Highly Sensitive Technique (highly + sensitive_technique)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Determination of 17,-estradiol in bovine plasma: development of a highly sensitive technique by ion trap gas chromatography,tandem mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization,

JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 12 2002
Giancarlo Biancotto
Abstract A novel approach to the determination of 17,-estradiol in bovine plasma is presented. The observed enhanced sensitivity is gained by the application of tandem mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation to a stable, well characterized negative ion produced by chemical ionization (methane as reagent gas). A specific derivatizing reactant is employed (pentafluorobenzyl bromide), combined with bis-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide, to favor the formation of a diagnostic precursor negative ion. Plasma samples are purified through a C18 solid phase extraction column and derivatized before gas chromatography,MS analysis. The accuracy and the precision of the method, tested over a set of spiked samples, were satisfactory. The limit of detection was found to be 5 pg ml,1 and the limit of quantification was fixed at 20 pg ml,1. The fragmentation pattern is fully explained and the method is applicable for the official analysis of bovine plasma for the detection of 17,-estradiol according to the European criteria 256/93 and to the draft SANCO/1805/2000 rev. 3. The quantification of incurred positive samples was performed according to the proposed procedure and compared with the results obtained by standardized radio immuno assay; the estimated concentrations were significantly similar. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Real-Time quantitative PCR analysis of factor XI mRNA variants in human platelets

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 10 2004
A. Podmore
Summary., Coagulation factor XI (FXI) plays an essential role in blood coagulation. A deficiency of FXI is an unusual hemorrhagic diathesis in that the bleeding tendency can be highly variable, ranging from severe deficiencies with no symptoms to mild and moderate deficiencies requiring multiple blood transfusions for hemorrhages. This variability in bleeding has been attributed to a number of factors including the presence of a novel form of FXI associated with platelets, which ameliorates the bleeding in some cases of FXI deficiency. However, the nature of this platelet FXI molecule is controversial. Hsu et al. (J Biol Chem 1998; 273: 13787,93) suggest that it is a product of normal FXI , but lacking exon V whilst Martincic et al. (Blood 1999; 94: 3397,404) were unable to detect this alternatively spliced variant using RT-PCR. In order to resolve this controversy, we have employed the highly sensitive technique of real-time quantitative RT-PCR using RNA isolated from FXI-deficient patients. Our results indicate that the platelets of both normal and FXI deficient individuals contain FXI mRNA that is identical to the mRNA found in liver. An exon V deleted splice variant was not detected. Thus the FXI message is not alternatively spliced in platelets and therefore would not be able to produce an unusual FXI protein. [source]


Assay of gliadin by real-time immunopolymerase chain reaction

MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 5 2003
Nadine Henterich
Abstract Patients with coeliac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) are intolerant against gliadins from wheat and the respective proteins from related cereals and have to keep a lifelong gluten-free diet. For control of gliadin in gluten-free food sensitive assay techniques are necessary. We developed an immunopolymerase chain reaction (iPCR) assay for gliadin. In this technique immunological detection of gliadin by a monoclonal antibody R5 conjugated with an oligonucleotide is amplified by PCR. For quantification, iPCR was performed as real-time PCR (real-time iPCR) in one step. By means of real-time iPCR, the sensitivity of gliadin analysis was increased more than 30-fold above the level reached by enzyme immunoassay. Real time-iPCR using R5 directly conjugated with oligonucleotide was clearly more sensitive than real time-iPCR applying sequentially biotinylated R5, streptavidin, and biotinylated oligonucleotide. With directly conjugated R5 gliadin was detected at a concentration as low as 0.16 ng/mL corresponding to 16 ,g gliadin/100 g food or 0.16 ppm (corresponding to 0.25 g of food extracted in 10 mL of solvent and 25-fold dilution of the extract prior to analysis). This is the first report applying the highly sensitive technique of iPCR for gliadin analysis. Furthermore, this is the first approach to perform real-time iPCR in one step without changing the reaction vessels after enzyme immunoassay for subsequent PCR analysis thus minimizing risks of contamination and loss of sensitivity. [source]


Discriminating functional and non-functional p53 in human tumours by p53 and MDM2 immunohistochemistry

THE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
R Nenutil
Abstract Mutation and/or loss of the TP53 tumour suppressor gene is the single most common genetic abnormality in human cancer. The majority of TP53 mutations lead to stabilization of the protein, so that immunohistochemical staining for p53 can suggest mutation status in many cases. However, various false-positive and false-negative situations mean that simple immunostaining for p53 is not informative in a substantial number of tumours. In the present study, a series of 119 human cancers were immunostained using a highly sensitive technique that detects the low levels of wild-type protein expressed in normal cells, such that homozygous gene deletion or non-sense TP53 mutation can be identified by an absence of staining. TP53 gene status was also assessed using FASAY as a genetic/functional screen and in selected cases by direct sequencing. A quantitative scoring system was employed to assess p53 levels, and p53 post-translational modification was evaluated using antibodies that detect specific phosphorylation sites. Phosphorylated p53 correlated with total p53 levels and did not improve the prediction of TP53 mutation status. The transcriptional activity of TP53 was determined by staining for two downstream target genes, p21WAF1 and MDM2, and statistical correlations between MDM2/p21WAF1 and p53 were found in tumours with wild-type, but not mutant TP53. Measurement of staining for p53 and MDM2 accurately identifies the TP53 status of tumours. This simple and cost-effective method, applicable to automated staining and quantitation methods, improves the identification of TP53 status over standard methods for p53 immunostaining and provides information about tumour p53 phenotype that is complementary to genotyping data. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


A novel, rapid, inexpensive, and highly sensitive experiment for demonstration of DNA damage in human leukocytes by single cell gel electrophoresis

BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION, Issue 1 2003
B. R. Manjunatha
Abstract The single cell gel electrophoresis technique (comet assay) has been adopted to demonstrate the DNA damage in human leukocytes of individuals who are habitual smokers. This technique allows the detection of single strand and double strand DNA breaks, which are indicative of the risk of cancer. The method followed is rapid, inexpensive, and a highly sensitive technique for the evaluation of DNA damage and risk assessment in smokers. This experiment should help students understand the effect of cigarette smoking. [source]