Archival fine-needle aspiration cytopathology (FNAC) samples: untapped resource for clinical molecular profiling

Microarray technologies provide high-resolution maps of chromosome imbalances and epigenomic aberrations in the cancer cell genome. Such assays are often sensitive to sample DNA integrity, voiding the utility of many archival pathology specimens and necessitating the special handling of prospective clinical specimens. We have identified the remarkable preservation of higher-molecular weight DNA in archival fine-needle aspiration cytopathology specimens from patients greater than 10 years of age. We further demonstrate the outstanding technical performance of 57 fine-needle aspiration cytopathology samples for aberration detection on high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization array, DNA methylation, and single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping platforms. Forty-four of 46 malignant aspirates in this study manifested unequivocal genomic aberrations. Importantly, matched Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik fine-needle aspiration cytopathology samples showed critical differences in DNA preservation and DNA integrity. Overall, this study identifies a largely untapped reserve of human pathology specimens for molecular profiling studies, with ramifications for the prospective collection of clinical biospecimens.     

Cytopathology of retrograde renal pelvis brush specimens: An analysis of 40 cases with emphasis on collecting duct carcinoma and low-intermediate grade transitional cell carcinoma

We report our experience with 40 retrograde renal brush samples of pelvic-calyceal lesions with confirmatory tissue studies. On-site cytopathologic evaluation was performed in 38 of these specimens. The final histologic diagnoses included 24 cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), 17 of which were low-intermediate grade tumors. All 24 cases were diagnosed cytologically as TCC (22), or as suspicious for TCC (2). Three cases classified as collecting duct carcinomas were resected; the cytologic specimens in 2 of these cases were interpreted as TCC, and one as reactive change. There were three renal cell carcinomas (RCC); cytologically, one was considered a papillary neoplasm, one suspicious for malignancy, and one as reactive. Two cases of atypical renal cysts were reported as suspicious for malignancy in both cytologic and histologic material. There was one case of metastatic colon carcinoma identified in the brush specimen. Finally, tissue studies in the remaining 7 cases showed reactive/inflammatory changes; however, four of the corresponding pelvic brush specimens were considered abnormal. A review of the above cases is reported with the objective of presenting the cytologic features seen in collecting duct carcinoma, low-intermediate grade TCC, and diagnostically difficult cases with cyto/histomorphologic discrepancies. The contribution of on-site assessment to diagnostic accuracy is also discussed. Diagn Cytopathol 1996;15:312–321. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Protective Effect of Ethanol Extract of Gymnosporia montana (Roth) Bemth. in Paracetamol-induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

The aim of the present study was to explore the hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of leaves of Gymnosporia montana (Roth) Bemth. (Family: Celastraceous) against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats was induced by a single intraperitoneal dose of 500 mg/kg of paracetamol and studied by comparing parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and histopathological examination of liver. Pre and post-treatment with ethanol extract of Gymnosporia montana (Roth) Bemth. at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg was studied by comparing the above mentioned parameters with silymarin (100 mg/kg) as standard. Both doses of ethanol extract of Gymnosporia montana (Roth) Bemth. were found to be hepatoprotective. Extract at the dose of 100 mg/kg produced effects comparable to those of silymarin. The present study indicates that alcohol extract of Gymnosporia montana (Roth) Bemth. possessed significant hepatoprotective activity.     

Continuity of Mental Health Care at Community Health Centers and Reduced Emergency Department Visits for Suicidal Ideation/Self-Harm

Community Mental Health Journal - We examined whether county-level increases in continuity of mental health care (i.e., mental health visits per mental health patient) at...     

Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life during Pregnancy

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the differences in oral health and perceived oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) between pregnant and nonpregnant rural Indian women and to describe factors that could possibly influence OHRQoL. Methods: A number of 259 pregnant (mean age 26  ±  5.5) and 237 nonpregnant (mean age 27.8  +  6.9) women who participated in the cross-sectional study were administered the Oral Health Impact Profile–14 questionnaire and underwent oral examination. Results: The results showed that the perceived OHRQoL was significantly poorer among the pregnant women than among nonpregnant women. The mean number of sextants with Community Periodontal Index for Treatment Needs scores of 2 and 3 and the gingival index scores were significantly ( P <  0.001) higher among pregnant women than in the comparison groups. Factors such as pregnancy number ( P <  0.05), decayed, missing, filled teeth scores ( P <  0.001), and Gingival Index scores ( P <  0.001) were significant predictors for OHRQoL. Conclusion: Oral health and perceived OHRQoL were poorer among pregnant women than among nonpregnant women .     

Impact of magnetic resonance on staging of renal carcinoma

Computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound, and angiography have been used for staging renal cell carcinoma. CT has proven to be the most reliable and sensitive of these techniques. Magnetic resonance (MR) has emerged recently as a viable alternative imaging modality. Five patients with renal cell carcinoma and suspected caval involvement were evaluated by CT, ultrasound, and MR. Caval extension and the differentiation of intra-versus retrocaval tumor was seen with greater clarity on MR scans; perinephric extension was seen equally well with both modalities. The primary tumor itself was better defined with CT. In patients with equivocal findings regarding the renal veins or inferior vena cava, MR is a valuable adjunct in preoperative evaluation. In patients at high risk for contrast administration, MR is the staging modality of choice.     

MRI of the scrotum: Recommendations of the ESUR Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group

Objectives

The Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (SPI-WG) appointed by the board of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) has produced recommendations for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the scrotum.

Methods

The SPI-WG searched for original and review articles published before September 2016 using the Pubmed and Medline databases. Keywords used were ‘magnetic resonance imaging’, 'testis or testicle or testicular', 'scrotum', 'intratesticular', 'paratesticular', 'extratesticular' 'diffusion-weighted', 'dynamic MRI'. Consensus was obtained among the members of the subcommittee. The expert panel proposed recommendations using Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence.

Results

The recommended MRI protocol should include T1-, T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Scrotal MRI can be clinically applied for lesion characterisation (primary), including both intratesticular and paratesticular masses, differentiation between germ-cell and non-germ-cell neoplasms (evolving), characterisation of the histological type of testicular germ cell neoplasms (TGCNs, in selected cases), local staging of TGCNs (primary), acute scrotum (in selected cases), trauma (in selected cases) and undescended testes (primary).

Conclusions

The ESUR SPI-WG produced this consensus paper in which the existing literature on MRI of the scrotum is reviewed. The recommendations for the optimal imaging technique and clinical indications are presented.

Key points

? This report presents recommendations for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the scrotum.? Imaging acquisition protocols and clinical indications are provided.? MRI is becoming established as a worthwhile second-line diagnostic tool for scrotal pathology.

     

Ostomy in continuity: A novel approach for the management of children with complex short bowel syndrome

Introduction

Despite medical and surgical management, a subset of children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) who have discrepancy between proximal small bowel and distal colon have persistent feeding intolerance. We propose the use of an Ostomy in Continuity (OIC) (Bishop-Koop or Santulli) as a salvage procedure to decompress the proximal bowel while still maintaining maximal intestinal length, in these patients.

Smart Vest: wearable multi-parameter remote physiological monitoring system

The wearable physiological monitoring system is a washable shirt, which uses an array of sensors connected to a central processing unit with firmware for continuously monitoring physiological signals. The data collected can be correlated to produce an overall picture of the wearer's health. In this paper, we discuss the wearable physiological monitoring system called ‘Smart Vest’. The Smart Vest consists of a comfortable to wear vest with sensors integrated for monitoring physiological parameters, wearable data acquisition and processing hardware and remote monitoring station. The wearable data acquisition system is designed using microcontroller and interfaced with wireless communication and global positioning system (GPS) modules. The physiological signals monitored are electrocardiogram (ECG), photoplethysmogram (PPG), body temperature, blood pressure, galvanic skin response (GSR) and heart rate. The acquired physiological signals are sampled at 250 samples/s, digitized at 12-bit resolution and transmitted wireless to a remote physiological monitoring station along with the geo-location of the wearer. The paper describes a prototype Smart Vest system used for remote monitoring of physiological parameters and the clinical validation of the data are also presented.