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A comparison was made of two brands of pH test paper and electronic instrumentation for measuring the pH of vaginal secretions. When the pH of vaginal secretions was greater than 4.5 (abnormal), there was no significant difference between the methods, showing that pH test paper is reliable for pH determination of vaginal secretions.
The application of immunogold for the detection of antigen-antibody complexes on nitrocellulose paper is described. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) protein, either purified or in leaf extract, was bound to the nitrocellulose paper and then exposed to rabbit anti-TMV serum. The antigen-antibody complexes were detected by gold-labeled goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G. The gold-labeled antibody is directly visible because of its pink color. This method can detect 1-5 pg of TMV protein, either in purified form or in the unpurified plant extract, with high specificity.
A method is described for the assay of sulfotransferases, which transfer sulfate from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to glycosaminoglycan acceptors. Following the sulfation reactions, the [35S]sulfate-labeled products are precipitated and then separated from a sulfate donor ([35S]PAPS) and its degradation products by a paper disk method, and then the radioactivity remaining on the paper disk is subsequently determined by liquid scintillation counting. The rapidity and simplicity of the method are advantageous for multiple assays and have allowed us to establish assay conditions for serum sulfotransferases which introduce sulfate at position 6 of the internal N-acetylgalactosamine units of chondroitin, position 2 (amino group) of the glucosamine units of heparan sulfate and sugar units of keratan sulfate, respectively. The assay method will be applicable with modification to the assay of other glycosaminoglycan sulfotransferases and glycoprotein sulfotransferases.
Multiple continuous-flow solid-phase peptide synthesis has been adapted for synthesis of peptides on a cellulose carrier (Whatman 3MM paper). Paper-bound synthetic peptides that represent antigenic determinants of particular proteins detected antibodies against the respective proteins in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The method is applied to the synthesis, and use in site-directed serology, of four peptides derived from the gp41 glycoprotein of HIV, the Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen-1 and VCA proteins of the Epstein-Barr virus, and the early region of human papillomavirus type 11.
A commercial kit for determining serum creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity was evaluated. The kit employed agarose-gel electrophoresis followed by incubation of overlay paper on the agarose and then fluorescnece scanning of the paper. Within-day coefficients of variation ranged from 24.9% for a specimen with no elevation of MB activity of 6.6% for a specimen with moderately elevated MB activity. The kit appeared to demonstrate MB in all sera and showed higher than expected values in recovery studies. The kit performed in a relatively linear fashion from 50 to 500 I.U./l total creatine kinase activity. Hemolysis appeared to lower measured MB. For comparison with another method, specimens were also analyzed by microcolumn chromatography, which was found to incompletely separate isoenzymes. The kit produced lower values than microchromatography for specimens with low MB activities and higher values for specimens with elevated MB activities. Patients without corroborative evidence of myocardial injury showed a somewhat hyperbolic relationship between per cent MB and total creatine kinase activity, but MB activity was generally 4 I.U./l or less. Although the kit had serious laboratory shortcomings, it may be as clinically useful as other methodologies.
We developed a rapid, accurate method to detect pathologic amounts of methylmalonic acid (MMA) in urine samples, which can be applied to simplify and improve the accuracy of screening for methylmalonic acidemia. Urine is collected on DEAE-cellulose paper and air-dried. Six mm discs are punched from the dried paper and placed in a multi-well tray; non-anionic substances interfering with the assay are rinsed from the discs; and a color reaction using diazotized p-nitroaniline is carried out in situ on the disc. Of 407 urine samples blindly tested, all 83 samples from nine patients with methylmalonic acidemia gave positive results. None of the other urine specimens from normal individuals or patients with a variety of organic acidemias gave positive results. This method should allow accurate and inexpensive mass screening for methylmalonic acidemia in newborn or infant screening programs.
A new system by which paper-recorded EEG can be converted to computer treatable digital data was developed. It consists simply of an image scanner and a microcomputer. The performance of the system was evaluated and found to perform well in data reconstruction. The system makes it possible to apply various computer analyses to EEGs recorded on paper.
Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of 2 micrograms neurotensin, a brain and gastro-intestinal peptide which elicits various behavioral responses, diminishes grooming but stimulates paper shredding behavior of rats evoked by water immersion. Neither naloxone (2 micrograms i.c.v.) nor haloperidol (2 micrograms i.c.v.) affect grooming and paper shredding behavior as observed following water immersion of rats.
A paper radioimmunosorbent test (PRIST) was shown to be sensitive and reproducible when used with excretory/secretory antigen of Toxocara canis second stage larvae. Whatman No. 50 filter paper (5 mm discs) gave the most consistent and clear results with antigen at a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml, and could be stored for up to 3 weeks in vacuo at -70 degrees C. Antigen coated discs were incubated with test sera at 1:10 dilution for 3 h at room temperature (21 degrees C), reacted with [125I]anti-human IgG for 1 h and counts determined in a gamma counter. Sera from patients with fascioliasis, taeniasis, schistosomiasis, oxyuriasis, trichinellosis and ancyclostomiasis gave counts similar to cord serum controls. Sera from patients with ascariasis gave counts of up to twice as great as controls, but sera from patients with toxicariasis produced counts of 7,000-13,000, a 4-6-fold increase.
A new method has been developed by which human myeloid progenitor cells can be grown on nitrocellulose paper. The method uses human placental conditioned medium for colony-stimulating activity in an agar layer while the cells grow on the overlying nitrocellulose paper in compact colonies containing granulocytic and macrophage cells. The importance of this method is discussed in the light of its usefulness in carrying out molecular studies on differentiating hematopoietic cells.
We have developed a rapid and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for thyroxine (T4) in dried blood samples spotted on filter paper. The assay is carried out on microtiter plates without extraction or centrifugation steps. The detection limit of the assay is 5 pg/disc/well, equivalent to 1.25 micrograms/1 of whole blood or 2.5 micrograms/1 of serum. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation for various T4 concentrations are 2.4-9.0% and 5.9-17.5% respectively. Correlation between the proposed ELISA method and the RIA is good (r = 0.900, n = 62, y(RIA) = 0.99x(ELISA) + 9.90). The ELISA method is useful for mass-screening of neonatal congenital hypothyroidism using dried blood samples on filter paper, is very simple and one person can assay more than 300 samples per day.
The present study deals with the successful long-term preservation of feline anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody activity on filter paper strips stored with silica gel. When filter paper strips were kept at 25 degrees C with silica gel, antibody activity in blood samples was preserved for at least six months.
Programmes for the control of hydatidosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus in Argentina use an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as a screening test for population surveys aimed at detecting asymptomatic patients. Persons thus selected are referred to health centres for the arc 5 double diffusion test and imaging techniques. One of the most costly procedures of these surveys is the collection of blood samples under field conditions; the possibility of collecting dry blood samples on filter paper was therefore investigated. In a survey of 497 rural inhabitants of an endemic area, the same number of hydatidosis cases (22) were identified by EIA using (i) serum samples and (ii) capillary blood samples obtained by finger prick and collected on filter paper. The latter system was both simpler and cheaper.
Freshwater mussels, Anodonta cygnea L., were collected in a lowly polluted area in north-eastern France, and exposed during 28 days at three sites up and downstream of a chlorine bleached pulp and paper mill effluent Water, sediment and mussel samples were collected at regular intervals and analyzed for halogenated organic residues using the sum parameters AOX (Adsorbable Organic Halogen) and EOX (Extractable Organic Halogen). The survey of the water showed a chronic contamination by organic halogens of the water and the sediment downstream of the pulp and paper mill sewer. Mussels exposed upstream of the mill showed no significant variation of their EOX tissue concentration. In contrast, progressive accumulation of EOX occurred with the exposure time in mussels exposed downstream of the mill. No steady state of the EOX concentration was observed after four weeks of exposure.
A field study of fluoride pollution and of its consequences was made over a period of five years in the vicinity of an alumina reduction plant. This study, based upon the use of a static soda impregnated paper sampler, shows that the results obtained are in good agreement with the atmospheric fluoride concentrations obtained with dynamic samplers, especially when fluoride is present in gaseous form (HF). The results suggest that vertically mounted paper samplers are less sensitive to the collection of particulate fluorides. Collection rate is strongly influenced and increases with speed. If this parameter is known, an accurate estimation of the absolute atmospheric concentration is possible; the values shown by this technique are in good correlation with the value (annual mean) of pasture fluoride content. As a correlation exists between pasture fluoride content and the symptoms shown by cattle, the static filter samplers can predict disease in the case of slow chronic fluorosis. The field study agrees with earlier laboratory experiments and shows the validity of these simple and inexpensive types of exposure methods.
A technique for the detection of plant virus coat proteins in plant sap is described. The method entails the electroblotting of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-fractionated plant extracts onto nitrocellulose paper, probing the paper with virus-specific rabbit antisera, and indirect detection of virus proteins with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit globulins. The sensitivity and specificity of the technique were tested using brome mosaic and barley stripe mosaic viruses. As little as 1 ng per track of virus protein was detectable, either as pure virus or when mixed with plant sap. Distant serological relationships were detected amongst tobamoviruses, and amongst the bromoviruses, with single antisera. The uses of the technique in probing capsid configuration in a presumed aphid picornavirus, and in routine diagnostic practice, are described.
In a recent review of literature, a committee of the American Institute of Medicine found much support of the weakness of the paper-based patient record. Inspired by these results, a local survey was held among practicing clinicians to test, whether they could subscribe the Committee's conclusions. The clinicians turned out to be far more positive about the quality of the paper-based patient record. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed, as well as the question, whether the results of the Committee's review may be used as a basis for the implementation of computer-based patient records.
The Association for Practitioners in Infection Control (APIC), in existence now for 16 years, is still considered to be a relatively young professional organization. During that time its many accomplishments include membership growth to more than 7500 persons, establishment of a national office, annual revenues of more than $700,000, publications of a bimonthly scientific journal, publication of the standard reference work for infection control practice, establishment of the process leading to a certifying examination in infection control, an annual educational conference attended by more than 1000 persons, and increasing recognition by other professional groups, state and federal agencies, and the scientific community as a leading voice that represents professionals involved in infection control practice in the United States. These accomplishments have been due in large part to the dedication and hard work of its members, especially the hundreds of persons who have filled local and national positions of leadership. However, APIC now finds itself at a crossroads; changes in the current health care climate and publication of the results of a national study on the efficacy of infection control practice have contributed to a reassessment of infection control programs and the role and scope of persons involved in the field. The purpose of this editorial is to review the background of our two position papers, to comment on an expanded role of hospital epidemiology, and to examine the response of APIC to our membership in terms of commitments identified in the two papers.