Identification of mislabeled specimen by molecular methods: case report and review

Specimen misidentification is a common cause of errors in surgical pathology. We report a case where bone-marrow biopsies from patients of different genders were mislabeled and molecular methods were applied to resolve the identity. A short tandem repeat (STR)-polymerase chain reaction-based assay, commonly used in paternity testing, was employed in an attempt to assign the correct identity to the specimens. However, the specimens had been processed by decalcification and the DNA yield was poor. One of the markers in the assay is the non-STR amelogenin locus that distinguishes the X and Y chromosomes. This amelogenin marker results in a product of low molecular weight, enabling unequivocal resolution of identity despite a poor DNA yield. The prevalence of errors in pathology due to specimen misidentifications is reviewed.     

Reversible blockade of experience-dependent plasticity by calcineurin in mouse visual cortex

Numerous protein kinases have been implicated in visual cortex plasticity, but the role of serine/threonine protein phosphatases has not yet been established. Calcineurin, the only known Ca2+/calmodulin-activated protein phosphatase in the brain, has been identified as a molecular constraint on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and on memory. Using transgenic mice overexpressing calcineurin inducibly in forebrain neurons, we now provide evidence that calcineurin is also involved in ocular dominance plasticity. A transient increase in calcineurin activity is found to prevent the shift of responsiveness in the visual cortex following monocular deprivation, and this effect is reversible. These results imply that the balance between protein kinases and phosphatases is critical for visual cortex plasticity.     

Hypolipidemic Agents of Phthalimide Derivatives 6. Effects of Aromatic vs. Non-Aromatic Imides

A number of substituted phthalimide, 1, 8-naphthalimide, succinimide and glutarimide derivatives demonstrated significant hypolipidemic activity at 20 mg/kg/ day, I.P. after 16 days dosing. The N-(n-pentyl) succinimide proved to be the most potent analogue of the new compounds, lowering serum triglyceride levels 51 % and serum cholesterol 47 % after 16 days dosing in mice. For the N-substituted derivatives, i. e., n-butyl, butanone, and propionic acid, of these four cyclic imides, there appeared to be no obvious trend in ability to reduce serum lipid levels. In general, the 1,8-naphthalimide and glutarimide derivatives appeared to be less active than phthalimide and succinimide. However, the -phenylsuccinimide afforded less activity than the -phenylglutarimide. Most of the derivatives at 20mg/kg/day demonstrated improved activity over clofibrate at 150mg/kg/day.     

Epidemiologische Ansätze zur Klärung wichtiger Forschungsfragen zu COVID-19 – eine Übersicht

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Die Epidemiologie als wissenschaftliche Disziplin ist prädestiniert dafür, Kernfragen der COVID-19-Pandemie zu...     

Comparison of nutritional and hydration status in patients undergoing twice and thrice-weekly hemodialysis: a silent drama in developing countries

International Urology and Nephrology - In low and middle- income countries, due to lack of financial resources, the number of patients receiving one or two hemodialysis (HD) sessions a week has...     

Protroca: A Noninterventional Study on Prophylactic Lipegfilgrastim against Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia in Nonselected Breast Cancer Patients

BackgroundProtroca evaluated the efficacy and safety of primary and secondary prophylaxis of neutropenia with lipegfilgrastim (Lonquex®) in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy (CT).Patients and MethodsOf the 255 patients enrolled, 248 patients were evaluable for the intent-to-treat (ITT) and 194 patients for the per-protocol set. Primary and secondary end points after lipegfilgrastim treatment were assessed.ResultsNine patients of the ITT set receiving lipegfilgrastim as primary prophylaxis (n = 222) had febrile neutropenia of grade 3–4 (5 patients) or infection of grade 3–4 (4 patients); 1/26 of those receiving secondary prophylaxis had an event. Dose reductions were performed in 9.5% of the patients. Postponement of cancer CT cycles for >3 days occurred in <15% of patients; 10.8% (92/851 AEs) and 8% (2/25 SAEs) of documented adverse events and serious adverse events, respectively, were related to lipegfilgrastim.ConclusionsApplication of lipegfilgrastim was effective as primary and secondary prophylaxis in the prevention of CT-induced neutropenia in breast cancer.     

Prevalence of rotavirus antibodies in a non-human primate colony

A total of 51 monkeys maintained in a colony at the Institute of Primate Research (Kenya) and housed in doors with natural lighting in a group cage were used in this study. Monkeys belonging to 3 species were selected at random and blood samples collected. The serum samples were screened for presence of neutralizing antibodies (VTN) to rhesus rotavirus (RRV) by virus neutralization assay. Virus neutralization was determined by 60% reduction in fluorescent focus units (ffu). 96% of the animals screened had naturally occurring antibodies to rhesus rotavirus. Another group of 11 lactating monkeys (5 baboons, 6 vervets) and their infants were screened further for presence of IgG and IgA antibodies in serum and breast milk (mothers). Overall, the mothers had higher titres of both IgG and IgA than the infants. Taken together, these results demonstrate rotavirus infection is endemic in this primate colony. This mimics the human situation, hence, captive non human primates (such as the baboons) could be a suitable model for testing rotavirus candidate vaccines and for investigating the possible application in humans of passive-active immunization strategy.     

Thrombocytopenia After Isolated Limb or Hepatic Perfusions with Melphalan: The Risk of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Background: Three cases of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) were observed in patients undergoing isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with melphalan. This occurrence prompted the discontinuation of prophylactic postoperative heparin in ILP patients and its avoidance in patients undergoing isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP). The need to reassess these decisions led to a review of thrombocytopenia in both patient populations.Methods: Records of all patients treated with ILP or IHP at our institution from July 1992 through November 1996, were reviewed. Nine IHP patients were tested prospectively for heparinrelated antibodies using serum samples obtained perioperatively and during the second postoperative week.Results: Thrombocytopenia (<100,000 platelets/L) developed postoperatively in 30% of 131 ILP patients and in 77% of 56 IHP patients. No cases of HIT were identified other than the three who had been previously diagnosed. The prevalence of HIT in heparinized ILP patients was 2.8% (3/108). All nine IHP patients developed heparin-related antibodies postoperatively.Conclusions: Because the prevalence of HIT following ILP is in the range observed in other clinical settings, postoperative heparin prophylaxis is an option. However, it probably should be limited to the first week, and daily platelet counts should be reviewed for a pattern of thrombocytopenia consistent with HIT. The prevalence of heparin-related antibodies after IHP is so high that prophylactic heparin should be avoided in this setting.