Digistain: a novel biomarker imaging platform for grading breast carcinoma using routinely processed paraffin sections

Objective: Digistain is a new technology platform that enables imaging and quantification of a newly conceived biomarker for grading breast carcinoma in routinely processed, unstained paraffin sections without the use of traditional stains or contrasting agents. By recording a unique optical signature to analyze the chemical make-up of a biopsy quantitatively, the technique is unaffected by the subjectivity of traditional grading. Within minutes of loading a slide it yields a highly reproducible and user independent numerical score reflecting the cellularity of the tumour and its nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio. We report here our findings using an objective technique to grade breast tumours using quantitative criteria. Method: H&E stained sections from excision biopsies of 105 cases of invasive breast carcinoma were reviewed and graded using the ElstonEllis grading system. Unstained sections from each case were loaded into the Digistain platform to yield a numerical score - the Digistain Index (DI). Results: The cases were grouped according to histological grading. Mean DIs was calculated for each grade (1,2 and 3) to be 0.56, 0.61, and 0.68 respectively with a maximum standard error of 0.02. The DI spread within each grade was less than that across the three grades, thus validating this index as a viable grading indicator within the context of this study. Conclusion: We believe the new Digistain approach provides for the first time a cost effective and quantitative measure of tumour grade. This can be developed to deliver an effective assessment of prognosis and recurrence risk beyond traditional qualitative measures based on H&E staining protocols

Corneal Microlayer Optical Tomography Review

Anterior segment ultra-high resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) uses a resolution of 1–4 μm to provide non-invasive imaging of the tear film and cornea. This new high definition imaging technology increases our understanding of normal structure and pathological changes in the cornea, and resolution has continued to improve over time. UHR-OCT is useful in the treatment of disease such as dry eye, subclinical keratoconus, keratoconus, and ocular surface pathology. It also aids clinicians in fitting contact lenses and screening tissue for corneal transplantation. In this review, we summarize applications of imaging the normal and pathologic ocular surface and cornea. Novel developments, such as the new-generation micro-OCT, Anterior segment OCT angiography and artificial intelligence have the potential to continue to increase our knowledge

Biochemical Parameters in Obese Egyptian Patients as a Non-Invasive Marker for Disease Screening in Early Diagnosis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently been considered as the most public liver problem worldwide and a major clinicopathologic health burden in the developed countries. Biochemical tests are important in verifying a better understanding of many diseases and hence help to have the right decisions for achieving better management. AIM: This study was conducted to assess biochemical markers in NAFLD Egyptian patients. METHODS: Forty obese subjects (32 females and 8 males, mean age was 42.32 ± 9.12 years) (20 with NAFLD and 20 without NAFLD) and 20 normal participants were selected. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) was 40.86 ± 5.45 in obese FL versus 22.07 ± 2.10 in control, p < 0.001 and versus 35.83 ± 5.94 in obese non-FL, p = 0.003. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 57.30 ± 46.24 in obese FL versus 25.45 ± 7.12 in control, p = 0.003 and versus 27.35 ± 11.09 in obese non-FL, p = 0.005. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (41.40 ± 36.09 in obese FL vs. 21.7 ± 3.81 in control, p = 0.015 and vs. 24.05 ± 7.50 in obese non-FL, p = 0.032). Total bilirubin (T.Bil) (0.62 ± 0.25 in obese FL vs. 0.47 ± 0.15 in control, p = 0.014). Prothrombin time (PT) (86.80 ± 11.32 in obese FL vs. 97.86 ± 4.31 in control, p < 0.001) and International Normalization Ratio (INR) (1.11 ± 0.13 in obese FL vs. 1.01 ± 0.02 in control, p = 0.002). Triglycerides (TGs) (128.20 ± 43.49 in obese FL vs. 88.35 ± 24.26 in control, p < 0.001 and vs. 94.50 ± 31.65 in obese non-FL, p = 0.003). Ferritin (88.21 ± 54.88 in obese FL vs. 47.65 ± 32.07 in obese non-FL, p = 0.006). Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (2.42 ± 1.67 in obese FL vs. 1.20 ± 0.75 in control, p = 0.001). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) (119.70 ± 49.11 in obese FL vs. 84.10 ± 7.19 in control, p < 0.001 and vs. 80.50 ± 8.84 in obese non-FL, p < 0.001) and postprandial (P.P) (152.80 ± 82.86 in obese FL vs. 94.35 ± 3.70 in control, p < 0.001 and vs. 93.35 ± 7.77 in obese non-FL, p < 0.001). Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level was significantly lower in NAFLD patients compared to obese non-FL (40.05 ± 5.81 vs. 41.9 ± 4.85, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: NAFLD is associated with changes in biochemical parameters. Its early assessment can help in modifying the disease course and delaying complications

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PROCALCITONIN AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN THE PREDICTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

  Objective: This work was delineated to assess procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as prognostic markers for cardiovascular complication in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods: Forty diabetic patients without cardiovascular disease (CVD), 40 diabetic patients with CVD, and 20 healthy control counterparts were participated in this study. Serum PCT and CRP levels were assayed and correlated with metabolic parameters. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was done for each biochemical marker.Results: The mean level of PCT was 707.17±99.19 ng/l in diabetic patients versus 881.30±123.56 ng/l for the cardio-diabetic patients (p<0.0001). The mean value of CRP was 34.43±17.27 mg/l in diabetic patients versus 50.32±20.19 mg/l for the cardio-diabetic patients (p=0.0003). PCT levels were significantly amplified in the cardio-diabetic patients with increasing CRP, triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and cholesterol (p=0.004, 0.0005, 0.002, and 0.01, respectively). CRP levels were significantly enhanced in the cardio-diabetic patients with increasing TG, FBG, cholesterol, and microalbumin (p=0.002, 0.047, 0.003, and 0.001 respectively). ROC curve analysis for PCT and CRP revealed that the area under curve (AUC) was 0.878 and 0.727, respectively. These findings indicate the good validity of the above biomarkers especially PCT as a prognostic marker for cardiovascular complication in type 2 diabetic patients.Conclusion: This study evidences the usefulness of measuring serum levels of PCT and CRP in diagnosis of cardiovascular complication in type 2 diabetic patients

Oxidative Role of Aflatoxin B1 on the Liver of Wheat Milling Workers

Aim: The study aimed to estimate oxidative role of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on the liver in wheat milling workers. Materials and Methods: Case-control study was conducted to compare between the levels of AFB1/albumin (AFB1/alb), liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP), P53, MDA, GST, SOD, zinc and vitamin C in 35 wheat milling workers and 40 control subjects. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, P53, MDA, GST and SOD in workers were significantly elevated compared to their controls. In the milling workers, there were significant correlations between MDA levels and the levels of AST, GGT, and P53, while, P53 was inversely correlated with GST and SOD activities. There were significant correlations between Zn levels and GGT, GST and SOD activities, between vitamin C and GST activities, and vitamin C inversely correlated with MDA. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the oxidative stress of AFB1 elevated the MDA and the liver enzymes in wheat milling workers. GST has a crucial role in the detoxification of aflatoxin and SOD as a scavenger antioxidant increased in the workers to overcome the oxidative toxic effects of AFB1 on the liver of the workers, and roles of Zn and vitamin C were significant in activation of these processes

Correction to: Tumour suppressor EP300, a modulator of paclitaxel resistance and stemness, is downregulated in metaplastic breast cancer

In the original publication, Fig. 1 depicting the blot for EP300 in CAL51 cells (Fig. 1c) was unintentionally duplicated with that from MDA-MB-231 cells (Fig. 1d). The new figure given in this erratum depicts the correct EP300 blot in Fig. 1c

Impact of Community-Based Larviciding on the Prevalence of Malaria Infection in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The use of larval source management is not prioritized by contemporary malaria control programs in sub-Saharan Africa despite historical success. Larviciding, in particular, could be effective in urban areas where transmission is focal and accessibility to Anopheles breeding habitats is generally easier than in rural settings. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a community-based microbial larviciding intervention to reduce the prevalence of malaria infection in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania. Larviciding was implemented in 3 out of 15 targeted wards of Dar es Salaam in 2006 after two years of baseline data collection. This intervention was subsequently scaled up to 9 wards a year later, and to all 15 targeted wards in 2008. Continuous randomized cluster sampling of malaria prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics was carried out during 6 survey rounds (2004-2008), which included both cross-sectional and longitudinal data (N = 64,537). Bayesian random effects logistic regression models were used to quantify the effect of the intervention on malaria prevalence at the individual level. Effect size estimates suggest a significant protective effect of the larviciding intervention. After adjustment for confounders, the odds of individuals living in areas treated with larviciding being infected with malaria were 21% lower (Odds Ratio = 0.79; 95% Credible Intervals: 0.66-0.93) than those who lived in areas not treated. The larviciding intervention was most effective during dry seasons and had synergistic effects with other protective measures such as use of insecticide-treated bed nets and house proofing (i.e., complete ceiling or window screens). A large-scale community-based larviciding intervention significantly reduced the prevalence of malaria infection in urban Dar es Salaam

Eliminating Malaria Vectors.

Malaria vectors which predominantly feed indoors upon humans have been locally eliminated from several settings with insecticide treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying or larval source management. Recent dramatic declines of An. gambiae in east Africa with imperfect ITN coverage suggest mosquito populations can rapidly collapse when forced below realistically achievable, non-zero thresholds of density and supporting resource availability. Here we explain why insecticide-based mosquito elimination strategies are feasible, desirable and can be extended to a wider variety of species by expanding the vector control arsenal to cover a broader spectrum of the resources they need to survive. The greatest advantage of eliminating mosquitoes, rather than merely controlling them, is that this precludes local selection for behavioural or physiological resistance traits. The greatest challenges are therefore to achieve high biological coverage of targeted resources rapidly enough to prevent local emergence of resistance and to then continually exclude, monitor for and respond to re-invasion from external populations