bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
P‐20 DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF CONVENTIONAL SMEARS AND THINPREP SAMPLES IN CERVICAL SCREENING
Authors: Shah B. , Rana D. , Marshall J. , Desai M. 
Published: August 2006

Objective:  Liquid Based Cytology has been recommended in England and Wales as the primary means of processing samples in cervical screening programme. We conducted this study to compare the positive predictive value (PPV) of conventional smears (CS) and ThinPrep samples (TP) reported as high‐grade squamous dyskaryosis and glandular neoplasia from September ’01 to August ’05. The performance of both techniques was compared with histological results.Methods:  The database of the cytology department was searched and figures were obtained from September 2001 to August 2004 for high‐grade dyskaryosis and from September 2001 to August 2005 for glandular neoplasia. Only primary care samples were taken into consideration for determining positive predictive value (PPV).Results:  The total number of samples for CS and TP were 373 990 (86.8%) and 48 216 (11.2%) respectively. Inadequate rate for CS and TP was 10.68% and 1.64% respectively. PPV of moderate and severe dyskaryosis including invasive carcinoma in CS was 71.7% and 90.4%; while for TP, it was 65.8% and 89.4% respectively. PPV of glandular neoplasia for CGIN/Adenocarcinoma was 66.7% and 64.3% in CS and TP respectively. PPV of glandular neoplasia for CIN2 and more in CS and TP was 82.7% and 85.7% respectively. The PPV for a diagnosis of CIN2 or worse in CS and TP was 79.3% and 73.3% respectively.Discussion:  The PPV for a diagnosis of CIN2 or worse in both systems are within acceptable range for the U.K. (65–87%). The difference in PPV for varied categories in both systems is statistically insignificant. The inadequate rate is significantly reduced with TP.
P‐21 POSITIVE PREDICTIVE VALUE OF CERVICAL SMEARS REPORTED AS MILD DYSKARYOSIS
Authors: Shah B. , Rana D. , Marshall J. , Desai M. 
Published: August 2006

Objective:  Recent national guidelines (NHSCSP Document 20) recommend the referral of patients having the first occurrence of mild dyskaryosis. We evaluated the usefulness of this guideline and determined the positive predictive value (PPV) of conventional smears (CS) and ThinPrep samples (TP) reported as the first occurrence of mild dyskaryosis.Methods:  This was a retrospective study where we looked at the cases of mild dyskaryosis from January’05 to June’05 received at our laboratory. Of these, the cases of mild dyskaryosis at the first instance were only taken into consideration. Histological diagnosis of these cases where available were retrieved from the laboratory database and were correlated with the cytological findings.Results:  There were 1016 cases, which were reported as mild dyskaryosis. Out of them, 51.1% (519 cases) were first report of mild dyskaryosis: 61.8% (321 cases) and 38.2% (198 cases) were CS and TP respectively. Of these, 181 CS (56.4%) and 120 TP (60.6%) had a histological follow up. The results showed that 54.1% CS and 56.7% TP had a low‐grade outcome, 26.0% CS and 25.8% TP had a high‐grade outcome and 19.9% CS and 17.5% TP had a normal outcome. The PPV of mild dyskaryosis for CIN1 or worse result was 53.0% and 50.0% in CS and TP respectively. The PPV of mild dyskaryosis for CIN1 only was 27.1% and 24.2% in CS and TP respectively.Discussion:  The difference in PPV for both systems is statistically insignificant. This result endorses usefulness of colposcopic referral after the first report of mild dyskaryosis.
P‐3 THE VALUE OF PERITONEAL WASHING CYTOLOGY IN THE STAGING OF GYNAECOLOGICAL MALIGNANCY
Authors: Joshi P , Evans A. , Rana D. N. , Hale R. , Wilson G. E. , Desai M. , Ismail S. M. 
Published: August 2006

Introduction:  Current protocols for staging gynaecological cancers include cytopathological examination of peritoneal washings taken at the time of definitive surgery. We investigated the clinical usefulness of this procedure.Methods:  During 2004 and 2005, 140 peritoneal washings were submitted for cytopathological examination in our institutions for staging of 36 ovarian, 101 endometrial and 3 synchronous ovarian/endometrial cancers.Results:  The washings contained malignant cells in 39 cases (28%). 35 of these cases had high stage disease – not confined to the organ of origin (i.e. stage 2 or more for ovary and stage 3 or more for endometrial). The other 4 were stage 1C ovarian cancers where there was either rupture or tumour involvement of the capsule. In only 2 of the 39 positive cases the cancer was marginally upstaged by the positive washings – these were ovarian cancers upstaged from 2A /B to 2C.Discussion:  These findings suggest that peritoneal washing cytology as a routine procedure for staging ovarian and endometrial cancer is of limited clinical value. A larger study is needed to determine whether this procedure should continue to be included in staging protocols for gynaecological cancer.
P‐4 TRANSFORMATION ZONE COMPONENT IN LIQUID BASED CERVICAL CYTOLOGY
Authors: Joseph P. , Marshall J. , Rana D. , Desai M. 
Published: August 2006

Introduction:  Quality assurance guidelines for the UK cervical screening programme recommend that more than 80% of cervical samples from women aged 20–50 years should contain adequate numbers of Transformation zone (TZ) cells i.e. 10 or more endocervical or squamous metaplastic cells. This study was conducted to assess the frequency of TZ component in Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) both for ThinPrep (TP) and SurePath (SP) LBC. Also to assess the degree to which this is recorded by individual screeners and to determine the percentage of samples with evidence of TZ component for the different smear takers.Method:  All LBC cervical specimens received at a tertiary cytology centre in the year 2004 from women aged 20–50 years were included in the study. Evidence of TZ sampling was recorded as: TP = TZ present (10 or more TZ cells)TA = TZ absentTS = TZ scanty (less than 10 TZ cells)TN = atrophic smears, TZ cells not recognisableResults:  The total number of LBC cervical cases was 7445. TP = 4300 (mostly primary care) and SP = 3145 (mostly colposcopy). Overall TZ sampling rate in LBC was 82%. TP = 77.17%; SP = 88.24%. When scanty TZ was included, the standard was met for both systems (TP = 93.7%; SP = 88.24%). Presence/absence of TZ component was recorded in 6370 cases (85.1%); range 0%–97.79%. 56.7% of smear takers achieved the minimum standard for TZ sampling.Discussion:  The percentage of ThinPrep samples containing adequate TZ cells was 77.17% compared to SurePath, which was 88.24%. This may be due to different patient populations i.e. primary care versus colposcopy. Screeners recorded TZ sampling in approximately 85% of samples. 56.7% of smear takers met the standard for TZ sampling.
P‐5 AN UNUSUAL FORM OF THYROID PAPILLARY CARCINOMA: COLUMNAR CELL VARIANT WITH NEUROENDOCRINE FEATURES
Authors: Sarkady E. , Rana D. , Desai M. 
Published: August 2006

Case:  Our aim is to present an unusual form of poorly differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma associated with inherited cancer syndromes, the neuroendocrine variant with columnar cell features. The patient was 42‐year‐old man with a known history of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) syndrome. A hard thyroid mass was identified in his right thyroid lobe. FNA showed microbiopsies of glandular structures, papillaroid groups of atypical cells with some histiocytes and colloid. The atypical cells showed columnar cell morphology with oval nuclei, fine chromatin and small nucleoli. Some crowding and pseudostratification was seen, also a few grooves were identified, but no intranuclear inclusions were present. The cells were positive for CK19, CK7, TTF‐1, beta‐catenin and chromogranin. They were negative for thyroglobulin, CEA, calcitonin, CK20 and Ki‐67. The thyroidectomy specimen showed a poorly differentiated papillary carcinoma showing neuroendocrine features and focal columnar cell change. The immunohistochemical findings were the same as for the FNA specimen and also CD56 and synaptophysin positivity was shown.Discussion:  Inherited cancer syndromes may present with thyroid tumours in 1–2% of cases. They are usually multifocal with female predominance and an onset of less than 30 years of age in 90% of cases. They are most frequently the cribriform‐morular variant of papillary carcinoma. The columnar cell variant is an aggressive form of papillary carcinoma usually lacking the classical nuclear features and in some cases can even be thyroglobulin negative due to their less differentiated nature. Neuroendocrine differentiation is also known to worsen the prognosis. The beta‐catenin positivity is shown to be specific for FAP‐associated papillary carcinomas. Although clinically a good prognostic index was calculated for this patient (MACIS score 5.67, which has a 99% 20 year survival), cytologically both the neuroendocrine and the columnar cell features imply a bad prognosis.
P‐6 SCREENER SENSITIVITY – ALL CHANGE FOR LBC
Authors: Curran G. J. 
Published: August 2006

Introduction:  This poster aims to provide a discussion point for the calculation of screener performance. LBC has brought about changes in the way slides are interpreted, single dispersed isolated dyskaryotic cells take on a new meaning and the process of quality control, rapid review has changed. These changes challenge the rationale behind screener sensitivity calculations especially as many laboratories are in an early learning phase with regard to LBC.Method:  Screener sensitivities and the PPV of reporting consultants for a period of six months post LBC conversion are compared with those since the introduction of LBC.Results:  Screener sensitivities have dropped below the 95% threshold for high‐grade dyskaryosis.Discussion:  The change in rapid review or preview from a partial stepped rescreening of a conventional smear to a full rescreening of LBC slides has meant that all missed abnormalities that may not have been visualised in the conventional slide have a greater possibility of detection in the LBC slide. In analysing screener sensitivity a holistic approach that assesses the reasons for missing or misdiagnosing high‐grade abnormalities is advised. Over reporting by consultants as indicated by PPV and slide review should be taken into account when there is a suspected poor performer. The recent move to refer all mild dyskaryotic smears for colposcopic assessment and the EQA requirement for screeners to detect dyskaryosis without the necessity for grading suggests that there may be a need to reassess the basis of current screener sensitivity calculations.
CODES OF PRACTICE – AN UPDATE
Authors: Chandra A. 
Published: August 2006

In a communication from Dr Peter Smith (sending this with AH), there is encouraging feedback from the Cytopathology subcommittee in support of the forthcoming BSCC Codes of Practice (COP). FNA COP: Comments include its comprehensive nature and the fact it relates to specialist practice eg. FNA clinics. The recommendations in this document have been regarded as Best Practice rather than meeting minimum standards. Specific suggestions include –(1) recommendations on staffing would be helpful.(2) health & safety – FNA smears from patients with known high risk infection should not be spread on open trolleys. There should be appropriate risk assessment covering this sort of procedure agreed with Control of Infection Officer.(3) workload – not to be prescriptive in terms of assigning 2 Programmed Activities (PA) to an FNA clinic. Review of slides after the FNA clinic should not be included in this equation.Comments have been forwarded to Dr Kocjan for consideration.Exfoliative Cytology COP : This document expected to relate to meeting minimum standards due to wide variations in practice. Specific comments include –(1) a section on Indications may be worthwhile.(2) the position of technical staff vis‐á‐vis reporting is likely to be clarified before publication and may require major modification on this document.(3) discussion on clinical priorities and subdivision of specimens of low volumes eg. CSF and synovial fluid eg Micro may be more important than cytology in suspected bacterial meningitis.(4) not to be too prescriptive eg. 3 levels of blood clot to be examined on cell block.(5) cell counts may be inappropriate if LBC method is used for processing as it removes polymorphs.These comments are being addressed by AC with assistance from Margaret Middleton. It is hoped to make this document available on the website by 1 July for consultation.
Soil organic carbon and microbial activity: east Antarctica
Authors: Gajananda K. 
Published: August 2006

SummarySchirmacher oasis (SO) (70°46′04′′S to 70°44′24′′S; 11°49′54′′[± 48]E to 11°26′03′′[± 02]E), one of the smallest oases in Antarctica, is situated on Dronning Maud Land, which is about 70 km south of the Princess Astrid Coast of east Antarctica. This oasis is a small rocky moraine, surrounded by the vast polar ice cap and Antarctic ice shelf. It represents cold desert conditions, devoid of any higher plant and animal life, except for a few patches of microbiotic crusts in some suitable niches. Melted water from glaciers, ice and snow produces about 30 fresh water lakes and many streams, which supply essential nutrients to the autotrophs (algae, mosses and lichens). Between 30 December 1999 and 29 January 2000, soil samples were collected from 14 sparsely vegetated sites to study the soils and ecology over this oasis. Bio‐physicochemical parameters, organic carbon and microbial activities (dehydrogenase) of the soils were determined. The average surface air temperature and wind velocities during the sampling period were −0.87°C and 4.3 m s−1. The average pH, plant biomass (standing crops) and moisture content were 7.5, 22.5 g m−2 and 375.4%. Total organic carbon (TOC) contents of the soil samples ranged from 1.16 to 2.58% and the mean value was 1.58%. Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) was low and the average was 0.008 mg Triphenyl formazan (TPF) g soil−1 day−1. The low DHA in SO suggests that anaerobic oxidation of organic C is poor. TOC and DHA are negatively correlated with plant biomass (r=−0.14, P= 0.62 and r=−0.21, P= 0.48). The organic C and microbial activities are dependent on the amount of the autotrophic productivity and abundances. TOC correlated significantly with DHA (r= 0.85, P < 0.001), which indicates that organic C is an important factor in controlling the development of DHA in the SO. The averaged bio‐physicochemical data in the oasis do not deviate much from the respective mean values and the TOC is expected to remain in the range of 1–2%; however, a small change in human activity is likely to cause long‐term impacts in this pristine ecosystem.
Radiographic technical quality of root fillings performed by dental students in Turkey
Authors: Er O. , Sagsen B. , Maden M. , Cinar S. , Kahraman Y. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAim  To evaluate the radiographic technical quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students at a dentistry faculty in Turkey.Methodology  A random sample of 2000 records of patients who received dental treatment at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Gazi between 2000 and 2003 was investigated. The final sample consisted of 1893 root‐filled teeth with 3692 root canals in 1654 dental patients. For each root‐filled tooth, at least three periapical radiographs were examined: preoperative, working length determination and postoperative. The length, density and taper of root fillings were recorded. The length of root fillings was recorded as adequate, short or overfilled. Density of root fillings was recorded as adequate or inadequate. Taper of root fillings was recorded as adequate or inadequate. Results were evaluated statistically using one‐way analysis of variance (anova) and chi‐square analysis.Results  Sixty‐nine per cent, 53.2% and 68.3% of root fillings had adequate length, density and taper, respectively; only 33% of teeth fulfilled these three criteria at the same time. The relationship between the length, density and taper of the root filling and the presence of canal curvature was statistically significant (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between maxillary and mandibular teeth according to the adequacy of the root fillings. The highest percentage of adequate root fillings was found in maxillary canines (51.5%).Conclusions  The percentage of adequate root fillings performed by undergraduate students was only 33%.
Proposal for a standardized protocol for the systematic orofacial examination of patients with Hereditary Sensory Radicular Neuropathy
Authors: Siqueira S. R. D. T. , Okada M. , Lino A. M. M. , Teixeira M. J. , Siqueira J. T. T. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAim To apply a standardized protocol for the orofacial evaluation of two adult siblings (one male and one female) with Hereditary Sensory Radicular Neuropathy (HSRN) that presented with dental problems.Summary The systematic evaluation consisted of (a) clinical questionnaire; (b) radiographs [orthopantomography and computarized tomography (CT)]; (c) orofacial psychophysical tests (pain, thermal, mechanical and electrical sensation); and (d) histology of gingiva and pulp (optical and transmission electronic microscopy). The female patient had complete insensitivity to orofacial pain and partial facial heat sensitivity, and received dental treatment without anaesthesia or pain. She had a severe and painless jaw infection due to pulp necrosis in tooth 37. The male patient had partial insensitivity to orofacial pain and required anaesthesia for dental treatment. Histological examination of gingivae and pulpal tissue revealed an altered proportion of unmyelinated and myelinated sensory nerve fibres.Key learning points• Patients with HSRN may present with significant, silent dental disease.• A standard protocol is helpful when evaluating such patients.• If the opportunity arises, evaluation of pulp tissue may reveal an altered proportion of myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibres. This may avoid the more estabilished sural nerve biopsy.
An ex vivo study of the effects of retained coronal dentine on the strength of teeth restored with composite core and different post and core systems
Authors: AL‐Omiri M. K. , AL‐Wahadni A. M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAim  To investigate the fracture resistance and fracture patterns of teeth restored with composite cores supported by different pre‐fabricated post systems and different heights of remaining coronal dentine.Methodology  Four groups of 30 single rooted teeth were used. Each group was divided into three subgroups of 10 teeth each and restored with carbon fibre, glass fibre, or Radix titanium posts luted with dual cure resin cement. The control group A had no retained coronal dentine. Groups B, C and D had 2, 3 and 4 mm of retained buccal and lingual coronal dentine, respectively. Teeth were tested to failure using an Instron Universal Testing Machine. Subsequently, the fracture mode of specimens was recorded.Results  Teeth with retained dentine were more resistant to fracture (P = 0.001). Tooth fracture resistance was not significantly different between groups B, C and D. Within group A, titanium posts were associated with higher fracture resistance than fibre posts. Within the other groups, tooth fracture resistance was not related to post material. Within groups C and D, fracture resistance of teeth restored with carbon fibre posts was significantly higher than those restored with glass fibre posts. The dominant fracture mode in group A was core and vertical oblique root fracture whilst a combination of core, coronal dentine and root fracture occurred in the other groups.Conclusions  Fracture resistance of teeth increased with the presence of retained coronal dentine. The use of glass and carbon fibre posts did not improve the fracture resistance or the fracture pattern of teeth when compared with metal titanium posts regardless of the presence of retained coronal dentine. The dominant fracture pattern of teeth was not related to the amount of retained dentine if it was >2 mm high.
Immunomorphological aspects of the tubuli recti and the surrounding interstitium in normal mice
Authors: Takahashi Kodo , Naito Munekazu , Terayama Hayato , Qu Ning , Cheng Linxian , Tainosho Sachi , Itoh Masahiro 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThe tubuli recti (TR) are immunologically special, because the lymphocytes preferably accumulate around them during the course of T‐cell dependent testicular autoimmunity in mice. This finding implies that the testicular interstitium around the TR is where autoreactive lymphocytes can gain access to autoimmunogenic germ cell antigens. In the present study, the histoarchitecture of the TR was minutely examined in normal mice. Three‐dimensional analysis showed that 14–16 TR appeared to be connected to the rete testis (RT). Electron microscopical analysis revealed that the epithelial cells in the TR formed protruding cytoplasmic strings, with active endocytosis of degenerated spermatozoa, and exhibited three different morphological characteristics. Furthermore, a few macrophages were found to have penetrated into the TR. Immunohistochemical image analysis revealed that more macrophages specifically accumulated around the TR than the RT or seminiferous tubules. These findings indicate that macrophages preferentially accumulate around the TR, where contact between germ cell antigens and macrophages may occur under normal and pathological conditions.
Alterations of the USP26 gene in Caucasian men
Authors: Stouffs Katrien , Lissens Willy , Tournaye Herman , Steirteghem André Van , Liebaers Inge 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe Ubiquitin Specific Protease 26 gene is a testis‐specific gene that is located on the X chromosome. Sequence variants of this gene were previously reported in men with azoospermia caused by defects at the level of spermatogenesis. Especially a cluster of three changes (c.370_371insACA, c.494T>C and c.1423C>T) was frequently observed. To further define the role of this cluster of sequence variants in the USP26 gene, we have now analysed 202 control samples and 146 patients of Caucasian origin with cryptozoospermia or oligozoospermia. The detection method was based on a restriction reaction, by which the change c.494T>C can be detected. In none of the patients, the change c.494T>C was observed. Only in one man with normal spermatogenesis this sequence variant was detected. Sequencing can confirm the presence of the three changes of the USP26 gene. These data indicate that the cluster of changes is not restricted to men with severe testicular dysfunction.