Cytodiagnosis of gastric ulcer penetration of the liver by examination of endoscopic brushings

The penetration of a gastric peptic ulcer into the liver was initially diagnosed by the cytologic examination of endoscopic brushings and later confirmed by an endoscopic biopsy of the stomach. One of the smears of the gastric brushing contained sparse groups of liver cells with mild atypia. The endoscopic biopsy specimen included liver parenchyma with signs of peptic hepatitis. The differential diagnostic considerations for a gastric brushing containing hepatoid cells are discussed.     

Latex and vinyl nonsterile examination gloves: status report on laboratory evaluation of defects by physical and biological methods

We have reported previously (H. R. Kotilainen, J. P. Brinker, J. L. Avato, and N. M. Gantz, Arch. Intern. Med. 149:2749-2753, 1989) that the quality of nonsterile examination gloves available for clinical use may be extremely variable. In view of the concern over human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus transmission to health care workers, the continuing variability of gloves available for use, and the need for a simple and safe test, we have evaluated 2,500 vinyl (five brands) and 2,000 latex (four brands) gloves by the 300-ml and the newly proposed 1,000-ml water tests and for permeability to herpes simplex virus type 1 and poliovirus type 1, respectively. While all 300-ml watertight gloves were unlikely to leak herpes simplex virus type 1 (1.3% vinyl; 0.5% latex), poliovirus was recovered much more frequently (8.9% vinyl, 6.1% latex). In all gloves that passed the 1,000-ml test, herpes simplex virus type 1 was not recovered. Poliovirus was recovered infrequently (1.4% vinyl, 1.5% latex). Preliminary analyses suggest that the 1,000-ml water test has significantly increased sensitivity over the 300-ml water test in the detection of small holes in both vinyl and latex gloves that may allow the passage of viral particles. Gloves that pass a 1,000-ml water challenge are unlikely to allow the passage of a small virus such as poliovirus. Given that human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 are larger particles than poliovirus, gloves that pass the 1,000-ml water test theoretically could provide better protection.     

Latex and vinyl nonsterile examination gloves: status report on laboratory evaluation of defects by physical and biological methods

[This corrects the article on p. 1627 in vol. 56.].     

Latex and vinyl nonsterile examination gloves: status report on laboratory evaluation of defects by physical and biological methods.

We have reported previously (H. R. Kotilainen, J. P. Brinker, J. L. Avato, and N. M. Gantz, Arch. Intern. Med. 149:2749-2753, 1989) that the quality of nonsterile examination gloves available for clinical use may be extremely variable. In view of the concern over human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus transmission to health care workers, the continuing variability of gloves available for use, and the need for a simple and safe test, we have evaluated 2,500 vinyl (five brands) and 2,000 latex (four brands) gloves by the 300-ml and the newly proposed 1,000-ml water tests and for permeability to herpes simplex virus type 1 and poliovirus type 1, respectively. While all 300-ml watertight gloves were unlikely to leak herpes simplex virus type 1 (1.3% vinyl; 0.5% latex), poliovirus was recovered much more frequently (8.9% vinyl, 6.1% latex). In all gloves that passed the 1,000-ml test, herpes simplex virus type 1 was not recovered. Poliovirus was recovered infrequently (1.4% vinyl, 1.5% latex). Preliminary analyses suggest that the 1,000-ml water test has significantly increased sensitivity over the 300-ml water test in the detection of small holes in both vinyl and latex gloves that may allow the passage of viral particles. Gloves that pass a 1,000-ml water challenge are unlikely to allow the passage of a small virus such as poliovirus. Given that human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 are larger particles than poliovirus, gloves that pass the 1,000-ml water test theoretically could provide better protection.     

Evaluation of blood-brain barrier penetration and examination of binding to human serum albumin of 7-O-arylpiperazinylcoumarins as potential antipsychotic agents

The delivery of drugs to the brain is complicated by the multiple factors including low blood–brain barrier (BBB) passive permeability, active BBB efflux systems, and plasma protein binding. Thus, a detailed understanding of the transport of the new potent substances through the membranes is vitally important and their physico-chemical characteristics should be analyzed at first. This work presents an evaluation of drug likeness of eight 7-O-arylpiperazinylcoumarin derivatives with high affinity towards serotoninergic receptors 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2A with particular analysis of the requirements for the CNS chemotherapeutics. The binding constants to human serum albumin (HSA) were determined at physiological pH using fluorescence spectroscopy, and then their mode of action was explained by analysis of theoretical HSA complexes. Dynamic simulation of systems allowed for reliable evaluation of the interaction strength. The analyzed coumarins were able to pass BBB, and they present good drug likeness properties. They showed high affinities to HSA (log K_Q = 5.3–6.0 which corresponds to −8.12 to −7.15 kcalmol⁻¹ of Gibbs free energy). The changes of the emission intensity upon binding to HSA were scrutinized showing the different mode of action for 4-phenylpiperazinylcoumarins. The values of computed Gibbs free energy and determined on the basis of experimentally obtained binding constants log K_Q coincide suggesting a good quality of the theoretical model. Overall the 8-acetyl-7-O-arylpiperazinyl-4-methylcoumarin derivatives represent valuable lead compounds to be further tested in various preclinical assays as a possible chemotherapeutics against CNS diseases. Studied coumarins can be metabolized by cytochrome P450 to aldehydes and hydroxy derivatives. The existence of other binding sites inside HSA than Sudlow’s site 1 was postulated. The longer aliphatic linker between coumarin and piperazine moieties favored binding to HSA in other than Sudlow site 1 pocket.     

Toxicity effects of latex gloves on boar spermatozoa

It is known that several materials used in semen collection have been found to be detrimental to spermatozoal motility. In this study, examinations for toxic effects of latex and vinyl gloves, used with and without talcum powder on boar spermatozoa, were performed. Ten boars of known fertility with >/=80% sperm motility were divided into two groups (n = 5 boars each) for in vitro and in vivo studies. In the in vitro study, semen was collected from each of the five boars and was divided into five separate aliquots (5 ml each). One aliquot from each of the boars remained as the control, while the remaining aliquots were divided into individual treatments exposing the semen to a l cm(2) piece of latex or vinyl glove with or without talcum powder. In the in vivo experiment, semen from each of the five boars was collected using a gloved hand. During collection, the first half of the sperm-rich fraction was collected into a filtered sterile container, while the second half of the fraction was allowed to run through the palm of either a latex or vinyl powdered glove prior to collection in the container. In both experiments, semen sample motility was assessed by two independent observers at 1 minute after exposure. Results of both experiments consistently showed a significant (P<0.05) effect of latex gloves (with or without talcum powder) on boar semen when compared with the control semen. Motility was at or near 0% at 1 min after exposure to latex. No significant difference (P>0.05) in motility was observed between the control semen and the semen exposed to talcum powdered vinyl gloves. These results show that latex gloves are detrimental to boar spermatozoa. Therefore, it is suggested that when collecting boar semen vinyl gloves should be used.     

Laboratory gloves as a source of trace element contamination

Contamination in a trace element laboratory can come from a variety of sources, including laboratory gloves. Therefore, vinyl and latex gloves were obtained from as many manufacturers as would supply gloves. These gloves were either prepared for acid-washing and subsequent soaking in an acid solution, or immersed in an acid solution for a duration of either 1 min or 1 h. Incubation washes were analyzed for a variety of trace elements by flame atomic abosrption spectroscopy (AAS) or inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicated that only three brands of vinyl gloves were acceptable for use in a trace element laboratory, whereas others had contamination of different elements. Latex gloves contained such high levels of biologically important elements that they were not considered suitable for routine trace element work. Vinyl gloves of choice should be routinely acid-washed before use in a trace element laboratory.     

Preanalytical errors on zinc concentrations caused by single-use gloves

Preanalytical errors causing specimen contamination with zinc (Zn) are disastrous for routine medical diagnostics or scientific studies. The aim of the study presented here is to simulate contamination possibilities when using single-use gloves.The ability to release Zn into the specimen was tested using nitril (A), vinyl (B) and latex (C) gloves with 15 (14) replications. In our first approach, a 1 × 1 cm piece of the glove’s fingertip was incubated for 10 min with serum. Our second approach imitated a very short contact of serum to the glove’s material by letting serum run over the glove from a pipette for 3 cm distance into a tube. The effect of gloves’ contact to liver tissue was examined using glove C only: a block of liver tissue was touched once at one side producing an experimental fingerprint. Zn was analyzed in serum and liver wet weight (ww) using ICP-MS; the basal serum/liver Zn concentration was set as zero for calculation. The calculated addition of Zn is given as median (p25 - p75).The first approach led to distinct contamination with Zn (in μg/L) being evident from all three types of gloves, but depended markedly from the type of material: A: 176.5 (129.7–204); B: 975.1 (663.6–1164.3); C: 2112 (1685–2516). Imitating a very short contact of serum to the glove’s surface resulted in an additional Zn concentration of 105.7 (70.4–168.8), 56.2 (-13.5–121.4) and 955.7 (746–1159) μg/L using gloves A, B and C, respectively. A single fingerprint on liver tissue using glove C resulted an addition of 3995 (861–6435) μg Zn/kg liver ww.The data underline that the dimension of preanalytical contamination of blood and tissue samples for Zn analysis via single-use gloves is relevant for routine diagnostics and scientific studies. Critical steps and possibilities to minimize these effects should be considered seriously for specimen handling in routine laboratory diagnostics as well as in scientific studies to avoid preanalytical errors and, finally, misinterpretation of the data.