X-Message-Number: 10848 Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 13:49:39 -0800 (PST) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: brain bank 2 Citations <1> Authors Palacin A. Cardozo A. Cardesa A. Cruz-Sanchez FF. Institution Department of Pathology, Hospital Clinico, University of Barcelona, Spain. Title Brain banks and non nervous tissues. [Review] [45 refs] Source Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementum. 39:87-96, 1993. Abstract Nervous system diseases may not be confined to neural tissue, but also affect other organs. These organs could be involved indirectly or could be simultaneously affected by the same pathological process. A brain bank (BB) should also guarantee the storage of specific organs primarily or secondary affected other than nervous system. Tissues from patients with primary nervous system diseases without or with unknown systemic involvement should also be stored. Samples stored will be identified and registered in a BB database for an accurate distribution and utilization of the material. To guarantee the best quality of the material stored, several techniques for the collection and preservation (cryopreservation, chemical fixation and microwave irradiation) and tissue management are described. [References: 45] <2> Authors Tourtellotte WW. Rosario IP. Conrad A. Syndulko K. Institution Neurology Service, VAMC W. Los Angeles, CA. Title Human neuro-specimen banking 1961-1992. The National Neurological Research Specimen Bank (a donor program of pre- and post-mortem tissues and cerebrospinal fluid/blood; and a collection of cryopreserved human neurological specimens for neuroscientists). [Review] [15 refs] Source Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementum. 39:5-15, 1993. Abstract The National Neurological Research Specimen Bank (The Bank) was established in 1961 to provide a vital service to neuroscientists. Our purpose is to support medical research which seeks the etiopathogenesis for devastating neurological disorders with no known cause, treatment or precise animal model. It serves as a bridge between the neurology clinician who diagnoses and cares for patients with incurable disease and the basic scientist who has need for specimens to find their etiopathogenesis. In the long run this service should advance neurologic diagnoses and serve as the basis for designing treatment. The Bank has grown to be the largest, most diverse neurological specimen bank of its kind in the world. It is a type of "tissue bank" where donor members "will" their central nervous system tissues to science. Then we collect, photograph, seal in air tight bags, quick freeze, cryogenically store and distribute on request the donated tissue to research scientists around the world. All tissue diagnoses are confirmed by clinical records and neuropathologic examination; further histology is conducted on request. In addition to brain and spinal cord tissues, the Bank has samples of other tissues. There are also samples of pre- and post-mortem CSF and sera from normal individuals and patients with various neurological disorders, especially serial specimens on multiple sclerosis patients and HIV-1 seropositive and at risk individuals. This paper outlines the global operations of our human brain bank, based on protocols developed and used by the authors. These operations include donor solicitation, tissue acquisition and documentation, tissue processing and storage, specimen dissemination to users, outcome assessment of banking, quality control, cost of our operation, table of organization and the future. [References: 15] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10848