Nuclear and cytoplasmic protein accumulation in pha-stimulated human lymphocytes during blastogenesis

A simple microplate assay for the determination of cellular protein

In assays of leukocyte function it is desirable to correlate a specific measurement, e.g., the release of enzymes, the production of metabolites or the secretion of cytokines with the amount of cellular material. Many authors use either the protein or the DNA content of the cells as a reference. Specific measurements of cellular activity are often expressed as a ratio of activity/protein or activity/DNA. This communication describes a dye-binding assay which allows the determination of total protein of the same cell sample which was first used for the quantitation of a specific cellular function. The microplate assay described is an adaptation of the Coomassie blue dye-binding assay without the need of a separate step to lyse the cells. The test is useful for both adherent and non-adherent cells and has a detection limit of less than 500 ng BSA or 5000 leukocytes.

The prognostic significance of different histomorphologic features in chondrosarcoma

Cellularity, mitotic rate and nuclear size were determined objectively in 47 chondrosarcomas. Grading was also performed, according to the systems of O'Neal and Ackerman and of Evans. The survival rate and incidence of metastases 10 years after diagnosis were calculated. The prognostic significance of the objectively determined cytological parameters was investigated. The accuracy of determination of these cytological parameters by grading (Evans) was also analyzed. Nuclear size seemed to be the best prognostic parameter, while cellularity appeared to be the strongest determinant for grading. Gross differences of nuclear size can be assessed visually, while more subtle, although prognostically significant, differences can only be determined by objective means. The results of this study indicate that the mere determination of nuclear size by objective means may give significant prognostic information, which is equal to, or even better than, conventional grading of chondrosarcoma.