Microscopic Assessment Research Articles

Comparison of Urinary Red Blood Cell Distribution (URD) and Dysmorphic Red Blood Cells for Detecting Glomerular Hematuria: A Multicenter Study.

The clinical utility of urinary red blood cell (RBC) distribution (URD) remains limited. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of URD and dysmorphic RBC (dRBC) in a multicenter study. This study enrolled 703 patients who visited four tertiary medical centers in Korea. Patients were classified into glomerular diseases with biopsy (N = 169), renal diseases including chronic kidney disease (N = 194), nephrotic syndrome (NS; N = 88), tubulointerstitial diseases (N = 36), acute kidney injury (N = 32), others (N = 10), and extrarenal diseases (N = 174). Renal parameters, urine microscopic examination, urinalysis, and URD assessments were conducted. The diagnostic performances of dRBC and URD were evaluated. Median values of both dRBC and URD were significantly elevated in patients with glomerular diseases. URD exhibited a significant correlation with dRBC (r = 0.536) and albumin creatinine ratio (r = 0.186), while no significant correlation was observed with specific gravity (r = -0.03). Among renal diseases, dRBC and URD values were notably higher in patients with NS. The agreement rate between dRBC and URD results was 78.3% (112/143), with 31 instances showing discrepancies. ROC curve analysis comparing glomerular and extrarenal diseases yielded cutoff values of 18% for dRBC and 31.9% for URD, resulting in corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 and 0.83, respectively. URD exhibited a comparable diagnostic performance, as indicated by a similar AUC value to that of dRBC, while offering the added advantage of providing objective and standardizable results. This attribute enhances its utility as a parameter for distinguishing between patients with glomerular hematuria (GH) and those with non-GH.

Interobserver consistency and diagnostic challenges in HER2-ultralow breast cancer: a multicenter study.

Recent advancements in novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have demonstrated efficacy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-ultralow breast cancer (BC), expanding the eligibility for anti-HER2 targeted therapy to include some patients previously categorized as HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0. This expansion underscores the need for pathologists to accurately differentiate HER2-null and HER2-ultralow. Thirty-six pathologists from four centers nationwide conducted microscopic visual assessments on HER2 IHC slides from 50 consecutive BC surgical specimens, all previously diagnosed as HER2 IHC0. The interobserver consistency in differentiating HER2-null from HER2-ultralow, measured by Fleiss κ, was only 0.230-lower than the consistency for combined HER2 IHC 0 cases (Fleiss κ= 0.344) and binary classification (HER2-null versus HER2-non-null; Fleiss κ= 0.292). High agreement for HER2-null versus HER2-ultralow differentiation was achieved in only 4% of cases, while combining them into HER2 IHC 0 raised high agreement cases to 32%, higher than the 18% seen in the binary classification. Consensus among the 36 pathologists aligned with historical scores in 72% of cases; however, when subdividing HER2 IHC 0 into HER2-null and HER2-ultralow, the consistency dropped to 54%. The low consistency among pathologists in distinguishing HER2-null, -ultralow, and 1+ cases may impact patient eligibility for new ADC therapies. To address this challenge, there is a need for improved detection methods, artificial intelligence-assisted quantitative assessments, and larger clinical datasets to refine the definition of HER2-ultralow.

The Effects of Malting and Extrusion on the Functional and Physical Properties of Extrudates from Malted Brown Rice and Pigeon Pea Flour Blends

Malted grains subjected to extrusion technology could have better quality indices than non-malted grains. The effects of malting and extrusion on the functional and physical qualities of foods extruded from malted brown rice and pigeon pea flour blends were investigated. Malted pigeon pea and brown rice flours were processed into blends, extruded under various conditions of feed moisture levels (15–20), feed compositions (8–30%), and barrel temperatures (100–130 °C), and analyzed using Response Surface Methodology with a Box–Behnken design. The impacts of malting and extrusion were assessed on the following functional qualities: bulk density, rheology, swelling capacity, water absorption capacity, and solubility. The physical quality assessment included a 2-D photographic representation of the extrudates, a microscopic assessment of their internal structure, expansion index, color parameters (L*, a*, b*), and alterations in the color index. Increased feed moisture, malted pigeon pea, and decreased barrel temperature resulted in a higher bulk density (0.72 to 0.84 g/cm3) of the extrudates. There was a decrease in water absorption capacity (6.82–4.49%) with an increase in barrel temperature above 100 °C. All the samples showed a decrease in viscosity with increasing shear rate. At low barrel temperatures, feed compositions, and feed moistures, extrusion led to increases in the expansion index (3.5 to 12.94) and the color lightness (66.83–81.71) of the extrudates. Samples with a higher proportion of malted brown rice showed a higher expansion index, lower bulk density, and lighter color of the extrudates.

Trichomoniasis in Men: A Neglected Factor in Male Infertility?

This study is aimed to detect the frequency of trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by an anaerobic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, in men referred to the Fertility and Infertility Research Center Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. In this cross-sectional study, a group of 197 male volunteers who sought medical attention for issues related to infertility participated. The urine and semen samples were collected in sterile conditions. Both urine and semen sediment were promptly examined under a microscopy to detect the presence of motile trophozoites. Subsequently, 50µl of urine sediment were inoculated into the Dorset culture medium, whereas 50µl of semen sediment were inoculated into the Diamond culture (TYI-S-33) and incubated at 35.5oC. Finally, the processed urine samples were used for molecular analysis. The investigated subjects had an average age ranging from 36 to 40 years. There were 181 volunteers with fertility issues, outnumbering the 16 individuals with normal fertility. Spermogram analysis showed that 48% of participants had non-motile or progressive sperms, and 48% had abnormalities in sperm morphology. T. vaginalis was not detected through microscopic assessment, but PCR and sequence analysis revealed one case in a 33-year-old infertile individual, who had only 0.3% normal sperm with 19% motility. The isolated T.vaginalis was found to have the G genotype based on the sequencing analysis. Trichomoniasis in males was considered unimportant, with the belief that it would improve on its own. This study suggests that parasites can be considered as one of the male infertility factors, however, the impact is not fully understood. This investigation confirmed the effectiveness of molecular techniques in detecting trichomoniasis in males.

P1222 The macroscopic and microscopic distribution of IBD in patients with PSC: a polytomous latent class analysis on 3177 endoscopies

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a distinct disease entity requiring specific management1. Data on characterisation of the phenotype of PSC-IBD are limited and subclassification is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to describe the macroscopic and microscopic distribution of IBD in patients with PSC. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from PSC-IBD patients included in the EpiPSC2 registry, comprising patients from 46 hospitals across the Netherlands. Data on inflammation at macro- and microscopic level in the ileum and 6 colonic segments were collected on every available endoscopy. Data after (hemi)colectomy were excluded. Polytomous latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups of IBD distribution2. First, latent class models (LCM) were fitted on all endoscopic and histologic data and Akaike and Bayesian information criteria were used to determine the optimal number of classes. After random sampling with replacement the LCM with the ideal number of groups was fitted on 20 samples of one endoscopy with inflammation per subject, and the pooled class probability was calculated per subgroup. Results A total of 3177 endoscopies from 522 PSC-IBD patients (median of 5 [IQR 2-9] endoscopies per patient) were included. The maximum depth of insertion was the terminal ileum in 62% and caecum in 27% of endoscopies. Macroscopic inflammation was observed in 1521 (48%) endoscopies from 428 patients. Segmental colon biopsies were obtained during 650 (20%) endoscopies in 237 subjects, and ileum biopsies in 144 (22%) endoscopies in 100 subjects. Microscopic inflammation in any segment was observed in 265 (41%) endoscopies. An LCM with four classes was the best fit to the macro- and microscopic data: no inflammation, right-sided colitis (pooled class probability 36%), left-sided colitis (30%), and pancolitis (34%). In right-sided colitis and pancolitis the probability of ileal involvement was 16% and 22%, whereas left-sided colitis most often displayed an absence of ileal involvement (probability of 4%) [fig.1]. For microscopic inflammation no pooled class probabilities could be calculated due to low sample size. In 139 (21%) endoscopies, LCM showed more extensive inflammation at microscopic assessment as compared to macroscopic assessment. Conclusion Macroscopic and microscopic inflammation in PSC-IBD may be classified into right sided colitis, left sided colitis, and pancolitis. The microscopic extent exceeds macroscopic inflammation in over 20% of endoscopies with segmental biopsies. Future research into the prognostic implication of this subclassification on PSC- and IBD-related outcomes is required.

Improvement of ovarian function in a premature ovarian failure mouse model using Vitex agnus-castus extract.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) leads to infertility. Numerous researchers have endeavored to enhance ovarian function through antioxidant interventions. Extract from Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) has demonstrated a protective effect. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the amelioration of ovarian function following VAC treatment in a POF mouse model. In this investigation, 30 female NMRI mice were categorized into control, POF model (cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg I.P), and experimental groups (100, 300, and 500 of VAC extract). Parameters such as body weight, vaginal smears, and follicular evaluation were examined. FSH, estradiol levels, free radicals, and the expression of the FMR1 gene were assessed. The microscopic assessment revealed that POF induced morphological alterations in ovarian tissue, whereas VAC treatment significantly ameliorated ovarian tissue conditions. The follicles number exhibited a significant reduction in the POF group; however, VAC led to an increase in follicular count and elevated estradiol levels in the treatment groups. Serum FSH levels displayed an elevation in the POF group, whereas the treatment groups exhibited a substantial reduction in FSH levels compared to the POF group. The expression of the FMR1 gene demonstrated upregulation in the POF group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, this expression significantly decreased in the 500-dose VAC group compared to the POF group (p<0.001). ROS generation exhibited a significant increase in the POF group, which was conversely mitigated in all experimental groups. Our findings underscore the potential of this extract to ameliorate POF symptoms, however, further investigations are needed.

EBUS-TBNA and CryoEBUS of the mediastinal lymph node. One hundred seventy-eight cases. Validation of the WHO Reporting System for Lymph Node Cytopathology. Proposed CryoEBUS diagnostic flow chart and indications. The view of the interventional pathologist.

Microscopic assessment is essential in the study of mediastinal lymph nodes. Obtaining cytological samples through Endobronchial Ultrasound TransBronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has long been considered the gold standard procedure. The implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Reporting System for Lymph Node Cytopathology, along with the advancement of the CryoEBUS lymph node technique, has enhanced and refined diagnostic accuracy in this field. During a two-year period, cases involving the parallel performance of EBUS-TBNA and CryoEBUS specimen collection were quantified. The implementation of the WHO Reporting System allowed for the comparison of diagnostic yield between cytological and CryoEBUS tissue samples. A total of 178 EBUS-TBNA and CryoEBUS procedures were conducted, with a mean patient age of 63 years and a male predominance of 72.5%. Lymph node station 7 was the most sampled site, accounting for 38.76% of cases. Category V - malignant was the most common cytological diagnosis, representing 50% of cases, while 46.62% of CryoEBUS samples were malignant. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the two methods was calculated at 0.99. The combined implementation of the WHO Reporting System for Lymph Node Cytopathology and the simultaneous use of CryoEBUS resulted in enhanced performance and diagnostic accuracy, reducing non-diagnostic samples to less than 3%.

Weight cycling exacerbates glucose intolerance and hepatic triglyceride storage in mice with a history of chronic high fat diet exposure

BackgroundObese subjects undergoing weight loss often fear the Yoyo dieting effect, which involves regaining or even surpassing their initial weight. To date, our understanding of such long-term obesity and weight cycling effects is still limited and often based on only short-term murine weight gain and loss studies. This study aimed to investigate the long-term impacts of weight cycling on glycemic control and metabolic health, focusing on adipose tissue, liver, and hypothalamus.MethodsChow-fed mice and mice subjected to prolonged high-fat diet (HFD) consumption for 20 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of dietary interventions to either induce weight gain, weight loss, or weight cycling were monitored for perturbations in feeding efficiency and glucose homeostasis. Post-mortem analyses included qPCR, Western Blotting, biochemical and microscopical assessments for hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, hypothalamic and adipose tissue inflammation, and circulating lipid, leptin and IL-6 levels.ResultsWeight cycling led to hyperphagia and rapid weight regain, matching the weights of mice continuously on HFD. Despite weight loss, adipose tissue inflammation persisted with elevated pro-inflammatory markers, macrophage infiltration, and impaired Glut4 expression. HFD-induced dysregulation in hypothalamic expression of orexigenic peptides and synaptic plasticity markers persisted also after weight normalization suggesting long-lasting neural alterations. Weight-cycled mice exhibited higher circulating IL-6 and leptin levels, increased hepatic lipid storage, and dysregulated glucose metabolism compared to those with consistent diets, indicating worsened metabolic effects by Yoyo dieting.ConclusionIn sum, our study highlights significant metabolic risks associated with weight cycling, particularly following prolonged obesity. Persistent adipose tissue inflammation, perturbed neural peptide and plasticity markers and impaired glucose tolerance emphasize the need for effective and sustainable weight loss strategies to mitigate the adverse outcomes of weight regain and improve long-term metabolic health.

Targeted thoracic ultrasonography shows high diagnostic potential for interstitial pneumonia in feedyard cattle.

To use a novel approach of targeted thoracic point-of-care ultrasound (TT-POCUS) of the caudodorsal right lung to determine potential associations between TT-POCUS measurements and the presence of interstitial pneumonia (IP) in feedyard cattle. Cross-sectional study evaluated feedyard animals (n = 62; 358.4 ± 10.5 kg; heifer, n = 38; steer, n = 24) using TT-POCUS at time of respiratory disease treatment and microscopic assessment of lesions at subsequent mortality. Evaluations took place from July through December 2023. Pulmonary samples were collected at necropsy for histopathologic assessment, and lesions were used to diagnose IP or non-IP. Statistical models determined potential associations between IP, cattle demographic, and TT-POCUS measured variables. Evaluations of animals enrolled (n = 62) displayed significant associations with IP, including ultrasound lung score (ULS), B-line count, A-line count, and days on feed at treatment. Cattle with a ULS of 5 had the lowest probability of IP (0.12 ± 0.16) compared to cattle with a ULS of 2, 3, or 4 (0.72 ± 0.18, 0.93 ± 0.06, and 0.85 ± 0.08, respectively). Cattle with B-line counts > 5 had a higher probability of IP (0.86 ± 0.11) compared to cattle with 3 to 5 B-lines (0.38 ± 0.14). The probability of IP was higher in cattle with A-line counts < 3 (0.83 ± 0.10) compared to cattle with ≥ 3 A-lines (0.51 ± 0.15). Strategic targeted thoracic ultrasonography has potential a value of timely IP diagnosis in feedyard cattle, thereby offering important insights into therapeutic and management decisions. Targeted thoracic ultrasonography can be utilized as a method for IP diagnosis in feedyard cattle.

Cutting Edge Microscopic Intraoperative Tissue Assessment for Guidance in Oncologic Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Role of Optical Coherence Tomography.

There is a demand for intraoperative diagnostic support and image guidance in oncological surgery. Novel techniques can provide images similar to histopathological slides within a few minutes. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and full-field OCT (FF-OCT) provide images with resolution greater than a hundred micrometers without the need for exogenous contrast agents or specimen staining. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the current clinical applications of OCT and dynamic cell imaging (DCI) in oncologic surgery, examining the translation challenges and proposing perspectives for improving future clinical applications. The study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to July 2024. Manuscripts reporting data on OCT and (D)-FF-OCT application in oncologic surgery were included in the qualitative analysis. Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were from the fields of dermatologic (25.8%) and breast cancer (29%) surgery, followed by prostate and bladder (9.6%), ovarian (9.6%), head and neck (6.4%), gastrointestinal (6.4%), hepato-biliary (3.2%), and general surgery (9.6%). The majority of articles focused on FF-OCT and DCI (80.6%). Compared with the gold standard of final pathology, the OCT sensitivity ranged between 66.7 and 94%, the specificity between 64 and 100%, and the accuracy between 73 and 96%. The medical use of OCT has expanded from ophtalmology to other fields including gastroenterology and oncology and, with techniques such as FF-OCT and DCI, can enable rapid intraoperative diagnosis beyond classic histopathology.

Can a combination of nanofat and freeze-dried human amniotic membrane enhance full-thickness wound healing? An animal study using rabbit models.

Previous studies have explored nanofat stimulating tissue regeneration and maturation, promoting remodeling through its rich content of growth factors and stem cells; however, comprehensive data on its use in full-thickness wounds remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of combining nanofat with freeze-dried human amniotic membrane (FDHAM) for treating full-thickness wounds in a rabbit model. An animal experimental study using a post-test control group design was conducted. Thirty-six male New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (received a combination of nanofat and FDHAM) and the control group (received FDHAM alone). Each group was subdivided to evaluate effects on days 3 and 7. Macroscopic evaluations of wound healing, microscopic assessment of epithelialization and measurement of epidermal growth factor (EGF) levels in the wounds were conducted on days 3 and 7 post-injury. The present study indicated that the combination treatment significantly elevated EGF levels in the wounds on both days 3 and 7 (with p < 0.001 for both assessment time points). The combination of nanofat-FDHAM did not significantly accelerate epithelialization on either day 3 or 7. This study highlights that combining nanofat with FDHAM did not significantly speed up epithelialization of full-thickness wounds within the first seven days; however, it notably increased EGF levels, suggesting that nanofat may enhance the wound's biological environment.

Clinical significance of intraoperative histological examination of resection margins during organ-preserving operations

Introduction. Today, resection margins are assessed in different ways, but in clinical practice, preference is given to the histological method with macro- and microscopic examination of the margins. Assessment of resection margins can be carried out not only during planned histological examination, but also during intraoperative examination.Aim. To evaluate the feasibility of intraoperative assessment of resection margins when performing organ-preserving operations in patients with primary resectable breast cancer.Materials and methods. A retrospective study analyzed data from patients with early breast cancer who underwent surgical treatment at the Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of Russia from June 2020 to May 2022. All patients underwent mammary gland resection with or without intraoperative marginal GI of resection, with sentinel lymph node determination or regional lymphadenectomy at the first stage. Patients included in the final analysis were divided into 2 groups: the study group consisted of patients who underwent intraoperative marginal GI of resection, and the control group consisted of patients who did not undergo intraoperative marginal GI of resection. Marginal GI of resection is performed by a pathologist by measuring the distance from the tumor node to the resection margins on a macropreparation. Frozen sections were always stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Results. The 451 patients with early forms of breast cancer included in the final analysis and subjected to breast resection at the first stage were divided into 2 main groups: the study group consisted of patients (n = 310) who underwent intraoperative microscopic histological assessment of resection margins, and the control group included patients (n = 141) who did not undergo intraoperative assessment of resection margins. During intraoperative histological assessment of resection margins, patients with positive resection margins were most often observed with invasive cancer – 20.3 versus 3.9 % with intraductal cancer.Conclusion. Further research is needed to determine the factors influencing the increase in the incidence of positive resection margins and their impact on patient survival rates.

Microscopic Characterization of Achillea santolina L. Flower Through Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy.

This study is a comprehensive account of microscopic assessment of flower of Achillea santolina L., a medicinally important species of the genus Achillea from Pakistan. The study was aimed to provide data for the quality control and standardization of A. santolina L. flower. The microscopic characterization has been carried out through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Various characteristic histological features of phyllaries, ray floret, disc floret, anther wall, filament, stigma, style, and ovary were observed. The pollens were found as tricolporate, spheroidal while the surface ornamentation was echinate. Qualitative and quantitative palyno-anatomical assessment was carried out through scanning electron microscopy. The exine thickness and the width of spines were calculated. The P/E ratio characterized the shape of pollen as oblate-spheroidal and sub-oblate in polar and equatorial views respectively. The elemental analysis of the flower through SEM-EDX showed the presence of various elements. Phytochemical screening of flower showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, fixed oils, glycosides, phenols, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, and coumarins. UV-vis spectra of the ethanol extract showed characteristics peaks in both ultraviolet and visible regions. This work will provide a standard reference for the correct identification of A. santolina L. an important aspect in the quality control. Additionally, the data produced by phytochemical, elemental and florescence analysis, and UV-visible spectroscopy will help in developing standards for this herb that will be useful for research and development and manufacturing of herbal products.

Effect of Dentin Bio-Modifiers Grape Seed Extract, Hesperidin on Shear Bond Strength and Microleakage: AScanning Electron Microscopic Assessment.

Investigation of different collagen cross-linking (CCL) agents, grape seed extract (GSE), Hesperidin (Hes), and rose bengal photosensitizer (RBP) on shear bond strength (SBS) and marginal leakage (ML) of composite bonded to carious affected dentin (CAD). Sixty-eight human molars in which carious lesions up to the middle third of the dentin were included. CAD was made flat followed by acid etching. Teeth were allocated randomly into four groups based on the application of CCL agents. Group 1: no CCL agent, Groups 2-4 samples treated with CCL agents. Bonding of adhesive and composite was performed followed by artificial aging. ML assessment was performed using a dye penetration test. SBS was evaluated using a universal testing machine followed by failure mode analysis. Analysis of the resin CAD interface with SEM was performed to identify the resin tag. For group comparisons, one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test were used. The length and number of resin tags in GSE and Hes groups were greater than in the control and RBP. Furthermore, samples treated with GSE presented the highest scores of SBS and lowest ML. The control group presented the lowest bond integrity and highest ML. GSE and Hes positively influenced both SBS and ML.

Activated charcoal application in gastric ulceration areas in horses: preliminary experimental study

Gastric ulceration is frequent in adult horses, bringing significant economic and welfare implications to these animals. Treatment may employ several drugs, but adsorbents, such as activated charcoal, are not mentioned. Activated charcoal may be a valuable therapeutic option mainly because of its few adverse effects, fecal elimination, and low cost. This study aimed to evaluate the use of activated charcoal in experimentally induced gastric ulceration in horses and perform the microscopic characterization of charcoal particles in the injured epithelium. Five adult, undefined breed horses underwent a gastric ulcer induction protocol based on alternating fasting and free food access periods. Next, we performed a gastroscopic examination and applied activated charcoal diluted in water at the ulcers through a probe passed through the working channel of the gastroscope. The gastric mucosa was washed with water after a contact period of 5 min until the complete lack of macroscopic product visualization. Then, we performed a biopsy of the aglandular mucosa in erosive to ulcerative injury sites and a microscopic assessment of the fragments. Macroscopically, all animals presented ulcerative lesions in the greater or lesser gastric curvature along the margo plicatus and hyperkeratosis in the aglandular portion. Microscopically, all animals had hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, epithelial erosion, desquamated epithelial cells, inflammatory cells, and variable amounts of charcoal particles, either free or adhered to the epithelium. We concluded that activated charcoal remains adhered to aglandular gastric lesions in horses even after lavage with water and histological processing, allowing its microscopic visualization. Therefore, activated charcoal’s effectiveness as a therapy for equine gastric lesions warrants evaluation.

Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Microorganisms Causing Post‐Harvest Disease of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam

ABSTRACTGarlic plays a crucial role in Vietnam's agricultural economy. However, the presence of post‐harvest diseases presents considerable obstacles as it reduces the quality and market value of the crop. The objective of this study was to identify the microbial strains responsible for these diseases through isolation and identification. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to identify six pathogenic species that have a significant impact on the quality of post‐harvest garlic in Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam. This analysis involved morphological observations, microscopic assessments, pathogenicity testing and molecular sequencing. Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum and Lasiodiplodia theobromae were identified as the main causes of dry rot, while Macrophomina phaseolina was associated with charcoal rot. Moreover, Aspergillus niger has been associated with black mould, while Pantoea sp. has been identified as the causative agent of soft rot. Re‐infection tests following Koch's postulates conducted on garlic bulbs provided confirmation of the isolates' pathogenicity. These findings have significant implications for enhancing our understanding of garlic diseases after harvest, which can contribute to the development of effective control measures in the future.

Phototactic/Photosynthetic/Magnetic-Powered Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii-Metal-Organic Frameworks Micro/Nanomotors for Intelligent Thrombolytic Management and Ischemia Alleviation.

Thrombosis presents a critical health threat globally, with high mortality and incidence rates. Clinical treatment faces challenges such as low thrombolytic agent bioavailability, thrombosis recurrence, ischemic hypoxia damage, and neural degeneration. This study developed biocompatible Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii micromotors (CHL) with photo/magnetic capabilities to address these needs. These CHL micromotors, equipped with phototaxis and photosynthesis abilities, offer promising solutions. A core aspect of this innovation involves incorporating polysaccharides (glycol chitosan (GCS) and fucoidan (F)) into ferric Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), loaded with urokinase (UK), and subsequently self-assembled onto the multimodal CHL, forming a core-shell microstructure (CHL@GCS/F-UK-MOF). Under light-navigation, CHL@GCS/F-UK-MOF is shown to penetrate thrombi, enhancing thrombolytic biodistribution. Combining CHL@GCS/F-UK-MOF with the magnetic hyperthermia technique achieves stimuli-responsive multiple-release, accelerating thrombolysis and rapidly restoring blocked blood vessels. Moreover, this approach attenuates thrombi-induced ischemic hypoxia disorder and tissue damage. The photosynthetic and magnetotherapeutic properties of CHL@GCS/F-UK-MOF, along with their protective effects, including reduced apoptosis, enhanced behavioral function, induced Heat Shock Protein (HSP), polarized M2 macrophages, and mitigated hypoxia, are confirmed through biochemical, microscopic, and behavioral assessments. This multifunctional biomimetic platform, integrating photo-magnetic techniques, offers a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular management, advancing related technologies.

Deep Learning-Based Microscopic Damage Assessment of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites.

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are increasingly being used as substitutes for traditional metallic materials across various industries due to their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. However, their orthotropic properties make them prone to multiple forms of damage, posing significant challenges in their design and application. During the design process, FRPs are subjected to various loading conditions to study their microscopic damage behavior, typically assessed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). While SEM provides detailed insights into fracture surfaces, the manual analysis of these images is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and subject to variability based on the observer's expertise. To address these limitations, this research proposes a deep learning-based approach for the autonomous microscopic damage assessment of FRPs. Several computationally efficient pre-trained deep learning models, such as DenseNet121, NasNet Mobile, EfficientNet, and MobileNet, were evaluated for their performance in identifying different damage modes autonomously, thus reducing the need for manual interpretation. SEM images of FRPs with five distinct failure modes were used to validate the proposed method. These failure modes include three fiber-based failures such as fiber breakage, fiber pullout, and mixed-mode failure, and two matrix-based failures such as matrix brittle failure and matrix ductile failure. The entire dataset is divided into train, validation, and test sets. Deep learning models were established by training on train and validation sets for five failure modes, while the test set was used as the unseen data to validate the models. The models were assessed using various evaluation metrics on an unseen test dataset. Results indicate that the EfficientNet model achieved the highest accuracy of 97.75% in classifying the failure modes. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of employing deep learning techniques for microscopic damage assessment, offering a more efficient, consistent, and scalable solution compared to traditional manual analysis.

Neoadjuvant Therapy and Lung Cancer: Role of Pathologists.

Recent neoadjuvant clinical trials in lung cancer have demonstrated the survival benefits in carefully selected patients. Standardization of the assessment of pathologic response to neoadjuvant therapy in surgically resected specimens is required. To review the current pathology practices in the gross processing and microscopic assessment of surgically resected non-small cell lung carcinoma specimens after neoadjuvant therapy. PubMed publications and experience of the author. Gross processing of the surgically resected lung carcinoma after neoadjuvant therapy needs further refinement and standardization in clinical trials and in a real-world clinical practice. Microscopic assessment of the response includes quantification of viable tumor, necrosis, and stroma. The best approach would be to use a single standardized and most reproducible scoring system. Published studies on gross processing of lung carcinoma specimens in the neoadjuvant setting and microscopic assessment of pathologic response provide a good foundation for the future standardization of pathology practice.

The Histopathological Examination of the Degeneration of Menisci in Osteoarthritic Knees Using an Adapted Bonar Score: Does Osteoarthritis Equally Influence the Lateral and Medial Menisci?

This study aimed to investigate the degeneration of the meniscal tissue in osteoarthritic knees and to adapt the Bonar score and its modifications to develop a microscopic examination. This study included consecutive patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty for symptomatic end-stage gonarthrosis. During the surgery, the menisci were completely dissected to preserve their original shapes. The samples were prepared using the hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) staining method and the Alcian blue protocol and were examined under light microscopy. The extent of histopathological changes was assessed based on the classical Bonar score assumptions. Additionally, in the second step of the examination, menisci remnants were evaluated using the modified Bonar score developed by Zabrzyński et al. The study involved 44 patients, from whom 83 samples of knee menisci were obtained. Histological examination of the meniscal specimens under a light microscope revealed tissue degeneration in all cases, in both the medial and lateral menisci. The mean classical Bonar score was 8.3571 and the mean modified Bonar score was 6.9398. There were no statistically significant differences in classical Bonar score assessment between medial and lateral menisci (p = 0.3014). There were no statistically significant differences in the modified-Bonar score assessment between medial and lateral menisci (p = 0.3620). We show that both menisci are implicated in the degenerative process, with high scores in the Bonar system, regardless of knee axial deformity. The Bonar score, along with its modifications, can be readily employed in the microscopic assessment of meniscus pathology.