Variations in pre-analytical FFPE sample processing and bioinformatics: challenges for next generation molecular diagnostic testing in clinical pathology

Advances in cellular pathology techniques will improve diagnostic medicine. However, such improvements have to overcome many challenges including variations in pre-analytical sample processing, bioinformatics data analysis and clinical interpretation of data. In order to resolve such challenges, bioinformatics needs to become more tightly coupled to the experimental methodology development

Complete Sequence of pSAM7, an IncX4 Plasmid Carrying a Novel bla[sub]CTX-M-14b Transposition Unit Isolated from ' Escherichia coli ' and ' Enterobacter cloacae ' from cattle

The same plasmid carrying blaCTX-M-14b was identified from an Escherichia coli isolate and an Enterobacter cloacae isolate collected from cattle in the United Kingdom by complete plasmid sequencing. This 35,341-bp plasmid, pSAM7, had an IncX4 backbone that is 99% identical to that of pJIE143 from a human isolate in Australia. PCR screening identified pSAM7-like plasmids in three other E. coli isolates of different multilocus sequence types isolated from cattle on different farms in the United Kingdom

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the COPD Population is Associated with Increased Healthcare Utilization: An Analysis of Cleveland Clinic\u27s COVID-19 Registry

Background: We sought to determine whether COPD conferred a higher risk for healthcare utilization in terms of hospitalization and clinical outcomes due to COVID-19. Methods: A cohort study with covariate adjustment using multivariate logistic regression was conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Health System in Ohio and Florida. Symptomatic patients aged 35 years and older who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 between March 8 and May 13, 2020 were included. Findings: 15,586 individuals tested for COVID-19 at the Cleveland Clinic between March 8, 2020 and May 13, 2020 met our inclusion criteria. 12.4% of COPD patients (164/1319) tested positive for COVID-19 compared to 16.6% (2363/14,267) of the non-COPD population. 48.2% (79/164) of COVID-19 positive COPD patients required hospitalization and 45.6% (36/79) required ICU admission. After adjustment for covariates, rates of COVID-19 infection were not significantly different than the non-COPD population (adj OR 0.97; CI: 0.89-1.05), but COPD patients had increased healthcare utilization as demonstrated by risk for hospitalization (adj OR 1.36; CI: 1.15-1.60), ICU admission (OR 1.20; CI: 1.02-1.40), and need for invasive mechanical ventilation (adj OR 1.49; CI: 1.28-1.73). Unadjusted risk for in-hospital mortality was higher in the COPD population (OR 1.51; CI: 1.14-1.96). After adjusting for covariates however, the risk for in-hospital mortality was not significantly different than the non-COPD population (adj OR 1.08: CI: 0.81-1.42). Interpretation: Our analysis demonstrated that COPD patients with COVID-19 had a higher risk for healthcare utilization, although adjusted in-hospital mortality risk was not different than the non-COPD patients with COVID-19

(Liquid plus liquid) equilibria of (water plus propionic acid plus dibasic esters) ternary systems

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) data for the solubility curves and tie-line compositions were examined for mixtures of {water (1) + propionic acid (2) + dimethyl succinate or dimethyl glutarate or dimethyl adipate (3)} at T = 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure, (101.3 +/- 0.7) kPa. The relative mutual solubility of the propionic acid is higher in the dibasic esters phases than in the aqueous phase. The reliability of the experimental tie-line data were confirmed by using the Othmer-Tobias correlation. The LLE data of the ternary systems were predicted by UNIFAC and modified UNIFAC methods. Distribution coefficients and separation factors were evaluated for the immiscibility region. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Distribution of butyric acid between water and several solvents

Distribution of butyric acid between water and trioctylamine dissolved in 17 solvents (isoamyl alcohol, 1-nonanol, 1-decanol, 1-dodecanol, oleyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, isopropyl methyl ketone, isobutyl methyl ketone, 4-heptanone, ethyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, tert-butyl methyl ether, kerosene, n-hexane, toluene) and 4 vegetable oils (haselnut, corn, soybean, olive) have been studied at T) 298.15 K. The highest distribution coefficient for butyric acid is shown by trioctylamine dissolved in isoamyl alcohol. As the molar mass of the alcohol increases, the value of the distribution coefficient decreases. In the amine extraction, it was observed that the use of trioctylamine dissolved in alcohol increased the distribution coefficient between 6 and 7 times; dissolving in ketones increased the distribution between 3 and 5 times; dissolving in esters increased it 4 to 9 times; dissolving in tert-butyl methyl ether increased it 2.3 times; dissolving in hydrocarbons increased it 10 to 18 times; and dissolving in vegetable oils increased it 12.5 times, all as compared to use of the pure solvents as extractant

Helicobacter pylori in allergic and non-allergic rhinitis does play a protective or causative role?

Purpose Many studies have investigated the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization on the development of allergic diseases, but with conflicting results. The purpose of this cross-sectional observation study is to estimate H. pylori prevalence in allergic and nonallergic nasal conditions and compare with normal population