Rapid Cell Transfer by Means of Nylon Mesh to Improve Cellular Diagnosis: The Role of Immunocytochemistry

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Figure Legends

Fig. 1. The new rapid cell transfer method. a Materials needed to perform this method: a nylon mesh

sample pack for pathological materials, scissors, diluted mounting medium, and dropper. b Overlay a

piece of nylon mesh on the smear. c Cover the nylon mesh with the diluted mounting medium. d

Hold the margin of the nylon mesh and peel the membrane away from the slide. e Cut the

membrane along the marked areas into several pieces. f Transfer each membrane piece to another

slide.

Fig. 2. Invasive ductal carcinoma. a Ethanol-fixed direct smear prepared from fine-needle aspiration

specimen. b Immunocytochemistry of HER2 on our cell transfer method.

Fig. 3. Adenocarcinoma of the lung (a to e is the same sample). a Ethanol-fixed direct smear prepared

from pleural effusion. b Immunocytochemistry of TTF-1 on our cell transfer method. c Formalin-fixed

cell block (TTF-1). d Air-dried methanol-fixed direct smear (May-Giemsa staining). e

Immunocytochemistry of TTF-1 on our cell transfer method. The positive rate of TTF-1 decreased in

air-dried smears.

Fig. 4. Urothelial carcinoma. a Alcohol-fixed direct smear prepared from urine. b

Immunocytochemistry of p53 on our cell transfer method.

Fig. 1a

Fig. 1b

Fig. 1c

Fig. 1d

Fig. 1e

Fig. 1f

Fig. 2a

HER2

Fig. 2b

Fig. 3a

TTF-1

Fig. 2b

TTF-1

Fig. 3c

Fig. 3d

TTF-1

Fig. 3e

Fig. 4a

p53

Fig. 4b

Table 1. Comparison between our method and previous methods

Our method

Time

Previous methods [1, 2, 5-9]

Time

Remove the coverslips and residual mounting medium

with 60°C xylene

Remove the coverslips and residual mounting medium

with xylene

Cover the smear with a nylon mesh and diluted

mounting medium

Cover the smear with a mounting medium

Place the slide on an 80°C hot plate

5 min

Place the slide in a 37°C–80°C oven

30 min to

overnight

Soak the slide in 60°C warm water

5 min

Soak the slide in 45°C–60°C warm water

30 min to

2h

Peel the membrane off the slide while holding the

margin of the nylon mesh

Peel the membrane off the slide with a scalpel blade

Transfer each membrane piece to another slide

Transfer each membrane piece to another slide

Place the slides on an 80°C hot plate

5 min

Place the slides in a 37°C–80°C oven

30 min to

overnight

Remove the residual mounting medium with xylene

5 min

Remove the residual mounting medium with xylene

12 min to

1h

Rehydrate the slide with alcohol and water

Rehydrate the slide with alcohol and water

...