A Simple and Rapid Staining Technique for Plastic Embedded Cartilage and Bone

In this report we describe a simple and rapid staining technique for cartilage and bone embedded in Araldite. Semitbin sections of embryonic vertebrae obtained from 15 to 17 day mouse fetuses were stained using an aqueous solution 0.25% with respect to methylene blue, 0.25% with respect to azure A, and 0.5% with respect to Na₂ CO₃, then counterstained with 1% aqueous pararosaniline chloride (MAP). Results were compared with toluidine blue stained sections. MAP permitted good discrimination of developmental stages of both cells and extracellular matrix within vertebral ossification centers during endochondral ossification. The technique is simple, rapid and applicable to plastic embedded sections, and can be used prior to ultrastructural examination.     

A polychromatic staining method for epoxy embedded tissue: a new combination of methylene blue and basic fuchsine for light microscopy

A simple and rapid method is described for staining semithin sections of material embedded in epoxy resin for observing tissues prior to transmission electron microscopy. The method is suitable for tissue fixed with a glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde mixture and postfixed in osmium tetroxide. No etching or oxidizing procedures are necessary. Sections 0.5-0.8 µm thick are dried onto a slide and stained with either 0.75% methylene blue and 0.25% azure B or 0.5% methylene blue and 0.5% azure II in 0.5% aqueous borax and heated over a flame for 8-10 sec. The slides are rinsed with water, then stained the same way with 0.1% basic fuchsine in 5% aqueous ethanol. Cytoplasm stains blue; nuclei darker blue; collagen, mucus and elastin pink to red; fat and intracellular lipid droplets gray-green.     

Quirks of dye nomenclature. 12. Victoria’s rainbow

ABSTRACT

The identities of 18 dyes whose names begin with “Victoria” are described using their chemical structures, names and numerical identifiers. All are synthetic dyes originally synthesized in Germany during the late 19^th century as colorants for textiles. Brief manufacturing details are included. All the colors of the rainbow are represented except indigo. Unusual properties including explosive tendency or toxicity are noted. Some of the applications as stains and for food coloring, anti-obesity medication and pigments for ball pen inks also are discussed     

NO前体和供体对大鼠海马脑片神经元活动的影响

应用细胞记录单位放电技术,在大鼠海马脑片上观察了左旋精氨酸,Ｎ－硝在左旋精氨酸,ＳＩＮ－１,及亚甲基蓝对ＣＡ１区神经元自发放电的影响,旨在了解左旋精氨酸;ＮＯ通路在海马放电中的作用及其可能的机制。实验结果如下：１．用Ｌ－ａｒｇ（１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）灌流海马脑片２ｍｉｎ,在５４个放电单位中有４２个单位放电频率降低,１２个单位无明显反应。     

一种丙烯酰胺凝胶的新型光聚合法

以亚甲基蓝为引发剂,甲苯亚磺酸钠为还原剂,二苯氯化碘为氧化剂的丙烯酰胺凝胶光聚合方法,具有试剂配制简单, 适用范围广,方法稳定性和重现性好,且聚合速度快,操作易于控制等特点, 是一种不同于最为广泛使用的过硫酸铵/四甲基乙二胺和核黄素/四甲基乙二胺法的新型光聚合法. 用这一方法做了SDS和在酸性缓冲体系中的尿素变性梯度胶电泳,初步试用表明这一新型光聚合法具有很好的聚合效果.     

Induction of base-pair substitution and prameshift mutations in wild-type and repair-deficient strains of Salmonella typhimurium by the photodynamic action of methylene blue

Induction of back mutations to prototrophy by methylene blue (MB)-sensitized photodynamic (PD) treatment has been studied in wild-type and repair-deficient strains of Salmonella typhimurium carrying either the base-pair substitution mutation hisG46 or the frameshift mutation hisD3052. We found that reversion of the hisG46 mutation was increased in a strain carrying a uvrB deletion and decreased in a strain carrying a recA-type mutation. Reversion of the hisD3052 (frameshift) mutation, on the other hand, was decreased in both uvrB deletion and recA-type strains. The former results are consistent with the hypothesis that the majority of MB-sensitized PD-induced base-pair substitution mutations arise by a mechanism similar to that currently believed to be involved in UV mutagenesis. The latter results suggest that PD-induced frameshift mutations may arise in some other way, and two possible mechanisms involving sequential action of the excision repair and recombinational repair pathways are considered.     

光动力作用对铜绿假单胞杆菌杀伤效应的研究

目的:探讨不同的光动力剂量下光动力疗法(photodynam ic therapy,PDT)对体外培养的铜绿假单胞杆菌的杀伤效应。方法:以耐药性较强的铜绿假单胞杆菌(Pseudom onas aeruginos,P.aeruginosa)为研究对象,采用亚甲基蓝(m ethylene b lue,MB)作为光敏剂,用656 nm的激光作为光源(m axoutput=300 mW),对不同系列浓度的MB进行不同剂量的光照,用菌落计数的办法来观测PDT对铜绿假单胞杆菌的杀伤作用;同时利用血培养基检测铜绿假单胞杆菌致病性的改变。结果:在光照剂量相同的情况下,浓度适中(131.7 m ol)的亚甲基蓝溶液能够有效地杀伤铜绿假单胞杆菌,使其致病性降低;而浓度较高(1 317 m ol)或较低(13.17 m ol)的亚甲基蓝溶液对铜绿假单胞杆菌的杀伤作用相对较弱。结论:光动力作用对体外培养的铜绿假单胞杆菌具有明确的杀伤作用,但是其效果和剂量关系密切,所以在治疗过程中必须寻找合适的光敏剂剂量。     

Ionic imbalance and lack of effect of adjuvant treatment with methylene blue in the hamster model of leptospirosis

Leptospirosis in humans usually involves hypokalaemia andhypomagnesaemia and the putative mechanism underlying such ionic imbalances maybe related to nitric oxide (NO) production. We previously demonstrated thecorrelation between serum levels of NO and the severity of renal disease inpatients with severe leptospirosis. Methylene blue inhibits soluble guanylylcyclase (downstream of the action of any NO synthase isoforms) and was recentlyreported to have beneficial effects on clinical and experimental sepsis. Weinvestigated the occurrence of serum ionic changes in experimental leptospirosisat various time points (4, 8, 16 and 28 days) in a hamster model. We alsodetermined the effect of methylene blue treatment when administered as anadjuvant therapy, combined with late initiation of standard antibiotic(ampicillin) treatment. Hypokalaemia was not reproduced in this model: all ofthe groups developed increased levels of serum potassium (K). Furthermore,hypermagnesaemia, rather than magnesium (Mg) depletion, was observed in thishamster model of acute infection. These findings may be associated with anaccelerated progression to acute renal failure. Adjuvant treatment withmethylene blue had no effect on survival or serum Mg and K levels duringacute-phase leptospirosis in hamsters.     

Comparison of the Neutral Red and Methylene Blue Assays to Study Cell Growth in Culture

The neutral red and methylene blue in vitro cytotoxicity assays were compared under a variety of conditions using normal human ovarian epithelial cells to determine whether either assay is superior for studying cell growth. The results were standardized against a DNA spectrofluorometric assay. Although the assays were equivalent in reflecting cell number, each has specific advantages: while neutral red discriminates between viable and dead cells, the methylene blue assay is more sensitive and easier to perform.     

Inhibition of choline oxidase by quinoid dyes

Choline oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of choline to glycine-betaine, with betaine-aldehyde as intermediate and molecular oxygen as primary electron acceptor. This study reports on the inhibitory effects of triarylmethanes (cationic malachite green; neutral leukomalachite green), phenoxazines (cationic, meldola blue and nile blue; neutral nile red) and a structurally-related phenothiazine (methylene blue) on choline oxidase, assayed at 25°C in 50 mM MOPS buffer, pH 7, using choline as substrate. Methylene B acted as a competitive inhibitor with K_i = 74 ± 7.2 μM, pointing to the choline–binding site of the enzyme as a target site. Nile B caused noncompetitive inhibition of enzyme activity with K_i = 20 ± 4.5 μM. In contrast to methylene B and nile B, malachite G and meldola B caused complex, nonlinear inhibition of choline oxidase, with estimated K_i values in the micromolar range. The difference in kinetic pattern was ascribed to the differential ability of the dyes to interact (and interfere) with the flavin cofactor, generating different perturbations in the steady-state balance of the catalytic process.     

Rhodococcal systematics: problems and developments

Various approaches that have been used in the development of a system of classification for the genus Rhodococcus are discussed. The application of chemotaxonomic, molecular systematic and numerical phenetic methods have greatly contributed to improvements in the systematics of rhodococci and related mycolic- acid containing actinomycetes. The genus currently encompasses twelve validly described species but improved diagnostic methods are needed to distinguish between them. In addition, evidence from 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing suggests that the genus is still heterogeneous.