Postmortem survey of haemoglobin A1c, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis within a general population
Conclusions
NASH and advanced fibrosis were higher in our general adult autopsy population compared with previously published estimates. This is a large series with histological evaluation showing that HbA1c >7.0% is independently associated with NASH and advanced fibrosis. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - August 17, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Klaric, K.-A., Parai, J. L., Kepron, C. A., Walker, A. E., Milroy, C. M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
MYCN amplification and International Neuroblastoma Risk Group stratification on fine-needle aspiration biopsy and their correlation to survival in neuroblastoma
Conclusion
FNAB is a complete modality for diagnosing neuroblastoma and providing all information required for risk stratification as per INRG including MKI, MYCN amplification, INPC category. Our cohort with predominant high-risk neuroblastoma cases highlights regional variation. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - August 17, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Bhardwaj, N., Rohilla, M., Trehan, A., Bansal, D., Kakkar, N., Srinivasan, R. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Development of a LAG-3 immunohistochemistry assay for melanoma
Conclusions
We have demonstrated that the assay reliably assesses LAG-3 expression in FFPE human melanoma samples by IHC. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - August 17, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Johnson, L., McCune, B., Locke, D., Hedvat, C., Wojcik, J. B., Schroyer, C., Yan, J., Johnson, K., Sanders-Cliette, A., Samala, S., Dillon, L. M., Anderson, S., Shuster, J. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
Quantitative p53 immunostaining aids in the detection of prevalent dysplasia
Conclusions
Automated p53 analysis in NDBE biopsies serves as a promising tool for assessing BE neoplastic progression and risk stratification. Our study highlights the practical applicability of p53 assay to routine surveillance practice and its ability to detect prevalent dysplasia. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - August 17, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Neyaz, A., Rickelt, S., Yilmaz, O. H., Parrack, P. H., Lu, C., Yilmaz, O., Wu, E. Y., Choi, W.-T., Gala, M., Ting, D. T., Odze, R. D., Patil, D. T., Deshpande, V. Tags: Editor's choice Original research Source Type: research
Ketamine: friend or foe?
Ketamine, a dissociative anaesthetic drug, acts on the central nervous system (CNS) primarily through antagonism of the n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor.1 Methods of administration include intravenous, intramuscular, snorting and smoking.2 Intranasal use, which has a very rapid onset of action, is common among recreational users.3 Ketamine may be used as an antidepressant and for recovery from drug abuse.1 Doses used in abuse are significantly higher than for therapy.3 For recreational use, the usual intranasal dose is 50 mg with abusers regularly using multiple doses to prolong intoxication.2 3 Ketamine’s potent...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - August 17, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Steyn, N. Tags: Grand rounds commentary Source Type: research
Failure to thrive in a man in his late forties
Clinical presentation A man in his late 40s with a 30 pack-year cigarette smoking history and no other comorbidities presents with failure to thrive. He first presented to an outside institution in 2016 with haematuria and 3 months later with volume overload secondary to renal failure. Bilateral ureteral strictures, hydronephrosis and a small contracted bladder consistent with ketamine bladder syndrome were noted. Bilateral percutaneous nephrostomy tubes were placed. Cystoscopy and biopsy revealed severely inflamed bladder with denuded epithelium and eosinophilic bodies in the stroma. He presented to our institution 1 mont...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - August 17, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Meyer, B. J., Dale, L.-A., Kuo, S. Z., Brandes, S. B., Lagana, S. M., O'Toole, K. M., Burt, J. E., Krishnareddy, S. Tags: Grand rounds Source Type: research
Unravelling the USP6 gene: an update
Ubiquitin-specific protease 6 (USP6) rearrangements have been identified in aneurysmal bone cyst, nodular fasciitis, myositis ossificans, fibro-osseous pseudotumour of digits and cellular fibroma of tendon sheath. These entities show clinical as well as histological overlap, suggesting they are all clonal neoplastic belonging to the same biological spectrum and referred to as ‘USP6-associated neoplasms’. They all show a characteristic gene fusion formed by juxtaposition of the USP6 coding sequences to the promoter regions of several partner genes, leading to USP6 transcriptional upregulation. (Source: Journal o...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - August 17, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Cordier, F., Creytens, D. Tags: Gene of the month Source Type: research
Additions to the paper 'The Journey of Laboratory Medicine from a broader perspective
With much interest, we have read the review by professor Verna on how laboratory medicine has evolved to the clinically indispensable specialisation that it nowadays is.1 In the first part of his paper, he strongly focuses on alchemy, a non-scientific approach to understanding matter, being the precursor of modern chemistry that originated as a scientific discipline in the 17th century. Although Verna indicated that his paper is not meant to be a treatise on the history of medicine, we believe that his focus on alchemy and chemistry does not fully recognise the development of laboratory medicine. His table 1, named ‘...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Hoffmann, J. J., Urrechaga, E. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research
Industry payments to pathologists in the USA between 2013 and 2021
Although proper physician-industry financial relationships are essential for improving patient care, they can also cause potential conflicts of interest. However, little is known about the pathologist-industry financial relationships. Using the 2013-2021 Open Payments Database, this cross-sectional study investigated both research and non-research payments to all pathologists in the USA. Payment data were analyzed descriptively. Of 21,664 pathologists, 49.5% of all pathologists have received payments totaling $356.7 million from the healthcare industry, of which 68.2% were research payments. Median per-physician general an...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Murayama, A., Hirota, S. Tags: Short report Source Type: research
Identification of a protein expression signature distinguishing early from organising diffuse alveolar damage in COVID-19 patients
Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) is the histological expression of acute respiratory distress syndrome and characterises lung pathology due to infection with SARS-CoV-2, and other respiratory pathogens of clinical significance. DAD reflects a time-dependent immunopathological process, progressing from an early/exudative stage through to an organising/fibrotic stage, yet within an individual these different stages of DAD may coexist. Understanding the progression of DAD is central to the development of new therapeutics to limit progressive lung damage. Here, we applied highly multiplexed spatial protein profiling to autopsy lu...
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Ashwin, H., Milross, L., Wilson, J., Majo, J., Hang Lee, J. T., Calder, G., Hunter, B., James, S., Lagos, D., Signoret, N., Filby, A., Bayraktar, O. A., Fisher, A. J., Kaye, P. M. Tags: Open access, COVID-19 Short report Source Type: research
Underdiagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia in HIV-infected individuals: a pilot study using soluble transferrin receptors and intensive bone marrow iron stores to improve the diagnosis
Conclusion
In this pilot study in HIV-positive participants, the prevalence of iron deficiency using the BMT assessment was low. Both the sTfR and the sTfR-ferritin index had a better quantitative correlation to bone marrow iron stores when compared with the MCV and ferritin and, may be more accurate surrogate markers of IDA. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Mankgele, M., Variava, E., Moloantoa, T., Otwombe, K., Hlongwane, K., Disenyane, D., Bida, M., Chikwati, R., Snyman, T., Martinson, N., Mahlangu, J. Tags: JCP Education Original research Source Type: research
FOCUS4 biomarker laboratories: from the benefits to the practical and logistical issues faced during 6 years of centralised testing
Conclusions
Practical and logistical problems were identified, including poor sample quality and difficulties with sample anonymisation. The often last-minute receipt of a sample for testing and a lack of integration with National Health Service mutation analysis services were challenging. The laboratories benefitted from both pretrial validations and interlaboratory comparisons, resulting in robust assay development and provided confidence during the implementation of new sequencing technologies. We conclude that our centralised approach to biomarker testing in FOCUS4 was effective and successful. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Richman, S. D., Hemmings, G., Roberts, H., Gallop, N., Dodds, R., Wilkinson, L., Davis, J., White, R., Yates, E., Jasani, B., Brown, L., Maughan, T. S., Butler, R., Quirke, P., Adams, R. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
Overexpression of integrin alpha 2 (ITGA2) correlates with poor survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Conclusions
ITGA2 is an independent prognostic parameter for survival in patients with resected PDAC. PKP3 and AK4 do not appear to have prognostic value for survival in PDAC. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Deichmann, S., Schindel, L., Braun, R., Bolm, L., Taylor, M., Deshpande, V., Schilling, O., Bronsert, P., Keck, T., Ferrone, C., Wellner, U., Honselmann, K. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Diagnostic utility of ERG immunostaining in dermatofibroma
Conclusions
DF/FH was frequently positive for ERG immunostaining. ERG immunostaining may thus be useful to distinguish DF/FH from DFSP. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Yamada, Y., Ichiki, T., Susuki, Y., Yamada-Nozaki, Y., Tateishi, Y., Furue, M., Oda, Y. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Novel histological repertoire of crypt-associated anomalies in inflamed colon mucosa
Conclusions
CAAs were found interspersed with branching crypts. CAAs persisted in long-lasting UC mucosal inflammation, but declined when the inflammation waned. Since similar anomalies are not present in normal colon mucosa, the results suggest that CAAs had been boosted by the ongoing mucosal inflammation. The development of these previously unreported CAAs in the colon mucosa with inflammation might embody pathological aberrations of cryptogenesis. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Source: Journal of Clinical Pathology - July 19, 2023 Category: Pathology Authors: Rubio, C. A., Vieth, M., Lang-Schwarz, C. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
