Animals ; Rats ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Spinal Cord

Humans ; Proteomics ; methods ; Silicosis ; metabolism ; Specimen Handling ; methods

Humans ; Microwaves ; classification ; Pathology ; methods ; Specimen Handling ; instrumentation

Animals ; Biological Specimen Banks ; utilization ; Humans ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Tissue Fixation ; methods

Histocytochemistry ; methods ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; methods ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

Humans ; Leiomyoma ; pathology ; Microtomy ; methods ; Microwaves ; Paraffin Embedding ; methods ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to compare specimen adequacy of SAP-1 provided for cytology with that of dilation and curettage (D & C) or hysteroscopy for histology, and evaluate the accuracy of combining endometrium sampling by SAP-1 and liquid-based cytology using SurePath preparation for screening endometrial carcinoma and its precursor.

METHODSEndometrial specimens from women (n = 1514) with risk factors were obtained using an SAP-1 device for cytological analysis; histological samples were obtained from 375 of these women who underwent D & C or hysteroscopy. Cytological specimens were prepared to liquid-based smear using SurePath technology and stained by Papanicolaou. Histological samples were processed in routine pathology and stained by hematoxylin and eosin.

RESULTSAdequate specimens for cytology were obtained from 1458/1541 patients (96.3%), while adequate samples for pathology were obtained from 285/375 patients (76%). However, for postmenopausal women, 1006 of 1045 cytology (86.3%) were adequate, 153 of 238 histology (64.3%) were adequate, it was easier to collect cytological specimens than histological specimens (P < 0.05). The accuracy of endometrial cytology for detecting endometrial carcinoma and its precursor was 92.4% (sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 95.8%; positive predictive value, 75%; and negative predictive value, 95.3%).

CONCLUSIONSEndometrial cytology using SAP-1 sampling and SurePath preparation may be a reliable approach for screening patients with endometrial carcinoma and its precursor.

Adult ; Biopsy ; methods ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Specimen Handling ; methods

As an effective tool to study proteins, nucleic acids, cells and other biological samples, atomic force microscope (AFM) has been widely used in various fields of life science. Biological sample preparation via self-assembly is the precondition of the research. In this paper, common self-assembly methods of biological samples such as proteins, lipid films, DNA and cells for AFM studies are reviewed, and how the samples to be well attached to a substrate using appropriate, nondestructive methods is discussed. The trends towards the development in the future are also looked into.
Animals ; Cells ; DNA ; analysis ; Humans ; Lipids ; analysis ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; methods ; Proteins ; analysis ; Specimen Handling ; methods

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to explore the impact of specimen collection and storage consumable products on trace element quantitative analysis.

METHODSDevices and consumable products of different brands used in specimen collection or storage were selected and treated separately as below:urine collection and storage tubes (Brand A, B, C and D, 2 samples for each brand) were treated with 1% of HNO(3) volume fraction for 2 - 4 h; blood taking device (Brand O, P and Q, 3 samples for each brand) were used for ultra-pure water samples collecting as simulation of blood sampling;dust sampling filters (Brand X, Y and Z, 2 samples for each brand) were cold digested by nitric acid for 12 h, followed by microwave digestion. Then cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium, stannum, titanium, vanadium and zinc concentrations in the solutions obtained during the course of collect or storage were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.

RESULTSFor the urine collection and storage consumable products, background values of elements were described as mean of parellel samples. The consentration of 14 quantified elements were relatively low for 5 ml cryogenic vials (brand B) with background values range of 0.001 - 0.350 ng/ml. The background values of copper of 50 ml centrifuge tubes (brand A), chromium of 5 ml cryogenic vials (brand C) and zinc of 1.5 ml centrifuge tubes (brand D) were relatively high, which were 1.900, 1.095 and 1.368 ng/ml, respectively. Background values of elements in blood sampling devices were described as x(-) ± s. Background values of chromium for brand O, P and Q were (0.120 ± 0.017), (0.337 ± 0.093) and (0.360 ± 0.035) ng/ml; for copper were (0.050 ± 0.001), (0.017 ± 0.012) and (0.103 ± 0.015) ng/ml; for lead were (0.057 ± 0.072), (0.183 ± 0.118) and (0.347 ± 0.006) ng/ml; for titanium were (7.883 ± 0.145), (8.863 ± 0.190) and (8.613 ± 0.274) ng/ml; zinc were (2.240 ± 0.573), (42.140 ± 22.756) and (8.850 ± 3.670) ng/ml. There were statistically differences of background values for chromium, copper, lead, titanium and zinc among the above three brands of blood sampling devices (all P values < 0.05). For air sampling filters, background values of elements were described as mean of parellel samples. Background values of chromium and nickel of sampling filters (brand X) were lowest, which were 17.000 and 15.400 ng per piece, respectively; while background values for other elements were relatively high, the quantification of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, lead, selenium, stannum, titanium, vanadium and zinc were 0.250, 0.550, 48.500, 690.000, 25.500, 0.900, 6.500, 10.550, 7.950, 10.500, 0.850, 370.000 ng per piece, respectively. Background values of chromium and nickel of sampling filters (brand Z) were highest, which were 171.000 and 29.850 ng per piece.

CONCLUSIONBackground values of trace elements varied among products of different brands, and the most noticable differences were found in chromium, manganese, nickel, lead, stannum and zinc.

Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Quality Control ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Trace Elements ; analysis

Animals ; Cochlea ; anatomy & histology ; Ear, Inner ; anatomy & histology ; Guinea Pigs ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Tissue Fixation ; methods