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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

Comparison of culture and a novel 5' Taq nuclease assay for direct detection of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in clinical specimens from cattle.

A Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis-specific 5' Taq nuclease PCR assay using a 3' minor groove binder-DNA probe (TaqMan MGB) was developed based on a subspecies-specific fragment of unknown identity (S. Hum, K. Quinn, J. Brunner, and S. L. On, Aust. Vet. J. 75:827-831, 1997). The assay specifically detected four C. fetus subsp. venerealis strains with no observed cross-reaction with C. fetus subsp. fetus-related Campylobacter species or other bovine venereal microflora. The 5' Taq nuclease assay detected approximately one single cell compared to 100 and 10 cells in the conventional PCR assay and 2,500 and 25,000 cells from selective culture from inoculated smegma and mucus, respectively. The respective detection limits following the enrichments from smegma and mucus were 5,000 and 50 cells/inoculum for the conventional PCR compared to 500 and 50 cells/inoculum for the 5' Taq nuclease assay. Field sampling confirmed the sensitivity and the specificity of the 5' Taq nuclease assay by detecting an additional 40 bulls that were not detected by culture. Urine-inoculated samples demonstrated comparable detection of C. fetus subsp. venerealis by both culture and the 5' Taq nuclease assay; however, urine was found to be less effective than smegma for bull sampling. Three infected bulls were tested repetitively to compare sampling tools, and the bull rasper proved to be the most suitable, as evidenced by the improved ease of specimen collection and the consistent detection of higher levels of C. fetus subsp. venerealis. The 5' Taq nuclease assay demonstrates a statistically significant association with culture (chi2 = 29.8; P < 0.001) and significant improvements for the detection of C. fetus subsp. venerealis-infected animals from crude clinical extracts following prolonged transport.

Animals↗

Enzyme amplified immunoassay: a novel technique applied to direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in clinical specimens.

Endocervical swabs from 212 women and urethral swabs from 100 men were tested by the routine methods for McCoy cell culture and simultaneously by a novel enzyme amplified immunoassay test to detect chlamydia antigen. Overall correlation of the amplified test with culture was 96.5%. The test proved to be a suitable screening procedure for genital chlamydial infection, particularly for large numbers of specimens or in cases in which culture was not available.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Optimisation of acid fast smears for the direct detection of mycobacteria in clinical samples.

AIMS: Despite its long history, the acid fast smear remains unstandardised. Technical variations in both the preparation of clinical material and subsequent staining mean that smear sensitivity relative to culture may vary from 50% to over 80%. This study assessed the sensitivity of acid fast microscopy at each of five stages of sample preparation and by both commonly used staining methods. METHODS: Sputum samples thought for varying reasons to be highly likely to be culture positive were used to prepare a series of smears in which the effects of digestion (liquefaction), concentration (centrifugation), and decontamination (sodium hydroxide) could be assessed, together with a comparison of staining by the auramine/phenol and Ziehl-Neelsen techniques. RESULTS: The most effective method for the demonstration of acid fast organisms in sputum was found to be an auramine phenol stain applied to a liquefied, concentrated sample and examined before the decontamination process. CONCLUSIONS: The auramine phenol stain applied to a liquefied, concentrated sample and examined before the decontamination process is the most effective method for the demonstration of acid fast organisms in sputum.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Direct detection of 4q35 rearrangements implicated in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

The p13E-11 probe has been shown to detect DNA rearrangements in sporadic and familial cases of FSHD. Its use, however, has been hampered by the fact that it detects at least two pairs of EcoRI alleles, one derived from the 4q35 region (D4F104S1), the other from 10q26 (D10F104S2). We have cloned p13E-11 EcoRI fragments from the 4q35 and 10q26 subtelomeric regions and shown the presence of several restriction site differences within the KpnI tandem repeat units. The two loci present a different distribution of restriction sites for the enzyme BlnI which allows differential cleavage of the KpnI units derived from 10q26, leaving intact the 4q35 pair of alleles. This method of differential restriction greatly facilitates the interpretation of Southern blots obtained from affected and unaffected subjects, with an important improvement in reliability for diagnosis and genetic counselling. In addition, this method can be used to investigate the molecular mechanism of the 4q35 rearrangement implicated in the disease and to ascertain whether the rearrangement is because of interchromosomal exchange between 4qter and 10qter KpnI repeats.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Evaluation of a radioactive rRNA:cDNA-hybridisation assay for the direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens.

A radioactive cDNA probe complementary to chlamydial ribosomal RNA was used to detect C trachomatis in urogenital specimens. Of 37 specimens positive with cell culture 31 were confirmed by the rRNA:cDNA hybridisation test, the sensitivity being 83.8%. The specificity of the hybridisation test was 94.4%, as 186 of 197 specimens that were negative by cell culture were also negative when assessed by the hybridisation method. Given a prevalence of 15.8% the predictive values for positive and negative results were 73.8% and 96.9%, respectively. In additional experiments the possible role of microorganisms added to the specimen collection medium was investigated. However, no indication for crosshybridisation was found; at high concentrations microorganisms interfered with the test procedure.

Cervix Uteri↗

Direct detection and quantification of singlet oxygen during ischemia and reperfusion in rat hearts.

To detect singlet oxygen (1O2) in postischemic reperfused hearts, 5,8-endoperoxide, an oxidation product of beta-carotene, was used as a marker for 1O2 generation and was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Isolated rat hearts were subjected to ischemia for 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min followed by 10 min of reperfusion with buffer containing 25 microM beta-carotene. The coronary effluent was collected, extracted, and injected into the HPLC unit. The production of 5,8-endoperoxide was maximum during the first 2 min of reperfusion. Maximal accumulated amount of 1O2 was observed in hearts subjected to 60-min ischemia (36.2 +/- 1.7 nmol.10 min-1.g-1) as compared with 10-min ischemia (6.2 +/- 1.0 nmol.10 min-1.g-1). There was a good correlation between the amount of 1O2 production and cardiac function. Treatment with 25 mM histidine significantly decreased 5,8-endoperoxide from 7.02 +/- 0.47 to 0.98 +/- 0.11 nmol.min-1.g-1 (P < 0.01) and improved cardiac function in the group with 60-min ischemia. This study demonstrates that 1) the present method is useful and reliable for the measurement of 1O2 in the heart, 2) 1O2 production during reperfusion is dependent on the duration of initial ischemia, and 3) 1O2 is one of the major factors in postischemic reperfusion injury.

Animals↗

A new method for direct detection of heparin on surface-modified intraocular lenses. A modification of Jaques' toluidine blue staining method.

BACKGROUND: Examination of surface-bound heparin on synthetic polymers can only be performed by few staining methods. These methods are limited by an only approximate detection of heparin visible at high magnification. Other methods only measure heparin quantitatively (per square dimension) and are rather sensitive to artifacts. Due to its homogeneous staining pattern, the modified toluidine blue staining technique, using a non-protein-based substance, allows examination and analysis of the homogeneity of the monomolecular heparin layer even under critical conditions like scanning electron microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For critical examination of the heparin layer, this method was used for 5 sterile heparin surface-modified (HSM) monofocal (Pharmacia, 809C, 5 mm optical zone), 2 multifocal PMMA (Pharmacia, 811E, 6 mm optical zone) and 1 standard PMMA intraocular lenses (IOLs; Pharmacia, 809P, 5 mm optical zone). A special mixture containing a sodium borate buffer was used to avoid cross-reactions of toluidine with phenylimines, which permit a covalent surface linkage of heparin to synthetic polymeric materials via reductive amination. This resulted in less coarse-grained complex agglutination. After light and spectral microscopy of the surface of stained IOLs, scanning electron microscopy was performed to investigated the reliability and validity of this modified staining method. RESULTS: All HSM IOLs showed a homogeneous heparin structure and coating, which could be demonstrated even under critical photographic circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: The modification of the original toluidine blue staining method introduced by Jaques in 1943 is a reliable and reproducible technique for the detailed in vitro analysis of surface-bound heparin with a low artifact rate. Because of the detailed detection of heparin on polymeric surfaces, this staining method is recommended for special problems, e.g. in cataract surgery.

Coloring Agents↗

Direct detection and quantification of transition metal ions in human atherosclerotic plaques: evidence for the presence of elevated levels of iron and copper.

OBJECTIVE: The involvement of transition metals in atherosclerosis is controversial. Some epidemiological studies have reported a relationship between iron (Fe) and cardiovascular disease, whereas others have not. Experimental studies have reported elevated levels of iron and copper (Cu) in diseased human arteries but have often used methods that release metal ions from proteins. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we have used the minimally invasive technique of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICPMS) to quantify iron and copper in ex vivo healthy human arteries and carotid lesions. The EPR spectra detected are characteristic of nonheme Fe(III) complexes. Statistically elevated levels of iron were detected in the intima of lesions compared with healthy controls (0.370 versus 0.022 nmol/mg tissue for EPR, 0.525 versus 0.168 nmol/mg tissue by ICPMS, P<0.05 in each cases). Elevated levels of copper were also detected (7.51 versus 2.01 pmol/mg tissue, lesion versus healthy control, respectively, P<0.05). Iron levels did not correlate with the gender or age of the donor, or tissue protein or calcium levels, but cholesterol levels correlated positively with iron accumulation, as measured by EPR. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that iron accumulates in human lesions and may contribute to disease progression.

Aged↗

Relation between direct detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in human coronary arteries at postmortem examination and histological severity (Stary grading) of associated atherosclerotic plaque.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have suggested a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease. However, it is still unclear whether C pneumoniae plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Accordingly, we have performed a systematic dissection of the 3 coronary arteries on 33 postmortem subjects and studied the relationship in individual artery segments between the presence of C pneumoniae DNA and the severity of associated atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The prevalence of C pneumoniae DNA in arterial segments was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after controlling for the presence of PCR inhibitors. Atherosclerosis in each arterial segment was graded histologically with the Stary classification. C pneumoniae was detected by PCR in 78.8% of subjects, but there was no association between the presence of this DNA and cause of death or grade of atherosclerosis. When paired mild and severe atherosclerotic lesions within subjects were compared, mild lesions were as likely to be positive for C pneumoniae as severe lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that C pneumoniae can frequently be detected in atheromatous plaques in coronary arteries. However, its distribution did not correlate with severity or extent of disease.

Aged↗

Direct detection of endogenous hydroxyl radical production in cultured adult cardiomyocytes during anoxia and reoxygenation. Is the hydroxyl radical really the most damaging radical species?

Isolated adult rat cardiac myocytes were subjected to anoxia and substrate deprivation for 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes and reoxygenation for 120 seconds. The supernatant and cell extract were analyzed for hydroxyl radicals (.OH) with high-performance liquid chromatography using salicylate as a trapping agent. The production of intracellular H2O2 as a possible precursor of .OH was also documented using the fluorescent probe dichlorofluorescein diacetate. The release of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation were used as cell injury markers. Trypan blue and horseradish peroxidase stains were used as markers for altered membrane permeability. Maximum formation of .OH was observed in myocytes subjected to 15 minutes of anoxia/reoxygenation (2.83 +/- 0.27 nmol/mg protein), at which time no injury was observed at light and ultramicroscopic levels. On the other hand, there was no correlation between the amount of .OH production and different parameters of cell injury in myocytes subjected to anoxia/reoxygenation longer than 15 minutes. Myocytes developed extensive blebbing, loss of cell membrane permeability, and ultrastructural damage. The enzyme leakage was minimal at 15 minutes (0.094 +/- 0.021 units/mg protein) and increased fivefold after 120 minutes (0.428 +/- 0.069 units/mg protein). Similarly, MDA increased from 0.78 +/- 0.14 nmol/mg protein at 15 minutes to 1.65 +/- 0.35 nmol/mg protein at 120 minutes. Incubation with 1 mM deferoxamine reduced the .OH production at all anoxic intervals, most significantly at 15 minutes, but did not decrease LDH and MDA release or provide ultrastructural preservation. However, preincubation with 2.5 microM diphenylphenylenediamine markedly reduced both LDH and MDA release and offered prominent ultrastructural protection. These results suggest that 1) myocytes were able to generate .OH endogenously; 2) maximum .OH was produced at 15 minutes after anoxic reoxygenation without compromising cell viability; 3) prolongation of the anoxic period exacerbated cell damage without parallel increase in .OH generation; 4) there was no significant production of .OH after 15 minutes of anoxia/reoxygenation with or without treatment of deferoxamine, suggesting that prolonged anoxia/reoxygenation does not induce additional .OH formation and thus mediate cell injury; and 5) it is likely that the damage to myocytes in this system was still mediated by free radicals other than .OH, as indicated by the protection by diphenylphenylenediamine against the cellular injury.

Animals↗

Homogeneous cell-based fluorescence polarization assay for the direct detection of cAMP.

A fluorescence polarization-based functional assay for cyclic AMP (cAMP) production in cells has been proven effective for the detection of agonist-stimulated cAMP production in a HEK 293 recombinant cell line expressing the corticotropin-releasing factor subtype 2alpha (CRF2alpha) receptor. Assays were completed in a single well of a 384-well microplate with no transfer, separation, or wash steps incurred. The assay performance is excellent for adaptation to the high throughput screening environment in terms of speed of analysis, magnitude of displaced signal, precision, and detection limits for cAMP quantitation. Relative potencies of agonists and antagonists are maintained with respect to radiometric assays. The assay withstands up to 5% DMSO and up to 10 microM concentrations of highly colored compound. These attributes suggest that accurate assessment of drug binding can be measured using this assay.

Amphibian Proteins↗

Direct detection of Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis: comparison of polymerase chain reaction and culture.

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a genomic DNA amplification method for Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis compared with culture isolation. Aliquots from B. pertussis and B. parapertussis cultures were added to sterile physiological saline or sterile distilled water to give bacterial suspensions of 10(8) cells/ml and serial dilutions were prepared. Suspensions in physiological saline were cultured on charcoal agar medium; bacterial growth was observed up to dilutions of 10(-7). Suspensions in distilled water were subjected to DNA extraction and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on the extracts; the PCR was positive up to dilutions of 10(-8) for B. pertussis and 10(-9) for B. parapertussis. Since the efficacy of culture isolation, regarded as the standard for the detection of B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, declines after the first stage of pertussis or with prior vaccination or antibiotic therapy, PCR, although not yet standardized, may provide an alternative diagnostic tool.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗