The AccuProbe chemiluminescent culture identification test for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gen-Probe Inc., San Diego, Calif.) was assessed in a comparative evaluation with other rapid methods by using 269 isolates of oxidase-positive, gram-negative diplococci. Chemiluminescence was read with a PAL luminometer, and results were expressed as PAL light units (PLUs): the cutoff value for a positive iden...

Over exposure to X-ray radiation is detrimental to the living cells and may lead to development of life-threatening diseases. It is intuitive to postulate that a low level exposure may lead to functional abnormalities in human immune cells. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to study the effects of X-ray radiation on the total leukocyte count (TLC) and phagocytic activity of Poly...

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of semen storage on ferrous ion induced luminescence of boar spermatozoa and to determine the relationship between parameters of this luminescence and lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Boar semen samples were diluted in Biosolwens extender and stored for 12 days at 15 degrees C. Luminescence and MDA were measured di...

In the diaphragms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, the nature of oxidatively modified proteins and superoxide anion production were explored. Diaphragm specimens were obtained through thoracotomy because of localised lung lesions in COPD patients (16 severe and eight moderate) and 10 control subjects. Lung and respiratory muscle functions were evaluated. Oxidised protei...

Coastal region of Chah Bahar port, Sea of Oman, was screened for the presence of bioluminescence bacteria for the first time. Water samples were taken from surface and subsurface layers and immediately spread on nutrient seawater complete (SWC) agar. Luminous colonies were observed after an overnight incubation at 25°C. Among twenty luminous isolates, four of them were selected for preliminary ...

BACKGROUND Thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb) are known to be responsible for hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease (GD). The conventional methods to measure TSAb depend on cell-based assays that require cumbersome procedures and a sterilized tissue culture technique. The aim of the present study was to develop a ready-to-use cell-based assay for measuring TSAb activity without requiring steril...

Luciferase is used as a reporter enzyme to estimate gene expression in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells because the amount of luciferase present is correlated with light intensity in the presence of excess luciferin (1). Furthermore, its sensitivity and range of linear responses are superior to those of other typical reporters (2). When the luciferase gene containing a target promoter region is ...