Fluorescent in situ hybridization assessment of chromosome copy number in buccal mucosal cells.

Sex chromatin (Barr body) analysis of buccal mucosal cells has been recognized for many years as an inexpensive, noninvasive and rapid means of sex determination. The conventional Barr body analysis using Papanicolaou stain was discontinued as a routine test because of its lack of reliability and its inability to detect mosaicism and other chromosomal abnormalities. With the advent of recombinant DNA technology and the availability of molecular probes, however, the value of this simple albeit obsolete test should be re-evaluated.

A multimodal approach for diagnosing patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia.

A practical and efficient multi-modal protocol for processing specimens for patients referred with a question of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is described. The initial analysis comprises haematological evaluation of the bone marrow and peripheral blood smears using Romanowsky-stained slides. Concomitantly, a sample is processed for direct preparation as well as 1- and 2-day unstimulated cultures using conventional cytogenetic techniques.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization assessment of chromosome 8 copy number in breast cancer.

Conventional cytogenetics of breast and other solid tumors has been hampered by a number of factors. An analysis of breast tumor tissues was therefore undertaken using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). A total of 34 specimens were analyzed using a chromosome 8-specific alpha-satellite probe.

Wood-drying condensate from Eastern white pine induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in vitro.

Eastern white pine is one of the most important commercial species of wood in the Northeast. Condensates extracted from this wood were tested to detect potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells in the absence of S-9 activation. Cytotoxicity was measured by the Trypan blue exclusion assay, mitotic index (MI) and proliferative rate index (PRI).

Outcome analysis of carotid endarterectomy in Connecticut: the impact of volume and specialty.

The purpose of this study was to define the relationship between the surgeon's operative experience and specialty and the postoperative morbidity and mortality of carotid endarterectomy. All patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (code ICD-9CM 38.12) in Connecticut between October 1985 and September 1991 were retrospectively identified.

Current issues of personnel and laboratory practices in genetic testing.

As genetic testing is an area with implications extending far beyond that of the primary patient, it is appropriately an area that is under increased scrutiny. To ensure that high quality is maintained in the delivery of genetic services, several agencies have developed standards and guidelines. The present article summarises important recommendations made by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG), the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the US Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as they relate to genetic testing.

Assessment of sex chromosome composition using fluorescent in situ hybridization as an adjunct to GTG-banding.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using dual color X chromosome- and Y chromosome-specific probes was employed to assess further the sex chromosome copy number in cells of a phenotypic female patient with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, primary amenorrhea and growth retardation. The GTG-banding analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes had revealed the presence of predominantly 46,XY cells. A FISH analysis, undertaken to assess further the contribution of a minor cell line, yielded frequencies of 87% cells with the 46,XY constitution and 9% with the 45,X constitution.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization for assessing the proportion of cells with trisomy 4 in a patient with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia.

A case of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia is described in which fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) helped to resolve initially conflicting conventional cytogenetic results. Identification and assessment of the proportion of cells exhibiting trisomy of chromosome 4 in the patient's bone marrow were made using a probe which hybridizes to the centromeric region of chromosome 4. These FISH results were consistent with our retrospective GTG-banded analysis but differed from another study conducted elsewhere.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization assessment of chromosome copy number in gestational trophoblastic disease.

The concurrence of congenital trisomy 8 mosaicism and gestational trophoblastic disease in a forty-two-year-old Gravida IV, Para IV female has been described. In contrast to other cases in the literature, this patient had no additional confounding chromosomal abnormalities other than trisomy 8. To the best of our knowledge, this was the only reported case of constitutional trisomy 8 mosaicism associated with gestational trophoblastic disease, a rare gynecological disease entity in and by itself.

The development of a sampler-sensor using a vanadium-oxinate-polymer film for the selective and direct determination of atmospheric ethanol.

The development of a sensor for the direct and selective determination of atmospheric ethanol is in the initial stages. The sensor takes advantage of the selective chemical reaction between ethanol and vanadium oxinate. This reaction occurs in an organic medium where a red colored complex is the product.

[Treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum by electrostimulation of the vestibular apparatus].

26 patients hospitalized with Hyperemesis Gravidarum were treated with electrical stimulation of the vestibular system, as the symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum resemble the symptoms of motion sickness, where the electrical stimulation has been used successfully. The patients were treated for one hour daily, two hours before the standard infusion therapy. 89% reported a decrease in vomiting and nausea during the first application, 85% a lasting improvement.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of wood drying condensate from Southern Yellow Pine: an in vitro study.

We tested condensates from Southern Yellow Pine for potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in CHO-WBL and human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in the absence of S-9 activation. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the Trypan blue exclusion assay, mitotic index (MI) and proliferative rate index (PRI). Genotoxicity was measured by the chromosome aberration (CA) assay and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis.

Cytogenetic characterization of three cell lines derived from primary cervical tumors.

Braun et al established three cell lines from keratinizing and nonkeratinizing cervical carcinomas. These cell lines were subsequently analyzed for growth properties and physical state of the human papillomavirus type 16 genome. It was found that these cell lines have distinct growth properties in vitro and in vivo.

Red oak condensate: its apparent lack of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects as compared with three other wood-drying condensates.

A major activity of the lumber industry is the kiln-drying of wood. In order to ascertain whether wood-drying condensates pose a possible environmental hazard, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of these condensates in vitro, were tested using an assay validated using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and a known genotoxicant, mitomycin C. Subsequently, the assay was developed for the human peripheral blood lymphocyte (HPBL) system, as it was felt that results derived from human cells would reflect the situation more closely in vivo.

A study of induced genotoxicity in MCF-7 cells.

Following upon earlier work the response of MCF-7 breast cancer cells to mitomycin C, a known genotoxicant, was examined. This previous research has yielded a baseline of chromosome aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes from which comparisons can now be made. Results of genotoxicity testing conducted with the same protocol yielded a significantly increased level of chromosome aberrations in MCF-7 cells than in normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Eastern white pine wood-drying condensate induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro.

Condensate from eastern white pine, one of the commercially most important species of tree in the northeastern United States, was treated for potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in the absence of S-9 activation. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by mitotic index (MI) determination and proliferative rate index. Genotoxicity was measured by the chromosome aberration (CA) assay and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis.

Poly(binaphthyl-20-crown-6) as receptor based molecular selective potentiometric electrodes for catecholamines and other 1,2-dihydroxybenzene derivatives.

A novel type of poly(crown ether) electrode that is capable of selectively determining some 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes has been developed. A lipophilic macrocyclic crown ether, binaphthyl-20-crown-6, is electrochemically deposited on a platinum disc electrode. The film obtained is used as a sensory element for a potentiometric electrode for the determination of some neurotransmitters, namely, catecholamines.

Towards the development of a fluorescent in situ hybridization based genotoxicologic assay for aneuploidy detection in sperm.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is a molecular cytogenetic technique which allows an analysis of chromosome copy number in interphase cells. The cytological examination of spermatozoa is routinely performed as part of semen analysis. While this analysis is only a component of the evaluation of an infertile male, the aetiology of many cases of infertility remains unknown.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization in routinely processed bone marrow aspirate clot and core biopsy sections.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is a technique which complements conventional cytogenetic banding analysis by allowing the evaluation of cells in interphase as well as metaphase. This technique has been used to study air-dried peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate smears. We have applied the FISH technique to study routinely processed sections of bone marrow aspirate clot and decalcified core biopsy specimens, fixed in either formalin or B5 and embedded in paraffin.

Combined strategy of conventional cytogenetics, fluorescent in situ hybridization and chromosome morphometry for analysis of parotid gland tumor.

The limiting factors in conventional cytogenetic analysis of cell culture, especially of solid tumors, include insufficient metaphases, overgrowth of abnormal mitotic cells by normal cells, and suboptimal quality of harvesting and banding. Despite the availability of numerous protocols to induce G-banding, as well as Q-, R-, and C-banding, occasions still arise in which the analysis is severely limited by these factors and incomplete conclusions are often drawn as to the precise nature of the chromosomal abnormality, if indeed any can be detected. By adopting a rational approach of (1) close monitoring of cultures and rapid harvesting as soon as it is feasible, and (2) analysis of available metaphases by a combination of the GTG technique, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromosome morphometry using a graphic arts tool, a significant improvement in success rate may be more readily achieved.