Abstract:
A brain microvessel endothelial cell having a Middle-T antigen gene from papovirus is disclosed. The brain microvessel endothelial cell exhibits normal cell phenotype, maintains the phenotype in culture and forms monolayers substantially impermeable to low molecular weight molecules. The cells are useful for in vitro studies involving the blood brain barrier. Also disclosed, are methods of using and processes of making these cells.
Abstract:
The invention discloses a process for sorting and harvesting biological objects on a planar carrier (2). On a planar carrier (2) an object field or the object itself, located on the carrier (2), is cut out with a laser beam (6) and transferred by means of a laser-induced transport process to a collector substrate (5) which is disposed directly above or below the carrier. During the cutting-out process, either the laser beam (6) moves in a closed curve about the object or the object itself is cut directly out of the carrier (2) in a computerized manner. This method enables individually selected objects to be spatially separated and sorted from a very large number of objects. The method can also be used to separate specific cells from tissue sections.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a cell culture medium useful for a biochemical analysis of antioxidant function in human lymphocytes, said medium comprising, a buffered, serum-free solution containing the following ingredients: a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of glucose and a compound biologically capable of producing glucose in the cells, a biologically usable form of pantothenic acid, choline or a biological usable form of a substance capable of producing choline in the cells, inorganic ions comprising chloride, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and iron in a biologically utilizable form, cumene hydroperoxide, deionized water, and a mitogen in an amount effective to stimulate the lymphocytes being assayed; said buffered, serum-free solution having a pH from about 6.8 to 7.6, said cell culture medium characterized by being effective to determine nutritional deficiencies, inadequacies, and imbalances and to biochemically analyze antioxidant function of the lymphocytes. Also provided is a method of biochemically analyzing cellular antioxidant function in an individual comprising the steps of: inoculating the cell culture medium of the present invention with lymphocytes from said individual; incubating the inoculated cell culture medium; and comparing the response of the lymphocytes with an average response of lymphocytes from a control group of individuals.
Abstract:
A method of determining the presence or absence of a nonparaffinophilic microorganism in a specimen taken from a patient includes providing a receptacle containing an aqueous solution that does not contain a carbon source and inoculating the aqueous solution with the specimen. A slide having bound thereto a carbon source is placed into the receptacle. By analyzing the slide after exposure to the specimen, the presence or absence of a nonparaffinophilic microorganism in the specimen can be determined. An associated apparatus is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A technique for staining and preparing mammalian tissue for examination and study is disclosed. The technique features a fixed tissue that is embedded with paraffin to facilitate the cutting of uniformly thin sections and the penetration of a silver stain into the interstices of the collagen matrix. In particular, a 25-30 micron thick slice of cardiac tissue is silver stained and examined for cardiomyopathies.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for preparing tissue samples for subsequent slicing in a microtone, utilizing a thermally transmissive body and removable mold heads to facilitate encapsulation of tissue samples in a gelatinous substance so that the samples may be selectively oriented for proper slicing in the microtone.
Abstract:
Polynucleotides containing abasic, cleavable sites are provided. These polynucleotides are useful in a variety of biochemical and chemical contexts, particularly in solid phase nucleic acid hybridization assays because a captured probe can be released from the support. The polynucleotides have the structure ##STR1## where R is selected from the group consisting of 2-nitrobenzyl, 4-penten-1-yl, ##STR2## where R', R.sub.i and R.sub.j are as defined herein. One of the preferred embodiments is a polynucleotide where R is ##STR3##
Abstract:
There is disclosed an improved method for testing for the presence of a particular microorganism or group of microorganisms characterized by a particular enzyme. The method uses a dye-forming substrate throughout a polymer matrix or on the surface of a solid support member that forms a colored precipitate when cleaved by the enzyme. The precipitate is concentrated to the polymer matrix and/or solid support member to create a visible reaction product, wherein the amount of dye-forming substrate needed is independent of the sample size. The present invention further comprises an enzyme indicator device comprising a dye-forming substrate throughout a polymer system or on the surface of a solid support member.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method for collecting, concentrating and detecting microorganisms from difficult-to-separate environmental samples e.g. oil well samples and the like, for the purpose of their analysis or identification; and apparatus for performing the method.
Abstract:
The invention provides a technology for promptly determining bacterial identification or an antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In the invention, first, a state where the bacteria are divided is monitored by performing microscopic observation with respect to the shape or the number of bacteria in each of wells of a culture plate for bacterial identification culture or the antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In addition, the shape, the number or the area of the bacteria are interpreted from the image obtained by the microscopic observation whether or not the bacteria proliferate at a stage from an induction phase to a logarithmic phase, and the time-dependent changes thereof are made into a graph. From the graph, it is determined whether or not the bacteria proliferate for each measurement, the determination results are displayed on the screen, and accordingly, the result of the antimicrobial susceptibility is provided every time when the measurement is performed.