abstract The vertebral artery is usually described as the first branch of the subclavian artery, originating medial to the scalenus anterior muscle. During its cervical course, the vertebral artery presents a prevertebral segment and then enters the foramen transversarium of the sixth cervical vertebra. We describe a case of an unusual origin and course of the right vertebral artery in a cadaver specimen wherein the right vertebral artery originates from the right common carotid artery at the inferior border of the thyroid gland. In its cervical course the vertebral artery ascends outside and anteriorly to the foramen transversarium of vertebrae C VI to C III, and enters the foramen transversarium of the axis. In the same specimen, a retroesophageal right subclavian artery is also present. These vascular abnormalities are presented for physicians to keep in mind such variations during diagnostic investigation and surgical procedures of the neck. Clin. Anat. 17:354,357, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


A simple protocol for paraffin-embedded myelin sheath staining with osmium tetroxide for light microscope observation

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 7 2008
Federica Di Scipio
Abstract Experimental investigation of peripheral nerve fiber regeneration is attracting more and more attention among both basic and clinical researchers. Assessment of myelinated nerve fiber morphology is a pillar of peripheral nerve regeneration research. The gold standard for light microscopic imaging of myelinated nerve fibers is toluidine blue staining of resin-embedded semithin sections. However, many researchers are unaware that the dark staining of myelin sheaths typically produced by this procedure is due to osmium tetroxide postfixation and not due to toluidine blue. In this article, we describe a simple pre-embedding protocol for staining myelin sheaths in paraffin-embedded nerve specimens using osmium tetroxide. The method involves immersing the specimen in 2% osmium tetroxide for 2 h after paraformaldeyde fixation, followed by routine dehydration and paraffin embedding. Sections can then be observed directly under the microscope or counterstained using routine histological methods. Particularly good results were obtained with Masson's trichrome counterstain, which permits the imaging of connective structures in nerves that are not detectable in toluidine blue-stained resin sections. Finally, we describe a simple protocol for osmium etching of sections, which makes further immunohistochemical analysis possible on the same specimens. Taken together, our results suggest that the protocol described in this article is a valid alternative to the conventional resin embedding-based protocol: it is much cheaper, can be adopted by any histological laboratory, and allows immunohistochemical analysis to be conducted. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Bacteriology and antimicrobial susceptibility of gram-positive cocci isolated from pus specimens of orofacial odontogenic infections

MOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
T. Kuriyama
We recently reported the ,-lactamase production and antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic gram-negative rods isolated from pus specimens of 93 orofacial odontogenic infections. In this report, we determine the bacteriology and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria other than anaerobic gram-negative rods, mainly gram-positive cocci, isolated from the same specimens. Streptococcus constellatus and Peptostreptococcus micros were frequent isolates from all types of infection examined. Peptostreptococcus prevotii, Corynebacterium species, and Eubacterium species were recovered only from dentoalveolar infections, while Gemella morbillorum was found more frequently in periodontitis than in the other infections. ,-Lactamase-positive strains were detected only in staphylococci. Ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefazolin, cefotaxime, imipenem, erythromycin, clindamycin and levofloxacin showed high susceptibility rates (,77%) against viridans streptococci, Peptostreptococcus and Gemella. Minocycline showed a high MIC90 value against viridans streptococci (32 µg/ml), and metronidazole was effective against Peptostreptococcus and Gemella. These results provide useful information for the treatment of orofacial odontogenic infections. [source]


Methodological aspects of 3D and automated 2D analyses of white matter neuronal density in temporal lobe epilepsy

NEUROPATHOLOGY & APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
S. H. Eriksson
White matter neuronal density has been correlated with clinical outcome after temporal lobectomy for refractory epilepsy. Both morphometric 2D (two-dimensional) and stereological 3D (three-dimensional) analyses of neuronal density have been performed. 3D analyses are thought to be more accurate than 2D counts, but more time-consuming. We compared 3D and automated 2D measurements in the same specimens. Adjacent 20-µm (for 3D analyses) and 5-µm (for 2D analyses) sections from 10 temporal lobectomies were stained for NeuN immunohistochemistry. Analysis of 100% of a region of interest (ROI) in deep white matter was performed using an image analysis system (Histometrix, Kinetic Imaging, UK). 3D analyses were undertaken using ×,63 magnification (6 h/case). Automated 2D analyses were undertaken using automatic neuronal identification at ×,10 magnification with three to four repeats (1.5 h/case). The range of neuronal densities for 3D measurements was 2120,4910 neurones/mm3, and for automated 2D measurements 17.4,47.1 neurones/mm2. There was a linear correlation between the two methods with an r2 of 0.58. The limits of agreement for the two methods were 1718 to ,2234 neurones/mm3. Count,recount variability was 1.4,9.9% for the 3D and 5.1,36.6% for the automated 2D measurements. We found a wide range of white matter neuronal densities using either analysis. The low agreement between methods, and the high count,recount variability for the automated 2D analyses, indicate that despite being more time-consuming, rigorous 3D stereological analyses have to be performed to obtain reliable results. These findings have implications for studies requiring neuronal counts in normal and disease states. [source]


Coexistence of multiple anomalies in the carpal tunnel

CLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 4 2005
Mary Barbe
Abstract We determined the frequency of anomalous structures within the carpal tunnels of 89 cadaveric forearm-hand specimens. We also examined these same specimens for variations in the branching pattern of the median nerve, and analyzed the range in length and width of the lumbricals. Many of the hands contained extra tendinous slips from the long flexors within the tunnel, subligamentous thenar branches of the median nerve, or lumbricals with bipennate origins. Only one hand had an anomalous muscle belly within the tunnel, two had persistent median arteries, two had high division of the median nerve in the distal forearm, and eight had lumbricals with lengths or widths that were greater or less than 2 standard deviations (SD) from the mean. Twenty-nine percent of all hands examined had two to five anomalies/variations per tunnel, whereas another 27% had one anomaly or variation per tunnel. More right hands (17%) than left (11%) contained two to five anomalous/variant structures per carpal tunnel. More right hands (19%) than left (8%) contained only one variant/anomalous structure per carpal tunnel. Anticipation of the frequency and multiplicity of anomalous structures and variations within this region is of importance to clinicians, particularly surgeons. Clin. Anat. 18:251,259, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]