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At least 883 records · Page 49Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Specific routine determination of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) in plasma by partly automated liquid chromatography.

A simple isocratic HPLC method for determining azidothymidine (AZT) in serum and plasma of patients has been developed. The novel, specific, two-step, solid-phase extraction approach used for sample preparation gives a nearly quantitative recovery (95.3%) of AZT from the blood plasma matrix and requires only minimal handling of infectious clinical samples. Automatic "on-line" injection is achieved with an AASP system by switching a small cartridge, which retains the extracted analyte, into the HPLC stream. The overall HPLC procedure shows satisfying reproducibility with low standard deviation (CV: 2.1%). Because of the low detection limit (about 10 ng) and the possibility of concentrating AZT quantitatively in as much as 5 mL of plasma or serum, the method can be used in routine monitoring of AZT as well as in pharmacokinetic studies. Nevertheless, before establishing therapeutic drug monitoring for AZT, it still must be determined at what time after the last AZT dose blood specimens should be drawn for correct therapeutic interpretation of the concentration of AZT measured in blood.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2001

Solid phase microextraction.

Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) uses a small volume of sorbent dispersed typically on the surface of small fibres, to isolate and concentrate analytes from sample matrix. After contact with sample, analytes are absorbed or adsorbed by the fibre phase (depending on the nature of the coating) until an equilibrium is reached in the system. The amount of an analyte extracted by the coating at equilibrium is determined by the magnitude of the partition coefficient of the analyte between the sample matrix and the coating material. After the extraction step, the fibres are transferred, with the help of a syringe-like handling device, to analytical instrument, for separation and quantitation of target analytes. This technique integrates sampling, extraction and sample introduction and is a simple way of facilitating on-site monitoring. Applications of this technique include environmental monitoring, industrial hygiene, process monitoring, clinical, forensic, food, flavour, fragrance and drug analyses, in laboratory and on-site analysis.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗
PubMed2004

Quantitative determination of MK-0767, a dual alpha/gamma peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist, in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

5-[2,4-Dioxothiazolidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-methoxy-N-[[(4-trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]methyl]benzamide (I, MK-0767 or KRP-297, Fig. 1), is a dual alpha/gamma peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist. A LC-MS/MS method for the determination of I in human plasma has been successfully developed, validated and applied to clinical programs. The analyte and internal standard (II) are extracted from 0.05 mL plasma via solid phase extraction (SPE). HPLC is used for the separation of I and II from possible co-extracted endogenous and other compounds. Detection is by MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using a TurboIonSpray probe. The whole sample preparation is automated by using a Packard Multiprobe liquid handling system. The linear range is 4-2000 ng/mL in plasma. Recoveries were 71.1% and 69.4% for I and II, respectively. The method exhibited good linearity, reproducibility and sensitivity, selectivity and robustness when used for the analysis of clinical samples.

Calibration↗
PubMed2004

The efficacy of test tube warming devices used during oocyte retrieval for IVF.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether commonly used test tube warming devices maintain a constant temperature in follicular fluid aspirates. METHODS: By using a digital thermocouple, temperature was measured and comparisons were made between an analog dry block heater, a digital dry block heater, and a thermostatic test tube heater. RESULTS: For small fluid volumes, temperature in the block heaters increased above 37 degrees C after being in the block for over 2 min. The thermostatic heater maintained a constant temperature, but this was below the factory setting of 36.9 degrees C. Temperature maintenance was influenced by fluid volume in each tube. CONCLUSIONS: One of the key factors in the handling of gametes and embryos is the maintenance of constant temperature. Test tube warming devices require verification of their ability to maintain fluid at the desired temperature. Temperature may vary with fluid volume and the type of test tube warming device used.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Behavioural responses of cockerels to semen collection and their influence on semen characteristics.

One-hundred-and-twenty cockerels of Strain L2 Taiwan Country chicken from the National Chung-Hsing University were tested for their behavioural responses to semen collection at 21 to 30, 34 to 43 and 57 to 66 weeks of age. At every age period, semen was collected from every cockerel 4 times within a 1-week period. 2. Cockerel performances on most semen traits, including volume, concentration, total number of sperm, ease of collection and sensitivity to massage were very consistent within each age period. 3. Males that did not respond nervously to handling or were less sensitive to massage appeared to produce less semen. However, contamination was more serious in males that responded very nervously or were very sensitive to massage. 4. Sensitivity to massage, like semen volume, is an invariant character as indicated by the high correlation between measures taken at different age periods.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Salivary testosterone measurements: collecting, storing, and mailing saliva samples.

Salivary testosterone measurements can be especially useful in field studies, but reliable ways of collecting and handling samples need to be established. Using cotton dental rolls to collect saliva leads to inflated testosterone scores. Sugarfree gum can be used satisfactorily to stimulate saliva among both male and female subjects. Leaving unpreserved saliva samples at room temperature for 2 weeks or mailing them unrefrigerated is satisfactory for male subjects but leads to inflated scores for female subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Stability of RNA isolated from human trabecular bone at post-mortem and surgery.

To determine the reliability of gene expression studies in human post-mortem bone, it is important to evaluate the stability of RNA isolated from such tissues as a function of the post-mortem interval. The stability of total RNA and bone-specific mRNA species was examined in bone samples obtained from routine autopsies and at surgery. The optimal temperature for any storage and transport of the bone before RNA isolation was shown to be 4 degrees C, and RT-PCR analysis is the preferred technique for the analysis of gene expression in post-mortem bone as it tolerates partial RNA degradation. For gene expression studies in bone, post-mortem cases, with a post-mortem interval of less than 48 h, should be selected, and the time that bone is stored after retrieval at autopsy or surgery should be kept to a minimum. Overall, our findings indicate that with appropriate storage and handling, RNA can be reliably isolated from human bone obtained at post-mortem and surgery to study ex vivo the pattern of gene expression in healthy individuals and in patients with musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The effect of delayed analysis or freeze-thawing on the measurement of natural anticoagulants, resistance to activated protein C and markers of activation of the haemostatic system.

We provide a centralised thrombophilia screening service with sample transfer by courier or first class mail, a practice common to many centres. Sample quality is of prime importance, thus we have assessed the effect of delayed sample handling upon the haemostatic variables within our thrombophilia profile. This comprises screening for familial natural anticoagulant deficiency and APC resistance (1-4), and acquired lupus anticoagulant (5,6). The effect upon hypercoagulable markers were also assessed to facilitate evaluation of these in prospective clinical studies (7).

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2006

Microfluidic technologies as platforms for performing quantitative cellular analyses in an in vitro environment.

Quite often, important cellular events occur in environments that are either not amenable to implanted sensors or other types of molecular probes. In such cases, a viable alternative to taking the sensor or probe to the biological sample of interest is to bring the sample of interest out of its natural environment to one that is more conducive to the measurement scheme. The disadvantage of the latter approach is that the sample may not behave in the same manner in vitro as it does in vivo, or that the agonists and other stimuli to which the sample is subjected to in vivo are no longer present. In this Tutorial Review, the authors attempt to provide some guidance, based on their own experiences and those of other scientists, to performing cellular measurements in a quantitative manner under in vitro conditions. Due to the expansive literature on analyses involving cells, the authors have limited this Tutorial Review to those methods involving microfluidic technologies, both in microbore tubing and in microfabricated channels. Initial reports of analyses involving cells in microbore tubing were first reported nearly two decades ago, while those in microfabricated fluidic devices appeared over a decade ago. However, more recently, the complexity of cell analyses using fabricated microfluidic devices (as opposed to microbore tubing) has increased due in part to the improvements in fabrication technologies, fluid handling and delivery capabilities, advances in coatings of the channels within the microfluidic device, and integrated detection schemes. Examples of cellular analyses in microbore tubing and in fabricated microfluidic devices will be given, as well as associated advantages and challenges. Finally, the authors' thoughts on cellular analyses are presented here using the classical steps in an analysis as a guide.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Bacteriological quality of infant feeding bottle-contents and teats in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.

Bacteriological quality of 244 infant feeding-bottles and 61 teats were studied from January 1989 to November 1989. Samples were collected from feeding-bottles of babies who were brought by nursing mothers to clinics and hospitals for varying complaints. Of the 244 bottle-content samples, 144 (59%) harboured more than 2 x 10(6) colonies of bacteria per ml. of samples. The predominant bacterial isolates both from bottle-contents and teat-swabs were the coliform group of bacteria, such as E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., and Citrobacter spp. Enteric pathogens such as enteropathogenic E. coli, Shigella spp., S. aureus, and Bacillus cereus, were also isolated from some samples. In some cases enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) serotype were isolated both from feeding utensils and from the stools of the bottle-fed babies. Neither the different handling care of bottles used in the studied population, nor the educational status of the nursing mothers made a significant difference in the bacteriological quality of the infant feeding bottles in terms of the total bacterial counts per ml. of the bottle-contents. Preparation of food in advance of need combined with improper storage and inadequate cooking, and poor hygiene could be factors that resulted in a highly contaminated bottle contents. The superior quality of breast milk, and continual teaching of bottle feeding mothers on better handling of feeding bottles and feeds should be constantly emphasized. Teaching mothers on proper handling of feeding utensils accompanied by regular home visiting of health workers to observe hygienic condition of feeding utensils and home environment may improve the prevailing condition. Further and well controlled community based, longitudinal studies are also needed if we are to reduce gastroenteritis in babies as a result of using feeding bottles.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Modular tube/plate-based sample management: a business model optimized for scalable storage and processing.

Modular approaches to sample management allow staged implementation and progressive expansion of libraries within existing laboratory space. A completely integrated, inert atmosphere system for the storage and processing of a variety of microplate and microtube formats is currently available as an integrated series of individual modules. Liquid handling for reformatting and replication into microplates, plus high-capacity cherry picking, can be performed within the inert environmental envelope to maximize compound integrity. Complete process automation provides ondemand access to samples and improved process control. Expansion of such a system provides a low-risk tactic for implementing a large-scale storage and processing system.

Automation↗
PubMed1995

Human tissue retrieval at post-mortem for musculoskeletal research.

Laboratory experimentation must attempt to reduce animal involvement, and human cadaveric tissue can be a suitable alternative; however, this tissue is a potential biohazard, with the transmission of human immunodeficiency and hepatitis viruses presenting a very serious problem. In this paper we discuss how human tissue can be obtained at hospital post-mortem, and how it can then be stored and handled in a laboratory environment, focusing particularly on safety issues. We discuss the way in which the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Leicester University obtained human tissue for research into hip replacement. It is hoped that the article will serve as a 'blue-print' for other related research projects, where human tissue is required for experimentation.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1997

Transcontinental shipping of pancreatic islets for autotransplantation after total pancreatectomy.

Islet autotransplantation prevents diabetes in some patients after total pancreatectomy. Pancreatectomy is done at most hospitals but islets are prepared at only a few centers. We report a case in which the pancreas was sent to a laboratory half a continent distant from the operative site, and islets were prepared and returned to the original hospital for autotransplantation 16 h after resection. At 10 months posttransplantation, the patient is normoglycemic and insulin independent, with an appropriate insulin secretion in response to glucose. Endocrine function can be retained after pancreatectomy even if the islets are isolated at a remote laboratory, and autotransplantation could be offered to patients without the need to travel. This outcome implies that the typical handling and processing of a pancreas destined to yield an islet allograft should not prevent the recovery of a sufficient number of viable beta cells to establish insulin independence in type 1 diabetic recipients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Stability of YKL-40 concentration in blood samples.

The stability of YKL-40, a mammalian member of the family of 18 glycosylhydrolases, in blood samples handled under different temperatures and different time intervals before centrifugation was studied in paired serum and plasma samples from 25 healthy premenopausal Danish women. Significant elevations of YKL-40 were found in 8 paired serum samples left on the clot for more than 3 h at room temperature compared to paired serum samples left on the clot for 3 h or less. Significant elevations of YKL-40 were found in 8 paired plasma (EDTA) samples left on the blood cells for more than 8 h at room temperature compared to paired plasma (EDTA) samples left on the blood cells for 8 h or less. No elevations were found in YKL-40 levels in serum samples left on the clot at 4 degrees C for 24 h or in plasma (EDTA) samples left on the blood cells for 72 h before centrifugation. Significantly lower concentrations of YKL-40 were measured in plasma (EDTA) compared with paired serum samples with a serum/plasma ratio of 1.4 in samples left on the clot or on blood cells at 4 degrees C for up to 24 h. Repetitive freezing and thawing had no significant effect on the measured YKL-40 concentrations. In conclusion, we have shown that YKL-40 is very dependent on the handling procedures. All the blood samples must be processed into plasma (EDTA) within 8 h at room temperature or into serum in less than 3 h at room temperature. If this is not possible, the blood samples must be stored at 4 degrees C until processed.

Adipokines↗
PubMed1988

Expedited handling of transplantation biopsies.

The workload from the rapid handling of transplantation biopsies is increasing in many pathology laboratories. By using a novel tissue processor (the MED'LASS Paraffinator, F.R.G.) that employs continuously distilled acetone for tissue dehydration, it is possible to prepare high-quality hematoxylin-and-eosin sections in under 90 min. The slides are comparable to those processed by traditional methods and yield excellent results with special stains and immunohistochemical techniques.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2003

Maintaining the chain of custody--evidence handling in forensic cases.

IN VIOLENCE AND ABUSE CASES, perioperative nurses are responsible for protecting victims' rights and ensuring that potential evidence of a crime is not compromised. FORMAL EDUCATION for nurses now is available in the relatively new field of clinical forensic nursing. PERIOPERATIVE NURSES should ensure that they receive proper education in identifying, collecting and securing evidence and maintaining the chain of custody, whether through a formal education process or by reviewing protocols at their facilities.

Clothing↗
PubMed1982

A method for the routine determination of aluminium in serum and water by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry.

A simple but reliable method for the routine determination of aluminium in serum and water by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry is described. No preparatory procedures are required for water samples, although serum is mixed with a wetting agent (Triton X-100) to allow complete combustion of the samples and to improve analytical precision. Precautions to prevent contamination during sample handling are discussed and instrumental parameters are defined. The method has a sensitivity of 35.5 pg and detection limits of 2.3 micrograms Al/l for serum and 1.3 micrograms Al/l for water. The method was used to determine the aluminium concentration in serum of 46 normal subjects. The mean aluminium content was 7.3 micrograms/l (range 2--15 micrograms/l.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Achieving canine pregnancy by using frozen or chilled extended semen.

Successful artificial insemination in the dog requires good timing of the insemination, skilled collection and handling of the semen, and mastering of insemination techniques. The bitch should be inseminated late in estrus. The insemination dose should contain at least 150 to 200 x 10(6) spermatozoa. Fresh semen can be inseminated vaginally, whereas frozen-thawed semen should be inseminated into the uterus. Pregnancy rates of 84% with fresh semen and 69% with frozen semen are reported.

Animals↗