scholarly journals Elemental analysis of histological specimens: a method to unmask nano asbestos fibers

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Scimeca ◽  
A. Pietroiusti ◽  
F. Milano ◽  
L. Anemona ◽  
A. Orlandi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
New Method ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded ◽  
History Of ◽  
Formalin Fixed

<p>There is recent mounting evidence that nanoparticles may have enhanced toxicological potential in comparison to the same material in the bulk form. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for unmask asbestos nanofibers from Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded tissue. There is an increasing amount of evidence that nanoparticles may enhance toxicological potential in comparison to the same material in the bulk form. The aim of this study was to develop a new method to unmask asbestos nanofibers from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue. For the first time, in this study we applied Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis through transmission electron microscopy to demonstrate the presence of asbestos nanofibers in histological specimens of patients with possible occupational exposure to asbestos. The diagnostic protocol was applied to 10 randomly selected lung cancer patients with no history of previous asbestos exposure. We detected asbestos nanofibers in close contact with lung cancer cells in two lung cancer patients with previous possible occupational exposure to asbestos. We were also able to identify the specific asbestos iso-type, which in one of the cases was the same rare variety used in the workplace of the affected patient. By contrast, asbestos nanofibers were not detected in lung cancer patients with no history of occupational asbestos exposure. The proposed technique can represent a potential useful tool for linking the disease to previous workplace exposure in uncertain cases. Furthermore, Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissues stored in the pathology departments might be re-evaluated for possible etiological attribution to asbestos in the case of plausible exposure. Since diseases acquired through occupational exposure to asbestos are generally covered by workers’ insurance in most countries, the application of the protocol used in this study may have also relevant social and economic implications. </p>

Paraffin-based molecular diagnosis of lung cancer reproduces morphologic and molecular subtypes of lung cancer

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7579-7579
Author(s):  
D. N. Hayes ◽  
J. Schallheim ◽  
P. Roberts ◽  
C. Lee ◽  
L. Thorne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Molecular Subtypes ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded ◽  
First Time ◽  
Formalin Fixed

7579 Background: Molecular profiling of lung cancer by gene expression analyses has documented potential to guide therapy. However, quality ‘fresh’ tissue for RNA analyses is generally unavailable in clinical practice. We introduce a (q)RT-PCR assay and analytic method for profiling lung cancers from clinically obtained formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Methods: Approximately 1,000 DNA microarrays were analyzed to select genes distinguishing the major histological variants (adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, etc) and previously described molecular subtypes of lung cancer. Based on gene expression, a classifier of 62 genes was constructed to assign each sample to its morphologic tumor type, as well as to risk stratify by molecular subtypes. A real-time qRT-PCR assay was developed to evaluate the expression of the 62 genes from paraffin-embedded samples. This assay was used to profile RNA extracted from a cohort of surgically treated lung cancer patients. Samples were procured as fresh frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and were archived between 1–15 years. Results: Fifty-eight of 62 genes passed performance criteria and were used for analyses. Normalized gene expression was used for sample classification. The cohort contained a broad spectrum of tumors in proportions consistent with clinical practice. Gene amplification was successful in 139 of 142 (98%) lung cancer samples. Matched frozen-paraffin and replicate paraffin samples had mean correlations of approximately 80%. Linear discriminant analysis of gene expression data agreed with morphologic classification by light microscopy in >99% of cases. More importantly, the method successfully re-identified molecular subtypes of lung cancer for the first time through the use of a paraffin-based assay. Clinical outcomes previously associated with molecular tumor subtypes, including differential survival and metastatic patterns, were again seen in our cohort. Conclusions: We describe for the first time a clinically meaningful and robust molecular diagnosis of a clinical cohort of lung cancer patients which is complementary to morphologic cancer diagnosis. This assay is easily implemented using specimens routinely collected in current patient care. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Streptococcus pluranimalium meningoencephalitis in a horse

2021 ◽  
pp. 104063872110234
Author(s):  
Dah-Jiun Fu ◽  
Akhilesh Ramachandran ◽  
Craig Miller
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin ◽  
Quarter Horse ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Gram Positive Cocci ◽  
Formalin Fixed

A 3-y-old, female Quarter Horse with a history of acute neurologic signs was found dead and was submitted for postmortem examination. Areas of petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhage were present on cross-sections of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. Histologic examination of the brain revealed severe, purulent meningoencephalitis and vasculitis with a myriad of intralesional gram-positive cocci. Streptococcus pluranimalium was identified from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue obtained from sites with active lesions by PCR and nucleotide sequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA. S. pluranimalium should be considered as a cause of meningoencephalitis in a horse.

scholarly journals Characteristics of asbestos fibers in lung tissue from occupational and environmental asbestos exposure of lung cancer patients in Busan, Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Sung Jung ◽  
Eun-Kee Park ◽  
Jun-Seok Cha ◽  
Jae-Won Lee ◽  
Jong-Chun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Lung Tissue ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Asbestos Fibers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Occupationally Exposed

AbstractThe Asbestos Injury Relief Act in Korea requires that asbestos exposure be assessed through clinical examination and chest computed tomography (CT). However, a more specific measurement of asbestos characteristics in the lung tissue may be appropriate. We aimed to investigate the asbestos burden and characterize asbestos fibers in patients with lung cancer and ultimately assess the relationship between occupational and environmental asbestos exposure and lung cancer in Korea. We evaluated 37 lung cancer patients (LCPs) from Busan. The factors affecting asbestos burden in LCPs were analyzed using a multiple regression analysis. History of asbestos exposure (environmental/occupational), male sex, and old age were the main factors affecting asbestos burden in lung tissues of LCPs. These factors had an approximate 37% adjusted coefficient of determination. There was a significant difference in the length of asbestos fibers (4.06–37.6 µm vs. 4.26–91.7 µm) and aspect ratio (4.5–151.9 vs. 5.6–735.6) between those who were occupationally exposed to asbestos and those who were environmentally exposed (P < 0.01). Therefore, both environmental/occupational exposure to asbestos should be strongly managed to reduce the risk of lung cancer, and exposure should be assessed according to the characteristics of asbestos fibers in the lung tissue.

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