A Self-Adaptive and Regenerable Hydrogel Interfacial Evaporator with Adjustable Evaporation Area for Solar Water Purification.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation is a potential water purification solution. Here, a novel regenerable hydrogel interfacial evaporator is designed with tunable water production. Such an evaporator is fabricated by readily mixing hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) and dibenzaldehyde-functional poly(ethylene glycol) (DF-PEG) at ambient conditions. Dynamic Schiff base bonds bestow on the HPCS/DF-PEG hydrogel (HDH) evaporator self-adaptivity and pH responsiveness. The as-prepared HDH is enabled to spontaneously change shape to adapt to different molds, endowing the evaporator with adjustable evaporation area. The water production performance of the intelligent evaporator is first evaluated using tunable evaporation index (TEI, the tunable evaporated water mass per hour), which can be altered from 0 kg h-1 to 3.21 kg h-1 under one sun. Besides, the large-scale evaporator can be expediently fabricated by virtue of the self-adaptivity. Benefiting from the pH responsiveness, the HDH evaporator is successfully regenerated with the removal of organic dye by the liquefaction-dialysis-regeneration operations. Meanwhile, the re-created evaporator maintains the self-adaptive characteristic and almost constant water evaporation rate compared to that of the initial evaporator. Therefore, this distinctive concept provides a facile strategy to develop smart and recyclable solar-driven interfacial evaporators for flexible water purification.

Postinfantile Giant Cell Hepatitis in Native and Allograft Livers: A Multi-Institutional Clinicopathologic Study of 70 Cases.

Postinfantile giant cell hepatitis (PIGCH) is a rare hepatitis pattern in adults with variable etiologies and clinical outcomes. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study to define the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with PIGCH. A total of 70 PIGCH cases were identified and reviewed for pathological features, including fibrosis, cholestasis, inflammation, steatosis, necrosis, and apoptosis, as well as the distribution of giant cells and the maximum number of giant cells per high-power field. Demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, laboratory results, etiologies, and follow-up results, were recorded. Among the 70 cases, 40% (28/70) were associated with autoimmune liver diseases, followed by 9 (13%) with unknown etiology, 8 (11%) with viral infection, 5 (7%) with medications, 5 with combined etiologies, and 4 (6%) with malignancies (mostly chronic lymphocytic leukemia). Notably, another 16% were de novo PIGCH in liver allografts, most of which occurred after a rejection event. During follow-up, 26 (37%) patients died of the disease and 44 (63%) were alive. Deceased patients were characterized by older age (mean age, 54.9 vs 45.5 years; P = .02), higher alkaline phosphatase level (mean value, 253.3U/L vs 166.3 U/L; P = .03), higher fibrosis stage (stage 3-4 vs stage 0-2, 57.7% vs 29.6%; P = .03), being more likely to have de novo PIGCH after transplantation (23.1% vs 11.4%; P = .04), and being less likely to have primary autoimmune liver disease etiology (26.9% vs 47.7%; P = .04). These results indicate that PIGCH is a rare pattern of liver injury associated with different etiologies and variable clinical outcomes. Autoimmune liver disease with PIGCH is associated with better survival, whereas de novo PIGCH in allografts is associated with poorer survival. Older age, higher alkaline phosphatase level, and advanced fibrosis are adverse prognostic factors.

Improving fine needle aspiration to predict the tumor biological aggressiveness in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors using Ki-67 proliferation index, phosphorylated histone H3 (PHH3), and BCL-2.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery is the only known cure for sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Therefore, the prediction of the PNETs biological aggressiveness evaluated on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has a significant impact on clinical management. The proliferation rate of Ki-67 in PNETs can help to predict the biological aggressiveness of the tumor. In addition, there is a relatively new proliferation marker called phosphorylated histone H3 (PHH3) that can identify and quantify dividing cells in tissue samples, which is a marker highly specific to mitotic figures. Other markers such as BCL-2 also contribute to tumorigenesis and may be involved in the differentiation of neuroendocrine cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed on patients undergoing surveillance for PNETs from January 2010 to May 2021. Data collection included the patients' age, sex, tumor location, tumor size in the surgical specimen, and tumor grade in FNA. The 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) classification guideline was followed to diagnose PNETs, including grade and stage. Immunohistochemical stainings for Ki-67, PHH3 and BCL-2 in PNETs were performed. RESULTS: After excluding cell blocks containing fewer than 100 tumor cells, 44 patients with EUS-FNA and surgical resection specimens were included in this study. There were 19 cases of G1 PNETs, 20 cases of G2 PNETs, and 5 cases of G3 PNETs. The grade assigned based on the Ki-67 index was higher and more sensitive than that based on the mitotic count using H&E slides in some cases of G2 and G3 PNETs. However, there was no significant difference between the mitotic count using PHH3-positive tumor cells and the Ki-67 index to grade PNETs. All grade 1 tumors (19 cases) on surgical resection specimens were correctly graded on FNA (100 % concordance rate). Within the 20 G2 PNETs, 15 cases of grade 2 on surgical resection specimens were graded correctly on FNA based on the Ki-67 index only. Five cases of grade 2 PNETs on surgical resection specimens were graded as grade 1 on FNA when using only the Ki-67 index. Three of five grade 3 tumors on surgical resection specimens were graded as grade 2 on FNA based on the Ki-67 index only. Using only FNA Ki-67 to predict PNET tumor grade, the concordance (accuracy) rate was 81.8 % in total. However, all these eight cases (5 cases of G2 PNETs and 3 cases of G3 PNETs) were graded correctly by using the Ki-67 index plus mitotic rate (using PHH3 IHC stains). Four of 18 (22.2 %) patients with PNETs were positive for BCL-2 stain. In these 4 cases positive for BCL-2 stains, 3 cases were G2 PNETs and one case was G3 PNETs. CONCLUSION: Grade and the proliferative rate in EUS-FNA can be used to predict the tumor grade in surgical resection specimens. However, when using only FNA Ki-67 to predict PNET tumor grade, about 18 % of cases were downgraded by one level. To solve the problem, immunohistochemical staining for BCL-2 and especially PHH3 would be helpful. Our results demonstrated that the mitotic count using PHH3 IHC stains not only improved the accuracy and precision of PNET grading in the surgical resection specimens, but also could reliably be used in routine scoring of mitotic figures of FNA specimens.

Review on the degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons by persulfate activated with zero-valent iron-based materials.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) are often used in industrial processes, and they have been found in groundwater with increasing frequency in recent years. Several typical CHCs, including trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), carbon tetrachloride (CT), etc., have strong cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity, posing a serious threat to human health and ecological environment. Advanced persulfate (PS) oxidation technology based on nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) has become a research hotspot for CHCs degradation in recent years. However, nZVI is easily oxidized to form the surface passivation layer and prone to aggregation in practical application, which significantly reduces the activation efficiency of PS. In order to solve this problem, various nZVI modification solutions have been proposed. This review systematically summarizes four commonly used modification methods of nZVI, and the theoretical mechanisms of PS activated by primitive and modified nZVI. Besides, the influencing factors in the engineering application process are discussed. In addition, the controversial views on which of the two (SO4·- and ·OH) is dominant in the nZVI/PS system are summarized. Generally, SO4·- predominates in acidic conditions while ·OH prefers neutral and alkaline environments. Finally, challenges and prospects for practical application of CHCs removal by nZVI-based materials activating PS are also analyzed.

A sustainable phosphorus management in agriculture: Assessing trade-offs between human health risks and nutritional yield regarding heavy metals in maize grain.

High-quality products in sustainable agriculture require both limited health risks and sufficient dietary nutrients. Phosphorus (P) as a finite and non-renewable resource is widely used in agriculture, usually exerting influence on the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in soil and crops. The present research explores, for the first time, the combined effects of long-term P fertilizer and repeated zinc (Zn) application in field on the human health risks and nutritional yield regarding trace elements in maize grain. A field experiment was conducted using maize with six P application rates (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 kg P ha-1) and two Zn application rates (0 and 11.4 kg Zn ha-1). The results showed that the concentrations of Zn, copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) in the maize grain were significantly affected by P application and can be further affected by Zn application. The concentrations of chromium (Cr) and arsenic (As) showed opposite tendency as affected by P fertilizer rates while did not affected by additional Zn application. Zn application decreased the cadmium (Cd) concentration at high P levels and Pb concentration at low P levels, particularly. No HMs contamination or direct health risk was found in maize grain after receiving long-term P and repeated Zn fertilizer. The threshold hazard quotient of an individual and all investigated HMs in this study were acceptable for human digestion of maize grain. While the carcinogenic risk of Cr was non-negligible in case of maize was taken as one of daily staple food for local residents. Combination use of P (25 kg ha-1) and Zn fertilizer on maize enhanced its nutritional supply ability regarding Zn and Cu, and simultaneously mitigated potential human health risks associated with Cd and Pb.

Collagenous Colitis Is Associated With HLA Signature and Shares Genetic Risks With Other Immune-Mediated Diseases.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Collagenous colitis (CC) is an inflammatory bowel disorder with unknown etiopathogenesis involving HLA-related immune-mediated responses and environmental and genetic risk factors. We carried out an array-based genetic association study in a cohort of patients with CC and investigated the common genetic basis between CC and Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and celiac disease. METHODS: DNA from 804 CC formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples was genotyped with Illumina Immunochip. Matching genotype data on control samples and CD, UC, and celiac disease cases were provided by the respective consortia. A discovery association study followed by meta-analysis with an independent cohort, polygenic risk score calculation, and cross-phenotype analyses were performed. Enrichment of regulatory expression quantitative trait loci among the CC variants was assessed in hemopoietic and intestinal cells. RESULTS: Three HLA alleles (HLA-B∗08:01, HLA-DRB1∗03:01, and HLA-DQB1∗02:01), related to the ancestral haplotype 8.1, were significantly associated with increased CC risk. We also identified an independent protective effect of HLA-DRB1∗04:01 on CC risk. Polygenic risk score quantifying the risk across multiple susceptibility loci was strongly associated with CC risk. An enrichment of expression quantitative trait loci was detected among the CC-susceptibility variants in various cell types. The cross-phenotype analysis identified a complex pattern of polygenic pleiotropy between CC and other immune-mediated diseases. CONCLUSIONS: In this largest genetic study of CC to date with histologically confirmed diagnosis, we strongly implicated the HLA locus and proposed potential non-HLA mechanisms in disease pathogenesis. We also detected a shared genetic risk between CC, celiac disease, CD, and UC, which supports clinical observations of comorbidity.

CD47 expression and CD163+ macrophages correlated with prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested the important roles of CD47 and tumor-associated macrophages in the prognosis and immunotherapy of various human malignancies. However, the clinical significance of CD47 expression and CD163+ TAMs in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PanNET) remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, 47 well-differentiated PanNET resection specimens were collected. CD47 expression and CD163+ macrophages were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathologic properties. RESULTS: Positive CD47 staining was seen in all PanNETs as well as adjacent normal islets. Compared to normal islets, CD47 overexpressed in PanNETs (p = 0.0015). In the cohort, lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and perineural invasion (PNI) were found in 36.2, 59.6, and 48.9% of the cases, respectively. Interestingly, PanNETs with LNM, LVI, or PNI had significantly lower H-score of CD47 than those without LNM (p = 0.035), LVI (p = 0.0005), or PNI (p = 0.0035). PanNETs in patients with disease progression (recurrence/death) also showed a significantly lower expression of CD47 than those without progression (p = 0.022). In contrast, CD163+ macrophage counts were significantly higher in cases with LNM, LVI, and PNI. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest relative low CD47 expression and high CD163+ TAMs may act as indicators for poor prognosis of PanNETs.

[Chemical constituents from Clausena excavata and their inhibitory activities against proliferation of synoviocytes].

The chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Clausena excavata were isolated and purified by column chromatography with silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-HPLC. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties, spectroscopic analysis, as well as the comparisons with the data reported in literature. Nineteen compounds were isolated from the 90% ethanol extract of the stems and leaves of C. excavata, which were identified as methyl orsellinate(1), syringaresinol(2), lenisin A(3), scopoletin(4), osthenol(5), N-benzoyltyrarnine methyl ether(6), N-p-coumaroyltyramine(7), aurantiamide acetate(8), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde(9), furostifoline(10), clausenalansine E(11), 3-formylcarbazole(12), clausine L(13), clausine E(14), methyl carbazole-3-carboxylate(15), glycosinin(16), murrayafoline A(17), clausine H(18) and 2,7-dihydroxy-3-formyl-1-(3'-methyl-2'-butenyl)carbazole(19). Among these isolated compounds, compounds 1-11 were isolated from C. excavata for the first time, and compounds 1, 2 and 10 were isolated from the genus Clausena for the first time. In addition, this study evaluated the anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities of compounds 1-19 by measuring their anti-proliferative effects on synoviocytes in vitro according to MTS method. Compounds 10-19 displayed remarkable anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities, which exhibited the inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MH7 A synovial fibroblast cells with the IC_(50) values ranging from(27.63±0.18) to(235.67±2.16) µmol·L~(-1).

Genetic Interaction Network as an Important Determinant of Gene Order in Genome Evolution.

Although it is generally accepted that eukaryotic gene order is not random, the basic principles of gene arrangement on a chromosome remain poorly understood. Here, we extended existing population genetics theories that were based on two-locus models and proposed a hypothesis that genetic interaction networks drive the evolution of eukaryotic gene order. We predicted that genes with positive epistasis would move toward each other in evolution, during which a negative correlation between epistasis and gene distance formed. We tested and confirmed our prediction with computational simulations and empirical data analyses. Importantly, we demonstrated that gene order in the budding yeast could be successfully predicted from the genetic interaction network. Taken together, our study reveals the role of the genetic interaction network in the evolution of gene order, extends our understanding of the encoding principles in genomes, and potentially offers new strategies to improve synthetic biology.

Codon-Resolution Analysis Reveals a Direct and Context-Dependent Impact of Individual Synonymous Mutations on mRNA Level.

Codon usage bias (CUB) refers to the observation that synonymous codons are not used equally frequently in a genome. CUB is stronger in more highly expressed genes, a phenomenon commonly explained by stronger natural selection on translational accuracy and/or efficiency among these genes. Nevertheless, this phenomenon could also occur if CUB regulates gene expression at the mRNA level, a hypothesis that has not been tested until recently. Here, we attempt to quantify the impact of synonymous mutations on mRNA level in yeast using 3,556 synonymous variants of a heterologous gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) and 523 synonymous variants of an endogenous gene TDH3. We found that mRNA level was positively correlated with CUB among these synonymous variants, demonstrating a direct role of CUB in regulating transcript concentration, likely via regulating mRNA degradation rate, as our additional experiments suggested. More importantly, we quantified the effects of individual synonymous mutations on mRNA level and found them dependent on 1) CUB and 2) mRNA secondary structure, both in proximal sequence contexts. Our study reveals the pleiotropic effects of synonymous codon usage and provides an additional explanation for the well-known correlation between CUB and gene expression level.

Macrophage subtype predicts lymph node metastasis in oesophageal adenocarcinoma and promotes cancer cell invasion in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is a lack of ideal biomarkers for predicting nodal status in preoperative stage of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) to aid optimising therapeutic options. We studied the potential of applying subtype macrophages to predict lymph node metastasis and prognosis in EAC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-three EAC resection specimens were immunostained with CD68, CD40 (M1), and CD163 (M2). Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was estimated with the staining of D2-40. Subsequently, we tested if M2d macrophage could promote EAC cell migration and invasion. RESULTS: In EAC without neoadjuvant treatment, an increase in M2-like macrophage was associated with poor patient survival, independent of the locations of macrophages in tumour. The M2/M1 ratio that represented the balance between M2- and M1-like macrophages was significantly higher in nodal-positive EACs than that in nodal-negative EACs, and inversely correlated with patient overall survival. The M2/M1 ratio was not related to LVD. EAC cell polarised THP1 cell into M2d-like macrophage, which promoted EAC cell migration and invasion. Neoadjuvant therapy appeared to diminish the correlation between the M2/M1 ratio and survival. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of M2/M1 macrophage may serve as a sensitive marker to predict lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in EAC without neoadjuvant therapy. M2d macrophage may have important roles in EAC metastasis.

Prostate specific G protein coupled receptor is associated with prostate cancer prognosis and affects cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information about the clinical and biological significance of prostate specific G protein coupled receptor (PSGR) in prostate cancer (PCa) initiation and progression. Here, we evaluated the expression of PSGR protein, studied its diagnostic and prognostic value in PCa, and also explored its role in cancer cell growth and invasion. METHODS: The expression of PSGR in paired adjacent normal prostate, high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and PCa were determined by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays constructed from 150 radical prostatectomy specimens. The effects of PSGR on PCa cell growth and invasion were investigated using human PCa cell lines. RESULTS: Membranous and cytoplasmic PSGR staining was observed at luminal epithelial cells of prostate. PSGR protein expression was significantly higher in PIN compared to normal prostate. Interestingly, the expression of PSGR decreased as PIN progressed to PCa. Low PSGR expression in PCa was associated with high Gleason score, and poor overall survival. Activated PSGR increased cancer cell invasive ability, but retarded cell growth. PSGR did not affect mTOR activity, but suppressed P70 S6 kinase activity. CONCLUSIONS: PSGR may participate in PCa progression through affecting cell proliferation and invasion. High expression of PSGR in PIN may implicate its role in early neoplastic transformation of PCa. Low expression of PSGR in PCa may serve as a potential indicator for poor prognosis.

Shear wave dispersion in lean versus steatotic rat livers.

OBJECTIVES: The precise measurement of fat accumulation in the liver, or steatosis, is an important clinical goal. Our previous studies in phantoms and mouse livers support the hypothesis that, starting with a normal liver, increasing accumulations of microsteatosis and macrosteatosis will increase the lossy viscoelastic properties of shear waves in a medium. This increase results in an increased dispersion (or slope) of the shear wave speed in the steatotic livers. METHODS: In this study, we moved to a larger animal model, lean versus obese rat livers ex vivo, and a higher-frequency imaging system to estimate the shear wave speed from crawling waves. RESULTS: The results showed elevated dispersion in the obese rats and a separation of the lean versus obese liver parameters in a 2-dimensional parameter space of the dispersion (slope) and shear wave speed at a reference frequency of 150 Hz. CONCLUSIONS: We have confirmed in 3 separate studies the validity of our dispersion hypothesis in animal models.

Diagnostic value of HMGAs, p53 and ß-catenin in discriminating adenocarcinoma from adenoma or reactive atypia in ampulla and common bile duct biopsies.

AIMS: Biopsies from the ampulla of Vater and the common bile duct often pose diagnostic challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of HMGA1, HMGA2, ß-catenin and p53 in biopsy specimens, in order to evaluate the potential diagnostic value of these proteins in differentiating adenocarcinoma from reactive atypia or adenoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-eight biopsies (10 from the common bile duct and 38 from the ampulla) were selected for immunohistochemical studies; they included 14 cases of reactive atypia, 12 adenomas, and 22 adenocarcinomas. Expression of HMGA1 was seen in 21% of the reactive atypia cases, 42% of adenomas, and 91% of adenocarcinomas. HMGA2 was positive in 14% of reactive atypias, 42% of adenomas, and 86% of adenocarcinomas. The staining intensity of HMGA1 and HMGA2 was also significantly higher in adenocarcinomas than in adenomas or reactive atypias. Interestingly, coexpression of HMGA1 and HMGA2 was found in 86% of adenocarcinomas, 0% of reactive atypias, and 8% of adenomas. p53 and ß-catenin expression seemed not to provide additional value for discriminating adenocarcinoma from reactive atypia or adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: HMGA1 and HMGA2 might serve to discriminate between reactive atypia, adenoma and adenocarcinoma in ampulla and common bile duct biopsies.

Histologic Predictors of Clinical Outcomes and Healthcare Utilization in Patients With Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of histology in ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate if histologic variables are predictive of IPAA clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with IPAA undergoing surveillance pouchoscopy at a tertiary care institution. Pouch body biopsies were reviewed by gastrointestinal pathologists, who were blinded to clinical outcomes, for histologic features of acute or chronic inflammation. Charts were reviewed for clinical outcomes including development of acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, biologic or small molecule initiation, hospitalizations, and surgery. Predictors of outcomes were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic and Cox regression. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients undergoing surveillance pouchoscopy were included. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (odds ratio [OR], 1.67), ulceration and erosion (OR, 2.44), chronic inflammation (OR, 1.97), and crypt distortion (OR, 1.89) were associated with future biologic or small molecule initiation for chronic pouchitis. Loss of goblet cells was associated with development of chronic pouchitis (OR, 4.65). Pyloric gland metaplasia was associated with hospitalizations (OR, 5.24). No histologic variables were predictive of development of acute pouchitis or surgery. In an exploratory subgroup analysis of new IPAA (<1 year), loss of goblet cells was associated with acute pouchitis (OR, 14.86) and chronic pouchitis (OR, 12.56). Pyloric gland metaplasia was again associated with hospitalizations (OR, 13.99). CONCLUSIONS: Histologic findings may be predictive of IPAA outcomes. Pathologists should incorporate key histologic variables into pouchoscopy pathology reports. Clinicians may need to more closely monitor IPAA patients with significant histologic findings.

In this retrospective cohort study, histologic variables of acute and chronic inflammation were associated with future development of chronic pouchitis, need for biologic or small molecule treatment for chronic pouchitis, and hospitalization.

Novel dual-action vanillic acid pretreatment for efficient hemicellulose separation with simultaneous inhibition of lignin condensation.

Aromatic acids play a selective role in the separation of hemicellulose. Phenolic acids have demonstrated an inhibitory effect on lignin condensation. In the current study, vanillic acid (VA), which combines the characteristics of aromatic and phenolic acids, is used to separate eucalyptus. The efficient and selective separation of hemicellulose is achieved simultaneously at 170 °C, 8.0% VA concentration, and 80 min. The separation yield of xylose increased from 78.80% to 88.59% compared to acetic acid (AA) pretreatment. The separation yield of lignin decreased from 19.32% to 11.19%. In particular, the ß-O-4 content of lignin increased by 5.78% after pretreatment. The results indicate that VA, as a "carbon positive ion scavenger", it preferentially reacts with the carbon-positive ion intermediate of lignin. Surprisingly, the inhibition of lignin condensation is achieved. This study provides a new starting point for the development of an efficient and sustainable commercial technology by organic acid pretreatment.

Genetic diversity and variance of Stentor coeruleus (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea) inferred from inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) fingerprinting.

We used inter-simple sequence repeat fingerprinting to analyze the genetic structure of 16 populations of Stentor coeruleus from three lakes and three ponds in China. Using 14 polymorphic primers, a total of 99 discernible DNA fragments were detected, among which 76 (76.77%) were polymorphic, indicating median genetic diversity in these populations. Further, both Nei's gene diversity (h) and Shannon's information index (I) between the different populations revealed a median genetic diversity. At the same time, gene flow was interpreted to be low. The main factors responsible for the median level of diversity and low gene flow within populations are probably due to a low frequency of sexual recombinations. Analysis of molecular variance showed that there was high genetic differentiation among the five water bodies. Both cluster analysis and a nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis suggested that genotypes isolated from the same locations displayed a higher genetic similarity than those from different ones, separating populations into subgroups according to their geographical locations. However, there is a weak positive correlation between the genetic distance and geographical distance.

The Trends of Immunohistochemistry for Tissue-Invasive Cytomegalovirus in Gastrointestinal Mucosal Biopsies.

CONTEXT.­: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the most widely used method to diagnose CMV infection/reactivation in tissues in a pathology laboratory. OBJECTIVE.­: To improve the efficiency of CMV IHC testing by evaluating immunopositive staining trends of tissue-invasive CMV in the gastrointestinal system. DESIGN.­: A total of 1479 individual orders for CMV IHC on gastrointestinal biopsy specimens from 2016 to 2018 were included. The analysis was performed to identify the significant factors contributory to CMV-positive test results. RESULTS.­: The overall positivity rate of CMV IHC in our institution was 4.73% (70 of 1479). The positivity rate from physician-requested and pathologist-initiated tests was significantly different (7.54% versus 3.83%, P = .004). Cases with severe inflammation showed a higher positive CMV rate than those with mild inflammation (5.37% versus 2.60%, P = .04). Cytomegalovirus positivity in biopsies from posttransplant patients, inflammatory bowel disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), cancer, and others was 19.69%, 3.84%, 23.33%, 9.00%, and 2.84%, respectively. The positivity rate among posttransplant, HIV/CVID, or cancer patients was significantly higher than in other populations. Cases tested with multiple tissue blocks generated a higher positivity rate than those with a single block (7.77% versus 3.23%, P < .001). Testing 3 to 4 blocks per case almost tripled the positive CMV detection rate (9.04%). Interestingly, using 5 or more blocks did not further ameliorate the positive CMV detection rate. CONCLUSIONS.­: The data revealed that physician request, immunosuppression, multiple blocks, and severe inflammation were strongly related to positive CMV IHC detection rate. These findings might provide value in helping pathologists manage CMV IHC testing more efficiently.

Anastomosing hemangioma: a current update on clinical, pathological and imaging features.

Anastomosing hemangioma (AH) is a rare, benign vascular neoplasm with distinctive histopathology and characteristic tumor distribution. AHs show marked proclivity to involve the kidneys, gonads and the retroperitoneal soft tissues; kidney is the most common target site often in the context of end stage renal disease. Recent studies have identified activating mutations of GNA genes that drive the molecular pathogenesis of AHs. AH appears as a solitary, well-circumscribed, hypervascular tumor that charters a benign course with an excellent prognosis. The purpose of this article is to provide a current update on clinical, pathological and imaging features of anastomotic hemangioma.

High levels of Crohn's disease-associated anti-microbial antibodies are present and independent of colitis in chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have overlapping gastrointestinal manifestations. Serum antibodies to intestinal microbial antigens in IBD are thought to reflect a loss of tolerance in the setting of genetically encoded innate immune defects. CGD subjects studied here, with or without colitis, had considerably higher levels of ASCA IgA, ASCA IgG, anti-OmpC, anti-I2, and anti-CBir1, but absent to low pANCA, compared to IBD-predictive cutoffs. Higher antibody levels were not associated with a history of colitis. Except for higher ASCA IgG in subjects <18 years, antibody levels were not age-dependent. In comparison, 7 HIES subjects expressed negative to low antibody levels to all of these antigens; none had colitis. Our results suggest that markedly elevated levels of antimicrobial antibodies in CGD do not correlate with a history of colitis but may reflect a specific defect in innate immunity in the face of chronic antigenic stimulation.