Behavior of dicentric chromosomes in budding yeast.

DNA double-strand breaks arise in vivo when a dicentric chromosome (two centromeres on one chromosome) goes through mitosis with the two centromeres attached to opposite spindle pole bodies. Repair of the DSBs generates phenotypic diversity due to the range of monocentric derivative chromosomes that arise. To explore whether DSBs may be differentially repaired as a function of their spatial position in the chromosome, we have examined the structure of monocentric derivative chromosomes from cells containing a suite of dicentric chromosomes in which the distance between the two centromeres ranges from 6.

Determination of Agreement Between Laboratory Instruments.

The present study was conducted to illustrate the utility of Bland-Altman plots for use by our laboratory staff and other non-statisticians in assessing the agreement between values measured by using two different laboratory instruments. A high degree of agreement reflects acceptable interchangeability of equipment and minimal effect on clinical decision-making. We have summarized literature that suggests that the regression line and correlation coefficient used with regression analysis, although commonly employed, are not appropriate first choices for evaluating agreement.

Semiautomated analysis of alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in serum of normal cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzyme analysis, using a combination of wheat germ lectin (WGL) precipitation, levamisole inhibition and an automated p-nitrophenylphosphate assay was validated for use with serum from monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and used to determine the activities of liver ALP (LALP), bone ALP (BALP) and intestinal ALP (IALP). Based on serial dilution studies and within-run and between-run coefficients of variation, each assay had excellent linearity and acceptable precision. In addition, liver and intestinal mucosa extracts for tissue specific alkaline phosphatases were used to confirm assay validations.