EtOH-LN cryoembedding workflow to minimize freezing artifact in frozen tissues: A pilot study in preparing tissues compatible with mass spectrometry-based spatial proteomics application.

Coolant-assisted liquid nitrogen (LN) flash freezing of frozen tissues has been widely adopted to preserve tissue morphology for histopathological annotations in mass spectrometry-based spatial proteomics techniques. However, existing coolants pose health risks upon inhalation and are expensive. To overcome this challenge, we present our pilot study by introducing the EtOH-LN workflow, which demonstrates the feasibility of using 95 % ethanol as a safer and easily accessible alternative to existing coolants for LN-based cryoembedding of frozen tissues. Our study reveals that both the EtOH-LN and LN-only cryoembedding workflows exhibit significantly reduced freezing artifacts compared to cryoembedding in cryostat (p < 0.005), while EtOH-LN (SD = 0.56) generates more consistent results compared to LN-only (SD = 1.29). We have modified a previously reported morphology restoration method to incorporate the EtOH-LN workflow, which successfully restored the tissue architecture from freezing artifacts (p < 0.05). Additional studies are required to validate the impact of the EtOH-LN workflow on the molecular profiles of tissues.

A rare presentation of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm within an amyand’s hernia: a case report

An Amyand’s hernia is characterised as the presence of the appendix in an inguinal hernial sac. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyps, an incidental Amyand’s hernia was discovered in a 75-year-old female patient. On examination, the hernia contained an appendiceal mucocele but no evidence of perforation. An open appendicectomy with tension-free mesh repair was performed for the hernia. The histopathological report of the appendix was a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN), an entity that is just as rare as an Amyand’s hernia. The patient had the right inguinal swelling for over 10 years but it was thought to be an inguinal intramuscular cyst as reported on a previous abdominal ultrasound. Mucocele of the appendix may have a benign or malignant appendiceal progress, leading to individualised diagnosis and treatment. We review an Amyand’s hernia with LAMN and discuss the asymptomatic tendency yet malignant potential of appendiceal mucoceles along with treatment strategies.