Narrow Results

Stereology and stochastic geometry can be used as auxiliary tools for diagnostic purposes in tumour pathology. The role of first-order parameters and stochastic–geometric functions for the classification of the texture of biological tissues has been investigated recently. The volume fraction and surface area per unit volume, the pair correlation function and the centred quadratic contact density function of epithelium were estimated in three case series of benign and malignant lesions of glandular tissues. This approach was further extended by applying the Laslett test, i.e. a point process statistic computed after transformation of the convex tangent points of sectioned random sets from planar images. This method has not yet been applied to histological images so far. Also the nonlinear deterministic approach to tissue texture was applied by estimating the correlation dimension as a function of embedding dimension. We used the stochastic–geometric functions, the first-order parameters and the correlation dimensions for the classification of cases using various algorithms. Learning vector quantization was applied as neural paradigm. Applications included distinction between mastopathy and mammary cancer, between benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic cancer, and between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The same data sets were also classified with discriminant analysis and support vector machines. The stereological estimates provided high accuracy in the classification of individual cases. The question: which category of estimator is the most informative, cannot be answered globally, but must be explored empirically for each specific data set. The results obtained by the three algorithms were similar.

Background: This study aimed to develop a classification that precisely describes the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) groove morphology.

Methods: Reconstructed axial plane computed tomography scans of the wrists of 200 patients were reviewed. Three groups of groove shape were created based on the position of the deepest point: deviated to the ulnar side (Type U), in the middle of the groove (Type M), and deviated to the radial side (Type R). Groove depth, width, carrying angle, and radius of the curvature were measured using the Picture Archiving and Communication System in a slice in which the ulnar head was the largest.

Results: Type U was present in 88 patients (44%), Type M in 74 patients (37%), and Type R in 38 patients (19%). The average depth, width, carrying angle, and radius of curvature were 2.2 mm, 9.2 mm, 135.8° and 7.0 mm, respectively. Depth, width, and carrying angle were normally distributed. Both depth and width were statistically correlated with the carrying angle; groove depth and width were not correlated. ECU groove shape and depth showed excellent intra- and inter-observer reliabilities; the reliabilities for the width were poor. Therefore, depth subgroups were defined using cutoffs of ±2 standard deviations (SD): d1 (≤-2 SD), ≤1.0 mm; d2 (±SD), 1.1–3.3 mm; and d3 (≥+2 SD), ≥3.4 mm. The 200 wrists were classified as follows: 0.5% Ud1, 40.2% Ud2, 1.3% Ud3, 0.8% Md1, 38.3% Md2, 0.8% Md3, 1.5% Rd1, 16.4% Rd2, and 0.2% Rd3.

Conclusions: The detailed morphology of the ECU groove was classified using three major types and depth subgroups. The Type R ECU groove, which lacks a medial bony buttress, might be more prone to ECU-related injuries. This classification helps to understand the ECU tendon-related injury pathologies and may provide valuable information for treatment decisions; however, further research is necessary.

Purpose: Proliferative myositis (PM) is a rare pseudosarcoma affecting muscles and mimicking malignancy. Due to its rare presentation, the diagnosis of PM is difficult. Method: The realms of diagnosis are discussed through two cases, one of adult patient and the other of adolescent patient; both were diagnosed with PM in the gastrocnemius. Results: The former case was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography scan, followed by histological analysis. The second case, which presented a rare occurrence with respect to age-group, was identified using ultrasound and diagnosis was confirmed by histological analysis of a biopsy. Conclusion: Holistic approach, depending on clinical presentation, imaging, and pathological examination is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of such pseudosarcoma.

AUSTRALIA – Australia: Top 20 Cancer Drug Sales to Hit US$1B by 2018.

AUSTRALIA – Effective Prostate Cancer Treatment Discovery.

AUSTRALIA – Australia Developing World First Treatment for Leukemia.

AUSTRALIA – African DNA Breakthrough.

AUSTRALIA – Genetic Link Between Mammographic Density and Breast Cancer.

AUSTRALIA – Arthritis Genes Discovered By University Of Queensland Scientists, Australia.

AUSTRALIA – Australian First for Melbourne Stem Cell Scientists.

BANGLADESH – Bangladesh Slaughters 117,000 Birds on Flu Fears.

CHINA – Quintiles Launches New Tissue Testing Services In China To Help In Fight Against Cancer.

CHINA – Tainted Milk Scandal Resurfaces in China.

INDIA – Hyderabad - Hot Destination for Medical Tourism.

INDIA – New Genetic Control Tools to Combat Dengue and Chikungunya.

JAPAN – Japan Commits $2 Million to Boost Immunization In Haiti, Bringing Post-Quake Total For UNICEF To $8.5 Million.

SINGAPORE – Taxes on Life Sciences Firms Likely to Rise: PwC.

SINGAPORE – New National Centre for Treatment of Cancer Opens at NUH.

SINGAPORE – Singapore Buys 1m Bird Flu Vaccine Doses.

SINGAPORE – IME Develops All-in-One Diagnostic Test for Point-of-Care Deployment.

SINGAPORE – A*STAR Science and Technology Festival 2010 Showcases Latest Products and Technologies from Life Science Vendor Companies in Singapore.

SINGAPORE – US Tech Firm FormFactor Opens $30m Facility in Singapore.

THAILAND – Thai Researchers Produce Omega 3 from Microbes.

OTHER REGIONS — NORTH AMERICA – Looking Younger is in the Genes.

OTHER REGIONS — NORTH AMERICA – Study Links Sugary Soft Drinks to Pancreas Cancer.

SINGAPORE – Singapore eHealth Innovations Summit Announces the First EMRAM Stage 7 Hospital in Singapore and Emphasized Technology as Transformative Agent in Specialty Functions.

TAIWAN – Health2Sync Strategically Partners with Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare in Asia's First Government Supported Online Diabetes Care Program.

UNITED STATES – Scientists Identify Protein Involved in Restoring Effectiveness of Common Treatment for Breast Cancer.

UNITED STATES – Scientists Reveal How Signals from Pathogenic Bacteria Reach Danger Sensors of Cells.

UNITED STATES – Scientists Find New Path in Brain to Ease Depression.

UNITED STATES – Tips for Living a Heart Healthy Lifestyle.

CANADA – Review Suggests Eating Oats Can Lower Cholesterol as Measured by a Variety of Markers.

SOUTH KOREA – CSA Group Opens Highly Advanced Electro - Medical Laboratory in Seoul.

AUSTRALIA – Cynata’s Technology Significant Efficacy in Preclinical Asthma Study.

INDIA – Essilor Launches ‘Love to See Change’ Campaign to Educate People about Need to Preserve Visual Health.

Current and Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Developments in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

International Collaborative Research Program focusing on Aging.

Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA).

Clinical Trials in our Real World.

Ophthalmology Workforce Planning and Projection – A New Integrated Approach.

A disease outbreak with 71% (cumulative) mortality was reported in a freshwater hybrid sturgeon farm located in Hualien County, Taiwan. The moribund fish showed signs of lethargy, anorexia, diffuse external hemorrhages around mouth and anus, and on the base of fin and abdomen surface accompanied with abdomen swelling. Post-mortem examination revealed multiple red patches ranging from 1 to 5 cm in size on the liver. The histopathology revealed extensive coagulative to liquefied necrosis of various sizes in the liver and spleen. Focal necrosis of kidney was also evident. The lesions were positive with Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast staining. A rapid growth of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was isolated from liver of moribund sturgeon and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies using primer sets derived from Mycobacterium sp. suggested this NTM was closely related to Mycobacterium marinum. There was only one bacterial colony been isolated in brain heart infusion agar (BHI Agar) and been identified as Streptococcus iniae. These findings suggest that a bacterium identified as belonging to M. marinum might cause heavy mortality.

Turkey coronavirus (TCoV) causes acute atrophic enteritis and uneven flock growth in turkey farms leading to economic loss. Since 1990's, turkey flocks have kept experiencing coronaviral enteritis sporadically in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Brazil. Poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS) caused by the co-infection of TCoV, astrovirus, and other viruses or bacteria resulted in significantly high mortality. Diagnosis of TCoV depends on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescent antibody assay and virus isolation (VI). Genomic organization of TCoV is as follows: 5′ UTR-1a-1b-S-3a-3b-E-M-5a-5b-N-UTR 3′. Genomic analysis suggests the emergence of TCoV from infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) through the recombination of spike (S) gene. Both TCoV and IBV belong to species Avian coronavirus in genus Gammacoronavirus and have a single stranded RNA genome with a size about 27 kb. High similarity of S genes has been found between TCoV isolates in contrast to low similarity between IBV strains. TCoV infection induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses, characterized by high levels of antibody and interferon gamma. The fragment containing neutralizing epitopes in the S protein has been identified. Vaccines conferring protection against TCoV have not been developed and used in the fields but live attenuated, killed, DNA, and fowlpox virus vectored vaccines have been generated and their efficacies were evaluated. Molecular epidemiology of TCoV in recent outbreaks sheds more information on the evolution and transmission of TCoV, which will aid in developing effective vaccines or treatment to prevent, control, or eliminate TCoV infection.

A total of 14 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and 10 isolates of Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. urealyticum were isolated from 90 field cases of arthritis. Joint lesions that were induced by both staphylococci could not be distinguished and were characterized by fibrinopurulent arthritis and tenosynovitis, associated with synovial cell hyperplasia. Additional changes included chondronecrosis and osteomyelitis. Similar lesions were induced by artificial intravenous inoculation of native colored broilers with the two pathogens. Both species were identified using API Staph kits and detection of 16S rRNA genes. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of gap, our isolates of S. cohnii subsp. urealyticum could be divided into two groups. This study is the first report on joint lesions due to S. cohnii subsp. urealyticum infection in broiler chickens.

Formosan pangolin, a sub-species of Chinese pangolin is a critically endangered insectivorous mammal found only in Taiwan. Pathological studies are helpful in the diagnosis and investigation of wildlife diseases. Pathological findings in pangolins have not been well documented. The present paper reports the pathological findings of 14 free-ranging Formosan pangolins. External injuries and superficial wounds (6/14) were common finding in gross examination and were mostly found in the legs. Respiratory system (78%, 11/14) lesions included interstitial pneumonia, atelectasis and emphysema. Hepatic changes (43%, 6/14) included necrosis, bile duct hyperplasia, lipidosis and extensive hepatocyte degeneration. Parasites were detected in 57% of pangolins (8/14) studied and included both endoparasites and ectoparasites. Urinary system (21%, 3/14) lesions were interstitial nephritis and nephrolithiasis. Brain lesions were found in three pangolins and included cerebral edema and hemorrhage and ventriculitis. Additional pathological lesions included thyroid gland hyperplasia and left ventricular hypertrophy. The presented pathological findings can aid in the understanding of diseases of pangolins and will contribute knowledge to future investigations on diseases of pangolins.

This paper is considered as a part of a multi-disciplinary analysis “Application of Decentralized On-Site Water Treatment System in Egypt for Use in Agriculture and Producing Safe Animal Proteins”. The project aimed to investigate the environmental impact of implementing sewage water before and after treatment using the effluent of the on-site decentralized Japanese’ Johkasou system. Blood chemistry of liver and kidney enzymes revealed significant increase in the fourth week in comparison with groups of treated and tap water. On the other hand, ALT and AST levels have no statistical differences between treated and tap water reared animals. The progressive pathological lesions were noted in 100% and 70% untreated water groups.

The benefit of Johkasou system model CE10 in treatment of sewage water and suitability for rearing of animals is demonstrated.

Migraine is a re-occurring type of headache and causes moderate-to-severe pain that is troubling or pulsing. The pain occurs in half of the head, and common symptoms are photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, depression, anxiety, vomiting, etc. This study evaluates the prevalence of migraine and responsible genes through molecular modeling in the region of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. This research was aimed to determine the prevalence of migraine-causing genes in the population of Bahawalpur and also to do molecular and in-silico analysis of migraine-causing gene as no similar research was conducted before. The disease was characterized and diagnosed under the criteria of the Second Edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders and molecular identification of migraine-causing genes, i.e. GRIA1, GRIA3, and ESR1, by PCR amplification. The total number of samples collected for migraine patients was 230, out of which 30 were positive for PCR amplification of the genes GRIA1, GRIA3, and ESR1. Therapeutic potentials of commercial drugs, namely Cyclobenzaprine, Divalproex, Ergotamine, and Sumatriptan, were analyzed in silico through molecular docking. Ergotamine demonstrated the highest binding affinity of $-$8.4 kcal/mol for the target molecule and, hence, the highest potential. The bivariate analysis showed that the prevalence of migraine concerning gender and age was significantly correlated ($\alpha =0.01$, $p=0.212$). It was observed that almost 31.4% of women suffered from headaches daily, 70% weekly, 28.1% monthly, and 23.5% rarely. Comparatively, only 8.3% of males suffered from daily headaches, 34% weekly, 12.8% monthly, and 14.9% rarely. The study shows promising results and encourages future researchers to conduct such a comprehensive epidemiological study on an even larger population to justify a more precise association of risk factors involved in migraine pathophysiology.