Osteoporosis is a common disorder in aging populations that imposes considerable health problems. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase type 5b (TRAP-5b) is derived from osteoclasts, and is involved in normal bone homeostasis. Recently, a novel assay system for TRAP-5b, the fragments absorbed immunocapture enzymatic assay method, has been developed. To evaluate the suitability of TRAP-5b as a scr...

In this article, we provide a detailed guide to the construction of a convertible optical trapping system for either single-beam or counter-propagating trap. The single-beam trap maintains all the functionalities that a conventional optical tweezer has. While the counter-propagating trap allows for the trapping of particles that single-beam trap cannot handle. The counter-propagating trap can b...

The enzyme telomerase contributes to the maintenance of telomere stability (1). Although telomerase reactivation in somatic cells is not sufficient per se for the cells to proliferate indefinitely, telomerase expression and telomere stabilization appear to occur concomitantly with the attainment of immortality in cancer cells (1–3) and may contribute to tumorigenesis and neoplastic progression....

The telomere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) for the human reverse transcriptase, telomerase, is a PCR-based assay developed two decades ago and is still used for routine determination of telomerase activity. The TRAP assay can only reproducibly detect ∼ 2-fold differences and is only quantitative when compared to internal standards and reference cell lines. The method generally involves l...

From 1984 to 1986 tests were conducted to evaluate 4 trap types (ABADRL baffle trap, New Jersey trap, CDC trap, and updraft trap) with or without an incandescent light source, a suction fan or dry ice (as a source of CO2) for sampling adult Culicoides variipennis. The fewest flies were caught in the CDC and updraft traps. The New Jersey trap with suction, a strong light source and dry ice caugh...

Objective: To examine the role of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive mononuclear and multinucleated cells in the destruction of articular cartilage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The presence of TRAP positive cells in the synovial tissue of patients with RA was examined by enzyme histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Expression of mRNAs for matrix metal...

OBJECTIVE To examine the role of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive mononuclear and multinucleated cells in the destruction of articular cartilage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The presence of TRAP positive cells in the synovial tissue of patients with RA was examined by enzyme histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Expression of mRNAs for matrix metal...

BACKGROUND Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that functions in the maintenance of telomeres (specialized structures at the ends of chromosomes), has been reported to be a novel diagnostic marker for malignant diseases. We sought to determine whether measurement of telomerase activity in bronchial washings is of value in the diagnosis of lung cancer. METHODS Extracts of cells in bronchial...