Cytology Scores Research Articles

Automated Cervical Screening and Triage, Based on HPV Testing and Computer-Interpreted Cytology.

State-of-the-art cervical cancer prevention includes human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents and screening/treatment of cervical precancer (CIN3/AIS and, less strictly, CIN2) among adults. HPV testing provides sensitive detection of precancer but, to reduce overtreatment, secondary "triage" is needed to predict women at highest risk. Those with the highest-risk HPV types or abnormal cytology are commonly referred to colposcopy; however, expert cytology services are critically lacking in many regions. To permit completely automatable cervical screening/triage, we designed and validated a novel triage method, a cytologic risk score algorithm based on computer-scanned liquid-based slide features (FocalPoint, BD, Burlington, NC). We compared it with abnormal cytology in predicting precancer among 1839 women testing HPV positive (HC2, Qiagen, Germantown, MD) in 2010 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC). Precancer outcomes were ascertained by record linkage. As additional validation, we compared the algorithm prospectively with cytology results among 243 807 women screened at KPNC (2016-2017). All statistical tests were two-sided. Among HPV-positive women, the algorithm matched the triage performance of abnormal cytology. Combined with HPV16/18/45 typing (Onclarity, BD, Sparks, MD), the automatable strategy referred 91.7% of HPV-positive CIN3/AIS cases to immediate colposcopy while deferring 38.4% of all HPV-positive women to one-year retesting (compared with 89.1% and 37.4%, respectively, for typing and cytology triage). In the 2016-2017 validation, the predicted risk scores strongly correlated with cytology (P < .001). High-quality cervical screening and triage performance is achievable using this completely automated approach. Automated technology could permit extension of high-quality cervical screening/triage coverage to currently underserved regions.

Correlation of clinical, diagnostic and histopathological parameters in dogs with chronic lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteropathy.

The objective of this study was to correlate clinical signs and diagnostic parameters with duodenal inflammatory and architectural changes in dogs with lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteropathy. In a retrospective study dogs presented between 2003 and 2014 with chronic gastrointestinal signs (duration > 3 weeks) and histologic evidence of intestinal lymphocytic-plasmacytic inflammation were evaluated. Clinical signs, serum albumin, cobalamin and folic acid concentrations were recorded and a sonographic, endoscopic, histologic and cytological inflammatory score was determined. Furthermore, the presence of lacteal dilation, villus stunting, crypt lesions, epithelial integrity and increased intraepithelial lympho cytes was evaluated. A total of 270 dogs were retrospectively evaluated. No significant correlation was found between clinical signs and sonographic, endoscopic or duodenal inflammatory score. Dogs with histological signs of lacteal dilation (p = 0.001) and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (p = 0.005) had significantly higher clinical scores compared to dogs without these changes. No correlation was found between clinical score and villous stunting or crypt lesions. Hypoalbuminemia and hypocobalaminemia correlated significantly with lacteal dilation (p = 0.001, p = 0.009) and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes (p = 0.036, p = 0.018). Some clinical and diagnostic parameter correlate with histopathologic features whereas others do not. Morphological features seem to be more important than the intensity of the duodenal inflammation in the assessment of the disease.

Cytological Scoring of Breast Lesions and Comparison with Histopathological Findings.

Context:Cytological assessment using various morphological parameters helps segregate breast lesions in fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) into different categories. The prognosis and the line of management of each category differ accordingly.Aims:This study aims at assessing the validity of Modified Masood's Scoring Index (MMSI) by the evaluation of cytomorphological features of various breast lesions compared with histopathological findings.Settings and Design:This is a cross-sectional study done in 65 female patients with palpable or nonpalpable breast lesions, undergoing FNAC and biopsy over a period of 18 months from December 1, 2012, to May 31, 2014.Materials and Methods:MMSI categorizes breast lesions, based on six cytological parameters into different categories such as nonproliferative breast disease (NPBD), proliferative breast disease (PBD) without atypia, PBD with atypia, and malignancy. The findings are compared with gold standard histopathological diagnosis.Statistical Analysis Used:Percentage of agreement, Kappa statistics, and Chi-square test.Results:Of the total 65 cases, all cases in MMSI category I and IV showed good histopathological correlation. The agreement between MMSI and histopathology was 93.8% which is more when compared with 72.3% agreement between cytology without scoring and histopathology. MMSI has increased the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC to 93.8% from 80%.Conclusion:The scoring system is easily reproducible, simple, and reliable. MMSI proved good histopathological correlation in category I and IV. This scoring technique has clearly demarcated those cases requiring surgical management. It is applicable for palpable and nonpalpable cases.

To Evaluate the Applicability of Parameters of Cytological Grading Systems on Aspirates of Breast Carcinoma.

Background:Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is still an important first line diagnostic procedure in developing countries. FNAC of breast lesions is quite specific and sensitive investigation and the results are comparable to histopathology.Aim:To evaluate applicability of parameters of different cytological grading (CG) systems, for aspirates of breast cancers, and its correlation with histopathology grading parameters.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional observational study was carried out on 30 female patients with ductal carcinoma breast, diagnosed on FNAC and subsequently confirmed histopathologically. The cytological smears were graded using six different cytological parameters/criteria described by Robinson et al. (Robinson grading system) and modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson (SBR) grading system considering three parameters. The results of cytological grade (CG) were compared with parameters of gold standard modified SBR histological grading (HG) system.Results:Important influential cytological parameters to predict final RBS cytological score came out to be chromatin, nucleoli, nuclear size, cell uniformity, and cell dissociation with statistically significant P value (0.0001) except for mitotic count. The important influential predictor of final SBR histological score is nuclear pleomorphism.Conclusion:SBR HG has good correlation with both RBS and SBR CG systems. The cytological nuclear grade provides important prognostic information which is very sensitive and equally specific hence should be done in breast aspirates and is now replaced by Core Needle biopsy. In developing country like India FNAC of breast aspirates still holds diagnostic value in the classification of breast lesions as compared to core guided image biopsy.

Analysis of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and Histopathological Correlation of Breast Lesions with Significance of Cytological Scoring System in Breast Tumors

Analysis of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and Histopathological Correlation of Breast Lesions with Significance of Cytological Scoring System in Breast Tumors

Detection of specific bacterial agents by quantitative PCR assays in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of dogs with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy vs. dogs with chronic bronchitis and healthy dogs

In humans, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Bordetella pertussis infections are suggested to trigger or exacerbate asthma. Whether Mycoplasma or Bordetella are associated with chronic inflammatory bronchial diseases in dogs has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess detection rates of Mycoplasma canis (M. canis), M. cynos and Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb), in dogs with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP) and chronic bronchitis (CB), compared with healthy dogs. Specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis for M. canis, M. cynos and Bb were retrospectively performed on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected from 24 dogs with EBP, 21 dogs with CB and 15 healthy dogs. Possible associations between qPCR results and age, BALF cytology or clinical severity scores (CSS) in dogs with EBP were investigated.There was no difference in M. canis, M. cynos and Bb detection rates in dogs with EBP (n=6, n=2 and n=6, respectively) and dogs with CB (n=2, n=2 and n=2, respectively) compared with control dogs (n=4, n=2 and n=2, respectively). In dogs with EBP, the proportion that were qPCR-positive for Bb was higher in dogs with higher CSS (P=0.014) and BALF from Bb-positive dogs had higher percentage of neutrophils (P<0.001). Among dogs that were qPCR-positive for Bb, moderate to high loads were only detected in dogs with EBP. M. canis and M. cynos detection was not associated with EBP or CB; higher Bb loads were only present in dogs with EBP and high CSS. A possible cause and effect relationship between Bb infection or load and EBP remains unclear and requires further investigation.

Diagnostic performance of cytology for assessment of hepatic lipid content in dairy cattle

The objective of our study was to characterize the diagnostic performance of cytology for assessing hepatic lipid content (HLC) in dairy cows by comparing microscopic evaluation of lipid vacuolation in touch imprint slide preparations of liver biopsies with quantitative measurement of triglyceride concentration ([TG]; mg/mg of wet weight) in paired biopsy samples. Our study also sought to compare the diagnostic performance of liver cytology, plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentration ([NEFA]), and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration ([BHB]) derived from a measurement performed on whole blood, for assessing HLC. Chemical extraction of TG from liver tissue remains the gold standard for quantifying HLC, largely because available blood tests, although useful for detecting some types of pathology, such as increased lipid mobilization, ketosis, or hepatocellular injury, are nonspecific as to etiology. Veterinary practitioners can sample bovine liver for cytological evaluation in a fast, minimally invasive, and inexpensive manner. Thus, if highly predictive of HLC, cytology would be a practical diagnostic tool for dairy veterinarians. In our study, liver biopsy samples from Holstein cows (219 samples from 105 cows: 52 from cows 2 to 20 d prepartum, 105 from cows 0 to 10 d in milk, 62 from cows 18 to 25 d in milk) were used to prepare cytology slides and to quantify [TG] using the Folch extraction method followed by the Hantzch condensation reaction and spectrophotometric measurement. An ordinal scale (0-4) based on amount of hepatocellular cytoplasm occupied by discrete clear vacuoles was used by 3 blinded, independent observers to rank HLC in Wright-Giemsa-stained slides. Interobserver agreement in cytology scoring was good. Corresponding plasma [NEFA] and [BHB] measurements were available for 187 and 195 of the 219 samples, respectively. Liver [TG] correlated more strongly with cytology score than with NEFA or BHB, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that cytology had better diagnostic performance than either NEFA or BHB for correctly categorizing [TG] at thresholds of 5, 10, and 15%. Hepatic lipidosis in high-producing dairy cows is of major clinical and economic importance, and this study demonstrates that cytology is an accurate means of assessing HLC. Additional work is indicated to evaluate the diagnostic utility of liver cytology.

Impact of a terbinafine-florfenicol-betamethasone acetate otic gel on the quality of life of dogs with acute otitis externa and their owners.

Treatment of canine otitis externa with owner-administered products can be difficult. To evaluate otic treatment administered by a veterinarian on quality of life (QoL) of dogs with otitis externa and their owners, and on clinical and cytology parameters of otitis; compared to an owner-administered treatment. Fifty client-owned dogs randomly randomized into two groups and treated for 2 weeks. Veterinarians treated Group A dogs with a veterinary licensed otic gel on two occasions at a 1 week interval; owners treated Group B dogs once daily with a veterinary licensed otic drop based product along with twice weekly cleaning. Veterinarians evaluated otitis with the OTI-3 scale and semi-quantitative cytological examination on days 0, 7, 14 and 28. At each visit, owners assessed QoL with a validated questionnaire and pruritus with a Visual Analog Scale. Scores before and after treatment of each group, and differences between groups were analysed statistically. In both groups, all parameters improved significantly. There was a significantly higher improvement of QoL scores, for dogs and owners, in Group A, compared to Group B at all time points (P < 0.05), except for owner QoL on Day 28. There was no difference in improvement of OTI-3 between groups at any time point, whereas Group A cytology scores and pruritus improved significantly more by Day 7 (P = 0.0026 and P = 0.0294, respectively). A veterinarian-administered otic gel provided equivalent efficacy and higher QoL to dogs with otitis externa and their owners, compared to an owner-administered topical otic therapy.

The cellularity yield of three different 22-gauge endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration needles.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an integral part in the diagnosis of pancreatic, intestinal and extra-intestinal masses or lesions. There is no clear data on the superiority of the core biopsy needle over standard 22-gauge needles. The aim of this study is to prospectively compare the cellularity yield of three commonly used 22-gauge FNA needles available in the US market. This is a prospective, randomized study comparing the cellularity yield of three commercially available EUS needles (two standard FNA needles and core biopsy needle). Two blinded pathologists evaluated the cytology specimens based on an already agreed upon cytology score. We included adult patients (18-80 years old) who presented to our endoscopy unit for FNA of pancreatic or extrapancreatic masses. 109 patients (57 F, 52 M) were recruited to the study, 88 lesions were pancreatic lesions. 39 patients were recruited in the EZ Shot 2™ group, 36 in the Procore® group and 34 in the Expect™ group. The average cellularity score and the mean number of passes (SD) were not different between the three needles; P = 0.91 and P = 0.16, respectively. There was no difference between the three needles in obtaining an onsite diagnosis (P = 0.627) and no difference in reported adverse events between the three groups. The cellularity yields, the mean number of passes and reported adverse events were similar in the three compared 22-gauge needles. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2017;45:426-432. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Histologic variation in high grade oral epithelial dysplasia when associated with high-risk human papillomavirus

Reported cytologic alterations associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in oral epithelial dysplasia (HPV-OED) need further characterization. Archival cases of high-grade oral epithelial dysplasia (hgOED) (N=38) were assigned a cytologic score (CS) based on the average number of mitotic, karyorrhectic, and apoptotic cells per high-power field. Three groups were then generated on the basis of increasing CS: Focal (group 1, N=14), Intermediate (group 2, N=12), and Diffuse (group 3, N=12). Polymerase chain reaction-based HPV genotyping and p16 immunohistochemistry were performed. HR-HPV was found significantly more in group 3 (83.3%) compared with groups 1 and 2 (group 1&2; 42.9% and 41.7%, respectively; P=.047). HPV16 predominated in HR-HPV-positive cases (90.5%). By location, the tongue or the floor of mouth was associated with all groups (P=.04). Increasing CS was associated with a slightly younger age (P=.04) and increased expression of p16 (P=.005). CS and p16 expression were not sensitive but were highly specific predictors for HR-HPV presence. Based on limited follow-up information, HPV-OED does not differ in clinical aggressiveness compared with conventional OED. Increased CS in hgOED is strongly associated with HR-HPV (mostly HPV16) and p16 expression. CS and p16 expression are specific predictors of HR-HPV presence. Further molecular study and long-term follow-up of HPV-OED are needed.

Conjunctival impression cytology evaluation of patients with dry eye disease using scleral contact lenses.

To evaluate conjunctival impression cytology and HLADR expression changes after wearing scleral contact lenses (ScCLs) for moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED). Prospective interventional case series. Forty-one eyes from 25 patients with moderate to severe DED were evaluated for Esclera ScCL treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and slit-lamp findings were assessed. Impression cytology specimens were obtained from DED patients at the baseline and after wearing ScCLs for 12 months. The impression cytology specimens were analyzed using morphological results score, and HLA-DR positive cells were detected and quantified. The values were compared to assess the IC changes after wearing ScCLs. Forty-one eyes from 25 patients were fitted with ScCLs to manage DED. The underlying diseases were Stevens-Johnson syndrome (22 eyes), Sjogren's syndrome (11 eyes), graft-versus-host disease (2 eyes), dry eye after keratomileusis (2 eyes) and undifferentiated ocular surface disease (4 eyes). The HE-PAS impression cytology score did not differ significantly before and after wearing ScCLs for 12 months in DED patients (p>0.05). The percentage of eyes expressing the HLA-DR antigen in the temporal conjunctiva after wearing ScCL for 12 months significantly increased in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (11.11% to 66.66%; p=0.0498). In groups with Stevens Johnson syndrome and other ocular surface disorders, we did not observe statistically significant differences (p>0.05). The ScCLs did not change the parameters used to evaluate inflammatory processes, which were measured using conjunctival impression cytology and HLA-DR expression, except in Sjogren syndrome, in which there was an unexpected increase in HLA expression.

Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System Score Combined with the New Italian Classification for Thyroid Cytology Improves the Clinical Management of Indeterminate Nodules.

The new Italian cytological classification (2014) of thyroid nodules replaced the TIR3 category of the old classification (2007) with two subclasses, TIR3A and TIR3B, with the aim of reducing the rate of surgery for benign diseases. Moreover, thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) score appears to ameliorate the stratification of the malignancy risk. We evaluated whether the new Italian classification has improved diagnostic accuracy and whether its association with TI-RADS score could improve malignancy prediction. We retrospectively analyzed 70 nodules from 70 patients classified as TIR3 according to the old Italian classification who underwent surgery for histological diagnosis. Of these, 51 were available for cytological revision according to the new Italian cytological classification. Risk of malignancy was determined for TIR3A and TIR3B, TI-RADS score, and their combination. A different rate of malignancy (p = 0.0286) between TIR3A (13.04%) and TIR3B (44.44%) was observed. Also TI-RADS score is significantly (p = 0.003) associated with malignancy. By combining cytology and TI-RADS score, patients could be divided into three groups with low (8.3%), intermediate (21.4%), and high (80%) risk of malignancy. In conclusion, the new Italian cytological classification has an improved diagnostic accuracy. Interestingly, the combination of cytology and TI-RADS score offers a better stratification of the malignancy risk.

P2.01-048 Paired Comparison of PDL1 Assessment on Cytology and Histology from Malignancies in the Lung

PD-L1 tests have been approved on histological specimens only. More than 1/3 of NSCLC patients are diagnosed on cytology alone. The hypothesis of this study is that cytological cell block material is as good as histological material for PD-L1 analysis. 86 paired samples of malignancies from the lung (NSCLC = 72, other primary malignancies and metastases = 14), where cytological cell block and histological material were available from the same lesion within 6 weeks were stained for PD-L1 on serial sections with PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx (28-8pharmDx) and PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx (22C3pharmDx). The partial or complete membrane staining on malignant cells regardless of intensity was assessed as ≥1%, ≥5%, ≥10% and hereafter in 10% increments. Number of malignant cells (< or > 100) and staining heterogeneity were recorded. The pathologist was blinded to previous evaluations of pair members. Overall (OA) and Average Positive (APA) and Negative (ANA) agreement were calculated as well as Positive Percent Agreement (PPA) and Negative Percent Agreement (NPA) with histology as the non-reference standard. CIs were bootstrapped. Agreement statistics for PD-L1 positivity with different cutoffs in cytology and histology specimens, % (95% CI)Tabled 122C3pharmDx≥ 1% positive≥ 50% positiveOA85 (77–92)94 (88–99)APA83 (73–91)82 (61–96)ANA86 (78–93)97 (93–99)PPA80 (67–92)100NPA89 (79–98)93 (87–99) Open table in a new tab Tabled 128-8pharmDx≥ 1% positive≥ 5% positive≥ 10 % positiveOA87 (80–94)95 (91–99)90 (83–95)APA86 (77–94)94 (86–99)84 (71–93)ANA88 (80–94)96 (92–99)92 (87–97)PPA81 (69–92)91 (79–100)79 (63–93)NPA93 (85–100)98 (94–100)95 (88–100)There was high agreement between the cytological and histological scores, applying to both pharmDx kits and all cutoffs (Table), not changing by exclusion of cytological cell blocks containing <100 cells nor by exclusion of non-NSCLC. Pearson r2 were 0.87-0.89. Paired samples with PD-L1 staining heterogeneity on histological material seemed to have lower agreement than samples with homogenous staining. Open table in a new tab There was high agreement between the cytological and histological scores, applying to both pharmDx kits and all cutoffs (Table), not changing by exclusion of cytological cell blocks containing <100 cells nor by exclusion of non-NSCLC. Pearson r2 were 0.87-0.89. Paired samples with PD-L1 staining heterogeneity on histological material seemed to have lower agreement than samples with homogenous staining. High correlation between staining on cytological cell block material and histological specimens was observed using PD-L1 IHC 28-8pharmDx and PD-L1 IHC 22C3pharmDx, suggesting that cytological material is as good as histological material for PD-L1 IHC analysis. Intra-tumor heterogeneity may contribute to disagreement and more research on the influence of staining heterogeneity is warranted.

Evaluation of Masood's and Modified Masood's Scoring Systems in the Cytological Diagnosis of Palpable Breast Lump Aspirates.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) has a leading role in the assessment of breast lesions. Masood's Scoring Index (MSI) and its modification (Modified Masood's scoring index; MMSI) has been proposed to aid in sub-grouping breast lesions and to help in subsequent management. To assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy of MSI and MMSI by subsequent correlation with histopathology. The study was cross-sectional in nature and was conducted in a tertiary care setting. The study included 207 cases presenting as palpable breast lump, which had undergone FNAC and subsequent excision biopsy for histopathology. The cases were grouped into four categories as suggested by Masood et al., (MSI) and Nandini et al., (MMSI) and concordance analysis with reference to histopathological diagnosis was done. In comparison to MSI, MMSI showed better concordance with histopathological diagnosis and superior diagnostic accuracy in non-proliferative breast disease category (p-value = 0.046) as well as in proliferative breast disease without atypia category. The overall diagnostic accuracy of the cytological scoring was 97.5%, with 94.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Though both MSI and MMSI were found effective in subcategorizing breast lesions, MMSI was found to have better concordance with histopathology. Inclusion of cellular pattern and background material may further help in increasing the accuracy.

Metalloproteinases and their inhibitors are influenced by inhalative glucocorticoid therapy in combination with environmental dust reduction in equine recurrent airway obstruction

BackgroundOverexpression of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been shown to lead to tissue damage in equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), as a misbalance with their natural inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), occurs. This favors irreversible pulmonary fibrosis formation. Increased levels of MMPs, TIMPs or altered ratios between them can be used as biomarkers of respiratory disease. We hypothesized that levels of MMPs, TIMPs and their ratios correlate with improvement in clinical findings and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology after 10 days of inhalative glucocorticoid therapy and environmental dust reduction (EDR) and may be used to monitor treatment success.Ten horses with a history of RAO participated in a prospective clinical study. Clinical and cytological scoring was performed before and after inhalative therapy using budesonide (1500 μg BID over 10 days) and EDR (bedding of wood shavings and wet hay as roughage). Gelatin zymography was performed for qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in BALF supernatant, while fluorimetry was used to evaluate MMP-8 activity. Additionally, specific equine ELISA assays were used for quantitative assessment of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2.ResultsA significant reduction in the total and several single parameters of the clinical score were found after 10 days of inhalative therapy and EDR. The concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 (ELISA) as well as their activities (MMP-2 and MMP-9 zymography and MMP-8 fluorimetry) were significantly decreased after therapy. Significant improvements in MMP-8/TIMP-1 and MMP-8/TIMP-2 ratios were also found, differences between other ratios before and after therapy were insignificant.ConclusionsMetalloproteinases and their inhibitors, in particular MMP-9 and TIMP-2, are valuable markers for clinical improvement in RAO.

Conjunctival Cytological Alterations in Ocular Behçet Disease.

To evaluate the ocular surface alterations and tear film functions in patients with ocular Behçet disease (BD). This study included 48 eyes of 48 patients with inactive BD and a control group of 33 age- and sex-matched subjects. Schirmer I and tear break-up time (TBUT) tests were used to evaluate the tear film of the subjects. Impression cytology was used to evaluate morphological changes of the conjunctival surface epithelial cells. The mean Schirmer I test result was 11.6 ± 5.9 mm/5 minutes and 16.1 ± 4.6 mm/5 minutes in the Behçet and control groups, respectively. The mean TBUT test result was 9.8 ± 5.6 seconds and 13.2 ± 5.7 seconds in the study and control groups, respectively. The Schirmer and TBUT test results were significantly lower in the study group than in the controls (P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). The mean impression cytology score was 1.3 ± 0.9 in the study group and significantly higher than the control group value of 0.4 ± 0.6 (P = 0.001). Tear film functions and conjunctival surface epithelial morphology were significantly altered in patients with ocular BD.

Clinical features, cytology and bacterial culture results in dogs with and without cheilitis and comparison of three sampling techniques.

Cheilitis is a common presentation in dogs associated with a variety of skin diseases and often complicated by microbial infections. To describe and compare clinical and cytological features and bacterial culture results from the lower lips of dogs with cheilitis (as compared to healthy controls), and to evaluate three cytology sampling techniques for their abilities to differentiate between the groups. Fifty six dogs with cheilitis and 54 controls. Anatomy and clinical signs of the lower lip were recorded. Cytology samples taken by tape strip, direct impression and swabs rolled over skin were scored semiquantitatively for microorganisms, inflammatory cells and keratinocytes. Cytology scores were correlated with semiquantitative bacterial culture scores. Pure breeds, frequency of lip folds and all cytology scores except keratinocytes were higher in dogs with cheilitis than in controls, but a substantial overlap was seen in all microorganisms between the groups. Hypersensitivity disorders were diagnosed in 40 of 56 dogs with cheilitis. The tape strip technique yielded the greatest differences between groups. Bacterial growth was reported in 100% of dogs with cheilitis and in 93% of the controls. Pathogens such as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp were found more frequently in dogs with cheilitis. Cytology and bacterial culture were poorly correlated. Cheilitis was associated with primary hypersensitivity disorders and the presence of a lip fold was a predisposing factor. Results of aerobic culture were similar to prior studies on pyoderma of other body sites, except for higher rates of Pseudomonas spp. isolation.

Application of scoring system in FNAC of thyroid lesions

Background: Assigning a score to cytology/FNA of thyroid lesions can provide important information regarding their neoplastic or non-neoplastic nature. The present study was undertaken to score thyroid lesions on aspirates based on various characteristics and correlating with standard cytological classification. Histopathology was done and the two cytological classification systems (Cytological scoring and Standard method) were compared. Methods: 196 cases of thyroid lesions with preoperative cytologic diagnosis were assigned cytological score/classified. Histopathology diagnosis was compared and statistical analysis was performed; correlation between cytologic score and histopathology was established using Spearman correlation coefficient. Regression analysis was done to assess the significance of each cytological score. Results: Multivariate analysis of cytologic features revealed that the amount of colloid, nuclear features and background pattern are the most influential features. There was high degree of correlation between the scoring methods on cytology with histopathology compared to standard cyto classification with histopathology. There was a significant association (p

A Prospective Study to predict Vaginal Cytology and Bishop Score as Predictors of Onset of Labor

Cover letter Vaginal cytology reflects changes in estrogen and progesterone in pregnancy. The change represents a transition from predominance of navicular cells and clusters of intermediate cells (evidence of progesterone) to appearance of fewer or small sheets of clusters with abundance of superficial cells (evidence of progesterone withdrawal) at the onset of labor. Thus, vaginal cytology is a simple and inexpensive parameter to predict the onset of labor with ease. The vaginal smear yields unsurpassed speed and convenience. Bishop score, a clinical parameter also predicts the onset of labor. At the onset of labor, Bishop score improves.

The effect of parturition induction treatment on interval to calving, calving ease, postpartum uterine health, and resumption of ovarian cyclicity in beef heifers

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two parturition induction protocols with a nontreated control group, on interval to calving, calving ease, postpartum uterine health, and ovarian cyclicity in beef heifers. At Day 285 of gestation, 81 crossbred recipient beef heifers carrying purebred Simmental fetuses, were blocked by live-weight, body condition score, expected calving date and fetal sex, and assigned to one of three groups: (1) control (CON; no induction treatment, n = 29); (2) induction with corticosteroids (CORT; n = 27); or (3) induction with corticosteroids plus prostaglandin (CORT + PG; n = 25). Interval from induction to calving in hours and calving ease on a scale of 1 to 5 were recorded. Vaginal mucus samples were collected on Day 21 and Day 42 after calving (Day 0) by means of a Metricheck and scored on a scale of 0 to 3. Reproductive tract examinations were conducted on Day 21 and Day 42 after calving, and uterine cytology samples were obtained on Day 21. A positive cytologic sample was defined as greater than 18% neutrophils in the sample obtained via a cytobrush technique. Cows were considered to have resumed ovarian cyclicity if the presence of the CL was confirmed. Data were analyzed using the Mixed (normally distributed data) and Genmod (nonparametric data) procedures of SAS (v. 9.3). The interval from treatment to calving was longer (P < 0.0001) for CON (161.9 ± 15.12 hours) animals compared with CORT (39.7 ± 11.64 hours) or CORT + PG (32.6 ± 12.10 hours), which did not differ. Treatment did not affect calving difficulty score. There was also no difference in incidence of retained placenta between the three groups. At Day 21 postpartum, cytology score tended to be higher for both induced groups (48%) compared with the control animals (24%), but this was not the case for vaginal mucus score (CON 52%, CORT 70%, and CORT + PG 52%). A higher proportion of CON had an involuted uterus by Day 21 postpartum (69%) compared with both induced groups (CORT 48%, CORT + PG 32%). Day 21 ovarian cyclicity was higher in both CON (52%) and CORT (59%) compared with CORT + PG (29%). By Day 42, there was no difference in ovarian cyclicity or uterine involution between CON and CORT; however, a positive relationship was observed between uterine involution score on Day 21 and return to cyclicity on Day 42 in these two groups. There was a negative relationship between uterine involution score and return to cyclicity in the CORT + PG group, and these animals were slower (P < 0.05) to resume cyclicity by Day 42 with a larger proportion animals having evidence of having resumed postpartum ovarian cyclicity in both CON (P = 0.03) and CORT compared with CORT + PG on Day 42. In conclusion, the use of corticosteroid-based treatments is an effective strategy to advance parturition in full term dams and does not have a negative effect on calving progress or dam health. However, when prostaglandin is also included in the protocol, these treatments may lead to greater delay in uterine involution with increased chance of uterine infection and slower resumption of ovarian cyclicity.