Diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology in histological grade 1 breast carcinomas: are we good enough?

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of both palpable and non-palpable breast carcinomas has a high accuracy and sensitivity in dedicated centres. It is generally thought that low-grade carcinomas have a distinctly lower sensitivity due to discrete cellular atypia that may be difficult to appreciate. Grade 1 carcinomas make up about 45% of screening-detected breast carcinomas and about 20% of symptomatic breast cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of grade 1 carcinomas and identify the critical features in the cytological diagnostic work-up of these tumours. Methods: There were FNAC smears from 494 histologically confirmed grade 1 carcinomas diagnosed during 1996–2004. The cytological diagnoses were compared with the histology. Results: A definitive malignant diagnosis (absolute sensitivity) was given in 382 cases (77.3%). Equivocal or suspicious diagnoses were given in 75 (15.2%), benign or probably benign (false negative) in 24 (4.8%). Thirteen cases (2.6%) were unsatisfactory. Complete sensitivity was 92.7%. Invasive ductal carcinomas comprised 81.3% of all cases; absolute sensitivity for these was 80.9%. Invasive lobular and tubular carcinomas comprised 7.3% and 5.9% of cases, respectively; absolute sensitivity for these diagnosis was 50.0% and 57.1%, respectively, significantly lower than for other subtypes (P ≤ 0.0001) whereas the difference for complete sensitivity was less but still significant (P = 0.017). Absolute and complete sensitivities were lower for tumours less than 1 cm size compared with more than 1 cm (P ≤ 0.00001). Conclusion: Preoperative FNAC diagnosis of grade 1 breast carcinoma has a high sensitivity, especially in ductal carcinomas. Invasive lobular and tubular carcinomas were less likely to receive a definite preoperative diagnosis. The main reason for not reaching a definitive malignant diagnosis was sampling error due to small tumours less than 1 cm in diameter, irrespective of tumour subtype.     

Association of Allergic Symptoms with Dengue Infection and Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The relationship between the severity of dengue infection and allergy is still obscure. We conducted an electronic search across 12 databases for relevant articles reporting allergic symptoms, dengue infection, and dengue classification. These studies were categorized according to dengue severity and allergy symptoms, and a meta-analysis was performed by pooling the studies in each category. Among the included 57 articles, pruritus was the most common allergic sign followed by non-specified allergy and asthma(28.6%, 13%, and 6.5%, respectively). Despite the reported significant association of dengue with pruritus and total Ig E level(P \ 0.05), in comparison with non-dengue cases and healthy controls, there was no association between the different severe dengue group with pruritus, skin allergy, food allergy or asthma. However,removing the largest study revealed a significant association between asthma with dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF) rather than dengue fever(DF). In comparison with DF, DHF was associated with Ig E positivity. Furthermore, specific-Ig E level was higher in secondary DF rather than primary DF. There was a possible association between allergy symptoms and dengue severity progression. Further studies are needed to clarify this association.     

Investigating the Effect of Ag and Au Nanostructures with Spherical and Rod Shapes on the Emission Wavelength of OLED

Noble metals, especially Ag and Au nanostructures, have unique and adjustable optical attributes in terms of surface plasmon resonance. In this research, the effect of Ag and Au nanoparticles with spherical and rod shapes on the light extraction efficiency and the FWHM of OLED structures was investigated using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The simulation results displayed that by changing the shape and size of Ag and Au nanostructures, the emission wavelength can be adjusted, and the FWHM can be reduced. The presence of Ag and Au nanoparticles in the OLEDs showed a blue and red shift of the emission wavelength, respectively. Also, the Ag and Au nanorods caused a significant reduction in the FWHM and a shift to the longer wavelengths in the structures. The structures containing Ag nanorods showed the narrowest FWHM and longer emission wavelength than the other structures.

     

microRNAs: Key players in virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known as one of the major health problems worldwide. Pathological analysis indicated that a variety of risk factors including genetical (i.e., alteration of tumor suppressors and oncogenes) and environmental factors (i.e., viruses) are involved in beginning and development of HCC. The understanding of these risk factors could guide scientists and clinicians to design effective therapeutic options in HCC treatment. Various viruses such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) via targeting several cellular and molecular pathways involved in HCC pathogenesis. Among various cellular and molecular targets, microRNAs (miRNAs) have appeared as key players in HCC progression. miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs which could play important roles as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in several malignancies such as HCC. Deregulation of many miRNAs (i.e., miR-222, miR-25, miR-92a, miR-1, let-7f, and miR-21) could be associated with different stages of HCC. Besides miRNAs, exosomes are other particles which are involved in HCC pathogenesis via targeting different cargos, such as DNAs, RNAs, miRNAs, and proteins. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the role of miRNAs and exosomes as important players in HCC pathogenesis. Moreover, we highlighted HCV- and HBV-related miRNAs which led to HCC progression.     

Synergistic effect of coronatine and sorbitol on artemisinin production in cell suspension culture of Artemisia annua L. cv. Anamed

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Artemisinin is an efficient anti-malarial drug and it possesses biological activity against a wide range of cancers. The combined application of two...     

The Physiological,Biochemical, and Molecular Modifications of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Seedlings Under Freezing Stress

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Fall cultivation of field crops such as chickpea is prone to the risk of freezing stress. It is required to identify the mechanisms through which plants can...     

Bottom-up effect of different host plants on Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae): a life-table study on canola

The effects of 10 commercial canola, Brassica napus L., cultivars widely grown in Iran--'SLM(046),' 'Opera,' 'Okapi,' 'RGS(003),' 'Modena,' 'Sarigol,' 'Zarfam,' 'Licord,' 'Hayula(420),' and 'Talaye'--on the demographic parameters of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera-Plutellidae), were determined. The experiments were conducted in a growth chamber at 25 +/- 1 degrees C, 65 +/- 2% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The comparison of intrinsic rate of natural increase (r(m)), net reproductive rate (R0), and the survival rate of adult stage of P. xylostella on 10 canola cultivars suggested that this pest performed best on SLM(046). The r(m) value of P. xylostella ranged between 0.241 on RGS(003) and 0.304 on SLM(046). The R0, finite rate of increase (lambda), mean generation time (T), and doubling time (DT) values of P. xylostella on SLM(046) were 52, 1.35, 13.4, and 2.35 and on RGS(003) were 31, 1.27, 14.4, and 2.94, respectively. The Weibull model adequately described the shape of the survivorship curve of adult P. xylostella from life-table data. A significant fit was obtained with the Weibull model for P. xylostella in all experimental canola cultivars. As a result, SLM(046), Opera, and Hayula(420) were the most suitable hosts and had least negative impact on life-history statistics of the pest.     

Widely distribution of hematological parameters in thalassemia patients with similar α-globin genotype

Background

Thalassemia is known as the commonest monogenic disorder with an imbalanced rate of globin chains production of adult hemoglobin. Despite the available information about the thalassemia etiology, its phenotype varies from each patient to another. This study aimed to evaluate the hematological parameters of patients with the same -α3.7 homozygote and heterozygote genotypes to amend screening programs.

Methods

In this observational study, we evaluated 1301 thalassemia suspected patients who referred to the Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Khuzestan, Iran during 2014–2016. According to the genotyping studies, patients divided into 2 groups with -α3.7/αα (n = 646) and -α3.7/-α3.7 (n = 181) genotypes. Thereafter, distribution of hematological parameters evaluated in both groups.

Results

The mean age in heterozygous and homozygous groups was 25.7±4.5 and 26±4.4 years old, respectively. The degree of anemia was considerably varied in patients with the same genotype. MCV, RBC and MCH showed a wide distribution in patients.

Conclusion

The findings presented here suggest that other molecular mechanisms along with α-globin gene mutations could be involved in determining the phenotypes of alpha thalassemia patients.

     

The Modulatory Effect of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Type-1α on Spike-Wave Discharges in WAG/Rij Rats

Modulatory function of metabotropic glutamate type 1 (mGlu1) receptors plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of some neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and epilepsy. In this study, the expression of mGlu1α receptors in the thalamic nuclei was assessed during development of absence seizures in the WAG/Rij rats, a valid genetic animal model of absence epilepsy. In addition, the effect of pharmacological modulation of mGlu1α receptors in the laterodorsal (LD) nucleus of the thalamus on the characteristic features of bioelectrical brain activities in the WAG/Rij rats was assessed. The expression of mGlu1α receptors in the LD was assessed in four experimental groups of both WAG/Rij and Wistar rats with 2 and 6 months of age. Agonist and antagonist of mGlu1α receptors were infused in LD in the six months old WAG/Rij (epileptic) rats. The protein level of mGlu1α receptors in the thalamus of the 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats was lower than non-epileptic animals. In addition, the distribution of mGlu1α receptors in different thalamic nuclei was lower in the 6-month-old WAG/Rij compared to age-matched Wistar rats. The gene expression of mGlu1α receptor was also significantly lower in 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats in the LD compared to other animal groups. The microinjection of mGlu1α receptors agonist and antagonist in the LD reduced the duration of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) and increased the amplitude and duration of SWDs, respectively, in 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats. The alterations of mGlu1α receptors expression in the thalamus of epileptic WAG/Rij rats as well as its modulatory effects in the generation of SWDs suggest the potential of mGlu1 receptors as a therapeutic target in absence epilepsy.     

Low Temperature-induced Accumulation of Protein is Sustained both in Root Meristems and in Callus in Winter Wheat but not in Spring Wheat

Plant growth was assessed and cellular protein per nuclear DNAamount measured in root meristems and in callus derived fromembryos of a spring (‘Katepwa’) and a winter variety(‘Beaver’) of allohexaploid wheat exposed to lowtemperature treatment. The data obtained were used to test whetherthese genetically distinct varieties of wheat responded differentiallyto cold treatment. Seedlings were grown for 14 d at 20°Cand then transferred to 4°C for 14 d before returning themto 20°C, or else were maintained continuously at 20°C.In winter wheat, root growth at 4°C was significantly greaterover the first 7 d following transfer to 4°C compared withplants retained at 20°C, whereas in spring wheat it wasreduced at 4°C. The pattern of accumulation of cellularprotein for both root meristem cells and in callus cells wasalso generally enhanced at 4°C compared with 20°C inwinter wheat but not in spring wheat. Thus, clear inter-varietaldifferences were established both for dry weight accumulationand cellular protein, and the callus data clearly show thatthe low-temperature-induced accumulation of protein is a cellularphenomenon not necessarily linked to development. The extentto which cold-shock proteins are a component of this low temperature-inducedincrease in cellular protein is discussed. Copyright 2000 Annalsof Botany Company Protein, spring wheat, temperature, tissue culture, Triticum aestivum, winter wheat