bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Laboratory Tests and Clinical Evaluation in Phenotyping of Lipoproteinemias
Authors: Winkelman James , Wybenga Donald R , Ibbott Frank A
Published: January 2020

Accuracy of phenotyping of lipoproteinemias by electrophoresis was assessed by comparing the interpretation of that laboratory test alone with the clinical diagnosis. Results were consistent with the clinical diagnosis in 88.7% of the series. Inconsistent results most frequently occurred with samples for which cholesterol and triglyceride determinations were not made or considered. Quantitative serum values for these substances obtained from another specimen or which had been determined by another laboratory and were not available to our laboratory, were the most common bases for the physician’s conclusion that the laboratory report was incorrect. We conclude that cholesterol and triglyceride should be routinely determined in the laboratory testing for phenotyping of lipoproteinemia. The cholesterol and triglyceride analyses must be performed on the same specimen that is electrophoresed to provide satisfactory accuracy.
Gas-Chromatographic Identification of Urinary Carbohydrates Isolated by Anion-Exchange Chromatography
Authors: Butts W C , Jolley R L
Published: January 2020

More than 40 chromatographic peaks representing carbohydrates have been separated from human urine by a carbohydrate analyzer that makes use of anion-exchange chromatography. Ten of these separated carbohydrates have been identified by gas chromatography of their trimethylsilyl derivatives, which were formed by reaction with N-trimethylsilylimidazole. The borate buffer from the anion-exchange separation was removed from the samples before the derivatives were made. Gas-chromatographic retention data have been determined for 37 carbohydrates, including pentoses, hexoses, hexosamines, disaccharides, and trisaccharides, and are tabulated as methylene unit (MU) values. These various classes of carbohydrates elute within distinct MU regions, generally in the order of increasing molecular weight. More than one peak is obtained for those sugars existing in more than one anomeric form.
Computer Calculation of Serum Protein Electrophoresis, Based on Peak Height Measurements
Authors: Sax Sylvan M , Moore John J
Published: January 2020

A computer program has been written for off-line calculation of relative and absolute percentages of the five serum protein fractions usually seen on cellulose acetate electrophoretograms, with use of manually observed peak heights on densitometer scans. With myeloma-like peaks, both peak height and width at half-peak height must be measured. Routine application of the program saves technician time and decreases the number of large random errors.
Quantification of Serum Inorganic Phosphorus, Phosphatase, and Urinary Phosphate without Preliminary Treatment
Authors: Goodwin Jesse F
Published: January 2020

A direct method has been devised for determining serum and urinary inorganic phosphorus and serum phosphatase activity. Inorganic phosphorus forms a phosphomolybdate complex in the presence of borate. The complex is reduced with ascorbic acid. The resulting suspension is solubilized with carbonate and the absorbance measured at 720 nm. Samples containing low to moderate concentrations of bilirubin may be assayed by the method, and it compares favorably with a p-semidine reduction procedure with use of a TCA filtrate. Alkaline phosphatase values obtained by the method in which a β-glycerophosphate substrate is used compare favorably with a reference method in which p-nitrophenolphosphate is used as a substrate. Citrates, fluorides, nitrites, oxalates, and mannitol do not appreciably affect results obtained by the method.
Estimating Aberrant Homeostasis: Variance in Serum Calcium Concentration as an Aid in Diagnosis of Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Drach George W , King J Stanton
Published: January 2020

Frank hypercalcemia is diagnostic of hyperparathyroidism; borderline values present a diagnostic dilemma. Serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations were measured on three or more days in three groups of subjects: 13 healthy controls, 13 hyperparathyroid patients, and six recurrent oxalate stone-formers with idiopathic hypercalciuria. Variances in the concentration of each ion for all individuals were compared by a rank-order runs test. Only individual variances in serum calcium concentrations of patients with hyperparathyroidism were significantly greater than individual variances in the other two groups. Excessive day-to-day variance in serum calcium seems to reflect autonomy of parathyroid function, and can be used to help detect hyperparathyroidism. A similar approach may be diagnostically useful in other diseases in which homeostatic feedback control is aberrant.
A Quick Method for Definitively Diagnosing Phenylketonuria by Detection of Urinary o-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid
Authors: Hackett Theodore N , Bray Patrick F
Published: January 2020

Increased urinary excretion of o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid is a generally accepted sign of phenylketonuria. Most reported methods for measuring this metabolite require 24 h. We describe a procedure for its separation in 90 min by thin-layer chromatography. Thus, essential dietary therapy is speeded.
Diagnosis of a Case of Acute Intermittent Porphyria with the Aid of Thin-Layer Chromatography—Thin-Layer Electrophoresis of Urine
Authors: Samuels Stanley , Veliz Gaston
Published: January 2020

δ-Aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen were identified in urine from a patient with acute intermittent porphyria on routine amino acid chromatography. The compounds were well and rapidly separated by a two-dimensional combination of high-voltage, thin-layer electrophoresis and chromatography. Both compounds gave a yellowish color with ninhydrin; the porphobilinogen gave a strong red color when Ehrlich’s reagent was then applied. Such a pattern has not been observed in any blood and urinary amino acid chromatograms from over 900 patients with other conditions, who were receiving a variety of drugs. We consider this a rapid, specific diagnostic aid in cases of acute intermittent porphyria.
A Gas-Chromatographic Method for Separating and Measuring Barbiturates and Glutethimide in Blood
Authors: Fiereck Ermalinda A , Tietz Norbert W
Published: January 2020

A gas-chromatographic method is described for the quantitative determination of 11 barbiturates and glutethimide in blood. The extracted barbiturates are methylated and injected into a 7% DC-200 column. Use of methohexital as the internal standard, as well as the addition of standards to a drug-free sample of blood, compensates for losses and for differences in the distribution coefficient of the individual barbiturates, and makes the procedure highly precise and accurate.
Dithionite Tube Test—A Rapid, Inexpensive Technique for the Detection of Hemoglobin S and Non-S Sickling Hemoglobin
Authors: Nalbandian Robert M , Nichols Bruce M , Camp Frank R , Lusher Jeanne M , Conte Nicholas F , Henry Raymond L , Wolf Paul L
Published: January 2020

An inexpensive, rapid, convenient screening tube test for the detection of hemoglobin S and non-S sickling hemoglobins has been developed, which has a molecular basis. The reagents consist of potassium phosphate, sodium dithionite, and saponin. When sickling red cells are introduced into such a solution, the red cells lyse immediately, the hemoglobin deoxygenates, the beta globin chains of each hemoglobin tetramer are displaced laterally, complementarity of steric fit between interacting hemoglobin tetramers is achieved in accordance with the recently modified Murayama hypothesis for the molecular mechanism of sickling, a nematic liquid crystal system is formed, and in the presence of hemoglobin S or non-S sickling hemoglobins, the system becomes turbid. On addition of urea, those nematic liquid crystal systems dependent upon hydrophobic bonds are dispersed.
Estimation of Gold in Serum by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Dunckley J V
Published: January 2020

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method is described for estimating gold in diluted serum. Matrix effects are compensated by adding protein to the working standards.
Methoxylated Phenyl Benzo-γ-Pyrone Derivatives (Flavonoids) That Highly Inhibit Erythrocyte Aggregation
Authors: Robbins R C , Hammer R H , Simpson C F
Published: January 2020

Methoxylated flavonoids containing one or three to seven methoxyl groups were compared for inhibitory activity on erythrocyte aggregation in vitro. A serial erythrocyte sedimentation procedure was used, in which the compounds are incubated in blood maintained in thermal and flow equilibria. All compounds tested (30 µmol/liter) significantly inhibited erythrocyte aggregation: hesperidin < tri-O-methylapigenin < tetra-O-methylscutellarein < tangeretin < heptamethoxyflavone < nobiletin < sinensetin. The most active compound, sinensetin, contained methoxyl groups at the 3',4',5,6,7 positions. Compounds with fewer methoxyl groups were significantly less active (P < 0.01), as were compounds with additional methoxyl groups at the 3 and 8 positions. On a molar basis, compounds containing five to seven methoxyl groups were several fold more active on erythrocyte aggregation than was low-molecular-weight dextran.
Amino Acid Transport and Mental Retardation
Authors: Gruemer H-D , Grannis G F , Hetland L B , Costantini M L
Published: January 2020

Overlapping transport specificity may permit amino acid concentrations in brain to readjust to a new (lower) equilibrium in a compensatory response to increased concentrations of a "model" amino acid in serum. If this is true for analogous clinical situations, it may help explain the effects of phenylketonuria on mentation.
Improved Semiautomated Method for Assay of Phosphorus in Serum Phospholipids
Authors: Haff Agnes C
Published: January 2020

A semiautomated method is described for assay of serum phospholipids, in which an AutoAnalyzer is used. This analytically accurate procedure eliminates difficulties in the automation mechanics of a previously reported method having the same chemical basis.
Automated Determination of Uric Acid, with Use of a Uricase—Peroxidase System
Authors: Gochman Nathan , Schmitz Joan M
Published: January 2020

An automated colorimetric procedure is described for the determination of serum and urine uric acid with improved specificity. Hydrogen peroxide, formed when uric acid is oxidized by uricase, oxidatively couples with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone and N,N-dimethylaniline, in the presence of peroxidase, to produce a stable, sensitive indamine dye. The method is reproducible, and the results correlate well with those obtained by a manual spectrophotometric uricase procedure. Also, the automated procedure is resistant to many added reducing substances that cause positive interferences in alkaline phosphotungstate methods.
Evaluation of an Automatic Calcium Titrator
Authors: Alexander Roy L
Published: January 2020

An automatic calcium titrator for determining total serum calcium concentration has been evaluated. The instrument incorporates a motorized buret, a fluorometer, and a digital readout that is responsive to the quenching of the fluorescent calcium—calcein complex by the chelating agent, ethyleneglycol-bis(2-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. Analyses made with the calcium titrator were compared with those made with the SMA 12/60 and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Good correlation was obtained in each instance. Slight hemolysis and bilirubin concentrations near normal did not affect the results; however, increased concentrations of these substances resulted in decreased values. The precision of analysis depends on the technique used in pipetting the sample. A single analysis of 0.1 ml of serum can be completed in 1 to 2 min. With careful analytical technique, precision is good (CV, 0.72%).
Simplified Benzophenone Procedure for Determination of Diphenylhydantoin in Plasma
Authors: Dill Wesley A , Chucot Lucy , Chang Tsun , Glazko Anthony J
Published: January 2020

Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) is extracted from plasma with ethylene dichloride, returned to alkali, and oxidized with permanganate in glass-stoppered test tubes containing a layer of iso-octane. The absorbance of the oxidation product (benzophenone) in the iso-octane layer is measured spectrophotometrically. This procedure eliminates interference by chloroform that is encountered in other methods; highly specialized reflux condensers or distillation equipment is not needed; and the cost of solvents is decreased. The procedure is highly specific; it detects less than 1 µg of DPH per milliliter of plasma, and it is suitable for routine clinical laboratory use.
A Gas Chromatographic Procedure for Determining Estriol in Pregnancy Urine: Evaluation in Two Different Laboratories
Authors: Touchstone Joseph C , Murawec Taras , O’Leary Daniel K , Luha Leida , Mantell Geraldine
Published: January 2020

Satisfactory interlaboratory results were obtained when estriol in pregnancy urine was determined gas chromatographically in two different university laboratories.
Serum Lipid Concentrations in Patients with Coronary Arteriosclerosis Demonstrated by Coronary Arteriography
Authors: Crowley Leonard V
Published: January 2020

The frequency of abnormal serum lipid concentrations in patients with coronary artery disease demonstrated by coronary arteriography was compared with that for normal control subjects and arteriographically normal patients. Triglycerides were supranormal in over half of the patients with demonstrable coronary artery disease, compared with only about a quarter of the subjects in the control group. Incidence of enhanced serum cholesterol was not significantly different in the two groups. These data support the observations of others who found that triglycerides are elevated more frequently than cholesterol in patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary arteriography enables the more precise diagnosis of coronary arteriosclerosis when attempting a correlation of serum lipid concentrations with coronary artery disease. Selection of subjects in this manner avoids the problem of the falsely low incidence of lipid abnormalities seen when patients are included who have normal coronary arteries. Of the subjects in this series in whom coronary arteriography was performed, 23% were found not to have coronary arteriosclerosis. However, patients who have undergone angiocardiographic studies are a highly selected group with special characteristics, and cannot be considered a representative sample of patients with coronary artery disease.
Modification of an Automated Procedure for Serum Cholesterol, which Permits the Quantitative Estimation of Cholesterol Esters
Authors: Siegel A L , Bowdoin B C
Published: January 2020

Changes are described in AutoAnalyzer Methodology N-24a, for the automated determination of serum total cholesterol, that increase the reaction temperature of the mixture of sample and acid color reagent. The modified procedure eliminates the inaccuracies that attended the original methodology and allows the cholesterol ester moiety in the serum total cholesterol to be quantitated.
Electrophoretic Separation on Agarose Thin Film of Isoenzymes of Alkaline Phosphatase from Human Serum and Tissue
Authors: Demetriou J A , Beattie J M
Published: January 2020

An electrophoretic method is presented for separating alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes on agarose gel by using barbital buffer. α-Naphthyl AS-MX phosphate was converted to the highly fluorescent α-naphthol AS-MX, to detect the zones of enzymic activity on the thin film. The fluorescent zones on the electropherograms were scanned with a recording fluorometer and the electrophoretic mobilities of the enzymes were compared with those of the plasma proteins. This method was used to assess the isoenzyme patterns in human sera and tissues (liver, bone, kidney, spleen, and placenta).
Fluorometric Method for Quantitatively Estimating Urinary Dihydroxyphenylethylamine (Dopamine), Dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa), and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid (Dopac)
Authors: Eichhorn Friedl , Rutenberg Ada , Kott Edna
Published: January 2020

A relatively simple, exact method is described for simultaneously estimating dopamine, dopa, and dopac in urine. The compounds are concentrated on alumina by an abbreviated batch technique and separated by "two solutions" paper electrophoresis at low voltage for 2 h. Fluorophores are developed by condensation with ethylenediamine. The fluorescent bands, eluted into water, are measured fluorometrically. This method was used to estimate the major free metabolites of dopa in urines from parkinsonian and hyperkinetic patients, and normal subjects. Compared with normal controls, dopamine excretion tended to be decreased in patients with parkinsonism, increased in hyperkinetic patients. The sum of the free metabolites (dopamine, dopac, and homovanillic acid) was significantly smaller for the patients with parkinsonism than for normal subjects.
Biological Applications of the Carbon Rod Atomizer in Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Matoušek Jaroslav P , Stevens Brian J
Published: January 2020

A new technique in atomic absorption spectroscopy is described, which replaces the use of a flame. Samples are injected into a cavity drilled transversely through a carbon rod, and subsequently dried, ashed, and atomized by the application of electric current. The resulting brief absorption signal is recorded and compared with standards. The procedure is particularly suitable for biological work since sample volume requirements are in the submicroliter range. The samples require no pretreatment. The method has given excellent results initially when applied to the measurement of magnesium, iron, copper, lead, and zinc in blood and plasma.
Enhanced Excretion of Free Amino Acids by Hyperthyroid Patients
Authors: Felts John H , King J Stanton
Published: January 2020

Greater than normal amounts of one or more amino acids were found in the urines of 20 of 24 thyrotoxic patients. The amino acids most commonly increased were tyrosine (in nine of the 24 patients), β-aminoisobutyric acid (11/24), and cystathionine (12/24); seven patients had concurrent increases in the latter two amino acids. Hyperaminoacidemia, accompanied by generalized hyperaminoaciduria, was seen in the three nonfasting patients whose urine was examined. Sera from patients fasted overnight contained normal concentrations of free amino acids. Urinary calcium exceeded 250 mg/24 h in 10 of the 24 patients; urinary phosphorus exceeded 1.2g/day in four. These variables correlated poorly with each other, with the diagnostic impression of severity, and with the results of thyroid-function tests.
Ultramicrodetermination of Plasma Urea by Reaction with Diacetylmonoxime—Antipyrine without Deproteinization
Authors: Ceriotti Giovanni
Published: January 2020

Urea can be directly determined in serum or plasma by reaction with diacetylmonoxime—antipyrine: 5 µl of the sample is mixed with 5 ml of the chromogenic reagent, and the mixture is boiled 15 min, cooled, and read at 460 nm. The color is stable for 30 min in the light. The reagent is composed of (a) 0.4 g of antipyrine per 100 ml of H2SO4 (20 ml/100 ml), containing 5 mg of ferric sulfate per 100 ml: 1 (or 2) volume(s), and (b) 0.5 g of diacetylmonoxime per 100 ml of acetic acid (5 ml/100 ml): 1 volume.
Effects of Phenyl Benzo-γ-Pyrone Derivatives (Flavonoids) on Blood Cell Aggregation: Basis for a Concept of Mode of Action
Authors: Robbins R C
Published: January 2020

Flavonoids were investigated for activity on blood cell aggregation. A procedure for measuring serial erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was used to test the effect of five flavonoids (hesperidin, quercetin, rutin, tangeretin, and naringin) on aggregation in vitro. The activity of the flavonoids was compared with that of quinine and low molecular weight dextran (LMD), both of which demonstrably decrease blood cell aggregation in vivo and in vitro. At a blood concentration of 50 µmol/liter the flavonoids, quinine, and LMD all showed significant effects (P < 0.05) on aggregation, the order of retardation of ESR being rutin < quercetin < LMD < hesperidin < quinine < tangeretin. Naringin-treated blood had a higher ESR than control blood. The effect of flavonoids on blood cell aggregation suggests how they may act against increased capillary permeability and fragility, reduce symptoms in disease, and protect against effects of various traumas and stresess.
Modified Fluorometric Method for Determining Plasma Catecholamines
Authors: Sapira Joseph D , Klaniecki Thelma , Rizk Margaret
Published: January 2020

Plasma catecholamines were fluorometrically determined by a modification of the standard alumina-trihydroxyindole method in which radioactive tracer catecholamines are used to follow the chromatographic behavior of the endogenous catecholamines on alumina. This modification permits appropriate fluorometry of that portion of the eluate with the highest concentration of catecholamines, because incomplete elution of the total endogenous catecholamines can be corrected by use of the isotope recovery data. Additionally, a low column blank was obtained; this method of blank preparation may have obviated some of the known difficulties associated with unoxidized and incomplete plasma blanks that have traditionally been used.
Quantitative Immunoelectrophoresis of Proteins in Serum from a Normal Population: Season-, Age-, and Sex-related Variations
Authors: Lyngbye Jørgen , Krøll Jens
Published: January 2020

By use of a quantitative immunoelectrophoretic method, we have determined the concentrations of 15 serum proteins in 260 normal subjects, 8 to 95 years old. An increase with age was found for haptoglobin and IgA, the opposite being the case for albumin and transferrin. For prealbumin, orosomucoid, α1-lipoprotein, α1-antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin, α2-HS-globulin, β1C-β1A-globulin, plasminogen, IgG, and IgM only lesser changes with age were seen in adults. The α2-macroglobulin concentration decreased markedly until the age of 50, after which there was some increase. Sex-associated differences were seen for albumin, orosomucoid, α1-lipoprotein, α1-antitrypsin, α2-macroglobulin, transferrin, β1C-β1A-globulin, and the immunoglobulins although not in all age groups. There were opposite and highly significant seasonal variations in ceruloplasmin and α2-HS-globulin concentrations.
Toluene-Extractable Lipids of Human Urine, with Characterization of a Native Emulsifer
Authors: Fox I S , Devor A W , Devor K A
Published: January 2020

The lipids extracted by toluene in toluene-preserved urine were collected and characterized by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. The lipids extracted by toluene and the lipids in human lipoproteins are similar. In addition, an emulsion of urine and toluene was obtained; the native emulsifying agent was analytically characterized.
Simultaneous Determination of Trimethadione and Its Metabolite, Dimethadione, by Gas—Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Booker H E , Darcey B
Published: January 2020

A simple gas chromatographic procedure is described for the measurement of trimethadione and its major metabolite, dimethadione, in serum. The method, with which compounds can be determined on a single extraction and injection, is reliable and free from interference caused by other drugs, particularly those that the patient is likely to be taking in combination with trimethadione.
Determination of Proteins in Biological Fluids by Electroimmunodiffusion and Two-Directional Immunoelectrophoresis
Authors: Raisys Vidmantas A , Arvan Dean A
Published: January 2020

We have used electroimmunodiffusion and two-directional immunoelectrophoresis to measure proteins in biological fluids. Electroimmunodiffusion is based on the electrophoresis of antigens in antibody-containing agarose under standardized conditions. Pre-albumin, albumin, α1antitrypsin, α2-macroglobulin, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and other proteins have been determined in our laboratory with a precision of ±5%. The lower limit for quantitation is 5 µg/ml. For immunoglobulin quantitation, treatment of the samples with potassium cyanate (carbamylation) before electrophoresis improves sensitivity and accuracy. Two-directional immunoelectrophoresis is based on electrophoretic separation of proteins in agarose or other high-resolution media followed by electrophoresis at right angles to the first direction, in a gel in which an appropriate antiserum has been incorporated. Qualitative and semiquantitative changes in proteins in abnormal specimens can be assessed. The two techniques combined provide a very sensitive tool for the evaluation of protein changes in biologic fluids. A simple apparatus has been designed in which a number of specimens can be analyzed simultaneously by either method.
Gas Chromatograph—Mass Spectrometer—Computer System for Detection and Identification of Abnormal Metabolic Products in Physiological Fluids
Authors: Hutterer Ferenc , Roboz John , Sarkozi Laszlo , Ruhig Alexander , Bacchin Paolo
Published: January 2020

A gas chromatograph—mass spectrometer—computer system was developed to rapidly separate and identify metabolic products of low molecular weight in microliter quantities of physiological fluids. For sample preparation, the silyl derivative extraction method was used, in which extraction, derivative formation, and concentration are achieved in a single step, and components with widely different chemical structures can be analyzed in a single run. Gas-chromatographic peaks were identified by the computer output of high-resolution mass measurements or low-resolution fragmentation patterns. Application is illustrated by a case of inborn metabolic error. The system appears well suited for screening for metabolic disorders.
Development of a Screening Test for L-Dopa and Its Metabolites in Urine
Authors: Routh J I , Bannow R E
Published: January 2020

A simple screening test, sensitive to o-dihydroxyphenyl groups in the urine, was developed for use in monitoring patients with Parkinson's disease who are treated with L-dopa. Compounds measured by this test include dopa, dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Parallel quantitative experiments, in which ion-exchange chromatography was used, followed by fluorometry and colorimetry, establish the validity of the strip-test results. The test is designed to be used by physician or patient, as well as by clinical laboratory personnel.
Automated Analysis for Drugs in Urine
Authors: Blackmore D J , Curry A S , Hayes T S , Rutter E R
Published: January 2020

Automated methods are described for extracting drugs from urine and for subsequently detecting them by ultraviolet or visible absorptiometry, or by spectrofluorometry. Standard Technicon AutoAnalyzer equipment has been adapted for use in the extraction processes; and manifolds for barbiturates, morphine, and bases are described. For drugs extracted from urine, the limits of detection were 2.5 , µg/ml for barbiturates and 0.2 µg/ml for morphine, Results are given for processing 204-ml samples of urine per hour for morphine and 10 8-ml samples per hour for barbiturate and basic drug analysis.
Measurement and Distribution of Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury in Human Kidney Tissue
Authors: Livingston Hugh D
Published: January 2020

Simultaneous analyses of human kidney cortex tissues for zinc, cadmium, and mercury were made by neutron activation combined with either radiochemical separation prior to counting or direct germanium detector gamma spectrometry. For some samples from adults and infants, analyses were made on successive tissue slices from the outer cortex to the inner medulla. Zinc and cadmium show a concentration gradient, with the highest concentrations at the outer medulla. Mercury was preferentially concentrated deeper in the cortex. All three metals, and especially cadmium, are found in higher concentrations in adult than in infant kidneys. A mechanism for the rapid increase in renal cadmium is proposed. The heterogeneous renal distribution of the elements indicates that careful sampling is necessary in any comparative study of their occurrence in human kidney tissue.
Radioimmunoassay of Serum Renin Activity and Digoxin Concentrations, with Use of Polyethylene Glycol to Separate Free and Antibody-Bound Ligand
Authors: Barrett M James , Cohen Patricia S
Published: January 2020

Polyethylene glycol in sodium barbital buffer (25 mmol/liter, pH 8.6) was used to separate free from antibody-bound ligand in the radioimmunoassay of serum digoxin and renin. Polyethylene glycol (final concentration, 150 g/kg of buffer) gave maximum sensitivity in these assays. The length of time between addition of polyethylene glycol and centrifugation of precipitated antibody does not affect sensitivity.
Differentiation of Trypsin-Like Enzymes in Human Plasma
Authors: Gullick Herbert D
Published: January 2020

The arginine amidase and arginine esterase activity of human plasma is compared with that of trypsin, thrombin, plasmin, and kallikrein by using the homologous synthetic amino acid substrates, benzoyl arginine amide (BAA) and benzoyl arginine ethyl ester (BAEE). Hydrolyses of BAA and BAEE in plasma are distinguished by several features: pH optimum, heat stability, storage stability, effect of dilution, surface contact activation, streptokinase activation, inhibition by proteolytic enzyme inhibitor, and range of normal variation. The differential sensitivity of trypsin, thrombin, plasmin, and kallikrein toward these substrates and the similarity in reaction characteristics of plasma-BAA and trypsin-BAA provide evidence that the arginine amidase activity of plasma represents trypsin, while the arginine esterase activity of plasma is nonspecific.
Increased Activity of Some Enzymes in Serum in Cases of Severely Decompensated Diabetes, with and without Ketoacidosis
Authors: Belfiore Francesco , Napoli Elena , Lo Vecchio Luigi
Published: January 2020

In each of 10 highly hyperglycemic decompensated diabetics with ketoacidosis, we found a markedly increased serum activity of two lysosomal hydrolases (N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and β-glucuronidase). This was also true to a lesser degree of five diabetics with less severe decompensation and without ketoacidosis. The activity of both enzymes and the degree of hyperglycemia were highly correlated. We think these enzymatic changes result from a process of activation and release of tissue lysosomal enzymes, probably occurring in connection with the increased catabolism present in decompensated diabetes. Nonlysosomal (cytoplasmic or mitochondrial) enzymes were less changed (aspartate and alanine aminotransferases) or normal (aldolase, lactate- and malate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase). This indicates that tissue damage alone could not account for the increased activity of the two lysosomal hydrolases; it therefore seems primarily to be due to involvement of lysosomes.
Concentrations of Lead in Capillary Blood of Newborns
Authors: Kubasik Norman P , Volosin Michael T
Published: January 2020

Lead concentrations in whole blood have been determined for a random sampling of newborns (age 1-8 days) with the use of a microtechnique involving carbon rod atomization and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean lead concentration of the newborns (13.8 ± 4.5 µg/100 ml of whole blood) significantly differed from that of pediatric populations at low (22.6 ± 6.1) and high lead (32.1 ± 10.4) risk. The concentration of lead in amniotic fluid was less than 20 ng/100 ml of fluid. The significance of the newborn lead values and their role in fetal development remains to be determined.
Direct Potentiometric Determination of Total Ionic Fluoride in Biological Fluids
Authors: Hall Larry L , Smith Frank A , De Lopez Ofelia H , Gardner Dwight E
Published: January 2020

We describe a simple method for measuring fluoride concentration in biological fluids, in which the fluoride ion-specific electrode is used, and which is based on the principle of single known addition. Difficulties associated with variations in pH, temperature, ionic strength, complexation, and nonideal electrode response are thus minimized, and accuracy and precision are maximized. The mean recovery of fluoride added to plasma or to urine was 101.5 or 100.5%, respectively. Analytical variation (coefficient of variation) was 8-10% for plasma and 1.5-4% for urine. The method was applied to 26 sera obtained during hospital pre-admission examinations, and gave a mean ionic fluoride concentration of 1.95 µmol/liter (range, 0.84-2.90 µmol/liter), in reasonable agreement with values reported for other procedures that are based on totally different principles.
Measurement of Serum Ionized Calcium with the Ion-Exchange Electrode
Authors: Subryan V L , Popovtzer M M , Parks S D , Reeve E B
Published: January 2020

We found no differences in pH or ionized calcium concentration of serum from blood either collected into evacuated tubes or collected with syringes and separated under oil. Sera can be stored frozen in 1-ml plastic insulin-type syringes for one to three days without significant changes in pH or ionized calcium concentration, whereas storage under oil with or without re-equilibration with CO2 is associated with significant changes in both. Standards prepared with trypsin and triethanolamine give faster electrode response, and their ionized calcium concentrations remain unchanged for 6 h at room temperature. We suggest a not entirely satisfactory control solution of buffered protein, for use in assessing reproducibility of results.
Simplified Primary Screening Procedure for Detection of Hyperlipidemias in Healthy Individuals
Authors: Berenson Gerald S , Srinivasan S R , Pargaonkar P S , Radhakrishnamurthy B , Dalferes Edward R
Published: January 2020

A simplified primary screening procedure is described for determining serum β- plus pre-β-lipoproteins, which is more rapid and less expensive than cholesterol or triglyceride determinations. This method is based on the ability of β- and pre-β-lipoproteins to form insoluble complexes with heparin in presence of Ca2+. Comparison with analytical ultracentrifugation indicated the accuracy of concentrations determined by the present method. This method was used to screen a group of healthy adults and children and diabetic patients. The results show that measuring serum β- plus pre-β-lipoprotein concentrations may be more useful for screening and detecting subtle abnormalities than is determination of either cholesterol or triglyceride.
Statistics of Patient Test Values: Application to Indirect Normal Range and to Quality Control
Authors: Glick John H
Published: January 2020

The use of patient data for calculation of the indirect normal range and for quality control is investigated. The report deals with an empirical study of the properties of various statistics of patient data, and with the selection of appropriate patient statistics for calculation of the indirect normal range and for quality control. In regard to the indirect normal range, it is shown that the mode of the patient data (calculated as the mid-value in a segment of smallest variance in the rank-ordered set) is a useful statistic for characterizing central tendency of the normal range. For the monitoring of systematic error, the median of the patient data is usually the most sensitive indicator of change.
Determination of Serum Acid Phosphatase Activity: A Performance Evaluation for Clinical Laboratories of Upstate New York
Authors: Copeland William H , Vanderlinde Raymond E
Published: January 2020

Determination of acid phosphatase activity in clinical laboratories in New York State was evaluated. After the target values were established by 12 reference laboratories, sets of test samples were mailed over a two-year period on three occasions to, respectively, 264, 242, and 239 laboratories. Their initial (1968) results revealed problems: definition of normal ranges, interchange of specimens, standardization and quality control, and a need for improved techniques. Almost 5% of laboratories interchanged the initial specimens. Unexpectedly, laboratories using the same method reported a two-fold or greater variation in their "normal range." Although there was some improvement after refresher training sessions, performance was more clearly improved a year later for five of the seven major methods used. Use of the Bessey—Lowry—Brock, Babson—Phillips, and Shinowara—Jones—Reinhart methods resulted in the lowest coefficients of variation.
Instrumental and Procedural Sources of Error in Determination of Bile Pigments in Amniotic Fluid
Authors: Burnett Robert W
Published: January 2020

Although the Liley spectrophotometric estimation of bile pigments in amniotic fluid [Amer. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 82, 1359 ( 1961)] is widely used, the levels of accuracy and precision necessary for clinically meaningful results have not been clarified. This paper delineates some of the important instrumental and procedural sources of error, and how each affects the final value of ΔA455: (a) A limit of error propagation is presented to show that the uncertainty in ΔA455 due to instrumental factors is considerably larger than is commonly appreciated. (b) It is desirable to use a logarithmic baseline estimation, as did Liley, instead of a linear estimation, which can introduce a serious bias. (c) Failure to establish a true zero-absorbance baseline before scanning the specimen can also result in a significant bias in the calculated ΔA455.
Determination of Ionized Calcium in Serum by Use of an Ion-Selective Electrode
Authors: Seamonds Bette , Towfighi Javad , Arvan Dan A
Published: January 2020

Ionized calcium was determined in serum from 84 normal individuals by using a flow-through calcium-selective electrode operated at 37°C. The mean value was 1.08 ± 0.06 (2 SD) mmol/liter. The relationship of serum ionized calcium concentration to other serum constituents was examined. The effects of hyperventilation and food ingestion on ionized calcium were studied. Respiratory alkalosis, induced by hyperventilation, caused a decrease in ionized calcium of 0.05 ± 0.02 (2 SD) mmol/liter per 0.1 unit increase in pH. In contrast, the metabolic alkalosis induced by food ingestion caused a decrease in ionized calcium of 0105 ± 0.025 (2 SD) mmol/liter per 0.1 unit increase in pH.
Interference in Pisano’s Urinary Metanephrine Assay after Use of X-Ray Contrast Media
Authors: Johnson LaVell R , Reese Max , Nelson Don H
Published: January 2020

Certain radiopaque dyes ("Renovist" and "Renografin") contain methylglucamine salts of diatrizoate, which interfere in the Pisano cationexchange method for measuring urinary metanephrine. Methylglucamine is adsorbed to the resin and eluted with the metanephrines. It then consumes the periodate, preventing oxidation of the metanephrines to vanillin and leading to falsely negative results. The methylglucamine can be separated from the metanephrines by adsorbing the metanephrines on QAE Sephadex A-25 acetate at pH 11.2.
Computerized Preparation of Two-Way Analysis of Variance Control Charts for Clinical Chemistry
Authors: Riddick J H , Flora Roger , Van Meter Quentin L
Published: January 2020

A system of quality-control data analysis by computer is described, in which two-way analysis of variance is used for partitioning sources of laboratory error into day-to-day, within-day, betweenpools and additivity variation. The partition for additivity is described in detail as to its advantages and applications. In addition, control charts based on two-way analysis of variance computations are prepared each month by computer. This computer program is designed to operate with the IBM 1800 or 1130 computers or any computer with a Fortran IV compiler. Examples are presented of use of the control charts and of tables of analysis of variance.
Clinical Evaluation of a Modified "Oxford T4-by-Column" Method for Serum Thyroxine
Authors: Lee Marcia , Tietz Norbert W , Martinez Charles J
Published: January 2020

Three commercially available kits for determining serum thyroxine (T4) by column were evaluated. Results with all were less than satisfactory, but a series of changes in the Oxford method resulted in increased reproducibility, substantially improved recovery, and extended linearity of the standard curve. Results compared well with the thyrometabolic status of patients and normal individuals. The 95% confidence limits for 219 "normal" hospital employees were 2.9-6.2 µg/100 ml. The suggested normal range for 241 clinically euthyroid patients is 2.5-6.0 µg/100 ml. The coefficient of correlation between results of the proposed method and of the PBI method was 0.30; for the T4 by the Murphy—Pattee method it was 0.75.
Estimation of the Concentration of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Plasma, Without Use of the Preparative Ultracentrifuge
Authors: Friedewald William T , Levy Robert I , Fredrickson Donald S
Published: January 2020

A method for estimating the cholesterol content of the serum low-density lipoprotein fraction (Sf0-20) is presented. The method involves measurements of fasting plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, none of which requires the use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Comparison of this suggested procedure with the more direct procedure, in which the ultracentrifuge is used, yielded correlation coefficients of .94 to .99, depending on the patient population compared.
Factors Affecting the Radioimmunoassay of Digoxin
Authors: Cerceo Eugene , Elloso Cipriano A
Published: January 2020

We ascertained which factors critically affect the radioimmunoassay of digoxin. These include: products of hemolysis in blood plasma, excessive amounts of bilirubin in the plasma of jaundiced patients, the age of the tritiated digoxin, the presence of gamma-emitting radioisotopes in the plasma from diagnostic tests, the binding tendency of plasma proteins for digoxin, chemiluminescence associated with the serum (or plasma) of uremic patients, and excessive delay between sample collection and assay of unfrozen samples.
Automated Method for Micro-Scale Determination of Serum Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Sterling R E , Flores O R
Published: January 2020

An accessory attachment for the Beckman DSA-560 is described and the method for its use is presented. This accessory permits the automated microdetermination of serum carbon dioxide at a rate of 80 specimens per hour. The precision of the method is good and the results correlate well with those of other accepted techniques.
Urinary Cystathionine, Catecholamine, and Metabolites in Patients with Neuroblastoma
Authors: Helson L , Fleisher M , Bethune V , Murphy M L , Schwartz M K
Published: January 2020

Urinary excretions of cystathionine, catecholamines, and vanillymandelic acid were compared in 27 patients with neuroblastoma and in nine other patients with non-neurogenic tumors. Eleven of the 27 patients were without clinical evidence of active neuroblastoma at the time of the study and excreted no or relatively small amounts of urinary cystathionine. Thirteen of the remaining 16 patients with progressive neuroblastoma had elevated cystathionine values. Elevated values were also detected in three of nine patients with other tumors. There was no correlation between the excretion of cystathionine and either catecholamines or vanillymandelic acid. The assay of cystathionine in addition to catecholamines and vanillymandelic acid is recommended for the complete biochemical evaluation of patients with neuroblastoma.
Some Technical Aspects of Quantitative Immunoelectrophoresis of Human Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid
Authors: Fuller Janet M , Keyser J W
Published: January 2020

We describe our experiences with quantitative immunoelectrophoresis, by both the procedure of Clarke and Freeman [Clin. Sci. 35, 403 (1968)] and the small-scale modification of Davies et al. [Ibid. 40, 411 (1971)]. Difficulties encountered, aids in measuring and identifying the peaks, and data on the reproducibility of the two procedures are described. Finally, their applicability to cerebrospinal fluid is briefly discussed.
Rapid Gas Chromatographic Measurement of Plasma Procainamide Concentration
Authors: Atkinson Arthur J , Parker Michele , Strong John
Published: January 2020

A gas-chromatographic method has been developed for measuring procainamide in plasma. This simple analysis can be performed in less than an hour with a standard deviation of less than 8% for concentrations of procainamide in the range that is commonly encountered in clinical practice (1-20 mg/liter).
Rapid Estimation of Fibrinogen in Fibrinolytic and Nonfibrinolytic States
Authors: Rosenberg Arthur A , Peabody Richard A
Published: January 2020

Anticoagulated whole blood is serially diluted in a fibrinolytic inhibitor, then clotted with thrombin after adding calcium chloride. The clotting end point, visualized by addition of saline, is related to the concentration of clottable protein present. Protection of the forming clot against lysis is afforded by the inhibitor, by calcium chloride, and by the brief incubation at room temperature, and enables blood fibrinogen concentration to be readily discernible, even if it is less than 25 mg/100 ml. Fibrinogen in the blood is quickly estimated irrespective of the patient’s clinical status.
Development of a Portable Data Processor with Mechanical Data Output for Use with a Miniature Fast Analyzer
Authors: Johnson W F , Mailen J C , Burtis C A , Tiffany T O , Scott C D
Published: January 2020

The Mark I Data Processor is a system for acquiring, processing, and printing, without the aid of a computer, the results of analyses carried out in Fast Analyzers. Because it is inexpensive and portable, this system is particularly applicable for use with the newly developed miniature Fast Analyzer. It uses digital logic to correlate the signals originating at the photodetector of the analyzer with the proper cuvet position and corresponding recorder channel. The transmission pulses are converted electronically to absorbance values, which are recorded as printed dots on a data card. Vertical height on the card is proportional to absorbance, with the maximum absorbance and the absorbance span to be covered being set by calibrated potentiometers. The Mark I Data Processor has been evaluated in parallel with an on-line computer, and data obtained from it have been found to correlate with the computer-derived data.
Mechanized, Direct Digital-Control Pipette for Automation of Ultramicro Chemcial Analyses
Authors: Nishi H Harold
Published: January 2020

A basic direct digital-control(DDC) pipette has been developed for the automation of ultramicro chemical analysis. The new pipette is an electromechanical device, which consists of an electronic preset-indexer, a stepping motor, a screw slide assembly, a syringe barrel equipped with a dedicated displacement rod of uniform diameter. The fluid volume is measured in relation to length of the displacement rod. With the DDC pipette, one has the unique ability to control electromechanically the movement of the displacement rod in precise increments of 3.17 µm. To measure a specific volume of fluid, the number of incremental movements required by the displacement rod to equal the desired volume is dialed into decade dials. Precision studies showed that the DDC pipette was capable of measuring 1 µl of fluid with a precision better than 0.5%. With slight modifications, the basic DDC pipette can be converted into an automatic sample-diluting system.
Development of Automation of Differential Leukocyte Counts by Use of Cytochemistry
Authors: Saunders Alex M
Published: January 2020

Development of automation in cytochemistry is reviewed. A variety of disciplines had to be merged to accomplish the following. Samples of anticoagulated whole blood are processed chemically in a continuous-flow system having precise proportioning of reagents and exact time sequences for reactions. While red blood cells are lysed, color contrast is developed in specific white blood cells. These are counted and differentiated by their light absorption and light scattering characteristics, typically at a rate of 500-2000 per second, in an automatic electro-optical device through which the cell suspension flows. The procedure is highly reproducible because it relies on physical constants rather than human judgment and because greater replication of sample is possible in the same time.