Monitoring environmental microbiomes: Alignment of microbiology and computational biology competencies within a culturally integrated curriculum and research framework.

We have developed a flexible undergraduate curriculum that leverages the place-based research of environmental microbiomes to increase the number of Indigenous researchers in microbiology, data science and scientific computing. Monitoring Environmental Microbiomes (MEM) provides a curriculum and research framework designed to integrate an Indigenous approach when conducting authentic scientific research and to build interest and confidence at the undergraduate level. MEM has been successfully implemented as a short summer workshop to introduce computing practices in microbiome analysis. Based on self-assessed student knowledge of topics and skills, increased scientific confidence and interest in genomics careers were observed. We propose MEM be incorporated in a scalable course-based research experience for undergraduate institutions, including tribal colleges and universities, community colleges and other minority serving institutions. This coupled curricular and research framework explicitly considers cultural perspectives, access and equity to train a diverse future workforce that is more informed to engage in microbiome research and to translate microbiome science to benefit community and environmental health.

Innovative Strategies for the Management of a Massive Neonatal Rhabdomyoma.

Rhabdomyomas are histologically benign tumors known to be associated with tuberous sclerosis. The natural history predicts the majority of tumors to be asymptomatic and regress within the first year of life. We describe a neonate presenting on day 1 of life with cardiovascular collapse secondary to a massive rhabdomyoma. Surgical resection was excluded due to the extensive nature of the lesion and oral sirolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, was commenced to promote tumor regression. The patient developed intractable arrhythmias requiring extracorporeal life support during therapy.

Prenatal diagnosis of left ventricular diverticulum and coarctation of the aorta.

Congenital left ventricular diverticulum (LVD) is a rare abnormality of the myocardium which has been detected previously in the fetus. Lesions have been reported from as early as 12 weeks' gestation but are more commonly detected in the mid-second trimester. Fetal presentation of LVD ranges from an abnormal four-chamber view of the heart, arrhythmia or isolated pericardial effusion to fetal hydrops with associated heart failure. Here, we describe the prenatal diagnosis of an infant with LVD originating from the left ventricular outflow tract associated with coarctation of the aorta. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally by two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We hypothesize that the lesion compromised antegrade flow into the transverse aortic arch, which may have contributed to underdevelopment of the aortic arch and subsequently the development of coarctation of the aorta. This is a unique case of LVD and coarctation of the aorta.

Molecular profiling reveals prognostically significant subtypes of canine lymphoma.

We performed genomewide gene expression analysis of 35 samples representing 6 common histologic subtypes of canine lymphoma and bioinformatics analyses to define their molecular characteristics. Three major groups were defined on the basis of gene expression profiles: (1) low-grade T-cell lymphoma, composed entirely by T-zone lymphoma; (2) high-grade T-cell lymphoma, consisting of lymphoblastic T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified; and (3) B-cell lymphoma, consisting of marginal B-cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma. Interspecies comparative analyses of gene expression profiles also showed that marginal B-cell lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in dogs and humans might represent a continuum of disease with similar drivers. The classification of these diverse tumors into 3 subgroups was prognostically significant, as the groups were directly correlated with event-free survival. Finally, we developed a benchtop diagnostic test based on expression of 4 genes that can robustly classify canine lymphomas into one of these 3 subgroups, enabling a direct clinical application for our results.

An unusual cause of neonatal coagulopathy and liver disease.

Congenital thyrotoxicosis is a rare and potentially fatal illness. We report a case in a preterm infant delivered to a mother known to have autoimmune endocrine disease. Diagnosis was difficult because the infant's presenting symptoms and signs closely resembled congenital viral infection with co-existent hepatic dysfunction and coagulopathy. The associated hepatic dysfunction was so severe that liver biopsy was scheduled before the diagnosis emerged. A high degree of clinical suspicion coupled with prenatal identification of pregnancies at risk of complication by congenital thyrotoxicosis is imperative to facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment.