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Dry-chemistry(DC) analysis may be influenced by some matrix effects for measuring uncommon isoenzyme forms. Placental and intestinal alkaline phosphatase(AP) are overestimated by the VITROS DC, compared with results obtained with the wet-chemistry(WC) method of Bretaudiere, et al. using 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) buffer, however, no such discrepancy between AP results in any DC method and that with a routine WC method recommended by Japanese Society of Clinical Chemistry in that 2-ethylaminoethanol(EAE) buffer is used, has been demonstrated. The type of buffer used affects differently the rates of AP isoenzymes activities. We therefore examined whether the presence of uncommon AP isoenzyme forms in serum caused aberrant DC results for AP in comparison with a routine WC method using EAE buffer. Here, serum samples with only liver AP and bone AP(n : 32); high-molecular-mass AP(n : 11); placental AP(n : 12); intestinal AP(n : 13) and immunoglobulin (Ig) bound AP(n : 12) were analyzed for total AP activity on three different DC analyzers: VITROS 700XR, FUJIDRYCHEM 5000, SPOTCHEM 4410 and a WC analyzer: HITACHI 7350. Values obtained in all of the DCs for sera containing only liver/bone AP agreed with those with the WC method. For sera containing placental AP, the VITROS values were higher than those with the WC method, while the FUJIDRYCHEM values and the SPOTCHEM values were lower. The VITROS values and the FUJIDRYCHEM values for sera containing intestinal AP were lower than those with the WC method, while the SPOTCHEM values were higher. All of the DCs did not affect high-molecular-mass AP and Ig bound liver/bone AP types of macro AP, but underestimated Ig bound intestinal type. Ig bound intestinal AP may be sieved by DC multilayer elements.

We evaluated the direct identification method from growth-positive blood culture bottles using MicroScan Rapid ID panels (DADE BEHRING) for the purpose of rapid identification. The inoculum for Rapid ID panels were prepared using an isolation method from blood culture bottles by VACUTAINER (BD). McF 1.0 had a better result than McF 0.5 as the inoculum concentration for Rapid ID panels. Rapid ID panel identification results were effected by blood contamination foror =0.3% of S. aureus and 0.9% of a strain of E. coli. Blood contamination from the bottle may cause an issue to the identification results. The accuracy of this direct identification testing was 72.0% (36 out of 50) for gram positives organisms and 88. 9% (80 out of 90) for gram negatives organisms. Although some strains including S. pyogenes, coagulase-negative staphylococci and non-Fermentative Gram Negative Rods had not identified correctly, this method provides a preliminary result within 3 hours and provides a fast turn around time. In conclusion, this method was considered as an effective method for routine testing.

Most enzymes in serum that are measured in clinical laboratories can occur in macro-molecular forms in a significantly number of patients. Within dry chemistry (DC) multilayer film, physical barriers may prevent contact macro-molecular enzyme forms with the active reagent ingredients. Here, serum samples with macro-creatine kinase (macro-CK) type 1: CK-immunoglobulin complex or type 2: oligomer mitochondrial CK (CKm) were analyzed for total CK activity on three different DC analyzers: VITROS 700XR, FUJIDRYCHEM 5000, SPOTCHEM SP4410 and a classic wet chemistry (WC) analyzer: HITACHI 7350. Macro-CKs were detected and identified by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate. Serum with high amounts of oligomer CKm gave CK values by all of DC methods significantly lower than that by the WC method (p0.05). Oligomer CKm gradually converts into monomer forms in serum after storage. With increase in day after storage at 4 degrees C, there was a gradual shift in which percent of total CK activity for oligomer CKm decreased while the ratio of total CK activity, DC method/WC method increased. The principle of analytical method for CK activity determination is commonly to all of the DC methods, the WC method and the electrophoretic analysis. These suggest that oligomer CKm is sieved by DC multilayer film elements. In contrast, each of DC method produced highly corrected CK activities for sample containing CK-immunoglobulin complex. This difference in the effects of macro-CKs may depend upon physicochemical characteristics of analytical DC elements.

Reference intervals of the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase isozymes (AP-IZ: high molecular-, liver-, bone- and intestinal-types) were determined according to the ABO (blood type) system in 200 healthy subjects aged 20-39 years. AP activity was determined according to the JSCC method. AP-IZ was stained by the formazan method after isolation by TITANIII-Lipo plate electrophoresis. For the electrophoresis, treated serum with neuraminidase and untreated one were concomitantly used for detecting liver AP and bone AP respectively. As a result of comparison of mean AP-IZ activity among the groups divided according to the ABO system, total AP, intestinal AP and liver AP activities in the type B and O persons were significantly higher than in the type A and AB persons. It is well known that the activities of total AP and intestinal AP in type B and O persons are higher than in type A and AB persons, but there have been no reports showing that the activity of liver AP in type B and O persons is higher than in type A and AB persons. Furthermore, in the type B and O persons there was a low correlation (r = 0.195, p0.05) between the activities of liver AP and intestinal AP. The present assessment included subjects in the age group (20-39 years) considered not to show fluctuations in the activity of bone AP, which is influenced by age. The above findings should be investigated in regard to other age groups.

The appearance of circulating enzyme-linked immunoglobulin complexes (E-Ig), that are thought to be formed because of specific interaction between circulating immunoglobulins and normal serum isoenzymes. The presence of E-Ig in an individual is regarded as a benign phenomenon, although the presence of E-Ig may result in altered enzyme activity in serum and interfere with the measurement of isoenzymes, and is thus of diagnostic importance. The present paper deals with the isoenzyme specificities of immunoglobulins isolated from E-Igs and electrophoretically abnormal enzyme components due to E-Igs. The immunoglobulins react with a single isoenzyme, certain isoenzymes only or all the isoenzymes of a given enzyme. E-Igs thus formed are themselves heterogeneous, giving rise to many different electrophoretically abnormal enzyme components.

Immunoglobulin D(IgD) concentration in serum of normal individuals varies widely, and the reference interval for the concentrations remains to be defined. In the present study, IgD concentrations were determined in serum from 637 normal individuals 20-39 years of age by the latex nephelometric immunoassay. The IgD concentrations ranged from0.20 to 71.5mg per deciliter, and the median and the 95% range as reference intervals were 1.99 and0.20 to 17.3mg/dl, respectively. There was difference of serum IgD concentration between female 20-29 years of age and female 30-39 years of age (p0.05), but not on sex. The correlation between serum IgD concentration and serum IgA concentration was significant (p0.001).

Resonance fluorescence spectra of CF 2 ( 1 B 1 , 040, K' = 9) excited at 253 7 nm have been observed in the photolysis of C 2 F 4 using a low-pressure mercury lamp. At low C 2 F 4 pressures, the spectra with a series of doublet hands from 254 to 400 nm were consistent with the transitions from 1 B 1 , 040, K' =9 to 1 A 1 , 0 v'' 2 0, K'' = 8, 10, and also to 1 A 1 , 1 v'' 2 0, K'' = 8, 10 The appearance of doublet bands (Δ K = ±1) provides clear evidence that the transition is of the perpendicular type.

A distinctive form of basal cell carcinoma with follicular differentiation was studied in 15 biopsy specimens. The neoplasms differ from other variants of basal cell carcinoma by being situated on the face only, being small and well circumscribed, and having signs of follicular differentiation, namely, numerous tiny infundibular cyst-like structures and aggregations of neoplastic cells that resemble hair follicles in telogen. The diagnostic features of basal cell carcinomas with follicular differentiation are enumerated and illustrated.

Pulmonary functions were observed by the flow-volume curve method on 68 healthy welders who had been exposed to comparatively high levels of ozone while engaged in arc welding process shielded by inert gas. The welders between 20 and 29 years of age were selected as subjects and classified into five groups according to ozone concentrations of the workshops. Results of pulmonary function tests were analyzed with reference to working experiences, dust concentrations of the workshops, smoking habits and air pollution levels of the location of factories. An attempt were made to evaluate the possible effects of prolonged exposure to ozone produced by welding upon the health or workers. The results obtained were as follows. 1. Values of both peak flow rate and maximum expiratory flow rate at 75% of vital capacity (V75) were decreased slightly in welder groups, but relationships between the observed values and ozone concentrations were not recognized. 2. Values of maximum expiratory flow rate at 25% of vital capacity (V25) of welders who had been exposed to ozone in concentration of 1.05 ppm or more were decreased significantly compared with groups exposed to ozone under 1.05 ppm. 3. In addition, values of both V25 and forced vital capacity (FVC) of the workers who had been engaged in welding for 4 years or more were significantly lower than those of the workers for less than 4 years of exposure. However, the relationship between the lung function values and smoking habits were not significant in both groups. 4. The decreases in V25 values were observed in several workers who had been exposed even to 0.46 ppm or higher (but under 1.05 ppm) ozone concentrations. 5. Relationships between the lung function values and either smoking habits or air pollutant levels of locations were not significant in all groups.

Experimental pneumoconiosis was induced by intratracheal injection of dusts of presintered cemented tungsten carbide, G2 (WC : Co=98 : 2) and TX20 (WC : Co : TiC : TaC=64 : 16 : 6 : 14) into the lungs of rats in order to document the pathological changes in lung tissues associated with environmental cobalt and tungsten. The following results were obtained. 1) Six months after the administration of G2 and TX20 dusts, marked fibrotic foci were noted and tungsten was detected in the lung tissues of all of the experimental animals. 2) Twelve months after the administration of both dusts, both the fibrotic changes and the tungsten levels were reduced in both test groups, but the reduction was more notable in the G2 group. The cases with fibrotic changes were relatively concomitant with the cases in which tungsten was detected. 3) On examination of tissue levels of cobalt derived from the dust, the cobalt levels in the lungs and bone tissues were less influenced by the dust of the G2 group at any point of investigation, whereas only the pulmonary cobalt levels at six months after the administration of the TX20 group showed a remarkable influence from the dust cobalt (p less than 0.01). 4) In the cases where tungsten was detected six months after the administration of both groups and twelve months after the administration of the TX20 group, pulmonary cobalt levels had not reached the value that should have been gained by the addition of expected values (dust cobalt levels calculated from the tungsten levels) to the control values. 5) The above results indicate that both G2 and TX20 dusts induced marked fibrotic changes in rat pulmonary tissues. However, these changes were reversible to some extent. In addition, a portion of the dust cobalt was dissolved in the body fluid and disappeared from the pulmonary fields.