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CONTEXT.: Mammographic identification of microcalcifications may result in biopsy because many calcifications serve as markers for breast pathology. Absence of these calcifications in histologic sections may indicate that an area of concern has not been adequately sampled. OBJECTIVE.: To determine the optimal cutting protocols to identify mammary calcifications. DESIGN.: Our standard protocol for breast biopsies with suspected mircocalcifications is to cut 2 levels separated by 30 µm and if no microcalcifications are detected, an additional 10 levels are obtained. An electronic search of surgical pathology records was performed for cases with microcalcifications identified between January 1, 2022, and March 30, 2023. For each case, slides designated by the radiologist as containing microcalcifications were retrieved. The level at which microcalcifications were first detected was recorded. RESULTS.: The search revealed 431 specimens meeting the search criteria, of which 415 contained microcalcifications. Probability of finding microcalcifications in the initial level was 0.629 and the probability of detecting microcalcifications in the first 4 levels was 0.905. Four hundred three of 415 microcalcifications documented by mammographic imaging (97%) were detected histologically in the first 6 levels. CONCLUSIONS.: A 6-level approach appears optimal for the detection of microcalcifications. This study may have implications for other specimen types where a strong suspicion exists for a pathologic lesion, but examination reveals no lesions in the initial sections. Protocols using 6-level-deep cuts may represent optimal sampling.
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Rotator cuff repair surgeries fail frequently, with 20 to 94% of the 600,000 repairs performed annually in the United States resulting in retearing of the rotator cuff. The most common cause of failure is sutures tearing through tendons at grasping points. To address this issue, we drew inspiration from the specialized teeth of snakes of the Pythonoidea superfamily, which grasp soft tissues without tearing. To apply this nondamaging gripping approach to the surgical repair of tendon, we developed and optimized a python tooth-inspired device as an adjunct to current rotator cuff suture repair and found that it nearly doubled repair strength. Integrated simulations, 3D printing, and ex vivo experiments revealed a relationship between tooth shape and grasping mechanics, enabling optimization of the clinically relevant device that substantially enhances rotator cuff repair by distributing stresses over the attachment footprint. This approach suggests an alternative to traditional suturing paradigms and may reduce the risk of tendon retearing after rotator cuff repair.
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Boidae , Manguito de los Rotadores , Animales , Manguito de los Rotadores/cirugía , Boidae/fisiología , Lesiones del Manguito de los Rotadores/cirugía , Diente , Técnicas de Sutura/instrumentación , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Humanos , Impresión TridimensionalRESUMEN
The recently published WHO Reporting System for Pancreaticobiliary Cytopathology (World Health Organization [WHO] System) is an international approach to the standardized reporting of pancreaticobiliary cytopathology, updating the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology System for Reporting Pancreaticobiliary Cytology (PSC System). Significant changes were made to the categorization of benign neoplasms, intraductal neoplasms, mucinous cystic neoplasms, and malignant neoplasms considered low grade. Benign neoplasms, such as serous cystadenoma, categorized as Neoplastic: benign in the PSC system, are categorized as Benign/negative for malignancy in the WHO system. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor, categorized as Neoplastic: other in the PSC system, are categorized as Malignant in the WHO System in accord with their classification in the 5th edition WHO Classification of Digestive System Tumours (2019). The two new categories of Pancreaticobiliary Neoplasm Low-risk/grade and Pancreaticobiliary Neoplasm High-risk/grade are mostly limited to intraductal neoplasms and mucinous cystic neoplasms. Low-risk/grade lesions are mucinous cysts, with or without low-grade epithelial atypia. High-risk/grade lesions contain neoplastic epithelium with high-grade epithelial atypia. Correlation with clinical, imaging, and ancillary studies remains a key tenet. The sections for each entity are written to highlight key cytopathological features and cytopathological differential diagnoses with the pathologist working in low resource setting in mind. Each section also includes the most pertinent ancillary studies useful for the differential diagnosis. Sample reports are provided for each category. Finally, the book provides a separate section with risk of malignancy and management recommendations for each category to facilitate decision-making for clinicians.
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Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Organización Mundial de la Salud , Humanos , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patología , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/diagnóstico , Citodiagnóstico/métodos , Citodiagnóstico/normas , Neoplasias del Sistema Biliar/patología , Neoplasias del Sistema Biliar/diagnóstico , CitologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) is scheduled to publish the WHO Reporting System for Soft Tissue Cytopathology (WHORSSTC). This system establishes categories with well-defined definitions, criteria, and estimated risks of malignancy (ROMs) for soft tissue tumors. The estimates of ROM are based on a relatively small number of published studies. Interobserver reproducibility is not addressed in the reporting system even though reproducibility of a reporting system is highly important. METHODS: A manual search of one authors personal consultation files and teaching set (L.J.L.) was conducted for all cytologic specimens of soft tissue tumors accessioned between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 2022. Only cases with documented surgical pathology follow-up were included in the study. Slides from each case were evaluated independently by three cytopathologists with each case assigned to one of the WHORSSTC categories. A ROM for each of the WHORSSTC categories was calculated. Interobserver agreement was evaluated by the kappa and weighted kappa statistics. RESULTS: Risk for malignancy by category were: Category 1: 0%, Category 2: 28%, Category 3: 57%, Category 4: 47%, Category 5: 63%, and Category 6: 88%. Kappa statistics for agreement between raters varied from 0.2183 to 0.3465 and weighted kappa varied from 0.3778 to 0.5217. CONCLUSIONS: The WHORSSTC showed a progression of malignancy risk from the category "benign" (28%) to the category "malignant" (88%). Interobserver agreement was only fair.
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Variaciones Dependientes del Observador , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos , Organización Mundial de la Salud , Humanos , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos/patología , Neoplasias de los Tejidos Blandos/epidemiología , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Citodiagnóstico/métodos , CitologíaRESUMEN
Viral strains, age, and host factors are associated with variable immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and disease severity. Puerto Ricans have a genetic mixture of races: European, African, and Native American. We hypothesized that unique host proteins/pathways are associated with COVID-19 disease severity in Puerto Rico. Following IRB approval, a total of 95 unvaccinated men and women aged 21-71 years old were recruited in Puerto Rico from 2020-2021. Plasma samples were collected from COVID-19-positive subjects (n = 39) and COVID-19-negative individuals (n = 56) during acute disease. COVID-19-positive individuals were stratified based on symptomatology as follows: mild (n = 18), moderate (n = 13), and severe (n = 8). Quantitative proteomics was performed in plasma samples using tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling. Labeled peptides were subjected to LC/MS/MS and analyzed by Proteome Discoverer (version 2.5), Limma software (version 3.41.15), and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA, version 22.0.2). Cytokines were quantified using a human cytokine array. Proteomics analyses of severely affected COVID-19-positive individuals revealed 58 differentially expressed proteins. Cadherin-13, which participates in synaptogenesis, was downregulated in severe patients and validated by ELISA. Cytokine immunoassay showed that TNF-α levels decreased with disease severity. This study uncovers potential host predictors of COVID-19 severity and new avenues for treatment in Puerto Ricans.
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COVID-19 , Proteómica , SARS-CoV-2 , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Humanos , COVID-19/sangre , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/virología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Puerto Rico/epidemiología , Femenino , Masculino , Adulto , Anciano , Proteómica/métodos , Proteínas Sanguíneas/metabolismo , Proteínas Sanguíneas/análisis , Adulto Joven , Citocinas/sangre , Citocinas/metabolismo , Espectrometría de Masas en TándemRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer has been uncertain. RADICALS-RT compared efficacy and safety of adjuvant RT versus an observation policy with salvage RT for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RADICALS-RT was a randomised controlled trial enrolling patients with ≥1 risk factor (pT3/4, Gleason 7-10, positive margins, preoperative PSA≥10 ng/ml) for recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Patients were randomised 1:1 to adjuvant RT ('Adjuvant-RT') or an observation policy with salvage RT for PSA failure ('Salvage-RT') defined as PSA≥0.1 ng/ml or three consecutive rises. Stratification factors were Gleason score, margin status, planned RT schedule (52.5 Gy/20 fractions or 66 Gy/33 fractions) and treatment centre. The primary outcome measure was freedom-from-distant-metastasis (FFDM), designed with 80% power to detect an improvement from 90% with Salvage-RT (control) to 95% at 10 years with Adjuvant-RT. Secondary outcome measures were biochemical progression-free survival, freedom from non-protocol hormone therapy, safety and patient-reported outcomes. Standard survival analysis methods were used; hazard ratio (HR)<1 favours Adjuvant-RT. RESULTS: Between October 2007 and December 2016, 1396 participants from UK, Denmark, Canada and Ireland were randomised: 699 Salvage-RT, 697 Adjuvant-RT. Allocated groups were balanced with a median age of 65 years. Ninety-three percent (649/697) Adjuvant-RT reported RT within 6 months after randomisation; 39% (270/699) Salvage-RT reported RT during follow-up. Median follow-up was 7.8 years. With 80 distant metastasis events, 10-year FFDM was 93% for Adjuvant-RT and 90% for Salvage-RT: HR=0.68 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-1.07, P=0.095]. Of 109 deaths, 17 were due to prostate cancer. Overall survival was not improved (HR=0.980, 95% CI 0.667-1.440, P=0.917). Adjuvant-RT reported worse urinary and faecal incontinence 1 year after randomisation (P=0.001); faecal incontinence remained significant after 10 years (P=0.017). CONCLUSION: Long-term results from RADICALS-RT confirm adjuvant RT after radical prostatectomy increases the risk of urinary and bowel morbidity, but does not meaningfully improve disease control. An observation policy with salvage RT for PSA failure should be the current standard after radical prostatectomy. TRIAL IDENTIFICATION: RADICALS, RADICALS-RT, ISRCTN40814031, NCT00541047.
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Prostatectomía , Neoplasias de la Próstata , Terapia Recuperativa , Humanos , Masculino , Prostatectomía/métodos , Neoplasias de la Próstata/radioterapia , Neoplasias de la Próstata/cirugía , Neoplasias de la Próstata/patología , Anciano , Terapia Recuperativa/métodos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Radioterapia Adyuvante/efectos adversos , Radioterapia Adyuvante/métodos , Antígeno Prostático Específico/sangre , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/patología , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/prevención & control , Clasificación del Tumor , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) affect 15-55% of HIV-positive patients and effective therapies are unavailable. HIV-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) invade the brain of these individuals, promoting neurotoxicity. We demonstrated an increased expression of cathepsin B (CATB), a lysosomal protease, in monocytes and post-mortem brain tissues of women with HAND. Increased CATB release from HIV-infected MDM leads to neurotoxicity, and their secretion is associated with NF-κB activation, oxidative stress, and lysosomal exocytosis. Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) agonist, JWH-133, decreases HIV-1 replication, CATB secretion, and neurotoxicity from HIV-infected MDM, but the mechanisms are not entirely understood. We hypothesized that HIV-1 infection upregulates the expression of proteins associated with oxidative stress and that a CB2R agonist could reverse these effects. MDM were isolated from healthy women donors (n = 3), infected with HIV-1ADA, and treated with JWH-133. After 13 days post-infection, cell lysates were labeled by Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) and analyzed by LC/MS/MS quantitative proteomics bioinformatics. While HIV-1 infection upregulated CATB, NF-κB signaling, Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response, and lysosomal exocytosis, JWH-133 treatment downregulated the expression of the proteins involved in these pathways. Our results suggest that JWH-133 is a potential alternative therapy against HIV-induced neurotoxicity and warrant in vivo studies to test its potential against HAND.
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Cannabinoides , Infecciones por VIH , VIH-1 , Humanos , Femenino , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , Proteómica , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Infecciones por VIH/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por VIH/metabolismo , Estrés Oxidativo , Exocitosis , Lisosomas/metabolismoRESUMEN
The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of tannin and monensin supplementation in feedlot diets and breed (Holstein vs. Angusâ ×â Holstein) on growth performance, energetic efficiency, and carcass characteristics. Eighty purebred Holstein calves (HOL; initial body weight (BW)â =â 130â ±â 5 kg) and 80 Angusâ ×â Holstein calves (AXH; initial BWâ =â 129â ±â 6 kg) were blocked by initial BW and randomly assigned to 40 pens. Dietary treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based diet supplemented with (1) no feed additive (CON); (2) 30 mg of monensin/kg of dry matter (DM; MON; Rumensin 90, Elanco, Greenfield, IN); (3) 1.5 g tannin)/kg of DM (TAN; ByPro, 70% condensed tannin, SilvaFeed, Indunor, S.A., Buenos Aires, Argentina); (4) Mâ +â T, the combination of MON plus TAN dietary treatments. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block in a 2â ×â 4 factorial arrangement of treatments, using pens as experimental units. There were no interactions (Pâ >â 0.05) between feed additives and breed. Supplemental MON increased (Pâ ≤â 0.04) initial 112-d BW and gain efficiency. However, there were no dietary treatment effects (Pâ >â 0.10) on overall growth performance. Monensin supplementation decreased (Pâ =â 0.04) minimum daily ruminal temperature compared with other dietary treatments during July, but TAN did not affect ruminal temperature. Holstein steers had greater (Pâ =â 0.04) overall DM intake compared with AXH, with no difference (Pâ =â 0.19) in overall ADG, leading to increased (Pâ <â 0.01) gain efficiency for AXH compared with HOL. Dietary net energy for maintenance and gain, based on growth performance, were greater (Pâ ≤â 0.01) for AXH vs HOL. Compared with HOL, AXH steers had greater (Pâ ≤â 0.01) carcass weight, dressing percentage, kidney, pelvic, and heart fat, 12th rib fat thickness, longissimus area, and preliminary yield grade. Holstein steers had lower (Pâ ≤â 0.04) minimum average ruminal temperature during June compared with AXH, with no differences (Pâ ≥â 0.14) between breeds during July or August. Results indicate that feed additives did not appreciably affect steer growth performance and carcass characteristics, but crossbred AXH steers had greater growth performance, efficiency of dietary energy utilization, and carcass quality measures compared with HOL. This study observed a reduction (4.7%) in maintenance energy expenditure in AXH compared with HOL, implying in maintenance energy coefficient of 0.086 vs 0.082 for HOL and AXH, respectively.
Effects of tannin and monensin supplementation on growth performance, energetic efficiency, and carcass characteristics were evaluated in Holstein and Angusâ ×â Holstein steers. The investigation used a factorial design to access the impacts of both feed additives and breed on the study's parameters. Tannin supplementation did not affect growth performance. There were no dietary treatment effects on overall steer growth performance. Calf Holstein steers were fed with grain diet based. Holstein steers had greater overall DM intake than Angusâ ×â Holstein steers, but breed did not affect average daily gain. Thus, gain efficiency was greater for Angusâ ×â Holstein vs Holstein steers. There was no effect of dietary treatment on carcass measures. Compared with Holsteins, Angusâ ×â Holstein steers had greater carcass weight, dressing percentage, internal and external fat, longissimus area, and marbling score than Holstein steers. The current study suggests that monensin and tannin supplementation did not affect overall steer growth performance and carcass characteristics. Compared with Holsteins, crossbred Angusâ ×â Holstein steers had increased growth performance and carcass quality measures.
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Monensina , Taninos , Animales , Bovinos , Alimentación Animal/análisis , Dieta/veterinaria , Suplementos Dietéticos , Monensina/farmacología , Fitomejoramiento , Taninos/farmacologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study compared mental health treatment engagement among people with serious mental illness after release from jails that had either a for-profit (N=3 jails) or a nonprofit mental health provider (N=7 jails). METHODS: Across the 10 jails, data were collected in 2019 for 1,238 individuals with serious mental illness. Data included demographic characteristics (age, race-ethnicity, gender, geography, and jail type) and behavioral health variables (previous mental health treatment, psychotropic medication use, substance use, and receipt of jail-based mental health services). Logistic regression was used to predict treatment engagement during the year after release, stratified by type of jail-based mental health provider, in analyses controlled for demographic and behavioral health variables. RESULTS: Almost half (46%, N=573) of the individuals had stayed in jails with a for-profit mental health provider; the other half (54%, N=665) had stayed in jails with a nonprofit provider. In the year after release, 37% (N=458) of all individuals engaged in mental health treatment, and 63% (N=780) did not. Those who had stayed in a jail with a for-profit provider were significantly less likely to engage in mental health treatment during the year after release (AOR=0.59, 95% CI=0.42-0.83, p<0.01), compared with those in jails having a nonprofit provider. CONCLUSIONS: Staying in a jail with a for-profit mental health provider was associated with reduced postrelease engagement with community service providers. Less engagement with services during a pivotal time after release may increase behavioral health crises that erode individuals' well-being and may raise downstream costs due to further criminal legal involvement and emergency care use.
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Cárceles Locales , Trastornos Mentales , Servicios de Salud Mental , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Trastornos Mentales/terapia , Servicios de Salud Mental/estadística & datos numéricos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Organizaciones sin Fines de Lucro , Prisioneros/psicología , Prisioneros/estadística & datos numéricos , Instituciones Privadas de Salud , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Next generation sequencing (NGS) is standard of care for workup of many neoplasms including adenocarcinomas of the lung. Molecular testing of cytology samples is used for many types of neoplasms but the value of such testing for the selection of "first"- and "second-line" treatment protocols is incompletely understood. METHODS: Fifty-six sequentially performed cytology specimens (49 fine needle aspirates and 7 fluids) submitted for molecular analysis were reviewed by a medical oncologist to determine specimen adequacy and utility of results for therapy selection. Chart review was performed to determine availability of microsatellite instability status, tumor mutational burden, and presence of driver mutations treatable with targeted therapy in a "first"- or "second-line" application. RESULTS: Forty of 56 cases were successfully sequenced and 34% (19/56) had targetable mutations detected by NGS. Ten of these 19 cases (53%) received targeted therapy for their tumor type with five of 10 patients receiving "first-line" therapy and five (50%) "second-line" therapy. Twenty-two mutations were detected where no targeted therapy for the patient's tumor type existed but targeted therapies were available for other tumor types. Of these specimens, only one patient received treatment using protocols associated with a second tumor type. Total mutation burden and microsatellite instability status results were obtained in 29 of 56 cases (52%). CONCLUSIONS: 71% (40/56) of cytologic specimens were adequate for sequencing with 34% (19/56) demonstrating a targetable mutation and 53% of these patients receiving therapy targeted to the driver mutation of their tumor type.
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Adenocarcinoma , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Inestabilidad de Microsatélites , Adenocarcinoma/patología , Citodiagnóstico/métodos , Biopsia con Aguja Fina/métodos , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Molecular , Mutación , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento/métodos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologíaRESUMEN
Although liver transplantation is the gold-standard therapy for end-stage liver disease, the shortage of suitable organs results in only 25% of waitlisted patients undergoing transplants. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is an emerging technology and a potential solution for personalized medicine applications. This review highlights existing 3D bioprinting technologies of liver tissues, current anatomical and physiological limitations to 3D bioprinting of a whole liver, and recent progress bringing this innovation closer to clinical use. We reviewed updated literature across multiple facets in 3D bioprinting, comparing laser, inkjet, and extrusion-based printing modalities, scaffolded versus scaffold-free systems, development of an oxygenated bioreactor, and challenges in establishing long-term viability of hepatic parenchyma and incorporating structurally and functionally robust vasculature and biliary systems. Advancements in liver organoid models have also increased their complexity and utility for liver disease modeling, pharmacologic testing, and regenerative medicine. Recent developments in 3D bioprinting techniques have improved the speed, anatomical, and physiological accuracy, and viability of 3D-bioprinted liver tissues. Optimization focusing on 3D bioprinting of the vascular system and bile duct has improved both the structural and functional accuracy of these models, which will be critical in the successful expansion of 3D-bioprinted liver tissues toward transplantable organs. With further dedicated research, patients with end-stage liver disease may soon be recipients of customized 3D-bioprinted livers, reducing or eliminating the need for immunosuppressive regimens.
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Bioimpresión , Enfermedad Hepática en Estado Terminal , Humanos , Ingeniería de Tejidos/métodos , Bioimpresión/métodos , Impresión Tridimensional , Andamios del TejidoRESUMEN
Intron retention is a mechanism of post-transcriptional gene regulation, including genes involved in erythropoiesis. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone without evidence of intracellular vesicle storage that regulates erythropoiesis. We hypothesize that EPO uses intron retention as a mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation in response to hypoxia and ischemia. Cell models of hypoxia and ischemia for kidney, liver, and brain cells were examined for intron retention by real time quantitative PCR. EPO expression increased in most cells except for blood brain barrier and liver cells. The intron retained transcript ratio decreased in brain cells, except for Astrocytes, but showed no change in kidney or liver after 24 h of ischemia. The shift in intron ratio was maintained when using poly (A) enriched cDNA, suggesting that intron retention is not due to immature transcripts. The expression of EPO was elevated at variable time points amongst cell models with the intron ratio also changing over a time course of 2 to 16 h after ischemia. We conclude that intron retention is a mechanism regulating EPO expression in response to ischemia in a tissue specific manner.
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Eritropoyetina , Humanos , Intrones/genética , Eritropoyetina/genética , Eritropoyetina/metabolismo , Hipoxia/genética , Encéfalo/metabolismo , IsquemiaRESUMEN
The purpose of pulmonary cytology is two-fold. First, to establish whether a pulmonary nodule is benign or malignant. Second, pulmonary cytology should classify the type of pathologic process present. When a pulmonary nodule is characterized as malignant, it is of high importance to further classify the malignancy as to type, with non-small cell carcinomas being sub-divided into adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and other types of non-small cell carcinoma. The World Health Organization Reporting System for Lung Cytopathology (WHORSLC) provides an important framework for reporting and classifying material obtained by cytologic techniques, including sputum analysis, bronchial brushings, bronchial washings, and fine-needle aspiration. The system contains five categories for specimen reporting. Clinicians prefer definitive diagnoses separating specimens into definitively benign or definitively malignant categories. The WHORSLC recognizes that it is not invariably possible for cytopathologists to separate specimens into definitively benign or definitively malignant categories. The five categories of the WHORSLC recognize the spectrum of cytologic changes running from clearly benign to clearly malignant, which cytopathologists must place into diagnostically useful and reproduceable categories. The intermediate categories of "atypical" and "suspicious for malignancy" provide structured categories with stringent definitions, estimated malignancy risks, and suggested management and follow-up recommendations. In this way, the categories "atypical" and "suspicious for malignancy" aid in maintaining the high diagnostic accuracy of the "benign" and "malignant" categories.
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IMPORTANCE: Picobirnaviruses (PBVs) are highly heterogeneous viruses encoding a capsid and RdRp. Detected in a wide variety of animals with and without disease, their association with gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, and consequently their public health importance, has rightly been questioned. Determining the "true" host of Picobirnavirus lies at the center of this debate, as evidence exists for them having both vertebrate and prokaryotic origins. Using integrated and time-stamped phylogenetic approaches, we show they are contemporaneous viruses descending from two different ancestors: avian Reovirus and fungal Partitivirus. The fungal PBV-R2 species emerged with a single segment (RdRp) until it acquired a capsid from vertebrate PBV-R1 and PBV-R3 species. Protein and RNA folding analyses revealed how the former came to resemble the latter over time. Thus, parallel evolution from disparate hosts has driven the adaptation and genetic diversification of the Picobirnaviridae family.
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Picobirnavirus , Infecciones por Virus ARN , Animales , Filogenia , Picobirnavirus/genética , Heces , Infecciones por Virus ARN/veterinaria , Proteínas de la Cápside/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genéticaRESUMEN
Striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase (STEP) is a brain-specific enzyme that regulates the signaling molecules that control synaptic plasticity and neuronal function. Dysregulation of STEP is linked to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Experimental results from neurological deficit disease models suggest that the modulation of STEP could be beneficial in a number of these disorders. This prompted our work to identify small-molecule modulators of STEP to provide the foundation of a drug discovery program. As a component of our testing funnel to identify small-molecule STEP inhibitors, we have developed a cellular target engagement assay that can identify compounds that interact with STEP46. We provide a comprehensive protocol to enable the use of this miniaturized assay, and we demonstrate its utility to benchmark the binding of newly discovered compounds.
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Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Proteínas Tirosina Fosfatasas no Receptoras , Humanos , Proteínas Tirosina Fosfatasas no Receptoras/genética , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Neuronas/metabolismo , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Appropriate clinical management of salivary gland lesions requires a determination as to whether a salivary gland nodule is benign or malignant. Approximately three-quarters of all salivary gland nodules represent benign neoplasms. Separation of salivary gland carcinomas from benign lesions can be diagnostically challenging. The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology recommends the correlation of cytologic diagnoses with imaging and clinical findings creating a diagnostic triplet. How often the "Triple Diagnosis" method is used and its accuracy in separating salivary gland nodules into benign and malignant groups are unknown. METHODS: An electronic records search of cytology files at the University of Missouri was performed for fine needle aspirates of the salivary gland obtained between September 2018 and August 2022. Chart review was performed for preoperative clinical and imaging diagnoses. Diagnostic "Triplets" constructed from cytologic, clinical, and imaging diagnoses were correlated with final surgical pathology diagnosis. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six FNAs were identified. Eighty-seven cases had preoperative imaging with 52 of these cases having clinical diagnoses. Due to the lack of a definitive clinical or imaging diagnosis for a nodule as benign or malignant, only 12 (23%) cases had definitive "Triplets." Nine (17%) "Triplets" were benign and three (6%) were malignant. Accuracy of concordant triplets was 100% for the prediction of malignancy and 89% for the prediction of a benign result as determined by final histologic diagnoses. CONCLUSION: While highly accurate in predicting the benign or malignant nature of a salivary gland nodule, concordant triplets made up only 23% of cases limiting their clinical utility.
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The first 18 months of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in Colombia were characterized by three epidemic waves. During the third wave, from March through August 2021, intervariant competition resulted in Mu replacing Alpha and Gamma. We employed Bayesian phylodynamic inference and epidemiological modeling to characterize the variants in the country during this period of competition. Phylogeographic analysis indicated that Mu did not emerge in Colombia but acquired increased fitness there through local transmission and diversification, contributing to its export to North America and Europe. Despite not having the highest transmissibility, Mu's genetic composition and ability to evade preexisting immunity facilitated its domination of the Colombian epidemic landscape. Our results support previous modeling studies demonstrating that both intrinsic factors (transmissibility and genetic diversity) and extrinsic factors (time of introduction and acquired immunity) influence the outcome of intervariant competition. This analysis will help set practical expectations about the inevitable emergences of new variants and their trajectories. IMPORTANCE Before the appearance of the Omicron variant in late 2021, numerous SARS-CoV-2 variants emerged, were established, and declined, often with different outcomes in different geographic areas. In this study, we considered the trajectory of the Mu variant, which only successfully dominated the epidemic landscape of a single country: Colombia. We demonstrate that Mu competed successfully there due to its early and opportune introduction time in late 2020, combined with its ability to evade immunity granted by prior infection or the first generation of vaccines. Mu likely did not effectively spread outside of Colombia because other immune-evading variants, such as Delta, had arrived in those locales and established themselves first. On the other hand, Mu's early spread within Colombia may have prevented the successful establishment of Delta there. Our analysis highlights the geographic heterogeneity of early SARS-CoV-2 variant spread and helps to reframe the expectations for the competition behaviors of future variants.
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COVID-19 , Humanos , Teorema de Bayes , COVID-19/epidemiología , Colombia/epidemiología , SARS-CoV-2/genéticaRESUMEN
Characterized by high genetic diversity, broad host range, and resistance to adverse conditions, coupled with recent reports of neurotropic astroviruses circulating in humans, mamastroviruses pose a threat to public health. The current astrovirus classification system based on host source prevents determining whether strains with distinct tropism or virulence are emerging. By using integrated phylogeny, we propose a standardized demarcation of species and genotypes, with reproducible cut-off values that reconcile the pairwise sequence distribution, genetic distances between lineages, and the topological reconstruction of the Mamastrovirus genus. We further define the various links established by co-evolution and resolve the dynamics of transmission chains to identify host-jump events and the sources from which different mamastrovirus species circulating in humans have emerged. We observed that recombination is relatively infrequent and restricted to within genotypes. The well-known "human" astrovirus, defined here as mamastrovirus species 7, has co-speciated with humans, while there have been two additional host-jumps into humans from distinct hosts. Newly defined species 6 genotype 2, linked to severe gastroenteritis in children, resulted from a marmot to human jump taking place â¼200 years ago while species 6 genotype 7 (MastV-Sp6Gt7), linked to neurological disease in immunocompromised patients, jumped from bovines only â¼50 years ago. Through demographic reconstruction, we determined that the latter reached coalescent viral population growth only 20 years ago and is evolving at a much higher evolutionary rate than other genotypes infecting humans. This study constitutes mounting evidence of MastV-Sp6Gt7 active circulation and highlights the need for diagnostics capable of detecting it.
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Infecciones por Astroviridae , Astroviridae , Gastroenteritis , Mamastrovirus , Niño , Humanos , Animales , Bovinos , Mamastrovirus/genética , Infecciones por Astroviridae/epidemiología , Filogenia , HecesRESUMEN
The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Academy of Cytology, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have developed an approach to standardized reporting of pancreaticobiliary cytopathology. The WHO Reporting System for Pancreaticobiliary Cytopathology (WHO System) revises the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology (PSC) System for Reporting Pancreaticobiliary Cytology published in 2015 and replaces the 6 PSC categories with 7 categories: "Insufficient/Inadequate/Nondiagnostic"; "Benign/Negative for malignancy"; "Atypical"; "Pancreaticobiliary neoplasm, low risk/grade (PaN-low)"; "Pancreatic neoplasm, high risk/grade (PaN-High)"; "Suspicious for malignancy"; and "Malignant". In the PSC system, there is a single category for "Neoplastic" lesions that includes 2 groups, 1 for benign neoplasms and 1 named "Neoplastic-other", dominated by premalignant intraductal neoplasms primarily intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and low-grade malignant neoplasms (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET) and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPN). In the WHO System, benign neoplasms with virtually no risk of malignancy are included in the "Benign" category and low-grade malignancies (PanNET and SPN) are included in the "Malignant" category, as per the 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Digestive System Tumors, while the non-invasive pre-malignant lesions of the ducts are divided by the cytomorphological grade of the epithelium into PaN-low and PaN-high with distinctly different risks of malignancy. Within each category, key diagnostic cytopathologic features and the ancillary studies for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation, as well as the implications of diagnosis for patient care and management, are outlined. Reporting and diagnostic management options recognize the variations in the availability of diagnostic and prognostic ancillary testing modalities in low- and middle-income countries.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Humanos , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patología , Citodiagnóstico , Sociedades MédicasRESUMEN
Pathogens carried by insects, such as bunyaviruses, are frequently transmitted into human populations and cause diseases. Knowing which spillover events represent a public health threat remains a challenge. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) can support infectious disease diagnostics by enabling the detection of any pathogen from clinical specimens. mNGS was performed on blood samples to identify potential viral coinfections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals from Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), participating in an HIV diversity cohort study. Time-resolved phylogenetics and molecular assay development assisted in viral characterization. The nearly complete genome of a novel orthobunyavirus related to Nyangole virus, a virus previously identified in neighboring Uganda, was assembled from a hepatitis B virus-positive patient. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was designed and used to screen >2,500 plasma samples from Cameroon, the DRC, and Uganda, failing to identify any additional cases. The recent sequencing of a US Center for Disease Control Arbovirus Reference Collection revealed that this same virus, now named Bangui virus, was first isolated in 1970 from an individual in the Central African Republic. Time-scaled phylogenetic analyses of Bangui with the related Anopheles and Tanga serogroup complexes indicate that this virus emerged nearly 10,000 years ago. Pervasive and episodic models further suggest that this virus is under purifying selection and that only distant common ancestors were subject to positive selection events. This study represents only the second identification of a Bangui virus infection in over 50 years. The presumed rarity of Bangui virus infections in humans can be explained by its constraint to an avian host and insect vector, precluding efficient transmission into the human population. Our results demonstrate that molecular phylogenetic analyses can provide insights into the threat posed by novel or re-emergent viruses identified by mNGS.