Author and Title Index

Abstract

A rapid method of staining reticulin fibers in resin-embedded sections by ammoniacal silver nitrate is described. Microwaves are used to dry the tissue sections, to stimulate reaction with periodic acid, and to accelerate staining with silver nitrate. The procedure is rapid, simple and produces consistent results. (The J Histotechnol 12:289, 1989).     

Immunogold-Silver Staining Overview

Abstract

Silver stains are commonly used in histology laboratories to demonstrate a variety of tissue substances. With the passage of time. it has become evident that several of the chemicals used in silver stains, as well as silver compounds themselves, pose hazards to laboratory workers. Disposal of these chemicals also poses a problem.

This article briefly outlines some of the hazards of working with the chemicals used in silver stains. A comprehensive chemical hygiene plan, which must be developed for each laboratory, provides a standard operating procedure for working safely with chemicals. Material safety data sheets provide information on each chemical used in the laboratory and must be available. The use of several of the chemicals employed in silver stains is covered by Federal, state, and local laws. The state and local laws may be more stringent than the Federal laws. (The J Histotechnol 19:197, 1996)     

Biochemical Synthesis of Ag/AgCl Nanoparticles for Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Removal of Colored Dyes

Photocatalytic removal of organic pollution such as waste colored dyes was a promising technique for environment technique. However, effective photocatalysts were needed to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency. Ag/AgCl was regarded as high performance catalyst for photocatalytic degradation. Ag/AgCl nanoparticles were biochemically prepared with metabolin of living fungi which was used as reductant and characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Ag/AgCl nanoparticle composites showed spherical aggregation shape with an average size of about 3–5 nm which is well inside the quantum regime. The UV-visible study showed that Ag/AgCl nanoparticles had strong visible light absorption and exhibited excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance. Photocatalytic results indicated that the obtained Ag/AgCl nanoparticles were suitable for photocatalytic removal of RhB dye under visible light irradiation. The excellent photocatalytic activities could be attributed to the quantum size nanoparticles and the Plasmon resonance of Ag/AgCl composites.     

Efficacy of 1?% silver sulphadiazine dressings in preventing infection of external fixation pin-tracks: a randomized study

Pin-track infection (PTI) is a common complication of external fixation. Antimicrobial dressings of the pin-site interface should reduce the severity and incidence of PTI. This study is aimed at determining the efficacy of 1 % silver sulphadiazine dressings in preventing PTI in external fixation. We compared the incidence of PTI between group A (dry sterile gauze dressing) and group B (1 % silver sulphadiazine impregnated gauze dressing). PTI was diagnosed when there was: (1) redness around any pin-site, (2) tenderness near a pin-site and (3) serous or purulent discharge from the pin-skin interface. With infection, swab was obtained for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Pin-track infections were diagnosed in 22.5 and 4.1 % of patients in groups A and B, respectively. This difference was statistically significant. The commonest organism isolated from swabs was Staphyloccus aureus. In patients with external fixation, 1 % silver sulphadiazine lowered PTI. This further underlines the need for antimicrobial dressings of pin-sites. We recommend the use of 1 % silver sulphadiazine impregnated ribbon gauze for pin-site dressings.Level of evidence II.     

Synthesis of Silver Particle onto Bamboo Charcoal by Tripropylene Glycol and the Composites Characterization

In this study, tripropylene glycol was used as a reducting agent in the polyol process to reduce silver nitrate to the form of silver particles deposited onto the surface of bamboo charcoal (BC). The reduction temperature and time were critical parameters as they control the size of the silver particles formed as well as their distribution onto the surface of the BC. The reduction of silver nitrate by the tripropylene glycol occurred at a temperature of 120 °C for 3 h, and the silver particles, which had a face-centered cubic lattice structure, were distributed onto the surface of the BC. These synthesis conditions should work well with tripropylene glycol as reducing agent that can be helpful in the convenient preparation of Ag/BC particles. When Ag/BC powders were manufactured using 3 g of silver nitrate content, the prepared composites had the largest thermal conductivity at 0.2490 W/(m·K).     

Silver nanoparticle-embedded poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) hydrogel dressing: gamma-ray synthesis and biological evaluation

Silver nanoparticle (nAg)-embedded poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) hydrogels, to be used as antibacterial wound dressings, were prepared by γ-irradiation at various doses: 25, 35, and 45?kGy. The formation and characteristics of the silver nanoparticles were investigated with a UV–vis spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray. The hydrogels were characterized for physical and biological properties. Based on the antibacterial determination, the 1 and 5?mM nAg–embedded PVP hydrogels were effective, with 99.99% bactericidal activity at 12 and 6?h, respectively. The indirect cytotoxicity evaluation based on 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay indicated that both the neat and the nAg-embedded PVP hydrogels were non-toxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929). The 5?mM nAg-embedded PVP hydrogels not only provided a clean, moist environment for wound healing, but also effectively prevented bacterial infection and enhanced wound recovery.     

Evaluation of oxidative stress induction in rats following exposure to silver nanorods

The study investigated the oxidative stress induction by the 10 and 25?nm silver nanorods (SNRs) following intra-tracheal instillation in rats after 1?day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months post instillation periods at 1 and 5?mg/kg b.w. doses. The blood was withdrawn by retro orbital plexus method after exposure periods and different oxidative stress markers were estimated. The results showed that the both sizes of SNRs induced increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and depleted glutathione (GSH) levels after 1?day and 1 week post exposure periods. The 10 and 25?nm SNRs at both doses displayed that significantly reduced levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase following 1?day and 1 week post exposure periods. Also, the results have shown that decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of both sizes of SNRs significantly following 1?day and 1 week post exposure periods, indicating the oxidative stress induction by SNRs. In spite, there were no significant changes in oxidative stress markers following 1 month and 3 months post exposure periods may be due to recovery. The increased levels of MDA and decreased levels of GSH, SOD, catalase and TAC activity are strongly associated to ROS production and lipid peroxidation, suggesting the induction of oxidative stress in rats. The 10?nm SNRs at 5?mg/kg b.w. dose exposures in rats have shown greater changes in all oxidative stress parameters, indicating the greater induction of oxidative stress when compared with the 25?nm SNRs, representing the size–dose-dependent induction of oxidative stress of SNRs.     

Cytotoxicity of aged cadmium-telluride quantum dots to rainbow trout hepatocytes

The purpose of this study was to examine the lethal and sublethal toxicity of cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (Q-dots) in primary cultures of rainbow trout hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were exposed to concentrations of positively coated and aged (2 months and 2 years) Q-dots for 48 h at 15°C. Post treatment, cellular analysis was done of cell viability, lipid peroxidation (LPO), DNA damage, metallothioneins (MT), labile zinc/cadmium and heat shock proteins (chaperones). Q-dots were found to be toxic to fish hepatocytes at a threshold concentration of 0.1 mg/l. These nanoparticles increased the levels of MT, labile zinc, DNA strand breaks and heat shock proteins of the 70 kDa family. The strongest response was observed with the molecular chaperone of the 70 kDa family, reaching a 7-fold induction in exposed cells. Overall, the assessment of multiple biomarkers in trout hepatocytes exposed to differently ‘aged’ Q-dots suggests that the cytotoxic responses to two-year-old positively coated CdTe Q-dots were largely due to the liberation of Cd²⁺.     

Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Textile Heating Fabric Based on Silver Coated Polymeric Yarn

This paper presents a study conducted on the thermo-mechanical properties of knitted structures, the methods of manufacture, effect of contact pressure at the structural binding points, on the degree of heating. The test results also present the level of heating produced as a function of the separation between the supply terminals. The study further investigates the rate of heating and cooling of the knitted structures. The work also presents the decay of heating properties of the yarn due to overheating. Thermal images were taken to study the heat distribution over the surface of the knitted fabric. A tensile tester having constant rate of extension was used to stretch the fabric. The behavior of temperature profile of stretched fabric was observed. A comparison of heat generation by plain, rib and interlock structures was studied. It was observed from the series of experiments that there is a minimum threshold force of contact at binding points of a knitted structure is required to pass the electricity. Once this force is achieved, stretching the fabric does not affect the amount of heat produced.