血清胱抑素C水平与冠心病关系的Meta分析

目的 综合评价血清胱抑素C(CysC)与冠心病的关系,旨在为冠心病的预防和诊治提供循证医学证据.方法 计算机检索SinoMed、ScienceDirect、Embase、Pubmed关于CysC与CHD相关性的研究,搜索时间为自建库至2015年.由两名独立的评价人员根据纳入和排除标准,筛选文献,提取数据.采用Review Manager 5.3软件进行Meta分析.绘制倒漏斗图,行Begg's和Egg's检验,判定发表偏倚的可能性.逐一剔除纳入研究,绘制敏感性分析图,进行敏感性分析.结果 纳入研究10个,患者977例.Meta分析结果:以队列研究组为对象,与对照组比较,冠心病组[SMD=1.51,95％CI(1.20,1.82)]的CysC水平明显升高,差异显著有统计学意义(Z=9.51,P＜0.05);以病例对照研究组为对象,与对照组比较,冠心病组[SMD=3.27,95％ CI(2.95,3.60)]的CysC水平明显升高,差异显著有统计学意义(Z=19.92,P＜0.05);纳入研究倒漏斗图呈对称分布,Begg's和Egg's检验P值分别为0.72和0.88,提示研究间存在发表的可能性小.结论 高水平的血清CysC与CHD密切相关.     

血清胱抑素C水平与早期高血压肾脏功能损伤关系的Meta分析

目的 系统评价血清胱抑素C(CysC)水平与早期高血压肾脏功能损伤的关系.方法 计算机检索SinoMed、ScienceDirect、Embase、Pubmed、知网和万方等数据库关于CysC与早期高血压肾脏功能损伤的病例对照试验,观察组为高血压早期组(尿蛋白阴性,肾小球滤过率在正常范围),对照组为同期体检的健康人群.检索时间自建库至2016年.以WMD及其95％ CI为效应性指标,采用Review Manager 5.3软件进行Meta分析.应用Statal2.0软件绘制漏斗图和敏感性分析图.结果 纳入研究7个,观察组患者377例,对照组样本量309例.Meta分析结果:与对照组比较,早期高血压组[SMD =0.14,95％ CI(0.07,0.21)]的CysC水平明显升高,差异具有统计学意义(Z=3.96,P＜0.005);纳入研究漏斗图呈对称分布,进一步行Begg's和Egger's检验,P值分别为0.45、0.79,提示研究间存在发表性偏倚的可能性小.敏感性分析图显示Meta分析结果稳定可靠.结论 CysC水平可作为早期高血压肾脏损伤的评价指标.     

间充质干细胞治疗缺血性脑卒中安全性与疗效的Meta分析

目的:通过系统评价明确间充质干细胞治疗缺血性脑卒中的安全性与疗效,并提供相关循证医学证据。方法:计算机检索中文数据库(中国知网、万方、维普)以及英文数据库(PubMed、The Cochrane Library、Embase)有关间充质干细胞治疗脑卒中的临床对照试验,检索时间限定到2021-09-30,以美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表评分、日常生活能力指数、运动功能评分、功能独立性评分、改良Rankin评分为结局指标,由2名研究员独立进行文献筛选、数据提取及研究质量评估,其中随机对照试验采用“Cochrane偏倚风险评估工具”评估质量,并使用stata 15.0进行Meta分析、敏感性分析以及森林图的制作等。结果:纳入20个随机对照试验,共1127例缺血性脑卒中患者,文献总体质量较高。Meta分析结果显示:治疗3个月时,间充质干细胞组美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表评分、运动功能评分、功能独立性评分优于对照组[WMD=-2.12(95%CI:-2.66至-1.58,Z=7.70,P<0.001),WMD=14.34(95%CI:12.99-15.68,Z=20.90,P<0.001),WMD=20.94(95%CI:9.28-22.59,Z=5.88,P<0.001)]。而日常生活能力指数、改良Rankin评分两组效果接近[WMD=6.98(95%CI:-2.89-16.85,Z=1.39,P=0.166),WMD=-0.04(95%CI:-0.16-0.24,Z=0.44,P=0.663)]。其他各时点,除改良Rankin评分外,美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表评分、日常生活能力指数、运动功能评分、功能独立性情况评分均有显著改善。结论:间充质干细胞移植能在一定程度上改善缺血性脑卒中患者的神经功能缺损、运动功能、日常生活能力。     

干细胞移植治疗失代偿期肝硬化的Meta分析

目的 系统评价干细胞移植对失代偿期肝硬化的治疗作用.方法 计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库、万方数据库、中国生物医学文献数据库、CALLS学位论文库和Pubmed、Embase、Cochrane Library和Google学术数据库,收集应用干细胞移植治疗失代偿期肝硬化的随机对照临床试验（RCT）,辅以手工检索,评价文献质量,合并肝功能结果进行Meta分析.结果 纳入研究的29篇文献均为RCT,共1 161例患者.Meta分析结果显示,术前移植组和对照组患者各指标差异无统计学意义;移植组术后第4、8、12周患者丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）[MD4周=-17.17,95％CI（-24.90,-9.43）,P＜0.001]、[MD蜩=-14.80,95％CI（-22.32,-7.28）,P＜0.001]、[MD12周=-15.5,95％ CI（-28.47,-2.52）,P＜0.001]、血浆总胆红素（T-Bil）[MD4周=-5.92,95％CI（-9.72,-2.13）,P＜0.001]、[MD8周 =-12.02,95％CI（-18.78,-5.25）,P＜0.001]、[MD12周=-11.23,95％CI（-19.61,-2.84）,P＜0.001]水平均明显低于对照组;而血清白蛋白（ALB）[MD4周=2.87,95％CI（1.83,3.92）,P＜0.001]、[MD8周=5.11,95％ CI（3.90,6.31）,P＜0.001]、[MD12周=4.66,95％ CI（2.10,7.22）,P＜0.001]、凝血酶原活动度（PTA）[MD4周=3.76,95％CI（-0.98,8.49）,P＜0.001]、[MD8周=7.92,95％CI（4.25,11.58）,P＜0.001]、[MD12周=10.51,95％CI（-2.15,23.17）,P＜0.001]均明显较对照组升高.结论 干细胞移植能改善失代偿期肝硬化,干细胞治疗的发展需要更多的注册临床研究.     

人乳头状瘤病毒与涎腺肿瘤相关性的系统评价

目的 系统评价人乳头状瘤病毒(human papillomavirus,HPV)感染与涎腺肿瘤(salivarygland tumors,SGT)之间的相关性.方法 检索Pubmed、web of science、Cochrane Library、EMbase、中国学术期刊全文数据库(CNKI)、中国生物医学文献数据库(CBM)、万方、重庆维普网等数据库,纳入符合条件的相关研究.HPV感染与SGT的关系采用合并比值比(odds ratios,ORs)和相应的95％可信区间(confidence intervals,CIs)进行评价.使用Stata 11.0进行数据分析.根据研究间的异质性,采用固定或随机效应模型进行计算.发表偏倚采用漏斗图进行分析.结果共纳入8个符合条件的研究,包含142例恶性肿瘤患者、220例良性肿瘤患者和37例正常对照,分析结果显示:恶性SGT与良性SGT患者相比有更高HPV感染率(OR=2.46,95％CI l.40～4.33,P＜0.001),差异有统计学意义;SGT患者与健康人群相比,HPV感染率更高(OR=19.24,95％CI 4.08～90.79,P＜0.001),差异有统计学意义.结论基于现有数据分析,感染HPV是SGT的危险因素,并且可能增加恶性SGT的患病风险.未来有待纳入更多高质量的文献,以对HPV与SGT的关系开展进一步的研究.     

斜外侧入路与后入路椎体融合术治疗腰椎退行性疾病临床疗效的Meta分析

目的 系统性对比评价斜外侧入路椎间融合术(OLIF)与后入路椎体融合术(PLIF)在治疗腰椎退行性疾病中的临床疗效。方法 在中国知网数据库、万方数据库、维普数据库以及PubMed数据库、Cochrane数据库,以“斜外侧椎间融合术”“后入路椎间融合术”和 “oblique lumbar interbody fusion” “oblique lateral interbody fusion” “anterior to psoas” “posterior lumbar interbody fusion”为关键词,计算机检索2010年1月-2019年9月国内外已发表关于OLIF与PLIF对比的病例对照研究或随机对照研究的中英文文献,严格评价文献质量,并提取相关数据,运用RevMan 5.3软件对手术时间、术中出血量、住院时间、疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)、Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)、椎间隙高度(IDH)、腰椎前凸角(LL),以及手术并发症情况进行Meta分析。结果 纳入10篇研究共580例患者,其中经OLIF手术276例,经PLIF手术304例。1项随机对照研究,Cochrane偏倚风险评估为低风险;9项病例对照研究纽卡斯尔-渥太华评分(NOS),其中高质量6项、较高质量3项。Meta分析结果显示,OLIF较PLIF平均手术时间短(WMD=-84.02,95% CI -118.29～-49.74,P＜0.01),平均术中出血量少(WMD=-269.12, 95% CI -319.84～-218.41,P＜0.01),平均住院时间短(WMD=-3.29, 95% CI -4.70～-1.89, P＜0.01),术后IDH恢复更高(WMD=1.11, 95% CI 0.44～1.77, P＜0.01),差异均有统计学意义;而术后ODI(WMD=0.16, 95% CI -1.98～2.30, P＞0.05)、VAS(WMD=0.02, 95% CI -0.52～0.56, P＞0.05)、LL(WMD=0.77, 95% CI -0.40～1.94, P＞0.05)、并发症发生情况(OR=0.91, 95% CI 0.50～1.64, P＞0.05),OLIF和PLIF比较差异均无统计学意义。结论 OLIF与PLIF应用于椎体间融合术均能取得良好的临床疗效,但OLIF手术时间、术中出血量、住院时间更低,术后IDH恢复更高,有更大优势。     

基于Meta分析的CPAP联合常规降压药物对OSAHS合并高血压患者的综合疗效分析

目的利用Meta分析评价持续气道正压通气(continuous positive airway pressure,CPAP)联合常规降压药物对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome,OSAHS)合并高血压患者的综合疗效,为临床治疗提供参考。方法计算机检索中国生物医学文献数据库(Chinese Bio Medical Literature Database,CBM)、Cochrane Library、Pub Med、中国学术期刊全文数据库(China National Knowledge Infrastructure,CNKI)、万方数据知识服务平台,维普中文期刊服务平台等电子数据库并手工检索相关期刊,查找CPAP治疗对OSAHS合并高血压患者综合疗效影响的临床随机对照试验(randomized controlled trial,RCT),对符合条件的RCT,逐一评价纳入研究的质量,提取入选文献资料,采用Rev Man5.3软件进行Meta分析,以Meta分析中的合并效应统计参数探讨CPAP联合常规降压药物的治疗效果。结果共纳入13篇文献。Meta分析数据显示:各项指标差异均具有统计学意义[AHI:WMD=-25.19,95%CI(-34.05,-16.33),P0.00001;LSa O2:WMD=17.57,95%CI(11.16,23.98),P0.00001。白天平均收缩压:WMD=-8.26,95%CI(-11.18,-5.34),P0.00001;白天平均舒张压:WMD=-6.42,95%CI(-8.25,-4.60),P0.00001;夜间平均收缩压:WMD=-12.92,95%CI(-19.65,-6.19),P0.0002;夜间平均舒张压:WMD=-6.31,95%CI(-8.53,-4.09),P0.00001;24h平均收缩压:WMD=-10.28,95%CI(-14.08,-6.48),P0.00001;24h平均舒张压:WMD=-6.99,95%CI(-8.88,-5.09),P0.00001]。分析数据提示CPAP联合常规降压药物治疗后OSAHS合并高血压患者各项指标改善程度较对照组(常规药物治疗)均有明显提升。漏斗图基本对称,存在发表偏倚可能性小。结论 CPAP联合常规降压药物治疗对我国OSAHS合并高血压患者有确切的疗效。     

综合护理措施对无创呼吸机治疗COPD合并呼吸衰竭的Meta分析

目的 评价综合护理措施对无创呼吸机治疗COPD合并呼吸衰竭患者的影响。方法 选择中文检索词“综合护理”且“呼吸衰竭”,检索中国学术期刊全文数据库、维普中文科技期刊全文数据库、万方数据知识服务平台及中国生物医学文献数据库,收集相关文献,检索时间范围为建库以来至2018年9月。用Meta分析方法对研究结果进行数据合并,并评价分析结果稳定性和可靠性。采用RevMan5.3软件进行统计处理。结果 共纳入5篇文献。Meta分析显示:整体来看,综合护理措施相对于一般护理措施可以提高无创呼吸机治疗COPD合并呼吸衰竭患者的氧分压[随机效应模型,WMD=10.59,95%CI(7.04,14.14),P＜0.001]、氧饱和度[固定效应模型,WMD=7.28,95%CI(6.33,8.24),P＜0.001]、pH值[随机效应模型,WMD=0.10,95%CI(0.05,0.15),P＜0.001],降低二氧化碳分压[随机效应模型,WMD=-7.10,95%CI(-9.66,-6.20),P＜0.001]。结论 综合护理措施对无创呼吸机治疗COPD合并呼吸衰竭患者PaO2、PaCO2、SaO2、pH值的改善有一定积极作用。     

脾氨肽冻干粉对反复呼吸道感染患儿疗效的Meta 分析

目的:系统评价脾氨肽口服冻干粉治疗儿童反复呼吸道感染(RRTIs)的临床疗效。方法:检索中国生物医学数据库、中国期刊全文数据库、维普数据库和万方数据知识服务平台,查找脾氨肽(试验组)对比安慰剂/空白(对照组)治疗儿童RRTIs的随机对照试验(RCT),检索时限为建库至2019年5月。筛选文献并提取资料后,用RevMan 5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果:共纳入18项RCT,共1 754例患儿。Meta分析结果显示:试验组在治疗总有效率[RR=1.46,95%CI(1.28,1.65),P0.001]、发热持续时间[MD=-1.54,95%CI(-1.93,-1.15),P0.001]、咳喘持续时间[MD=-1.95,95%CI(-2.03,-1.86),P0.001]、啰音持续时间[MD=-2.9,95%CI(-3.38,-2.42),P0.001]、血清免疫球蛋白IgM水平[MD=0.06,95%CI(0.02,0.11),P=0.009]、IgA水平[MD=0.31,95%CI(0.28,0.35),P0.001]、IgG水平[MD=0.58,95%CI(0.49,0.67),P0.001]及T细胞亚群水平CD3~+[MD=8.23,95%CI(5.23,11.22),P0.001]、CD4~+[MD=4.90,95%CI(3.32,6.48),P0.001]、CD4~+/CD8~+[MD=0.39,95%CI(0.25,0.53),P0.001]方面均显著优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义;在T细胞亚群水平CD8~+[MD=-2.43,95%CI(-4.86,0),P=0.05]方面与对照组差异无统计学意义。对治疗总有效率绘制漏斗图,结果提示可能存在发表偏倚。结论:脾氨肽口服冻干粉可有效改善RRTIs儿童细胞及体液免疫功能及疾病预后。     

Carba NP试验在产碳青霉烯酶肠杆菌科细菌检测价值的meta分析

目的:系统评价Carba NP试验对产碳青霉烯酶菌株的诊断价值.方法:检索PubMed数据库、EMBASE数据库、Cochrane图书馆、维普中文科技期刊数据库、中国知网、万方数据库、中国生物医学文献数据库(CBM),并辅以文献追溯、手工检索,检索时间为2001年1月1日至2016年6月30日.严格按照纳入和排除标准进行文献筛选.参照诊断准确性研究质量评价工具(Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2,UADAS-2)对纳入文献进行质量评价.应用STATA14.0软件进行数据提取及质量评价、统计和数据分析,绘制森林图分析结果,用漏斗图和Deek检验评价纳入文献的发表偏倚情况.结果:纳入的29项研究的合并敏感性和特异性分别是0.97(95％CI:0.93～0.98)和1.0(95％CI:1.0～1.0),说明敏感性及特异性较高.经异质性分析检验,敏感性和特异性的I2分别是96.49(95％CI:95.79～97.18)和69.88(95％CI:58.69～81.08),说明纳入数据存在异质性.结论:Carba NP试验对于产碳青霉烯酶肠杆菌科细菌(Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae,CRE)的检测具有很高的敏感性和特异性.     

Renal dysplasia and asplenia in two sibs

A family is reported in which two sibs, one male and the other female, both died within 24 hours of birth with enlarged polycystic kidneys. Postmortem histology in the second child showed gross renal dysplasia. In both children the pancreas was enlarged, nodular and cystic but the liver appeared macroscopically normal. In the second child, histological examination confirmed pancreatic fibrosis with cystic dilation of ducts, but showed portal fibrosis with bile duct proliferation in the liver.
This combination of findings is very reminiscent of those in a girl and her brother reported by Ivemark et al. (1959). The children reported here also showed absence or hypoplasia of the spleen, cardiac anomalies and other features of the Ivemark syndrome (Ivemark 1955), a quite different, usually sporadic, congenital disorder. It is suggested that the children described here have a distinct lethal congenital disorder, probably inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.     

Schizophrenia in a North Swedish geographical isolate, 1900–1977. Epidemiology, genetics and biochemistry

Over 200 schizophrenic patients belonging to three major and interrelated pedigree complexes have been investigated over the past 30 years in a North Swedish geographically isolated population, presently numbering about 6,000. An intensive investigation of a number of biochemical correlates and genetic markers in a few selected families belonging to one of the major pedigrees has indicated new strategies for the current research program.
Schizophrenia, as defined operationally, is significantly associated with decreased activities of two enzymes (1) blood platelet monoamine oxidase, (2) plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and (3) with the genetic marker Gc² (group specific antigen). Both enzymes are subject to genetic variation. A positive score for linkage between schizophrenia and low plasma DBH activity has been calculated, but, so far, available data are insufficient for discrimination between linkage and partial contribution of genetically controlled low plasma DBH to the pathogenesis of the disease. Alternatively, both mechanisms could be involved.
As a model for continued research, schizophrenia is explained as based on a double dominant-recessive genotype (Aabb), representing a vulnerability which in about 50 % of cases develops into clinical schizophrenia. It is suggested that the dominant mutation (A) operates on or affects MAO activity, and that the recessive genotype (bb) is instrumental in low variates of DBH activity and very likely such variates within the normal range of physiological variation. Moreover, it is suggested that the combined effects of MAO- and DBH-reduced efficiency on the metabolism of e.g. dopamine could be an essential pathogenic mechanism for the schizophrenic illness which is segregating in this population.     

What will studies of Fulani individuals naturally exposed to malaria teach us about protective immunity to malaria?

There are an estimated over 200 million yearly cases of malaria worldwide. Despite concerted international effort to combat the disease, it still causes approximately half a million deaths every year, the majority of which are young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Successes are largely attributed to malaria prevention strategies, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, as well as improved access to existing treatments. One important hurdle to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of malaria is our limited understanding of the biology of Plasmodium infection and its complex interaction with the immune system of its human host. Therefore, the elimination of malaria in Africa not only relies on existing tools to reduce malaria burden, but also requires fundamental research to develop innovative approaches. Here, we summarize our discoveries from investigations of ethnic groups of West Africa who have different susceptibility to malaria.     

The dominant diseases of modernized societies as omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency syndrome: Substrate beriberi

About 1900, modern food selection and processing caused widespread $\text{epidemics}$ of the B vitamin deficiency diseases of beriberi and pellagra which, for genetic reasons, often expressed as different diseases ranging from bowel and heart disease to dermatoses and psychoses. But the B vitamins merely help convert essential fatty acids (EFA) into the prostaglandin (PG) tissue regulators and it now turns out that, through hydrogenation, milling and selection of w3-poor southern foods, we have also been systematically depleting, by as much as 90%, a newly discovered trace Nordic EFA (w3) of special importance to primates and sole precursor of the PG3(4) series, even as a concurrent fiber deficiency increases body demand for EFA. Since substrate EFA is processed by many B vitamin catalysts, an EFA deficiency will mimic a $\text{panh}$ypovitaminosis B, i.e., a mixture of $\text{substrate}$ beriberi and $\text{substrate}$ pellagra resembling vitamin beriberi and pellagra but exhibiting as even more diverse $\text{endemic}$ disease. This would consitute a second stage of the Modern Malnutrition and explain why some workers now hold the dominant diseases of modermized societies to be new, nutritionally based, pellagraform yet lipid-related and to range, once again, from heart disease to psychosis. It is an assumption that our dominant diseases are unrelated to each other or are merely revealed by our diagnostic acumen and therapeutic success; and that hydrogenating millions of tons of food oils annually, to destroy the rancidity producing w3-EFA, is safe for $\text{primates}$. Extensive beriberiform disease is reported here in 32 typical cases taken from medical practice which responds strikingly to linseed oil supplements (60% w3-EFA) in confirmation of identical results in Capuchins.     

The universal muscular chain reaction,muscle spasm,Torsions, ruptures and extravasations. Chameleons of pathology and some manifestations of simple muscular disorders

Most bodily functions require the coordinated actions of complementary and supplementary paired muscle groups. Where this essential muscular cooperation is lacking, hollow organs may burst and others become literally screwed up, giving rise to many similar spastic diseases such as Torticollis, Twisted ovarian cyst, Torsion of the Testis, Volvulus of the intestines, Varicose Veins, Megacolon, Aortamegaly, Scoliosis, Erb's Palsy, Peyronie's Disease, Main-en-Griffe, Undescended Foot (Pes Cavus), Talipes, Strabismus. Spasm is “panenepidemic” and unclassified examples of Torsion Dystonia and Dyskinesia really are as common as debt and taxes.     

Class II HLA in Georgia Caucasus Tbilisi Georgians and their Mediterranean ancestry: The Usko Mediterranean languages

Georgia (or Sakartvelo in its own language) is a South Caucasus Mts. country with its easternmost part is enigmatically named Iberia, like the Iberian Peninsula, which may refer to rivers “Kura” and “Ebro” or their valleys respectively. Most of their inhabitants speak Georgian which is included within Dene-Caucasian group and Usko-Mediterranean subgroup of languages. The latter includes Basque, Berber, ancient Iberian-Tartessian, Etruscan, Hittite, Minoan Lineal A and others. In the present paper, HLA class II -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles has been studied and extended haplotypes calculated. Most frequent haplotypes are also of Mediterranean origin (i. e.: (A*02-B*51)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01, (A*02-B*51)-DRB1*13:01-DQB1*06:03, or (A*24-B*35)-DRB1*01:01-DQB1*05:01) and DA genetic distances show that closest world populations to Georgians are Mediterraneans. Georgians also show common extended haplotypes ((A*02-B*51)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01, (A*02-B*13)-DRB1*07:01-DQB1*02:01 and (A*03-B*35)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01) with Svan people, a secluded population in North Georgia mountains. We can conclude that Georgians belong to a very old Mediterranean substratum according to both linguistics (Usko Mediterranean languages) and HLA genetics.     

'Very sore nights and days': the child's experience of illness in early modern England, c.1580-1720

Sick children were ubiquitous in early modern England, and yet they have received very little attention from historians. Taking the elusive perspective of the child, this article explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of illness in England between approximately 1580 and 1720. What was it like being ill and suffering pain? How did the young respond emotionally to the anticipation of death? It is argued that children’s experiences were characterised by profound ambivalence: illness could be terrifying and distressing, but also a source of emotional and spiritual fulfilment and joy. This interpretation challenges the common assumption amongst medical historians that the experiences of early modern patients were utterly miserable. It also sheds light on children’s emotional feelings for their parents, a subject often overlooked in the historiography of childhood. The primary sources used in this article include diaries, autobiographies, letters, the biographies of pious children, printed possession cases, doctors’ casebooks, and theological treatises concerning the afterlife.     

Guidelines for the Validation and Use of Immunoassays for Determination of Introduced Proteins in Biotechnology Enhanced Crops and Derived Food Ingredients

Recent advancements in agricultural biotechnology have created a need for analytical techniques to determine introduced proteins in crops enhanced through modern biotechnology techniques. These proteins are expressed in plant tissues and may be present in food ingredients. Immunoassays are ideally suited for protein detection and may be used as both quantitative and threshold methods. Microplate ELISA and lateral flow devices are two of the most commonly used immunoassay formats for agricultural biotechnology applications. This paper provides general background information and a discussion of criteria for the validation and application of immunochemical methods to the analysis of proteins introduced into plants and food ingredients using biotechnology methods. It is the result of a collaborative effort of members of the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium. This collaborative effort represents the combined expertise of several organizations to reach consensus on establishing guidelines for the validation and use of immunoassays. Further, the paper offers developers and users a consistent approach to adopting the technology as well as aid in producing accurate and meaningful results.     

Ultracryotomy: development and application (with examples from the yeast cytology) (author's transl)

The preparation steps usually necessary for obtaining ultrathin frozen sections of biological material (chemical prefixation, enclosing, cryoprotective treatment, freezing, sectioning, and post-staining the sections for transmission electron microscopy) are submitted to a critical analysis. The application of cryo-ultramicrotomy, in particularly for cytochemical purposes, is reviewed. Fundamental considerations of chemical prefixation and poststaining are supported by examples from yeast cytology. Furthermore, the efficiency of the cryo-ultramicrotomy (electron optical resolution of ultrastructural details) is demonstrated on yeast cells and protoplasts.