Ions and nanoparticles of Ag and/or Cd metals in a model aquatic microcosm: Effects on the abundance, diversity and functionality of the sediment bacteriome.

Metals can be adsorbed on particulate matter, settle in sediments and cause alterations in aquatic environments. This study assesses the effect of Ag and/or Cd, both in ionic and nanoparticle (NP) forms, on the microbiome of sediments. For that purpose, aquatic controlled-microcosm experiments were exposed to an environmentally relevant and at tenfold higher doses of each form of the metals. Changes in the bacteriome were inferred by 16S rDNA sequencing. Ionic Ag caused a significant decrease of several bacterial families, whereas the effect was opposite when mixed with Cd, e.g., Desulfuromonadaceae family; in both cases, the bacteriome functionalities were greatly affected, particularly the nitrogen and sulfur metabolism. Compared to ionic forms, metallic NPs produced hardly any change in the abundance of microbial families, although the α-biodiversity of the bacteriome was reduced, and the functionality altered, when exposed to the NPs´ mixture. Our goal is to understand how metals, in different forms and combinations, released into the environment may endanger the health of aquatic ecosystems. This work may help to understand how aquatic metal pollution alters the structure and functionality of the microbiome and biogeochemical cycles, and how these changes can be addressed.

The cellular landscape of the endochondral bone during the transition to extrauterine life.

The cellular complexity of the endochondral bone underlies its essential and pleiotropic roles during organismal life. While the adult bone has received significant attention, we still lack a deep understanding of the perinatal bone cellulome. Here, we have profiled the full composition of the murine endochondral bone at the single-cell level during the transition from fetal to newborn life and in comparison with the adult tissue, with particular emphasis on the mesenchymal compartment. The perinatal bone contains different fibroblastic clusters with blastema-like characteristics in organizing and supporting skeletogenesis, angiogenesis and hematopoiesis. Our data also suggest dynamic inter- and intra-compartment interactions, as well as a bone marrow milieu that seems prone to anti-inflammation, which we hypothesize is necessary to ensure the proper program of lymphopoiesis and the establishment of central and peripheral tolerance in early life. Our study provides an integrative roadmap for the future design of genetic and cellular functional assays to validate cellular interactions and lineage relationships within the perinatal bone.

Results of a strategy based on clinical observation of newborns at risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Serial clinical observation of asymptomatic newborns at risk of early-onset sepsis is an alternative option for which there is limited scientific evidence. AIMS: To evaluate the rate of protocol compliance, the impact on blood tests, percentage of hospitalizations and subsequent procedures, and course of diagnosed early-onset sepsis cases of a protocol based on serial clinical observation. METHODS: Retrospective observational study comparing an 18-month period under this protocol against a previous protocol based on laboratory tests. SUBJECTS: 6895 asymptomatic newborns with over 35 weeks of gestation. OUTCOME MEASURES: number of evaluations performed on each subject at risk, percentage of patients undergoing blood draws and hospitalization rates. RESULTS: Some of the evaluations included in the protocol were omitted in 51.6 % of the newborns undergoing the physical examinations. The implementation of this new approach was associated with a decrease in the percentage of patients undergoing blood draws from 16.8 % to 0.7 % (p < 0.001) with no differences in the progression of the five cases of sepsis studied in each period. The serial clinical observation protocol was associated with a significant increase in hospitalizations for suspected infection, although with no difference in the rate of lumbar punctures performed or antibiotic treatments administered. CONCLUSION: Compliance with the serial clinical observation protocol can be difficult. This approach often detects newborns with abnormal clinical data that are not explained by early-onset sepsis. Clinical observation is a safe option that minimizes the rate of blood draws.

When is Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Useful in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ? The Experience at a Latin American Cancer Center.

Introduction Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accounts for 15% of breast cancers. Surgery is the main treatment, and the use of sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) is restricted to patients at risk of infiltration, which is estimated to be around 26%. Materials and methods Aimed at evaluating the benefit of SLNB in patients with DCIS at the Breast and Soft Tissue Functional Unit of the National Cancer Institute (INC for its initials in Spanish), a descriptive observational study of a retrospective cases series was conducted between August 1, 2013, and September 30, 2018. Results A total of 40 patients with a median age of 57 years were included in the study; 62.5% of them underwent mastectomy with SLNB, and the remaining 37.5% underwent conservative surgery with SLNB. 100% of sentinel nodes were identified, by using lymphoscintigraphy in 95%. Sentinel node was positive in four patients (10%), three of whom had infiltration in the surgical specimen reported. With a follow-up of 49 months, only one patient had a local relapse. None of the patients had axillary or distant recurrence. Conclusions SLNB in DCIS should be limited to patients with risk factors for infiltration (tumor size greater than 3 cm, comedo-type histology, and high-grade DCIS), and patients with an indication for mastectomy. Its percentage of complications is low, and a high identification percentage in surgical groups with adequate training.

Meta-omic evaluation of bacterial microbial community structure and activity for the environmental assessment of soils: overcoming protein extraction pitfalls.

Microorganisms play unique, essential and integral roles in the biosphere. This work aims to assess the utility of soil's metaomics for environmental diagnosis. Doñana National Park (DNP) was selected as a natural lab since it contains a strictly protected core that is surrounded by numerous threats of pollution. Culture-independent high-throughput molecular tools were used to evaluate the alterations of the global structure and metabolic activities of the microbiome. 16S rRNA sequencing shows lower bacterial abundance and diversity in areas historically exposed to contamination that surround DNP. For metaproteomics, an innovative post-alkaline protein extraction protocol was developed. After NaOH treatment, successive washing with Tris-HCl buffer supplemented with glycerol was essential to eliminate interferences. Starting from soils with different physicochemical characteristics, the method renders proteins with a remarkable resolution on SDS-PAGE gels. The proteins extracted were analysed by using an in-house database constructed from the rRNA data. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 2182 non-redundant proteins with 135 showing significant differences in relative abundance in the soils around DNP. Relevant global biological processes were altered in response to the environmental changes, such as protective and antioxidant mechanisms, translation, folding and homeostasis of proteins, membrane transport and aerobic respiratory metabolism.

Data on litterfall production and meteorology at an old-growth tropical dry forest in northwestern Mexico.

Chronological measurements of litterfall production can be used for understanding ecosystem dynamics such as net primary production and carbon cycling in highly seasonal ecosystems such as tropical dry forests (TDF). This paper presents data on litterfall production and meteorology in an old-growth TDF. The data was generated within the Monte Mojino Reserve located in the Sierra de Alamos - Rio Cuchujaqui Natural Protected Area in northwestern México. For litterfall collection, twenty randomly placed litterfall traps were installed to collect monthly litterfall production across four full growing seasons (48 monthly collections). Meteorological data were obtained from an automatic micrometeorological station that recorded data in situ from January 2013 to March 2019. The database includes litterfall production [g m-2 month-1], monthly rainfall [mm], air temperature [°C], relative humidity [%] and photosynthetic active radiation [µmol m-2 s-1].

Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of the larynx: a case report / Sarcoma miofibroblástico de bajo grado en laringe: reporte de un caso

Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma is a rare neoplasm, with an incidence of less than 1% and a predilection for the head and neck area. We report a case occurring in a 55 year-old male and in an unusual location: the anterior commissure of the larynx. The patient presented with short-term dysphonia. A nodular lesion on the right vocal cord was detected and a biopsy and subsequent resection of the mass was performed. The nodule consisted of a spindle cell fascicular proliferation in a dense collagenous matrix. Moderate atypia, mitotic activity (>10X10HPF) and a proliferation index of 10% were noted. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for vimentin, muscle-specific actin (HHF35) and negativity fordesmin, ALK, p53, cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, 5/6 and 18), EMA, GFAP, S100, CD34, CD68 and CD99 (AU)

El sarcoma miofibroblástico de bajo grado es una neoplasia rara con predilección por cabeza y cuello, con una incidencia menor del 1%. Reportamos el caso de un varón de 55 años, en comisura anterior de laringe, un sitio infrecuente. El paciente aquejaba disfonía de corta duración, detectándose un nódulo en cuerda vocal derecha, que fue extirpado. Una proliferación celular fusiforme, fasciculada, sobre una matriz colagenosa densa. Atipia moderada, actividad mitótica (>10× CGA), con un índice de proliferación celular del 10%, fue observada. La celularidad demostró positividad para vimentina, actina músculo específica, con negatividad para desmina, ALK, p53, citoqueratinas (AE1/AE3, 5/6 y 18), EMA, PAGF, S100, CD34, CD68 y CD99 (AU)

Foreign Body Granulomas.

A large list of foreign substances may penetrate the skin and induce a foreign body granulomatous reaction. These particles can enter the skin by voluntary reasons or be caused by accidental inclusion of external substances secondary to cutaneous trauma. In these cases, foreign body granulomas are formed around such disparate substances as starch, cactus bristles, wood splinters, suture material, pencil lead, artificial hair, or insect mouthparts. The purpose of this article is to update dermatologists, pathologists, and other physicians on the most recent etiopathogenesis, clinical presentations, systemic associations, evaluation, and evidence-based management concerning foreign body granulomatous reactions of skin.

Sebocyte-like cell primary cutaneous melanoma: a rare cytologic variant of malignant melanoma.

Although rising incidence rates of cutaneous melanoma have been observed during the last 4 decades in white populations worldwide, the sebocyte-like cell variant has been described only twice in the literature to date. In our case, a 64-year-old man presented for evaluation of a changing pigmented lesion on the left upper back. Excision of the lesion revealed an invasive melanoma with a Breslow depth of 3.3 mm. Microscopic sections showed a predominantly dermal-based tumor composed of sheets and nests of enlarged epithelioid melanocytes, most of which showed an uncommon phenotype with multivacuolated cytoplasms and scalloped nuclei, features that gave them a strong resemblance to mature sebocytes. The lesional cells expressed S100 protein, Melan-A, and p16, whereas adipophilin was positive only within the sebocyte-like component of the neoplasm and showed focal nonspecific staining. The patient's sentinel lymph node biopsy was positive for micrometastases, although a subsequent position emission tomography scan was unremarkable. Sebocyte-like melanocytes are a rare distinctive type of melanocytes that can be found mostly in benign but also in malignant melanocytic lesions. They usually present focally within the lesions and, therefore, do not represent a diagnostic problem in nevus or primary cutaneous melanoma. However, when sebocyte-like melanocytes are the main cellular component of a melanocytic lesion or when they are found in the context of metastatic melanoma, they may create a potential diagnostic pitfall; for this reason, awareness of this cell type is important.

Merkel cell carcinoma arising within a poroma: report of two cases.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has been reported in association with other types of cutaneous neoplasms within the same lesion, including squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, actinic keratosis, follicular cysts, trichoblastoma and lentigo maligna, among others. However, the association of MCC and sweat gland tumors has never been described in the literature. We report two unique cases of MCC that developed within cutaneous poromas. A 56-year-old male (Patient 1) and an 81-year-old female (Patient 2) presented with nodules on the upper arm and lower back, respectively. Histopathologic study of both cases revealed a tumor in the dermis composed of poroid and cuticular cells intermingled with a proliferation of small round cells that showed characteristic histopathological and immunohistochemical features of MCC. In both cases, the two neoplasms were tightly admixed and distinct, suggesting that the MCC could have developed within a previously existing poroma. No morphological features of transition between the two tumors were seen. Neoplastic cells of MCC expressed immunoreactivity for chromogranin, synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, CAM 5.2 and cytokeratin 20, the last two markers showing the characteristic paranuclear dot-like pattern. In contrast, the poroma cells only expressed cytokeratin MNF116. Metastatic deposits were not identified in the regional lymph nodes or distantly.

Metastatic melanoma in association with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus in an adult: controversial CGH findings.

Giant congenital melanocytic nevi (GCMNs) represent a distress to patients for 2 reasons: one is disfigurement, and the other is the increased risk of developing secondary melanocytic tumors, such as benign proliferative nodules (BPNs) and malignant melanoma (MM). BPN present as a rapid growth nodule arising within a congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) that often ulcerates, occurs in children younger than 2 years of age. BPNs arising within a CMN are exceedingly rare after childhood, and very few cases have been described in adults. Despite the worrisome clinical and histologic findings of BPN, most laboratory investigations seem to support their benignity. The distinction between MM and BPN is extremely important, but the histopathology of BPN of GCMN can be a challenge to differentiate from MM. In the recent years, molecular tests that investigate DNA copy number alterations such as fluorescence in situ hybridization and comparative genomic hybridization have shown promise to help guide the diagnosis of ambiguous melanocytic proliferations arising within CMNs. We report the case of a 22-year-old woman with a nodule arising in a GCMN and with an axillary mass suggesting a nodal metastasis of melanoma, and discuss the unusual clinical, histopathologic, and molecular findings that make this case particularly interesting.

Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of cutaneous viral infections- part II: cutaneous viral infections by parvoviruses, poxviruses, paramyxoviridae, picornaviridae, retroviruses and filoviruses.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous viral infections are increasing in recent years, particularly in immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVE: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) provides a rapid and helpful tool that can be applied to confirm the diagnosis of specific viral infections that may be difficult to diagnose with certainty using routine microscopy alone. METHODS: Several immunostains that are useful in histopathology have been reviewed and tested in cutaneous samples of viral infections. Emphasis is placed on new stains and novel uses of existing stains. RESULTS: This article is an up-to-date overview of the potential uses of IHC in the histopathologic diagnosis of cutaneous viral infections by parvoviruses, polyomaviruses, poxviruses, paramyxoviridae, picornaviridae, retroviruses, and filoviruses. LIMITATIONS: Specific monoclonal antibodies are commercially available only for some members of these virus families. CONCLUSIONS: IHC may assist dermatopathologists to appropriately diagnose viral infections by parvoviruses, polyomaviruses, poxviruses, paramyxoviridae, picornaviridae, retroviruses, and filoviruses.

Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of cutaneous viral infections--part I. Cutaneous viral infections by herpesviruses and papillomaviruses.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous viral infections are of increasing clinical importance, particularly in patients who are immunocompromised. OBJECTIVE: The use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the diagnosis of cutaneous infections provides a rapid morphological diagnosis and can be applied to confirm the diagnosis of specific viral infections that may be difficult to diagnose with certainty using routine microscopy alone, thus facilitating clinical decisions in patient care. METHODS: Several immunostains for specific viruses that have been useful in dermatopathology are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on new stains and novel uses of existing stains. RESULTS: This article is an up-to-date overview of the potential uses and limitations of IHC in the histopathologic diagnosis of cutaneous viral infections by herpesviruses and papillomaviruses. LIMITATIONS: Whereas specific monoclonal antibodies effectively distinguish infections by herpes simplex virus-1, herpes simplex virus-2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus, IHC does not distinguish between the 120 antigenically distinct strains of human papillomavirus. CONCLUSIONS: IHC may assist dermatopathologists to appropriately diagnose viral infections caused by herpesviruses and papillomaviruses.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia: a multicenter review of 355 patients.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, there are no large multicenter studies concerning frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) that could give clues about its pathogenesis and best treatment. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the epidemiology, comorbidities, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and therapeutic choices in a large series of patients with FFA. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included patients given the diagnosis of FFA. Clinical severity was classified based on the recession of the frontotemporal hairline. RESULTS: In all, 355 patients (343 women [49 premenopausal] and 12 men) with a mean age of 61 years (range 23-86) were included. Early menopause was detected in 49 patients (14%), whereas 46 (13%) had undergone hysterectomy. Severe FFA was observed in 131 patients (37%). Independent factors associated with severe FFA after multivariate analysis were: eyelash loss, facial papules, and body hair involvement. Eyebrow loss as the initial clinical presentation was associated with mild forms. Antiandrogens such as finasteride and dutasteride were used in 111 patients (31%), with improvement in 52 (47%) and stabilization in 59 (53%). LIMITATIONS: The retrospective design is a limitation. CONCLUSIONS: Eyelash loss, facial papules, and body hair involvement were associated with severe FFA. Antiandrogens were the most useful treatment.

Cutaneous deposits.

: The cutaneous deposition disorders are a group of unrelated conditions characterized by the accumulation of either endogenous or exogenous substances within the skin. These cutaneous deposits are substances that are not normal constituents of the skin and are laid down usually in the dermis, but also in the subcutis, in a variety of different circumstances. There are 5 broad categories of cutaneous deposits. The first group includes calcium salts, bone, and cartilage. The second category includes the hyaline deposits that may be seen in the dermis in several metabolic disorders, such as amyloidosis, gout, porphyria, and lipoid proteinosis. The third category includes various pigments, heavy metals, and complex drug pigments. The fourth category, cutaneous implants, includes substances that are inserted into the skin for cosmetic purposes. The fifth category includes miscellaneous substances, such as oxalate crystals and fiberglass. In this article, the authors review the clinicopathologic characteristics of cutaneous deposition diseases, classify the different types of cutaneous deposits, and identify all the histopathologic features that may assist in diagnosing the origin of a cutaneous deposit.