A method for creating tough, flexible, bronchoalveolar casts from formalin-fixed canine lung is described. A lung was washed using simple methods and fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin. While still wet with formalin, an intact lobe was injected with silicone sealant, Silastic 734 RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing), using a caulk gun. Following digestion with protease and corrosion with potassium hydroxide, a bronchoalveolar cast was recovered giving detail as shown using scanning electron microscopy or conveniently seen by stereo light microscopy. This method should be useful for micro-anatomy studies of normal and diseased lungs.

No abstract

No abstract

Immunofluorescent staining was compared to cell culture for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the female genital tract. By culture, the incidence in the 496 patients in the study was 12.3%. Immunofluorescence demonstrated organisms in 90% of the culture-positive cases, with a specificity of 99.3%. This method appears to be a successful replacement for culture for general screening.