bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FNA of breast fibroadenoma: observer variability and review of cytomorphology with cytohistological correlation
Authors: Kollur S. M. , El Hag I. A. 
Published: September 2006

Objective:  To determine the observer variability in reporting fibroadenoma of the breast by fine needle aspiration (FNA) and to review the cytomorphological features of the lesion with cytohistological correlation.Methods:  Retrospective analysis of FNA smears from 110 cases diagnosed as fibroadenoma of which surgical pathology follow‐up was available in 33. Two pathologists were asked to categorize smears from 67 cases of breast lesions while blinded to the clinical finding as fibroadenoma, epithelial hyperplasia (usual and atypical) and malignant. All fibroadenoma (33) and cancer (15) cases were biopsy‐proven. The same set of slides was re‐circulated to one of the pathologists, and his first and second round results were compared.Results:  Pre‐review cytohistological correlation was attained in 32 of 33 cases of fibroadenoma (97%). The overall agreement between the two observers was 87% [Kappa = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72–0.76]. Cytohistological correlation was achieved in 26 of 33 (79%) cases. Intra‐observer agreement was 91% (Kappa = 0.82, 95% CI 0.89–0.93) with cytohistological correlation in 29 of 33 (87%) cases. Causes of diagnostic errors included marked dissociation, pleomorphism, poorly cellular smears from hyalinized fibrodenoma, lacational changes and apocrine metaplasia with cystic changes. Multinucleated giant cells were frequently encountered in FNA smears from fibroadenoma (31.8%), but in none of the lumpectomy specimens. Their histiocytic nature was suggested by immunohistochemistry.Conclusion:  FNA was a highly sensitive method for the diagnosis of fibroadenoma. Current cytological criteria were reliable and gave high inter‐ and intra‐observer reproducibility.
The diagnostic value of on‐site cytopathological evaluation and cell block preparation in fine‐needle aspiration cytology of liver masses
Authors: Ceyhan K. , Kupana S. A. , Bektaş M. , Coban S. , Tuzun A. , Cınar K. , Soykan I. , Ormeci N. , Erdogan N. , Erekul S. , Kose K. 
Published: September 2006

Objective:  The aims of this study were to evaluate the typing accuracy of conventional smear (CS), cell block (CB) preparations and combined use of both procedures (CS + CB) for the diagnosis of hepatic malignancies and to determine whether immediate on‐site cytopathological evaluation improves the diagnostic yield of liver fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).Methods:  Ultrasound‐guided FNABs were performed on 323 consecutive cases with liver masses between December 2002 and December 2004. Histologically and/or clinically correlated 167 cases were included in the study. Preliminary FNAB results, results of CS, CB, and combined use of CS and CB were compared regarding diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of malignancy. Subtyping accuracies of different methods were also compared.Results:  The sensitivity of on‐site cytopathological examination and CS were both 92.8%. The sensitivity of CS + CB was slightly better than that of CB (93.5% versus 84.8%). Specificity of all procedures was achieved 100%. Diagnostic accuracy of on‐site cytopathological evaluation, CS, CB, and CS + CB were 93.9%, 93.9%, 87.2%, and 94.5%, respectively. A specific subtype diagnosis of malignant tumours could be rendered accurately on the basis of preliminary diagnosis in 71%, CS in 75.4%, CB in 78.3% and combined approach in 92% of cases. In terms of typing accuracy, 87.5% of HCCs, 93.2% of adenocarcinomas, 92.3% of neuroendocrine carcinomas, 100% of lymphomas and 100% of other malignant tumours were correctly subclassified in the final cytopathological diagnosis. The agreement between preliminary diagnosis and final cytopathological diagnosis was 77.2%.Conclusion:  With use of on‐site cytopathological evaluation and combined use of CS and CB, the diagnostic accuracy of liver tumours approaches 100% and also significantly improve diagnostic and subtyping accuracy of liver malignancies.
Diagnosing amyloid goitre with thyroid aspiration biopsy
Authors: Özdemir B. H. , Uyar P. , Özdemir F. N. 
Published: September 2006

Objective:  The aim of the study was to evaluate the value of fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid as a tool for diagnosing amyloid goitre and assess how amyloidosis affects thyroid tissue and thyroid function.Methods:  Clinical and laboratory evaluation of 50 patients with secondary systemic amyloidosis was done, and goitre was found in 38 of them. All 38 patients underwent thyroid aspiration biopsy. Tissue samples were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, May‐Grünwald–Giemsa, crystal violet and Congo red.Results:  Of the 38 cases of amyloid goitre, 10 showed euthyroid sick syndrome, two showed primary hyperthyroidism, two showed hypothyroidism and one showed subacute thyroiditis. The serum levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid‐stimulating hormone were normal in the remaining patients. Thirty‐five of the 38 patients (92%) showed amyloidosis after thyroid aspiration. One of these patients had papillary carcinoma in addition to amyloid goitre. Ten patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy, and one patient underwent total thyroidectomy after aspiration. Microscopic evaluation revealed that the thyroid parenchyma in all patients was largely replaced with amyloid and adipose tissue.Conclusion:  Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid is a valuable and sensitive method for diagnosing amyloid goitre, especially because it is a safe and easily performed procedure. Further, amyloid goitre has no significant influence on thyroid function even when it causes extensive parenchyma replacement.
Acute and chronic hypoxia as well as 7‐day recovery from chronic hypoxia affects the distribution of pulmonary mast cells and their MMP‐13 expression in rats
Authors: Vajner Luděk , Vytášek Richard , Lachmanová Věra , Uhlík Jiří , Konrádová Václava , Novotná Jana , Hampl Václav , Herget Jan 
Published: September 2006

SummaryChronic hypoxia results in pulmonary hypertension due to vasoconstriction and structural remodelling of peripheral lung blood vessels. We hypothesize that vascular remodelling is initiated in the walls of prealveolar pulmonary arteries by collagenolytic metalloproteinases (MMP) released from activated mast cells. Distribution of mast cells and their expression of interstitial collagenase, MMP‐13, in lung conduit, small muscular, and prealveolar arteries was determined quantitatively in rats exposed for 4 and 20 days to hypoxia as well as after 7‐day recovery from 20‐day hypoxia (10% O2). Mast cells were identified using Toluidine Blue staining, and MMP‐13 expression was detected using monoclonal antibody. After 4, but not after 20 days of hypoxia, a significant increase in the number of mast cells and their MMP‐13 expression was found within walls of prealveolar arteries. In rats exposed for 20 days, MMP‐13 positive mast cells accumulated within the walls of conduit arteries and subpleurally. In recovered rats, MMP‐13 positive mast cells gathered at the prealveolar arterial level as well as in the walls of small muscular arteries; these mast cells stayed also in the conduit part of the pulmonary vasculature. These data support the hypothesis that perivascular pulmonary mast cells contribute to the vascular remodelling in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats by releasing interstitial collagenase.
Differences in the quantitative and qualitative performance of a calcium‐specific food frequency questionnaire across age and sex
Authors: Magkos F. , Manios Y. , Babaroutsi E. , Sidossis L. S. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjective  To examine putative differences in the quantitative and qualitative performance of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing dietary calcium intake across age and sex in the Greek population.Materials and methods  A total of 351 children (189 girls and 162 boys, aged 11.9 ± 1.2 years), 260 adults (192 women and 68 men, aged 29.6 ± 2.7 years) and 390 elderly individuals (317 women and 73 men, aged 68.6 ± 4.6 years) were recruited. Estimates of calcium intake from the 30‐item FFQ were compared with those from a multi‐pass 24‐h recall.Results  The FFQ significantly underestimated mean calcium intake in all age groups and both sexes (P < 0.05). The magnitude of underestimation, however, was greater in adults (−207 ± 344 mg day−1), less in the elderly (−137 ± 310 mg day−1) and even less in children (−74 ± 340 mg day−1; P < 0.025), with no differences between sexes. Calcium intakes by the two methods were positively and significantly correlated in all study groups (r = 0.536–0.739, P < 0.001). Cohen's weighted kappa statistic ranged from 0.39 to 0.57, indicating moderate agreement between the two methods. The 95% limits of agreement were comparably wide across age and sex (boys: −762, 585 mg day−1; girls: −747, 624 mg day−1; adult men: −972, 505 mg day−1; adult women: −867, 412 mg day−1; elderly men: −858, 486 mg day−1; elderly women: −732, 480 mg day−1). A significant association between age, sex and the classification of individuals as true/false positive/negative was detected (P < 0.001), implying that sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the FFQ were not independent of the age and sex of the participants. Gross misclassification by the FFQ ranged from 0% to 4.2%, whereas 75.3–87.3% of the subjects were correctly classified. In this respect, the FFQ performed similarly across the study groups (P = 0.065). Without controlling for age, however, gross misclassification appeared to be higher in females than in males (3.2% versus 0.7%, respectively, P = 0.048).Conclusions  There may be several significant differences in the quantitative and qualitative performance of a calcium‐specific FFQ across age and sex. This should be taken into account when attempting to evaluate dietary calcium intake in men and women or in different age groups, as some of the differences between study groups may actually be due to the different response of these groups to the FFQ.
Unidentified under‐nutrition: dietary intake and anthropometric indices in a residential care home population
Authors: Leslie W. S. , Lean M. E. J. , Woodward M. , Wallace F. A. , Hankey C. R. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBackground  Research investigating the nutritional status of older people in residential care homes is scant.Objective  To determine the anthropometric measures and dietary intakes of older people in this setting as a basis for future intervention studies.Methods  Dietary intake was assessed using 3‐day‐weighed food records, nutritional status was evaluated using anthropometric measurements (knee height to predict standing height, and body weight). Catering provision was assessed using a computer‐based menu assessment tool (CORA).Results  Mean body mass index (BMI) for the 34 participants was 22.2 kg m2 (range 14.5–34.4). Six participants (17.6%) had a BMI ≤18.5 kg m2 with a further seven identified as having a BMI >18.5 but <20 kg m2. Only two subjects with BMI <18.5 kg m2 were prescribed oral supplements. In both men and women, recorded mean energy intakes were below current estimated average requirements by 24% and 22% respectively.Conclusion  Despite adequate food provision, under‐nutrition was prevalent and, in the majority of cases, unidentified and untreated. A larger study is warranted to investigate whether improved nutritional intake is achievable through dietary modification. These data indicate that a sample size of around 60, with 90% power and at the 5% significance level, is required to detect a difference of 1674 kJ between groups of residents in an intervention study following a cluster randomized design.
Effects on mortality of abciximab in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention including stent implantation
Authors: TORNVALL P. , NILSSON T. , LAGERQVIST B. 
Published: September 2006

Abstract.Objectives.  To investigate the effects of abciximab on mortality in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) including stent implantation.Design.  Meta‐analysis of three selected randomized studies and analysis of data from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR).Subjects.  Pooled data from randomized studies containing in total 1736 patients undergoing PCI with stent implantation because of STEMI with duration between symptom and treatment <12 h, and 7436 patients from SCAAR treated with PCI because of STEMI (52% treated with abciximab) in Sweden 2000–2004.Results.  Analyses of pooled data showed that abciximab was associated with a decreased risk of reinfarction [odds ratio (OR) 0.38] and urgent target vessel revascularization (OR 0.38) at 30 days. No effect was seen on mortality at 30 days or 6 months. Multivariate analysis of data from SCAAR showed that abciximab reduced the risk of death during 14 months of follow‐up (hazard ratio 0.82).Conclusions.  The results are encouraging and support the ACC/AHA and ESC recommendation to use abciximab in treatment of STEMI with PCI including stent implantation. Considering that the pooled results from previous trials showed no effect of abciximab on mortality and the registry part of the present study was observational, the results encourage carrying out new randomized studies of abciximab in STEMI treated with PCI, including stent implantation, with sufficient size and length of follow‐up.
The solution structure of the invasive tip complex from Afa/Dr fibrils
Authors: Cota Ernesto , Jones Celine , Simpson Peter , Altroff Harri , Anderson Kirstine L. , du Merle Laurence , Guignot Julie , Servin Alain , Le Bouguénec Chantal , Mardon Helen , Matthews Stephen 
Published: September 2006

SummaryAfa/Dr family of adhesins are produced by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains that are especially prevalent in chronic diarrhoeal and recurrent urinary tract infections. Most notably, they are found in up to 50% of cystitis cases in children and 30% of pyelonephritis in pregnant women. Afa/Dr adhesins are capped surface fibrils that mediate recognition of the host and subsequent bacterial internalization. Using the newly solved three‐dimensional structure of the minimal invasive complex (AfaDE) combined with biochemical and cellular assays, we reveal the architecture of the fibrillar cap and identify a novel mode of synergistic integrin recognition.
SI14 Stripped Red Cells–Efforts to Eliminate A and B Antigens from the Blood Supply
Authors: Olsson M. L. 
Published: September 2006

Eliminating the risk for ABO‐incompatible transfusion errors and simplifying blood logistics by creating an ABO‐universal blood inventory is a challenging idea but not a new one. In the early 1980s Goldstein and co‐workers at the New York Blood Centre pioneered the field of enzymatic conversion of blood group B red blood cells (RBC) to group O. They used native or recombinant α‐galactosidase from green coffee beans to remove the immunodominant galactose residues terminally located in the carbohydrate chains found on group B RBC. These enzyme‐converted O (ECO) RBC survived normally in the circulation of individuals independent of the blood group of the recipient. Small infusions were escalated to single, multiple and repeated RBC units. A successful phase II clinical trial in patients was reported in 2000 by Kruskall et al. However, economically unfavourable doses of enzyme were required to convert a unit of blood due to the low pH optimum of the enzyme. Conversion of blood group A cells was never achieved due to lack of A‐converting enzymes working at RBC‐friendly conditions. Also, the chemical nature of group A antigens is more complex due to the A1/A2 subgroups. Following screening of >2500 microorganisms we recently identified a novel family of bacterial exoglycosidases with specificities for the blood group A or B antigens and remarkably improved kinetic properties. Enzymatically converted group A and B RBC type as group O and can now be achieved under cost‐efficient and optimised conditions including neutral pH and room temperature incubation. Clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ECO RBC are currently ongoing. Of the different strategies envisioned to create a universal blood component supply, the ECO concept is the only one for which clinical trials in humans have been performed. The presentation will review the current status of this exciting technology and its potential for introduction in the clinical component preparation laboratory. The speaker is a Visiting Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA and also a scientific consultant to the R&D biotech company ZymeQuest, Inc., Beverly, MA, USA. He gratefully acknowledges the significant and dedicated work performed by numerous members of the ECO team at Copenhagen University, Harvard Medical School, Lund University Hospital Blood Centre and the scientific staff at ZymeQuest.
SI16 Standardising the Red Cell Dose: Pros and Cons
Authors: Prowse C. 
Published: September 2006

Unlike other prescription medicines, blood components are issued in variable doses. For example, last year's SNBTS data indicates a mean 55 g haemoglobin in additive red cell product but with a range from 36 to 88 g. With the advent of metered anticoagulant addition it is possible to collect donations to a given dose of Hb rather than a fixed volume using various apheresis equipment or the Macopharma ABC machine. Hogman and others have advocated that there would be advantages in providing red cells as a standard dose product, while Arslan has shown it may be possible to match red cell dose to patient size. Since patients as well as product vary in size at present pursuing a standard dose may have less impact than hoped. The usual rule of thumb that a single unit of red cells transfused to an adult should result in an increment in circulating haemoglobin of 1 g dL‐1 will be assessed against a range of patient blood volumes and the likely impact of a reduction in dose variation discussed.References  Hogman C.F. & Meryman H.T. (2006) Red blood cells intended for transfusion: quality criteria revisited. Transfusion, 46, 137–42.Arslan O, Toprak S, Arat M & Kayalak Y. (2004) Hb content‐based transfusion policy successfully reduces the number of RBC units transfused. Transfusion, 44, 485–8.
YS01 Protective Effect of HLA‐B57 on HCV Genotype 2 Infection in a West African Population
Authors: Chuang W. C. 
Published: September 2006

Background  Recovery from Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered infrequent (<20%) in western populations but reaches 50% in West Africa where genotype 2 infection is predominant (Candotti J Virol 2003; 77: 7914).Aim  To investigate cellular immune responses as alternative diagnostic of HCV infection and the possible involvement of viral or host genetic factors in recovery.Methods  Samples from 104 Ghanaian blood donors screened with anti‐HCV rapid tests and enzyme immunoassay were collected between 2000 and 2005. HCV antibody screening was confirmed using genotype 2 recombinant core, E2 and NS3 proteins by Western blot. HCV viral load and genotype were determined. Cellular response to recombinant HCV genotype 2 proteins was tested by IFN gamma ELISpot on frozen cells. HLA genotype was determined by sequence specific oligonucleotide probes.Results  A total of 104 donors were stratified in 37 chronic, 35 recovered infections and 32 false positive. 81% of subjects with chronic infections with RNA detected carried genotype 2 HCV RNA. Cellular immune response was investigated in 35 frozen peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples suitable for interferon‐gamma ELISpot assay. 12 confirmed recovered, one chronically infected and no false positive controls reacted to at least one recombinant protein. The magnitude of response was considerably higher in recovered cases. HLA‐B*57 was significantly more frequent in the group which had recovered from HCV infection compared with chronically infected subjects (P < 0.01, OR = 8.02). This allele is significantly more frequent in West Africa than in Europe or North America.Discussion and conclusions  Cases classified as recovered by serological means were confirmed by the presence of T‐cells stimulated by viral proteins. Genotype 2 HCV tends to have lower viral load and better response to anti‐viral treatment suggesting that the local genotype might be more susceptible to immune control. However, genetic factors of the host might also influence the clinical outcome. It could be hypothesised that HLA‐B*5703 is the HLA molecule most efficient at presenting peptides from genotype 2 HCV in this population.
YS04 Recombinant Mini‐Β3 Integrin Fragments for the Detection of HPA Antibodies
Authors: Stafford P. , Ghevaert C. , Campbell K. , Smith G. , Williamson L. , Huntington J. , Watkins N. , Ouwehand W. 
Published: September 2006

Background  The β3 integrin [Glycoprotein (GP) IIIa] gene is highly polymorphic and encodes eight of the Human Platelet Antigen (HPA) systems. HPA immunisation is of clinical relevance in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT), post‐transfusion purpura (PTP) and platelet refractoriness. However, the current methods of antibody detection are cumbersome and rely upon the use of platelets from genotyped donors. In the case of the rare HPA antigens, obtaining donor platelets is particularly problematic. We therefore set out to develop an antibody screening assay that uses recombinant, soluble β3‐integrin fragments expressing the HPA‐1, –4, –6, –7, –10, –11 and –16 epitopes.Methods  A total of four integrin fragments of different lengths (ΔSDL, ΔβA, PSI‐Hybrid and PSI) were designed using structural data and expressed in Drosophila S2 cells. HPA‐1a (33) and HPA‐1b (P33) forms of all four proteins were expressed as were the fragments ΔSDL‐4b and ΔSDL‐SuperRare, the latter two for the detection of HPA‐4b and the rare HPA antigens (HPA‐6, 7, 10, 11 and 16) respectively. The recombinant proteins were then screened for reactivity with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and polyclonal antisera containing anti‐HPA in an ELISA based assay.Results  The reactivity pattern seen with murine mAbs Y2/51, SZ21 and CRC54 was as expected. Two of three human monoclonal HPA‐1a antibodies (19–7, 23–15, both from a PTP patient) reacted with the four L33 fragments but the third (CamTran007, derived from a NAIT patient) only reacted with the ΔSDL‐L33 and ΔβA‐L33 fragments, defining an epitope split. The reactivity of both potency (NIBSC‐03/152) and sensitivity (NIBSC‐93/710) standards for anti‐HPA‐1a detection were comparable or better than those seen by MAIPA. In addition, samples from 132 NAIT patients with anti‐HPA‐1a [15 with cerebral haemorrhage (CH), 49 with platelet counts <20 × 109 L−1 but no CH, 35 with counts ≥ 20 × 109 L−1 and 33 with antenatal treatment] were tested. Anti‐HPA‐1a was detected in 126 samples including all CH cases. The reactivity patterns against the four different β3‐integrin fragments did not correlate with clinical outcome. Finally, mini‐β3 integrins Δ SDL‐4b and ΔSDL‐SuperRare allowed the detection of 14 of the 15 anti‐HPA samples tested (5 HPA‐4a, 5 HPA‐4b, 1 HPA‐6b, 1 HPA‐7b and 2 of 3 HPA‐11b).Conclusions  Recombinant fragments of the β3‐integrin expressing HPA antigens can be used to successfully detect platelet alloantibodies. These fragments with be of use in the screening and diagnosis of suspected cases of NAIT.