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Comparison of touch imprints with aspirate smears for evaluating bone marrow specimens.

We compared the differential counts of normal and abnormal bone marrow from touch imprints with those from aspirate smears to determine whether the touch imprint was reliable for independent routine use in the examination of bone marrow and the classification of hematologic abnormalities. Normocellular bone marrow specimens were obtained from 87 patients without hematologic abnormality. Abnormal bone marrow specimens were obtained from 173 patients with treated or untreated neoplastic hematologic disease, including acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, myeloma, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We found no diagnostic difference in the differential counts from touch imprints and aspirate smears of normocellular bone marrow, and although we found some difference between the differential counts in certain cases of diseased bone marrow, the touch imprint proved to be a reliable diagnostic tool for determining the cellular composition of normal bone marrow and more reliable for the diagnosis of bone marrow involved by a neoplastic hematologic disease. Our findings suggest that evaluating touch imprints should be considered a standard practice in examining bone marrow.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

Accuracy of home blood glucose monitors using forearm blood samples: FreeStyle versus One Touch Ultra.

The accuracy of two home blood glucose monitors using forearm blood samples was studied. Blood samples were obtained from adults by venipuncture and analyzed for glucose concentration. Within five minutes after venipuncture, peripheral blood glucose measurements were taken in duplicate with the FreeStyle and One Touch Ultra monitors by using the same forearm as used for venipuncture. Accuracy was assessed by comparing the results for each first peripheral stick obtained by each monitor with the laboratory reference value. Monitor precision was evaluated by evaluating the mean difference in glucose values between the first and second peripheral sticks. Blood samples were obtained from 250 subjects, 170 (68%) of whom had diabetes mellitus. A total of 98.8% and 98.4% of the blood glucose readings obtained with FreeStyle and One Touch Ultra, respectively, were clinically acceptable, and 65.2% and 59.2% of the measurements, respectively, were within 10% of the laboratory reference values. The average difference between the first and second glucose measurements was 9.7 mg/dL for FreeStyle and 5.2 mg/dL for One Touch Ultra. One peripheral stick was needed to obtain an adequate blood sample in 95.6% of subjects using FreeStyle, compared with 83.2% of subjects using One Touch Ultra. Forearm blood glucose measurements obtained with the FreeStyle and One Touch Ultra devices were similar to laboratory reference values obtained by venipuncture.

Adult↗

Rapid and transient expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase isogenes by touch and wound stimuli in tomato

Touch stimuli induce ethylene production from 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in various plant species. We attempted to determine which ACC synthase (ACS) isogenes play a role in this phenomenon. We isolated cDNA clones (LE-ACS1A, 1B, 2, 3, 4 and 6) for ACC synthase isogenes from tomato, and their expressions were examined. Touch stimulation of tomato seedlings and fruits led to a large increase in the levels of LE-ACS6 and LE-ACS1A mRNA transcripts. The expressions of LE-ACS6 and LE-ACS1A isogenes increased within 10 min after touch, and mRNAs for both genes disappeared by 2 h. Thus, their expressions are transient. Wounding of tomato leaves and fruits also gave rise to transient expressions of LE-ACS6 and LE-ACS1A. The mRNA of the LE-ACS2 gene, a wound-inducible gene, was detected after 2 h in wounded tissues, but not in touched tissues. The results clearly indicate that the two isogenes, LE-ACS6 and LE-ACS1A, sense only touch, contact or pressure, and that another isogene, LE-ACS2, requires severe cell damage for its expression.

Journal Article↗

Pelvic lymph node metastases in prostatic carcinoma. The value of touch imprint cytology.

Touch imprint cytology is a simple, rapid, reliable, and highly sensitive procedure when used for detecting lymph node metastases in men with clinically localized prostatic adenocarcinoma who are undergoing staging pelvic lymphadenectomy. Thirty-five men admitted for this procedure had frozen sections performed on the lymph nodes removed at surgery. Of these 35 patients, 19 had touch imprints made of their lymph nodes. In five patients classified as having Stage D disease, positive frozen section correlated with permanent section. In two of these cases, touch imprint cytology was performed and was positive for malignant cells. In seven patients classified as having Stage D disease, frozen sections were negative. Permanent sections were positive for metastatic tumor in five of these patients. In four of these cases, touch imprint cytology was performed. In two cases, cytology and permanent sections were positive and, in two cases, cytology alone was positive. Factors that contributed to the false negative rate for frozen section were: the presence of micrometastases, fatty lymph nodes that were difficult to process, and sampling errors on the part of the pathologist. Touch imprint cytology overcame the deficits of frozen section and proved useful in detecting metastatic disease in lymph nodes.

Adult↗

Value of touch preparations (imprints) for diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: The clinical diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis is confirmed by demonstrating the organism on a superficial smear or on a biopsy of the lesion. Misdiagnosis in a biopsy specimen may be due to scanty Leishmania organisms that may not be identified in histologic sections. METHODS: Punch biopsies of skin lesions, suspected clinically to be cutaneous leishmaniasis, from 29 patients were taken. Touch smears on slides were air-dried, fixed with methyl alcohol, and stained with Giemsa stain. Results of routine histologic examination were then compared with those of touch preparation. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases were positive for leishmaniasis. In 18 cases, the organisms were seen both in the biopsy and in the touch preparation. In three cases, the organisms were only identified on touch preparation. CONCLUSIONS: A touch preparation improves the sensitivity of the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis without incurring additional cost to the laboratory.

Adolescent↗

Touch preparation or frozen section for intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph node metastases from breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The preferred technique for intraoperative evaluation of the sentinel lymph node has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity and accuracy of intraoperative evaluation of the sentinel lymph node by touch preparation cytology and frozen section. METHODS: A total of 117 patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer or ductal carcinoma-in-situ undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy had intraoperative evaluation of the sentinel node by touch preparation, frozen section, or both. The results of the intraoperative evaluation were compared with the final histological results of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) paraffin section and immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: Twenty-six (57%) of the 46 patients with nodal involvement had metastases detected during surgery. The sensitivity of touch preparation for detecting macrometastases was 78%; for detecting all H&E metastases, including micrometastases, was 57%; and for detecting all metastases, including those seen on IHC, was 40%. The sensitivity of frozen section for detecting macrometastases was 83%; for detecting all H&E metastases, including micrometastases, was 78%; and for detecting all metastases, including those seen on IHC, was 64%. Both have a low sensitivity for micrometastases seen by H&E paraffin section: 57% and 78%, respectively. Neither detected micrometastases diagnosed by IHC only. CONCLUSIONS: Both touch preparation and frozen section seem to be accurate in detecting macrometastases, but not micrometastases. Intraoperative evaluation of the sentinel lymph node by touch preparation allows for a quick evaluation of the node without wasting significant tissue and without detecting occult microscopic metastases, which may be beneficial because the clinical importance of these has yet to be elucidated.

Adult↗

No-touch isolation technique reduces intraoperative shedding of tumor cells into the portal vein during resection of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The mutant-allele-specific amplification (MASA) method is capable of detecting 1 genetically altered tumor cell among thousands of normal cells. The MASA enabled us to detect occult tumor cells undetectable by histopathologic examination of lymph nodes and blood samples. METHODS: To investigate whether tumor manipulation during operation enhances cancer cell dissemination into the portal vein with use of MASA and to assess the effect of the no-touch isolation technique in the treatment of colorectal cancers, 27 colorectal cancers (17 were operated on conventionally and 10 were operated on according to the no-touch isolation technique) were screened for mutations in K-ras or p53. We next examined blood samples of the portal vein collected before, during, and after manipulation of tumors, using MASA to look for the specific mutation found in the primary tumors. RESULTS: Somatic mutations were identified in 18 of these primary tumors (11 were in the conventional resection technique group and 7 were in the no-touch isolation technique group). In 8 of 11 (73%) conventional resection technique cases, we identified the same genetic alteration of the primary tumor in the portal blood during operation, whereas only 1 patient (14%) in the no-touch isolation technique group had a positive result. CONCLUSIONS: The no-touch isolation technique may be useful to prevent cancer cells from being shed into the portal vein during surgical manipulation.

Alleles↗

Touch-down PCR and single-strand conformation polymorphism for detecting clonal T cell receptor gamma gene rearrangement in lymphoid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of detecting clonal T cell receptor gamma (TCR-gamma) gene rearrangement with touch-down PCR and single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis (SSCP) in the diagnosis of lymphoid leukemia. METHODS: The DNA of peripheral blood leucocytes from lymphoid leukemia patients were extracted for amplification of the TCR-gamma gene rearrangement with the consensus primers and touch-down PCR. The PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, direct DNA sequencing and SSCP analysis. The positive control cell line DNA was mixed in different proportions with the DNA extracted from reactive lymphoid tissue to test the sensitivity of the touch-down PCR. RESULTS: Fifteen of 18 T lymphoid leukemia and 2 of the 4 B lymphoid leukemia patients were identified to be positive by agarose electrophoresis. The positive PCR products were further analyzed by SSCP analysis, which showed discrete bands. Direct DNA sequencing confirmed the clones to be TCR-gamma gene rearrangement, and the sensitivity of touch-down PCR was 1%. CONCLUSION: Consensus primers for studying TCR-gamma gene rearrangement in combination with touch-down PCR can effectively amplify the clonal TCR-gamma gene rearrangement in T lymphoid leukemia.

Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Rec↗

Touch imprints in the intraoperative diagnosis of anterior mediastinal neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative diagnosis of mediastinal lesions using touch imprints and frozen sections. DESIGN: We studied touch imprints and frozen sections from 21 anterior mediastinal lesions retrospectively. The lesions included six cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, eight thymomas, two thymic carcinomas, three Hodgkin's disease cases, and two seminomas. Slides were reviewed independently by each of the three authors, and diagnoses were recorded. RESULTS: Depending on the observer, the correct diagnosis was obtained on touch imprints alone in 76% to 81% of cases. On frozen sections alone, the correct diagnosis was made in 67% to 86% of cases. In 86% to 100% of cases, the correct diagnosis was made on either touch imprint or frozen section. CONCLUSIONS: As with frozen sections, the most common significant error in interpreting cytology preparations was in distinguishing thymic epithelial tumors (thymoma and thymic carcinoma) from lymphoma. On a modified Wright-Giemsa-stained imprint, epithelial cells in a thymoma may be inconspicuous. Clues to their presence include cells with a spindled nuclear shape or a small distinct nucleolus. The epithelial cells have scant cytoplasm with indistinct cell borders. Clumping of cells is often not prominent in lymphocytic thymomas, but may be present in epithelial or mixed lymphocytic and epithelial tumors. With practice, one can learn to recognize thymic epithelial cells on touch imprints. Familiarity with this simple inexpensive technique could improve the accuracy of intraoperative diagnosis of anterior mediastinal lesions.

Cytodiagnosis↗

Gentle Touch, a lens material resistant to protein deposition.

We investigated the ability of the Gentle Touch, a non-ionic contact lens material containing 35% netrafilcon A and 65% water, to repel protein deposits. Studies were conducted in vivo (lenses worn by patients) and in vitro (lenses coated by artificial tears). Acuvue soft contact lenses, an ionic lens material containing 42% etafilcon A and 58% water, were used as controls. After 1 to 2 weeks of wear, protein deposits on Gentle Touch lenses averaged 1.5-2.8 micrograms per lens versus 338-444 micrograms per lens for Acuvue. Gentle Touch lenses that were heat-coated with an FDA tear solution recommended for testing protein deposition averaged 6.5 micrograms of protein deposits per lens, whereas almost 100 micrograms of protein was deposited on each Acuvue lens. Lenses treated with an artificial tear solution deposited a non-detectable amount of protein on each Gentle Touch lens versus more than 358 micrograms on each Acuvue lens. These studies demonstrated that Gentle Touch lenses are highly resistant to protein deposits.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Merkel cell-neurite complexes in touch domes of hamster cheek pouch.

Morphological study has been done in touch domes of hamster cheek pouch as a preparation for further electrophysiological study. The touch domes were examined by light and electron microscopy. There were one or two primary ridges (epithelial ridges) in the center of the touch dome, and each dome was supplied by one to three nerve fibres. Tactile cells (Merkel cells) were localized within primary ridges of touch domes and Merkel cell-neurite complexes were observed in every one. Since Merkel cell-neurite complexes are slow adapting mechanoreceptors, these results suggest that they might be involved in touch sensation.

Animals↗

Reduction in incidence of glove perforation during laparotomy wound closure by 'no touch' technique.

Intact surgical gloves provide an efficient barrier against the HIV and Hepatitis B viruses but glove perforations are common, particularly during mass closure of laparotomy wounds. Attempts to develop gloves immune to perforation have failed. A series of 100 consecutive laparotomy wounds were randomised to mass closure by either the 'hand in' technique currently favoured by many surgeons, or a 'no touch' technique manipulating the wound edges with instruments only. The two groups were similar with regard to grade of surgeon and assistant, proportion of routine and emergency cases, and proportion of clean or dirty cases. The wound lengths in each group were similar, and the time taken to close the abdominal wall was similar in both groups. Although a similar number of perforated gloves occurred in each group while the operative procedure was being performed ('hand in', 9 of 50 vs 'no touch', 12 of 50; P = 0.62); a significantly reduced number of glove perforations occurred in the 'no touch' group during wound closure ('hand in', 16 of 50 vs 'no touch', 3 of 50, P = 0.0017). No touch closure of the abdominal wall may provide protection to surgeons against blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B.

Gloves, Surgical↗

Image analysis assessment of testicular touch preparation cytologies effectively quantifies human spermatogenesis.

PURPOSE: We have recently demonstrated that computer assisted image analysis of paraffin embedded testicular tissue based on deoxyribonucleic acid content and morphology characteristics is an effective method for the quantitative assessment of spermatogenesis. We assess the use of testicular touch preparation image analysis as a technique for quantification of spermatogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Air dried, touch imprints of testicular tissue from obstructed azoospermic and severely oligozoospermic patients were obtained at the time of biopsy. Image analysis using a filter based on deoxyribonucleic acid content and cellular morphological characteristics was performed on Feulgen stained touch preparation imprints as well as paraffin embedded sections. RESULTS: Image analysis of 52 testicular touch preparations from 48 azoospermic or severely oligozoospermic men revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the percentages of spermatid and spermatozoa, and 2N and 4N cells among seminiferous tubules exhibiting the 5 diagnostic categories of obstruction with normal spermatogenesis, maturation arrest at the spermatocyte stage, maturation arrest at spermatid stage, hypospermatogenesis and Sertoli cell only. Similar differences were observed in the image analysis data of the corresponding paraffin embedded testicular sections. CONCLUSIONS: Computer assisted image analysis of testicular touch preparation is an effective quantitative method of spermatogenesis evaluation.

Adult↗

Non-necessary touch in the nursing care of elderly people.

This study describes the occurrence of non-necessary touching, defined as spontaneous and emotional physical contact between the nurse and patient, in the nursing care of elderly people in long-term care. The analysis was based on observation of nursing situations; any verbal communication occurring in connection with touching was also recorded. A total of 182 situations were studied in which 178 non-necessary touches by the nurse and four by the patient were recorded. Non-necessary touching was used in connection with a wide range of activities: making statements, making requests, waking up, encouraging, explaining, asking, comforting, teasing, telling off, hugging and thanking.

Adult↗

When touch is not the best approach.

Health care professionals have long believed in the value of nonverbal components of communication and the highly significant roles such factors as distance, space, and touch can play in therapeutic relationships. The value of touch is not appreciated by all health care professionals or considered appropriate or desirable by some patients. While touch has been described as the most important of all the senses, the astute professional must be cognizant of the times when touch should not be used.

Attitude to Health↗

Physiologic and behavioral effects of gentle human touch on preterm infants.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a gentle human touch (GHT) intervention provided to 42 preterm infants (27-33 weeks gestational age), for 10 min, three times daily for 10 days. There was no significant difference in mean HR levels or in percent of abnormal heart rate (HR) or O2 saturation comparing 10-min baseline (B), GHT, and 10-min post-touch (PT) phases. There were significantly lower levels of active sleep, motor activity, and behavioral distress during GHT compared to B and P phases. There were no differences among the 42 infants in the GHT group and 42 infants in a randomly assigned control group on any outcome variable including weight gain, morbidity status, or behavioral organization. The findings suggest that GHT generally is a safe and soothing type of touch to provide to young preterm infants, but that individual infant responses to touch need to be continuously monitored by NICU staff and parents.

Adult↗

Distinct morphological characteristics of touch, temperature, and mechanical nociceptive neurons in the crotaline trigeminal ganglia.

Intrasomal recording and horseradish peroxidase injection techniques were employed in vivo to determine the morphological characteristics of touch, temperature, and mechanical nociceptive neurons in the trigeminal ganglia of crotaline snakes. The touch neurons, with a peripheral axon conducting at the A-beta range, could be subdivided into tactile and vibrotactile neurons according to their response properties, but there were no morphological differences between them. These neurons exhibited a large and oval soma and possessed a set of large stem, peripheral, and central axons which were all myelinated and equal in diameter with a constriction at the bifurcation. The temperature neurons, which conducted peripherally at the A-delta range, were physiologically separated into thermosensitive and thermo-mechanosensitive neurons, which were also morphologically indistinguishable. The temperature neurons had a round soma of medium size and a set of medium axons with varied axonal bifurcation patterns. All axons of these neurons were myelinated, but the central axon was thinner than the stem and peripheral axons. The mechanical nociceptive neurons, which had a peripheral axon conducting at the A-delta range, were morphologically heterogeneous based on their conduction velocities. The neurons conducting at the fast A-delta range were morphologically similar to the temperature neurons in the ganglion excepting their thinner central axons, whereas those at the slow A-delta range had a thinner myelinated stem axon that gave rise to a thinner myelinated peripheral axon and an unmyelinated stem axon with a bifurcation of either a triangular expansion at the bifurcating point or a central axon arising straightforwardly from the constant stem and peripheral axons. This study revealed that distinct morphological characteristics do exist for the touch and temperature neurons and the subtypes of mechanical nociceptive neurons in the trigeminal ganglion, but not for the subfunctional types of touch neurons or temperature neurons.

Animals↗

The mec-7 beta-tubulin gene of Caenorhabditis elegans is expressed primarily in the touch receptor neurons.

Mutants of the mec-7 beta-tubulin gene of Caenorhabditis elegans lack the large diameter 15-protofilament microtubules normally found only in the set of six touch receptor neurons. Both a mec-7-lacZ reporter gene and affinity-purified anti-mec-7 antibodies were used to show that mec-7 is expressed primarily in the touch neurons. These data are consistent with a possible instructive role for the mec-7 tubulin in determining microtubule protofilament number. The antibodies and the mec-7-lacZ transgene were also used to examine mec-7 expression in mutants affecting the generation, differentiation or maintenance of the touch neurons. Decreased expression was observed in mutants of unc-86 and mec-3, genes that encode transcription factors essential for touch receptor neuron generation and differentiation, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗