Detailed Morphological Evaluation Research Articles

A highly sensitive and fully flexible Fe-Co metal-organic framework hydrogel based gas sensor for ppb level detection of acetone

Most nanomaterials based gas sensors are established on rigid substrates which require operation at elevated temperature and involve long recovery times, thus, limiting their practical applications. Addressing these issues, we demonstrate a fully flexible Fe/Co metal organic framework hydrogel (Fe/Co MOF HG) based gas sensor that detects ultra-low concentrations of acetone at room temperature. This hydrogel is synthesized using optimized concentration (3:1 M ratio) of Co:Fe with benzene dicarboxylic acid (BDC) in Fe/Co MOF via solvothermal method followed by lyophilization. Detailed morphological evaluation reveals 3-dimentional porous structure with multiple voids which largely enhances the specific surface area. Upon exposure to acetone, the Fe/Co MOF HG with Cu metal contacts based sensor exhibits a sensing response (S%) of 12.28 % to 500 ppb of acetone with a wide dynamic range of 200 ppb to 4 ppm. This remarkable sensitivity can be attributed to the abundance of water-adsorbed oxygen (Oc% = 24.58 %) in hydrogel as confirmed by XPS technique, which helps in the increase of the adsorption of a large proportion of acetone molecules on the surface of hydrogel. The limit of detection (LOD = 3σ/s) is found to be 103 ppb which is significantly lower than the other reported MOF-based acetone sensors. Further, the sensor demonstrates excellent selectivity against other common VOCs such as ammonia, benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde. Finally, the sensor’s outstanding stability (upto one-month), mechanical robustness when subjected to 230 cycles of bending and resilience to changes in humidity opens up new possibilities for the use of MOF-based hydrogels as gas sensors in several wearable device domains, such as health care and environmental monitoring.

The vomeronasal organ and incisive duct of harbor seals are modified to secrete acidic mucus into the nasal cavity

Most terrestrial mammals have a vomeronasal system to detect specific chemicals. The peripheral organ of this system is a vomeronasal organ (VNO) opening to the incisive duct, and its primary integrative center is an accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). The VNO in seals is thought to be degenerated like whales and manatees, unlike otariids, because of the absence of the AOB. However, olfaction plays pivotal roles in seals, and thus we conducted a detailed morphological evaluation of the vomeronasal system of three harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). The VNO lumen was not found, and the incisive duct did not open into the oral cavity but was recognized as a fossa on the anteroventral side of the nasal cavity. This fossa is rich in mucous glands that secrete acidic mucopolysaccharides, which might originate from the vomeronasal glands. The olfactory bulb consisted only of a main olfactory bulb that received projections from the olfactory mucosa, but an AOB region was not evident. These findings clarified that harbor seals do not have a VNO to detect some chemicals, but the corresponding region is a specialized secretory organ.

A prospective survey on trephine biopsy of bone and bone marrow: an experience with 274 Indian patients’ biopsies

Trephine bone marrow biopsy is an effective technique for diagnosing hematological malignancies in patients of different ages. During trephine biopsy, bone marrow cores are obtained for detailed morphological evaluation to look for any abnormality and arrive at a diagnosis. The primary goal of this work is to perform a survey on Indian patients of various ages for the trephine bone marrow biopsy process. In the present study, data related to 274 trephine biopsy samples from 300 patients were acquired at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, India. Pain was found to be the sole major procedure-related complication, and patients reported no/less pain in 41 BMB (14.96%) patients, moderate pain in 82 (29.92%) cases, and unbearable pain in 151 (55.1%) BMB cases. In addition, the patients were evaluated by the authors and hematologist as non-anxious for the procedure in 34 (12.4%), anxious in 92 (33.57%), and very/highly anxious in 148 (56%) cases. The bone texture of the patients significantly affected the needle bending, number of repetitions required, and size of the bone marrow sample. This demonstrates the need for improvement in the biopsy procedure. To this end, a survey was conducted to assess the numerous difficulties and diagnostic outcomes throughout the trephine biopsy process.

Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric acquired aplastic anemia.

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) in children is a rare bone marrow failure that requires several special considerations for its diagnosis and treatment compared with that in adults. The most common issue is the differential diagnosis with refractory cytopenia of childhood and inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, which is crucial for making decisions on the appropriate treatment for pediatric AA. In addition to detailed morphological evaluation, a comprehensive diagnostic work-up that includes genetic analysis using next-generation sequencing will play an increasingly important role in identifying the underlying etiology of pediatric AA. When discussing treatment strategies for children with acquired AA, the long-term sequelae and level of hematopoietic recovery that affect daily or school life should also be considered, although the overall survival rate has reached 90% after immunosuppressive therapy or hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Recent advances in HCT for pediatric patients with acquired AA have been remarkable, with the successful use of upfront bone marrow transplantation from a matched unrelated donor, unrelated cord blood transplantation or haploidentical HCT as salvage treatment, and fludarabine/melphalan-based conditioning regimens. This review discusses current clinical practices in the diagnosis and treatment of acquired AA in children based on the latest data.

Taxonomic revision ofIsochelesStimpson, 1858 andLoxopagurusForest, 1964 (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) using morphological and multigene data, with the description of a new Eastern Pacific species

AbstractThe genera IsochelesStimpson, 1858 and LoxopagurusForest, 1964 are endemic to America and occur in tropical and subtropical waters. There are five species of Isocheles, two of them are found in the Western Atlantic (I. sawayaiForest & de Saint Laurent, 1968 and I. wurdemanniStimpson 1859) and three in the Eastern Pacific (I. pilosus (Holmes, 1900), I. pacificusBouvier, 1907, and I. aequimanus (Dana, 1852)). Loxopagurus is a monotypic genus and occurs only in southeastern South America. These two genera are morphologically similar, with differences in shape and size of chelae. The published information on the taxonomy of these genera is scant, and there have been some recent doubts about their phylogenetic relationship. Our study aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic relationship of Isocheles and Loxopagurus and evaluate their taxonomic validity and contextualization in Diogenidae Ortmann, 1892. We performed an integrative analysis using multigene data (16S rRNA, COI, and H3) and a detailed morphological evaluation, including redescriptions, seeking characters that allow the clear identification of these species. The type specimens of I. aequimanus, I. pilosus, and L. loxochelis (Moreira, 1901) were lost and errors are common regarding the identification of the species of Isocheles. Characters that clearly delimit these species, such as the ornamentation and shape of the chelipeds and the number of teeth on the second article of the antenna, were stated. The morphological and molecular analyses corroborated the taxonomical validity of Isocheles and Loxopagurus as two distinct genera based on the differences of the shield and chelipeds, on the topology of the trees, and on the genetic divergence inferred from three molecular markers. We also verified that the five amplified species of Isocheles constitute five distinct clades and described a new species of Isocheles, using both molecular and morphological differences from congeners. An identification key for Isocheles is proposed. Although the type material of two out of the five species of Isocheles and the holotype of Loxopagurus loxochelis were lost, the designation of neotypes is not recommended in these cases.

X-linked retinoschisis: OCT-angiography in two brothers from a four-generation family with a p.Arg197Cys pathogenic variant in the RS1 gene.

X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is a rare genetic disease causing retinal splitting. The aim of this work is to describe the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) features in two brothers affected by an hemizygous c.589C>T (p.Arg197Cys) pathogenic variant in exon 6 of the RS1 gene. Each patient underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including measurement of best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus color photographs, fundus autofluorescence and infrared imaging, fluorescein angiography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). En Face SD-OCT and OCTA revealed the presence of two different pattern of cystic lesions, fusiform and oval, disposed on a petaloid or irregular manner in the perifoveolar area. A widening of the foveal avascular zone with interruption of the vascular arcades was clearly evident. Furthermore, a capillary drop-out was observed in the superficial plexus of the central retina, other than capillary ectasia in the deep capillary plexus. Straight gray lines were visible among the cysts. OCTA data herein described allow a detailed morphological evaluation of XLRS other than a quantitative assessment of retinal capillary flow in this disease. The retinal alterations that we have reported may be helpful to better understand this rare condition with OCTA being a sensitive technique to monitor the evolution of the disease and the response to potential future therapeutic approaches aimed to restore vision.

Effect of varicocelectomy on detailed sperm morphology parameters: An observational retrospective clinical cohort study.

Although many studies suggest that varicocelectomy leads to improvement in semen parameters and morphology, its clinical efficacy remains controversial. The detailed morphological parameters described in the World Health Organization guidelines are important in terms of showing the effect of microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy on morphological changes.An observational, retrospective clinical cohort study was conducted with patients followed up from January 2018 to August 2021. This study included the data of 79 patients who met the criterion of undergoing at least 2 detailed morphological evaluations before and after surgery. All operations were performed by the same surgical team using the microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy technique.The mean age of the patients was 30.25 years. Of the patients, 63 underwent left-sided varicocelectomy and 16 underwent bilateral surgery. The sperm analysis revealed statistically significant increases in sperm volume (P = .006), sperm concentration (P = .003), total sperm count (P = .001), progressive sperm motility (P < .001), and normal morphology (P < .001). In the detailed morphological evaluation, except for the elongated head anomaly (P = .037), no other statistically significant changes were found in relation to sperm head, tail, and neck anomalies after surgery.This study makes an important contribution to the literature, being the first to use the subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy technique in detailed morphological semen evaluation. We consider that detailed morphology examination in the selection and treatment of infertile patients may be useful in evaluating the efficacy of varicocelectomy.

High-definition intravascular ultrasound: current clinical uses.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides grayscale images of the entire vessel wall, and its technology has recently been improved, resulting in more accurate tissue characterization. Compared with conventional IVUS, high-definition (HD) IVUS provides better resolution, better image quality, faster acquisition and integration of processing tools for more efficient cath lab workflow. HD-IVUS includes transducers with higher frequencies (≥ 45MHz), allowing a higher near field resolution combined with enough tissue penetration for a more precise assessment of the entire vessel wall. HD-IVUS preserves the potential advantages of conventional (40MHz) IVUS over optical coherence tomography by adding a substantially higher spatial resolution. For this reason, this technology has generated increasing interest among interventional cardiologists and researchers to provide better detailed morphological evaluation on complicated plaques in acute coronary syndrome patients and better stent optimization. In this review, we provide the state-of-the-art on this technology and its current clinical applications.

Significance of detailed and careful morphological evaluation of organs in sepsis related deaths

In this retrospective study we studied macroscopic changes and histology of various organs in sepsis related deaths in correlation with relevant clinical, laboratory and microbiology data. Medical records and autopsy records of all patients were reviewed where final cause of death after complete macroscopic and histological examination of organs following autopsy was given as sepsis/septic shock. Sepsis related death in diabetics, hypertensives, and pregnancy related death and unnatural deaths were excluded from this study.Sixty five cases were selected for this study involving detailed morphological examination of different organs. Most common system involved was respiratory system (33.84%). Lungs were chief primary site of infection mainly pneumonia (35.4%) and tuberculosis (7.7% cases) followed by liver abscess (18%), renal abscess/ pyelonephritis (16.4%) and, peritonitis (16.4%). Most frequent non- specific organ changes presented grossly as diffluent/soft mushy spleen with red pulp congestion (83.08%) followed by mild to moderate cerebral oedema(41.5%) and pulmonary oedema(35. 4%). Most frequent findings that contributed to death was intrapulmonary haemorrhage (33.8%), acute tubular necrosis (11, 17%), disseminated intravascular coagulation/ micro thrombi (8, 12.3%) and, acute respiratory distress syndrome (3, 4. 61%). In this study population, the commonest organism obtained on culture was Pseudomonas (24.07%) followed by E. coli and Klebsiella (20.37% each).Careful and detailed morphological evaluation of various organs at autopsy is significant for both pathologist and clinicians to understand the course of events occurred and to reach an accurate diagnosis of sepsis related death.

Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Reconstruction and Measurement of Nasal End Deformity in Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

The repair of nasal deformities secondary to cleft lip and palate is complex and requires reliable preoperative nasal 3-dimensional assessment. This study explored nasal end (defined as the lower third of the external nasal and vestibular parts of the nasal cavity) deformities secondary to unilateral complete cleft lip and palate. Three-dimensional nasal end morphometric measurements were obtained from 48 patients who had undergone Millard cleft lip repair and reached skeletal maturity (cleft group) and from 36 age- and ethnicity-matched normal subjects (control group). For the cleft group, paired t tests and 1-way analysis of covariance were used to evaluate the internal and external morphological characteristics of the cleft and noncleft sides of the nasal end, and correlation analysis was done to evaluate the relationship between cleft-side measurements. In the cleft group, the cleft side showed significantly smaller nasal vestibular volume and skin area, nostril area, nasal column length, and nostril height and greater nostril base length and nasal alar length than the noncleft side (all P < 0.05). Controlling for sex, there were significant differences in the nasal vestibular volume and skin area, internal nasal valve area, long nostril diameter, nostril base length, columella length, nostril height, and nasal alar length between the cleft and control groups (all P < 0.05). On the cleft side, the area of the skin lining of the nasal vestibule positively correlated with the alar length (r = 0.67, P < 0.05). Three-dimensional nasal end reconstruction provides a more detailed preoperative nasal end morphological evaluation than previously available techniques. Level III, case-control study.

Cytological diagnosis of osteosarcoma with emphasis on diagnostic pitfalls.

Fine needle aspiration is a well-established technique for evaluating primary and secondary bony lesions. With use in selected cases, it achieves a diagnostic yield comparable to biopsies. Cases of osteosarcoma (OS) with available histological follow-up were retrieved over a 10-year period. Detailed morphological evaluation was done, with special emphasis on pitfalls in the diagnosis of OS on cytology and the various variants of OS. Of the 41 cases with available follow-up histology, 56% were correctly diagnosed as OS on cytology. The most common false-negative cytological diagnosis of OS, in 17% cases, was giant cell tumour. The possible explanations for this included low cellularity, minimal atypia, absence of typical osteoid, misinterpretation of metachromatic osteoid material as fibro-collagenous material and non-availability of radiology at time of aspiration. A triple-phase evaluation including clinical evaluation, appropriate radiological correlation and cytology/histopathology, is important to clinch an accurate diagnosis.

Abstract 618: The morphologic effects of treatment with neoadjuvant enzalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy in high risk prostatic cancer: What the pathologist needs to know

Abstract Background: In this study we report the effects of neoadjuvant enzalutamide (enza) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the prostatectomy specimens of patients receiving this therapy, and the immunoprofile of the tumors. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, affecting 1 out of 9 men in the US. Treatment for newly diagnosed, non-metastatic, high-risk disease includes surgery or radiation in combination with ADT. Enza, an androgen receptor antagonist, is FDA approved for non-metastatic and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Studies have shown intensive androgen receptor targeting for localized disease can lead to complete responses. Design: Single institution study (NCT02430480) evaluating 6 months of neoadjuvant enza (160 mg daily) plus ADT in patients with high risk non-metastatic prostatic cancer. Twenty-two prostatectomy specimens were evaluated. Specimens were fixed in formalin and paraffin embedded following the protocol established for these specimens. Detailed morphological evaluation was performed and tumors compared with prior diagnostic biopsies. Correlation with prior multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) was done. Sections with tumor were obtained (4mm thickness) and stained for IHC for PTEN antibody (Cell signaling), AR (Abcam) and ERG (Abcam) Results: Patients ranged in age from 43 to 73 years (med 61years). Prior biopsies included Gleason scores of 7(3+4,5 cases); 7(4+3, 3 cases), 8(4+4, 5 cases),9(4+5, 8 cases), 10(1 case). Grossly, the prostatectomy specimens appeared smaller in size. Reviewing prior mpMRI, it was noted that the median prostate volume decreased by 50.7% after 6 months of treatment. No tumor was identified in 2 cases; one with multiple Gleason grade 8 biopsies and the other one Gleason grade 9 in all prior biopsies. In all except 2 cases, the most striking histologic change was the tumor cells that often resembled fusiform histiocytes growing in discrete clusters or individual cells. Occasional small gland formation was present in some cases. Prominent basal cell hyperplasia was present as well as nodular stromal hyperplasia that in MRI mimic cancer. The amount of tumor present varied from bilateral involvement to 10% of one lobe. Most cases were stage pT2 and pT3. 20 cases were positive for AR, 3 had loss of PTEN and 5 had ERG expression (total 22 cases). Conclusions: Enzalutamide is a potent antiandrogen with promising results in the neoadjuvant treatment of high-risk prostatic cancer. We report in this study the effect and morphologic changes that occur in the tumor as the result of this therapy. Recognition of these morphologic changes is important since the residual tumor may appear different than the prior diagnostic biopsies. Citation Format: Maria J. Merino, Esra Dikoglu, Peter Pinto, Baris Turkbey, William Dahut, Guinevere Chun, Ravi A. Madan, Fatima Karzai. The morphologic effects of treatment with neoadjuvant enzalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy in high risk prostatic cancer: What the pathologist needs to know [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 618.

Magnetic resonance imaging spectrum of degenerative disease of the lumbosacral spine: a single institution retrospective cross-sectional observational study

Background: Degenerative Disease of the Lumbosacral spine is a leading cause of back ache and radiculopathy with significant medical and socioeconomic importance. Its pathogenesis represents a biomechanically related continuum of temporally evolving alterations which are identifiable on various imaging modalities. Due to its excellent soft tissue contrast, multiplanar capabilities and non-ionizing nature MRI is indispensable for detailed morphological evaluation of all components of the Functional Spinal Unit (FSU). It facilitates optimal assessment of the burden of disease thereby guiding prognostication as well as subsequent therapy and rehabilitation. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 51 years ± 14 years with Male: Female ratio of 1.9:1. The L4-L5 intervertebral disc was the most frequently as well as most severely involved level irrespective of age and gender of the study subjects. Disc degeneration was the commonest manifestation seen (100%) followed by nerve root compression (74%), spinal canal stenosis (67%), disc herniation (64%), facetal arthropathy (41%), bulging discs (38%), ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (34%) and Modic endplate degenerative changes (31%) in decreasing order of frequency.

The Zanclean palaeofloras around the Mont-Dore strato-volcano: A window into upper Neogene vegetation and environments in the Massif Central (Puy de Dome, France)

New Pliocene macrofloras and microfloras perfectly preserved from the Mont-Dore (Puy-de-Dôme, Massif central, France) have been reinvestigated. Samples come from different stratigraphical levels collected from three localities, Lac Chambon, La Gratade and Pont de Chocol. The 40Ar/39Ar radiometric datings bracketing the Chambon Lake and La Gratade fossil-bearing horizons give 4.46±0.05Ma and 3.94±0.04Ma, respectively, representative of the Zanclean Stage (= Brunssumian B and C), a period of the early Pliocene (5.32 to 3.6Ma), much older than previously thought (i.e., Piacenzian). Pont de Chocol is considered to be close biostratigraphically, or even identical in age to La Gratade. Detailed morphological evaluation of leaf morphotypes completed with pollen analysis contributed to the better taxonomic knowledge of these palaeofloras. The overview focuses on floristic and phytostratigraphical characteristics of the defined stratigraphical units and their dating and correlation with previously defined palaeofloristic units of the Massif central. The study provides detailed identifications of plants representing 11 gymnosperms among which Pinaceae (pollen and winged seeds), Cupressaceae including “Taxodioid” pollen grains and Sciadopitaceae families (only pollen). Besides, different angiosperm trees and shrubs have been determined from both micro- and macro-remains. Fagaceae is the most diversified with several foliage of beech and deciduous oaks, while diversified Juglandaceae contribute mainly as abundant leaf remains of Carya, Pterocarya and Juglans; Ulmaceae with numerous leave of two Zelkova species, and also Ulmus. Various other deciduous dicotyledonous such as Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, Populus, Acer laetum and A. interrigenum are well documented. Leguminosae are recorded by a small number of leaflet imprints. Evergreen shrubs of Buxaceae (Buxus pliocenica) are scarce. All these taxa contribute to a rich biodiversity of these Pliocene assemblages. All three sites point towards riverine forest habitats dominated by hygrophilic diversified woody plants while in the surrounding plains and slopes the thermophilic elements were scarce and mesophilic taxa abundant as temperate elements. This vegetation can be compared with mixed mesophytic forests depicting a climate cooling during the two considered periods (ca. 4.46 and 3.95Ma).

Choroidal Vascularity Index: An In-Depth Analysis of This Novel Optical Coherence Tomography Parameter.

Remarkable improvements in optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology have resulted in highly sophisticated, noninvasive machines allowing detailed and advanced morphological evaluation of all retinal and choroidal layers. Postproduction semiautomated imaging analysis with dedicated public-domain software allows precise quantitative analysis of binarized OCT images. In this regard, the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) is emerging as a new imaging tool for the measurement and analysis of the choroidal vascular system by quantifying both luminal and stromal choroidal components. Numerous reports have been published so far regarding CVI and its potential applications in healthy eyes as well as in the evaluation and management of several chorioretinal diseases. Current literature suggests that CVI has a lesser variability and is influenced by fewer physiologic factors as compared to choroidal thickness. It can be considered a relatively stable parameter for evaluating the changes in the choroidal vasculature. In this review, the principles and the applications of this advanced imaging modality for studying and understanding the contributing role of choroid in retinal and optic nerve diseases are discussed. Potential advances that may allow the widespread adoption of this tool in the routine clinical practice are also presented.

Morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular features of inflammatory bowel disease associated colorectal carcinoma and associated mucosal lesions – Single institution experience

BackgroundPatients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) have an elevated risk of developing colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Major risk factor in IBD patients is the continuous chronic inflammation leading to development of dysplasia and carcinoma. Nevertheless, other types of non-conventional but suspicious mucosal changes serrated change/dysplasia, NOS and villous hypermucinous change, have also been reported in IBD patients. Preneoplastic potential of these lesions is still not well elucidated. AimsThe aim of this study was identification of IBD-associated CRCs focusing on finding related precursor lesions in the surgical specimen or in archival biopsy samples followed by a detailed morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular evaluation. For the purpose of the study the mucosal lesions were divided into conventional IBD-associated dysplasia and non-conventional lesions that were merged under a provisory term of putative preneoplastic lesions (PPL). MethodsA total of 309 consecutive IBD colectomy specimens diagnosed during a 10-year period were reviewed. Detailed morphological evaluation, immunohistochemical analysis of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, p53 and O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression and molecular analysis for KRAS, NRAS and BRAF gene mutation were performed in the retrieved CRC cases as well as in the detected dysplasia and PPLs of these patients. ResultsWe identified 11 cases of morphologically heterogenous IBD-associated CRCs, occurring in 5 males and 6 females, aged 26–79 years (mean 44 years). A total of 22 mucosal lesions were revealed in 8 CRC patients comprising conventional IBD-associated dysplasia (4 lesions), PPLs as serrated change/dysplasia NOS (11 lesions), villous hypermucinous change (5 lesions), and two true serrated lesions (one sessile serrated adenoma and one traditional serrated adenoma). More than one type of lesion was found in 6 patients. Seven CRC cases harbored mutation of KRAS/NRAS and one case of BRAF. Two patients with KRAS-mutated CRC showed the same mutation in PPL in the same specimen (one serrated change NOS and one TSA with high-grade dysplasia). Similarly, one BRAF-mutated carcinoma case presented the same mutation in serrated change/dysplasia, NOS in the same specimen. Of the CRCs, two showed deficient MMR system profile, six presented with loss of MGMT expression, and six showed aberrant p53 expression. PPLs showed deficient MGMT expression (14 cases) and aberrant p53 (10 cases) as well. ConclusionIBD-associated CRCs are very heterogeneous entities. Besides conventional IBD-related dysplasia, other types of mucosal lesions may be associated with long lasting IBD and CRC e.g. villous hypermucinous change and serrated change/dysplasia, NOS. Since these lesions share certain genetic or immunohistochemical changes with the related CRC, a suspicion is raised that these lesions may also have preneoplastic potential. Awareness of these changes is necessary to prevent their missing and under-reporting, and further studies of these lesions should be carried out.

Comparison of diabetic retinopathy classification using fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography angiography

PurposeTo analyse and compare the classification of eyes with diabetic retinopathy using fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) performed either with AngioPlex or AngioVue.MethodsThis was an observational...

Osteology, phylogeny, and functional morphology of two Jurassic lizard species and the early evolution of scansoriality in geckoes

Late Jurassic lizards from Solnhofen, Germany, include some of the oldest known articulated lizard specimens, sometimes including soft tissue preservation. These specimens are thus very important to our understanding of early squamate morphology and taxonomy, and also provide valuable information on squamate phylogeny. Eichstaettisaurus schroederi and Ardeosaurus digitatellus are two of the best-preserved species from that locality, the former being represented by one of the most complete lizard specimen known anywhere in the world from the Jurassic. Despite their relevance to broad questions in squamate evolution, their morphology has never been described in detail, and their systematic placement has been under debate for decades. Here, we provide the first detailed morphological description, species-level phylogeny, and functional morphological evaluation of E. schroederi and A. digitatellus. We corroborate their initial placement as geckoes (stem gekkotans, more specifically), and illustrate a number of climbing adaptations that indicate the early evolution of scansoriality in gekkonomorph lizards.

Molecular Pathological Classification of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Turning towards Precision Medicine.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are characterized by selective dysfunction and loss of neurons associated with pathologically altered proteins that deposit in the human brain but also in peripheral organs. These proteins and their biochemical modifications can be potentially targeted for therapy or used as biomarkers. Despite a plethora of modifications demonstrated for different neurodegeneration-related proteins, such as amyloid-β, prion protein, tau, α-synuclein, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), or fused in sarcoma protein (FUS), molecular classification of NDDs relies on detailed morphological evaluation of protein deposits, their distribution in the brain, and their correlation to clinical symptoms together with specific genetic alterations. A further facet of the neuropathology-based classification is the fact that many protein deposits show a hierarchical involvement of brain regions. This has been shown for Alzheimer and Parkinson disease and some forms of tauopathies and TDP-43 proteinopathies. The present paper aims to summarize current molecular classification of NDDs, focusing on the most relevant biochemical and morphological aspects. Since the combination of proteinopathies is frequent, definition of novel clusters of patients with NDDs needs to be considered in the era of precision medicine. Optimally, neuropathological categorizing of NDDs should be translated into in vivo detectable biomarkers to support better prediction of prognosis and stratification of patients for therapy trials.

DNA barcoding reveals high diversity in the Gelidiales of the Brazilian southeast coast

Abstract Morphological identification of species in the order Gelidiales can be difficult and controversial because of phenotypic plasticity, the low numbers of reproductive specimens and poorly defined taxonomic boundaries. A DNA barcoding survey of Brazilian specimens of Gelidiales, employing neighbor-joining and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery analyses, indicated the presence of 23 statistically robust primary species hypotheses (PSH). In addition to the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI-5P), the chloroplast universal plastid amplicon (UPA) marker was also sequenced and submitted to the same analyses. Representatives of each COI-5P/UPA PSH were selected for rbcL sequence analysis to further corroborate the occurrence of 23 species and to infer their phylogenetic relationships. These analyses confirmed the identity of six species previously cited for Brazil: Gelidiella acerosa, G. ligulata, Gelidium crinale, G. floridanum, Pterocladiella bartlettii and P. capillacea. Three new reports for Brazil were also detected: Gelidium microdonticum, Pterocladiella beachiae and P. australafricanensis. Fourteen species remain unidentified and require detailed morphological evaluation.