scholarly journals Experiments to test the possibility of transmutation by electronic bombardment

In an earlier paper experiments were described which were carried out in order to test the production of gold from mercury, as reported by Miethe and Stammreich, and by Nagaoka. These experiments led to conclusively negative results, but it was considered desirable to repeat also the work of Smits and Karssen upon the conversion of lead into thallium and mercury. To this end it was decided to adapt the quartz tube apparatus with sealed in tungsten leads, already used in the case of mercury, and described and illustrated in the previous paper (interrupted arc method). While waiting for a specially pure preparation of lead, tin suggested itself as a suitable metal for further experimentation. Besides its low melting point, there is the further advantage that indium, the most probable product of any transmutation of tin, can be spectroscopically detected in exceedingly minute traces, whilst its occurrence is so limited that the danger of accidental contamination from the ordinary materials of the laboratory is much smaller than is the case with most elements. In this respect, a positive result with indium would be more convincing than the production of mercury reported by Smits.

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abidelfatah M. Nasser ◽  
Yehudit Elkana ◽  
Leon Goldstein

This study was designed to develop a modification of A-ELISA performed in microtitre plates. Nylon filters have been utilized successfully as a solid phase for the performance of A-ELISA. The use of nylon filters resulted in lower background than nitro-cellulose and paper filters, indicating their suitability as a solid phase for developing A-ELISA. With enteric viruses, human rotaviruses and MS-2 coliphage, negative results were obtained, suggesting high specificity of the developed technique for poliovirus 1. The sensitivity of the developed A-ELISA has been shown to be at least one order of magnitude greater than ordinary ELISA. A positive result with the nylon A-ELISA can be obtained with samples containing 100-1000 pfu/ml of poliovirus. Up to date methods used for detecting viruses in water are elaborate, time consuming and costly. Applying the nylon A-ELISA may overcome some of these disadvantages.


2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIOTR GRABARCZYK ◽  
ALEKSANDRA KALIŃSKA ◽  
EWA SULKOWSKA ◽  
EWA BROJER

Extremely high viremia is observed during some viruses infection, especialy in immunocompromised patients. False negative results of Parvovirus B 19 DNA tests performed with real-time PCR in high viremic samples are reported. The way of fluorescence diagrams analysis and algorithm of positive result confirmation to exclude such phenomenon are proposed.


1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
K W Ryder ◽  
R A Munsick ◽  
T O Oei ◽  
P C Young ◽  
H F Blackford

Abstract We evaluated four pregnancy tests (Biocept-G, Beta-CG, Preg/Stat, and HCG-Beta Screen), using sera from 59 nonpregnant subjects and 77 patients with serum human choriogonadotropin beta-subunit (beta-hCG) concentrations ranging from 4 to 100 000 int. units/L. The results obtained for each test were compared with the results predicted on the basis of the sample's beta-hCG concentration and the beta-hCG concentration the manufacturer claimed necessary for a positive result (the test's analytical sensitivity). Biocept-G had the best sensitivity (100%), specificity (98.9%), and accuracy (99.2%). Beta-CG had the poorest sensitivity (86.4%), Preg/Stat the poorest specificity (87.5%), and accuracy (92.6%). We confirmed the manufacturer's claimed analytical sensitivity (200 int. units/L) for the Biocept-G procedure, but our calculated analytical sensitivity for the other tests was significantly different from that claimed by their manufacturers. Best results were obtained with Biocept-G, but with its analytical sensitivity of 200 int. units/L, samples from early pregnancy will give negative results. None of the pregnancy tests evaluated here will establish the presence or absence of early pregnancy with certainty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1163-1169
Author(s):  
Atsushi Ikeda ◽  
Takahiro Kojima ◽  
Koji Kawai ◽  
Shiro Hinotsu ◽  
Naoto Keino ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A previous comparative study in Japan has demonstrated that the two consecutive UroVysion tests are useful tools to detect the presence of bladder cancer during follow-up after transurethral resection, but they also presented their high rates of false-positive results. Here, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the UroVysion tests and subsequent intravesical recurrence. Methods In the previous study, patients without bladder cancer during the first analysis showed the same examination set repeated 3 months later as the second analysis. In this follow-up study, 326 patients showed negative findings confirmed on cystoscopy during the second UroVysion test. Recurrence-free survival was assessed using a median follow-up of 27 months. Results In the two consecutive UroVysion tests, 214 patients (65.6%) showed negative UroVysion results in both tests, whereas 91 presented a positive result on either tests and 21 patients presented positive results in both tests. During the follow-up, 40 patients (12.3%) had an intravesical recurrence with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The recurrence rates in patients with negative results in both tests, those with one positive result in either tests, and those with positive results in both tests were 8.4%, 16.5%, and 33.3%, respectively. The multivariate analysis indicated that the history of bladder cancer and the consecutive UroVysion test pattern were independent risk factors for recurrence. Conclusions Our data confirmed the effectiveness of two consecutive UroVysion tests in predicting intravesical recurrence after TURBT. Further prospective studies would help determine an appropriate interval for cystoscopy follow-up.


Author(s):  
А. Маркович ◽  
A. Markovich ◽  
С. Ширяев ◽  
S. Shiryaev ◽  
М. Гончаров ◽  
...  

Purpose: Exploring methods to improve diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in different locations using somatostatin receptors scintigraphy with 111In-octreotide. Material and methods: The study included 125 patients with NET in different locations. Activity of injected 111In-octreotide was 200–250 MBq (effective dose – 0.054 mSv/MBq), which allows to carry out a planar study as and single photon emission computed tomography. The study was performed after 24 hours on intravenous injection of indicator on the combined SPECT/CT machine Symbia T2 (Siemens, Germany). Results: In the sample of patients, NET distribution by localization is indicated in Fig. 1. The results of the study with 111In-octreotide are presented in the form of scintigrams in the whole body scanning mode and in the form of single-photon emission computer tomograms combined with CT. To determine the effectiveness of scintigraphy with 111In-octreotide, after a visual evaluation of the scintigrams obtained, the number of positive and negative results of the study was calculated. A comparison was made with the data of other methods and the number of TP, TN, FP, and FN results was determined. Further, the characteristic parameters of the method studied were calculated to determine its effectiveness. The study of values of characteristic parameters showed that the sensitivity was 73 % (95 % CI: 63–83 %), specificity – 97 % (95 % CI: 88–100 %) accuracy is 79 % (95 % CI: 71–87 %). The value of the positive predictive value of 99 % (95 % CI: 94–100 %), the predictive value of negative results – 55 % (95 % CI: 40–70 %). While the study shows a high frequency of TP results, while the frequencies of the TN and FN results are not significantly different (the average frequency of the FN results falls within the confidence interval for the frequency of the TN results). The method has a high value of the prognostic value of the positive result, which gives the right to assert about the high probability of the presence of a neuroendocrine neoplasm in obtaining a positive result. In the present study, no FP results were obtained due to the presence of concomitant diseases, in which accumulation of used radiopharmaceutical is possible, since the data on the presence of such diseases were taken into account in the analysis of scintigrams. The data obtained in this paper are in good agreement with the data obtained by other authors, as well as early Russian publications. It is worth noting that the data of domestic authors were obtained on a small sample, without specifying confidence intervals; the injected activity was less than in this study. In addition, the possibility of obtaining more information than using classical imaging methods (for SPECT/CT, the tissue with the pathological accumulation of 111In-octreotide appeared to be intact on CT), allows us to recommend the method as a method of choice in the diagnosis of NET of different localization. Conclusions: The method of somatostatin receptors scintigraphy using domestic analogue of somatostatin in the diagnosis of NET has a high efficiency (efficiency of the method, calculated as the average value of the parameters of sensitivity and specificity of 85 % (95 % CI: 66–100 %).


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21127-e21127
Author(s):  
Galina A. Nerodo ◽  
Ekaterina Nerodo

e21127 Background: hormonodependency of vulva is wellknown. This broughtusto study hormonal status of vulva cancer patients depending on treatment efficacy Methods: we present comparative analysis of hormonal status of vulva cancer patients in two groups: group 1 (50 patients) without relapse of the disease in 5-year period, and group 2 (35 patients) with relapse developed within the first year. Blood concentrations of testosterone, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone were determined in all patients under study by means of radiometric methods. Estrone, estradiol, estriol with subsequent calculation of their sum were determined in daily urine by Brown method. Results: In the presence of effect (group 1) initial total amount of estrogens was twice as large than in its absence. In group 1 estradiol concentration exceeded the corresponding parameter of group 2 by three times(7.6±0.6 & 1,4±0.3,p<0.001). The amount of secreting estriol at positive result was almost twice higher than in cases of absence of the effect(10.02±1.7 & 4.6±0.49, p<0.001). The groups differed by secretion levels of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. Blood concentration of these hormones was lower in negative results that in positive. Distinct differences were also observed in progesterone and prolactin levels. In the group with positive result of treatment progesterone concentration was much higher than in the group without treatment effect. On the contrary, prolactin concentration in group 1 was significantly less than in group 2. The highest degree of reliability of quantitative indices related to treatment efficacy was observed for progesterone. Positive result of corresponding treatment may be predicted at normal initial progesterone level, and negative result at its low level (3-4 times lower than the norm). Another parameter - blood concentration of prolactin - can be used almost with the same degree of reliability. Conclusions: results of the study allow to suggest an existence of interrelation between treatment efficacy of vulva cancer patients and functional activity of hypophysis-gonadal system. Some of its parameters may be used to predict results of complex treatment of vulva cancer patients.


1935 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Isgaer Roberts

1. Earlier attempts to trace the vector of tropical typhus in Kenya failed. The only references to the subject in the available literature consist of mere suggestions that a mite would most likely prove to be the transmitter.2. An investigation made in an area whence most Nairobi cases of tropical typhus were reported, suggested that a tick (R. pulchellus) would be the most likely vector.3. Transmission experiments made in the belief that one of the unclassed fevers of man was conveyed by R. pulchellus have so far yielded negative results. There is, however, sufficient circumstantial evidence available pointing to this tick as vector of a form of mild typhus to man—this demands further investigation.4. At Mombasa and Nairobi, houses reported to be heavily infested with ticks, or houses investigated after the occurrence of the tropical typhus in them, have yielded only R. sanguineus.5. R. sanguineus (3 ♀), taken from a dog in a house where the last typhus case had occurred 8 months previously, gave a typical typhus syndrome when emulsified and inoculated into a male guinea-pig. R. sanguineus (1 ♀, 12 ⊙), taken in a house where a child had recently contracted typhus, also gave a positive result with guinea-pigs and the virus was further transmitted by passage through other guinea-pigs.6. The infestation of houses by R. sanguineus and the incidence of tropical typhus among human beings appear to be influenced by unfavourable weather conditions, causing the ticks to seek relatively dry and warm places for purposes of oviposition or metamorphosis, thus invading houses. In the absence of dogs, its usual hosts, the tick attacks man.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha M. Pomandia ◽  
Olivia A. Waworuntu ◽  
Heriyannis Homenta

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, commonly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This disease can occur in children as well as in adults. The most common complaint in TB patients is cough. The gold standard of tuberculosis diagnosis is the culture of TB bacteria. However, Ziehl-Neelsen staining is the most frequently used method. It gives positive result if there are more than 103 bacteria per ml sputum. This study was aimed to find out the existence of M. tuberculosis in the sputum of patients coughed ≥2 weeks at the Internal Polyclinic of Pancaran Kasih Hospital Manado by using Ziehl-Neelsen staining. This was a descriptive study using 30 patients as samples. Of 30 samples, all (100%) had negative results of acid resistant bacili. Conclusion: In this study, all patients with cough ≥2 weeks in the Internal Polyclinic of Pancaran Kasih Hospital Manado had negative results of M. Tuberculosis based on Ziehl-Neelsen staining.Keywords: tuberculosis, cough ≥2 weeks Abstrak: Tuberkulosis (TB) ialah penyakit menular yang disebabkan oleh berbagai strain mikobakteria, umumnya Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Penyakit ini dapat terjadi pada anak atau orang dewasa. Keluhan yang sering ditemukan pada pasien TB ialah batuk. Dalam menegakkan diagnosis TB, baku emas pemeriksaan ialah kultur kuman TB. Selain kultur dapat digunakan metode pewarnaan basil tahan asam (BTA) Ziehl-Neelsen. Metode ini yang paling sering digunakan dan memberikan hasil positif bila terdapat lebih dari 103 kuman/ml sputum. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui ada tidaknya bakteri M. tuberculosis dengan menggunakan pewarnaan Ziehl-Neelsen pada pasien dengan batuk ≥2 minggu di Poliklinik Interna RSU Pancaran Kasih Manado. Jenis penelitian ialah deskriptif dengan mengunakan sebanyak 30 sampel. Hasil penelitian mendapatkan pada seluruh sampel (100%) tidak ditemukan BTA positif. Simpulan: Pada pasien dengan batuk ≥2 minggu di Poliklinik Interna RSU Pancaran Kasih Manado tidak ditemukan BTA positif berdasarkan pewarnaan Ziehl-Neelsen.Kata kunci: tuberkulosis (TBC), batuk ≥ 2 minggu


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 1825-1833
Author(s):  
Hawraa Natiq Kabroot AL-Fatlawy ◽  
Hazim Aziz Naji AL-Hadrawi

Typhoid fever is a paramount reason for horribleness that more mortal sin “around the sum ages aggregations clinched alongside iraq it initiated by salmonella typhi. Salmonella typhi is diagnosed serologically by the Widal test and confirmed by vitek and using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based amplification of DNA from the bacterial samples of typhoid fever patients. The present study was designed to detect class I integron gene encoding antimicrobial of S. typhi using appropriate primers by PCR. These isolates of this study were collected from postgraduate laboratories (Prepared samples in vitro prepared diagnostics), they were a previous collected from carried out in Al Najaf provenance, throughout those period from July 2018 on March 2019 including 231 cases from blood, stool samples collected from patients suffering from typhoid fever were attended to Al-Sader Medical City and Al-Hakim General Hospital in Al-Najaf province. Biochemically tests and monovalent antisera gave 117 (50.64%) positive result S. typhi isolates and confirmed by Vitek system and PCR which showed positive result 59 (50.42%). Fifty nine isolates of S. typhi, were collected from patients with typhoid fever that distributed to 40/59 (34 %) from blood , 19/59 (15.1%) stool. Molecular detection revealed that most isolates of S. typhi were positive results to (intI) gene 43/59 isolate (the specific primer (intI) gene for S. typhi bacteria was designed in this study by using bioinformatics programs with NCBI website). According to the different diagnostic above, Vitek and PCR method were more sensitivity technique for S. typhi detection among typhoid patients. The results of virulence factors of S.typhi isolates were negative results for gelatinase, hemolysin, protease and capsulated. Multidrug resistance (MDR) of S. typhi isolates were represented by 18 antibiotics resistance to class and sub class of antibiotic. All S. typhi isolates appeared high resistance 100% to Aztreonam (AZM15), Nitrofurantion (F), Amoxicillin/clavulanicacid (AMC30), (PY25), Clarithromycin (CLR), Cefoxitin (FOX30), Penecillin(P10), Cefotaxime (CTX30), ampicillin (AMP), Meropenem (MEM), Tetracycline(TE30). Also resistance of isolates that revealed 91% to Impinem (IP ), 88% Ampicillin (AM10), 85%Amoxillin (AX), 81% Gentamicin (CN10), 80% Chloramphenicol (C30), 74% Cefpirome (CPR) and 68% Carbenicillin (CB).


2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 876-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Elisa Àlvarez-León ◽  
Elizabeth Espinosa-Vega ◽  
Évora Santana-Rodríguez ◽  
Jesús M. Molina-Cabrillana ◽  
Jose Luis Pérez-Arellano ◽  
...  

Objective.The risk of latent tuberculosis (LTBI) in healthcare workers (HCWs) is high. Until recently, the tuberculin skin test (TST) was the only diagnostic test available for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. A new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, the QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) test, was recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an alternative test for the diagnosis of LTBI in HCWs. The purpose of our study was to compare the TST and the QFT-G test in Spanish HCWs in order to improve procedures for the detection of LTBI.Methods.A cross-sectional study with blinded comparison of TST and QFT-G test results was carried out among 134 HCWs at an 800-bed Spanish university hospital. The level of interferon-7 production stimulated by the QFT-G test was measured. A concentration of at least 0.35 IU/mL was considered a positive result. An induration of at least 5 mm in non-BCG-vaccinated or at least 15 mm in BCG-vaccinated HCWs for the TST was considered positive.Results.Of the 134 HCWs included (mean age, 33.4 years; 101 [75.4%] women; 47 [35.1%] BCG vaccinated), the LTBI prevalence diagnosed with any test was 11.2% (95% confidence interval, 6.6%-18.1%), with the TST was 8.96%, and with the QFT-G test was 5.97% (nonsignificant differences). The QFT-G test value was higher in subjects with TST induration of at least 15 mm than in subjects with TST induration of less than 15 mm (P < .001). Overall agreement between the results of the two tests was found in 94% of HCWs (K = 0.56), but agreement was only 59% in HCWs who had a positive result for both tests. Disagreement was present in the results found for 5% of HCWs.Conclusions.Few studies have compared both tests in populations with high M. tuberculosis exposure but low BCG vaccination prevalence. Agreement between both tests is high, especially among negative Results. Studies are needed to clarify the reasons for disagreement and to establish the best TST and QFT-G test cutoff point.


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