Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides lipid A derivatives block in vitro induction of tumor necrosis factor and endotoxin tolerance by smooth lipopolysaccharide and monophosphoryl lipid A.

Rhodopseudomonas (Rhodobacter) sphaeroides diphosphoryl lipid A is a relatively inert species of lipid A but has been shown to antagonize the effects of toxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) both in vivo and in vitro. The antagonist and its monophosphoryl derivative were examined for the ability to block tumor necrosis factor synthesis and reverse tolerance induction in vitro in macrophage cultures stimulated with bioactive preparations of smooth LPS, rough LPS, diphosphoryl lipid A, and monophosphoryl lipid A. Inhibition of agonist activity and reversal of tolerance by these novel penta-acylated lipid A antagonists provides new insight into macrophage-LPS interactions.     

Low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of thymus

This report describes a low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) involving the thymus of a 63-year-old woman with features suggestive of a connective tissue disease. Sections of the thymic lesion and of a lung biopsy performed at the same operation were examined histologically and by immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibodies CD45, CD20, CD79a, CD3, CD45RO, and AE1/AE3. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was also performed. The dense infiltrate of small lymphoid cells intimately admixed with ramifying epithelial elements, some of which had undergone cystic change, closely resembled a thymoma. The lymphoid infiltrate comprised centrocyte-like cells, small lymphocytes, plasma cells, and blasts. Most of the lymphoid cells were immunoreactive with the B-cell markers CD20 and CD79a, and PCR showed clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement. The lung biopsy showed dense infiltration by small lymphoid cells, morphologically suggestive of lymphoid interstitial pneumonia. However, PCR showed a weak band in the amplification for immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement, identical to that within the thymus and suggesting either recirculation of cells to accumulated MALT or subhistological lymphoma. MALT lymphoma may rarely involve the thymus, and pathologists should be aware of this to avoid misdiagnosis as a thymoma. Immunohistochemical and/or molecular studies are of value in this regard. MALT lymphomas of the thymus, common with those arising in other organs, may develop in the setting of a connective tissue disease.     

Microarray-based comparative genomic analyses of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum using Affymetrix arrays

Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) provides a powerful tool for whole genome analyses and the rapid detection of genomic variation that underlies virulence and disease. In the field of Plasmodium research, many of the parasite genomes that one might wish to study in a high throughput manner are not laboratory clones, but clinical isolates. One of the key limitations to the use of clinical samples in CGH, however, is the miniscule amounts of genomic DNA available. Here we describe the successful application of multiple displacement amplification (MDA), a non-PCR-based amplification method that exhibits clear advantages over all other currently available methods. Using MDA, CGH was performed on a panel of NF54 and IT/FCR3 clones, identifying previously published deletions on chromosomes 2 and 9 as well as polymorphism in genes associated with disease pathology.     

Chronic deciduitis in the placental basal plate: definition and interobserver reliability

This study tested whether concordance could be achieved for abnormal inflammation in the basal decidua of placental specimens among 6 pathologists experienced in placental pathology. Thirty microscope slides were evaluated by the pathologists for chronic deciduitis. They also scored the severity and extent of inflammation and the presence of plasma cells. No definition of chronic deciduitis was provided. Concordance (5/6 or 6/6 agreement) was achieved in 23 cases (76%). Spearman's rank correlation showed that the diagnosis of chronic deciduitis was almost identical to the assessment of the severity of the inflammation. A regression analysis showed that the perception of severity (and hence chronic deciduitis) was influenced by the other 2 variables, extent and plasma cells. The results were shared with the pathologists, and 25 cases (excluding those with previous 6/6 consensus) were reevaluated. Concordance was now achieved in the 83% of those remaining cases. Using a threshold based on the severity and the extent of lymphocytes, and the presence of plasma cells, pathologists are able to diagnose chronic deciduitis with sufficient concordance to be of value in clinical correlation studies.     

A systematic review of reporting quality for anaesthetic interventions in randomised controlled trials

Interventions from randomised controlled trials can only be replicated if they are reported in sufficient detail. The results of trials can only be confidently interpreted if the delivery of the intervention was systematic and the protocol adhered to. We systematically reviewed trials of anaesthetic interventions published in 12 journals from January 2016 to September 2019. We assessed the detail with which interventions were reported, using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement for non-pharmacological treatments. We analysed 162 interventions reported by 78 trials in 18,675 participants. Detail sufficiently precise to replicate the intervention was reported for 111 (69%) interventions. Intervention standardisation was reported for 135 (83%) out of the 162 interventions, and protocol adherence was reported for 20 (12%) interventions. Sixty (77%) out of the 78 trials reported the administrative context in which interventions were delivered and 36 (46%) trials detailed the expertise of the practitioners. We conclude that bespoke reporting tools should be developed for anaesthetic interventions and interventions in other areas such as critical care.