Cytomorphological overview of fine-needle aspiration breast utilizing the International Academy of Cytology – Yokohama system of reporting

Background: Benign and malignant lesions of breast are one of the most common causes of palpable masses seen in women. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the important modality of diagnosis of breast lumps. Previously, there were no uniform criteria for reporting breast FNAC. To overcome this problem, the newly designed system – International Academy of Cytology (IAC) – Yokohama system of reporting was implemented in 2016. The system offers a structured report to the patient. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to categorize breast FNAC according to the IAC – Yokohama system of reporting, to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy of the test, and to analyze the cytomorphological spectrum of various breast lesions. Materials and Methods: A total of 210 patients presenting with breast lump in cytology section were subjected to FNAC using a 22 gauge needle under all aseptic precautions. Detailed clinical history was taken. All cytology and histopathology examination slides (wherever available) were thoroughly studied. FNAC smears were reported using IAC – Yokohama system of reporting. Results: In our study, benign category (C2) was most commonly seen in 73.33% of cases, followed by 10.48% of cases of atypical probably benign (C3), 2.38% of cases were reported as suspicious (C4), and 11.43% of cases were reported as malignant (C5). Cytohistopathological concordance was seen in 38 cases (88.4%) whereas five cases were reported as discordant. Sensitivity and specificity of the test for the diagnosis of malignancy were 81% and 100%, respectively. PPV was 100%. NPV was 90.90%. Diagnostic accuracy of the test was 93.47%. Conclusion: The newer IAC – Yokohama system of reporting of breast FNAC is simple, has clear diagnostic criteria hence boost up the confidence as well has uniformity of reporting by cytopathologist, and increases the understanding and uniformity in assessment by the attending clinician which help in improving the communication between the pathologist and the treating clinician

The MADS-Domain Transcriptional Regulator AGAMOUS-LIKE15 Promotes Somatic Embryo Development in Arabidopsis and Soybean1[OA]

The MADS-domain transcriptional regulator AGAMOUS-LIKE15 (AGL15) has been reported to enhance somatic embryo development when constitutively expressed. Here we report that loss-of-function mutants of AGL15, alone or when combined with a loss-of-function mutant of a closely related family member, AGL18, show decreased ability to produce somatic embryos. If constitutive expression of orthologs of AGL15 is able to enhance somatic embryo development in other species, thereby facilitating recovery of transgenic plants, then AGL15 may provide a valuable tool for crop improvement. To test this idea in soybean (Glycine max), a full-length cDNA encoding a putative ortholog of AGL15 was isolated from soybean somatic embryos. Subsequently, the corresponding genomic region of the gene was obtained. This gene, designated GmAGL15, encodes a protein with highest similarity to AGL15 from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and Brassica napus that accumulates to its highest amount in embryos in these species. Like Arabidopsis and Brassica AGL15, GmAGL15 was preferentially expressed in developing embryos. When ectopically overexpressed the soybean protein was able to enhance somatic embryo development in soybean

Aflatoxin-free transgenic maize using host-induced gene silencing

Aflatoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by some Aspergillus species, are a universal agricultural economic problem and a critical health issue. Despite decades of control efforts, aflatoxin contamination is responsible for a global loss of millions of tons of crops each year. We show that host-induced gene silencing is an effective method for eliminating this toxin in transgenic maize. We transformed maize plants with a kernel-specific RNA interference (RNAi) gene cassette targeting the aflC gene, which encodes an enzyme in the Aspergillus aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. After pathogen infection, aflatoxin could not be detected in kernels from these RNAi transgenic maize plants, while toxin loads reached thousands of parts per billion in nontransgenic control kernels. A comparison of transcripts in developing aflatoxin-free transgenic kernels with those from nontransgenic kernels showed no significant differences between these two groups. These results demonstrate that small interfering RNA molecules can be used to silence aflatoxin biosynthesis in maize, providing an attractive and precise engineering strategy that could also be extended to other crops to improve food security.Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationOpen Access Journal.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Optimization of eco-friendly concrete with recycled coarse aggregates and rubber particles as sustainable industrial byproducts for construction practices

In this technology era, sustainable construction practices have become quite imperative. The exploration of alternative materials to reduce the environmental footprint is of paramount importance. This research paper delves into an exhaustive investigation concerning the utilization of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and rubber particles (RP) in concrete. It contributes to the growing body of knowledge aimed at fostering sustainable development in the construction industry by reducing waste, promoting recycling, and mitigating the environmental footprint of building materials. The objective of the study is to evaluate the potential benefits and limitations associated with incorporating these materials, thereby providing a sustainable alternative to conventional concrete. In this research, construction and demolition waste were recycled and used as RCA as a fractional switch of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) from 0% to 100%, with an increment of 20% replacement of NCA in concrete. The RP received from discarded tires generated as automobile industry waste were used as a volumetric fractional substitution of sand in concrete from 0% to 20%, with a 5% increment. No pre-treatment for RCA and RP was carried out before their utilization in concrete. A total of 26 mixes, including control concrete without NCA and RP, with a design strength of 40 MPa, were prepared and tested. Concrete mixes were examined for workability, density, mechanical, and durability properties. It was found that the concrete with 60% RCA and 10% RP showed satisfactory results in evaluation with the strength parameters of control concrete, as the compressive strength obtained for this concrete mix is 40.18 MPa, similar to the control mix. The optimization for RCA and RP was conducted using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The major concern observed was a rise in water absorption with an increase in the percentage replacement of NCA and natural sand by RCA and RP. Findings from the investigation illustrate a promising prospect for the use of RCA and RP in concrete applications, displaying competent mechanical properties and enhanced durability under certain conditions, offering a viable option for environmentally friendly construction practices. However, the research also sheds light on some constraints and challenges, such as the variability in the quality of RCA and the necessity for meticulous quality control to ensure the reliability and consistency of the end product. It is discerned that further refinement in processing techniques and quality assurance measures is pivotal for mainstream adoption of RCA and RP in concrete construction

Optimization of eco-friendly concrete with recycled coarse aggregates and rubber particles as sustainable industrial byproducts for construction practices

In this technology era, sustainable construction practices have become quite imperative. The exploration of alternative materials to reduce the environmental footprint is of paramount importance. This research paper delves into an exhaustive investigation concerning the utilization of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and rubber particles (RP) in concrete. It contributes to the growing body of knowledge aimed at fostering sustainable development in the construction industry by reducing waste, promoting recycling, and mitigating the environmental footprint of building materials. The objective of the study is to evaluate the potential benefits and limitations associated with incorporating these materials, thereby providing a sustainable alternative to conventional concrete. In this research, construction and demolition waste were recycled and used as RCA as a fractional switch of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) from 0% to 100%, with an increment of 20% replacement of NCA in concrete. The RP received from discarded tires generated as automobile industry waste were used as a volumetric fractional substitution of sand in concrete from 0% to 20%, with a 5% increment. No pre-treatment for RCA and RP was carried out before their utilization in concrete. A total of 26 mixes, including control concrete without NCA and RP, with a design strength of 40 MPa, were prepared and tested. Concrete mixes were examined for workability, density, mechanical, and durability properties. It was found that the concrete with 60% RCA and 10% RP showed satisfactory results in evaluation with the strength parameters of control concrete, as the compressive strength obtained for this concrete mix is 40.18 MPa, similar to the control mix. The optimization for RCA and RP was conducted using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The major concern observed was a rise in water absorption with an increase in the percentage replacement of NCA and natural sand by RCA and RP. Findings from the investigation illustrate a promising prospect for the use of RCA and RP in concrete applications, displaying competent mechanical properties and enhanced durability under certain conditions, offering a viable option for environmentally friendly construction practices. However, the research also sheds light on some constraints and challenges, such as the variability in the quality of RCA and the necessity for meticulous quality control to ensure the reliability and consistency of the end product. It is discerned that further refinement in processing techniques and quality assurance measures is pivotal for mainstream adoption of RCA and RP in concrete construction.Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-03-07 (hanlid);Funder: Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU/2023/R/1444);Full text license: CC BY</p

Efficacy of endometrial aspiration cytology in diagnosis of endometrial pathologies in a tertiary care centre

Introduction: Endometrial pathologies contribute significantly to increased morbidity and mortality in females, and still tend to remain undiagnosed till later stages. Endometrial cytology is one of the most powerful and reliable investigations in detection of various endometrial pathologies, including hyperplasia, malignancies and can be used as an early evaluative modality on routine basis.Objectives: The present study was aimed at assessing the diagnostic efficacy of endometrial aspirate cytology in the diagnosis of various endometrial pathologies in terms of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity etc., considering histopathology as standard . It also involved the study of various morphological patterns ranging across the spectrum of endometrial pathology by aspiration cytology .Material and methods: Using Karmann’s cannula, endometrial aspirate sample was obtained in 106 patients from gynaecology out-patient department and the smears were stained using papanicolaou stain. The findings of cytology were correlated with histopathology.Results: The present study comprises 106 patients. 102 out of 106 samples for cytology were adequate with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 95.1% , a sensitivity of 93.2%, specificity of 97.7%, with 98.2% positive predictive value and 91.3% negative predictive value.Conclusion: Endometrial aspiration cytology is an easy to perform, minimally invasive, safe and cheaper procedure for diagnosing endometrial pathologies. Its results are fairly acceptable with good cyto-histopathological correlation and hence can be used for screening of endometrial pathologies and malignancies

RNA-Seq analysis of laser-capture microdissected cells of the developing central starchy endosperm of maize

Endosperm is a product of double fertilization, and provides nutrients and signals to the embryo during seed development in flowering plants. Early stages of endosperm development are critical for the development of its storage capacity through synthesis and accumulation of starch and storage proteins. Here we report on the isolation and sequencing of mRNAs from the central portion of the starchy endosperm of Zea mays (maize) B73 at 6 days after pollination. We detected a high level of correlation among the four biological replicates of RNAs isolated using laser-capture microdissection of the cell type. Because the assayed developmental stage precedes the synthesis and accumulation of the major storage proteins and starch in the endosperm, our dataset likely include mRNAs for genes that are involved in control and establishment of these storage programs. The mRNA-Seq data has been deposited in Gene Expression Omnibus (accession number GSE58504)