Cutaneous Seeding of Glioblastoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

ABSTRACT: We present the case of a 61-year-old male patient with a history of intracranial IDH-wildtype glioblastoma with an isolated cutaneous metastasis within the previous surgical site scar. The cytomorphology of the cutaneous deposits was reminiscent of metastatic melanoma, which is a differential diagnostic pitfall. The tumor molecular characteristics are described, as these have become essential diagnostic criteria for many central nervous system tumors, along with a discussion of the role of immunohistochemical markers and potential pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of melanoma and poorly differentiated carcinoma. We discuss the biology of metastatic glioblastoma and provide a focused literature review of previous glioblastomas with tumor cell seeding within prior surgical scars.

The predicted benefits of genomic selection on pig breeding objectives.

The premise was tested that the additional genetic gain was achieved in the overall breeding objective in a pig breeding program using genomic selection (GS) compared to a conventional breeding program, however, some traits achieved larger gain than other traits. GS scenarios based on different reference population sizes were evaluated. The scenarios were compared using a deterministic simulation model to predict genetic gain in scenarios with and without using genomic information as an additional information source. All scenarios were compared based on selection accuracy and predicted genetic gain per round of selection for objective traits in both sire and dam lines. The results showed that GS scenarios increased overall response in the breeding objectives by 9% to 56% and 3.5% to 27% in the dam and sire lines, respectively. The difference in response resulted from differences in the size of the reference population. Although all traits achieved higher selection accuracy in GS, traits with limited phenotypic information at the time of selection or with low heritability, such as sow longevity, number of piglets born alive, pre- and post-weaning survival, as well as meat and carcass quality traits achieved the largest additional response. This additional response came at the expense of smaller responses for traits that are easy to measure, such as back fat and average daily gain in GS compared to the conventional breeding program. Sow longevity and drip loss percentage did not change in a favourable direction in GS with a reference population of 500 pigs. With a reference population of 1000 pigs or onwards, sow longevity and drip loss percentage began to change in a favourable direction. Despite the smaller responses for average daily gain and back fat thickness in GS, the overall breeding objective achieved additional gain in GS.

Long-Term Ultrasound Twinkling Detectability and Safety of a Polymethyl Methacrylate Soft Tissue Marker Compared to Conventional Breast Biopsy Markers-A Preclinical Study in a Porcine Model.

OBJECTIVE: We have studied the use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as an alternative biopsy marker that is readily detectable with ultrasound Doppler twinkling in cases of in vitro, ex vivo, or limited duration in vivo settings. This study investigates the long-term safety and ultrasound Doppler twinkling detectability of a PMMA breast biopsy marker following local perturbations and different dwell times in a 6-mo animal experiment. METHODS: This study, which was approved by our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, involved three pigs and utilized various markers, including PMMA (Zimmer Biomet), 3D-printed, and Tumark Q markers. Markers were implanted at different times for each pig. Mesh material or ethanol was used to induce a local inflammatory reaction near certain markers. A semiquantitative twinkling score assessed twinkling for actionable localization during monthly ultrasounds. At the primary endpoint, ultrasound-guided localization of lymph nodes with detectable markers was performed. Following surgical resection of the localized nodes, histomorphometric analysis was conducted to evaluate for tissue ingrowth and the formation of a tissue rind around the markers. RESULTS: No adverse events occurred. Twinkling scores of all markers for all three pigs decreased gradually over time. The Q marker exhibited the highest mean twinkling score followed by the PMMA marker, PMMA with mesh, and Q with ethanol. The 3D-printed marker with mesh and PMMA with ethanol had the lowest scores. All wire-localized lymph nodes were successfully resected. Despite varying percentages of tissue rind around the markers and a significant reduction in overall twinkling (p < 0.001) over time, mean PMMA twinkling scores remained clinically actionable at 6 and 5 mo using a General Electric C1-6 probe and 9L-probe, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this porcine model, the PMMA marker demonstrates an acceptable safety profile. Clinically actionable twinkling aids PMMA marker detection even after 6 mo of dwell time in porcine lymph nodes. The Q marker maintained the greatest twinkling over time compared to all the other markers studied.

Genetic architecture of white striping in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo).

White striping (WS) is a myopathy of growing concern to the turkey industry. It is rising in prevalence and has negative consequences for consumer acceptance and the functional properties of turkey meat. The objective of this study was to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and functional analysis on WS severity. Phenotypic data consisted of white striping scored on turkey breast fillets (N = 8422) by trained observers on a 0-3 scale (none to severe). Of the phenotyped birds, 4667 genotypic records were available using a proprietary 65 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. The SNP effects were estimated using a linear mixed model with a 30-SNP sliding window approach used to express the percentage genetic variance explained. Positional candidate genes were those located within 50 kb of the top 1% of SNP windows explaining the most genetic variance. Of the 95 positional candidate genes, seven were further classified as functional candidate genes because of their association with both a significant gene ontology and molecular function term. The results of the GWAS emphasize the polygenic nature of the trait with no specific genomic region contributing a large portion to the overall genetic variance. Significant pathways relating to growth, muscle development, collagen formation, circulatory system development, cell response to stimulus, and cytokine production were identified. These results help to support published biological associations between WS and hypoxia and oxidative stress and provide information that may be useful for future-omics studies in understanding the biological associations with WS development in turkeys.

Corporate interest groups and their implications for global food governance: mapping and analysing the global corporate influence network of the transnational ultra-processed food industry.

BACKGROUND: A major challenge to transforming food systems to promote human health and sustainable development is the global rise in the manufacture and consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). A key driver of this dietary transition is the globalization of UPF corporations, and their organized corporate political activity (CPA) intended to counter opposition and block government regulation. UPF industry CPA and the corporate interest groups who lobby on their behalf have been well described at the national level, however, at the global level, this network has not been systematically characterized. This study aims to map, analyse, and describe this network, and discuss the implications for global food policy action on UPFs, global food governance (GFG), and food systems transformation. METHODS: We conducted a network analysis of the declared interest group memberships of the world's leading UPF corporations, extracted from web sources, company reports, and relevant academic and grey literature. Data on the characteristics of these interest groups were further extracted for analysis, including year founded, level, type, and headquarter location. RESULTS: We identified 268 interest groups affiliated with the UPF industry. The UPF manufacturers Nestlé (n = 171), The Coca-Cola Company (n = 147), Unilever (n = 142), PepsiCo (n = 138), and Danone (n = 113) had the greatest number of memberships, indicating strong centrality in coordinating the network. We found that this network operates at all levels, yet key actors now predominantly coordinate globally through multistakeholder channels in GFG. The most common interest group types were sustainability/corporate social responsibility/multistakeholder initiatives, followed by branding and advertising, and food manufacturing and retail. Most corporate interest groups are headquartered where they can access powerful government and GFG decision-makers, nearly one-third in Washington DC and Brussels, and the rest in capital cities of major national markets for UPFs. CONCLUSIONS: The UPF industry, and especially its leading corporations, coordinate a global network of interest groups spanning multiple levels, jurisdictions, and governance spaces. This represents a major structural feature of global food and health governance systems, which arguably poses major challenges for actions to attenuate the harms of UPFs, and to realising of healthy and sustainable food systems.

Using 3-D-Printed Structures to Evaluate the Potential Causes of the Color Doppler Twinkling Signature.

OBJECTIVE: The color Doppler twinkling artifact has been attributed to existing microbubbles or cavitation occurring on rough objects such as kidney stones, some breast biopsy clips, catheter guidewires and sandpaper. The objective was to investigate the correlation between the surface characteristics of helical constructs with different groove geometries and the occurrence of twinkling, as well as to identify locations conducive to bubble retention and/or cavitation. METHODS: Six half-cylinders were created with a microscale 3-D printer with 5 µm resolution to replicate the geometry of twinkling helical constructs resembling catheter guidewires. Four copies of each marker including a non-twinkling control were printed. The half-cylinders had pitch (peak-to-peak distance) values ranging from 87.5 to 343 µm and amplitude (groove depth) values ranging from 41.5 to 209 µm. The half-cylinders were submerged in degassed water and optically imaged before and after ultrasound insonification to visualize bubbles on the cylinders. The cylinders remained submerged while scanning with the color Doppler mode at frequencies from 3.1 to 6.3 MHz using a GE Logiq E9 scanner and 9L linear array transducer. RESULTS: Two markers exhibited twinkling: one with pitch-to-amplitude ratio of 174/210 µm/µm (0.8) that twinkled only with pre-existing bubbles on the marker; the other had a ratio of 87/87 µm/µm (1.00) that twinkled without pre-existing bubbles on the marker. CONCLUSION: This work provides strong evidence that both existing bubbles and either cavitation or ultrasound wave interactions with patterned or rough surfaces are significant factors in producing the twinkling signature.

Bowen disease is not synonymous with intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma.

The terms 'Bowen disease' and 'intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma' are sometimes considered synonymous. In this paper we present historical, clinical, histological and molecular evidence that this is incorrect. The term Bowen disease should be reserved for a subset of intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma with a distinctive and reproducible morphological pattern, described in detail by Bowen in 1912. One other common subset of intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma represents progression of actinic keratosis. In some cases the separation of these two common patterns of intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma can be challenging and there are patterns of intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma which appear to represent other distinct pathways. However, there is emerging biological evidence to support this distinction and reason to suspect that the types of invasive squamous cell carcinoma which arise from these different pathways may show important clinical and biological differences, particularly in the era of targeted and immunomodulatory therapy for advanced disease.

Histological predictors of outcome for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in renal transplant patients: A case-control study.

Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is a significant cause of morbidity for immunosuppressed patients such as organ transplant recipients; however, histological parameters which predict the likelihood of tumor progression are typically based on general population studies in which immunosuppressed patients represent only a small fraction of cases. Objectives: To determine the histological parameters which have independent prognostic value for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma arising in renal transplant recipients. Methods: Case-control study incorporating a retrospective blinded histological review of 70 archived specimens of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed in renal transplant recipients, comprising 10 cases where the tumor had progressed and 60 controls. Results: Progression was significantly associated with head and neck location, size, depth, poor histological grade, perineural invasion (including small caliber perineural invasion), lymphovascular invasion, and a desmoplastic growth pattern. Limitations: The retrospective nature and the low number of cases compared to controls. Conclusion: In immunosuppressed patients both small caliber perineural invasion and a desmoplastic growth pattern may also have prognostic significance in addition to other histological parameters already recognized in formal staging schemes.

F-actin coordinates spindle morphology and function in Drosophila meiosis.

Meiosis is a highly conserved feature of sexual reproduction that ensures germ cells have the correct number of chromosomes prior to fertilization. A subset of microtubules, known as the spindle, are essential for accurate chromosome segregation during meiosis. Building evidence in mammalian systems has recently highlighted the unexpected requirement of the actin cytoskeleton in chromosome segregation; a network of spindle actin filaments appear to regulate many aspects of this process. Here we show that Drosophila oocytes also have a spindle population of actin that appears to regulate the formation of the microtubule spindle and chromosomal movements throughout meiosis. We demonstrate that genetic and pharmacological disruption of the actin cytoskeleton has a significant impact on spindle morphology, dynamics, and chromosome alignment and segregation during maturation and the metaphase-anaphase transition. We further reveal a role for calcium in maintaining the microtubule spindle and spindle actin. Together, our data highlights potential conservation of morphology and mechanism of the spindle actin during meiosis.

NUT Expression Is of Diagnostic Utility in the Distinction of Digital Papillary Carcinoma From Poroid Hidradenoma.

ABSTRACT: The distinction between digital papillary adenocarcinoma (DPAC) and benign cutaneous adnexal tumors is clinically important and can be challenging. Poroid hidradenoma frequently occurs at acral sites and can show a number of histological features, which overlap with digital papillary adenocarcinoma. Recent work has shown that YAP1-NUTM1 fusions are frequent in poroid hidradenoma and are associated with nuclear protein in testis (NUT) expression by immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the expression of NUT-1 by immunohistochemistry in 4 cases of DPAC and 4 cases of poroid hidradenoma. Three of 4 cases of poroid hidradenoma showed strong NUT-1 expression, with no staining in any of the cases of DPAC. These results suggest that NUT-1 immunohistochemistry may be a useful additional tool in evaluating this differential diagnosis.

Expression of Melan-A in cutaneous granular cell tumours: a diagnostic pitfall.

Morphological overlap exists between cutaneous granular cell tumours (GCT) and malignant melanoma, with the melanocyte-specific markers HMB45 and Melan-A commonly used to support the diagnosis of melanoma. We recently encountered several cases of GCT in our practice showing strong expression of Melan-A. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of positive immunohistochemical staining for Melan-A and HMB45 in a series of unequivocal GCTs. We also aimed to assess the prevalence of staining for PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma), a marker expressed in >80% of primary melanomas as well as many non-melanocytic tumours. A total of 20 cutaneous/subcutaneous GCTs were evaluated using Melan-A, HMB45 and PRAME immunohistochemistry. Staining for Melan-A and HMB45 was scored using a semiquantitative scale from 0 (absent) to 3+ (staining present in >50% of tumour cells). PRAME expression was recorded as either positive (>75% of cell nuclei staining) or negative. Melan-A expression was observed in four GCTs (20%), with strong and diffuse (3+) staining seen in two cases (10%), both from anogenital areas. Weak patchy nuclear PRAME expression was seen in every case, interpreted to be negative. HMB45 was also negative in all cases (100%). Our study demonstrates that Melan-A expression can be strong and diffuse in a subset of otherwise unequivocal cutaneous GCTs, which may cause diagnostic confusion with malignant melanoma. HMB45 and PRAME did not stain any of the GCTs in our series.

Bacterial culture and susceptibility test results for clinical mastitis samples from Australia's subtropical dairy region.

This study aimed to identify the pathogens isolated from the milk of cows with clinical mastitis in the subtropical region of Australia and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of these bacteria. Thirty dairy herds in the subtropical dairy region were asked to submit milk samples for the first 5 cases of clinical mastitis each month for 12 mo. Samples underwent aerobic culture, and isolates were identified via MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined for Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci (NASM). Between March 2021 and July 2022, 1,230 milk samples were collected. A positive culture result was recorded for 812 (66%) of the milk samples; from these samples, 909 isolates were obtained, including 49 isolates where no identification was possible. The remaining samples were classified as having no growth (16.8%) or as being contaminated (17.2%). The most common isolates with a MALDI-TOF diagnosis (n = 909) were Strep. uberis (23.6%), followed by the NASM group (15.0%). Farms enrolled in the study were in 3 distinct locations within the subtropical dairy region: North Queensland, Southeast Queensland, and Northern New South Wales. Some variation in isolate prevalence occurred between these 3 locations. We found lower odds of a sample being positive for E. coli in North Queensland (odds ratio [OR]: 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.07-0.87) and higher odds in Southeast Queensland (OR: 4.01; 95% CI: 1.96-8.20) compared with the reference, Northern New South Wales. We further found higher odds of Strep. dysgalactiae in North Queensland (OR: 5.69; 95% CI: 1.85-17.54) and Southeast Queensland compared with Northern New South Wales (OR: 3.99; 95% CI: 1.73-9.22). Although some seasonal patterns were observed, season was not significant for any of the analyzed isolates. Farm-level differences in pathogen profiles were obvious. Overall, clinical mastitis pathogens had low levels of resistance to the antimicrobials tested. This research demonstrates that Strep. uberis and the NASM bacterial group are the most common pathogens causing clinical mastitis in the subtropical dairy region. It highlights the importance of understanding pathogenic causes of mastitis at the farm and regional level for targeted control and therapy.

What is the purpose of ultra-processed food? An exploratory analysis of the financialisation of ultra-processed food corporations and implications for public health.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades there has been a global rise in consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to the detriment of population health and the environment. Large corporations that have focused heavily on low-cost manufacturing and extensive marketing of UPFs to maximise profits have driven this dietary transition. The same corporations claim to serve the interests of multiple 'stakeholders', and that they are contributing to sustainable development. This paper aimed to test these claims by examining the degree to which UPF corporations have become 'financialised', focusing on the extent to which they have prioritised the financial interests of their shareholders relative to other actors, as well as the role that various types of investors have played in influencing their governance. Findings were used to inform discussion on policy responses to improve the healthiness of population diets. METHODS: We adopted an exploratory research design using multiple methods. We conducted quantitative analysis of the financial data of U.S. listed food and agricultural corporations between 1962 and 2021, share ownership data of a selection of UPF corporations, and proxy voting data of a selection of investors between 2012 and 2022. We also conducted targeted narrative reviews using structured and branching searches of academic and grey literature. RESULTS: Since the 1980s, corporations that depend heavily on manufacturing and marketing UPFs to generate profits have been increasingly transferring money to their shareholders relative to their total revenue, and at a level considerably higher than other food and agricultural sectors. In recent years, large hedge fund managers have had a substantial influence on the governance of major UPF corporations in their pursuit of maximising short-term returns. In comparison, shareholders seeking to take steps to improve population diets have had limited influence, in part because large asset managers mostly oppose public health-related shareholder proposals. CONCLUSIONS: The operationalisation of 'shareholder primacy' by major UPF corporations has driven inequity and undermines their claims that they are creating 'value' for diverse actors. Measures that protect population diets and food systems from the extractive forces of financialisation are likely needed as part of efforts to improve the healthiness of population diets.

Growth Rate Distribution and Potential Non-Linear Relationship between Body Weight and Walking Ability in Turkeys.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential non-linear relationship between growth and walking ability (WA). The phenotypic data included body weights at 12 and 20 weeks and WA at 20 weeks of age measured on 276,059 male turkeys. The growth rate at three age periods (0 to 12, 12 to 20 and 0 to 20 weeks) was calculated. Each bird was assigned to one of the quartiles of the growth rate distribution for each age period. Between the first and fourth quartiles, the incidence of score 1 (bad WA) increased by 31, 18, and 33% for the first, second, and third age periods, respectively. For good WA (scores 4, 5, and 6), the incidence decreased by 55, 66, and 72% between the first and fourth quartiles for the first, second, and third age periods, respectively. Estimates of heritability of WA ranged between 0.18 and 0.26. The genetic correlations between adjacent growth rate quartiles were high and decayed as the interval between quartiles increased. The magnitude of the variation in the incidence of walking scores and genetic correlations across the growth rate quartiles point towards a non-linear relationship between growth and mobility suggesting other factors may affect walking ability.

Bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility results from bovine milk samples submitted to four veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Australia from 2015 to 2019.

A 5-year retrospective study was conducted to describe the mastitis-causing organisms isolated from bovine milk samples submitted to four veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Australia. The aim of this study was to identify temporal, geographical, and seasonal patterns of occurrence for the organisms and report the in vitro susceptibility of the most common mastitis-causing pathogens. In total, 22,102 milk samples were submitted between 2015 and 2019. The results were reported as positive growth for at least one significant organism (n = 11,407; 51.6%), no growth (n = 5,782; 26.2%), and mixed/contaminated growth (n = 4,913; 22.2%). Culture results for no growth, gram-negative bacteria, and eukaryotic organisms were combined for each region, and they were accounted for between 23 and 46% of submissions. These results represent a subset of mastitis cases for which the antibiotic treatment may not be warranted. A total of 11,907 isolates were cultured from 11,407 milk samples. The most common isolated organisms were Streptococcus uberis [41.3%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 40.4-42.1%] and Staphylococcus aureus (23.6%; 95% CI: 22.8-24.3%). For S. uberis and S. aureus, there was an association between a positive culture result and the dairy region. All regions except for the Sub-tropical Dairy region were more likely to culture S. uberis compared to the reference, Dairy NSW (P < 0.001). Similarly, for S. aureus, a positive culture result was more likely in all other dairy regions compared to Dairy NSW (P < 0.001). The LISA cluster analysis identified differences between High-High (hotspot) postcodes for S. aureus and S. uberis throughout all the analyzed dairy regions. These results highlight the need for further investigations into specific risk factors, such as environmental factors and herd-level predictors, which may have influenced the observed regional variations. Common mastitis-causing pathogens showed overall good susceptibility to a range of antimicrobials used in the treatment of mastitis. On-going surveillance of mastitis-causing pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibilities will facilitate targeted mastitis control and treatment programs.

Idiopathic Lichenoid and Granulomatous Vulvitis: A Distinct Clinicopathological Entity.

ABSTRACT: The combination of lichenoid and granulomatous inflammation is uncommon in vulval biopsies. We present a series of 5 patients with lichenoid and granulomatous vulvitis, presenting with clinical changes resembling lichen sclerosus. Despite detailed clinicopathological investigation and follow-up, there was no apparent association with an underlying recognized cause. All 5 cases occurred in postmenopausal women and displayed a distinctive histological pattern of superficial band-like inflammation with granulomas "anchored" to the dermoepidermal junction. There was no evidence of deeper granulomatous inflammation. Despite repeated biopsies over 2 years in 2 patients, neither developed typical histological features of lichen sclerosus. We postulate that idiopathic lichenoid and granulomatous vulvitis may represent a distinct clinicopathologically defined vulvar dermatosis.