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  • Rowe Douglas posted an update 1 week, 3 days ago

    This chapter describes the preparation and principles of various components of the stain that are being currently used in our department.Cytology identifies the women who are at higher risk of harboring high-grade cervical premalignant lesions or invasive cancer. However, a diagnostic test such as colposcopy is crucial for women with abnormal cytology for localization of the abnormality, confirmation of diagnosis, and appropriate management. To standardize this subjective technique and to minimize the interobserver variations, Swede scoring system was introduced. The revised colposcopic nomenclature of the International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy in 2011 included various normal and abnormal colposcopic findings and gives a description of colposcopic features which improves its accuracy over the colposcopic indices. There is consensus agreement that cytology indicative of high-grade lesions (ASC-H and HSIL in the Bethesda system) should engender immediate referral for colposcopy and biopsy. The management of women who have equivocal or borderline cytology of low-grade abnormalities (ASCUS/LSIL) is still under deliberation. It is generally agreed to have an HPV triage for women with equivocal cytology. Based on the latest recommendations, the current chapter provides an extensive overview of the role of colposcopy in the management of women with various abnormalities reported on Pap smear.The cervical cancer screening has been based conventionally on cytologic analysis. With advances in understanding the role of human papillomavirus, cotesting has been applied. But most of the patients subjected to colposcopy did not benefit, except in cases with HSIL [high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion] cytology. Because of this, a step to increase the sensitivity to detect cancers and pre-cancers but with higher specificity with minimal overdiagnosis leading to prevention of unindicated cervical biopsies is highly desired. Such triaging step in cases with abnormal screening results is expected to minimize invasive interventions because of low false positivity. With availability of methodologies leading to quantitatively and qualitatively enhanced cell-blocks from residual liquid based cytology specimens, immunostaining can be performed for multiple immunomarkers with potential objectivity to triage initial screening test results. This is enhanced further with inclusion of AV marker in the cell-blocks and application of SCIP (subtractive coordinate immunoreactivity pattern) approach. The cell-blocks are also resource for performing other ancillary studies including molecular pathology and proteomics/metabolomics as potential tests in future. This review explores application of residual liquid based cytology specimen for cell-blocking with application of ancillary studies in algorithmic manner as adjunct to ASCCP management guidelines for improved patient care.Carcinoma of cervix is classified as per the WHO classification into primary tumors which are predominantly epithelial tumors, mesenchymal tumors and tumor like lesions, mixed epithelial stromal tumors, melanocytic, germ cell, and lymphoid tumors. Secondary tumors are uncommon. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in various morphological forms needs to be separated from other epithelial tumors for treatment modality selection. Majority of SCC are human papilloma virus (HPV) positive. The histological pattern, HPV type, and grading do not affect prognosis. Mixed mesenchymal and epithelial tumors are of Mullerian origin. Among sarcomas, Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma needs to be looked for, as a small biopsy may miss it. Carcinoma cervix is not the only cancer caused by HPV. High-risk HPV is implicated in causation of various other cancers such as anal cancers, oropharyngeal cancers, vulval cancers, vaginal cancers, and penile cancers. Low-risk HPV viruses similarly cause infections of perianal and genital region in males and females. The terminology for these lesions has evolved before understanding of pathogenesis of low- and high-risk HPV. The lower anogenital squamous terminology (LAST), an acronym for LAST, incorporates the low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) terminology. In invasive cancers, a superficially invasive SCC is a well-defined entity. LAST outlines areas where p16 use is recommended. No benefit of addition of other biomarkers like p63 or ki67 is found in problem-solving in differentiation of HSIL from mimics or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Routine use of biomarkers is not advocated.Xanthomas are papulonodular skin lesions present in lipoprotein metabolism disorders, which result in cholesterol deposits in subcutaneous tissue, tendons, ligaments, periosteum, etc. A 28-year-old male presented with multiple soft-tissue swellings, prominently over joints. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) from multiple sites had similar appearance with foamy histocytes and giant cells. We describe an unusual case of tendinous and tuberous xanthoma diagnosed by cytology. Acquaintance with FNA cytology findings in xanthomas can help to avoid the need of surgical biopsy, as xanthomas can regress on medical therapy alone.

    A reduced platelet function might contribute to the longer bleeding time seen in preterm neonates. However, the previously used platelet function testing in neonates is limited due to methodological limitations, mainly caused by difficulties in obtaining adequate blood volume. Therefore, the platelet function in preterm neonates is sparsely investigated. The aim of this study was to compare platelet function in preterm neonates at birth and at expected term age with platelet function in term neonates at birth.

    We included 43 preterm neonates born at gestational age (GA) 28 +0 to 34 +0 and 21 term neonates born at GA 38 +0 to 41 +0. Within the first 24 hours of life, 1-1.5mL peripheral blood was obtained and for preterm neonates, resampling was performed at expected term age (GA 38 +0 to 41 +0). Platelet function testing included impedance aggregometry and platelet activation measured by flow cytometry. In addition, platelet count was determined.

    Platelet count and platelet activation were reduced in preterm neonates compared with term neonates at birth, but we found no difference in impedance aggregometry at birth. At expected term age, platelet count and aggregation exceeded term levels, but platelet activation remained impaired in the preterm.

    Preterm neonatal function is decreased at birth and does not seem to reach term levels during the first 4 to 13 weeks of life.

    Preterm neonatal function is decreased at birth and does not seem to reach term levels during the first 4 to 13 weeks of life.

    Both andexanet alfa and four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) are clinically applied reversal agents for direct factor Xa inhibitors (FXaIs) in emergency situations. Controversy exists whether 4F-PCC is as effective as andexanet alfa in correcting FXaI anticoagulation.

    This in vitro study was designed to directly compare andexanet alfa with two different 4F-PCCs (Cofact and Beriplex/Kcentra) in their ability to correct FXaI anticoagulation.

    Normal plasma was spiked with apixaban or rivaroxaban. Reversal of anticoagulation was assessed using a thrombin generation assay and a fibrin generation-clot lysis test.

    Andexanet alfa, applied at clinically recommended doses, was effective in restoring thrombin generation as evidenced by correction of thrombin generation lag time, peak thrombin, and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP). Clotting time and clot resistance to fibrinolytic breakdown was corrected over the full range of applied FXaI (0-800 ng/ml). 4F-PCC in increasing doses (0.625, 1.25 o improved clot stability against fibrinolytic breakdown. Beriplex/Kcentra contains heparin, and this may have caused reduced effectivity compared to Cofact.

    A substantial proportion of clinical World War Two survivor offspring reports intrusions about war events they did not experience themselves.

    To help identify factors that contribute to the development of such indirect intrusions (i.e. intrusions about non-self-experienced traumatic events), we examined the personal characteristics of survivor offspring that were related to the presence of indirect intrusions. To explore the specificity of these relationships, we compared characteristics related to the presence of

    and

    intrusions (i.e. Ras inhibitor intrusions about self-experienced traumatic events).

    Participants (

    = 98) were post-war offspring of World War Two survivors in treatment in one of two clinics specialized in mental health services for war victims. We assessed the presence of indirect and direct intrusions as well as the following personal characteristics gender, education level, trait dissociation, affect intensity, attentional control, mental imagery, fantasy proneness, and current psychopatholwas the best predictor of direct intrusions.

    The study examined the psychometric properties of the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen 2 (CATS-2) as a measure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to DSM-5 and (Complex) PTSD following the ICD-11 criteria in children and adolescents (7-17 years).

    Psychometric properties were investigated in an international sample of traumatized children and adolescents (

     = 283) and their caregivers (

     = 255). We examined the internal consistency (α), convergent and discriminant validity, the factor structure of the CATS-2 total scores, latent classes of PTSD/Complex PTSD (CPTSD) discrimination, as well as the diagnostic utility using ROC-curves.

    The DSM-5 total score (self α = .89; caregiver α = .91), the ICD-11 PTSD total score (self α = .67; caregiver α = .79) and the ICD-11 CPTSD total score (self α = .83; caregiver α = .87) have proven acceptable to excellent reliability. The latent structure of the 12-item ICD-11 PTSD/CPTSD construct was consistent with prior findings. Latent profile analyses reCATS-2 screens for potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and PTSD symptoms.The CATS-2 captures DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria for PTSD and CPTSD and enables clinicians and researchers to crosswalk between both diagnostic systems.International validation has proven good psychometric properties and presents cut-off scoresThe CATS-2 is a license-free instrument and is freely accessible.

    Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a long-term, pruritic, recurrent, systemic, inflammatory skin disorder. In the Middle East region, the burden of AD is understudied, and there is a dearth of AD guideline documents for practitioners.

    An expert panel meeting, encompassing 12 dermatologists from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), was congregated to develop evidence- and experience-based consensus recommendations for AD management, especially in adults in KSA. They completed a questionnaire with seven clinical statements, and a consensus was defined when the responses of ≥75% of participants coincided.

    The expert recommendations were as follows American Association of Dermatology guidelines are to be followed for defining AD; Eczema Area and Severity Index or SCORing atopic dermatitis index may be used to quantify the disease severity; Dermatology Life Quality Index may be used to determine the impact of AD on patients’ quality of life; Atopic Dermatitis Control Tool may be used to assess long-term disease control in AD patients; and the European guidelines are to be followed for the management of AD.