PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of the phenol red thread test as a diagnostic tool of dry eye by comparing the phenol red thread test, Schirmer's test and tear break-up time. METHODS: The present study included 30 dry eye patients belonging to dry eye workshop grade 1 or 2 and 25 normal subjects. Phenol red thread test, Schirmer's test, and tear break-up time were performed on each subject's right eye. The sensitivity, specificity and repeatability of each test were compared, and the correlations between the 3 tests were also analyzed. RESULTS: Tear break-up time was superior to the other tests in terms of sensitivity and repeatability. The phenol red thread test was better than Schirmer's test in terms of specificity and repeatability. In all 55 patients including dry eye patients and normal subjects, the phenol red thread test showed a greater correlation with tear break-up time than did Schirmer's test. In addition, in 25 dry eye patients, the correlation between the phenol red thread test and Schirmer's test increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The phenol red thread test is less irritating and requires a shorter testing time than Schirmer's test. Additionally, the phenol red thread test is superior to Schirmer's test in terms of specificity, repeatability, and relation to tear break-up time. In addition, the correlation between the phenol red thread test and Schirmer's test significantly increases in dry eye patients. Therefore, the phenol red thread test is a good substitute option for Schirmer's test in diagnosing dry eye.
Eye ; Humans ; Phenol ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tears

BACKGROUND: The precise identification of Enterococcus gallinarum and E. casseliflavus has assumed additional importance in clinical microbiology due to the intrinsic low-level resistance to vancomycin and the difficulty in differentiating them from E. faecium or E. faecalis, which are frequently found to be clinically significant vancomycin resistant enterococci(VRE). We evaluated the usefulness of Methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside(MDG) test for accurate species identification among them. METHODS: A total of 23 enterococci isolates including 18 clinical isolates of VRE from Nov 1997 to Aug 1998 and 5 VRE strains which had previously been reported as E. faecalis (2), E. faecium(2), E. avium(1) carrying vanC were tested for acidification of MDG. MDG test was done using 1% MDG in phenol red broth base and yellow coloration was interpreted as positive after 1 and 2 days of incubation at 35 degrees C. MDG results were compared with species identification by MicroScan Pos Combo type 6 (Dade, US A), motility test, pigment production, and PCR results of vanA, vanB, vanC1, vanC2/C3. RESULTS: Vancomycin resistance of 23 strains were genotyped as 7 strains of vanA, 12 strains of vanC1, 4 strains of vanC2/C3. MicroScan identified 7 vanA VRE as E. faecalis(1) and E. faecium(6), 12 VRE carrying vanC1 as E. faecalis(3), E. faecium(8) and E. avium(1), and 4 VRE carrying vanC2/C3 as E faecalis(3) and E. avium(1). Sixteen vanC VRE strains were all positive for MDG test and only 8(50%) of the 16 strains were motile. Yellow pigment were detected in all 4 vanC2/C3 VRE but only after a careful examination with a prolonged incubation. Seven vanA VRE were all negative in MDG tests, motility test and pigment production. CONCLUSIONS: MicroScan system plus motility and pigment production test was not able to differentiate reliably E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus from E. faecalis and E. faecium. The MDG test was shown to be superior to motility test in differentiating those from E. faecalis and E. faecium. We conclude that the MDG test should be included for identifcation of VRE.
Enterococcus ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vancomycin Resistance ; Vancomycin*

We measured the tear secretion rate in normal and dry eyes by using a cotton thread method. This new method measures basal tears by means of a yellow colored cotton thread(Hamano fiber) impregnated with phenol red. The 3mm bent end of a 70mm long thread is placed in the inferior conjunctival sac on the temporal side of the eye for 30 seconds. The length of the thread that is wet by the tears changes color soon from yellow to red as a result of the change in pH. We obtained the following results by using of Hamano thread test, as a modified Schirmer test. 1. The proper test time of this test was 30 seconds in view of the analysis of the amount of tear secretion with time. 2. Average wet lengths of normal male was 16.6mm, that of female was 15.7mm from 30 seconds test. 3. Distribution of wet lengths in 300 normal eyes were ranged from 4.0mm to 34.0mm and most of them(61%) were within 10 to 20mm. 4. Wet lengths with and without anesthesia showed no statistical significance(paired t-test, p>0.05). 5. Reproducibility of Hamano fiber test that was tested 3 times in same eye represented significance in statatics(paired t-tast, p<0.05).
Anesthesia ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Tears*

To understand the ability of producing cellulolytic enzyme activity in the sapstaining fungi, four species of Ophiostoma and two species of Leptographium were investigated in the culture media containing each of cellulose substrates such as CM-cellulose, Avicel and D-cellobiose and each of chromogenic dyes such as Congo-Red, Phenol Red, Remazol Brilliant Blue and Tryphan Blue. When the fungi were grown for 5~7 days at 25degrees C, the formation of clear zone by chromogenic reaction around the margin of the fungal colony was demonstrated in all the culture media Congo-Red containing CM-cellulose. There was difference in the formation of clear zone among the dyes. Only Ophiostoma setosum and Leptographium spp. showed cellulolytic activity to the three substrates. Overall, the results of this study show that ophiostomatoid sapstaining fungi can produce cellulolytic enzymes.
Cellulose ; Coloring Agents ; Culture Media ; Fungi ; Ophiostoma* ; Phenolsulfonphthalein

To obtain basic information on the detection of cellulolytic activity in Auricularia auricula-judae, the influences of dye reagent, pH, and temperature were assessed. Chromogenic dye (congo red, phenol red, remazol brilliant blue, and trypan blue) was individually incorporated into a medium containing either carboxymethyl-cellulose, Avicel, or D-cellobiose as a polysaccharide carbon substrate. The other assessments utilized pHs ranging from 4.5 to 8.0 and temperatures from 15~35degrees C. Overall, when A. auricula-judae species were transferred onto media contained Congo red and adjusted pH 7.0 and then incubated at 25degrees C for 5 days, the clear zone indicative of cellulolytic activity was more pronounced.
Benzenesulfonates ; Carbon ; Cellulose ; Congo Red ; Diminazene ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phenolsulfonphthalein

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The principle of the rapid urease test is the assessment of the color change of the pH indicator, phenol red, by ammonium and bicarbonate ions which were produced by the urease. We modified a conventional rapid urease test, and quantified H. pylori infection by measuring the change of spectrophotometric absorbance. METHODS: 202 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were endoscopically examined and three biopsies were performed in each antrum and fundus. Two biopsy specimens were stained with Giemsa and scored from 0 to 4 according to the distribution of bacteria by the Wyatt method. Another specimen was used for the quantitative rapid urease test. The tissue was incubated in a cuvette containing 10% of urea solution and phenol red at 37C. We measured optical densities in 550 nm at 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1 hrs, 2 hrs, 4 hrs and 24 hrs time points.
Ammonium Compounds ; Bacteria ; Bicarbonates ; Biopsy ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Urea ; Urease*

Membrane-bound HLA-G (mHLA-G) discovery on adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) as a tolerogenic and immunosuppressive molecule was very important. Many documents have shown that HLA-G expression can be controlled via some hormones such as progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2). Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate progesterone and estradiol effects on mHLA-G in ADSCs at restricted and combination concentrations. Three independent cell lines were cultured in complete free phenol red DMEM and subcultured to achieve suffi cient cells. These cells were treated with P4, E2 and P4 plus E2 at physiologic and pregnancy concentrations for 3 days in cell culture conditions. The HLA-G positive ADSCs was measured via monoclonal anti HLA-G-FITC/MEMG-09 by means of flow cytometry in nine groups. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests. There were no signifi cant values of the mean percentage of HLA-G positive cells in E2-treated and the combination of P4 plus E2-treated ADSCs compared to control cells (p value>0.05) but P4 had a signifi cant increase on mHLA-G in ADSCs (p value<0.05). High P4 concentration increased mHLA-G but E2 and the combination of P4 plus E2 could not change mHLA-G on ADSCs.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Estradiol* ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-G Antigens* ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone* ; Stem Cells*

To determine the optimal media conditions for the detection of the extracellular cellulase activity in Ganoderma neo-japonicum, we varied three media conditions: dye reagent, pH, and temperature. We evaluated the use of four dyes, Congo red, phenol red, remazol brilliant blue, and trypan blue. To observe the effect of pH on the chromogenic reaction, we tested media ranging from 4.5 to 8.0. To research the effect of temperature on the clear zone and the fungus growing zone, we tested temperatures ranging from 15 to 35degrees C. On the whole, the best protocol called for Ganoderma neo-japonicum transfer onto media containing Congo red with a pH of 7.0, followed by incubation at 25degrees C for 5 days. Our results will be useful to researchers who study extracellular enzyme activity in Ganoderma neo-japonicum.
Benzenesulfonates ; Cellulase ; Coloring Agents ; Congo Red ; Diminazene ; Fungi ; Ganoderma ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Trypan Blue

To determine the optimal medium conditions for the detection of the cellulolytic activity in Ganoderma lucidum, we varied three media conditions: dye reagent, pH, and temperature. First, we evaluated the use of four dyes, Congo Red, Phenol Red, Remazol Brilliant Blue, and Trypan Blue. To observe the effect of pH on the chromogenic reaction, we also made and tested various media spanning acidic and alkaline pHs, ranging from 4.5 to 8.0. Furthermore, in order to research the effect of temperature on the clear zone and the fungus growing zone, we tested temperatures ranging from 15 to 35degrees C. On the whole, the best protocol called for Ganoderma lucidum transfer onto media containing Congo red with pH adjusted to 7.0, followed by incubation at 25degrees C for 5 days. Our results will be useful to researchers who aim to study extracellular enzyme activity in Ganoderma lucidum.
Benzenesulfonates ; Coloring Agents ; Congo Red ; Diminazene ; Fungi ; Ganoderma ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Reishi ; Trypan Blue

OBJECTIVE: We reported the overcoming effect of Ni2+ on the in vitro 2-cell block of mouse embryos. In this study, we aim to investigate whether Ni2+ should induce intracellular Ca2+ transient in the mouse embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Embryos were collected at post hCG 32hr from the oviduct of the ICR mouse and cultured in M2 medium omitted phenol red. Intracellular Ca2+ was checked by using a confocal laser scanning microscope and fluo-3AM by using various intracellular Ca2+ antagonists. RESULTS: In 1mM Ni2+ treated medium which contained Ca2+(1.71mM), 75.7% of the embryos showed [Ca2+]i transient about 200 sec later. In the Ca2+-free medium, 69.8% of the embryos showed [Ca2+]i transient. In U73122, phospholipaseC(PLC) inhibitor (5uM, 10min) pretreated group, 33.3% of the embryos showed [Ca2+]i transient. Heparine, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor(IP3R) antagonist preinjected embryos showed no response with 1mM Ni2+. In danthrolene treatment, ryanodine receptor(RyR)-antagonist, 43% embryos showed [Ca2+]i transient but they showed delayed response about 340sec in the presence of Ca2+. CONCLUSIONS: Summing up the above results, Ni2+ seems to induce Ca2+-release from the Ca2+-store even in the Ca2+-free medium. IP3 receptors of the mouse 2-cell embryos might have an essential role for the intracellular Ca2+ increase by Ni2+.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Heparin ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oviducts ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Ryanodine