2011 ASCP Annual Meeting/WASPaLM XXVI World Congress

OCTOBER 19-22 LAS VEGAS
The Venetian-Palazzo Resort Hotel Casinos
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: President Bill Clinton, October 19, Wednesday, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Register online by September 30 http://www.ascp.org/2011annualmeeting

FW: Photos taken in Chicago

From: lib

To:
Subject: Photos taken in Chicago
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:37:47 -0500

@ Tina

Thanks for forwarding! I did not see these photos shown in any Chicago newspapers or maybe missed seeing them since I don't buy newspapers and magazines.  I think tea party members are very helpful in shaping out the political systems and a strong force in changing the political make up in Washington.  In the November election next year, all tea party endorsed candidates and responsible Republicans that were elected to Congress in the mid-term election of 2010 should be re-elected.  These are good people and they love to turn around what's been messed up by the Obama Administration.  I love the tea party - they do good things for the common good not to the liberal elites.

---

Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 05:26:21 -0400
From: edandtina
Subject: Photos taken in Chicago]
To:

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ACID FAST BACTERIA

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ALT CULTURE CLUB TOPIC

ACID FAST BACILLI

ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION

Acid Fast Bacilli are those that do not stain readily but once stained will resist decolorization with acid alcohol.  They occur as single bacilli or in small irregular clumps, sometimes beaded or pleomorphic in stained smears.  The group includes numerous organism pathogenic for man, the most important of which is Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The presence of acid fast bacilli (AFB) does not identify M. tuberculosis since the stain will not differentiate pathogenic from non-pathogenic strains.  Direct microscopic examination often makes possible and early presumptive diagnosis and gives information as to the numbers of acid fast bacilli as well as the presence of other agents and evidence of disease.  Concentrate or direct smear of sputum, spinal or other body fluids including catheterized urine, and homogenized tissue material or impression slides are satisfactory specimens for smear.  The presence of non-pathogenic acid fast bacilli in gastric content or in voided urine make direct smears difficult to interpret.

Generally, acid fast bacilli from sputum nearly always represent tubercle bacilli, but this is not true for smears from gastric washings or urine specimens.  Smegma bacillus are occasionally encountered in urine.  Acid fast organisms have been found in tap and "distilled" water.  Cultural methods should be employed to demonstrate the presence of tubercle bacilli since this technique is recommended for diagnosis of tuberculosis.

The tubercle bacillus is capable of attacking and altering nearly all tissue of the body.  Thus any available secretion, excretion, body fluid or tissue from a tuberculosis patient may become a specimen for laboratory test.  Many media have been described for the cultivation of M. tuberculosis.  The composition of these media vary widely although most of them use coagulated egg as a base.  Media with selective agents are generally employed for the primary growth of these organism from pathological material.  After a concentration and digestion procedure to destroy other common bacteria, the selected culture media (Lowenstein, Middlebrook and Dubos) are inoculated and incubated at 35 C to 37 C and room temperature, for 6 to 8 weeks with examination for growth at irregular intervals (reading in 2-3 days to weekly).  Colonial characteristics and growth rate of M. tuberculosis and other acid fast organisms when grown on solid egg media such as ATS (American Trudeau Society), Lowenstein or Petragnani, are such as to often make it possible to recognize non-pathogenic acid fast organisms.

Colonies of human tubercle bacilli are 8-12 mm in diameter following an incubation period (depending on concentration numbers of AFB, if many, growth as early as 3 ? to 4 weeks).  They are granular, rough, dry, worty, friable and easily detached from the surface of the medium but emulsify with difficulty.  Bovine tubercle bacilli require a much longer incubation period, 3 to 6 weeks, and form small, pale, smooth, pyrimidal colonies which adhere to the surface of the medium and emulsify readily.  Avian types develop hemispherical colonies, pale yellow or grey in color depending on the media used, after 2 - 3 weeks incubation and slightly larger than colonies of bovine types.  Acid fast saprophytes generally form pigmented colonies after several days incubation and will grow well at room temperature.  Such colonies are soft, creamy, and usually smooth.

TYPES

M. tuberculosis variants:

1.  Human
2.  Bovine
3.  Avian

Mycobacterium Other Than Tuberculosis (MOTT)

1.  Photochromogens (Group I)
2.  Scotochromogens (Group II)
3.  Non-Photochromogens (Group III)
4.  Rapid Growers (Group IV)

BIOCHEMICAL TESTS

Catalase:
M. tb and variants   (+)
MOTT (+++)

Auramine disc:

M.tb and variants  (+)

Groups I, II, III  (+/-)

Rapid Growers (-)

Niacin:

M.tb var. human (+)

M.tb var. bovine (-)

M.tb var. avian (-)

MOTT (-)

ANIMAL PATHOGENICITY

Mouse:  M.tb var. human, bovine, avian (+); MOTT - Photochromogen (+); Scotochromogen (-); Non-Photochromogen (+, some -); Rapid Growers (-, some +) 

Guinea pig: M.tb (+); M.tb var. avian (-); MOTT (-)

Rabbit:  M.tb var. human, bovine, avian (+); MOTT (-)

Fowl: M.tb var. human, bovine (-); M.tb var. avian (+); MOTT (-)

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ISM FALL MEETING PASTEUR AWARD: NOVEMBER 1, 2011

Illinois Society for Microbiology

Fall Meeting

And

Presentation of the 64th Annual Pasteur Award

PROGRAM

"Small Microbes

BIG IMPACT"

• HIV - 30th Anniversary
• Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli
• Viral Hepatitis: A New Landscape for Control & Cure
• Viral Case Studies
• 2011 Service Awards
• Pasteur Award Presentation
• Virology Through the Years

PASTEUR AWARD HONORS

MICHAEL COSTELLO, Ph.D

Mike graduated with BS in Biology from Northern Illinois University (1973), attended Holy Cross Hospital's Medical Technology program (1974).  He then worked as a medical technologist and supervisor in Hematology at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL (1974-1976).  He worked part-time in Hematology and Immunology at Rush while attending the University of Illinois and later Rush University for his Ph.D. in Immunology (1982).  Mike then was employed at Lutheran General Hospital as Technical Director of Immunovirology and Microbiology.  In 1997 he was appointed Technical Director of the Esoteric Testing Center serving the newly created Advocate Healthcare System.  In 2003 he was selected as Technical Director of Microbiology for ACL Laboratories.  Mike is past President of ISM (2003-2005) and currently a member of ASCP QM Clinical Pathology Expert Review Panel and a member of Infectious Disease Committees for both Advocate and Aurora Healthcare Systems.

Attachment: Fall 2011 Brochure FINAL 9-12-11.pdf

Open BioWatch position

 ADVERT

*** Open Position ***

Molecular Biologist

Location: Illinois Department of Public Health, 2121 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612 Clearance Level Needed: U.S. Citizenship or Green Card Holder. Individual selected will be subject to a background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to sensitive information. POSITION DESCRIPTION: This position will be responsible for performing non-research molecular testing to rapidly identify and characterize potential pathogenic bacterial and viral threat agents. Ensure incoming biological samples are processed and triaged maintaining chain of custody. Perform and interprets variety of specialized tests and strains, detection, and identification of pathogenic microorganisms. Prepare written and oral reports, answer questions, troubleshoot and make recommendations to the supervisor for inclusion in comprehensive reports on test findings. Maintain and operate equipment including performing calibrations, adjustments, and to operate equipment and instruments properly and in a safe manner. Participate in cross training related to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. Additionally, will be responsible for maintaining knowledge and skills related to position and program and to carry out all procedures in accordance to proper handling and storage of various biological materials. Individual must be available 24/7/365 to respond in case of emergency. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in microbiology, molecular biology, or related course work in biological sciences, and at least one year of postgraduate laboratory bench experience, utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, aseptic techniques, and biological assays. Alternatively, at least four (4) years of equivalent biological laboratory bench experience is acceptable. If interested, please submit your resume to: Brent.Chyna@illinois.gov

METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION

ALT CULTURE CLUB TOPIC

BACTERIOLOGY

METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION

The main concern in clinical bacteriology is the rapid and correct identification of pathogenic bacteria.  Identification of the genus of a microorganism should be sufficient in many instances so that treatment is not delayed.  Before studying any culture, it is important to know something about the growth requirements of the organism.  But first, one must know the origin of the submitted specimen so that it can be inoculated in proper media.  If the organism that is to be identified does not grow in ordinary media, it requires the complete absence of oxygen or of organic matter (or has other special requirements).  Organisms that grow on ordinary media, methods must be varied according to whether the organism grow better in liquid or in solid medium and to low or high temperature.  An organism may grow well on first isolation but in some instances cultures maybe adapted to the media used for routine testing of cultural properties through a series of transfers.  There are different sets of conditions that will suit practically most bacteria, liquid and solid media at 37 C and at 21 C - 25 C.  There are other organisms which require special growth requirement such as thermophilic bacteria like Campylobacter species.

Identification can be made by five general methods in clinical bacteriology:

1.  Direct smear

• 
  
  Gram stain


• 
  
  Acid fast stain


• 
  
  Fluorescent stain


• 
  
  Special stain

2.  Cultural methods

Solid media method:

• 
  
  Streak plate - to isolate the organism in pure culture - most commonly used are Blood Agar Plate (BAP), MacConkey (MAC), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB), Chocolate (CHOC), Hektoen (H), and Salmonella-Shigella (SS), Sabouraud agar (SAB) with or without antibiotics, Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ), and Middlebrook 7H10.


• 
  
  Pour plate - to quantitate bacterial count in urine and blood


• 
  
  Streak pour plate - to study hemolysis

Liquid media:

The inoculum is transferred by means of a sterilize loop or by directly inoculating the swab into the liquid.  Wound specimens are inoculated into Thioglycollate broth (THIO); fecal specimen or rectal swab are inoculated in Selenite F broth (SF).

Incubation:

After the specimen has been properly inoculated, incubation should be done.  Cultures for aerobic organisms growing best at body temperature are placed in an incubator which maintains a uniform temperature of 35 C - 37 C.  Cultures for anaerobic organsims are placed in an anaerobe jar and incubated at 35 C - 37 C for 24 to 48 hours before opening the jar.  Cultures to be grown in an atmosphere of 10% CO2 are placed in CO2 incubator at 35 C - 37 C or in candle jar.  Cultures for fungi are grown at room temperature and incubator (35 C - 37 C) temperature.  Most cultures are examined after 24 hours or 18 hours is enough.

3.  Identification of bacteria

Solid Media:

• 
  
  Colony characteristic - dry, mucoid, moist, rough, smooth, stippled, translucent, opaque, flat, elevated, shape of edges, swarming or spreading, satellite phenomenon and color.


• 
  
  Odor produced - grapelike odor (Pseudomonas), mousey (Hemophilus), gun powdery (Proteus), fecal (Escherichia).


• 
  
  Zone of hemolysis - Streptococci (alpha, beta, gamma); Pneumococci and Staphylococci may produce hemolysis.

Subculture:

In identifying Staphylococci, coagulase and mannitol tests are done.

Green hemolysis - Alpha Streptococci is differentiated from Pneumococci by Optochin disc.  Optochin inhibits Pneumococci.

Clear hemolysis - Beta Streptococci Group A are differentiated from Group B, C, and D by its susceptibility to Bacitracin disc.  Group B Streptococci by CAMP test - method developed by Australian researchers.

No hemolysis - Group D Streptococci (Enterococci) are positive in Streptococcus faecalis (SF) medium with acid reaction.

Neisseria spp. - a dark purple color in 5-10 seconds is positive for oxidase test (tetramethylparaphenyldiamine dihydrochloride).  Other positive organisms are Pseudomonas, Mima, Herellea

Urine colony count:

Over 100,000 org/ml - indicative of urinary tract infection (UTI)

10,000 - 100,000 org/ml

1,000 - 10,000 org/ml

100 - 1,000 org/ml

No Growth (NG)

Liquid cultures:

Examine for turbidity, sediment, arrangement of colonies (floating, snowflake, chains), pellicle formation on surface, color development, gas and odor production, homogenous. 

Biochemical reactions:

• 
  
  Triple Sugar Iron agar (TSI)


• 
  
  IMVIC - Indole, Methyl-Red, Voges Proskauer, Simmon-Citrate


• 
  
  Motility tests - observe growth in or along the stab line.


• 
  
  Gelatin liquefaction - make a gelatin stab, incubate and observe for rapid, slow or progressive liquefaction.  The Salmonella Arizona group liquefy gelatin.


• 
  
  Other biochemical tests are amino acids and sugars: Lysine decarboxylase, phenylalanine deaminase, lactose, sucrose, mannitol, dulcitol, salicin, adonitol and inositol.

4.  Serologic identification

Based on the fact that flagellate bacteria possess not only a thermostable somatic O antigen but also thermolabile H antigen.  Non-flagellate bacteria contain only the O antigen.  A third antigen which is the Vi antigen in peripheral body is thermolabile in contrast to O antigen.  It may interfere with agglutination of freshly isolated bacteria by anti-O sera. 

The majority of Salmonella in the United States contain O antigen and can be identified by polyvalent O antisera.  If positive agglutination occurs, proceed further to identify the group to which the organism belongs by using individual Salmonella O antisera Group A, B, C, and the other sera.  If the culture reacts with Salmonella poly O antiserum, but does not react with the specific group, it should be checked with Vi antiserum.  No agglutination Vi means the culture is not of genus Salmonella.  If it reacts with Vi, it should be boiled for 30 minutes and cooled.  The culture should be retested with the individual O antisera and Vi antiserum.  If it does not react with Salmonella Vi antiserum but reacts with Salmonella O antiserum (Group D), it is most likely Salmonella typhi and this is confirmed using H antiserum Group d and unheated culture.

Typing of Shigella is more simply done than in the serological identification of Salmonella.  Screening is carried out with polyvalent sera (A, B, C, D group).  The technique is similar to Salmonella.

If Escherichia coli is found in infants, it is typed for known enteropathogenic serotypes of E.coli.

5.  Identification by animal inoculation

Animals are used not only as an aid in the isolation of some bacteria in pure culture but also for the study of the pathology of infectious disease.  The maintenance by animal passage of infectious agents, viruses, which can't be cultivated in media.  The animals generally used are guinea pigs, rabbits, white mice and rats and in special cases: rhesus monkeys.  The common routes of inoculation are intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, and intravenous.  Other routes are intraocular,, intracerebral and intrathecal.  Inoculation is carried with a syringe and sterile hypodermic needle.  The site of inoculation is prepared by removal of hair by shaving and cleansed with alcohol and tincture of iodine.  The post mortem examination is determined by the particular disease under consideration, if this is not known, by the symptoms exhibited by the animal before death.  Precaustion must be observed in autopsy of the sacrificed animal.  If cultures are to be taken, fresh sterile instruments are used.  Care must be taken to avoid disseminating infectious material, in highly contagious disease, such as tularemia.  Instruments once used should be discarded or allowed to stand in a solution of lysol or cresol.  Aseptic precautions must be exercised for infections of laboratory workers are not infrequent.

NEXT TOPIC: ANTIBIOTICS

 

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Published  9/16/11  altgroup multiply

Web Page:  METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION

STAINS OF IMPORTANCE BACTERIOLOGY

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ALT CULTURE CLUB TOPIC

BACTERIOLOGY

STAINS OF IMPORTANCE

Cells of bacteria are colorless and usually transparent and to observe their morphology in natural state is difficult to obtain with any degree of accuracy.  Men like Robert Koch and Paul Erhlich were the first ones who developed the early methods of fixing and staining bacteria.  Example of dyes used then was aniline (coal tar dye).  Affinity for nucleic material is called basic and for cytoplasmic component, acidic.
The preparation of smear, which is done by spreading the bacteria over the glass slide surface, is usually the first step in routine staining procedures.  Bacterial colony is emulsified in saline or distilled water to form a homogenous suspension.  Vigorous mixing and spreading may produce aerosols and besides, may destroy the morphology and characteristic arrangement of the cells.  The smear is air-dried and then fixed gently by passing thru a Bunsen flame or Bacticinerator with attached slide holder.  Allow the slide to cool.
There are different staining procedures but most commonly and routinely used are the Gram stain method for gram positive and gram negative bacteria and acid fast stain.  Another method is the fluorescent stain.
Gram stain reagents:
1.  Gentian violet
2.  Gram iodine
3.  Acetone-alcohol
4.  Safranin
Gram positive bacteria are stained purple
Gram negative bacteria are stained red
Acid fast stain reagents:
1.  Carbol-fuschin DSMO
2.  Acid alcohol
3.  Methylene blue
Acid fast bacilli are stained pink (against a blue background)
Other special staining procedures:
1.  Capsule stain - capsule of bacteria does not have the affinity for dyes.  India ink for Cryptococcus capsules is seen under the microscope against a black background.  In the Anthony method the cells and its background are stained but not the capsule and the surrounding envelope is seen by contrast.
2.  Staining of metachromatic granules - Methylene blue stain and Albert stain (for differential) for Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
3.  Staining of yeasts and fungi - wet mounts of yeast can be stained with methylene blue or Gram iodine; fungus spores and mycelia identification using Lacto Phenol Cotton Blue (LPCB) stain.
4.  Spore stain - Dorner method is used in which equal volume of carbol-fuschin is added to a heavy suspension of the organism and then boiled.  The spores are stained red while the rest of the bacterial cells are colorless.
5.  Conjunctival scrapings - Wright-Giemsa method is used.
6.  Fluorescent stain -  fluorescent dyes, such as auramine and rhodamine, are used.  Examination under fluorescence microscopy will show acid fast bacilli, when present, with an orange to red color.
Most commonly used stains are: Gentian or crystal violet, safranin, basic fuschin, methylene blue, Bismark brown and also malachite green.

NEXT TOPIC: METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION

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COLLECTION AND HANDLING OF SPECIMENS IN MICROBIOLOGY

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ALT CULTURE CLUB TOPIC

MICROBIOLOGY

COLLECTION AND HANDLING SPECIMENS

Generally, a bacteriology report can indicate only what has been found by microscopic and cultural examination.  An etiological diagnosis is thus confirmed or denied.  Failure to isolate the causative organism, is not necessarily the fault of inadequate technical methods.  It is frequently the result of faulty collecting technique.

The following are general considerations regarding the collection of material for culture:
1.  Whenever possible, specimens should be obtained before antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents have been administered.  A purulent spinal fluid will reveal no bacterial pathogens on smear or culture when an antibiotic has been given within the previous 24 hours.  Also, in a patient with salmonellosis will invariably show a negative stool culture if the specimen has been collected while the patient was receiving suppressive antibacterial therapy, only to reveal a positive culture several days after the therapy has been terminated.
2.  If the culture has been taken after the initiation of antibiotics, the laboratory should be informed, so that specific inhibitory measures, such as adding penicillinase, or merely diluting the specimen may be carried out.
3.  The material should be collected where the suspected organism is most likely to be found, and with as little external contamination as possible.  This is particularly true of draining lesions containing coagulase positive staphylococci - in which the phage typing of the primary infecting strain is different from that of a surface contact strain which may grow out.
4.  The stage of the disease at which the specimen is collected for culture.  Examples, enteric pathogens are present in much greater number during acute or diarrheal stage of intestinal infections.  Viruses responsible for causing meningoencephalitis are isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with greater frequency when the fluid is obtained during the onset of the disease rather than at a time when the symptom of acute illness have subsided.
5.  With regards to the patient, he or she should have full instructions, and his or her cooperation should be encouraged by the technician or ward attendant.
6.  Specimens should be of a quantity sufficient to permit complete examination.
7.  The specimen should be placed in sterile containers that precludes subsequent contamination of patient, nurse or the technician who will do the examination.
8.  Provision must be made for prompt delivery of specimens to the laboratory.
9.  Addition of preservatives is not advisable.
10.  Proper identification or labels in the proper container.
11.  The specimen should be place to its proper media immediately.

SPECIMENS FOR CULTURE
1.  Throat and nasopharyngeal
2.  CSF
3.  Urine
4.  Sputum
5.  Skin - lesions, wounds, exudates
6.  Blood
7.  Ear - mastoid, sinuses, antrum
8.  Eye - conjunctiva
9.  Urethral, vaginal, prostatic
10.  Stool
11.  Gastric washing
12.  Surgical tissues
13.  Fungi - skin, hair, nail

There may be occasions when it is necessary to submit specimens to a reference laboratory in a distant place.  Thus requiring shipment by mail or express.  In virus containing material, such as CSF, stools, tissue, throat, the specimen should be frozen and shipped in dry ice.  Whole blood is not frozen.  Rather, the serum is separated and sent in sterile tube.  Freezing and thawing would result in extensive hemolysis, rendering the serum unsatisfactory.  If culture slant of an isolated organism (i.e., AFB culture for complete identification) is to be sent, postal regulations require that they be shipped in glass container stored with leakproof rubber stopper.  The glass container is then completely wrapped in absorbent packing material placed in a cylindrical sheet metal box.  Double mailing containers should always be used when the specimen is considered a biohazard.

NEXT TOPIC: STAINS OF IMPORTANCE

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HISTORY OF BACTERIOLOGY

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ALT CULTURE CLUB TOPIC

HISTORY OF BACTERIOLOGY

The history of bacteriology can be traced long before the microscopes were invented.  That man suspected the presence of organism so minute to be seen by the naked eye and their effects like putrefaction of foods, fermentation of sugars, and diseases like TB and leprosy, the causes of which were unexplainable then, that is, until the invention of lenses and microscopes.

Three periods of development:

1.  1865  Very few facts are accumulated

2.  1865 - 1882  Foundation of modern sciences

3.  1882 up to present time  More knowledge are found

Microbe researcher Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723) constructed a simple microscope and he was able to find small animalcules.  There's a disagreement in books if he did report or did not report this important discovery.  Thus, the science of microbiology became dormant for almost 150 years until other research-minded biologists like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch gave the necessary impetus.  The perfection of the substage condenser by Ernst Abbe made the study of microorganism more possible.  A German botanist, Ferdinand Cohn (1828 - 1898) compiled the first orderly arrangement of bacterial classification as members of the plant kingdom.  Having developed the necessary instrument, biologists were confronted about the "origin" of life of one-celled organisms.  This led to the theory of spontaneous generation or abiogenesis.  Aristotle believed that animals could arise spontaneously from non-living things.  One of the early investigators was John Needham who believed that a "productive" or "vegetative" force was responsible for the generation of living matters.  A few tried to disprove this theory.  Pasteur disproved the theory of spontaneous generation and the theory about fermentation.  Scientists at the time thought fermentation was a chemical process but Pasteur stressed that bacteria were the direct cause of fermentation.  During his studies, he also discovered anarobic bacteria.

Robert Koch (1843 - 1910), a German scientist, developed the methods of making smears on glass slides and then staining them with dyes.  Also, he used culture media for growth of bacteria.  This brought to another vital concept about the etiology of disease.  Worth mentioning was the Italian physician, Fracastorius, who postulated that microorganism causes disease by contact.  Marcus von Plenciz put the new concept that not only diseases were caused by microorganism but each disease was caused by a specific bacteria capable of being transmitted to other individuals thru the air.  The Koch's Postulates:
1.  The suspected organism is associated with the disease.
2.  Isolation of the organism in pure culture.
3.  Inoculation of the organism into healthy animal.
4.  The same organism must be reisolated from the animal.
5.  The same disease is produced.

Other scientists like Edward Jenner originated immunization and demonstrated the effectiveness of vaccine taken from cowpox for the prevention of smallpox; Joseph Lister demonstrated aseptic technic in surgical operations; and Louis Pasteur developed treatment for rabies.

NEXT TOPIC: COLLECTION AND HANDLING OF SPECIMENS

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Secret Service and our Presidents.

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  Secrets no more!

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From: ltumang
Subject: FW: Secret Service and our Presidents.
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:41:17 -0500

---

This is most interesting.    This is one of the most informative emails I have ever received.  Just goes to show that someday, someone will tell something previously unknown about us either to our benefit or to our detriment.  If true, this just proves what I had already felt about most of these people.  Here are snippets from a book of "Impressions & Observations" of Secret Service personnel assigned to guard U.S. Presidents/First Ladies, and Vice Presidents. John and Jacqueline Kennedy: A philanderer of the highest order. She ordered the kitchen help to save all the left-over wine during State dinner, which mixed with fresh wine and served again during the next White House occasion. Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson: Another philanderer of the highest order. In addition, LBJ was as crude as the day is long. Both JFK and LBJ kept a lot of women in the White House for extramarital affairs, and both had set up "early warning systems" to alert them if/when their wives were nearby. Both Kennedy & Johnson were promiscuous and oversexed men. She was either naive or just pretended to "not know" about her husband's many liaisons. Richard and Pat Nixon: A "moral" man but very odd and weird, paranoid, etc. He had horrible relationship with his family, and in a way, was almost a recluse. She was quiet most of the time. Spiro Agnew: Nice, decent man, everyone in the Secret Service was surprised about his downfall. Gerald and Betty Ford: A true gentlemen who treated the Secret Service with respect and dignity. He had a great sense of humor. She drank a lot! Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter: A complete phony who would portray one picture of himself to public and very different in private, e.g., would be shown carrying his own luggage, but the suit cases were always empty; he kept empty ones just for photo op's. Wanted the people to see him as pious and a non-drinker, but he and his family drank alcohol a lot. He had disdain for the Secret Service, and was very irresponsible with the "football" nuclear codes He didn't think it was a big deal and would keep military aides at a great distance. Often does not acknowledge the presence of Secret Service personnel assigned to serve him. She mostly did her own thing. Ronald and Nancy Reagan: The real deal --- moral, honest, respectful, and dignified. They treated Secret Service and everyone else with respect and honor. Thanked everyone all the time. He took the time to know everyone on a personal level. One "favorite" story which has circulated among the Secret Service personnel was an incident early in his Presidency, when he came out of his room with a pistol tucked on his hip. The agent in charge asked: "Why the pistol, Mr. President?" He replied, "In case you boys can't get the job done, I can help." It was common for him to carry a pistol. When he met with Gorbachev, he had a pistol in his briefcase. Upon learning that Gary Hart was caught with Donna Rice, Reagan said, "Boys will be boys, but boys will not be Presidents." [He obviously either did not know or forgot JFK's and LBJ's sexcapades!] She was very nice but very protective of the President; and the Secret Service was often caught in the middle. She tried hard to control what the President ate, and he would say to the agent "Come on, you gotta help me out." The Reagans drank wine during State dinners and special occasions only; otherwise, they shunned alcohol; the Secret Service could count on one hand the times they were served wine during their "family dinner". For all the fake bluster of the Carters, the Reagans were the ones who lived life as genuinely moral people. George H. and Barbara Bush: Extremely kind and considerate Always respectful. Took great care in making sure the agents' comforts were taken care of. They even brought them meals, etc. One time Barbara Bush brought warm clothes to agents standing outside at Kennebunkport; one agent who was given a warm hat, and when he tried to nicely say "no thanks" even though he was obviously freezing, President Bush said "Son, don't argue with the First Lady, put the hat on.." He was the most prompt of the Presidents. He ran the White House like a well-oiled machine. She ruled the house and spoke her mind. Bill and Hillary Clinton: Presidency was one giant party. Not trustworthy --- he was nice because he wanted everyone to like him, but to him life is just one big game and party. Everyone knows of his sexuality. She is another phony. Her personality would change the instant cameras were near. She hated with open disdain the military and Secret Service. She was another one who felt people are there to serve her. She was always trying to keep tabs on Bill Clinton. Albert Gore: An egotistical ass, who was once overheard by his Secret Service detail lecturing his only son that he needed to do better in school or he "would end up like these guys" --- pointing to the agents. George W. and Laura Bush: The Secret Service loved him and Laura Bush. He was also the most physically "in shape" who had a very strict workout regimen. The Bushes made sure their entire administrative and household staff understood to respect and be considerate of the Secret Service. Karl Rove was the one who was the most caring of the Secret Service in the administration. She was one of the nicest First Ladies, if not the nicest; she never had any harsh word to say about anyone. Barack & Michelle Obama: " Clinton all over again" - hates the military and looks down on the Secret Service. He is egotistical and cunning; looks you in the eye and appears to agree with you, but turns around and does the opposite---untrustworthy. He has temper tantrums. She is a complete bitch, who hates anybody who is not black; hates the military; and looks at the Secret Service as servants.

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Scotland with music

POWERPOINT SLIDE
Note: The Loch Ness Monster, lovingly called "Nessie" by the folks, is hiding.  Shy Scottish icon.

Attachment: Scotland with music.pps

Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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ADVERT:  POST FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST

---

From: gottsch345@nethere.com
CC: kimberly.baker@mblintl.com
Subject: FW: Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:07:07 -0500


.-

Employment opportunity: Forwarded on behalf of MBL Bion

From: Kimberly Baker [mailto:kimberly.baker@MBLINTL.COM]
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 11:30 AM
To: Gottsch345@nethere.com
Subject: Clinical Laboratory Scientist

We are currently in the process of looking for a Clinical Laboratory Scientist to work in our Des Plaines office.

Requirements:

BS or BA in a Biological Science, 2 years experience in clinical laboratory science or closely related field preferred.  MT(ASCP) preferred.

Kimberly Baker

Human Resource Generalist

MBL Bion

455 State Street

Des Plaines, IL  60016

Phone: 847-544-5044

Fax: 847-544-5051

MBL Bion is part of MBL International Corporation

___________________________________________________________

This e-mail is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  Electronic communications are not intended to constitute offer or acceptance and that any agreement must be reduced to a document manually signed by the parties.  If you receive this message in error, please contact the sender.

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9/11: REMEMBERING ALWAYS

 

SEPTEMBER 11

2001 - 2011

God Bless America

Not Forgetting 9/11

SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

NEW YORK PENNSYLVANIA WASHINGTON D.C.

A commemoration of a very sad day

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL

PEACE & BLESSINGS

Gossip

The Story of St. Philip Neri and the "Gossip Girl" in Video

Source: Stories and Parables for Preachers and Teachers

by Paul J. Wharton

The "New" Obama Stimulus

What jobs plan? Obama rolled out his plans in Congress and to the nation Thursday night of September 8th. There's nothing new if you asked me except for more stimulus money of $447 billion dollars -- for construction and infrastructure projects, unemployment benefits and tax cuts (what are they?). His economic policy, green thing or otherwise, is a failure. Anemic red. Socio-liberalism is the panacea of the Democrats. Would I use solar power? No, I like using electricity in the city where I live. Although solar power would be very useful to harness the sun in the African bush and faraway villages where the folks have no choice. Would I buy an electric car? No, I like driving my gas-gushler Chevy. Would I eat vegetables so as not to be fat? No, I only eat meat and whatever I like.

This is the problem when you elect professors, academicians and liberal elites to executive positions in the real world. All theories and no practical experiences. Friends of Obama, like the actor George Clooney, have to say and specify again what I've heard before that Obama is "brilliant." Okay. All Harvard graduates are brilliant. Okay. But are there any other defenses beside that for doing such a lousy job at the White House?

To revive the US economy, I will elect a Republican for president. Republicans are progressive, business-minded and have sound sustainable economic policies.

Hmmm...what would Reagan do? His was also an stagnant economy on the verge of collapse and yet it was a landslide of 49 states for him in his second presidential bid. Was it called treckle-down economics?

FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE

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ALT CULTURE CLUB TOPIC

FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE

 

The fluorescent antibody technique is a specialized serological procedure which consists of an antigen-antibody reaction made visible by a fluorescent dye incorporated into the system.  A substance is said to be fluorescent if it absorbs light energy of one wavelength and emits light of another wavelength.

There are two main staining techniques currently employed in fluorescence microscopy, the direct and indirect method.  Fluorescein tagged antibody, prepared by allowing the globulin fraction of high titer antiserum to read with fluorescein, is employed in both methods.  The isothiocyanate derivative of fluorescein is the most satisfactory for conjugating with the globulin. 

The direct fluorescent antibody (FA) technique is easily carried out and is the most frequently employed.  It is a direct antigen-antibody combination on a microscopic slide.  The antigen is fixed on a clean, oil free slide and the homologous, fluorescent tagged antibody added.  If there is a union between the antigen and antibody, yellow green fluorescence will be observed under the ultraviolet microscope.  When the antigen is on the surface of a bacterium the morphology of the organism is clearly defined.

The indirect fluorescent antibody technique requires more steps than the direct FA but is valuable in identifying unknown organisms as well as unknown antibodies in sera and other body fluids.  In the indirect method the untagged antibody plays a dual role -- as the antibody in the primary reaction and as the antigen in the secondary reaction.  The indirect FA method also has been used to note the presence of anti-nuclear factor (ANF) in sera of patients with lupus erythematosus (LE).  The antigens are tumor imprints (CA breast) fixed on the slide in absolute alcohol and stored at -20 C.

The FA technique is a valuable diagnostic tool because of the rapidity with which the results obtained.  In many instances results maybe reported the same day that a specimen is received in the laboratory.  However, depending on the laboratory, small or big, due to costly commercial FA kits and manpower time, all patient's serum positive for RPR card screens  are saved for FA testings.

Other past or outdated uses: Rectal swabs maybe smeared immediately on slides and examined for Escherichia coli serotypes; throat swabs that have been incubated in Todd-Hewitt broth for 2 hours may then be examined for Group A Streptococci (GAS) -- the broth is centrifuged, the sediment washed in saline and smears made and examined with direct FA method.  The FA technique also has been employed in identifying Haemophilus influenza type B, Klebsiella, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Bordetella pertussis, Brucella abortus, Leptospira, Cryptococcus, Listeria serotypes.  It has been successful in identification of antibodies to T. pallidum.

There are advantages to the FA technique other than the rapidity of obtaining results.  The fluorescein tagged antibody will react with non-viable pathogens as well as viable ones.  Organisms in a positive specimen will fluoresce even though they are intracellular.  Immuno-fluorescence reveals the presence of a small number of organisms or organisms in a contaminated culture.

There are technical complications involved in the immunofluorescence procedure.  Cross reactions, non-specific staining and autofluorescence are the major source of trouble.  Cross reactions are due to common antigens.  Non-specific staining may result in fluorescence of an antigen in the absence of specific antibodies in the conjugate.  This maybe due to unreacted fluorescent material.  Autofluorescence due to natural fluorescence of certain body tissues also may present a complication.  Another disadvantage is obtaining adequately trained personnel - if not properly instructed - leading to human error.

The following are lists of precautions and consideration when doing FA technique:

Specimen

1. 
   
   If there are too few organisms, the specimen should be centrifuged.  If too many, it should be diluted.


2. 
   
   Care must be exercised to prevent the loss of antigen from the slide during processing.  To detect this, observe the slide under tungsten light source of microscope prior to examination with UV light.


3. 
   
   If excessive amount of tissue or mucous is present, counterstain with Bacto-Rhodamine or adsorb the conjugate with animal tissue powder to reduce auto and background fluorescence

Slide

1. 
   
   The slide must be grease-free.


2. 
   
   The specimen must be adequately fixed to the slide.

Conjugate

1. 
   
   The reaction spectrum of the conjugate must be known.


2. 
   
   The titer should also be known so that it might be diluted prior to use.  Optimal dilution of the conjugate reduces the possible degree of cross-reaction, fluorescence and non-specific background fluorescence.

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SYPHILIS SEROLOGIES

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ALT CULTURE CLUB TOPIC

SYPHILIS SEROLOGIES

SYPHILIS is probably one the oldest diseases in the world and it is here to stay till judgment day.  It is a contagious venereal disease, almost always transmitted by direct sexual contact, caused by a spirochete known as Treponema pallidum. 

It leads to many structural and cutaneous lesions and if not cured immediately, can cause blindness and mental abnormality.  In most cases, when the organisms are unable to penetrate the intact skin, they enter the body through a microscopic break in the epidermal layer.  Immediately after entrance, the majority of spirochetes remain at the site of infection when they have multiplied sufficiently, or when the reactivity of the body to their products has changed well, the characteristic inflammatory response known as chancre develops.  The stage is called primary syphilis and occurs within 10 to 90 days.  The chancre may last from one to three weeks and may heal spontaneously or with treatment.  Primary syphilis is diagnosed by the observation of chancre and darkfield detection of the causative agent.  Then, two or twelve weeks after the healing of primary chancre, generalized skin rash appears with spirochetes demonstrable in the lesions and this stage is called secondary syphilis.  It is characterized by an enlarged lymph glands, sore throat, headache and patchy falling of hair.  Secondary symptoms usually disappear within about three weeks and may reappear during relapses.  Observation of the characteristic skin lesions, darkfield detection of T. pallidum and increasingly positive serologic tests for syphilis is helpful in the diagnosis of secondary syphilis.  There is the stage where in clinical signs and symptoms of infection are absent and it is called latent syphilis.  Persistent reactions in the serologic tests for syphilis occur in this stage of disease, which may persist for aperiod of time and then develop to the following possibilities:

1. 
   
   It may continue throughout the life of the infected individual.


2. 
   
   It may terminate with the spontaneous cure of infection.


3. 
   
   It may result in late syphilis.

Late symptomatic syphilis maybe characterized by blindness, insanity, paralysis, vascular disease, lost of position sense, destructive ulcers of the skin and mucous membrane.  The diagnosis of late syphilis depends upon the characteristic lesions and occurence of confirmed reactive serologic tests.

In the serodiagnostic flocculation test of syphilis, it is based upon the ability of antigen to combine with syphilitic reagin.  The antigens used are particles of lipid-coated cholesterol with or without beef heart cardiolipin.  The lipid-coated cholesterol functions by forming larger, monstrous particles with tissue lipid extracts and upon combining with reagin gives observable results.  There are various serological tests employed in the laboratory -- Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR), Unheated Serum Reagin (USR) and RPR card tests.  These are only screening tests and must not be used for final diagnosis.  There are never tests which are intended to detect what appear to be true specific anti-treponemal antibodies using living or killed Treponema pallidum suspensions.  This has been a major breakthrough in syphilis serology and has resulted in the development of a great many tests which have been shown to be highly specific in the diagnosis of this disease.  Among these are Treponema pallidum Immobilization (TPI), VDRL test, Reiter Protein Complement Fixation (RPCF) and Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-200-ABS (FTA-200-ABS) tests.

Interpretation of serodiagnostic tests for syphilis -- the clinical interpretation of results is primarily the responsibility of the patient's physician.  However, it must be well understood by the lab technologist that a positive test for syphilis simply means that, by the procedure used, a substance reacting with the antigen is present in the serum and not necessarily that the patient has the disease in question.  False positive reactions, excluding those obtained by technical errors are not rare.  These can be found in intercurrent diseases (malaria, leprosy, lupus erythematosus) or in some individuals who have no condition apparent that could account for the reaction obtained.  These phenomena are called "biological reactors."  Non-specific reactions in serologic syphilis have induced researchers to exert more efforts to develop a more excellent serodiagnostic test and also to obtain a higher standard of realibility and accuracy. 

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An under appreciated president on world stage

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Hello Kangaroo Tim Down Under,



Who's saying President Ninoy Aquino is under appreciated?  Why would the writer think that?  Something made him write about it.  However, there are other important things in the article that I question more and disagree with.  I had to make an internal PhilStar response - my user name is "GoddessofConvenience."  Pls. do read when you revisit the link.



The Pinoy crocodile dundees caught a big one in Agusan.  I went this year to Palawan's crocodile sanctuary and saw a lot of small and big crocodiles.



Ate Lib

 

---

Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 14:20:40 -0700
From: tim
Subject: Fw: Tim emailed you a philstar.com article
To: lib

Tim wrote.. JUST SHARING

Tim  is sharing this article with you. Click the link below to read the article.

An under appreciated president on the world stage

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=724191

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YouTube Videos

A GLASS OF RED    Hula-hoop and Bottle of Wine.  Annabel Carberry's awesome performance.

Video http://youtu.be/p-R-0pvQqKg

_____________________________________

I must say I have the full admiration at the folks of YouTube.  My dear fans of my videos, this will be hard of you to believe - - my finished video is sooo crappy, animations crappy and photos crappy.  But whenever I upload them to YouTube, they must have all the tools and such that my videos become of the best and the highest of quality!  It's just wonderful.  Another thing, I did not realize there's an audio swap, so full of beautiful music,  If I've known this before, I should not have deleted some of my videos.  Of course, I'm a big proponent of copyrighted song materials, CDs that I've bought for $14.99 to $20.00.  Never in the world will I , self, infringe in their rights.  Anyway, I stopped buying CDs.  You know, I'm also for TIT 4 TAT.  You scratch my back and I'll scratch your back.

Thank you, YouTube!

Love u!


Internet Publication:

8/19/09  altgroup multiply

SERO-IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS

A compilation of basic principles in sero-immunology, the scientific finders and researchers who formulated them (Davidsohn, Weil & Felix, Lancefield), that heretofore became the bases and foundations of modern immunodiagnostic tools and commercial kits and rapid slide tests.


These basic principles are (See Notes):

• Antigen - Antibody Reaction
• Complement Fixation
• C-Reactive Protein
• Cold Agglutinins
• Heterophile Antibody
• Bacterial Agglutinins
• Antistreptolysin O Titer

Fil-Am in New York

For those who are in Facebook:

Pls. vote for Roland Ubaldo.

He became the Supervisory Deputy US Marshal on August 30, 2009. With his team, his careful handling and confiscating of the 7.8 million Manhattan penthouse of Ponzi swindler Bernard Madoff was very well executed.

Thanks!

 

---

From: glensj
To:
Subject: Roland Ubaldo - Ten Outstanding Fil-Am in New York nominee
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 14:32:07 +0000

Hello friends,

my HS classmate, Angelica Bautista, asked me to help her get votes for her nephew, Roland Ubaldo, who is a nominee for the 10 Outstanding Young Fil-Am in New York.

Voting is done through facebook & you don't have to be in the US to vote. please find below her request and the instructions on how to access it. voting is till the end of september.

thank you

glen

From: angelica bautista <ambautista@att.net>
To: grace u <rubaldo@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, September 3, 2011 9:22:52 PM
Subject:

hi friends and classmates!

my nephew, ROLAND UBALDO is a nominee for THE OUTSTANDING FILIPINO - AMERICAN in NEW YORK. I"m soliciting
your votes for him to win the award. pls. vote for him on facebook. thanks so much, we will really appreciate your votes.

TO VOTE : www.facebook.com/tofainy click LIKE on the top right of the page, then click again the third box
( NOMINEES ) scroll down for ROLAND'S picture and click it ( he's the one seated at his office desk ) scroll down slowly, then at the bottom
left of his picture click LIKE .


THANKS,

ANGELICA BAUTISTA

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Published  9/4/11  altgroup multiply
Web Page: Roland Ubaldo - Ten Outstanding Fil-Am in New York nominee


Recycled Web Page

_____________________________________

MANHATTAN,   NEW YORK CITY

 AUTUMN IN CENTRAL PARK