An Adhesive Transfer Method of Cutting and Mounting thin Sections for Autoradiography

A short strip of adhesive transfer cellophane tape is applied to the face of the block to provide backing for the section during cutting and handling. The tape is sealed to the nuclear track plate with the section against the dry emulsion. After exposure the cellophane backing is removed by immersion in water, and the adhesive is dissolved from the section in unleaded gasoline. The section is hydrated and photographic and histological processing are carried out in the usual manner.     

Autoradiography of Water-Diffusible Substances in Sections of Whole Baby Rats

Rats, 7 days postnatal which had been injected with a radioactive nuclide, were quick frozen and sectioned in the frozen state. An adhesive cellulose tape (Sellotape) was used to support the section during cutting, through freeze-drying, and attaching to slides. Dehydration of the frozen sections consisted of 1 hr in a chilled desiccator containing silica gel, then at reduced pressure of 2-3 mm Hg until quite dry. The exposed side of the section was sprayed with celloidin dissolved in amyl acetate and allowed to dry. This side of the section was attached to a slide, previously coated with 1% gelatin containing 0.1% chrome alum, by means of an adhesive consisting of 4% gelatin and 5% formalin in 60% glycerol. In applying this adhesive it is mandatory that a border of about 3 mm of bare glass be left outside the adhesive, to allow intimate contact between the sticky side of the tape and the glass. The adhesive was allowed to set for 20 min, the slide immersed in water lor 50 sec, and the cellulose layer of the tape peeled off. The rubber base from the tape was removed with chloroform, the slide dried, and the exposed surface of the section coated with celloidin in amyl acetate, by dipping. After this treatment, the slides could be coated by dipping in autoradiographic emulsion without affecting water-soluble radioactive substances in the tissue.     

A simple method for studying whole sections of rice grain

We developed a new and simple method to collect sections of a whole brown rice kernel for investigation of histological properties. A single kernel of rice was dehydrated through a graded ethanol series, transferred to xylene, and embedded in paraffin. During sectioning of the blocks using a rotary microtome, we used a special adhesive tape to collect and place the sections on slides so they remained flat. The use of the adhesive tape technique combined with autofluorescence characteristics allowed us to visualize cell walls throughout an entire longitudinal or transverse section of a whole rice kernel. We obtained scanning electron microscopy images of the sections to determine section quality.     

A simple method for studying whole sections of rice grain

We developed a new and simple method to collect sections of a whole brown rice kernel for investigation of histological properties. A single kernel of rice was dehydrated through a graded ethanol series, transferred to xylene, and embedded in paraffin. During sectioning of the blocks using a rotary microtome, we used a special adhesive tape to collect and place the sections on slides so they remained flat. The use of the adhesive tape technique combined with autofluorescence characteristics allowed us to visualize cell walls throughout an entire longitudinal or transverse section of a whole rice kernel. We obtained scanning electron microscopy images of the sections to determine section quality.     

Staining method for whole-body autoradiography.

Sagittal whole-body sections of frozen mice were cut on a hydraulicly driven microtome in a cryostat at--15 C by applying cotton or nylon-backed adhesive tape to the mouse before cutting. Section thickness was 20 mu. The sections, still adhering to the tape, were dried in the cryostat (-15C) under atmospheric pressure. After autoradiography, the sections were pressed to a glass slide spread with a mixture of albumin and glycerin. The slide was immersed in xylene at 30 C for 15 min. The tape was then removed from the slide, where the section remained to be stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The section thus obtained enabled the tissue histology to be related to the autoradiogram. This method may also be applied to histochemical studies of substances insoluble in xylene.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of urocanic acid isomers and their ratios in naturally light-exposed skin and naturally shielded skin

We have developed methods for sampling and extraction of trans-urocanic acid and cis-urocanic acid from human skin, and subsequent high-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of these isomers. Sampling involves applying cellophane adhesive tape to the skin for 10 s. Urocanic acid isomers were completely extracted by immersing the tape in KOH solution. The HPLC column was a Tosoh ODS 80_TS (250×4.6 mm I.D., 7 μm average particle size) eluted with 20 mM potassium dihydrogenphosphate containing 1 g/l sodium heptanesulphonate (pH 3.7)–acetonitrile (93:7, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. The isomers were detected by UV absorbance at 264 nm. This technique was used to analyze the ratio of trans-urocanic acid/cis-urocanic acid on human skin at various sites on the body. It was found that the ratio was low in naturally light-exposed skin and high in naturally shielded skin.     

薄荷油体外抗蠕形螨效果及杀螨机制

采用透明胶带粘贴过夜法获取2种人体蠕形螨,随机分组,观察不同浓度的薄荷油的杀虫效果,并在MoticDMB5图像采集软件系统下拍摄虫体在薄荷油作用下的虫体死亡过程。结果表明,薄荷油有很强的体外杀灭2种人体蠕形螨的作用,尤其对皮脂蠕形螨的杀灭作用显著。随着药物浓度的增加及作用时间的延长,蠕形螨死亡率增高。12.5%、3.125%分别是薄荷油体外杀灭毛囊蠕形螨和皮脂蠕形螨的最适杀螨浓度。薄荷油作用于蠕形螨,可见虫体收缩扭动,活动加剧,消化管剧烈收缩,毛囊蠕形螨和皮脂蠕形螨体壁均有渗出物外溢。虫体表现为兴奋—痉挛—失水—松弛—死亡的典型症状。薄荷油对人体蠕形螨的杀灭机制主要通过神经毒性和直接毒杀作用,造成虫体破裂脱水而死亡。薄荷油是一种极具开发潜能的高效的天然杀螨药。     

人体正常皮肤蠕形螨生态分布的研究

本文报道了大连地区人体正常皮肤蠕形螨的生态分布。共检查551人,阳性153人,定居率为27.8％,检出毛囊螨和皮脂螨共两种。用透明胶带定量计数检查法,研究蠕形螨在面部的分布,结果表明蠕形螨主要分布于颏、鼻、颊和额部位。对10例阳性者,在面部检出毛囊螨和皮脂螨共85只,其中颏31、鼻26、颊17、额11只螨,总定居度为每条胶带(6cm~2)2.1只螨,定居度以颏部位为最高,鼻、颊、额次之。     

Comparison of two methods for estimation of spray deposits after application of microbial pesticides

The effectiveness of two methods for the determination of deposition of mycopesticides on hemlock trees by spray application was compared. One method employs water and oil sensitive paper cards; the other uses a combination of two adhesive tapes (scotch tape) with different adhesive properties. Two fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium, and three fungal formulations based on whey, oil, and whey together with oil were used to evaluate the efficacy of the two methods. The new method has shown the certain advantages in comparison with the traditional method which is based on the sensitive paper cards. Generally, number of droplets counted was greater in the case of adhesive tape utilization. These observations were noted for the two entomopathogenic fungi. However, different results were noted for the three different types of fungal formulations. The presence of conidia was observed in all three formulations using adhesive tape. The number of conidia localized on hemlock twigs was affected by fungal formulation. The adhesive tape method allowed counting more droplets than the sensitive cards. Other advantages of the adhesive tape method include the ability to observe the outer appearance and internal structure of the droplets and to count fungal propagules directly on the leaf surfaces.     

Tape transfer sectioning of tissue microarrays introduces nonspecific immunohistochemical staining artifacts

Abstract

Tissue microarrays place tens to hundreds of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue cores into a paraffin block in a systematic grid pattern that permits their simultaneous evaluation in a single section. The fragmented nature of the tissue cores often makes sectioning of tissue microarrays difficult so that the resulting disks of tissue lose their shape, fracture or fall out of the paraffin section altogether. We have evaluated an alternative sectioning protocol for stabilizing the tissue microarray surface by placing an adhesive tape “window” over the face of the paraffin block prior to sectioning. Once sectioned, the tape/sections are transferred directly onto coated microscope slides, thereby avoiding routine floating of sections on a water bath. After sectioning with either the tape transfer or standard protocols, slides were stained either using hematoxylin and eosin or immunohistochemistry using antibodies to S-100 protein and the tissue specific antigens, keratin (AE1/3) and the leukocyte common antigen CD45. We found that the tape method produced thicker sections that were darker and more densely packed with loss of tissue definition compared to sections prepared using water bath flotation. Quantitative image analysis of immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the tape method produced a higher incidence of nonspecific staining, which raised the potential for false positive staining.     

Conductive carbon tape used for support and mounting of both whole animal and fragile heat-treated tissue sections for MALDI MS imaging and quantitation

Analysis of whole animal tissue sections by MALDI MS imaging (MSI) requires effective sample collection and transfer methods to allow the highest quality of in situ analysis of small or hard to dissect tissues. We report on the use of double-sided adhesive conductive carbon tape during whole adult rat tissue sectioning of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) embedded animals, with samples mounted onto large format conductive glass and conductive plastic MALDI targets, enabling MSI analysis to be performed on both TOF and FT-ICR MALDI mass spectrometers. We show that mounting does not unduly affect small molecule MSI detection by analyzing tiotropium abundance and distribution in rat lung tissues, with direct on-tissue quantitation achieved. Significantly, we use the adhesive tape to provide support to embedded delicate heat-stabilized tissues, enabling sectioning and mounting to be performed that maintained tissue integrity on samples that had previously been impossible to adequately prepare section for MSI analysis. The mapping of larger peptidomic molecules was not hindered by tape mounting samples and we demonstrate this by mapping the distribution of PEP-19 in both native and heat-stabilized rat brains. Furthermore, we show that without heat stabilization PEP-19 degradation fragments can detected and identified directly by MALDI MSI analysis.     

Adhesive Tape: Potential Source of Nosocomial Bacteria

During a 7-day period, a variety of bacteria, including opportunistic ones, were recovered from 23 rolls of adhesive tape being used in a 16-bed intensive care unit. All rolls of tape were sterile when received from the manufacturer. Mixed flora was recovered from a total of 15 rolls, whereas eight rolls yielded pure cultures. Organisms recovered included Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and various species of Enterobacteriaceae. Although no illness or infection arising directly from contaminated adhesive tape has been documented, we feel that a potential source of infection has been identified. Most important is the fact that such tape may contaminate the hands of personnel who handle it. Also, the adhesive tape may directly contaminate a patient since it is widely used to secure artificial airways and various drainage tubes which results in the tape coming into close contact with the mucous membranes lining the patient's respiratory and urogenital tracts.     

Fluorescent in situ hybridization applied on samples taken with adhesive tape strips

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), applied directly on samples taken with adhesive tape, is proposed as method to detect and identify microorganisms from the surfaces of valuable objects without being destructive. Results of tests carried out in laboratory conditions as well on samples taken from deteriorated surfaces of Roman Catacombs showed the feasibility of FISH when applied on adhesive tape. The potential as well as the limits of the technique were also discussed.     

Sterility in unsterilized surgical adhesive tape

Providing a barrier to infectious organisms, sterile surgical adhesive tape has been used to close wounds for almost 20 years. The possibility that prepackaged unsterilized tape could be used for similar purposes is suggested by this study. Samples (480) were taken from 120 rolls that had been left in plastic surgical suite cabinets for 2 weeks. Aerobes and anaerobes were evaluated using tryptic soy agar with 5% sheep blood, while yeast and fungi were checked with Sabouraud dextrose agar. Sterility of sticky and smooth inner surfaces is shown to be a significant finding (p less than 0.01). It is concluded that prepackaged unsterilized surgical adhesive tape can be used to approximate wound edges without being a source of contamination (the sterile tape is 5600 percent more expensive). Wound closure in this manner would benefit the patient in the field, in the emergency room, or in third world countries where the supply of sterile tape is limited.     

Insects did it first: a micropatterned adhesive tape for robotic applications

Based on the structural and experimental studies of more than 300 insect species from different lineages, we have developed and characterized a bioinspired polymer material with the ability of multiple glue-free bonding and debonding. The material surface is covered with a pattern of microstructures, which resembles the geometry of tenent hairs previously described from the feet of flies, beetles, earwigs and other insects. The tape with such a microstructure pattern demonstrates at least two times higher pull-off force per unit apparent contact area compared to the flat polymer. Additionally, the tape is less sensitive to contamination by dust particles than a commercially available pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. Even if the 'insect tape' is contaminated, it can be washed with a soap solution in water, in order to completely recover its adhesive properties. We have successfully applied the tape to the 120 g wall-climbing robot Mini-Whegs. Furthermore, the tape can be used for multiple adhering of objects to glass surfaces or as a protective tape for sensitive glass surfaces of optical quality. Another area of potential applications is gripping and manipulation of objects with smooth surfaces.     

The Influence of Leaf "Windows" on Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in the South African Succulent Senecio Rowleyanus (Asteraceae)

Net CO₂ exchange rate (P_N) of shoots and diel fluctuations in titratable acidity of leaves of Senecio rowleyanus were measured to determine whether penetration of radiant energy through leaf “windows” (narrow, translucent strips on the leaf epidermis) resulted in increased CAM. Nocturnal P_N and nighttime increases in acidity were compared among plants with windows covered with reflective adhesive tape, transparent adhesive tape (to control for potential effects of the adhesive), and no tape. The windows did not significantly enhance the degree of CAM in S. rowleyanus. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A new adhesive for airborne pollen sampling

There is a spreading interest to establish networks of information exchange on aerobiological data in order to carry out comparative studies of the biological air content of different regions. For this kind of study, it is of primary importance that the methods used are being standardized. Since most national networks are now made of comparable Hirst-type samplers, the second most important factor to consider will be the efficiency of the adhesive used on the Melinex tape. In this study, we report conclusive results using a double-side self adhesive acrylic tape (Scotch 3M 9425). Our results show higher capture efficiency (+20%) for the 3M tape as compared to the glycerine/gelatine coating traditionally used in Montréal for the capture of airborne pollen on the Melinex tape of Hirst samplers.     

A new adhesive for airborne pollen sampling in Spain

The use of a double-sided self-adhesive tapefor pollen trapping could offer some advantagesover traditional adhesives, manually applied tothe Melinex tape of a Hirst-type spore trap,since variation in terms of adhesiveapplication is nil and additional effort inapplying the adhesive is avoided. Nevertheless,its efficiency with respect to the standardadhesives must be tested. In Cordoba (southwestSpain), the Spanish Aerobiology Network Centreperformed a series of comparative studies andrecommended the use of a silicone fluid as anadhesive. This paper compares the efficiency ofa double-sided self-adhesive tape (3M) withsilicone fluid as adhesive. Sampling wascarried out using a Hirst type 7-day spore traplocated 15 m above ground level. A Melinex tapecoated with silicone fluid covered one half ofthe weekly drum; the other half was coveredwith 3M tape that included the adhesive. It iswidely reported that the physicalcharacteristics of silicone fluid do not varywith temperature (Galán andDomínguez-Vilches, 1997), but this studyshowed that 3M efficiency did vary withtemperature. The results revealed that 3M tapewas less efficacious at low temperatures, whileat high temperatures it becomes stickier. Incontrast, silicone fluid does not vary withtemperature. The efficiency of 3M tape alsoseems to be negatively influenced by rain.     

Squashing Under Scotch Tape No. 665 for Autoradio-Graphic and Permanent Histologic Preparations

Removal of the cover slip from squash preparations, for coating with auto-radiographic emulsion, or other purposes, is made easy if squashing is performed with a piece of Scotch double-coated adhesive tape No. 665, used as a cover slip. The material to be squashed is placed on a slide lightly coated with an adhesive consisting of 1% gelatin with 0.1% chrome alum added. The piece of tape is applied with the surface originally on the outside of the roll next to the specimen. Specimens should be soaked before squashing in aqueous 45% acetic acid, with or without added dye, such as carmine or orcein. After squashing, the tape is easily removed without damage to the cells. This allows autoradiographic emulsion to be applied, or, unstained material can be stained after squashing by technics suitable for microtome sections.     

Modification of the anal tape method for detection of pinworms in rodents

A modification of Graham's anal tape technique for detection of oxyurid worm eggs involves a coverslip or microscope slide covered with a thin layer of adhesive. The worm eggs stick to the adhesive and can be directly observed under the microscope.