ABSTRACT
Bronchogenic cysts are congenital malformations of the bronchial tree, detected as a cystic and/or mass lesion in the thoracic cavity. Although it occurs in distant locations, such as skin and retroperitoneum, to the best of our knowledge, little is known about the components and phenotypes of the epithelium that line a bronchogenic cyst in rare sites. The present study reviewed 34 bronchogenic cysts that were surgically resected at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital (Osaka, Japan) from January 1998 to December 2020. Bronchogenic cysts in rare sites were detected and diagnosis was confirmed based on the presence of pseudostratified, ciliated and/or columnar epithelium together with at least one of the following: Cartilage, smooth muscle or seromucous glands. The phenotypes of epithelium lining the cyst were characterized using immunohistochemical analysis. A total of six bronchogenic cysts in rare sites (two cases each in the retroperitoneum and skin and one case each in the cervical spinal cord and pericardial cavity) met the criteria for confirmation of the diagnoses. The epithelium lining the cyst stained positive for cytokeratin CK7 and thyroid transcription factor 1 (a marker expressed in thyroid follicles and bronchial epithelium) and negative for CK20, indicating that the phenotypes were similar to those of the respiratory epithelium. The present study demonstrated that a bronchogenic cyst can occur in rare sites, such as the retroperitoneum, skin, spinal cord and pericardial cavity, suggesting that it should be considered as a differential diagnosis before surgical approach to implement relevant management modalities such as follow-up, simple or radical resection.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine how the intrinsic severity of successively dominant SARS-CoV-2 variants changed over the course of the pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) Health Board. All sequenced non-nosocomial adult COVID-19 cases in NHS GGC with relevant SARS-CoV-2 lineages (B.1.177/Alpha, Alpha/Delta, AY.4.2 Delta/non-AY.4.2 Delta, non-AY.4.2 Delta/Omicron, and BA.1 Omicron/BA.2 Omicron) during analysis periods were included. Outcome measures were hospital admission, ICU admission, or death within 28 days of positive COVID-19 test. We report the cumulative odds ratio; the ratio of the odds that an individual experiences a severity event of a given level vs all lower severity levels for the resident and the replacement variant after adjustment. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, the cumulative odds ratio was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.08-2.11) for Alpha versus B.1.177, 2.09 (95% CI: 1.42-3.08) for Delta versus Alpha, 0.99 (95% CI: 0.76-1.27) for AY.4.2 Delta versus non-AY.4.2 Delta, 0.49 (95% CI: 0.22-1.06) for Omicron versus non-AY.4.2 Delta, and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.68-1.09) for BA.2 Omicron versus BA.1 Omicron. CONCLUSIONS: The direction of change in intrinsic severity between successively emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants was inconsistent, reminding us that the intrinsic severity of future SARS-CoV-2 variants remains uncertain.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Adult , Humans , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Retrospective Studies , HospitalizationABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was associated with increased transmission relative to other variants present at the time of its emergence and several studies have shown an association between Alpha variant infection and increased hospitalisation and 28-day mortality. However, none have addressed the impact on maximum severity of illness in the general population classified by the level of respiratory support required, or death. We aimed to do this. METHODS: In this retrospective multi-centre clinical cohort sub-study of the COG-UK consortium, 1475 samples from Scottish hospitalised and community cases collected between 1st November 2020 and 30th January 2021 were sequenced. We matched sequence data to clinical outcomes as the Alpha variant became dominant in Scotland and modelled the association between Alpha variant infection and severe disease using a 4-point scale of maximum severity by 28 days: 1. no respiratory support, 2. supplemental oxygen, 3. ventilation and 4. death. RESULTS: Our cumulative generalised linear mixed model analyses found evidence (cumulative odds ratio: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.93) of a positive association between increased clinical severity and lineage (Alpha variant versus pre-Alpha variants). CONCLUSIONS: The Alpha variant was associated with more severe clinical disease in the Scottish population than co-circulating lineages.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Retrospective Studies , Scotland/epidemiology , GenomicsABSTRACT
Symplocarpus nipponicus, a member of the Araceae family, is an endangered plant in several prefectures in Japan. For the conservation of this wild species, we investigated the morphology, life cycle, and genetic diversity of three wild populations. By fixed-point observation over several years, we found that it takes at least four years for the plant to set the inflorescences consisting of spadices and spathes, and another two years for it to set mature seeds. To examine the genetic diversity in the wild population, we developed 11 novel microsatellite markers and investigated the genetic variation in three populations in Kyoto Prefecture: Ayabe, Hanase, and Momoi. The Ayabe population carried less genetic variation than the other two areas, suggesting the isolation of the habitat and thus a higher risk of extinction. Our results provide basic knowledge of the ecological aspects of S. nipponicus, as well as molecular techniques for the assessment of its genetic diversity, and thus are useful for the conservation of this endangered species.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate specific MRI findings for the prompt diagnosis of tubal torsion by reviewing 12 cases. METHODS: The MRI findings presenting surgically and pathologically proven isolated tubal torsion were evaluated. RESULTS: Key specific findings, including whirlpool sign and plicae tubaliae, were frequently associated with the diseases and were grouped for three types. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of specific MRI findings and the types of tubal torsion may lead to a correct and prompt diagnosis, resulting in preservation of fertility.
Subject(s)
Fallopian Tube Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Torsion Abnormality/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Fallopian Tube Diseases/pathology , Fallopian Tube Diseases/surgery , Fallopian Tubes/diagnostic imaging , Fallopian Tubes/pathology , Fallopian Tubes/surgery , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Torsion Abnormality/pathology , Torsion Abnormality/surgery , Young AdultABSTRACT
Thiacalix[3]pyridine (Py3S3) reacted with [Rh(diene)(mu-Cl)]2(diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), 2,5-norbornadiene (nbd)) to give amphiphilic trigonal bipyramidal complexes, [Rh(Py3S3)(diene)]Cl. Sulfur bridges of the Py3S3 ligand in these complexes were selectively oxygenated by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid in dichloromethane to give sulfinylcalix[3]pyridine complexes, [Rh(Py3(SO)3)(diene)]+, in which all three oxygen atoms of the SO groups occupy the equatorial positions. Structures of the complexes were analysed by X-ray crystallography and the oxidation reaction was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry showing that the oxygenation of the sulfur atoms in the ligand proceeded stepwise and further oxygenation of the SO moiety occurred only for the nbd complex having the smaller diene ligand resulting in [Rh(Py3(SO)2(SO2))(nbd)]+. On the other hand, the oxidation of [Rh(Py3S3)(cod)]+ by H2O2 in water did not result in oxygenation of the sulfur bridges but the cod ligand is hydroxygenated to give 1,4,5,6-eta4-2-hydroxycycloocta-4-ene-1,6-di-yl.