The Utilization of Polymerase Chain Reaction, DNA Barcoding and Bioinformatics in Identifying Plant Species

Bioinformatics and DNA barcoding is a process used to identify plants, animals, and fungi. DNA barcoding in plants utilizes a key variable region in the genome, the RuBisCo large subunit (RbcL) on Chloroplast DNA. Once the DNA is extracted, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifies that region and that sample is sent off for sequencing. Bioinformatics and DNA barcoding helps taxonomists determine the sequence of the RbcL gene as well as obtain a unique barcode that can be used to identify plants. Several plant species from our local campus were sequenced and identified using the previously described methods

Concomitant occurrence of FXTAS and clinically defined sporadic inclusion body myositis: report of two cases.

This report describes unique presentations of inclusion body myositis (IBM) in two unrelated patients, one male and one female, with genetically and histologically confirmed fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). We summarize overlapping symptoms between two disorders, clinical course, and histopathological analyses of the two patients with FXTAS and sporadic IBM, clinically defined per diagnostic criteria of the European Neuromuscular Centre. In case 1, a post-mortem analysis of available brain and muscle tissues is also described. Histopathological features (rimmed vacuoles) consistent with clinically defined IBM were detected in both presented cases. Postmortem testing in case 1 revealed the presence of an FMR1 premutation allele of 60 CGG repeats in both brain and skeletal muscle samples. Case 2 was a premutation carrier with 71 CGG repeats who had a son with FXS. Given that FXTAS is associated with immune-mediated disorders among premutation carriers, it is likely that the pathogeneses of IBM and FXTAS are linked. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of these two conditions presenting together, which expands our understanding of clinical symptoms and unusual presentations in patients with FXTAS. Following detection of a premutation allele of the FMR1 gene, FXTAS patients with severe muscle pain should be assessed for IBM

Prolonged length of stay in illeal conduit compared to neobladder diversion in radical cystectomy patients for bladder cancer

Background: Radical cystectomy and urinary diversion has become the standard treatment for invasive and complicated malignancies of the bladder, urethra, and ureters. [1] Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC), introduced in the last decade, has been associated with favorable perioperative outcomes when compared to open radical cystectomy. Yet little is known about how different urinary diversion types compare in regards to length of hospital stay, readmission rates, and perioperative course. This data analysis seeks to identify the statistically significant differences in postoperative course of ileal conduit versus neobladder among patients with staged bladder cancer. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) is a health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA) compliant data file containing cases from 706 participating hospitals. The data includes 275 HIPAA compliant variables on 902,968 cases in 2020 and 273 variables on 1,076,441 cases in 2019. ACS NSQIP includes all major cases as determined by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code. The goal of the program is to determine the quality of care after surgical procedures. The ACS NSQIP is deidentified and the study was exempted from the requirement for institutional review board approval. The primary outcomes were length of stay and readmission after radical cystectomy with either ileal conduit or neobladder. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was utilized for continuous variables as the data was not normally distributed. For categorical variables, Fisher’s exact test was performed and Chi-squared analysis where more than two categories were evaluated. Statistical significance was set at P-value \u3c 0.05. Results: Data from a total of 6,103 patients in the NSQIP database were screened and 1,478 analyzed for all outcomes measures. There was no statistical significance in terms of mean length of stay between the ileal conduit and neobladder groups (7.85 vs. 7.44 days, p = 0.185) (Table 1). Additionally, there was not a statistically significant difference in mean days to discharge. Secondary endpoints that resulted in statistically significant differences include rates of readmission (21.5% vs 30%, p \u3c 0.05), colonic anastomotic leak (6.3% vs 1.8%, p \u3c 0.05), urinary anastomotic leak (3.1% vs 6.7%, p \u3c 0.05) , and lymphocele/lymphatic leak (3.8% vs 8.5%, p \u3c 0.05)( Table 1.) Multivariable analysis revealed additional differences between these groups. Prior pelvic radiotherapy ( p = 0.003) and a characterized bleeding disorder (p = 0.001) were associated with length of stay in the ileal conduit group (Table 2). Chemotherapy within 90 days (p = 0.004) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.029) were predictors of length of stay in the neobladder group (Table 2). Conclusion: The conduit diversion cohort did not show a difference in length of stay compared to the neobladder cohort. However, secondary endpoints including rates of readmission, colonic anastomotic leak, urinary anastomotic leak, and lymphocele/lymphatic leak showed significant differences. Risk factors that influenced length of stay were prior pelvic radiation, a characterized bleeding disorder, chemotherapy within 90 days, and diabetes mellitus