Outcomes of women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and high risk human papillomavirus dna

To study the risk of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or 3 in women with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) cytology over a 2-year period using the 2001 Bethesda System and ThinPrep Paps. Study Design: In 2002, 846 patients with ThinPrep cervical cytology having an ASCUS interpretation and positive for high-risk HPV DNA were identified. A cohort of 514 (60.8%) patients with follow-up by repeat cytology, cervical biopsy or both was included in the study. Patient age was 12\u9681 years, with a median of 25 years. Results: There were 291 women (56.6%) with negative status by cytology, HPV testing or biopsy with a median interval of 8.5 months, and an additional 174 patients (33.9%) had persistent ASCUS, positive HPV DNA or low-grade SIL/CIN 1. Finally, 49 patients (9.5%) had CIN 2 or 3, with a median interval of 8.5 months. Conclusion: Our study suggests that HSIL or CIN 2 or 3 will be detected in 1 in 10 women with HPV-positive index ASCUS cervical cytology at initial colposcopy or within a 2-year follow-up perio

Identification of a functional thyroid hormone response element in the upstream flanking region of the human Na,K-ATPase Beta1 gene

The human Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit gene promoter activity is stimulated by thyroid hormone (T3) in the human intestinal Caco-2 cells. To identify potential cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements involved in this process, chimeric plasmids containing varying lengths of the 5′ flanking region of the human β1 Na,K-ATPase gene linked to the firefly luciferase reporter gene were introduced into Caco-2 cells by transient transfection. Analysis of T3-regulated luciferase activity of cells carrying these plasmids, and subsequent use of site-directed mutagenesis revealed that a region from −459 to −438 (relative to the transcriptional start site) is required for the induction of the (β1 Na,K-ATPase gene by T3. An ollgonucleotide containing this sequence from −465 to −433 confers T3 responsiveness to a heterologous promoter. Gel mobility shift assays showed specific binding of nuclear proteins of Caco-2 cells to this region and Immunoreactive T3 receptor was identified in one of these complexes. These data demonstrate that there is a cis-acting thyroid hormone responsive element in the 5′ flanking region of the human β1 Na,K-ATPase gene and induction of transcription of this gene by T3 involves specific binding of the thyroid hormone receptor to the TRE located at position −459 to −438yy

An Assessment of Electric Power Consumption Using Random Forest and Transferable Deep Model with Multi-Source Data

Reliable and fine-resolution electric power consumption (EPC) is essential for effective urban electricity allocation and planning. Currently, EPC data exists mainly as statistics with low resolution. Many studies estimate fine-resolution EPC based on the positive correction between stable nighttime light and EPC distribution. However, EPC is related to various factors other than nighttime light and is spatially non-stationary. Yet this has been ignored in current research. This study developed a novel method to estimate EPC at 500 m resolution by considering spatially non-stationary through fusing geospatial data and high-resolution satellite images. Deep transfer learning and statistical methods were used to extract socio-economic, population density, and landscape features to describe EPC distribution from multi-source geospatial data. Finally, a random forest regression (RFR) model with features and EPC statistics is established to estimate fine-resolution EPC. A study area of Shenzhen city, China, is employed to evaluate the proposed method. The R2 between predicted EPC and statistical EPC is 0.82 at sub-district level in 2013, which is higher than an existing EPC product (Shi’s product) with R2=0.46, illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed method. Moreover, the EPC distribution for Shenzhen from 2013 to 2019 was estimated. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal dynamic of EPC was analyzed at the pixel and sub-district levels

Accuracy and Added Value of Triage Beyond Segregating Potentially Neoplastic Effusions in Immediate Wet Preparation

Objective: To study the accuracy and value of immediate wet preparation (WP) procedure on effusion and washing cytologic specimens. Study Design: Two hundred specimens were identified over 3 months in our cytology laboratory, including 102 pleural effusion, 59 peritoneal effusion, 28 pelvic washing and 11 pericardial fluid specimens. WP slides were prepared, stained with toluidine blue (TB) and evaluated. Findings were reported as negative, suspicious or positive for malignant cells. For negative specimens, the remaining prepared slides were stained together. For suspicious or positive interpretation, slides were stained separately. Accuracy and additional benefits from this immediate triage step were studied. Results: Interpretation of slides resulted in 152 negative, 34 positive and 14 suspicious for malignancy. Analysis for additional values resulted in immediate interpretation relayed to clinicians, additional fluid centrifuged for adequate sediment in samples with scant cellularity, selection of bloody specimens for acid washing procedures, selection of cases to optimize cell block preparation when pivotal histologic evaluation or immunohistochemistry was anticipated and selection of cases for potentially needed ancillary studies. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were high. Conclusion: WP using the TB is accurate, sensitive and highly specific and has considerable value beyond segregating potential neoplastic cases

Fine Needle Aspiration of Head and Neck Masses in the Operating Room: Accuracy and Potential Benefits

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the operating room is a convenient optional diagnostic approach. Our objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and study the potential benefits of fine needle aspiration in the operating room. Retrospective review of all intraoperative FNA that were requested and performed by pathologists over 20-month period was carried out. Immediate smears were interpreted by the cytopathology team after staining with Diff Quik stain. All cases were reviewed and correlation with subsequent tissue diagnosis was done. Accuracy was calculated and potential benefits were discussed. The number of aspirates was 32. Adequate material for immediate and final interpretation was achieved in 31 cases (sensitivity 97%). In 20 cases (63%), malignancy was diagnosed while a benign diagnosis was rendered in 12 (37%). All cases had a follow up tissue diagnosis. No false-positive cases were identified (specificity 100%). The information gained from this approach was considered helpful to the surgeons. We concluded that FNA of head and neck masses in the operating room is an accurate and sensitive diagnostic approach. The service provides helpful information to surgeons and is an additional optional diagnostic approach

The Deformation Characteristics, Fracture Behavior and Strengthening-Toughening Mechanisms of Laminated Metal Composites: A Review

Multilayer metal composites have great application prospects in automobiles, ships, aircraft and other manufacturing industries, which reveal their superior strength, toughness, ductility, fatigue lifetime, superplasticity and formability. This paper presents the various mechanical properties, deformation characteristics and strengthening–toughening mechanisms of laminated metal matrix composites during the loading and deformation process, and that super-high mechanical properties can be obtained by adjusting the fabrication process and structure parameters. In the macroscale, the interface bonding status and layer thickness can effectively affect the fracture, impact toughness and tensile fracture elongation of laminated metal matrix composites, and the ductility and toughness cannot be fitting to the rule of mixture (ROM). However, the elastic properties, yield strength and ultimate strength basically follow the rule of mixture. In the microscale, the mechanical properties, deformation characteristics, fracture behavior and toughening mechanisms of laminated composites reveal the obvious size effect

CytoJournal BioMed Central Commentary Fast drying of Fine Needle Aspiration slides using a hand held fan: impact on turn around time and staining quality

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