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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Mathematical modelling of competitive labelled-ligand assay systems. Theoretical re-evaluation of optimum assay conditions and precision data for some experimentally established radioimmunoassay systems.

A mathematical theory of competitive labelled-ligand assays was developed with the intention of theoretically re-evaluating the optimal assay conditions and precision data of assay systems established by experiment. Our theory is based upon the assumptions of a simple bimolecular reaction mechanism, homogeneous reactants, as well as kinetically indistinguishable labelled and non-labelled ligands. The general case of two-step (non-equilibrium) assay was considered including the one-step (equilibrium) assay as a special case. The solution of the system of corresponding kinetic differential equations was used to mathematically construct standard curves. Furthermore, intraassay precision profiles and indices as well as detection limits were calculated considering solely the pipetting error, epsilon, as a source of experimental error. A procedure was outlined to mathematically determine the optimal incubation conditions for any assay system targeted to a given analyte concentration, P, at which the standard deviation of assay results is to be minimized. Estimates of both the content of binding sites and the equilibrium constant, K, of the specific binding agent are necessary, and these can be derived from Scatchard plots. For six RIA systems, of which three were one-step and three were two-step assays, experimental assay conditions and precision data were compared with theoretical predictions. Experimentally determined antibody binding site concentrations agreed fairly well with those independently evaluated by mathematical optimization. Mean precision indices, defined as constituting an average over the complete precision profile, were found to be within the theoretically predicted range, i.e. two- to threefold the pipetting error.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Binding Sites, Antibody↗

Survival of mouse embryos after vitrification depending on the cooling rate of the cryoprotectant solution.

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the rate of cooling of eight-cell mouse embryos to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) and their developmental capacity after thawing on the basis of their ability to leave the zona pellucida ('hatching') during in vitro culturing. Eight-cell embryos were obtained from superovulated female mice and divided into three experimental and one control group. Embryos from the experimental groups were cryopreserved by the vitrification method using ethylene glycol as cryoprotectant. The vitrification protocols used in the study differed in the rate of cooling of the cryoprotectant solution. Embryos from the first group were frozen in conventional 0.25-ml plastic straws, those from the second group in pipetting 'tips', and embryos from the third group, placed in vitrification solution, were introduced dropwise directly into liquid nitrogen. The control group of embryos was cultured in vitro without freezing in a culturing medium in an environment consisting of 95% air and 5% CO2. The developmental capacity of thawed embryos was assessed on the basis of their ability to leave the zona pellucida ('hatching') after three days of in vitro culturing. In the control group 95.1% of embryos 'hatched'. A significantly higher number of embryos that 'hatched' after thawing was observed in the group introduced dropwise directly into liquid nitrogen (60.0%) compared to the group frozen in pipetting 'tips' (37.9%). The group frozen in straws yielded significantly the lowest proportion of 'hatching' embryos (8.1%). These results showed that increasing cooling rates during vitrification of embryos improved their survival.

Animals↗

Studying electric field effects on embryonic myocytes.

Several problems arise when electrophysiological measurements are attempted on cells exposed to an electric field. In addition to field distortion produced by the reference electrode, membrane potential measurements by conventional microelectrode or patch-clamp techniques suffer serious interference from the applied field. We describe here a novel method for measurement of cardiac myocyte response to an alternating electric field that avoids these problems by sensing the mechanical activity of the cells rather than their electrical activity. A miniature electromechanical force transducer is used for this purpose. A glass pipet is attached to the force transducer, and only this pipet makes actual contact with the cell preparation. The resistive elements of the transducer are arranged as two legs of a Wheatstone bridge. Contractile activity of the cells produces small displacements of the micropipet and a resulting change in the transducer resistances. The Wheatstone bridge output is a current signal that is detected and converted to a voltage signal by a picoammeter before amplification and recording for later analysis. The technique may find applications in a variety of experimental studies of contractile tissues.

Action Potentials↗

On-line microdevice for stress proteomics.

The handling of the cells or tissues is essential for proteomics research or drug screening, where labor is not avoidable. The steps of cell wash, protein extraction, protein denaturing are complicated procedures in conventional method using centrifugation and pipetting in the laboratory. This is the bottle-neck for proteome research. To solve these problems, we propose to utilize the nanotechnology, which will improve the proteomics methodology. Utilizing the nanotechnology, we developed a novel microseparation system, where centrifugation and pipetting are needless. This system has a nanostructured microdevice, by which the cell handling, protein extraction, and antibody assay can be performed. Since cell transfer is needless, all cells are corrected without any loss during the cell-pretreatment procedures, which allowed high reproducibility and enabled the detection of low amount of protein expression. Utilizing the microdevice, we analyzed the stress induced proteins. We further succeeded the screening of food that was useful for immunity and found that an extraction from seaweed promoted the apoptosis of T-lymphoblastic cells. Here, we present an on-line microdevice for stress proteomics.

Nanotechnology↗

Comparison of recovery of airborne microorganisms in a dairy cattle facility using selective agar and thin agar layer resuscitation media.

Thin agar layer (TAL) medium was developed at Kansas State University to improve the resuscitation of injured cells and has been shown to result in higher recovery than is obtained with selective media alone for cold-, heat-, salt-, and acid-injured cells. The experiment presented here was designed to determine the effectiveness of the TAL method for the recovery of possibly injured organisms from air. Eleven agar media were used for the experiment: tryptic soy agar (TSA), MacConkey sorbitol agar (MSA), TAL-MSA, Baird-Parker (BP) agar, TAL-BP agar, modified Oxford (MOX) agar, TAL-MOX agar, xylose lysine sodium desoxycholate (XLD) agar, TAL-XLD agar, Yersinia-selective (CIN) agar, and TAL-CIN agar. The TAL plates were prepared by pipetting 6 ml of selective agar into a BBL Rodac plate (65 by 15 mm). Selective agar was allowed to solidify, and then each plate was overlaid with 6 ml of TSA. Selective agar plates were prepared by pipetting 12 ml of agar into BBL Rodac plates and allowing the agar to solidify. Samples were taken at an indoor cattle facility at five separate locations with a BioScience SAS air-sampling instrument. For each plate, 60 liters of air was sampled. Three replications of the experiment were performed. The TAL method resulted in higher counts of microorganisms on all media tested. In addition, 175 isolates were selected randomly and identified in order to test the selectivity of TAL and the selective media for target organisms. The data obtained in this study show that the TAL resuscitation method is effective and necessary for the recovery of airborne organisms that may be injured.

Agar↗

Agar well technique for antibiotics in animal feeds.

The agar well technique compares favorably with the cylinder plate assay in accuracy, sensitivity, and precision. It is more flexible and more rugged, and growth of seed organism is not inhibited. The wells are precision cut with Grafar gel punch assembly with sets (6) of 10, 7, 5, 4, and 3 mm cutters. The wells are easily and rapidly filled with short, disposable Pasteur pipets fitted with rubber bulbs. The smaller wells are filled with capillary pipets. The diameter of the well (independent of volume) appears to be a function of concentration. For every decrease in the diameter size of the well, concentration can be increased, at least to the next higher level of the standard response line. Extracts of chlortetracycline containing as much as 3.2 mu-g/ml can be analyzed if the 3 mm wells are used and with no sacrifice in accuracy or precision. This works especially well for antibiotic premixes. The technique has been used successfully for penicillin, streptomycin, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, oleandomycin, and tylosin.

Agar↗

A semiautomated radioimmunoassay for mass screening of drugs of abuse.

A rapid, semiautomated radioimmunoassay system for detection of morphine, barbiturates, and amphetamines is described. The assays are applicable to large drug abuse screening programs. The heart of the system is the automatic pipetting station which can accomplish 600 pipetting operations per hour. The method uses 15 to 30 mul or urine for the morphine and barbiturate assay and 100 mul for the amphetamine and combined morphine/barbiturate assays. A number of other drugs were tested for interference with the assays and the results are discussed.

Amphetamine↗

Spreading depression resulting from cortical punctures.

In acute experiments on cats under deep Nembutal anesthesia punctures of the cortex caused a prolonged negative shift of its surface potential (up to 15 mv, 5.5 min), which was followed by a prolonged positive shift. During these shifts of the potential, both components of the direct response were depressed. The changes in potential and the depression of electric activity spread over the cortex at a mean rate of 65 micrometers/s. The phenomenon arised when the punctures are made with a pipet 20 micrometers and above in diameter. A puncture of the surface structures was critical; passage of the pipet through the middle and deep layers was ineffective. It is assumed that when cortical punctures are made the SD is caused by K(+) ions which leak out of the destroyed glial structures.

Animals↗

[Liquid handling with mechanical pipettes].

Dispensing very small amounts of liquid is essential in all science fields. A wide range of pipetting systems is now available, including air-cushion pipettes and positive-displacement pipettes. The precision and accuracy depends on not only the principle of pipetting systems but vapor pressure, density, viscosity or wetting behavior of the solution. Preventing contamination is also important issue. Basically, we should handle these pipettes according to maker's instruction manuals.

Chemistry↗

Lymphocyte functional antigens stabilize agglutination between Reed-Sternberg cells and T cells, but are not responsible for homotypic binding of Hodgkin's Reed-Sternberg cells.

The neoplastic (Hodgkin's Reed-Sternberg [H-RS]) cells in Hodgkin's disease (HD) are known for their unique capacity to form rosettes with unprimed T cells. Recently, a family of leukocyte-adherence molecules (LFA-1 and LFA-2) has been identified on T lymphocytes. The molecules bind to intercellular-adhesion molecules (ICAMs) and to LFA-3, respectively, which are associated with antigen-presenting cells. In this study, the authors examined whether these molecules are responsible for the homotypic and heterotypic agglutination that occurs in the cultured H-RS cells HDLM-1, HDLM-1d, and KM-H2. Despite their similar expressions of LFA-3 and ICAM-1, the different H-RS cells tested showed different growth patterns in culture. HDLM-1 cells grew singly, whereas HDLM-1d and KM-H2 cells grew in clumps. The HDLM-1 cells formed clumps when mixed with peripheral-blood T lymphocytes, cells of two lymphoblastic T-cell lines (MOLT-3 and MOLT-4), and cells of two monocyte lines (ML-1 and U-937). The addition of anti-LFA and ICAM-1 antibodies to cultures did not result in disassembly of the homotypic clusters of HDLM-1d or KM-H2 cells and it did not cause any significant changes in the size of heterotypic clusters or in the timing of cluster formation of HDLM-1 cells with other types of cells. In all studies, the cell clusters formed during homotypic and heterotypic aggregation were disassembled only minimally by cell shearing with pipetting. The disaggregation by pipetting was slightly more prominent in the presence of antibodies than was that of control cultures. However, in no case did the use of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and cell shearing cause complete disaggregation of homotypic and heterotypic clusters. The result seems to suggest that binding between H-RS cells and T cells and between H-RS cells and monocytes is not mediated primarily by LFAs and ICAMs, but that the binding may be strengthened in the presence of these molecules.

Adult↗

[Orinade--an aid for orientation when working with serology plates].

Simple and cheap aid for help during pipeting of the reagent on standard microtiter 96 well plates is described. By means of the 8 x 12 LED diode matrix under the plate is by running the program from the memory accomplished the guide during the plate. The number of current sample is indicated by means of numerical display. The use of described aid limited the number of false pipeting in routine work.

Serology↗

[Enzyme immunoassay for secretory immunoglobulin A on skin surface and in sweat].

Recently secretory IgA (S-IgA) was found to be secreted from the eccrine gland. By using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay, we measured the concentration of S-IgA 1) in sweat (sweat S-IgA) and 2) in the extract buffer obtained by pipetting++ on the skin (skin surface S-IgA). Skin surface hydration and skin surface lipid were measured at the sites where the samples of skin surface S-IgA were collected. (These measurements were taken immediately after the buffer was pipetted). The quantity of both sweat S-IgA and skin surface S-IgA differed according to the sites where they were collected. Sites in order of decreasing sweat S-IgA level: face, chest, forearm. Sites in order of decreasing skin surface S-IgA level: face, chest, palm, forearm, sole. (Skin surface S-IgA levels on palm and forearm were approximately equal). Although the amount of skin surface S-IgA was not related to the skin surface hydration, there was a significant correlation between skin surface S-IgA and skin surface lipid.

Adolescent↗

The EPOS Automated Selective Chemistry Analyzer evaluated.

We evaluated the analytical performance of the EPOS (Eppendorf Patient Oriented System) Automated Selective Chemistry Analyzer, using the following tests for serum analytes: alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and glucose. Results from the EPOS correlated well with those from comparison instruments (r greater than or equal to 0.990). Precision and linearity limits were excellent for all tests; linearity of the optical and pipetting systems was satisfactory. Reagent carryover was negligible. Sample-to-sample carryover was less than 1% for all tests, but only lactate dehydrogenase was less than the manufacturer's specified 0.5%. Volumes aspirated and dispensed by the sample and reagent II pipetting systems differed significantly from preset values, especially at lower settings; the reagent I system was satisfactory at all volumes tested. Minimal daily maintenance and an external data-reduction system make the EPOS a practical alternative to other bench-top chemistry analyzers.

Adult↗

Characteristics of the release of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate from micropipets by microiontophoresis.

The transfer number for radio-labelled cyclic AMP released from microiontophoretic pipets into brain pieces was determined for a large number of samples by radioassay. Release of cyclic AMP was linearly related to both iontophoretic current intensity and time as predicted by Faraday's Law. The results revealed that cyclic AMP has a rather low transfer number. In addition, an unusually large amount of variation of release, both within and among pipets was found under a variety of times and currents. The cause of the variation is not known but could be due to the unusual structure of the cyclic AMP molecule and the fact that it must be iontophoresed as a negative ion. These characteristics of cyclic AMP release may contribute to the difficulty in obtaining positive responses from appropriate neuronal target cells in vivo.

Animals↗

Centrifugal Cytology, IV. The Prearation of fixed stained dispersions of gynecological cells.

The Centrifugal Cytology technique has been utilized to produce glutaraldehyde fixed stained dispersions of both conventional Ayre scrapes and Davis pipet (PAPette) samples. Light microscope studies of dispersions of both types of cells on conventional microscope slides indicated that both the tinctorial and morphological appearance of the cells after Papanicolaou staining was very similar to that observed with conventional smears and that the same criteria could be utilized with the Centrifugal Cytology dispersions to screen the cells for cancer as had previously been used with the smears. A preliminary study indicated that six out of six positives with no false negatives or false positives were found. The Centrifugal Cytology technique appears to have promise as a method for preparing suspension samples such as pipets of gynecologic cells. Scanning electron microscope studies reveal that the squamous epithelial cells are very thin and at least some of them are covered by a network structure.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

[The determination of the Enslin number].

An apparatus after Ezersky was used for the determination of the Enslin number, thereby some error possibilities mentioned in the literature were investigated and compared with the method after the 2. AB-DDR. The dependence of the Enslin number on the height of the powder bed was proofed also at little layer thickness of some substances. The error possibilities are: tending of the powder bed by burning of the lower wet part, occurring of air bubbles below the powder bed and also the capillary action directed against the incorporation at the tip of a completely filled graduated pipet. The apparatus after the 2. AB-DDR as the apparatus after Ezersky, especially with graduated pipet without tip, produced measuring values with little deviation. The latter apparatus allowes a more rational using.

Absorption↗

Optimized method for measuring aspartate aminotransferase activity with the CentrifiChem Analyzer, with automatic preincubation of serum.

We propose a routine method for the mechanized measurement of aspartate aminotransferase with the CentrifiChem Analyzer, which is based on the recommendations of both the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and the Société Française de Biologie Clinique. A modification of the CentrifiChem pipettor permits simultaneous pipetting of two reagents, thus achieving automatic preincubation of the serum in the transfer disk. Owing to the fixed reagent volumes dispensed by the pipettor, preincubation conditions had to be modified, but the recommendations for the final reagent concentrations in the assay cuvet were observed. The totally automated method correlates very well with one involving manual pipetting to reproduce the detailed step-by-step recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. Intra-assay precision ranged from 3.4 to 4.9% and interassay precision from 1.7 to 7.5%. We assayed 135 sera and obtained a correlation coefficient of 0.996 (a = 1.025, b = 0.08).

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗