Immunocytochemical characterization of viruses and antigenic macromolecules in viral vaccines.

Gold immunolabeling combined with negative staining (GINS) provides a valuable immunocytochemical approach that allows a direct ultrastructural definition of all viral vaccine constituents that share common antigenic features with pathogenic viral particles. These results have implications for the development of viral vaccines since it has been demonstrated that incomplete viral particles such as natural empty capsides and Rotavirus-like particles lacking the infective genome are potential candidates for the production of neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore comparative results of the application of GINS to either inactivated vaccines or unfixed samples provide direct evidence that even after inactivation specific antigenic sites are still available for gold immunolabeling.

Cost effectiveness of transbronchial needle aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the yield and cost effectiveness of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) in the assessment of mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: A university hospital. POPULATION STUDIED: Ninety-six patients referred for bronchoscopy with computed tomographic evidence of significant mediastinal or hilar adenopathy. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patient records were reviewed. Three patients had two separate bronchoscopy procedures. TBNA was positive in 42 patients (44%) and negative in 54 patients. Of the 42 patients with a positive aspirate, 40 had malignant cytology and two had cells consistent with benign disease. The positive TBNA result altered management in 22 of 40 patients with malignant disease and one of two patients with benign disease, thereby avoiding further diagnostic procedures. The cost of these subsequent procedures was estimated at $27,335. No complications related to TBNA were documented. CONCLUSIONS: TBNA is a high-yield, safe and cost effective procedure for the diagnosis and staging of bronchogenic cancer.