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Clinical decision-making and biomedical research heavily rely on imaging techniques to visualize tissue morphology. To examine tissues in detail, it is necessary to use special histochemical stains to enhance contrast. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of these stains in diagnosing oral pathologic specimens. We conducted a search in 8 databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Ovid, Cinahl, and Cochrane, up to June 2022. Of 87,393 studies, 41 articles were selected for inclusion in our study.The results revealed that the specificity and sensitivity of the special histochemical stains were 86% with confidence interval (CI) 95%: 80%-90% and 83% with CI 95%: 75%-89%, respectively. Among the stains evaluated, toluidine blue, Papanicolaou, silver stain, Giemsa, Gram, feulgen, and periodic acid--Schiff (PAS) were the most frequently used for the detection of malignancy, premalignant lesions, dysplasia, and candidiasis. The specificity and sensitivity of each stain were analyzed individually, considering the type of specimen. Toluidine blue was the most commonly utilized special histochemical stain, particularly effective, for detecting malignancy, with a specificity of 97% with CI 95%: 88%-99% and sensitivity of 76% with CI 95%: 56%-89%. In conclusion, special histochemical stains are effective in diagnosing oral lesions, exhibiting reasonable specificity and sensitivity, especially in cases of premalignant and malignant lesions. Based on the reviewed articles in our study, the silver stain was identified as highly sensitive, while Giemsa and Papanicolaou stain exhibited the highest specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common malignancies in oral cavity. Hence, presenting methods for early diagnosis and find the etiologic factors of oral SCC are important. Saliva analysis can be used to discover various conditions because of its noninvasive methods. Copper as a useful metal has been used by men since ancient times. The level of copper increases when the cancerous changes occur in addition to biopsy, an alternative method for examining oral lesions is exfoliative cytology. The primary objective of this study was to determine the salivary copper level and cytomorphologic changes of oral mucosa among three study groups. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 15 individuals with oral SCC, 15 workers exposed to copper, and 15 healthy individuals. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The exfoliative smears were prepared by brush biopsy and stained by Papanicolaou and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) staining methods. Data analysis using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal--Wallis test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There was a significant difference in mean salivary copper (P = 0.008), cytomorphology of oral mucosa, and AgNOR among the three groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The results suggested that occupational exposure to copper increases the salivary levels of this element and causes changes in mucosal cells. Since this increase was very high and evidence of nuclear activity was seen in this group and in oral SCC patients, exposure to copper should be considered an important risk factor for oral mucosal changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease mainly affects elderly population leading to impairment in cogitation. A lack of clear understanding of the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease has led to a lack of definite therapeutic option. Herein we have explored the effect of Onjisaponin B derived from the traditional Chinese herbal medicinal plant Radix Polygalae in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Onjisaponin B significantly reduced the severity of experimental Alzheimer's disease in mice measured by learning abilities, spatial learning, memory, and recognition of novel objects via modulation of hippocampal neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity was further confirmed by silver staining and expression of major proteins in the hippocampal synapse. Furthermore, Onjisaponin B remarkably altered the morphology of neuron dendrites in the CA1 region by increasing the numbers of apical and basal dendrites of neurons, and the length of neurons. In conclusion, Onjisaponin B might modulate neuroplasticity to attenuate Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver staining is an excellent technique for detecting proteins that are separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Protein silver staining technology has higher sensitivity and is suitable for the detection of low-concentration proteins compared to other staining techniques including the Coomassie brilliant blue detection method. The present study was conducted to enhance the detection ability of the protein staining method. Herein, we modified the recipe of silver staining, a very reproducible method, by adding AMP, PVP, Tween-80, and xylene to enhance the detection ability of protein staining. Furthermore, the particle size and potentiometer were used to detect the particle size and potential difference of the silver ions in the prepared dyeing materials, and then, the morphology, transparency, and size of the dyed silver particles in different dyeing solutions were studied using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The obtained results revealed that the use of 0.5% of AMP, PVP, Tween-80, and xylene improved the staining ability of protein silver staining, compared with the original method. Furthermore, 0.5% AMP, 0.5% PVP, 0.5% Tween-80 reagents significantly influenced the morphology, size, potential, and dispersion of silver ions. These results suggested a new idea for further improving the detection ability of protein silver staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is relatively more aggressive than other subtypes of breast cancer. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) is a well-known predictive factor of worse survival outcomes; however, the role of LVI in TNBC remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of LVI and examine clinical outcomes in patients with TNBC. We reviewed the medical records of 417 patients with pathology results negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (immunohistochemical stain score 0, 1, or 2 with negative for fluorescence (or silver) in situ hybridization). Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to investigate the relationship between clinicopathological variables and survival outcomes. During a median follow-up of 93.8 months (range, 7.1−193.8), 65 (15.6%) patients had recurrence, and 37 (8.9%) patients died from cancer progression. In multivariate analyses of survival outcomes, the N1–3 stage (vs. N0 stage; hazard ratio [HR], 2.127; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.237−3.659; p = 0.006), and LVI (vs. no LVI; HR, 2.053; 95% CI, 1.199−3.515; p = 0.009) were associated with worse recurrence-free survival. The N1–3 stage (vs. N0 stage; HR, 4.386; 95% CI, 2.140−8.988; p < 0.001) was associated with worse disease-specific survival. LVI in TNBC is an important predictive factor for recurrence than cancer-related death after adjustment for other prognostic factors. We suggest that patients with TNBC with LVI should receive short-term follow-up with imaging studies for detecting loco-regional and distant recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor biology can no longer be understood simply by focusing on the characteristics of the tumor cells, but instead must encompass the contributions of the "tumor microenvironment". Although the tumor microenvironment contains multiple natural extracellular matrices (ECMs), only single or specific ECMs are presently used to assess the behavioral characteristics of tumor cells in vitro. Recently, the use of decellularized tissue gels (DTGs) has gained attention, as they represent a new platform to provide multiple ECM components of the cellular microenvironment. However, as tissues contain unique components of ECMs, it is essential to reproduce the tissue-specific landscape when evaluating tumor functions in vitro. We hypothesized that DTGs affect the in vitro tumor cell behavior and that their protein composition varies between tissues. To test this, we created lung and liver DTGs via freeze-thawing and investigated the effects of DTGs on tumor cell migration. DTGs regulated the migration of tumor cells when these were cultured on DTG-coated plates. The proteins present in the DTGs were separated via SDS-PAGE, and multiple bands were observed using silver staining. Noteworthy, the band pattern varied depending on the tissue from which the DTGs were derived. In summary, this study shows that certain DTGs modulate the behavioral characteristics of tumor cells, which may have potential applications in cancer studies and therapy development. Hence, DTGs are worth investigating as useful tools for tumor cell culture and in vitro assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.-- Direct visualization of Pneumocystis jiroveci organisms, using Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) staining in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), is a historical gold standard that has been widely used for the diagnosis of P jiroveci pneumonia (PJP). However, the stain may be less sensitive in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative immunocompromised patients owing to a lower burden of organisms. Objectives.-- To assess the sensitivity of the GMS stain on BAL fluid for the diagnosis of PJP in HIV-negative immunocompromised patients as compared to HIV-positive patients. Design.-- We conducted a retrospective review from 2012 to 2018 to identify immunocompromised patients (≥18 years old) who underwent bronchoscopy with BAL GMS staining for the diagnosis of PJP. To assess for sensitivity, we sought to identify BAL GMS-positive cases and BAL GMS-negative cases of PJP. The BAL GMS-negative cases were categorized into proven and probable PJP. Results.-- We identified 45 adult immunocompromised patients with proven and probable PJP, including 24 HIV-negative (11 BAL GMS-positive and 13 BAL GMS-negative) and 21 HIV-positive cases (all were BAL GMS-positive). The sensitivity of BAL GMS for the diagnosis of PJP in HIV-negative immunocompromised patients was 11 of 24 (46%) versus 21 of 21 (100%) in HIV-positive patients (CD4: median, 10 cells/mL; range, 3-300 cells/mL). Delayed or missed diagnoses were seen in 3 cases of BAL GMS-negative PJP. Re-examination of BAL GMS slides showed rare P jiroveci cysts in 1 case. Conclusions.-- BAL GMS has poor sensitivity for PJP in HIV-negative immunocompromised patients. Using BAL GMS as a sole method for PJP may result in missed or delayed diagnoses in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional Chinese medicine of Qingxin Kaiqiao Recipe (QKR) is effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to investigate whether QKR improves the cognitive ability and takes neuroprotective effect on APP/PS1 double transgenic mice via the PI3K/Akt pathway. APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into a model, donepezil-treated, or QKR-treated group (L-QKR: 4.75 mg/kg/d, M-QKR: 9.5 mg/kg/d, and H-QKR: 19 mg/kg/d, respectively). Wild-type C57/BL6J mice were used as the control group. Morris water maze (MWM) was used to test the ability of spatial navigation and memorization; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay was applied to test the apoptosis; amyloid protein granule deposition was detected via Methenamine silver staining; Western blot (WB) analysis, immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR were applied to measure the expression of Aβ and corresponding indicators of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Compared with the model group, QKR significantly relieved the cognitive impairment, reduced the deposition of senile plaques, decreased the expression of GSK-3α and Aβ, and increased the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and IDE. In addition, the number of TUNEL-positive cells decreased after treatment using QKR. The current study proved that QKR, especially at the high dose tested, exerted a protective effect on improving learning and memory, inhibiting apoptosis, and reducing the process of pathological degeneration in the hippocampus of AD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Given the prevalence of microleakage in composites and their known complications and lack of reporting of the influence of cavity depth and diameter on the same c-factor on the microleakage of composite cavities, this study investigated the effect of microleakage on composite cavities in identical C Factors. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study on 40 specimen (4 group of 10 each ) Cylindrical cavities with different volumes were prepared using diamond bur no. 006 in buccal surface of teeth (cfactor = 5). Height and width of cavities, respectively: Group I: Height and diameter 2 mm. groupII: height 2 and diameter 4 mm. Group III: height 4 and diameter 2 mm. Group IV: height and diameter 4 mm. All teeth were then restored with the same procedure. The specimens were then placed in a thermocyclic machine.The microleakage was evaluated using 50% weight silver nitrate findings were statishtically evaluated with kruscallwallis test considering significant level of 0.05. Result: There was no significant difference between Gingival leakages in 4 groups (p = 0.163). There was a significant difference between 4 groups in occlusal leakage and groups 1 with 2, 2 with 3 and 2 with 4 revealed differences significantly.(P=0.019) Comparing gingival and occlusal microleakage between groups 1,3,4. :there was not significant difference. (P>0.05) Group 2, there was significant difference between occlusal and gingival microleakage at p = 0.004 and gingival leakage rate was significantly greater than occlusal leakage. (P<0.05) Conclusion: There was no significant direct correlation between C- factor and microleakage, but it seems, microleakage was increased with increasing the cavity dimention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the expression of P62 protein in the characteristic pathological changes of common neurodegenerative diseases and to explore its significance in pathological diagnosis. Methods Eleven cases of neurodegenerative diseases and 3 normal controls which were clinically and pathologically diagnosed from June 1994 to October 2017 were included. The neurodegenerative diseases consisted of 5 cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 2 of which were diagnosed as AD combined with argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), 3 cases of Parkinson's disease (PD), 2 cases of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and 1 case of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Three cases without neurological symptoms, signs and brain pathological changes were used as the normal control. Brain tissues were stained with HE, luxol fast blue (LFB) and Gallyas - Braak silver staining, as well as antibodies to amyloid β - protein (A β), AT8, α- synuclein and P62. The staining results were compared under microscope. Results P62 protein was present in the neurofibrillary tangles of AD, in the Lewy body and Lewy neurites of PD, in the tufted astrocyte of PSP, in the argyrophilic grain of AGD and in the glial cytoplasmic inclusion of MSA. The morphological characteristics were consistent with the results of staining with specific antibodies. P62 protein was only expressed in a small amount in the neuritic plaque of AD, and the diffuse plaques were negative. In addition, P62 protein was also deposited in corpora amylacea. No positive pathological structure of P62 immunohistochemical staining was found in normal control brain tissues. Conclusions The P62 protein is expressed in the characteristic pathological changes and corpora amylacea of AD, PD, PSP, MSA and other diseases. Morphological staining results are consistent with histology of various neurodegenerative diseases and corresponding specific protein expression staining results. So the P62 antibody is recommended as the aiding pathological diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Describe the demographics and clinical manifestations of laryngeal cryptococcosis. Develop a simple approach to the diagnostic workup and treatment of localized laryngeal cryptococcal infection. Methods: A new case of laryngeal cryptococcosis encountered at our institution is presented and placed in context of the literature surrounding prior reported cases. PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were queried from inception to August 2018 with the terms Larynx or Laryngeal and Cryptococcosis or Cryptococcus by two independent reviewers for English-language cases of cryptococcal infection of the larynx. Results: Twenty-nine unique cases of laryngeal cryptococcosis were identified. Median age at presentation was 65 years old. All patients presented with persistent or progressive hoarseness. Lesions were predominantly on the true vocal cords (79%), 38% associated with an adherent white exudate or leukoplakia. A minority (28%) was immunocompromised, and of the remaining immunocompetent hosts, 67% were found to be using nebulized or inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) prior to infection. Diagnosis should be suspected in patients with chronic laryngitis or mass lesions with the aforementioned risk factors. Diagnosis was made by histopathology with cryptococcal yeasts identified on methenamine silver (55%) and/or mucicarmine stains (48%). Serum cryptococcal antigen testing was unreliable (sensitivity = 39%). The mainstay of effective treatment was prolonged oral Fluconazole therapy, with two cases of laser therapy ablation of residual lesions. Improvement in voice and vocal lesions varied from weeks to months. Conclusions: Laryngeal cryptococcosis is a rare cause of persistent hoarseness, which appears to be clinically evolving and more frequently affecting immunocompetent hosts chronically using nebulized or inhaled corticosteroids. Laryngeal cryptococcal infection is readily treatable with prolonged oral antifungals once biopsy and histopathological stains confirm the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chromosomal abnormalities are a significant cause of human disorders. The characterization of such abnormalities helps in the identification of known/ new genes. The purpose of the present study was to identify the cause of miscarriages in a couple by using combined molecular and cytogenetic techniques. Case Presentation: In this study, the clinical, cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic evaluations were performed on a couple with recurrent miscarriages. Several methods like GTG banding, silver nitrate (NOR) staining, fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) using whole chromosome paint probes (WCP) and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones were used. The chromosomal analysis on the metaphases revealed a karyotype of 46,XX in the wife and 46,XY,13p+ in her husband. To check the satellites on 13p region, NOR was performed which showed absence of satellites and presence of euchromatic material. On careful analysis, the satellites were observed on 11q terminal region. Thus, a balanced reciprocal translocation was detected which was confirmed by WCP and Acro-P-arm FISH. Fine mapping with BAC clones narrowed down the breakpoint regions. Conclusion: The application of the combined cytogenetic methods especially NOR helped in identification of the balanced reciprocal translocation with subsequent systematic characterization and the breakpoint regions were identified. The characterization of the breakpoint regions helped in identification of the carrier status which further paved the way for understanding the cause of recurrent miscarriages and proper genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroud and Aim: microleakge is one of the most common cause of failure in restorative dentistry in this study the microleakge of filtek p90 , filtek p60 was evaluated and compared . Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, on 48 premolar teeth standardized class II MOD preparations were made cervical margin of mesial preparation were 1mm above the CEJ and 1 mm and the distal preparation were 1 mm below the CEJ Samples divided in to 3 groups of sixteen teeth. A group: teeth were filled with filtek silorane (3M ESPE , USA) and silorane system adhesive self-etch primer and bond. B: teeth were filled with filtek silorane and Adper single bond plus. C: sixteen teeth were filled with filtek p60 and Adper single bond plus. After AgNO3 dye opplicaiton microleakage were evaluated by stereomicroscope.data were statistically analyzed by kurskal-wallis and Wilcoxon. the level of 0.05 considered significant. Results: The most enamel microleakage was related to C and lowest enamel microleakge was shown in A group. The most dentin microleakage was related to B and the lowest dentin microleakge was shown in A group. Microleakage was significantly different between A, with B and C (P‹0.05) dentin microleakage was not significant difference between B and C. Conclusion: Type of composite and bonding effect to microleakage, the lowest microleakage was gingival margine irrespective of the location of the margine related to group A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disease-associated water-soluble form of hamster prion protein (ws-PrPSc) has recently been found to be less stable than classical PrPSc. Since the stability of PrP to degradation correlates with its glycosylation level, the aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences between the glycosylation of ws-PrPSc and classical PrPSc of hamster which might account for the ws-PrPSc minor stability compared with that of the classical PrPSc. Thus, ws-PrP and classical PrP were captured from noninfected or scrapie-infected hamster brain homogenate [high-speed supernatant (SHS) and high-speed pellet (PHS)] and blood plasma by anti-PrP antibodies (3F4 and 6H4) and subjected to screening for glycans by lectins under denaturing or nondenaturing procedures in a sandwich lectin-ELISA. Glycans have been found in minor quantities and differently exposed on ws-PrPSc from SHS and plasma compared with classical PrPSc from PHS. These differences have been shown to be potentially responsible for the instability of ws-PrPSc. Treatment of infected blood with GdnHCl significantly (P<0.01) increased the detection of ws-PrPSc in ELISA, reflecting an increase in its stability, and showed efficacy in removing high-abundance proteins in silver-stained gels. This increase in ws-PrPSc stability is due to an interaction of GdnHCl not only with high-abundance proteins but also with the ws-PrPSc glycosylation with particular regard to the mannose sugar. Analysis of lectins immunoreactivity toward total proteins from plasma collected before and at different time points after infection revealed that mannose might exert a stabilizing effect toward all of hamster blood glycoproteins, regardless of scrapie infection. Since low levels of ws-PrPSc/soluble-infectivity have been estimated both in blood and brain of hamster, this glycosylation-related instability may have negatively influenced the propensity of ws-PrPC to convert to ws-PrPSc both in blood and the brain. Therefore, PrPC glycosylation characteristics may provide a tool for the determination risk of prion transmissibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial metabolism during infection is related to bacterial persistence and virulence factors. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a key pathogen that contributes to chronic periodontitis. Our previous study showed that pckA, the gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, is a putative‐specific pathogenic gene of virulent strains of P. gingivalis. Here, a pckA‐deficient strain (ΔPG1676) was constructed in P. gingivalis W83. Virulence properties were compared between the mutant and wild‐type strains. Specifically, hemagglutination activity was determined by the ability to agglutinate sheep erythrocytes. Gingipain activity was detected using synthetic‐specific substrates. Gene expression levels were analyzed using RT‐qPCR, and cell surface‐associated polysaccharides were examined by silver staining and electron microscopy. Inactivation of the pckA gene did not affect bacterial growth and lipopolysaccharide formation but led to a reduction in hemagglutination activity and downregulation in expression of the hemagglutination‐associated gene, rfa, when compared with the wild‐type strain. Additionally, the ΔPG1676 mutant exhibited an alteration in the distribution of gingipain activity. Increased gingipain activity was detected on the cell surface, but a decrease in its activity in the culture supernatant was shown. Taken together, our results suggest that the pckA gene plays a role in modulating the virulence of P. gingivalis W83. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The objective of this experiment was to study the nucleolar organizer region (NOR)-banding pattern in Large White Yorkshire (LWY) crossbred and non-descript pigs and finding differences in the number of NORs between animals and between genetic groups. Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out on 15 females, and 15 males of LWY crossbred and non-descript pigs to study NOR-banding pattern by employing ammoniacal silver staining technique. Results: A total of 63 and 65 number of good metaphases were prepared in LWY crossbred, and non-descript pigs and a total of 168 and 143 number of NORs were detected on the 8th and 10th chromosomes in both genetic groups, respectively. The mean number of NORs per metaphase was 2.67 and 2.20 in LWY crossbred and non-descript pigs, respectively. LWY crossbred pig had high mean number of silver-stained NORs (Ag-NORs) per metaphase compared to non-descript pig. In general, it was observed that the highest frequency of metaphases (%) examined had two number of NORs, while the lowest frequency (%) had four number of NORs. The number of NORs observed per metaphase on secondary constrictions of the 8th and 10th chromosome pair in both genetic groups ranged from 2 to 4. The Chi-square test of significance revealed that the observed frequencies do not differ significantly from the expected frequencies. Conclusion: The results confirmed differences across breeds in occurrence and number of NORs on chromosomes in pigs. The mean numbers of NORs present per metaphase vary between the animals indicating the existence of polymorphism for the number of NORs. A higher number of Ag-NORs were observed on chromosome pair 10 in both the genetic groups. It was concluded that NORs were more morphologically distinct and greater on chromosome pair 10 than on pair 8, which suggests a dominant role of chromosome 10 in the global production of ribosomal RNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a dentistry study which examines the effects of moisture protection methods on the microleakage of the glass ionomer cement. The teeth used for the study were unrestored, extracted human molars with fused roots. The teeth were stored in 10% formalin saline. Under the study, the cavity preparations in 20 teeth were conditioned with polyacrylic acid for 10 seconds. A silver-stain technique was used to observe the leakage in the two methods of moisture protection.

Background: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a cariostatic agent used to adjunctively manage dental caries in high‐risk groups. However, black staining is a frequently reported side effect following SDF application and influences the acceptability of this treatment. Aim: To evaluate the staining potential of SDF and the influence of the potassium Iodide (KI) application on the degree of black staining over time. Design: Extracted carious primary molars were collected and sorted into pairs matched by tooth type, size and location of the carious lesion (n = 35). Teeth were stratified to receive either 38% SDF, KI immediately after SDF application, or 12% SDF. Standardised timelapse photography and image processing software was used to evaluate staining over a period of 7 days. Results: Following SDF application, the onset of black staining occurred within 2 min and increased in value for up to 6 h post‐application. The use of KI immediately after SDF application resulted in no noticeable staining of the carious dentine or surrounding enamel. No significant differences were evident in the staining potential between the different SDF concentrations (38% and 12%). Furthermore, root surface and cementum was found to stain darker and more readily when compared with the coronal enamel surface. Conclusion: SDF has the ability to visibly stain dental hard tissues and its staining potential may be modified by application of KI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parametric separation of carbon nanotubes, especially based on their length is a challenge for a number of nano-tech researchers. We demonstrate a method to combine bio-conjugation, SDS-PAGE, and silver staining in order to separate carbon nanotubes on the basis of length. Egg-white lysozyme, conjugated covalently onto the single-walled carbon nanotubes surfaces using carbodiimide method. The proposed conjugation of a biomolecule onto the carbon nanotubes surfaces is a novel idea and a significant step forward for creating an indicator for length-based carbon nanotubes separation. The conjugation step was followed by SDS-PAGE and the nanotube fragments were precisely visualized using silver staining. This high precision, inexpensive, rapid and simple separation method obviates the need for centrifugation, additional chemical analyses, and expensive spectroscopic techniques such as Raman spectroscopy to visualize carbon nanotube bands. In this method, we measured the length of nanotubes using different image analysis techniques which is based on a simplified hydrodynamic model. The method has high precision and resolution and is effective in separating the nanotubes by length which would be a valuable quality control tool for the manufacture of carbon nanotubes of specific lengths in bulk quantities. To this end, we were also able to measure the carbon nanotubes of different length, produced from different sonication time intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is a DNA damage sensor that catalyzes the poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) onto a variety of target proteins, such as histones, DSB repair factors and PARP1 itself under consumption of NAD + . Besides, PARP1 can affect a variety of proteins in noncovalent modification manner to carry out specific cellular functions. Here, we established a method to generate non-radiolabeled free PAR by PARG moderately cleaving PAR from autoPARylated PARP1, and utilized dot-blot assay to determine the interaction between free PAR and interested proteins. The methods to generate free PAR and detect the noncovalent interactions between proteins and free PAR are nonradioactive and convenient, which will facilitate the studies to explore the significance of PAR reading in various biological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is multifactorial with unclear etiopathology. Due to the complexity of AD, many attempted single therapy treatments, like Aβ immunization, have generally failed. Therefore, there is a need for drugs with multiple benefits. Naturally occurring phytochemicals with neuroprotective, anti-amyloidogenic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties could be a possible way out. In this study, the effect of Moringa oleifera (MO), a naturally occurring plant with high antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, was evaluated on hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) induced AD-like pathology in rats. Homocysteine (Hcy) injection for 14 days was used to induce AD-like pathology. Simultaneous MO extract gavage followed the injection as a preventive treatment or, after injection completion, MO gavage was performed for another 14 days as a curative treatment. MO was found to not only prevent but also rescue the oxidative stress and cognitive impairments induced by Hcy treatment. Moreover, MO recovered the decreased synaptic proteins PSD93, PSD95, Synapsin 1 and Synaptophysin, and improved neurodegeneration. Interestingly, MO decreased the Hyc-induced tau hyperphosphorylation at different sites including S-199, T-231, S-396, and S-404, and at the same time decreased Aβ production through downregulation of BACE1. These effects in HHcy rats were accompanied by a decrease in calpain activity under MO treatment, supporting that calpain activation might be involved in AD pathogenesis in HHcy rats. Taken together, our data, for the first time, provided evidence that MO alleviates tau hyperphosphorylation and Aβ pathology in a HHcy AD rat model. This and previous other studies support MO as a good candidate for, and could provide new insights into, the treatment of AD and other tauopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitis vinifera L. is one of the most important fruit crops in the world, having thousands of different varieties. This diploid species has 38 small chromosomes that have been characterised with Giemsa staining, fluorochrome banding, silver staining, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Previous works reported that the number of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci in V. vinifera is four. In this work, we intend to study the nucleolar activity and to physically map the 45S rDNA loci in seven varieties of V. vinifera using an optimized protocol of silver nitrate staining and sequential FISH, respectively. Nucleoli and mitotic chromosomes of root-tips and leaves of the seven V. vinifera varieties were stained with silver nitrate. The number of nucleoli per interphase cell was scored and statistically analysed. Most of the varieties showed a maximum of three nucleoli per nucleus and three Ag-NORs per metaphase. The variety Bastardo showed a maximum of two nucleoli per nucleus in leaf tissue whereas Pinot Noir presented a maximum of four nucleoli per interphase in roots. However, in both tissues of all varieties, 1 nucleolus per nucleus was most frequent. High-quality chromosome spreads were selected for sequential FISH with the 45S rDNA probe pTa71 which allowed the physical location of four 45S rDNA loci in all varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the effects of QKF on expression of amyloid-beta (Aβ), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) using a rat model of AD. Materials and Methods. Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups (eight rats each): control group, sham-operated group, AD model group, groups of AD rats administered with low, medium, and high doses of QKF, and the donepezil group. AD was established by bilateral injection of β-amyloid (Aβ) 1–40 into the hippocampus. Two days after AD was established, drugs were administered by gavage. After 14 days of treatment, we used RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry to measure the transcript expression and protein abundance of Aβ, IL-1β, and GFAP, and methenamine silver staining was used to detect amyloid protein particle deposition. Results. Compared to the control group, the rats from the AD model group showed significantly greater expression levels of Aβ, IL-1β, and GFAP. However, these differences in expression were abolished by treatment with QKF or donepezil. Conclusion. QKF possesses therapeutic potential against AD because it downregulated Aβ, IL-1β, and GFAP in the hippocampus of AD rats. Future studies should further examine the mechanisms through which QKF produces its effects and the consequences of long-term QKF administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, visual detection of trace lead ion was established by aptamer and silver staining. The basic strategy was that aminated PS2.M aptamer was immobilized onto slide and formed stable G-quadruplex structure. PbS was generated by adding S 2− , and it catalyzed subsequent silver staining reaction, through the silver staining amplification effect, the slide presented visible ash black. The gray value of slide after silver staining was analyzed and the semi-quantitative detection of Pb 2+ in solution was realized. The results showed that optical darkness ratio (ODR) and logarithmic value of Pb 2+ concentration had a good linear relationship (R 2  = 0.951) over the range of 0.5–10 μM. In addition, there was no obvious interference of other common metal ions for the detection, indicating that this method presented outstanding selectivity. And it was also used for qualitative and semi-quantitative determination of Pb 2+ in soil sample successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by two main pathological hallmarks in the human brain: the extracellular deposition of amyloid-β as plaques and the intracellular accumulation of the hyperphosphorylated protein tau as neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Phosphorylated tau (p-tau) specific-antibodies and silver staining have been used to reveal three morphological stages of NFT formation: pre-NFTs, intraneuronal NFTs (iNFTs), and extraneuronal NFTs (eNFTs). Here we characterize a novel monoclonal antibody, RN235, which is specific for tau phosphorylated at serine 235, and detects iNFTs and eNFTs in brain tissue, suggesting that phosphorylation at this site is indicative of late stage changes in tau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain shape is a key factor that influences both the appearance quality and grain yield of rice. To clarify the genetic basis of grain shape, an advanced backcross population was developed from the cross of a slender indica variety Jin23B and a round japonica variety QingGuAi, and a total of 10 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for grain shape were detected over 2 years. Three QTLs, qGW1, qGS3 and qGS7 have large effects on grain shape and were detected in both years. To further validate their effects, the BC4F2 populations of the three QTLs were constructed. The alleles from QingGuAi of qGW1 and qGS7 both greatly increase grain width and the alleles from Jin23B of qGS3 greatly increase grain length. The allele variations of the three QTLs lead to the totally different grain shape of the two rice varieties. Our study provides insights into the genetic bases of grain shape and will promote the improvements of grain quality and yield in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study related to an abortion of Friesian mare with concerns of fungal placentitis. Topics discussed include observation of fetus infection with Aspergillus terreus that is considered as causative agent of an infection; recommendation of low-volume lavage fluid usage for analysis of Aspergillus in the mare with assessment of biopsy specimen; and examination of fungal hyphae with Gomori methenamine silver stain for infection condition.

Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau protein is a critical factor in many neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases are increasing in prevalence, and there are currently no cures. Previous work from our group and others has shown that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can stimulate autophagy, decrease pathological proteins, and improve symptoms in models of neurodegeneration. Here we examined the role of pazopanib in mouse models that express either human mutant P301L tau (TauP301L) or triple mutant amyloid precursor protein (3x-AβPP). The TauP301L mouse expresses P301L tau under the control of a prion promoter in both neurons and astrocytes, reminiscent of some human tauopathies. Pazopanib crosses the blood-brain barrier with no detectable peripheral off-side effects, and decreases p-tau in TauP301L mice. Pazopanib reaches a brain concentration sufficient for inhibition of several tyrosine kinases, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs). Further, pazopanib does not affect microglia but reduces astrocyte levels toward nontransgenic controls in TauP301L mice. Pazopanib does not alter amyloid beta levels or astrocytes in 3x-AβPP mice but modulates a number of inflammatory markers (IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES). These data suggest that pazopanib may be involved in p-tau clearance and modulation of astrocytic activity in models of tauopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of three peritrichous ciliates, Zoothamnium bucciniiformum sp. n., Zoothamnium florens sp. n., and Zoothamnium zhanjiangense sp. n., were investigated based on both living and silver-stained specimens. Zoothamnium bucciniiformum sp. n., collected from coastal waters (salinity 30‰) off Zhanjiang, southern China, can be distinguished by the following characters: dichotomously branched stalk, peristomial lip with medial circumferential infolding, contractile vacuole apically positioned, 32-49 silverlines between the anterior end and the aboral trochal band, 15-26 between the aboral trochal band and the scopula; two kineties in peniculus 3, not parallel to each other. Zoothamnium florens sp. n., collected from a mangrove wetland (salinity 13‰) off Zhanjiang, is characterized by its large conical zooid, tuberculate peristomial lip, asymmetrical dichotomously branched colony, 59-81 silverlines between the anterior end and the aboral trochal band and 29-36 between the aboral trochal band and the scopula. Zoothamnium zhanjiangense, collected from a mangrove wetland (salinity about 9.5‰) off Zhanjiang, differs from its congeners by the alternately branched stalk, peristomial lip with medial circumferential infolding, 40-63 silverlines from the peristomial area to the aboral trochal band and 13-24 from the aboral trochal band to the scopula. The comparison and analysis of SSU rDNA sequences also support present identifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleolar organizer regions are nucleolar components that contain proteins that are stained selectively by silver methods; they can be identified as black dots throughout the nucleolus and are known as silver binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR). The number of AgNOR is related to the cell cycle and the proliferative activity of the cells. We investigated AgNOR using exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant oral lesions. Eighty individuals were divided into four equal groups: healthy controls, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The mean number of AgNOR in each study group gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The proliferative index was increased in the oral premalignant and malignant patients compared to normal subjects. The mean AgNOR size gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Spherical shaped AgNOR were most common in controls, whereas large, clustered and kidney shapes were most common in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Multiparameter analysis of AgNOR in oral exfoliative smears is a simple, sensitive and cost-effective method for differentiating premalignant from malignant lesions and can be used in conjunction with routine cytomorphological evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gel based silver staining of proteins is thought to occur by selective reduction of silver ions to insoluble metallic silver at specific initiation sites in the vicinity of the protein molecules. Silver stained protein bands generally are dark brown or black with considerable variation in color intensity. The color variation has been attributed to diffractive scattering by silver grains of different sizes. Our experiments, however, demonstrate that color variation is due to the formation of silver chromate deposits that are incorporated into formalin fixed proteins. Understanding the mechanism of silver staining is essential for developing a method for protein quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is a standard biochemical technique to separate, detect and quantify protein amounts of specific molecular weights. Colorimetric detection with Coomassie or silver stain is by far the most common analysis method. Silver stain is the most sensitive one and protein bands down to 1 ng can be detected with laboratory imaging systems. To increase the sensitivity of the detection we developed a sensor based on the principle of the thermal lens effect to scan, record, and quantify protein bands not visible to the eye or to the camera. Our device could detect bands of 0.05 ng in gels soaked in methanol/water and 0.1 ng when soaked in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study for molecular sex identification of painted storks known as Mycteria leucocephala. Topics discussed include economic impact of Mycteria leucocephala, information on population genetic, extraction of Genomic DNA using quick silver staining, and analysis of population genetic structure and gene flow.

The article offers a case study of 53-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis. Topics discussed empiric treatment for bacterial cellulitis with a step-up antibiotic approach; mentions patients with an immunocompromised status, such as human immunodeficiency virus; and the patient evolved to sepsis, which motivated the initiation of antibiotics for bacterial cellulitis.

The original ammoniacal silver carbonate staining technique and subsequent modification developed by Fernández-Galiano are useful for investigating ciliate protozoan systematics and/or ciliate cortical structure and morphogenesis. The technique is complicated, however, by both uncertainties arising from the need to count drops of reagents and subjective control of the staining intensity. I have resolved these complications by defining volumes of reagents rather than using drops and by defining a range of staining times. I also comment on various steps of the techniques. My techniques are simplified and refined to produce consistent, high quality staining results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a new approach for preparing a rough Pt film on an electrodeposited Au modified Au disk electrode (Au pla /Au) by silver staining and galvanic replacement reactions (GRRs), and the modified electrode is used for amperometric and fuel-cell-based sensing of ethanol. Briefly, Ag was stained on Au pla /Au through chemical reduction of AgNO 3 by hydroquinone (Ag/Au pla /Au). The GRRs between the stained silver and H 2 PtCl 6 produced size-enlarged nanoparticles containing Pt and AgCl, and electroreduction and ammonia rinse of AgCl could efficiently enhance the porosity to finally obtain the Pt GRR x /Au pla /Au electrode, where x denotes the number of silver staining/GRR cycles. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the modified electrode. The Pt GRR4 /Au pla /Au electrode exhibited a linear anodic amperometric response to ethanol concentration from 0.01 mM to 11.3 mM with a limit of detection (LOD, S / N = 3) of 3 μM, excellent stability and acceptable selectivity, which was used for analysis of ethanol in real Chinese liquor samples with satisfactory results. An ethanol/O 2 fuel cell was constructed using two Pt GRR4 /Au pla /Au electrodes, which showed a self-powered linear voltage response to ethanol concentration from 0.02 to 15.7 mM with a LOD of 15 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a proof of concept that removal of blood amyloid-β (Aβ) can reduce Aβ deposition in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, cortices of patients who had undergone hemodialysis (HD), which removes Aβ from the blood, were histochemically analyzed; postmortem brain sections were stained with anti-Aβ antibodies. Brains from patients who had undergone HD had significantly fewer senile plaques than those of patient who had not undergone HD. This significant difference was also confirmed by silver staining. Our findings suggest that removal of blood Aβ by hemodialysis results in lower accumulation of Aβ in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has developed a new membrane based visualization method for the detection of ultratrace lead and cadmium ions. The basic steps were mainly as follows. Dithizone (Dz) was adsorbed on cellulose acetate membrane (CAM) and formed Dz-Pb 2+ /Cd 2+ complexes in the presence of lead and cadmium ions. Then the complexes were converted into Dz-PbS/CdS composites after further processing with sulfide ions. While the new formed Dz-PbS/CdS composites could act as a catalyst in the subsequent silver stain reaction. With the silver nanoparticles depositing on CAM, the color of the membrane turned gray to black, which could be observed by naked eye. Semi-quantitative analysis of Pb 2+ /Cd 2+ was performed according to the ΔAverage gray value of CAM grayscale images. Results showed that under the optimal conditions, ΔAverage gray value had a good linear relation with the logarithm of the Pb 2+ /Cd 2+ concentration in the range from 1 nM to 100 nM, and the naked eye detection limit could reach 1 nM (∼0.0002 mg L −1 ). Besides, other common metal ions had no significant interference with the detection, indicating that the method had a good selectivity. Satisfactory results were obtained for the detection of Pb 2+ /Cd 2+ in real samples (lake water and soil samples). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology and infraciliature of a new species, Uronemita parabinucleata n. sp., isolated from intertidal sediments in a coastal region in northern China, were investigated using live observation and silver impregnation methods. The new species is characterized by an in vivo body size of about 20–50 × 10–25 μm, 22 or 23 somatic kineties, two macronuclear nodules, and one caudal cilium. Its small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) was sequenced and compared with those of other Uronemita species to reveal nucleotide differences. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that Uronemita is monophyletic and that the new species clusters with its congener Uronemita filificum , with full support provided by both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood algorithms. Based on previous studies and the present study, an improved diagnosis of the genus Uronemita is supplied, which has been absent since the establishment of this genus. A key to the Uronemita species is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The karyotypes of Dryomys laniger and D. nitedula from Turkey were studied using C-banding and AgNOR staining. The standard karyotypes found in both species were fairly similar to previously published data (2n = 46, NF = 92 in D. laniger; 2n = 48, NF = 96 in D. nitedula). The C-banding pattern revealed a relatively small amount of heterochromatin in both karyotypes and C-heterochromatin was concentrated at centromeric areas of most autosomes and the X chromosome. Heterochromatin changes have apparently not been responsible for karyotypic divergences between the studied species. The AgNORs were recorded in the pericentromeric region of two autosome pairs in the complement of D. laniger, and at a single autosome pair of D. nitedula. The complement of D. laniger could be derived from that of D. nitedula after a tandem fusion of two autosomal pairs, and the assumed rearrangement also included the NOR region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Virus-like particles (VLPs) based on Newcastle disease virus (NDV) core proteins, M and NP, and containing two chimera proteins, F/F and H/G, composed of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein (F) and glycoprotein (G) ectodomains fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the NDV F and HN proteins, respectively, stimulate durable, protective anti-RSV neutralizing antibodies in mice. Furthermore, immunization of mice with a VLP containing a F/F chimera protein with modifications previously reported to stabilize the pre-fusion form of the RSV F protein resulted in significantly improved neutralizing antibody titers over VLPs containing the wild type F protein. The goal of this study was to determine if VLPs containing the pre-fusion form of the RSV F protein stimulated protective immune responses in cotton rats, a more RSV permissive animal model than mice.Methods: Cotton rats were immunized intramuscularly with VLPs containing stabilized pre-fusion F/F chimera protein as well as the H/G chimera protein. The anti-RSV F and RSV G antibody responses were determined by ELISA. Neutralizing antibody titers in sera of immunized animals were determined in plaque reduction assays. Protection of the animals from RSV challenge was assessed. The safety of the VLP vaccine was determined by monitoring lung pathology upon RSV challenge of immunized animals.Results: The Pre-F/F VLP induced neutralizing titers that were well above minimum levels previously proposed to be required for a successful vaccine and titers significantly higher than those stimulated by RSV infection. In addition, Pre-F/F VLP immunization stimulated higher IgG titers to the soluble pre-fusion F protein than RSV infection. Cotton rats immunized with Pre-F/F VLPs were protected from RSV challenge, and, importantly, the VLP immunization did not result in enhanced respiratory disease upon RSV challenge.Conclusions: VLPs containing the pre-fusion RSV F protein have characteristics required for a safe, effective RSV vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Objectives The main objective is to develop a fully automated system for Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) damage analysis using silver stained comet assay images for clinical applications. 2. Materials and methods Silver stained comet assay images of lymphocytes obtained from confirmed cases of Schizophrenia were employed for DNA damage analysis using Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE) or Comet assay. The image analysis consists of three stages: (1) Comet segmentation by incorporating shading correction, pre-processing stages for image enhancement, noise filtering and thresholding; (2) Comet partitioning by fuzzy clustering and (3) Comet quantification stage in which the limitations of fuzzy clustering are eliminated. 3. Results This study involves 40 cases of Schizophrenia. Results of the proposed method are compared with those of OpenComet and CometScore software. Comet segmentation result is validated with a confusion matrix which shows better values for all performance indices. The proposed technique gave 87.12% Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and 90.16% sensitivity. It shows a large improvement in PPV and sensitivity, over the most recent competitive method, OpenComet. Regression analysis is carried out to validate the quantification results. Visual scores evaluated by the expert and DNA (%) in tail are used for finding the coefficient of determination, r 2 statistic. The proposed method gives a better r 2 value of 0.9. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by a clinical expert. 4. Conclusion The proposed method is found to be very efficient for DNA damage analysis of silver stained comet assay images in the area of clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two oxytrichids Architricha indica Gupta et al., 2006 and Pleurotricha curdsi (Shi et al. 2002) Gupta et al., 2003 collected in East China, were studied using live observation and the silver staining method. The description and morphometric characterization of the new populations were supplied. The Shanghai population of A. indica differs from the Indian population in the number of cirri in the third right marginal row (average of 16.8 vs. 21.1). The Shanghai population of P. curdsi corresponds well with the Indian population, but it differs from the other Chinese population in the number of right marginal rows (two vs. three). The early process of reorganization of A. indica was studied, and a difference on the formation of anlage V was found compared to the original report. The small subunit rRNA genes of both species were sequenced for the first time. The phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data revealed that Architricha is sister to the assemblage of Pseudouroleptus caudatus and two Strongylidium, while P. curdsi clusters with its congener P. lanceolata and is located in Stylonychinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is commonly used for the separation, identification, and purification of mixtures of proteins and nucleic acids. A suitable staining method for the polyacrylamide gels is imperative to determine low concentrations of resolved macromolecules. Several staining methods have been adopted; ethidium bromide, silver, and coomassie staining are the most frequently employed. Silver staining determines macromolecules at nanomolar concentrations but involves many steps and thus is tedious for multiple gels in parallel. In this article, a simple multitrack laboratory-constructed silver staining apparatus is characterized that may enhance the sensitivity of the electrophoresis stains and the homogeneity of detection. In addition, the low cost and simplicity of this system provide wide applicability for gel electrophoresis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A lateral flow immunoassay with silver staining for the simultaneous detection of fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in maize samples was reported. The assay was based on the competition between target mycotoxins and corresponding coating antigens immobilized on test lines for binding to limited gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-labeled antibodies. The detection signal was further amplified by employment of silver staining on AuNPs. In the process, silver ions were catalyzed by AuNPs into metal silver that deposited on the surface of AuNPs, allowing not only the enlargement of particle dimensions of AuNPs but also a more distinguishable black coloration on the test zone. Under optimized conditions, the cut-off values of silver staining lateral flow immunoassay were 2.0 ng mL −1 for FB 1 and 40 ng mL −1 for DON in buffer, which was improved at least 2 times in comparison to those of AuNPs-based method. The assay was further applied to detect FB 1 and DON in naturally contaminated maize samples and a good agreement was found with the data obtained from HPLC-MS/MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three peritrichous ciliates, Zoothamnium arcuatum n. sp., Z. grossi n. sp., and Z. parahentscheli Sun et al., 2009, were collected from an estuary of the Taehwagang River, Korea. All these species were investigated based on live observations and silver staining, and their small subunit ( SSU) rRNA gene was also sequenced. Zoothamnium arcuatum can be identified by a goblet-shaped colony, double-layered peristomial lip, and abstomally shortened row 3 of infundibular polykinety 3 (P3). Zoothamnium grossi is morphologically characterized by an alternately branched stalk with the lowest secondary stalk diverging from the main part of colony, asymmetrically bell-shaped zooids, and three short, parallel ciliary rows in P3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the three Zoothamnium species described in this paper clustered with other members of the family Zoothamniidae, as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four colonial sessile peritrichs were discovered during a survey of ciliate diversity of coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, Shandong Province, China. Following studies of their living morphology, infraciliature and silverline system, three were identified as new members of the genera Pseudepistylis and Zoothamnium. Pseudepistylis paramphora n. sp. is the second species assigned to the genus, which is characterized by its rigid, dichotomously branched stalk, reticulate silverline system and marine habitat. Zoothamnium paranii n. sp. was isolated from brackish water and Z. hartwigi n. sp. was collected from marine water. Zoothamnium paranii is characterized largely by its highly variable zooid size and having an extremely long infundibular polykinety 3. Zoothamnium hartwigi is separated from its congeners by having two types both of peristomial lip and infundibular polykinety 3. We also supply supplementary morphometric data and photomicrographs of Epicarchesium variabile based on examinations of specimens in vivo and after silver staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gallyas method is a silver impregnation technique that is essential in the field of neuropathology because of its high sensitivity for the detection of argentophilic inclusion bodies in the central nervous system. In Japan, the Gallyas method has improved and is widely used as the 'modified Gallyas method'. However, this method is not popularly used in general pathology laboratories because of the need for special reagents, several staining processes, and skilled techniques. The objective of the current study was to provide a simplified Gallyas method. We omitted the lanthanum nitrate step from the staining process and verified the adequacy in comparison with the original method as well as immunohistochemistry, using specimens from patients of Alzheimer's disease, argyrophilic grain disease, multiple system atrophy, Pick's disease, and Lewy body disease. The simplified method provided good staining to all the structures in archival tissues, compared with the modified Gallyas method in a significantly shorter staining time. The lanthanum nitrate step can be omitted from the modified Gallyas method, resulting in reduction in the number of reagents required and shortening of the staining time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]