The objective of this study was to develop and validate an open-source digital pathology tool, QuPath, to automatically quantify CD138-positive bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs).
We analysed CD138-scanned slides in QuPath. In the initial training phase, manual positive and negative cell counts were performed in representative areas of 10 bone marrow biopsies. Values from the manual counts were used to fine-tune parameters to detect BMPCs, using the positive cell detection and neural network (NN) classifier functions. In the testing phase, whole-slide images in an additional 40 cases were analysed. Output from the NN classifier was compared with two pathologist's estimates of BMPC percentage.
The training set included manual counts ranging from 2403 to 17 287 cells per slide, with a median BMPC percentage of 13% (range 3.1%-80.7%). In the testing phase, the quantification of plasma cells by image analysis correlated well with manual counting, particularly when restricted to BMPC percentages of <30% (Pearson's r=0.96, p<0.001). Concordance between the NN classifier and the pathologist whole-slide estimates was similarly good, with an intraclass correlation of 0.83 and a weighted kappa for the NN classifier of 0.80 with the first rater and 0.90 with the second rater. This was similar to the weighted kappa between the two human raters (0.81).
This represents a validated digital pathology tool to assist in automatically and reliably counting BMPC percentage on CD138-stained slides with an acceptable error rate.
This represents a validated digital pathology tool to assist in automatically and reliably counting BMPC percentage on CD138-stained slides with an acceptable error rate.
Clear cells formed due to depositions of glycogen or lipids in the cytoplasm commonly occur in various tissues. Adipophilin (ADP), a lipid regulatory protein, is closely related to lipid droplets. This study aims to examine adipophilin expression in clear cells of various skin lesions.
ADP expression was examined using immunohistochemistry in 108 sections from 15 skin lesion types with clear cell histology, namely, sebaceoma (n=16), sebaceous adenoma (n=3), sebaceous carcinoma (n=12), xanthomata cutis (n=10), xanthogranuloma (n=8), Paget's disease (n=10), Bowen disease (n=10), hidradenoma (n=9), atypical lipoma (n=5), superficial lipomatous nevus (n=5), metastatic renal cell carcinoma (n=5), squamous cell carcinoma (n=4), seborrheic keratosis (n=4), dermatofibroma (n=4) and clear cell sarcoma (n=3).
ADP was not expressed in Bowen disease, hidradenoma or seborrheic keratosis. Four expression patterns, foamy, reticular, granular and punctate, were summarised based on their expression in clear cells. Diffeclear cell histology, especially in some lesions with characteristic labelling.
Fibromatosis-like spindle cell carcinomas (FLSCCs) are rare metaplastic breast cancers (MBCs) that are characterised by bland spindle cells in a collagenous stroma. Although some MBCs are highly malignant, FLSCCs have indolent behaviour with low potential for lymph node or distant metastasis. Owing to their rarity, there are limited genomic data on FLSCCs. In this study, we analysed the clinicopathological features and molecular characteristics of four FLSCCs to elucidate the pathogenesis of these rare tumours.
Four pure FLSCCs were sequenced by DIAN (Hangzhou Lab) using a 324-gene platform (FoundationOne CDx) with licensed technologies. The results showed that most FLSCCs harboured the pathogenic H1047R mutation in
(3/4, 75%) and the -124C>T mutation in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (
) promoter (3/4, 75%). No copy number variations were observed in any cases in our study.
Our study showed that
and
promoter mutations were common genetic features of FLSCCs. These findings contribute to our understanding of FLSCCs biology.
Our study showed that PIK3CA and TERT promoter mutations were common genetic features of FLSCCs. These findings contribute to our understanding of FLSCCs biology.
A growing body of evidence suggests that ethnicity and race influence vitamin B
metabolism and status yet clinical awareness of this is poor, causing doubts regarding diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, deficiency and insufficiency cut-offs are universally applied for this test in most diagnostic settings. The objective of this study was to assess serum vitamin B
concentrations in Black, Asian and White primary care patients in London, UK, particularly in patients of Black or Black British ethnic origin and establish if there is a need for specific reference ranges.
Serum B
results from 49 414 patients were processed between January 2018 and November 2019 using the Architect assay (Abbott Diagnostics) at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK. Age, sex and ethnicity data were collected from the laboratory Health Informatics Team.
Black patients (n=13 806) were found to have significantly higher serum vitamin B
concentration across all age groups and both sexes, especially Nigerian patients (median B
505 pmol/L,IQR 362-727, n=891), compared with Asian and White ethnic groups (p<0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the Black or Black British ethnic group had the strongest association with elevated serum B
(>652 pmol/L) (adjusted OR 3.38, 95% CI 3.17 to 3.61, p<0.0001).
It is likely that a combination of genetic and acquired/environmental factors are responsible for the ethnic differences in serum B
. This suggests that there is a need for ethnic-specific reference ranges with indications for the incorporation of age and sex too.
It is likely that a combination of genetic and acquired/environmental factors are responsible for the ethnic differences in serum B12. This suggests that there is a need for ethnic-specific reference ranges with indications for the incorporation of age and sex too.
The aim of this study was to determine and compare the physicochemical stability of two carmustine-containing medicinal products licensed and marketed in Europe as Carmustin Obvius (Medac GmbH) and Carmubris (Tillomed Pharma GmbH). Reconstituted stock solutions and diluted ready-to-administer infusion solutions of the two products were investigated.
Reconstituted carmustine stock solutions (3.3 mg/mL) and ready-to-administer infusion solutions (0.2 mg/mL, 1.0 mg/mL) prepared in prefilled 5% glucose injection solution PP/PE bags were stored at 22°C or 2-8°C over a maximum period of 66 hours protected from light. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Azacitidine(Vidaza).html Samples were taken immediately after reconstitution or dilution and after 3.5, 6, 8.5 and 11 hours when stored at 22°C or after (12), 24, 48 and 60 hours when stored at 2-8°C, followed by 3- and 6-hour storage at 22°C (60+3 hours, 60+6 hours). Physicochemical stability was determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, measurement of pH, osmolarity and inspection for visible particles or colour changes.