Imaging the elemental distribution within human malignant melanomas using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

The diagnosis of malignant melanoma, often an inconspicuous but highly aggressive tumor, is most commonly done by histological examination, while additional diagnostic methods on the level of elements and molecules are constantly being developed. Several studies confirmed differences in the chemical composition of healthy and tumor tissue. Our study presents the potential of the LIBS (Laser-Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy) technique as a diagnostic tool in malignant melanoma (MM) based on the quantitative changes in elemental composition in cancerous tissue. Our patient group included 17 samples of various types of malignant melanoma and one sample of healthy skin tissue as a control. To achieve a clear perception of results, we have selected two biogenic elements (calcium and magnesium), which showed a dissimilar distribution in cancerous tissue from its healthy surroundings. Moreover, we observed indications of different concentrations of these elements in different subtypes of malignant melanoma, a hypothesis that requires confirmation in a more extensive sample set. The information provided by the LIBS Imaging method could potentially be helpful not only in the diagnostics of tumor tissue but also be beneficial in broadening the knowledge about the tumor itself.

Fibromuscular dysplasia of subclavian artery: A case report and mini-review.

A case of a 40-year-old male patient with a right subclavian artery aneurysm of fibromuscular dysplasia origin is reported. The patient presented with thoracic outlet-like symptoms and underwent aneurysm resection. Microscopic examination revealed intimal and medial fibroplasia. Additional cases of fibromuscular dysplasia at this rare location are reviewed, indicating a male and right-sided predominance. The most frequent clinicopathological manifestation was an aneurysm, with the histopathological pattern characterized by medial fibroplasia. Treatment modalities included the use of either graft prosthesis or end-to-end anastomosis.

Hand2 Immunohistochemistry in the Diagnosis of Paragangliomas and Other Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

Hand2 is a core transcription factor responsible for chromaffin cell differentiation. However, its potential utility in surgical pathology has not been studied. Thus, we aimed to investigate its expression in paragangliomas, other neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), and additional non-neuroendocrine tumors. We calibrated Hand2 immunohistochemistry on adrenal medulla cells and analyzed H-scores in 46 paragangliomas (PGs), 9 metastatic PGs, 21 cauda equina neuroendocrine tumors (CENETs), 48 neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), 8 olfactory neuroblastomas (ONBs), 110 well-differentiated NETs (WDNETs), 10 adrenal cortical carcinomas, 29 adrenal cortical adenomas, 8 melanomas, 41 different carcinomas, and 10 gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Both tissue microarrays (TMAs) and whole sections (WSs) were studied. In 171 NENs, previously published data on Phox2B and GATA3 were correlated with Hand2. Hand2 was positive in 98.1% (54/55) PGs, but only rarely in WDNETs (9.6%, 10/104), CENETs (9.5%, 2/21), NECs (4.2%, 2/48), or ONBs (12.5%, 1/8). Any Hand2 positivity was 98.1% sensitive and 91.7% specific for the diagnosis of PG. The Hand2 H-score was significantly higher in primary PGs compared to Hand2-positive WDNETs (median 166.3 vs. 7.5; p < 0.0001). Metastatic PGs were positive in 88.9% (8/9). No Hand2 positivity was observed in any adrenal cortical neoplasm or other non-neuroendocrine tumors, with exception of 8/10 GISTs. Parasympathetic PGs showed a higher Hand2 H-score compared to sympathetic PGs (median H-scores 280 vs. 104, p < 0.0001). Hand2 positivity in NENs serves as a reliable marker of primary and metastatic PG, since other NENs only rarely exhibit limited Hand2 positivity.

Mitral valve rheumatoid nodule complicated by infective endocarditis.

We report a case of a 73-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis presenting with acute abdominal and back pain and rapidly developing multiorgan failure. A positive blood culture (Staphylococcus aureus, Candida species) followed by transoesophageal sonography established a diagnosis of mitral valve infective endocarditis. At the autopsy, the heart examination revealed fibrinous pericarditis and multiple small vegetations on the mitral valve. The mitral valve itself showed no significant damage. Surprisingly, the histological examination of the mitral valve showed granulomatous inflammation with central fibrinoid necrosis and peripheral palisade of histiocytes, with occasional giant cells and lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate - findings consistent with a rheumatoid nodule. Infective vegetations were overlying the nodule. Due to its relative frequency, a possibility of cardiac involvement by rheumatoid arthritis and its potential infective complications should be considered in patients with appropriate history and clinical symptoms.

New and rapid visual detection assay for Trogoderma granarium everts based on recombinase polymerase amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a.

BACKGROUND: Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts), one of the most important quarantine pests globally, is capable of causing severe infestation and huge economic loss to stored grain, and its interception rate has increased in major global trade countries over the past few years. However, difficulties remain in distinguishing this species with similar ones. In order to assist border ports and warehouses in khapra beetle's effective rapid identification as well as pest control at the early stages of monitoring or interception, we herein developed a new and rapid visual detection assay for T. granarium based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and the CRISPR/Cas12a system. RESULTS: We designed and selected the first khapra beetle-specific RPA primers and crRNA, and optimized the visualization reaction system (Cas12a/CrRNA = 100 nM/500 nM). With only a 37 °C-heat-source and a blue light torch, RPA and CRISPR/CAS12a-based visualization assays can be completed within 40 min to differentiate between khapra beetle and nine similar Dermestidae species. After DNA extraction using a kit (4-5 h) or a simple method (5 min), the specific amplicons were obtained after a 15 min RPA reaction at 37 °C, followed by a 15 min color reaction under 37 °C in dark conditions using a CRISPR/CAS12a system and a fluorescent probe (5'-FAM/3'-BHQ1 labeled). This method is ingenious to low levels of DNA (10-1 ng µL-1 ) and meets the sensitivity requirements for detecting a single khapra beetle's egg (≈0.7 mm). CONCLUSION: Our specificity and sensitivity analysis inferred that the present visualization system is effective to quickly and uniquely detect khapra beetle at room temperature (37 °C), thereby preventing this species before they spread widely. Our study is suitable for being pushed forward in storage pest management, and provides value as a reference for monitoring and identification of other pests. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Immunoreactivity of HOXB13 in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms Is a Sensitive and Specific Marker of Rectal Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors.

HoxB13 is a transcription factor involved in defining of posterior endodermal derivatives, including prostate and rectum. While it is used as a marker of prostatic adenocarcinoma, it has not been studied systematically in neuroendocrine neoplasms. Thus, we performed HoxB13 immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays and the whole sections of 232 neuroendocrine neoplasms. These included 34 paragangliomas (PGs), 20 cauda equina neuroendocrine tumors (CENETs), 123 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNETs), and 55 neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). WDNETs were additionally analyzed with SATB2, and colorectal WDNETs with CDX2 and serotonin immunohistochemistry. In total, HoxB13 immunoreactivity was observed in 95% (19/20) CENETs, 10.6% (13/123) WDNETs, and 12.9% (7/54) NECs. No PGs were positive. Large intestine WDNETs expressed HoxB13 in 68.4% (13/19); five negative tumors originated in cecum and one in rectum. In rectum, 92.9% (13/14) WDNETs expressed HoxB13. HoxB13 was 92.9% sensitive and 100% specific, showing 100% positive predictive value for the rectal origin of WDNET. In NECs, HoxB13 was positive in 15.4% (2/13) GIT tumors and 80% (4/5) prostatic NECs, but in none of urinary bladder NECs (0/8). SATB2 was positive in 17.1% (21/123) WDNETs, including 78.9% (15/19) of colorectal WDNETs, 71.4% (5/7) appendiceal WDNETs, and 2.9% (1/34) small intestine WDNETs. All 4 SATB2-negative large bowel tumors originated in the cecum. When both markers combined, HoxB13+/SATB2+ immunoprofile was seen exclusively in rectal WDNETs (positive predictive value 100%), while HoxB13-/SATB2+ immunoprofile was highly suggestive of the appendiceal origin (positive predictive value 71.4%). Therefore, HoxB13 can be useful as an immunohistochemical marker of rectal WDNETs and prostatic NECs.

An advanced approach for rapid visual identification of Liposcelis bostrychophila (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) based on CRISPR/Cas12a combined with RPA.

Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) is a booklouse pest that is a threat to commodity storage security worldwide. Accurate and sensitive methods of L. bostrychophila on-site identification are essential prerequisites for its effective management. Evidence suggests that L. bostrychophila contains 3 intraspecific biotypes that are morphologically indistinguishable but can be discriminated at the level of mitochondrial genome organization and sequences. The traditional molecular identification methods, such as DNA barcoding and PCR-RFLP, are instrumentally demanding and time-consuming, limiting the application of the identification in the field. Therefore, this study developed a new CRISPR/Cas12a-based visual nucleic acid system based on the mitochondrial gene coding for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (nad2), combined with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) to accurately identify L. bostrychophila from 4 other common stored-product booklice, and also differentiate 3 biotypes of this species at the same time. The entire identification process could be completed at 37 °C within 20 min with high sensitivity. The system could stably detect at least 1 ng/µl of DNA template. The green fluorescence signal produced by the trans-cleaving of the single-stranded DNA reporter could be observed by the naked eye under blue light. Additionally, the suggested system combined with the crude DNA extraction method to extract DNA rapidly, enabled identification of all developmental stages of L. bostrychophila. With crude DNA, this novel diagnostic system successfully identified an unknown booklouse by holding the reaction tubes in the hand, thus can be considered as an accurate, rapid, highly sensitive, and instrument-flexible method for on-site visual identification of L. bostrychophila.

Histopathological findings of diseased ascending aortae with clinicopathological correlation - A single-centre study of 160 cases.

The most common reason for ascending aorta resection is an aneurysm or dissection. Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition in which an aneurysm is a crucial risk factor. The essential criteria for aneurysm resection include the diameter, genetic predisposition, and aortic valve disease. This study aimed to compare the histological findings in aneurysms and dissections and correlate them with clinical parameters to determine whether histopathological findings correspond with the current clinical approach. A total of 160 ascending aorta surgical specimens, separate or with an aortic valve, were collected and divided into four groups: aneurysm-tricuspid (n = 40; median 67 y), aneurysm-malformed (n = 68; median 50 y), dissection-tricuspid (n = 48; median 65.5 y), and dissection-malformed (n = 4; median 52.5 y). Male preponderance was observed in all groups; the youngest patients were in the aneurysm-malformed group. None of the specimens showed normal aortic histology. The most common finding in the aortic samples was medial degeneration, which was the most severe and most common in dissection. The mildest findings were found in the aneurysm-malformed group. Atherosclerosis was predominant and most severe in the aneurysm-tricuspid group, while only mild in both dissection groups, suggesting its protective effect against this complication. Chronic aortitis was the least common pathology, found only in the aneurysm-tricuspid group. The aortic valve was resected and examined simultaneously with the ascending aorta in 76 cases, most commonly in the aneurysm-malformed group (n = 53). Myxoid degeneration was the major finding in the tricuspid aortic valves, with calcifications in the malformed. Comparing the histopathological results with the clinical aspects, aneurysms with a malformed aortic valve seem to be managed appropriately, with the findings not reaching the severity as in patients with a tricuspid valve. In contrast, in patients with a tricuspid valve, there were more dissections than aneurysms, with a significant subset of aneurysms showing histological findings almost identical to those of dissections. Supported by histological findings, patients with a diseased ascending aorta and tricuspid aortic valve represent an underdiagnosed risk group that would benefit from earlier diagnosis and intervention to prevent dissection. There is a need to find a marker for dissection risk other than the aortic diameter.

Cardiac myxoma with atypical cell population mimicking malignancy - a diagnostic pitfall.

Herein, a case of a 45-year-old woman is reported with left atrial myxoma showing unique histological findings mimicking malignancy. For 3 months before surgery, the patient suffered from a long-standing fever of unknown etiology, malaise and weight loss; she had no history of malignancy. The CT scan revealed a tumorous mass in the left atrium. Grossly, the tumor had a smooth rounded surface with areas of haemorrhage on the cut surface. Microscopic examination revealed two distinct regions. One showed classical myxoma histology, the other atypical and highly cellular population with sarcoma-like or melanoma-like features mixed with inflammatory cells and posthemorrhagic changes. Immunohistochemically, the atypical cells expressed calretinin and CD31, analogous to the neighbouring bland myxoma cells. Negative markers included SOX10, S100, Melan A, HMB45, CD34, desmin, ERG, CK, LCA, CD68 and MDM2; SMARCB1/INI1 was retained. The proliferation index Ki67 was low, in about 1 % of atypical cells. The results suggest exaggerated reactive and degenerative changes of the myxoma cells rather than true malignant transformation. Similar case reports of cardiac myxomas and diagnostic challenges are discussed.

Evaluation of Phosphine Resistance in Populations of Sitophilus oryzae, Oryzaephilus surinamensis and Rhyzopertha dominica in the Czech Republic.

Phosphine is globally the most widely adopted fumigant for the control of storage pests. Recently, an increase in the frequency of stored-product pest resistance has been observed with significant geographical and interspecific variations. In this context, there are available data for the occurrence of resistant populations from America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, but there are few data in the case of Europe. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate phosphine efficacy in important beetle pests of stored products, i.e., Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) sampled from the Czech Republic, using a rapid diagnostic test that is based on the speed to knockdown after exposure. Apart from the standard laboratory populations, which were used as the controls, we tested 56 field populations of these three species, collected in Czech farm grain stores. The survey revealed that 57.1% of the tested field populations were classified as phosphine-susceptible, based on the knockdown method used. However, profound variations among species and populations were recorded. The species with the highest percentage of resistant populations was R. dominica (71.4% of the populations; resistance coefficient 0.5-4.1), followed by S. oryzae (57.1% of the populations; resistance coefficient 0.8-6.9), and O. surinamensis (9.5% of the populations; resistance coefficient 0.5-2.9). Regarding the intra-population variability in response to phosphine (slope of the knockdown time regression), the laboratory and slightly resistant populations of all species were homogenous, whereas the most resistant populations were strongly heterogeneous. Our data show that the occurrence of resistance in the Czech Republic is relatively widespread and covers a wide range of species, necessitating the need for the adoption of an action plan for resistance mitigation.

Transforming growth factor serum concentrations in patients with proven non-syndromic aortopathy.

Background: The mechanism underlying aortic dilatation is still unknown. Vascular dilatation is thought to be the result of progressive aortic media degeneration caused by defective vascular matrix hemostasis, including TGF-ß1 dysregulation. The goal of this study is to draw attention to the potential utility of TGF-ß1 as a diagnostic marker in non-syndromic patients with aortic dilatation. Methods: TGF-ß1 levels in plasma were measured in 50 patients who had undergone surgery and had a tricuspid or bicuspid aortic valve as well as a normal or dilated ascending aorta. A pathologist also examined thirty resected aorta samples. To specify the reference range of TGF-ß1, a control group of 40 volunteers was enrolled in this study. Results: We discovered a significant difference in TGF-ß1 levels between patients with aortic dilatation and the control group (32.5 vs. 63.92; P < 0.001), as well as between patients with non-dilated aorta but with aortic valve disease, and the control group (27.68 vs. 63.92; P < 0.001). There was no difference between the dilated ascending aorta group and the non-dilated ascending aorta group. We found a poor correlation between TGF-ß1 levels and ascending aorta diameter as well as the grade of ascending aorta histopathological abnormalities. Conclusion: TGF-ß1 concentration does not meet the criteria to be a specific marker of aortic dilatation, but it is sensitive to aortic valvulopathy-aortopathy. A larger patient cohort study is needed to confirm these findings.

Medial degeneration and atherosclerosis show discrete variance around the circumference of ascending aorta aneurysms.

Medial degeneration is the most common histological finding in ascending aortic aneurysms with lesser but significant involvement by atherosclerosis. The overall extent and severity can be potentially underrated because of their uneven distribution and macroscopic inconspicuousness of medial degeneration. This study aims to compare the distribution of degenerative and atherosclerotic lesions around ascending aorta circumference, also considering aortic valve cuspidity. We evaluated 88 cases of resected ascending aortae, 25 with a tricuspid aortic valve and 63 with a malformed aortic valve, oriented by a cardiac surgeon and sent for pathological examination. We applied the consensus documents from 2015 and 2016 for microscopic evaluation of aortic specimens. The medial degeneration and atherosclerosis were graded semi-quantitatively for each aortic quadrant: convexity, anterior wall, concavity, and posterior wall. Nearly all quadrants showed at least mild medial degeneration; more severe findings of medial degeneration and atherosclerosis were in the aneurysms associated with the tricuspid valve. In the aneurysms with the tricuspid aortic valve, there was more frequent and more severe atherosclerosis at the concavity than at the anterior wall (p = .046); the frequency and severity of medial degeneration did not differ significantly. The aneurysms with a malformed aortic valve showed more severe medial degeneration at the concavity compared to the convexity (p = .011); atherosclerosis was less common and did not show any significant differences. More than half of the samples also revealed at least a one-grade (mostly one-grade) difference among the quadrants in individual cases for both atherosclerosis and medial degeneration. Extreme differences were rare except for atherosclerosis in the tricuspid group. The results revealed only slight overall differences around the aortic circumference, with concavity being the most susceptible. Still, thanks to occurring inter- and intraindividual variability, the examination of all quadrants seems meaningful not to miss the most severe changes and to underscore the findings.

Gel Carriers for Plant Extracts and Synthetic Pesticides in Rodent and Arthropod Pest Control: An Overview.

Insecticides and rodenticides form the basis of integrated pest management systems worldwide. As pest resistance continues to increase and entire groups of chemical active ingredients are restricted or banned, manufacturers are looking for new options for more effective formulations and safer application methods for the remaining pesticide ingredients. In addition to new technological adaptations of mainstream formulations in the form of sprays, fumigants, and dusts, the use of gel formulations is becoming increasingly explored and employed. This article summarizes information on the current and potential use of gel (including hydrogel) and paste formulations against harmful arthropods or rodents in specific branches of pest management in the agricultural, food, stored product, structural wood, urban, medical, and public health areas. Due to the worldwide high interest in natural substances, part of the review was devoted to the use of gels for the formulation of pesticide substances of botanical origin, such as essential or edible oils. Gels as emerging formulation of so called "smart insecticides" based on molecular iRNA disruptors are discussed.

A chromosome-level genome of the booklouse, Liposcelis brunnea, provides insight into louse evolution and environmental stress adaptation.

BACKGROUND: Booklice (psocids) in the genus Liposcelis (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) are a group of important storage pests, found in libraries, grain storages, and food-processing facilities. Booklice are able to survive under heat treatment and typically possess high resistance to common fumigant insecticides, hence posing a threat to storage security worldwide. RESULTS: We assembled the genome of the booklouse, L. brunnea, the first genome reported in Psocoptera, using PacBio long-read sequencing, Illumina sequencing, and chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) methods. After assembly, polishing, haplotype purging, and Hi-C scaffolding, we obtained 9 linkage groups (174.1 Mb in total) ranging from 12.1 Mb to 27.6 Mb (N50: 19.7 Mb), with the BUSCO completeness at 98.9%. In total, 15,543 genes were predicted by the Maker pipeline. Gene family analyses indicated the sensing-related gene families (OBP and OR) and the resistance-related gene families (ABC, EST, GST, UGT, and P450) expanded significantly in L. brunnea compared with those of their closest relatives (2 parasitic lice). Based on transcriptomic analysis, we found that the CYP4 subfamily from the P450 gene family functioned during phosphine fumigation; HSP genes, particularly those from the HSP70 subfamily, were upregulated significantly under high temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: We present a chromosome-level genome assembly of L. brunnea, the first genome reported for the order Psocoptera. Our analyses provide new insights into the gene family evolution of the louse clade and the transcriptomic responses of booklice to environmental stresses.

Surgical treatment of primary cardiac tumors: 20-year single center experience.

Introduction: Primary cardiac tumors are a rare condition presenting with a variety of symptoms. The outcomes of their surgical treatment in the modern era from central Europe have not been recently reported. Aim: To evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of the cardiac tumor operations at our department throughout the last 20 years. Material and methods: This was a retrospective analysis of all primary cardiac tumor operations performed at our institution between 2000 and 2020. Perioperative data were extracted from patient records. Long-term data were provided by the National Registry of Cardiac Surgery. Results: Sixty procedures for primary cardiac tumor were performed throughout the study period. The most common type of tumor was myxoma (88%), followed by fibroelastoma (8%), lipoma (2%) and sarcoma (2%). There were 2 perioperative deaths (3%). The most common perioperative complication was atrial fibrillation (47%). One (2%) patient underwent reoperation 6 years later because of myxoma recurrence. We recorded 13 long-term deaths, but only 1 patient died as a consequence of cardiac tumor (sarcoma) 15 months after the surgery. Long-term survival of the cohort was comparable with the age- and sex-matched general population up to 15 years postoperatively (relative survival 0.91, CI 0.68-1.23). Rich histopathological illustrations are provided in the online supplementary material. Conclusions: Surgical resection is the standard treatment of primary cardiac tumors. The outcomes of benign tumors are excellent and the long-term postoperative survival is comparable with the general population. The prognosis of malignant tumors remains poor.

Fragmentation in mitochondrial genomes in relation to elevated sequence divergence and extreme rearrangements.

BACKGROUND: A single circular mitochondrial (mt) genome is a common feature across most metazoans. The mt-genome includes protein-coding genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, as well as RNAs necessary for translation of mt-RNAs, whose order and number are highly conserved across animal clades, with few known exceptions of alternative mt-gene order or mt-genome architectures. One such exception consists of the fragmented mitochondrial genome, a type of genome architecture where mt-genes are split across two or more mt-chromosomes. However, the origins of mt-genome fragmentation and its effects on mt-genome evolution are unknown. Here, we investigate these origin and potential mechanisms underlying mt-genome fragmentation, focusing on a genus of booklice, Liposcelis, which exhibits elevated sequence divergence, frequent rearrangement of mt-gene order, and fragmentation of the mt genome, and compare them to other Metazoan clades. RESULTS: We found this genus Liposcelis exhibits very low conservation of mt-gene order across species, relative to other metazoans. Levels of gene order rearrangement were, however, unrelated to whether or not mt-genomes were fragmented or intact, suggesting mitochondrial genome fragmentation is not affecting mt-gene order directly. We further investigated possible mechanisms underpinning these patterns and revealed very high conservation of non-coding sequences at the edges of multiple recombination regions across populations of one particular Liposcelis species, supportive of a hypothesis that mt-fragmentation arises from recombination errors between mt-genome copies. We propose these errors may arise as a consequence of a heightened mutation rate in clades exhibiting mt-fragmentation. Consistent with this, we observed a striking pattern across three Metazoan phyla (Arthropoda, Nematoda, Cnidaria) characterised by members exhibiting high levels of mt-gene order rearrangement and cases of mt-fragmentation, whereby the mt-genomes of species more closely related to species with fragmented mt-genomes diverge more rapidly despite experiencing strong purifying selection. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that contrary to expectations, mt-genome fragmentation is not correlated with the increase in mt-genome rearrangements. Furthermore, we present evidence that fragmentation of the mt-genome may be part of a general relaxation of a natural selection on the mt-genome, thus providing new insights into the origins of mt-genome fragmentation and evolution.

Calcific aortic valve stenosis - comparison of inflammatory lesions in the left, right, and non-coronary cusp.

BACKGROUND: Calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) is the most frequent acquired heart valve disease in the developed world and the most common cause of heart valve replacement, particularly in older adults. It is considered a form of atherosclerosis and, like the latter, of inflammatory pathogenesis. METHODS: The incidence and severity of features of chronic inflammation (vascularization, cellular infiltration, bone metaplasia, calcification) in surgically resected semilunar cusps of a tricuspid aortic valve in 100 patients with CAVS were assessed. A novel method of placing metal clips during the operation by the surgeon to distinguish individual cusps was implemented, allowing the pathologist to associate lesions to particular cusps. The findings were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: The median age of the cohort was 73 years. There was a male predominance of 3.5:1. Almost all the patients had a medical history of risk factors - hypertension (92x), diabetes (51x), and dyslipidaemia (85x). Statistical evaluation of the pathological findings showed that the left cusp was least affected by calcification, vascularization, and chronic inflammation, compared to both the right and non-coronary cusps. On the other hand, the left cusp was the most common site of bone metaplasia. The reason for these differences is unknown. We speculate about mechanobiological effects of abnormal hemodynamics. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in pathogenesis of CAVS. Distinguishing the resected aortic valve cusps by placing metal clips is a useful method to study potential differences (topography) in the pathology of individual cusps.

Synthetic and Natural Insecticides: Gas, Liquid, Gel and Solid Formulations for Stored-Product and Food-Industry Pest Control.

The selective application of insecticides is one of the cornerstones of integrated pest management (IPM) and management strategies for pest resistance to insecticides. The present work provides a comprehensive overview of the traditional and new methods for the application of gas, liquid, gel, and solid physical insecticide formulations to control stored-product and food industry urban pests from the taxa Acarina, Blattodea, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Psocoptera, and Zygentoma. Various definitions and concepts historically and currently used for various pesticide application formulations and methods are also described. This review demonstrates that new technological advances have sparked renewed research interest in the optimization of conventional methods such as insecticide aerosols, sprays, fumigants, and inert gases. Insect growth regulators/disruptors (IGRs/IGDs) are increasingly employed in baits, aerosols, residual treatments, and as spray-residual protectants for long-term stored-grain protection. Insecticide-impregnated hypoxic multilayer bags have been proven to be one of the most promising low-cost and safe methods for hermetic grain storage in developing countries. Insecticide-impregnated netting and food baits were originally developed for the control of urban/medical pests and have been recognized as an innovative technology for the protection of stored commodities. New biodegradable acaricide gel coatings and nets have been suggested for the protection of ham meat. Tablets and satchels represent a new approach for the application of botanicals. Many emerging technologies can be found in the form of impregnated protective packaging (insect growth regulators/disruptors (IGRs/IGDs), natural repellents), pheromone-based attracticides, electrostatic dust or sprays, nanoparticles, edible artificial sweeteners, hydrogels, inert baits with synthetic attractants, biodegradable encapsulations of active ingredients, and cyanogenic protective grain coatings. Smart pest control technologies based on RNA-based gene silencing compounds incorporated into food baits stand at the forefront of current strategic research. Inert gases and dust (diatomaceous earth) are positive examples of alternatives to synthetic pesticide products, for which methods of application and their integration with other methods have been proposed and implemented in practice. Although many promising laboratory studies have been conducted on the biological activity of natural botanical insecticides, published studies demonstrating their effective industrial field usage in grain stores and food production facilities are scarce. This review shows that the current problems associated with the application of some natural botanical insecticides (e.g., sorption, stability, field efficacy, and smell) to some extent echo problems that were frequently encountered and addressed almost 100 years ago during the transition from ancient to modern classical chemical pest control methods.

Ascending aorta dissection in a new classification system: Clinicopathological features of 62 cases.

Herein we present a single institution 5-year experience with ascending aorta dissection biopsies depicting the clinicopathological features of 62 cases. To detect microscopic abnormalities in the aortic wall beside the dissection itself, we applied a new histopathological classification scheme from the consensus documents issued by The Society for Cardiovascular Pathology and The Association for the European Cardiovascular Pathology in 2015 and 2016. The most common finding was medial degeneration (MD) - 61 cases (98.4%); atherosclerosis (AS) was found in 19 aortae (30.6%), and chronic aortitis- giant cell pattern described in one aorta (1.6%). The medial degeneration constituents included mucoid matrix accumulation, smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers abnormalities, and medial fibrosis. The consensus document application led to increased MD reporting compared to older studies and to our previous experience, probably due to assessing more subtle and focal changes such as intralamellar fibrosis, intralamellar mucoid matrix accumulation, and loss of smooth muscle cell nuclei- these changes being also the most common MD abnormalities we are reporting. We have compared the results in patients with bicuspid (n = 7; 11.3%) versus tricuspid (n = 55; 88.7%) aortic valve, suggesting no significant differences except for translamellar fibrosis, which appeared to be more severe in the bicuspid valve group (p = 0.0397). The results might imply similar histopathological findings regardless of the aortic valve cuspidity in aortic dissection. These findings are in contrast to ascending aorta dilation (aneurysm), where more severe medial degeneration changes have been described in patients with the tricuspid aortic valve.

Relationship between exploratory activity and adrenocortical activity in the black rat (Rattus rattus).

The relationship between physiological and behavioral stress markers is documented in several rodent species. However, there is no information regarding the role of adrenocortical activity in behavior of the black rat (Rattus rattus). Therefore, we hypothesize that the adrenocortical activity of black rats varies between individuals and is related to some of the behaviors in a novel environment. To test this hypothesis, we (i) validated a method for quantifying glucocorticoid metabolites from feces (fGCMs) with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA); (ii) examined variation and diurnal rhythms of feces and GCM production; and (iii) examined the relationship between GCM levels and exploratory behavioral traits. We fulfilled the first aim (i) by successfully performing an ACTH challenge test to validate the use of a 5α-pregnane-3ß,11ß,21-triol-20-one EIA for measuring fGCMs. Second (ii) we detected considerable consistent interindividual variability in production of both feces and glucocorticoids. The peak production of feces occurred in the first hour of the dark cycle, the peak of fGCMs occurred approximately 3 h later. Lastly, (iii) there was no clear relationship between behavior in the hole board test and GCMs. Grooming, a typical behavioral stress marker, was negatively associated with stress reactivity, while head-dipping in the hole-board test (traditionally considered an exploratory behavior independent of stress) was not correlated with the GCMs. This study offers a first look at GCMs in the black rat, successfully validates a method for their measurement and opens possibilities for future research of the relationship between glucocorticoids and exploratory behavior in this species.