Early Acute Allograft Dysfunction in a Patient with Antiphospholipid Syndrome

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A high-density 3-dimensional culture model of human glioblastoma for rapid screening of therapeutic resistance

Glioblastoma is among the most lethal cancers, with no known cure. A multitude of therapeutics are being developed or in clinical trials, but currently there are no ways to predict which patient may benefit the most from which drug. Assays that allow prediction of the tumor’s response to anti-cancer drugs may improve clinical decision-making. Here, we present a high-density 3D primary cell culture model for short-term testing from resected glioblastoma tissue that is set up on the day of surgery, established within 7 days and viable for at least 3 weeks. High-density 3D cultures contain tumor and host cells, including microglia, and retain key histopathological characteristics of their parent tumors, including proliferative activity, expression of the marker GFAP, and presence of giant cells. This provides a proof-of-concept that 3D primary cultures may be useful to model tumor heterogeneity. Importantly, we show that high-density 3D cultures can be used to test chemotherapy response within a 2–3-week timeframe and are predictive of patient response to Temozolomide therapy. Thus, primary high-density 3D cultures could be a useful tool for brain cancer research and prediction of therapeutic resistance

Sensitivity to three Parastagonospora nodorum necrotrophic effectors in current Australian wheat cultivars and the presence of further fungal effectors

Parastagonospora nodorum is a major fungal pathogen of wheat in Australia causing septoria nodorum blotch (SNB). P. nodorum virulence is quantitative and depends to a large extent on multiple effector-host sensitivity gene interactions. The pathogen utilises a series of proteinaceous necrotrophic effectors to facilitate disease development on wheat cultivars that possess appropriate dominant sensitivity loci. Thus far, three necrotrophic effector genes have been cloned. Proteins derived from these genes were used to identify wheat cultivars that confer effector sensitivity. The goal of the study was to determine if effector sensitivity could be used to enhance breeding for SNB resistance. In this study, we have demonstrated that SnTox1 effector sensitivity is common in current commercial Western Australian wheat cultivars. Thirty-three of 46 cultivars showed evidence of sensitivity to SnTox1. Of these, 19 showed moderate or strong chlorotic/necrotic responses to SnTox1. Thirteen were completely insensitive to SnTox1. Disease susceptibility was most closely associated with SnTox3 sensitivity. In addition, we have identified biochemical evidence of a novel chlorosis-inducing protein or proteins in P. nodorum culture filtrates unmasked in strains that lack expression of ToxA, SnTox1 and SnTox3 activities

Risk stratification for covert invasive cancer among patients referred for colonic endoscopic mucosal resection: a large multicenter cohort

Background & Aims Among patients with large colorectal sessile polyps or laterally spreading lesions, it is important to identify those at risk for submucosal invasive cancer (SMIC). Lesions with overt endoscopic evidence of SMIC are referred for surgery, although those without these features might still contain SMIC that is not visible on endoscopic inspection (covert SMIC). Lesions with a high covert SMIC risk might be better suited for endoscopic submucosal dissection than for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). We analyzed a group of patients with large colon lesions to identify factors associated with SMIC, and examined lesions without overt endoscopic high-risk signs to determine factors associated with covert SMIC. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients referred for EMR of large sessile or flat colorectal polyps or laterally spreading lesions (≥20 mm) at academic hospitals in Australia from September 2008 through September 2016. We collected data on patient and lesion characteristics, outcomes of procedures, and histology findings. We excluded serrated lesions from the analysis of covert SMIC due to their distinct phenotype and biologic features. Results We analyzed 2277 lesions (mean size, 36.9 mm) from 2106 patients (mean age, 67.7 years; 53.2% male). SMIC was evident in 171 lesions (7.6%). Factors associated with SMIC included Kudo pit pattern V, a depressed component (0–IIc), rectosigmoid location, 0–Is or 0–IIa+Is Paris classification, non-granular surface morphology, and increasing size. After exclusion of lesions that were obviously SMIC or serrated, factors associated with covert SMIC were rectosigmoid location (odds ratio, 1.87; P =.01), combined Paris classification, surface morphology (odds ratios, 3.96−22.5), and increasing size (odds ratio, 1.16/10 mm; P =.012). Conclusions In a prospective study of 2106 patients who underwent EMR for large sessile or flat colorectal polyps or laterally spreading lesions, we associated rectosigmoid location, combined Paris classification and surface morphology, and increasing size with increased risk for covert malignancy. Rectosigmoid 0–Is and 0–IIa+Is non-granular lesions have a high risk for malignancy, whereas proximally located 0–Is or 0–IIa granular lesions have a low risk. These findings can be used to inform decisions on which patients should undergo endoscopic submucosal dissection, EMR, or surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT02000141

Electron Transmission Spectroscopy in Atomic Hydrogen

An electron transmission experiment is used to study the resonances in the total scattering cross section of atomic hydrogen below the threshold of the first excited state. The three lowest resonances, designated 1S, 3P, and 1D, are observed and their energies and decay widths are found to be in good agreement with the values predicted theoretically using close coupling with correlation

Congenital esophageal stenosis owing to tracheobronchial remnants

OBJECTIVE To emphasize the need of an accurate diagnosis of congenital esophageal stenosis due to tracheobronchial remnants, since its treatment differs from other types of congenital narrowing. CASE DESCRIPTION Four cases of lower congenital esophageal stenosis due to tracheobronchial remnants, whose definitive diagnosis was made by histopathology. Except for the last case, in which a concomitant anti-reflux surgery was not performed, all had a favorable outcome after resection and anastomosis of the esophagus. COMMENTS The congenital esophageal stenosis is an intrinsic narrowing of the organâ€(tm)s wall associated with its structural malformation. The condition can be caused by tracheobronchial remnants, fibromuscular stenosis or membranous diaphragm and the first symptom is dysphagia after the introduction of solid food in the diet. The first-choice treatment to tracheobronchial remnants cases is the surgical resection and end-to-end anastomosis of the esophagus