Russian-language adaptation of the international nomenclature of International Consensus on Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Patterns (ICAP)

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) represent a spectrum of autoantibodies targeted for various nuclear and cytoplasmic components of the cells. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) is the main detection method for “antinuclear factor”. A positive ANA test is usually reported as a titer and a pattern of fluorescence. The ANA patterns refers to the distribution of staining produced by antibodies that react with antigens located in nucleus and cytoplasm of HEp-2 cells. To standardize nomenclature and descriptions of the various fluorescence patterns of antinuclear factor (ANF), the Initiative of the International Consensus on ANA Patterns (ICAP) group was developed in 2014. The aim of ICAP is to promote consensus regarding nomenclature of ANA patterns, a microphotograph database, as well as classification depending on the employee skills. Information on the main characteristics, as well as specific clinical associations of the patterns is available at www.ANApatterns.org. In ANA classification trees, the patterns are indicated by the #AC (anticell pattern) alphanumeric code, being divided into nuclear, cytoplasmic and mitotic groups. Depending on the clinical significance and/or ease of recognition, this nomenclature focuses on the differences between the patterns described by specialists at competent and expert levels. Of the nuclear types, the most significant are homogeneous, speckled, dense fine-speckled, centromere, nucleolar, nuclear dots. The cytoplasmic types may be discerned into fibrillar, speckled, mitochondrial, Golgi, rods and rings. On leaders, behalf of the ICAP translation team is headed by the Full Member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor A.A. Totolian, under the auspices of the Russian Research Society of Immunologists. In this article, we present the Russianlanguage adaptation of the ICAP nomenclature, in order to ensure unification and standardization of ANA detection results in the patients with autoimmune diseases.

International Histopathology Consensus for Unilateral Primary Aldosteronism

Objective Develop a consensus for the nomenclature and definition of adrenal histopathologic features in unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA). Context Unilateral PA is the most common surgically treated form of hypertension. Morphologic examination combined with CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) immunostaining reveals diverse histopathologic features of lesions in the resected adrenals. Patients and Methods Surgically removed adrenals (n = 37) from 90 patients operated from 2015 to 2018 in Munich, Germany, were selected to represent the broad histologic spectrum of unilateral PA. Five pathologists (Group 1 from Germany, Italy, and Japan) evaluated the histopathology of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and CYP11B2 immunostained sections, and a consensus was established to define the identifiable features. The consensus was subsequently used by 6 additional pathologists (Group 2 from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, United States) for the assessment of all adrenals with disagreement for histopathologic diagnoses among group 1 pathologists. Results Consensus was achieved to define histopathologic features associated with PA. Use of CYP11B2 immunostaining resulted in a change of the original HE morphology-driven diagnosis in 5 (14%) of 37 cases. Using the consensus criteria, group 2 pathologists agreed for the evaluation of 11 of the 12 cases of disagreement among group 1 pathologists. Conclusion The HISTALDO (histopathology of primary aldosteronism) consensus is useful to standardize nomenclature and achieve consistency among pathologists for the histopathologic diagnosis of unilateral PA. CYP11B2 immunohistochemistry should be incorporated into the routine clinical diagnostic workup to localize the likely source of aldosterone production.

High-Flow Oxygen Therapy Concepts: Time to Standardize Nomenclature and Avoid Confusion

High-flow nasal oxygen systems are rapidly being adopted as an initial noninvasive treatment for acute respiratory failure. However, the term “high-flow nasal cannula” is nonspecific and leads to imprecise communication between physicians, respiratory therapists, and nurses with the potential for patient harm. In this viewpoint and a brief review of the technology, we argue for a change in nomenclature in order to reduce the chance for future clinical, administrative, and research misunderstanding surrounding high-flow nasal oxygen systems.

Cloud Physiognomy

After centuries of serving as the metaphor for mutability, clouds began to be classified by genera and species in the nineteenth century, on the model of Linnaean taxonomy. In order to standardize nomenclature, cloud watchers had to learn to see in unison, recognizing cloud types as one would recognize human faces. The analogy between cloud and facial recognition runs deep: in both cases, a few salient features (that aquiline nose, those long wispy streaks) are foregrounded at the expense of a great many others. What the art of caricature is to faces, condensed description was to clouds: a few bold strokes that focused attention on the essential and screened out everything else. Cloud classification depended crucially on description by omission.

Characterization of Coliphage PR772 and Evaluation of Its Use for Virus Filter Performance Testing

ABSTRACT Virus filtration is a key clearance unit operation in the manufacture of recombinant protein, monoclonal antibody, and plasma-derived biopharmaceuticals. Recently, a consensus has developed among filter manufacturers and end users about the desirability of a common nomenclature and a standardized test for classifying and identifying virus-retentive filters. The Parenteral Drug Association virus filter task force has chosen PR772 as the model bacteriophage to standardize nomenclature for large-pore-size virus-retentive filters (filters designed to retain viruses larger than 50 to 60 nm in size). Previously, the coliphage PR772 (Tectiviridae family) has been used in some filtration studies as a surrogate for mammalian viruses of around 50 to 60 nm. In this report, we describe specific properties of PR772 critical to the support of its use for the standardization of virus filters. The complete genomic sequence of virulent phage PR772 was determined. Its genome contains 14,946 bp with an overall G+C content of 48.3 mol%, and 32 open reading frames of at least 40 codons. Comparison of the PR772 nucleotide sequence with the genome of Tectiviridae family prototype phage PRD1 revealed 97.2% identity at the DNA level. By dynamic light-scattering analysis, its hydrodynamic diameter was measured as 82 ± 6 nm, consistent with use in testing large-virus-retentive filters. Finally, dynamic light-scattering analysis of PR772 preparations purified on CsCl gradients showed that the phage preparations are largely monodispersed. In summary, PR772 appears to be an appropriate model bacteriophage for standardization of nomenclature for larger-pore-size virus-retentive filters.