-
The Journal of Veterinary Medical... Jun 2024Sarcocystis spp. cause pigeon protozoan encephalitis, a neuronal disease. A female pigeon exhibiting torticollis had a necrotic area in the cerebral hemisphere...
Sarcocystis spp. cause pigeon protozoan encephalitis, a neuronal disease. A female pigeon exhibiting torticollis had a necrotic area in the cerebral hemisphere surrounded by lesions with perivascular cuffing, gliosis, granulomatous foci, and meningitis. Non-necrotic lesions were also observed in the brainstem. Intact and degenerative schizonts were observed within the neuropils and neurons in the lesions. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from paraffin-embedded brain tissues and genetically analyzed after gel electrophoresis to determine Sarcocystis spp. using specific primer sets for 28S ribosomal ribonucleic acid and internal transcribed spacer region-1. DNA sequencing confirmed a significant homology with S. calchasi. This is the first report of meningoencephalitis with malacia caused by S. calchasi in a rock pigeon in Japan.
PubMed: 38925932
DOI: 10.1292/jvms.24-0069 -
Molecular Oncology Jun 2024Endometrioid ovarian cancers (EOvC) are usually managed as serous tumors. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive molecular investigation to uncover the distinct...
Endometrioid ovarian cancers (EOvC) are usually managed as serous tumors. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive molecular investigation to uncover the distinct biological characteristics of EOvC. This retrospective multicenter study involved patients from three European centers. We collected clinical data and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples for analysis at the DNA level using panel-based next-generation sequencing and array-comparative genomic hybridization. Additionally, we examined mRNA expression using NanoString nCounter® and protein expression through tissue microarray. We compared EOvC with other ovarian subtypes and uterine endometrioid tumors. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of molecular alterations on patient outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Preliminary analysis of clinical data from 668 patients, including 86 (12.9%) EOvC, revealed more favorable prognosis for EOvC compared with serous ovarian carcinoma (5-year OS of 60% versus 45%; P = 0.001) driven by diagnosis at an earlier stage. Immunohistochemistry and copy number alteration (CNA) profiles of 43 cases with clinical data and FFPE samples available indicated that EOvC protein expression and CNA profiles were more similar to endometrioid endometrial tumors than to serous ovarian carcinomas. EOvC exhibited specific alterations, such as lower rates of PTEN loss, mutations in DNA repair genes, and P53 abnormalities. Survival analysis showed that patients with tumors harboring loss of PTEN expression had worse outcomes (median PFS 19.6 months vs. not reached; P = 0.034). Gene expression profile analysis confirmed that EOvC differed from serous tumors. However, comparison to other rare subtypes of ovarian cancer suggested that the EOvC transcriptomic profile was close to that of ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Downregulation of genes involved in the PI3K pathway and DNA methylation was observed in EOvC. In conclusion, EOvC represents a distinct biological entity and should be regarded as such in the development of specific clinical approaches.
PubMed: 38923749
DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13679 -
Pathophysiology : the Official Journal... Jun 2024Vaginal agenesis (VA) is frequently associated with mullerian agenesis. VA treatments include mechanical dilation and surgical vaginoplasty. We created a vaginal...
Vaginal agenesis (VA) is frequently associated with mullerian agenesis. VA treatments include mechanical dilation and surgical vaginoplasty. We created a vaginal expansion sleeve (VES) as a novel device to progressively lengthen the vaginal canal. This study evaluated the histologic effects of the VES on rat vaginal tissue. The VES is a spring-like device made of proprietary woven cylindrical material and flat resin caps. The VESs were constructed as 25-30 mm, pre-contracted springs, which were secured into the vaginas of six Sprague Dawley rats and allowed to re-expand post-surgically. After one week, the VESs were removed, and the vaginas were harvested and measured in length. Test ( = 6) and control ( = 4) formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome, and anti-Desmin antibodies. The VESs achieved significant vaginal lengthening. The mean vaginal canal length increased from 20.0 ± 2.4 mm to 23.8 ± 1.2 mm after removal of the VESs ( = 6, < 0.001), a 19% increase. There was a positive correlation between the expander/tension generated in the vagina and the amount of acute and chronic inflammation. H&E staining revealed increased submucosal eosinophilia in five of the six test tissues. One VES sample that was lengthened to 30 mm long showed evidence of lymphocytic and neutrophilic inflammation. Desmin immunostaining and Masson's trichrome stain revealed a thinner muscularis with more infiltrative fibrous tissue between muscle fibers in the test tissue compared to the control tissue. Although effective, the VES may provoke at least a transient increase in eosinophils consistent with a localized immune reaction during muscularis remodeling.
PubMed: 38921727
DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology31020022 -
Current Issues in Molecular Biology May 2024The Asteraceae are widely distributed throughout the world, with diverse functions and large genomes. Many of these genes remain undiscovered and unstudied. In this...
The Asteraceae are widely distributed throughout the world, with diverse functions and large genomes. Many of these genes remain undiscovered and unstudied. In this study, we discovered a new gene in and studied its function. In this study, bioinformatics, RT-qPCR, paraffin sectioning, and tobacco transgenics were utilized to bioinformatically analyze and functionally study the three variable splice variants of the unknown gene cloned from . The results showed that and had selective 3' splicing and selective 5' splicing, and had selective 5' splicing. When the corresponding transgenic tobacco plants were subjected to abiotic stress treatment, in the tobacco seedlings, the gene and the gene enhanced salt and low-temperature tolerance and the gene enhanced low-temperature tolerance; in mature tobacco plants, the gene was able to enhance salt and low-temperature tolerance, and the and genes were able to enhance low-temperature tolerance. In summary, there are differences in the functions of the different splice variants and the different seedling stages of transgenic tobacco, but all of them enhanced the resistance of tobacco to a certain extent. The analysis and functional characterization of the gene provided new potential genes and research directions for abiotic resistance breeding in .
PubMed: 38920986
DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060314 -
Current Issues in Molecular Biology May 2024The expression and function of podoplanin (PDPN) in the normal human placenta has been debated in placental evaluation. This study emphasizes the importance of a...
Combining RNAscope, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Digital Image Analysis to Assess Podoplanin (PDPN) Protein and PDPN_mRNA Expression on Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Normal Human Placenta Tissues.
The expression and function of podoplanin (PDPN) in the normal human placenta has been debated in placental evaluation. This study emphasizes the importance of a multimodal approach of PDPN expression in normal human placentas. A complete examination is performed using immunohistochemistry, RNAscope and automated Digital Image examination (DIA) interpretation. QuPath DIA-based analysis automatically generated the stromal and histological scores of PDPN expression for immunohistochemistry and RNAscope stains. The umbilical cord's isolated fibroblasts and luminal structures expressed PDPN protein and PDPN_mRNA. RNAscope detected PDPN_mRNA upregulation in syncytial placental knots trophoblastic cells, but immunohistochemistry did not certify this at the protein level. The study found a significant correlation between the IHC and RNAscope H-Score ( = 0.033) and Allred Score ( = 0.05). A successful multimodal strategy for PDPN assessment in human placentas confirmed PDPN expression heterogeneity in the full-term human normal placenta and umbilical cord at the protein and mRNA level. In placental syncytial knots trophoblastic cells, PDPN showed mRNA overexpression, suggesting a potential role in placenta maturation.
PubMed: 38920982
DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060310 -
Biosensors Jun 2024An integrated and high-throughput device for pathogen detection is crucial in point-of-care testing (POCT), especially for early diagnosis of infectious diseases and...
An integrated and high-throughput device for pathogen detection is crucial in point-of-care testing (POCT), especially for early diagnosis of infectious diseases and preventing the spread of infection. We developed an on-site testing platform that utilizes a centrifugal microfluidic chip and automated device to achieve high-throughput detection. The low-power (<32 W), portable (220 mm × 220 mm × 170 mm, 4 kg) device can complete bacterial lysis, nucleic acid extraction and purification, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction, and real-time fluorescence detection. Magnetic beads for nucleic acid adsorption can be mixed by applying electromagnetic fields and centrifugal forces, and the efficiency of nucleic acid extraction is improved by 60% compared to the no-mixing group. The automated nucleic acid extraction process achieves equivalent nucleic acid extraction efficiency in only 40% of the time consumed using the kit protocol. By designing the valve system and disc layout, the maximum speed required for the centrifugal microfluidic chip is reduced to 1500 rpm, greatly reducing the equipment power consumption and size. In detecting , our platform achieves a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 CFU/mL in 60 min. In summary, our active centrifugal microfluidic platform provides a solution for the integration of complex biological assays on turntables, with great potential in the application of point-of-care diagnosis.
Topics: Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Escherichia coli; Humans; Biosensing Techniques; Limit of Detection; Centrifugation; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
PubMed: 38920617
DOI: 10.3390/bios14060313 -
CEN Case Reports Jun 2024Crystalglobulin-induced nephropathy is a rare disease that causes the deposition of crystallized monoclonal immunoglobulins into the glomerular capillary and arteriole...
Crystalglobulin-induced nephropathy is a rare disease that causes the deposition of crystallized monoclonal immunoglobulins into the glomerular capillary and arteriole spaces. Here, we report the case of a patient who presented with skin ulcers, urinary protein, and renal dysfunction. The patient underwent renal and skin biopsies, and the biopsy tissue samples were subjected to mass spectrometry. The patient was diagnosed with crystalglobulin-induced nephropathy. A literature review suggested that pathological examinations using electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and immunofluorescent staining of paraffin-embedded biopsy samples treated with pronase may be useful for the diagnosis of this condition.
PubMed: 38918330
DOI: 10.1007/s13730-024-00906-x -
Translational Oncology Jun 2024Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with poor prognosis, wherefore targeted therapies have experienced increasing interest. Zolbetuximab is a novel...
PURPOSE
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with poor prognosis, wherefore targeted therapies have experienced increasing interest. Zolbetuximab is a novel targeted therapy under investigation in patients with PDAC and targets Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2), which is a component of tight junctions and is of significance in various solid tumors. As its role in PDAC is not definitively elucidated, this study aims to clarify the significance of CLDN18.2 expression in PDAC in a real-world setting.
METHODS
All patients (n = 309) were recruited at one of the PANCALYZE study centers and received pancreatic resection with curative intention. Paraffin samples were analyzed using an antibody against CLDN18.2, which is known to be comparable to the antibody used by the SPOTLIGHT and GLOW studies.
RESULTS
94 PDACs are positive for CLDN18.2 (30.4 %). Positive CLDN 18.2 expression was associated with significantly better cancer differentiation (p < 0.001). Patients with positive CLDN18.2 expression showed significantly better overall survival when compared to patients with negative expression (median OS: 30 versus 18 months, p = 0.003). Additionally, in multivariable analyses, CLDN18.2 expression was identified as an independent factor for better survival in patients with PDAC (HR = 0.686, 95 %CI = 0.492-0.956, p = 0.026).
CONCLUSION
Significant improvement in survival could be demonstrated by adding Zolbetuximab to known chemotherapy regimes in patients with gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma with at least 75 % CLDN18.2 positive cancer cells. Our findings demonstrate, that 30.4 % of the included patients with PDAC would potentially be eligible for therapy with Zolbetuximab in a real-world patient cohort. Results of trials targeting Claudin 18.2 are pending in patients with PDAC.
PubMed: 38917592
DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102044 -
Cureus May 2024Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, owing to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. The role of folate receptors,...
INTRODUCTION
Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, owing to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. The role of folate receptors, particularly folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) and folate receptor 2 (FOLR2), in cancer has been increasingly recognized due to their overexpression in various malignancies including gastric cancer, and its potential implications in cancer progression, treatment resistance and as therapeutic targets.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression patterns of FOLR1 and FOLR2 in GC patients' tissue and blood specimens and to correlate these patterns with clinicopathological variables.
METHODS
A total of 58 gastric cancer patients were enrolled at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) from March 2017 to March 2020. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine the expression of FOLR1 and FOLR2 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze FOLR1 and FOLR2 expression in blood samples. Statistical analyses were conducted using chi-square tests, independent T-tests, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
RESULTS
FOLR1 and FOLR2 were overexpressed in 82.76% and 70.69% of gastric cancer tissues, respectively. High expression levels of FOLR1 were significantly associated with the diffuse type of gastric cancer (p<0.005). qRT-PCR showed significant overexpression of FOLR1 in gastric cancer blood samples compared to control samples, with a median fold change of approximately 14.18 times. Conversely, FOLR2 was significantly underexpressed in gastric cancer samples, with a fold change of 0.30. However, no significant correlation was found between FOLR2 expression and the clinicopathological features. The overall survival analysis did not show a significant difference in survival rates based on the expression levels of FOLR1 and FOLR2.
CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the differential expression patterns of FOLR1 and FOLR2 in gastric cancer and underscores the complexity of their roles in cancer biology. While FOLR1 shows potential as a biomarker for gastric cancer due to its overexpression, further studies are needed to fully elucidate the therapeutic and prognostic implications of folate receptors in gastric cancer.
PubMed: 38915965
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61032 -
BMC Oral Health Jun 2024Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucosal disease that is classified as a premalignant condition. Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated...
BACKGROUND
Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucosal disease that is classified as a premalignant condition. Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression and is overexpressed in several oral malignant disorders. Despite the association of EGFR overexpression with oral potentially malignant lesions, few studies have analyzed its expression in OLP, showing controversial results. This study aimed to compare the expression of EGFR as a protein marker in Reticular and Erosive OLP.
METHODS
This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional was conducted on 15 paraffin blocks of reticular lichen planus lesions, 16 paraffin blocks of erosive OLP lesions, and 8 paraffin blocks of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia lesions as the control group (39 in total). After immunohistochemical staining for EGFR, samples were simultaneously observed by two maxillofacial pathologist, and the percentage of stained cells, intensity of staining, pattern of staining, and the location of stained cells were obtained.
RESULTS
The Mann-Whitney-U test showed that there was no significant difference in the mean percentage of stained cells between erosive OLP and reticular OLP (P-value = 0.213) and between reticular OLP and control group (P-value = 0.137), but there was a significant difference between erosive OLP and control group (P-value = 0.035). Fisher's exact test showed that there was no significant difference between the frequency distribution of staining patterns in three types of lesions (P-value = 0.90). Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there was no significant difference between the intensity of staining in the three groups (P-value = 0.19) and also there was no significant difference between the location of stained cells in different layers of the epithelium in the three groups (P-value = 0.90).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study showed that in comparison of reticular OLP, erosive OLP, and the control group there was a significant difference just between erosive OLP and control group in the percentage of stained cells.
Topics: Lichen Planus, Oral; Humans; ErbB Receptors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Female; Biomarkers; Adult; Aged; Immunohistochemistry; Precancerous Conditions
PubMed: 38914986
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04507-z