ABSTRACT
A total of 390 body cavity fluids were analyzed by both cytopathologic examination and flow cytometric DNA analysis. The two methods gave compatible results in analyses of 304 fluids (78%). In 24 patients, cytopathologic studies found the specimens to contain malignant cells, but the DNA content was diploid. This illustrates an area where flow cytometric studies do not extend tumor detection. In 56 fluids from 48 patients, cytologic methods revealed no malignant cells but flow cytometry distinguished aneuploid cell populations; additional clinical information allowed the identification of malignant tumors in 24 (50%) of these patients. Because flow cytometry was able to detect aneuploidy in cases where conventional cytologic examination could not detect malignant cells, the number of patients with tumors detected was increased by 39% beyond those detected by cytologic methods alone in this series.
Subject(s)
Body Fluids/cytology , DNA, Neoplasm/analysis , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Aneuploidy , Body Fluids/analysis , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/pathology , Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnosis , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Ploidies , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Sera from eight patients with either septicemia or pyothorax caused by Bacteroides fragilis were assayed for specific antibody by the agglutination, immunofluorescence, and agar gel diffusion techniques. Antibodies were detected in the sera of all eight patients by all three serological tests employed; titers as high as 1:160 and 1:320 were detected by the agglutination test and the immunofluorescence technique, respectively, and all patients had precipitating antibody. Failure of B. fragilis sub-species thetaiotaomicron to react with any heterologous antisera from the other seven patients infected with B. fragilis subspecies fragilis thetaiotaomicron was not serologically related to any of the other strains studied. Demonstration of an immune response to anaerobic infection supported the pathogenesis of anaerobes in infectious disease processes and indicated the possible diagnostic role that serological tests may serve in the diagnosis of anaerobic infections in humans.
Subject(s)
Antibody Formation , Bacteroides Infections/immunology , Bacteroides/immunology , Adult , Aged , Agglutination Tests , Anaerobiosis , Antibodies, Bacterial , Antigens, Bacterial/isolation & purification , Bacteriological Techniques , Blood/microbiology , Empyema/immunology , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Humans , Immunodiffusion , Male , Middle Aged , Pleural Effusion/microbiology , Precipitins/analysis , Sepsis/immunology , Species Specificity , Thoracic Diseases/immunologyABSTRACT
The serological response in burros and horses to the viable LVS strain of Pasteurella tularensis was studied. High-titered agglutinating antisera and fluorescent-antibody conjugates were obtained in both groups of animals. Maximum titers were obtained in horses 14 to 21 days after the start of vaccination and in burros 21 to 28 days after the start of vaccination. The use of Woodhour's adjuvants or booster inoculations did not result in increased titers.
