c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression in primary human tumors

Using a specific antiserum (21N) to the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, a total of 405 primary malignant human tumors arising in the breast (n = 191), lung (n = 110), colon/rectum (n = 23), bladder (n = 48), prostate (n = 23), and skin (n = 10) were stained immunohistochemically to detect those tumors that over-expressed this putative transmembrane receptor. Malignant cells showed intense positivity for this oncoprotein in 17% of the breast carcinomas, 4% of the colorectal tumors, 2% of the bladder tumors, and 1% of the nonsmall cell lung carcinomas. No positive staining was evident in the prostate, skin, or small cell lung carcinomas. This study shows that over-expression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein is common in breast cancer but relatively rare in the other malignancies studied. In addition, this oncoprotein can be identified readily in routine paraffin-embedded tissue.

c-erB-2 oncoprotein expression in malignant and nonmalignant breast tissue

Using a specific polyclonal antibody (21N) to the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, a total of 200 primary breast carcinomas of various histological types and 46 benign breast lesions, were immunohistochemically stained, to identify those tissues over-expressing this putative transmembrane receptor. Positivity for this oncoprotein was evident as an intense brown granular staining predominantly located at the cell membrane and was present in 17% (n = 34) of the primary breast carcinomas investigated. With the exception of one case of apocrine metaplasia, none of the remaining benign breast samples (n = 45) were positive for this oncoprotein. This study shows that overexpression of the c-erb B-2 oncoprotein is easily identifiable and can be detected on paraffin embedded sections using an immunohistochemical technique. The results obtained correlate well with other c-erbB2 detection systems and in addition, positivity for this oncoprotein is mostly confined to the malignant phenotype.

FDA's Factored Food Vocabulary for food product description

The Food and Drug Administration's Factored Food Vocabulary (FFV) uses standardized language to describe characteristics of food products that are important for food safety and nutritional quality. Each food product is described by a set of descriptors from the following factors: product type; food source; part of plant or animal; physical state, shape, or form; degree of preparation; cooking method; treatment applied; preservation method; packing medium; container or wrapping; food contact surface; and user group. The purpose of the vocabulary is to facilitate retrieval of food composition, food consumption, food contamination, and other food-related data relative to these factors. The major advantages of this system are flexibility with specificity, enhanced searchability with economy, and ease of change and updating.

Initial Studies on a Method of Algal Assay for Nutrient Parameters in Water

A bioassay technique was outlined for estimating the impact of supplementation of the nutrients carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus on algal growth. One of the main problems was the monitoring of algal growth using lengthy techniques of chlorophyll extraction with acetone. An alternative system involving filtration and reflectometric readings at 600 nm is described and found to be satisfactory when five readings were taken per filtered disk.