also has been demonstrated to be useful for the possible confirmation of a malignant neoplasm. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] This prospective study was conducted to allow critical evaluation of the role of conventional cytology, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometric DNA ploidy analysis in the examination of cells in body cavity fluids to achieve the most accurate diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS PatientsFrom March 1994 to May 1996, the body cavity fluids from patients with pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial effusion containing malignant cells, mesothelial cells, or atypical cells were studied with conventional cytology, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometric D N A p l o i d y analysis at the H e m a t o p a t h o l o g y Laboratory of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. CytologyCentrifuged slides were p r e p a r e d from fresh specimens and stained with the Wright-Giemsa method. The results were grouped as follows: (1) 712

The alizarin red S stain for permanent cytologic preparations is a valuable test that is complementary to compensated polarized light microscopic examination to detect calcium crystals. Alizarin red S has the greatest sensitivity for detection of calcium pyrophosphate crystals because crystals are stained regardless of how weakly or strongly birefringent they may be. Alizarin red S stain does not distinguish between amorphous types of calcium compounds; therefore, the different types of calcium compounds can be distinguished only when typical crystal morphologic features are present. Diagnostic importance can be attached to intracellular material that is stainable. In contrast, the diagnostic value of stainable, amorphous, extracellular material is unreliable because it is difficult to distinguish this extracellular material from contaminants frequently found in clinical specimens. Alizarin red S does not stain monosodium urate or corticosteroid crystals. Air-dried cytospin smears are helpful because they may frequently demonstrate more crystals than the wet-mount preparation. Furthermore, special stains can be performed subsequently on air-dried cytospin smears if necessary.

S-phase had some use as a discriminating factor, because no benign reactive cases had more than 17%. However, 7 of 23 malignant cases had a value below 17%. DNA analysis by image was more sensitive and specific than flow. Either may be used when immunocytochemistry is nondiagnostic or cannot be performed.

The Latin American Lidar Network, ALINE a.k.a LALINET is a federation lidar network established in 2008 which became a member of GALION/GAW program in 2013. Currently the network consists of 9 operational stations with the perspective of two more stations to be included. The network today covers more than 18 million Km 2 and spans in latitude from -52 o to 21 o and in longitude from -78 o to -47 o . It should cover a larger area in the future as planned with the inclusion of more active stations.

Permanent preparations of air dried synovial fluids were prepared by staining calcium compounds with alizarin red S stain; each slide was coverslipped with Permount. Variables studied were: (a) concentration of the solution of alizarin red S, (b) pH of staining solution, (c) time of incubation in staining solution and aqueous and ethanolic content of staining solution. The staining effect of each solution was tested on calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate, calcium oxalate, apatite and monosodium urate (MSU). Of all the solutions, best results were obtained with 0.25% alizarin red S in 50% ethanol at pH 7.0 for 30 min. With this solution, the calcium-containing compounds were well stained. MSU did not stain and still preserved negative birefringence on polarization. Fixation of smears with ethanol served a double purpose: It fixed the slides without dissolving or removing MSU or the calcium compounds, yet it did dissolve five corticosteroids commonly used for intra-articular injection which may interfere with interpretation of compensated polarized light microscopy of synovial fluids.