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Introduction Permethrin is a common pesticide spray-applied to civilian clothing and military uniforms for protection against biting arthropods in an effort to reduce risks to arthropod-borne diseases. During mass clothing spray events, exposure is possible through the dermal, inhalation, and ingestion routes. The potentially exposed population during a spray event includes the pesticide applicator(s) and working party (personnel who handle clothing/uniforms by positioning on the ground, flipping, and removing after spraying is complete). Previous investigation is limited regarding permethrin exposure via multiple routes of entry. Additionally, most exposure assessments are limited to pesticide applicators rather than working party that support applicator personnel. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a multi-route exposure assessment for all personnel normally participating in mass permethrin military uniform treatments. Materials and Methods The protocol and Informed Consent Document were approved by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Institutional Review Board (IRB) before fieldwork initiation (IRB number: USUHS.2019-032). Sampling occurred during routine spray events performed by 14 U.S. Navy personnel (3 applicators and 11 working party) over 2 days. Personal exposures were measured with dermal sampling, and airborne concentrations were measured with area air sampling. Permethrin area air sampling and analysis were conducted using OSHA Versatile Sampler-2 sampling media (n  = 36). Dermal exposure was measured using dosimeter gloves (n  = 26) and a dermal patch (n  = 26) worn by study participants. Results All air samples were reported below the 0.4 µg limit of quantification. Glove sample results ranged from 45 to 120,000 µg and patch results ranged from 0.57 to 45 µg. A repeated-measures ANOVA showed non-statistically significant differences in dermal concentrations (P -value = .8340) between the applicators and working party in patches and gloves. Conclusions Results suggest dermal contact is the primary route of exposure compared to inhalation when mass spraying clothing with permethrin. Similar dermal exposures between these two occupations may necessitate reconsidering risk assessment procedures, training and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for mass spray uniform treatments. Specifically, while PPE requirements for applicators are highly regulated by the Armed Forces Pest Management Board and include items such as Tyvek suits, chemical protective gloves, and air-purifying respirators, PPE was not regulated for working party personnel before this investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have focused on results of measurements of the hydrogen line 2223 keV and compared them with the results of Geant4 simulations. The paraffin containing hydrogen was irradiated by neutrons produced by the weak AmBe source. Produced gammas were measured with the germanium detector. The experimental setup was placed inside a carbon chamber which provided the shielding from the external neutrons. The measurements were performed for different amounts of paraffin. The processes playing a role in the description of our measurements are transport and moderation of neutrons, production of gamma rays in neutron-hydrogen interactions, transport and detection of gamma rays. It has been shown that the correctly carried out Monte Carlo simulations reproduced the measured values of the intensity of the observed gamma line 2223 keV from the neutron capture on hydrogen. The absorption of gamma rays is also described correctly. This has been shown in comparing the measurements of gamma line 322 keV from 2 0 6 Pb with the simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in DAXX/ATRX, MEN1 and genes involved in the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway have been implicated in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs). However, mainly mutations present in the majority of tumor cells have been identified, while proliferation-driving mutations could be present only in small fractions of the tumor. This study aims to identify high- and low-abundance mutations in pNENs using ultra-deep targeted resequencing. Formalinfixed paraffin-embedded matched tumor-normal tissue of 38 well-differentiated pNENs was sequenced using a HaloPlex targeted resequencing panel. Novel amplicon-based algorithms were used to identify both single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertiondeletions (indels) present in >10% of reads (high abundance) and in <10% of reads (low abundance). Found variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. Sequencing resulted in 416,711,794 reads with an average target base coverage of 26 63 ± 1476. Across all samples, 32 high-abundance somatic, 3 germline and 30 low-abundance mutations were withheld after filtering and validation. Overall, 92% of high-abundance and 84% of low-abundance mutations were predicted to be protein damaging. Frequently, mutated genes were MEN1, DAXX, ATRX, TSC2, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK-ERK pathway-related genes. Additionally, recurrent alterations on the same genomic position, so-called hotspot mutations, were found in DAXX, PTCH2 and CYFIP2. This first ultra-deep sequencing study highlighted genetic intra-tumor heterogeneity in pNEN, by the presence of lowabundance mutations. The importance of the ATRX/DAXX pathway was confirmed by the first-ever pNEN-specific protein-damaging hotspot mutation in DAXX. In this study, both novel genes, including the pro-apoptotic CYFIP2 gene and hedgehog signaling PTCH2, and novel pathways, such as the MAPK-ERK pathway, were implicated in pNEN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid–liquid phase change materials (PCMs) are attractive candidates for thermal energy storage and electronics cooling applications, but once all the PCMs have completely phase-changed and approximate their thermal storage limit, they will become the bottleneck for heat dissipation on the contrary and the electronics have to stop working. In this paper, a modularized thermal storage unit (MTSU) was proposed to overcome such fatal drawback. Once the PCMs reach their limit, the completely phase-changed MTSU will be replaced by a new one due to the modularization. Such online thermal charging and offline thermal discharging working characteristics enable the continuous working of electronics. The proposed MTSU is fabricated by encapsulating paraffin with epoxy resin, and the paraffin is thermally enhanced via copper or nickel foams. Theoretical and experimental validations reveal that the ETC is increased by 376% via copper foam with the porosity of 95.52%, and by 205% for nickel foam with the porosity of 95.61% due to the relatively lower skeleton thermal conductivity of nickel foam. The cycled test revealed that the proposed MTSU has good thermal stability. Compared with the conventional TSU, the proposed MTSU avoids the slow re-solidification process and exhibits potential for continuous thermal storage over long periods of time. The proposed MTSU is expected to be applied in the field of driving batteries and solar-thermal conversion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filling window units with phase change material (PCM) improves the thermal performance of windows, but on the other hand it has a deteriorative effect on the optical performance due to poor heat conductivity of PCM. A novel method to tackle this drawback of PCM is to disperse nanoparticles in the PCM. In this study, a model was developed to evaluate the thermal and optical performances of window units filled with nanoparticle enhanced PCM (NePCM). The effect of different types of nanoparticles, volume fractions of nanoparticles and sizes of nanoparticles on the thermal and optical performances of windows such as temperature, heat flux, solar transmittance, absorptance and reflectance were numerically investigated and compared with the referent case (i.e. pure PCM). The results showed that the optical and thermal performances of window units filled with nanoparticle dispersed paraffin wax are improved compared to that of with pure paraffin. However, the improvement is nearly the same regardless of nanoparticle type. The effect of volume fraction and size of nanoparticle is significant during the sunset and sunrise periods. Considering both thermal and optical performances of window units, it is recommended to disperse CuO nanoparticles with the volume fraction of below 1% and nanoparticle size of below 15 nm in PCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilirubin, a tetrpyrole open chain structure, released through heme degradation pathway upon cell injury. Bilirubin at a low concentration scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro, thereby, reducing oxidant-mediated cellular damage and attenuating oxidant stress in vivo. The present study was aimed to evaluate temporal wound healing potential of bilirubin ointment (0.3%) in excisional wound model in rats. Thirty six acclimatized healthy male Wistar rats (120-150g) were procured from LARS, I V R I, Izatnagar (U.P.), India. The rats were divided into two groups control and treated consisting of 18 rats each. The each group further sub- divided into three sub-groups (day 3, 7 and 14 n= 6). The ointment base (soft paraffin 90%, lanolin 5% and hard paraffin 5%) and bilirubin ointment (0.3% in ointment base) were applied topically once daily for 14 days in control and treated group respectively. The wound area and % contraction was calculated on days 3, 7, and 14. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF were determined on days 3, 7 and 14 by Real Time PCR. The H & E staining, sirius red staining and immunohistochemistry of CD-31 were done in tissue section. The gene expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF were significantly up-regulated in treated group. The treated tissue section showed significantly higher histological score. Picrosirius red staining revealed better deposition of collagen fibres in treated rats. The protein expression of CD-31 on day 7 and 14 showed significantly higher micro vessels density in treated rats. Bilirubin treatment markedly accelerated wound healing in rats thereby modulating expression of growth factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, animal testing has been affected by increasing ethical, social, and political concerns regarding animal welfare. Several in vitro safety tests for evaluating skin sensitization, such as the human cell line activation test (h-CLAT), have been proposed. However, similar to other tests, the h-CLAT has produced false-negative results, including in tests for acid anhydride and water-insoluble chemicals. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the cause of false-negative results from phthalic anhydride was hydrolysis by an aqueous vehicle, with IL-8 release from THP-1 cells, and that short-time exposure to liquid paraffin (LP) dispersion medium could reduce false-negative results from acid anhydrides. In the present study, we modified the h-CLAT by applying this exposure method. We found that the modified h-CLAT is a promising method for reducing false-negative results obtained from acid anhydrides and chemicals with octanol-water partition coefficients (LogKow) greater than 3.5. Based on the outcomes from the present study, a combination of the original and the modified h-CLAT is suggested for reducing false-negative results. Notably, the combination method provided a sensitivity of 95% (overall chemicals) or 93% (chemicals with LogKow > 2.0), and an accuracy of 88% (overall chemicals) or 81% (chemicals with LogKow > 2.0). We found that the combined method is a promising evaluation scheme for reducing false-negative results seen in existing in vitro skin-sensitization tests. In the future, we expect a combination of original and modified h-CLAT to be applied in a newly developed in vitro test for evaluating skin sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmittance spectrum of paraffin at temperature range from 40 to 80 °C was experimentally measured by a TU-19 FTIR spectrometer, and the optical constants of paraffin in the wavelength 250–850 nm were obtained based on transmittance spectra modeling. The optical properties of paraffin were calculated. The results show that the spectral transmittance of liquid paraffin in the region of UV and visible bands is bigger compared with solid paraffin. The extinction coefficients of the solid paraffin are between 1 × 10 −5 and 3 × 10 −5 , and the refractive index of the solid paraffin decreases sharply with the wavelength increasing. Compared with solid paraffin, the extinction coefficients of liquid paraffin are smaller and the refractive index of liquid paraffin is mainly 1–1.4. And with the temperature increasing, the optical constants of liquid paraffin are different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Acute chorioamnionitis, frequently observed in preterm placentas, is a major risk factor for the development of infection and non‐infection‐related adverse perinatal outcomes. MicroRNAs play important roles in immune cell development and function as well as in the development of cancers and neurologic diseases. We sought to investigate the changes in microRNA‐223 (miR‐223) expression and the functional significance of the changes in miR‐223 expression in foetal organs in the presence of acute chorioamnionitis. Using formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from foetal or neonatal autopsy cases, which are the most practical option to study the changes in several organs simultaneously, miR‐223 expression profiles in foetal thymus, lung and liver were compared between cases with and without acute chorioamnionitis. Total RNA was extracted from FFPE specimens and qRT‐PCR was conducted. miR‐223‐3p expression levels in foetal thymus (2.55‐fold), lung (1.93‐fold) and liver (1.70‐fold) were significantly higher in cases with acute chorioamnionitis than in those without. Transfection of pre‐miR‐223‐3p in Jurkat cells and luciferase assay and ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation followed by qRT‐PCR analysis confirmed the binding of miR‐223 to the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) mRNA and the regulation of FoxO1 by miR‐223. We report for the first time that foetuses with inflammation in the chorioamniotic membranes show increased expression of miR‐223 in the thymus, lung and liver. Furthermore, FoxO1 is a target of miR‐223. These findings suggest that post‐transcriptional regulation of genes by miR‐223 is a component of the foetal inflammatory response, which has systemic consequences in the foetus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their high latent heat and chemical stability, phase change materials (PCMs) are often utilized for cooling high-power-density electronics. However, the application of PCMs is limited by their leakage and low thermal conductivity. In order to resolve this issue, a copper-powder-sintered frame/paraffin form-stable phase change material (CPSF/P-FSPCM) was prepared by embedding paraffin into CPSF using a vacuum perfusion method, and the dependences of its filling rate on the material porosity and CPSF thickness were determined. In addition, transient plane source and differential scanning calorimetry techniques were utilized to measure the thermal conductivity and latent heat of the fabricated CPSF/P-FSPCM. The obtained results showed that after increasing the porosity of CPSF/P-FSPCM from 47% to 74%, its thermal conductivity and latent heat changed from 17.18 W/mK and 32.69 kJ/kg to 156.30 W/mK and 11.61 kJ/kg, respectively. Further, the produced CPSF/P-FSPCM possessed the ability to significantly accelerate the heat transfer process and maintain the temperature of a device within a safe range. Finally, a CPSF/P heat sink for high power density light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was fabricated. After 10 on/off testing cycles conducted at a power of 18 W, the temperature of the CPSF/P heat sink varied between 93.7 °C and 57.5 °C, thereby decreasing the highest temperature by 16.3 °C, improving the LED brightness by 4.07% and decreasing its variation by 2.12% as compared to that of conventional aluminum heat sinks. The results presented in this work indicate that the prepared CPSF/P-FSPCM represents a high-potential material for reliable thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a type of malignant brain tumor in children. Although knowledge of MB is increasing and the survival rate of patients with MB has improved in previous years, the long-term treatment-associated complications remain unfavorable. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical for patients with MB, but effective molecular markers for MB remain elusive. The Speckle-type POZ protein (SPOP) is a member of the MATH-BTB protein family and is a type of joint molecule for Cullin-3. SPOP inhibits tumor growth. However, the SPOP-like (SPOPL) gene, which is a SPOP paralog gene and shares an overall 85% sequence identity with SPOP, has not been explored in cancer studies at present. The results of the present study demonstrate that the SPOPL expression is decreased in MB cells and tissues compared with normal cells and tissues at the protein and mRNA levels. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased expression of SPOPL in 42/56 (75%) paraffin-embedded archival MB biopsies, and SPOPL expression may be associated with the MB differentiation level (P=0.011). Patients with increased SPOPL expression exhibit improved survival rates compared with those with decreased SPOPL expression, and the SPOPL gene may be a potentially valuable molecular marker of MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop the efficient blue emitters for Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), this paper reports the synthesis and electroluminescent properties of diphenylvinylarenes end-capped with diphenylamine groups. Two OLEDs were fabricated in the following sequence: indium-tin-oxide (ITO) /N,N′-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diam-ine (NPB) (50 nm) / Blue emitters (30 nm) / bathophenanthroline (Bphen) (30 nm) / lithium quinolate (Liq) (2 nm) /Al (100 nm). Two devices exhi-bited blue electroluminescence. In particular, a device using 9,9-diethyl-N,N-diphenyl-7-(2,2-diphenylvinyl)-9H-fluoren-2-amine exhibited blue emission with a luminance efficiency, a power efficiency, an external quantum efficiency and Commission Internationale d’Énclairage (CIE) coordinates of 5.48 cd/A, 2.45 lm/W, 2.85% at 20 mA/cm² and (x = 0.17, y = 0.25) at 8.0 V, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factor dominating olefin to paraffin ratio in cobalt-catalyzed Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been identified via experimental kinetic studies and theoretical calculations including the van der Waals interaction between the adsorbates and Co surfaces. The olefin to paraffin ratio for each carbon number is expressed as a function of adsorption energies of olefin and activation energies of hydrogenation steps. Density functional theory calculations on Co (0 0 0 1) surface were performed to provide a comprehensive fundamental insight for the chemistry governing the olefin to paraffin ratio. The calculated olefin to paraffin ratio decreases with chain length except for ethylene, which agrees well with the experimental results. The differences introduced to the adsorption energies of olefin by van der Waals functional are correlated with d-band center changes of the Co surface. The carbon number dependent adsorption energies of olefin, rather than the activation energies of their hydrogenation reactions, are the driven force for the carbon number dependent olefin to paraffin ratio. The insights may delineate a new blueprint for the rational design of catalysts with enhanced olefin to paraffin ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The defendant, the driver of the questioned car, allegedly extended his right arm over the passenger seat and fired a single shot from a 380 pistol out the passenger window with the pistol's breech within the car. A simulation of this shooting scenario using the same model car, but different year, was conducted to quantitate gunshot residue (GSR) contamination of interior surfaces within the car. The test car's dash and headliner/window frame above the pistol had the heaviest GSR contamination. The dash GSR from airborne deposition documents a firearm discharge within the vehicle. Transfer from GSR-contaminated hands or clothing to the dash is unlikely. The heavy GSR contamination of the headliner/window frame above the pistol likely documents the window from which the pistol was fired, but additional experiments are needed to verify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the work is to investigate the lubrication mechanism of MoS 2 nano sheet. Polyisobutyleneamine Succinimide (PIBS) provides the steric repulsion to disperse nanoparticles in oil due to its long carbon chain. In the present study, the tribological behavior of nano-MoS 2 sheet mixed with different percentages of PIBS was explored. The dispersed state and the mode of nano-MoS 2 sheet entering the contact point were studied. Ball-on-disk results illustrated that the COF of nano-MoS 2 in paraffin oil with free of PIBS was 26.2% compared with those containing 3 wt% PIBS, and the reduction of wear depth reached 41.9%. The nano-MoS 2 sheets with 3 wt% PIBS were in discrete state in paraffin oil, which moved with side flow and could not enter the contact area to cause poor lubrication. Aggregation of particles took place in the case of low PIBS concentration and without PIBS, it entered the contact area and formed well-distributed MoS 2 tribofilm to reduce friction and wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous determination of nitrate and nitrite in gunshot residue has been conducted by capillary electrophoresis using an acidic run buffer ( pH 3.5). In previously developed capillary electrophoretic methods, alkaline pH separation buffers were used where nitrite and nitrate possess similar electrophoretic mobility. In this study, the electroosmotic flow has been reversed by using low pH running buffer without any additives. As a result of reversing the electroosmotic flow, very fast analysis has been actualized, well-defined and separated ion peaks emerge in less than 4 min. Besides, the limit of detection was improved by employing large volume sample stacking. Limit of detection values were 6.7 and 4.3 μM for nitrate and nitrite, respectively. In traditional procedure, mechanical agitation is employed for extraction, while in this work the extraction efficiency of ultrasound mixing for 30 min was found sufficient. The proposed method was successfully applied to authentic gunshot residue samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Claudin-low breast cancer is a molecular type of breast cancer originally identified by gene expression profiling and reportedly associated with poor survival. Claudin-low tumors have been recognised to preferentially display a triple-negative phenotype, however only a minority of triple-negative breast cancers are claudin-low. We sought to identify an immunohistochemical profile for claudin-low tumors that could facilitate their identification in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumor material. First, an in silico collection of ~1600 human breast cancer expression profiles was assembled and all claudin-low tumors identified. Second, genes differentially expressed between claudin-low tumors and all other molecular subtypes of breast cancer were identified. Third, a number of these top differentially expressed genes were tested using immunohistochemistry for expression in a diverse panel of breast cancer cell lines to determine their specificity for claudin-low tumors. Finally, the immunohistochemical panel found to be most characteristic of claudin-low tumors was examined in a cohort of 942 formalin fixed paraffin embedded human breast cancers with >10 years clinical follow-up to evaluate the clinico-pathologic and survival characteristics of this tumor subtype. Using this approach we determined that claudin-low breast cancer is typically negative for ER, PR, HER2, claudin 3, claudin 4, claudin 7 and E-cadherin. Claudin-low tumors identified with this immunohistochemical panel, were associated with young age of onset, higher tumor grade, larger tumor size, extensive lymphocytic infiltrate and a circumscribed tumor margin. Patients with claudin-low tumors had a worse overall survival when compared to patients with luminal A type breast cancer. Interestingly, claudin-low tumors were associated with a low local recurrence rate following breast conserving therapy. In conclusion, a limited panel of antibodies can facilitate the identification of claudin-low tumors. Furthermore, claudin-low tumors identified in this manner display similar clinical, pathologic and survival characteristics to claudin-low tumors identified from fresh frozen tumor material using gene expression profiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Striae distensae are common undesirable skin lesions of significant aesthetic concern. To compare the efficacy of two fluences (75 and 100 J/cm2) of long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of striae. Forty-five patients (Fitzpatrick skin types III-V) aged between 11 and 36 years with striae (23 patients with rubra type and 22 with alba type) were enrolled in the study. Each stria was divided into three equal sections, whereby the outer sections were treated with long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, at a fluence of 75 or 100 J/cm2, and fixed laser settings of 5 mm spot size and 15 ms pulse duration. The middle section was an untreated control. All subjects received four treatments at 3 weeks interval. Three 2-mm punch biopsies were taken from six subjects, all of the same stria, one before treatment and the other two from the outer sections, 3 months after the last session. Paraffin-embedded skin sections were subjected to histological and quantitative morphometric studies for collagen and elastic fibres. Results were assessed clinically through photographic evaluation and were considered satisfactory for both doctors and patients. A significant improvement in appearance of striae alba using 100 J/cm2 was found while striae rubra improved more with 75 J/cm2. Histologically, collagen and elastin fibres increased in posttreatment samples. A satisfactory improvement in striae distensae lesions was seen through clinical and histological evaluation. Thus, long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser is a safe and effective module of laser treatment for these common skin lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a classification system for organic gunshot residue (OGSR) compounds with respect to the confirmation of OGSR materials is presented. There are 136 compounds considered to be associated with OGSR that have been highlighted in the literature. Many of these compounds could be classified as being ubiquitous in the environment and thus their detection as characteristic components of OGSR could cause issues with the interpretation of chemical ballistic evidence. The proposed system aims to address this problem by classifying OGSR compounds based on their forensic relevance with respect to the confirmation of GSR materials. To increase the forensic relevance of such a system, the large number of OGSR compounds reported in the literature has been decreased to 20 OGSR compounds based on the organic chemical composition of over 200 propellant powders. Occupational and environmental materials also associated with OGSR compounds have been considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal aim of this study was to investigate the effects of superficial scald control methods having different effect mechanisms on scald formation and α-farnesene content in Granny Smith apples. It was also aimed to evaluate possible alternatives to diphenylamine (DPA) that has been banned in many countries. By this aim, lovastatin and DPA with combined treatments such as heat + oil and ethanol vapour + heat were used. The experiment was conducted with ‘Granny Smith’ cultivar, very sensitive to superficial scald, grown in Isparta (Turkey). After treatments, apples were stored in normal atmosphere (air) at 0 °C and 90 ± 5% RH for 6 months. In the apples taken from storage in monthly intervals, α-farnesene content and scald intensity were determined. It was found that all treatments decreased both α-farnesene content and superficial scald formation compared to control group. However, poor correlation between α-farnesene content and scald formation during the storage was found. α-Farnesene contents of lovastatin treated apples were lower than those of DPA during the storage. The methods having different mechanism for control of apple superficial scald should be investigated elaborately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the events at a protein level that govern the progression from melanoma in situ to invasive melanoma are important areas of current research to be developed. Recent advances in the analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue by proteomics, particularly using the filter-aided sample preparation protocol, has opened up the possibility of studying vast archives of clinical material and associated medical records. In the present study, quantitative protein profiling was performed using tandem mass spectrometry, and the proteome differences between melanoma in situ and invasive melanoma were compared. Biological pathway analyses revealed several signalling pathways differing between melanoma in situ and invasive melanoma, including metabolic pathways and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt signalling pathway. Selected proteins of interest (14-3-3ε and fatty acid synthase) were subsequently investigated using immunohistochemical analysis of tissue microarrays. Identifying the key proteins that play significant roles in the establishment of a more invasive phenotype in melanoma may ultimately aid diagnosis and treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a unique method to produce large amounts of very small Janus nanoparticles (<50 nm) using Pickering emulsions of paraffin-in-water, known as desymmetrization process in high internal interface systems. Unlike other similar works, applying a thermal shock in cooling stage allowed surfactants to be not used in the process besides stabilizing nanoparticles. This provided better modification efficiency after coverage of solid paraffin droplets with small nanoparticles as well as controlling limited and partial coalescences. Two types of silica nanoparticles with different size (<50 nm) were used and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane was also applied in order to modify their exposed surface after preparation of stabilized emulsion. Besides SEM images, some other new experimental/analytical procedures are proposed in order to investigate the presence of nanoparticles on the surface of provided solid paraffin droplets. Produced Janus nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR, TGA and EDX tests in order to confirm the chemical modification. Furthermore, a chloroform/water mixture was used to demonstrate the differences of Janus nanoparticles with similar uniformly modified nanoparticles. The results revealed the amphiphilic properties of Janus nanoparticles which led them to be placed at the interface while uniformly modified particles were placed in chloroform phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, we provide a description of the recent methods used for immunohistochemical staining of the human inner ear using formalin-fixed frozen, paraffin and celloidin-embedded sections. We also show the application of these immunohistochemical methods in auditory and vestibular endorgans microdissected from the human temporal bone. We compare the advantages and disadvantages of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the different types of embedding media. IHC in frozen and paraffin-embedded sections yields a robust immunoreactive signal. Both frozen and paraffin sections would be the best alternative in the case where celloidin-embedding technique is not available. IHC in whole endorgans yields excellent results and can be used when desiring to detect regional variations of protein expression in the sensory epithelia. One advantage of microdissection is that the tissue is processed immediately and IHC can be made within 1 week of temporal bone collection. A second advantage of microdissection is the excellent preservation of both morphology and antigenicity. Using celloidin-embedded inner ear sections, we were able to detect several antigens by IHC and immunofluorescence using antigen retrieval methods. These techniques, previously applied only in animal models, allow for the study of numerous important proteins expressed in the human temporal bone potentially opening up a new field for future human inner ear research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is a major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases and leads to subsequent concomitant pathologies such as left ventricular hypertrophy ( LVH). Translational approaches using large animals get more important as they allow the use of standard clinical procedures in an experimental setting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a minimally invasive ovine hypertension model using chronic angiotensin II ( ANG II) treatment and to characterize its effects on cardiac remodeling after 8 weeks. Sheep were implanted with osmotic minipumps filled with either vehicle control ( n = 7) or ANG II ( n = 9) for 8 weeks. Mean arterial blood pressure in the ANG II-treated group increased from 87.4 ± 5.3 to 111.8 ± 6.9 mmHg ( P = 0.00013). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging showed an increase in left ventricular mass from 112 ± 12.6 g to 131 ± 18.7 g after 7 weeks ( P = 0.0017). This was confirmed by postmortem measurement of left ventricular wall thickness which was higher in ANG II-treated animals compared to the control group (18 ± 4 mm vs. 13 ± 2 mm, respectively, P = 0.002). However, ANG II-treated sheep did not reveal any signs of fibrosis or inflammatory infiltrates as defined by picrosirius red and H&E staining on myocardial full thickness paraffin sections of both atria and ventricles. Measurements of plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 α were inconspicuous in all animals. Furthermore, multielectrode surface mapping of the heart did not show any differences in epicardial conduction velocity and heterogeneity. These data demonstrate that chronic ANG II treatment using osmotic minipumps presents a reliable, minimally invasive approach to establish hypertension and nonfibrotic LVH in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rust fungi are obligate pathogens with multiple life stages often including different spore types and multiple plant hosts. While individual rust pathogens are often associated with specific plants, a wide range of plant species are infected with rust fungi. To study the interactions between these important pathogenic fungi and their host plants, one must be able to differentiate fungal tissue from plant tissue. This can be accomplished using the In situ hybridization (ISH) protocol described here. Results: To validate reproducibility using the ISH protocol, samples of Chrysanthemum x morifolium infected with Puccinia horiana, Gladiolus x hortulanus infected with Uromyces transversalis and Glycine max infected with Phakopsora pachyrhizi were tested alongside uninfected leaf tissue samples. The results of these tests show that this technique clearly distinguishes between rust pathogens and their respective host plant tissues. Conclusions: This ISH protocol is applicable to rust fungi and potentially other plant pathogenic fungi as well. It has been shown here that this protocol can be applied to pathogens from different genera of rust fungi with no background staining of plant tissue. We encourage the use of this protocol for the study of plant pathogenic fungi in paraffin embedded sections of host plant tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of preparing aqueous dispersions of solid petroleum hydrocarbons was studied. Stable aqueous dispersions of petroleum paraffin can be prepared using polyvinyl alcohol in combination with a hydrotropic additive as a stabilizer. While for stabilization of dispersion of ceresin, which is a microcrystalline wax, it is necessary to use an anionic surfactant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The main aim of our study was to investigate the diagnostic value of a molecular method for the diagnosis of mucormycosis and aspergillosis from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Methods A retrospective chart review identified all cases with histology reports mentioning the presence of fungi with morphological characteristics of either Aspergillus or mucormycetes, for the period 2005–2012. Paraffin blocks were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology. A semi-nested PCR specific for the detection of mucormycetes and Aspergillus species was applied in FFPE tissue from the above blocks. Results were compared with those of histological (gold standard) and microbiological methods. Results Twenty cases with fungal hyphae in tissue were revealed. Mucormycetes were detected in 9 cases (45%) by PCR, in only 4 of which culture was available. Species of Aspergillus were detected in 8 cases (40%) by PCR, two of which were co-infection with mucormycetes. Five patients had other fungi, non-detectable with this specific PCR. At least one sample per patient was positive by PCR. Seven out of 30 samples tested overall were false negative. The calculated sensitivity of this method in our setting was 79.3% (95% CI: 60.3–91.9%); specificity was 100%. Conclusions The specific PCR used appears to be an easy and useful tool for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of mucormycosis and aspergillosis, in combination with histology and direct examination. Mucormycosis was more frequent than aspergillosis during the study period, highlighting the importance of continuous epidemiological surveillance of these serious infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: It is now recognized that tumor cells can actively alter their microenvironment and that this remodelled microenvironment can subsequently play a critical role in cancer progression and influence therapeutic responses. To date, the molecular heterogeneity within a 3D cancer cell colony and its influence on the extracellular matrix have not been studied by infrared imaging. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate by mid-infrared imaging 3D Matrigel-embedded colonies of pure MCF-7 human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line and the surrounding microenvironment after undergoing formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE). METHODS: In order to better reproduce the procedure used for preservation and storage of clinical tissue specimens for pathologic analysis, 7- and 10-day MCF-7 colonies embedded and grown in Matrigel were FFPE-treated; 4-μm-thick sections were cut, mounted on barium fluoride window and deparaffinized. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) images of 4096 spectra were collected in transmission mode using a FPA-based FTIR imaging system. They were pre-processed and analysed by principal component and K-mean cluster analyses. RESULTS: At 1654 cm-1 and 1234 cm-1, the intensity of absorption in the colonies is significantly higher than in Matrigel. It can be also noted, on the one hand, that there is a spectral heterogeneity in the intracolonial distribution of the absorbances at 1654, 1644, 1640 and 1634 cm-1 (Amide I range) possibly due to changes in protein secondary structures. On the other hand, we observe that Matrigel close to MCF-7 colonies appears altered with respect to more distant Matrigel matrix. CONCLUSIONS: FTIR imaging allowed us to highlight changes in the chemical content in MCF-7 colonies and their direct vicinity in Matrigel-embedded 3D cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the accuracy of intraoperative frozen section of ovarian tumours at our institution and to identify the possible reasons for misdiagnosis. Study Design: Between January 2002 and August 2013, a total of 684 patients were included in the study. Frozen section diagnosis was compared with the final paraffin section diagnosis as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of frozen-section diagnosis were calculated for benign, borderline and malignant tumours. Clinicopathological parameters influenced by misdiagnosis were evaluated performing multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall accuracy was detected as 96.1%. Frozen-section diagnoses of 26 patients (3.8%) showed discordance. The specificity (99.7%) and PPV (99.4%) of frozen-section diagnosis was highest in the malignant category. In BOTs, diagnostic agreement was observed in 57 of 70 (81.4%) cases. The PPV (81.4%) was lowest for these patients. Tumour diameter of ≥10 cm (OR [95% Cl]= 3.0 [1.1 to 8.2]; P=0.030) and mucinous histology (OR [95% Cl]= 2.5 [1.0 to 6.2]; P=0.042) were significant predictors of misdiagnosis. With the increase in the number of sections, the accuracy rate of frozen section diagnosis was decreased. While not statistically significant (p=0.361). Conclusion: The number of sections is increased parallel to increase in tumor diameters. On the contrary, the diagnostic accuracy was no significantly increased with an increase in the number of sections. This discrepancy may be associated with falling tumor size per frozen section. A prospective study based on a certain tumour diameter per frozen section may better demonstrate the positive effect of the number of sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Targeted Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) offers a way to implement testing of multiple genetic aberrations in diagnostic pathology practice, which is necessary for personalized cancer treatment. However, no standards regarding input material have been defined. This study therefore aimed to determine the effect of the type of input material (e.g. formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) versus fresh frozen (FF) tissue) on NGS derived results. Moreover, this study aimed to explore a standardized analysis pipeline to support consistent clinical decision-making. Method: We used the Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform in combination with the Ion AmpliSeq Cancer Hotspot Panel v2 to sequence frequently mutated regions in 50 cancer related genes, and validated the NGS detected variants in 250 FFPE samples using standard diagnostic assays. Next, 386 tumour samples were sequenced to explore the effect of input material on variant detection variables. For variant calling, Ion Torrent analysis software was supplemented with additional variant annotation and filtering. Results: Both FFPE and FF tissue could be sequenced reliably with a sensitivity of 99.1%. Validation showed a 98.5% concordance between NGS and conventional sequencing techniques, where NGS provided both the advantage of low input DNA concentration and the detection of low-frequency variants. The reliability of mutation analysis could be further improved with manual inspection of sequence data. Conclusion: Targeted NGS can be reliably implemented in cancer diagnostics using both FFPE and FF tissue when using appropriate analysis settings, even with low input DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent, flexible composite films with switchable haze are presented that respond stably and rapidly to applied bias. The composite film is based on the laminated structure of all flexible materials, such as the polyethylene terephthalate substrate, graphene, paraffin-polydimethylsiloxane (P-PDMS) organogel, and PDMS overlayer stacked in order. Upon applying a bias, the graphene is Joule-heated, leading a microstructural transformation of paraffin impregnated in the PDMS matrix, which in turn causes the modulation of light scattering. While the total transmittance is maintained above 90% in the visible range, transmission haze of the film can be controlled over the range from 0.5 to 85% with a low applied voltage and power consumption of 18 V and 0.33 W/cm 2 , respectively. Because of the presence of an over-coating layer of PDMS, stable and reliable operation of the composite film is achieved for number of switching cycles. The advent of a highly transparent optical film with haze controllability that is made possible by this work can be used as a diffusive film to enhance the light-trapping properties for photovoltaics, and attachable films with controllable clarity on a window for ensuring personal privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen detection in histological sections and its quantitative estimation by computer-aided image analysis represent important procedures to assess tissue localization and distribution of connective fibers. Different histochemical approaches have been proposed to detect and quantify collagen deposition in paraffin slices with different degrees of satisfaction. The present study was performed to compare the qualitative and quantitative efficiency of three histochemical methods available for collagen staining in paraffin sections of colon. van Gieson, Sirius Red and Sirius Red/Fast Green stainings were carried out for collagen detection and quantitative estimation by morphometric image analysis in colonic specimens from normal rats or animals with 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS) induced colitis. Haematoxylin/eosin staining was carried out to assess tissue morphology and histopathological lesions. Among the three investigated methods, Sirius Red/Fast Green staining allowed to best highlight well-defined red-stained collagen fibers and to obtain the highest quantitative results by morphometric image analysis in both normal and inflamed colon. Collagen fibers, which stood out against the green-stained non-collagen components, could be clearly appreciated, even in their thinner networks, within all layers of normal or inflamed colonic wall. The present study provides evidence that, as compared with Sirius Red alone or van Gieson staining, the Sirius Red/Fast Green method is the most sensitive, in terms of both qualitative and quantitative evaluation of collagen fibers, in paraffin sections of both normal and inflamed colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formalin fixing with paraffin embedding (FFPE) has been a standard sample preparation method for decades, and archival FFPE samples are still very useful resources. Nonetheless, the use of FFPE samples in cancer genome analysis using next-generation sequencing, which is a powerful technique for the identification of genomic alterations at the nucleotide level, has been challenging due to poor DNA quality and artificial sequence alterations. In this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing of matched frozen samples and FFPE samples of tissues from 4 cancer patients and compared the next-generation sequencing data obtained from these samples. The major differences between data obtained from the 2 types of sample were the shorter insert size and artificial base alterations in the FFPE samples. A high proportion of short inserts in the FFPE samples resulted in overlapping paired reads, which could lead to overestimation of certain variants; >20% of the inserts in the FFPE samples were double sequenced. A large number of soft clipped reads was found in the sequencing data of the FFPE samples, and about 30% of total bases were soft clipped. The artificial base alterations, C>T and G>A, were observed in FFPE samples only, and the alteration rate ranged from 200 to 1,200 per 1M bases when sequencing errors were removed. Although high-confidence mutation calls in the FFPE samples were compatible to that in the frozen samples, caution should be exercised in terms of the artifacts, especially for low-confidence calls. Despite the clearly observed artifacts, archival FFPE samples can be a good resource for discovery or validation of biomarkers in cancer research based on whole-exome sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a thermal characterization approach for phase change materials thermal management systems (PCM-TMS) based on a thermal test device (TTD) allowing simultaneous dissipation and chip temperature measurement. The tests are oriented towards PCM-TMS characterization for their application in the power electronics domain, providing an insight to the physical phenomena involved in PCM systems. The PCM-TMS used in this work consists in a 35 mm diameter and 9.5 mm height Cu case, containing a 20 ppi porous Cu mesh and a 31 °C melting temperature paraffin. It has been demonstrated that the proposed characterization methodology is suitable for the assessment of this kind of non-linear systems, allowing an easy acquisition of both, heating and cooling transients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of BRAF-targeted therapies led to increased survival in patients with metastatic melanomas harboring a BRAF V600 mutation (implicated in 46–48% of malignant melanomas). The Idylla™ System (Idylla™), i.e., the real-time-PCR-based Idylla™ BRAF Mutation Test performed on the fully-automated Idylla™ platform, enables detection of the most frequent BRAF V600 mutations (V600E/E2/D, V600K/R/M) in tumor material within approximately 90 min and with 1% detection limit. Idylla™ performance was determined in a multi-center study by analyzing BRAF mutational status of 148 archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples from malignant melanoma patients, and comparing Idylla™ results with assessments made by commercial or in-house routine diagnostic methods. Of the 148 samples analyzed, Idylla™ initially recorded 7 insufficient DNA input calls and 15 results discordant with routine method results. Further analysis learned that the quality of 8 samples was insufficient for Idylla™ testing, 1 sample had an invalid routine test result, and Idylla™ results were confirmed in 10 samples. Hence, Idylla™ identified all mutations present, including 7 not identified by routine methods. Idylla™ enables fully automated BRAF V600 testing directly on FFPE tumor tissue with increased sensitivity, ease-of-use, and much shorter turnaround time compared to existing diagnostic tests, making it a tool for rapid, simple and highly reliable analysis of therapeutically relevant BRAF mutations, in particular for diagnostic units without molecular expertise and infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piscine reovirus (PRV) was common among wild and farmed salmonids in British Columbia, western Canada, from 1987 to 2013. Salmonid tissues tested for PRV by real-time rRT-PCR included sections from archived paraffin blocks from 1974 to 2008 ( n = 363) and fresh-frozen hearts from 2013 ( n = 916). The earliest PRV-positive sample was from a wild-source steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), from 1977. By histopathology ( n = 404), no fish had lesions diagnostic for heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI). In some groups, lymphohistiocytic endocarditis affected a greater proportion of fish with PRV than fish without PRV, but the range of Ct values among affected fish was within the range of Ct values among unaffected fish. Also, fish with the lowest PRV Ct values (18.4-21.7) lacked endocarditis or any other consistent lesion. From 1987 to 1994, the proportion of PRV positives was not significantly different between farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. (44% of 48), and wild-source salmonids (31% of 45). In 2013, the proportion of PRV positives was not significantly different between wild coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum), sampled from British Columbia (5.0% of 60) or the reference region, Alaska, USA (10% of 58). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technique of solid phase microextraction incorporates sampling, isolation and enrichment into a single sample preparation step, making it useful for forensic applications such as the analysis of gunpowder present at trace levels. In this study, three standard loading approaches for the analysis of compounds in smokeless powder – namely the direct headspace extraction of pure standard compounds, the syringe-fibre transfer and the in-vial standard loading approaches – were evaluated. The in-vial standard loading approach was found to be the most suitable method for both the standard curve preparation and sample analysis. Method specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, method detection limit and the limit of quantitation were investigated for its intended purpose through the examination of common stabilisers and additives in smokeless powders, namely naphthalene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, diphenylamine, N,N-diphenylformamide, methyl centralite and ethyl centralite by the gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection technique. Examination of four ammunition types of 9 mm calibre enabled their differentiation among the respective smokeless powder samples through comparison of the abundance of selected compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the thermal testing of UniPore–paraffin composites for use as thermal capacitors. UniPore is a relatively new porous material with unidirectional pores formed by the explosive fusion of multiple thin copper pipes filled with paraffin. The current study investigates the suitability of this composite for transient thermal energy storage. The application demands both high thermal diffusivity and a large specific energy storage capacity. These requirements are met by the highly conductive copper and the phase change material paraffin, respectively. Combined experimental and numerical analyses are conducted towards the determination of temperature stabilization performance. Furthermore, key geometric criteria for the design of optimum UniPore structures as thermal capacitors are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presented the experimental results of MOC (magnesium oxychloride cement) with the EP/PA (expanded perlite/paraffin) composite manufactured by extrusion technique. The objective of this study was to improve the thermal insulation and thermal storage capacity of MOC cement with satisfied mechanical properties, which was expected to be used as structural materials with self-thermal insulation and storage in buildings. The DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) results revealed that the paraffin has melting temperature and latent heat of 26.7 °C and 138.0 J/g, respectively. The EP/PA composite can be obtained by absorbing the paraffin into the porous structures of expanded perlite, which showed good thermal storage and thermal stability properties. The incorporation of EP/PA composite caused not only 80% reduction in thermal conductivity, but also 14 min peak load shifting in thermal cycling test due to the improved thermal storage capacity. In addition, the extrusion technique contributed to the higher compressive and flexural strength of MOC cement due to the denser and better fiber alignment of the mixture, varied between 17–45 MPa and 6–8 MPa, respectively. In conclusion, the MOC cement with the EP/PA composite manufactured by extrusion technique has great potential for the sustainable development of energy efficient buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was designed to investigate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation types affecting lung cancer treatment in patients in Xinjiang, China. We detected and analyzed differences in the EGFR mutation points of Uighur and Han patients with lung adenocarcinoma. We examined 181 specimens of lung adenocarcinoma tissue embedded with paraffin (76 Uighur and 105 Han patients) for mutations in the EGFR gene in exon 18-21 by the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) method. We used the chi-square statistical method to analyze the relationship between mutations and patients' clinical parameters. Results: EGFR somatic mutations were detected in 59 of 181 cases (32.6%). The mutation rate was higher in Han patients (45.7%) than in Uighur patients (15.8%) (P < 0.001). The main mutation types were the exon 19 deletion and the L858R point mutation in exon 21. In Han patients we found 21 (44.7%) cases of exon 19 deletion, 24 (51.1%) cases of L858R in exon 21, 1 case (2.1%) with mutations in both exon 19 and exon 21, and 1 case (2.1%) with T790 mutation in exon 20. In Uighur patients we found 8 (66.7%) cases of exon 19 deletion and 4 (33.3%) cases of L858R in exon 21. Conclusions: In comparing these groups, the exon 19 deletion was more common than L858R in exon 21 in Uighur patients. In Han patients, EGFR-sensitive mutations occurred in female, never-smoking patients with well-differentiated tumors; but for Uighur patients only smoking history showed an obvious correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, it has been thought that fresh and frozen tissues are the only possible source of biological material useful to extract nucleic acids suitable for downstream molecular analysis. Recently, for forensic purpose such as personal identification, also fixed tissues have been used to recover DNA molecules, whereas RNA extracted from such material is still considered too degraded for gene expression studies. In the present pilot study, we evaluated the possibility to use forensic formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, collected at autopsy at different postmortem intervals (PMI) from four individuals, to perform advanced molecular analyses. In particular, we performed qualitative and quantitative analyses of total RNAs extracted from different FFPE tissues and put expression profiles in relation with the organ type and the duration of PMI. Different classes of RNA molecular targets were studied by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. We report molecular evidence that small RNAs are the only RNA molecules still detectable in all the FFPE autoptic tissues. In particular, microRNAs (miRNAs) represent a consistent, stable, and well-preserved molecular target detectable even from tissue sources displaying signs of ongoing putrefaction at autopsy. In this pilot study, we show that miRNAs could represent a highly sensitive and potentially useful forensic marker. Amplification of specific miRNAs using paraffin-embedded blocks could facilitate retrospective molecular analysis using specific forensic-archived tissues chosen as most suitable according to PMI, and this approach would address molecular evidence in forensic cases in which fresh or frozen material is no longer available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Helicobacter pylori is the causative organism for chronic active gastritis, duodenal ulcer and also for malignancies like gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. It is essential to mention the presence of H. pylori in gastric biopsies as it has an important role in patient care. Though there are several special stains to detect H. pylori in histological sections, their specificity and sensitivity vary greatly. Immunohistochemically H. pylori can be detected by using anti H. pylori antibody, which reacts with somatic antigens of the whole bacteria. The aim of this study was to compare the reliability of routine hematoxylin and eosin (H and E), Giemsa, Warthin-Starry (WS) silver stain and immunohistochemical technique in diagnosing H. pylori. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective 1-year (2009) study, endoscopic gastric biopsies taken from patients during gastrointestinal-endoscopy with histopathological diagnosis of gastritis were studied. Standard H and E staining was performed on 5-μm-sections from paraffin block of each specimen. Microscopic sections of biopsy specimens of patients showing features of gastritis histopathologically in routine H and E stain and where the presence of H. pylori was suspected were also stained with Giemsa, WS, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using purified polyclonal H. pylori antiserum (BioGenex). We have not included gastric resection specimens in our study. Results: Of the 29 cases, 26 (32.9%) showed presence of H. pylori on H and E, Giemsa and WS stains, whereas 49 (62.0%) cases demonstrated H. pylori on IHC stain. Conclusion: We conclude that H. pylori detection by IHC has advantage over routine H and E staining. However, in the developing countries with financial constraints, routine H and E staining in combination with special staining are fairly reliable in demonstrating H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Conclusive evidence indicating an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a common entrapment neuropathy, is lacking. Ultrasound therapy (US therapy) has long been used as one of the combination treatments for CTS. In addition, paraffin bath therapy has been applied widely as a physical modality in treating patients with hand conditions. The purpose of this randomized trial was to compare the efficacy of combining a wrist orthosis with either US therapy or paraffin bath therapy in treating CTS patients. Methods Patients with CTS were randomized into two groups. All patients received a wrist orthosis. Twice per week, one group underwent paraffin therapy, and the other group underwent ultrasound therapy. Each patient received a questionnaire, physical examination and nerve conduction study of the upper extremities before and after treatment for eight weeks. Results Sixty patients were recruited, and 47 completed the study. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in symptom severity scores in both groups. After adjusting for age, gender and baseline data, the analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference in the functional status score between two groups. Conclusions The combination of ultrasound therapy with a wrist orthosis may be more effective than paraffin therapy with a wrist orthosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]