We have assessed hematopoietic progenitor cell preparations (including CD34-positive stem cells) obtained from human fetal liver at 6-17 weeks of gestational age for total cell numbers, viability and the ability to tolerate (frozen) storage. Hematopoietic cell preparations obtained from the 16-to 17-week gestational age range had the highest total cell count and the greatest proportion of CD34-positive stem cells. However, these preparations were insufficiently robust to withstand the freeze/thaw protocol required. Cells obtained from the 13- to 15-week gestational age range showed optimal post-thaw viability and it is suggested that these cell preparations are the most applicable for in utero transplantation.

Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Turbidimetric microbiological assay results calculated by a BASIC computer program.

A BASIC computer program was used to calculate the results of microbiological vitamin assays. The program, which incorporates the official AOAC guidelines for microbiological methods, reduces the uncertainty inherent in manual curve plotting and interpolation and minimizes the human error of repetitive calculations. Because the BASIC programming language is well suited for use on self-contained personal computers, it can be easily adapted by small laboratories.

Food Microbiology↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Potential application of LASER/microbe bioassay technology for determining water-soluble vitamins in foods.

A microbiological technique was developed for quantitating niacin by determining microbial growth rates in response to the amount of vitamin available. Unlike the current official AOAC method, the new procedure for niacin measured the growth rates during the early exponential growth phase rather than during the stationary phase. Lactobacillus plantarum was used to determine niacin to a lower limit of 100 pg/mL. The assay time was approximately 6 h, compared with 16-24 h for the current AOAC method. The extent of microbial growth was determined by differential light scattering of a LASER beam. Multiple photodetectors were integrated with a computer system to collect and analyze the data. The use of differential light scattering to determine 8 water-soluble vitamins under stationary phase conditions demonstrated the potential application of the new technology for microorganisms and foods.

Biological Assay↗