Contribution of nuclear texture analysis for the differential diagnosis of follicular lesions of the thyroid: comparison to immunohistochemical markers

Objective and methods: To investigate the utility of nuclear chromatin texture assessment in the differential diagnosis of follicular patterned lesions, by means of examining 76 samples previously submitted to the immunohistochemical protein analysis of HBME-1, CK-19 and galectina-3. Results: HBME-1 confirmed to be the most sensitive marker of malignancy. A series of morphometric, densitometric and texture variables were useful in the discrimination of the different types of follicular lesions. Among these variables, r(2), a parameter related to the granularity of the nucleus presented the best accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values, distinguishing benign from malignant lesions. Conclusion: The morphometric analysis of nuclear chromatin images may add accuracy to the differential diagnosis of follicular patterned lesions. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2009;53(7):804-10.53780481

Leprosy among Patient Contacts: A Multilevel Study of Risk Factors

Leprosy is an infectious disease that can lead to physical disabilities, social stigma, and great hardship. Transmitted from person to person, it is still endemic in developing countries, like Brazil and India. Effective treatment has been available since 1960, but early diagnosis of the disease remains the most effective way to stop the transmission chain and avoid late diagnoses and subsequent disabilities. Knowledge of the risk factors for leprosy can facilitate early detection; therefore, our study aimed to investigate the factors presented by leprosy patients and their contacts, who are considered at highest risk of contracting the disease. We studied 6,158 contacts of 1,201 patients under surveillance from 1987 to 2007 in a Public Health Care Center in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We evaluated the ways patient and contact demographics and epidemiological characteristics were associated with the detection of leprosy. Statistical analyses took into account both individual and group characteristics and their interrelationships. The main characteristics facilitating the contraction of leprosy among contacts were shown to be consanguinity and household association. Conversely, the bacillary load index of leprosy patients was the principle factor leading to disease among their contacts

Gene Bionetwork Analysis of Ovarian Primordial Follicle Development

Ovarian primordial follicles are critical for female reproduction and comprise a finite pool of gametes arrested in development. A systems biology approach was used to identify regulatory gene networks essential for primordial follicle development. Transcriptional responses to eight different growth factors known to influence primordial follicles were used to construct a bionetwork of regulatory genes involved in rat primordial follicle development. Over 1,500 genes were found to be regulated by the various growth factors and a network analysis identified critical gene modules involved in a number of signaling pathways and cellular processes. A set of 55 genes was identified as potential critical regulators of these gene modules, and a sub-network associated with development was determined. Within the network two previously identified regulatory genes were confirmed (i.e., Pdgfa and Fgfr2) and a new factor was identified, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). CTGF was tested in ovarian organ cultures and found to stimulate primordial follicle development. Therefore, the relevant gene network associated with primordial follicle development was validated and the critical genes and pathways involved in this process were identified. This is one of the first applications of network analysis to a normal developmental process. These observations provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for preventing ovarian disease and promoting female reproduction

QPRT: a potential marker for follicular thyroid carcinoma including minimal invasive variant; a gene expression, RNA and immunohistochemical study

Background The differential diagnosis between follicular thyroid adenoma and minimal invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma is often difficult for several reasons. One major aspect is the lack of typical cytological criteria in well differentiated specimens. New marker molecules, shown by poly- or monoclonal antibodies proved helpful. Methods We performed global gene expression analysis of 12 follicular thyroid tumours (4 follicular adenomas, 4 minimal invasive follicular carcinomas and 4 widely invasive follicular carcinomas), followed by immunohistochemical staining of 149 cases. The specificity of the antibody was validated by western blot analysis Results In gene expression analysis QPRT was detected as differently expressed between follicular thyroid adenoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma. QPRT protein could be detected by immunohistochemistry in 65% of follicular thyroid carcinomas including minimal invasive variant and only 22% of follicular adenomas. Conclusion Consequently, QPRT is a potential new marker for the immunohistochemical screening of follicular thyroid nodules

Diagnostic significance of CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 expression for papillary thyroid carcinoma in the northeastern region of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the expression and differential diagnostic significance of CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (metastatic and non metastatic), follicular adenoma and nodular goiter in patients from the northeastern part of China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>441 PTC specimens and 151 other benign thyroid specimens (97 cases of nodular goiter, 54 cases of nonmalignant follicular adenoma) were collected. Immunohistochemistry for CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CK19, TG, Ki67 and galectin-3 expression was 96.37% (425/441), 82.77% (365/441), and 40.59% (179/441), 96.82% (427/441), respectively, for the PTC group and the expression of these markers in the benign thyroid lesions group was 25.83% (39/151), 79.47% (120/151), and 37.09% (56/151), 50.99% (77/151), respectively. The expression of CK19 and galectin-3 in PTC was much higher than that in the nonmalignant group (p < 0.05). However, the expression of TG, Ki67 did not differ among these two groups (p > 0.05). The diagnostic efficiency of CK19 and galectin-3 for PTC was 96.37% (537/592) and 84.63% (501/592). CK19 and galectin-3 expression rate in PTC was higher than that in benign disease cases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The diagnostic efficiency of CK19 for PTC was slightly better than galectin-3. The utilization of these markers combined with morphologic evaluation may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the northeastern region of China.</p

Scale-up and large-scale production of Tetraselmis sp CTP4 (Chlorophyta) for CO2 mitigation: from an agar plate to 100-m(3) industrial photobioreactors

Industrial production of novel microalgal isolates is key to improving the current portfolio of available strains that are able to grow in large-scale production systems for different biotechnological applications, including carbon mitigation. In this context, Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 was successfully scaled up from an agar plate to 35-and 100-m(3) industrial scale tubular photobioreactors (PBR). Growth was performed semi-continuously for 60 days in the autumn-winter season (17th October -14th December). Optimisation of tubular PBR operations showed that improved productivities were obtained at a culture velocity of 0.65-1.35 m s(-1) and a pH set-point for CO2 injection of 8.0. Highest volumetric (0.08 +/- 0.01 g L-1 d(-1)) and areal (20.3 +/- 3.2 g m(-2) d(-1)) biomass productivities were attained in the 100-m(3) PBR compared to those of the 35-m(3) PBR (0.05 +/- 0.02 g L-1 d(-1) and 13.5 +/- 4.3 g m(-2) d(-1), respectively). Lipid contents were similar in both PBRs (9-10% of ash free dry weight). CO2 sequestration was followed in the 100-m(3) PBR, revealing a mean CO2 mitigation efficiency of 65% and a biomass to carbon ratio of 1.80. Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 is thus a robust candidate for industrial-scale production with promising biomass productivities and photosynthetic efficiencies up to 3.5% of total solar irradiance.Portuguese national budget; Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]; INTERREG V-A Espana-Portugal project [0055 ALGARED + 5 E]; COST Action - European Network for Bio-products [1408]; FCT [SFRH/BD/105541/2014]; Nord Universityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phylogenetic relationships within Chamaecrista sect. Xerocalyx (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) inferred from the cpDNA trnE-trnT intergenic spacer and nrDNA ITS sequences

Chamaecrista belongs to subtribe Cassiinae (Caesalpinioideae), and it comprises over 330 species, divided into six sections. The section Xerocalyx has been subjected to a profound taxonomic shuffling over the years. Therefore, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis using a cpDNA trnE-trnT intergenic spacer and nrDNA ITS/5.8S sequences from Cassiinae taxa, in an attempt to elucidate the relationships within this section from Chamaecrista. The tree topology was congruent between the two data sets studied in which the monophyly of the genus Chamaecrista was strongly supported. Our analyses reinforce that new sectional boundaries must be defined in the Chamaecrista genus, especially the inclusion of sections Caliciopsis and Xerocalyx in sect. Chamaecrista, considered here paraphyletic. The section Xerocalyx was strongly supported as monophyletic; however, the current data did not show C. ramosa (microphyllous) and C. desvauxii (macrophyllous) and their respective varieties in distinct clades, suggesting that speciation events are still ongoing in these specimens