scholarly journals Optimized workflow for digitalized FISH analysis in pathology

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vira Chea ◽  
Valerie Pleiner ◽  
Viviane Schweizer ◽  
Benjamin Herzog ◽  
Beata Bode ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Effective workflow management in a diagnostic pathology laboratory is critical to achieve rapid turnover while maintaining high quality. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) is the preferred technique for detecting single chromosomal aberrations in diagnostic surgical pathology. Material and methods FISH analysis applying a rapid hybridization protocol and using an automated whole-slide fluorescence scanning device (3DHISTECH, Sysmex, Switzerland) were implemented in our workflow. By analyzing 42 diagnostic cases, effects of two different scanning profiles on scanning time, and device memory usage were investigated. Manual signal counting (CaseViewer) and software based signal counting (FISHQuant) were compared. Results The two scanning profiles, both including a Z-stack function, differed in their exposure time and digital gain. The “low profile” setting (LP) resulted in a significantly shorter scanning time and lower storage volume compared to the “high profile” (HP) setting, making the LP ideal for routine applications. Both signal counting methods (manual versus software based) provided similar cut-offs on a test-cohort of 13 samples. Conclusion Scanning FISH slides provides good picture quality, reduces the analysis time and allows easy picture archiving and facilitates remote diagnostics, allowing an effective workflow.

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregorio Serra ◽  
Luigi Memo ◽  
Vincenzo Antona ◽  
Giovanni Corsello ◽  
Valentina Favero ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction In 1973, Petrea Jacobsen described the first patient showing dysmorphic features, developmental delay and congenital heart disease (atrial and ventricular septal defect) associated to a 11q deletion, inherited from the father. Since then, more than 200 patients have been reported, and the chromosomal critical region responsible for this contiguous gene disorder has been identified. Patients’ presentation We report on two unrelated newborns observed in Italy affected by Jacobsen syndrome (JBS, also known as 11q23 deletion). Both patients presented prenatal and postnatal bleeding, growth and developmental delay, craniofacial dysmorphisms, multiple congenital anomalies, and pancytopenia of variable degree. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) identified a terminal deletion at 11q24.1-q25 of 12.5 Mb and 11 Mb, in Patient 1 and 2, respectively. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of the parents documented a de novo origin of the deletion for Patient 1; parents of Patient 2 refused further genetic investigations. Conclusions Present newborns show the full phenotype of JBS including thrombocytopenia, according to their wide 11q deletion size. Bleeding was particularly severe in one of them, leading to a cerebral hemorrhage. Our report highlights the relevance of early diagnosis, genetic counselling and careful management and follow-up of JBS patients, which may avoid severe clinical consequences and lower the mortality risk. It may provide further insights and a better characterization of JBS, suggesting new elements of the genotype-phenotype correlations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110307
Author(s):  
Raquel María Moral ◽  
Carlos Monteagudo ◽  
Javier Muriel ◽  
Lucía Moreno ◽  
Ana María Peiró

Introduction: Conjunctival melanoma is extremely rare in children and has low rates of resolution. Definitive histopathological diagnosis based exclusively on microscopic findings is sometimes difficult. Thus, early diagnosis and adequate treatment are essential to improve clinical outcomes. Clinical case: We present the first case in which the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) diagnostic technique was applied to a 10-year-old boy initially suspected of having amelanotic nevi in his right eye. Based on the 65% of tumor cells with 11q13 (CCND1) copy number gain and 33% with 6p25 (RREB1) gain as measured by the FISH analysis, and on supporting histopathological findings, the diagnosis of conjunctival melanoma could be made. Following a larger re-excision, adjuvant therapy with Mitomycin C (MMC), cryotherapy and an amniotic membrane graft, the patient has remained disease-free during 9 years of long-term follow-up. Case discussion: Every ophthalmologist should remember to consider and not forget the possibility of using FISH analyses during the differential diagnosis of any suspicious conjunctival lesions. Genetic techniques, such as FISH, have led to great advances in the classification of ambiguous lesions. Evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing conjunctival melanoma in the pediatric population are needed to determine the most appropriate strategy for this age group.


2001 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 415-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils M. Diaz

Background Laboratory testing of HER2/neu in breast carcinoma has become vital to patient care following the approval of trastuzumab as the first therapy to target the HER2/neu oncoprotein. Initial clinical trials used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to test for HER2/neu overexpression in order to select patients for therapy. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which tests for gene amplification, is more specific and sensitive than IHC when either assay is compared with HER2/neu overexpression as determined by Northern or Western blot analysis. Many weak overexpressors on IHC testing are not gene amplified on FISH analysis. Such weak overexpressors may be considered false-positives and raise the question of how best to test for HER2/neu. Methods The literature was surveyed regarding testing for HER2/neu overexpression in breast carcinomas and alternative testing strategies. Results False-positive results are a significant problem when IHC is exclusively used to test for HER2/neu overexpression. The false-positives are overwhelmingly confined to the group of 2+ positives and do not respond to targeted therapy. In contrast, concordance between IHC and FISH is high when immunostaining is interpreted as either negative or strongly positive (3+). Whereas some recent studies have suggested that FISH may better predict response to anti-HER2/neu therapy than IHC, others have indicated that IHC is as effective a predictor as FISH. IHC is less technically demanding and costly than FISH. Conclusions IHC analysis of HER2/neu in breast carcinoma is a useful predictor of response to therapy with trastuzumab when strongly positive. Negative immunostaining is highly concordant with a lack of gene amplification by FISH. Most weakly positive overexpressors are false-positives on testing with FISH. Thus, screening of breast carcinomas with IHC and confirmation of weakly positive IHC results by FISH is an effective evolving strategy for testing HER2/neu as a predictor of response to targeted therapy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 172 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Colato ◽  
Caterina Vicentini ◽  
Silvia Cantara ◽  
Serena Pedron ◽  
Paolo Brazzarola ◽  
...  

ObjectiveChromosomal rearrangements of theRETproto-oncogene is one of the most common molecular events in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, their pathogenic role and clinical significance are still debated. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of RET/PTC rearrangement in a cohort ofBRAFWT PTCs by fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) and to search a reliable cut-off level in order to distinguish clonal or non-clonal RET changes.DesignFortyBRAFWT PTCs were analyzed by FISH for RET rearrangements. As controls, sixBRAFV600E mutated PTCs, 13 follicular adenomas (FA), and ten normal thyroid parenchyma were also analyzed.MethodsWe performed FISH analysis on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue using a commercially available RET break–apart probe. A cut-off level equivalent to 10.2% of aberrant cells was accepted as significant. To validate FISH results, we analyzed the study cohort by qRT-PCR.ResultsSplit RET signals above the cut-off level were observed in 25% (10/40) of PTCs, harboring a percentage of positive cells ranging from 12 to 50%, and in one spontaneous FA (1/13, 7.7%). Overall, the data obtained by FISH matched well with qRT-PCR results. Challenging findings were observed in five cases showing a frequency of rearrangement very close to the cut-off.ConclusionsFISH approach represents a powerful tool to estimate the ratio between broken and non-broken RET tumor cells. Establishing a precise FISH cut-off may be useful in the interpretation of the presence of RET rearrangement, primarily when this strategy is used for cytological evaluation or for targeted therapy.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thang NGUYEN DANG

Joint petroleum development has often been considered as a viable solution to the seemingly intractable Spratly Islands dispute in the South China Sea (SCS). This is, however, more easily said than done. On the other hand, little attention is paid to fisheries co-operation in the SCS despite the fact that fisheries constitute an important part in the economies of coastal states. The present laissez-faire approach to fisheries in the disputed area gives rise to friction and tension. By highlighting the salient features of existing fisheries’ co-operative arrangements in the world, this article demonstrates the merits of a fisheries arrangement in the SCS. It also argues that fisheries co-operation, as a low-profile undertaking, is probably easier to achieve than joint petroleum development. A fisheries arrangement would serve the immediate interests of parties to the Spratly Islands dispute and may pave the way for their future high-profile co-operation, i.e. joint petroleum development.


2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 3777-3786 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Vartoukian ◽  
R. M. Palmer ◽  
W. G. Wade

ABSTRACT Members of the phylum “Synergistetes” have frequently been detected in the human oral cavity at sites of dental disease, but they have rarely been detected in studies of oral health. Only two oral “Synergistetes” taxa are cultivable. The aims of this study were to investigate the diversity of “Synergistetes” in the oral cavity, to establish whether “Synergistetes” taxa are more strongly associated with periodontitis than with oral health, and to visualize unculturable “Synergistetes” in situ. Sixty samples (saliva, dental plaque, and mucosal swabs) were collected from five subjects with periodontitis and five periodontally healthy controls. Using phylum-specific 16S rRNA gene primers, “Synergistetes” were identified by PCR, cloning, and sequencing of 48 clones per PCR-positive sample. Subgingival plaque samples were labeled with probes targeting rRNA of unculturable oral “Synergistetes” using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Analysis of 1,664 clones revealed 12 “Synergistetes” operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the 99% sequence identity level, 5 of which were novel. “Synergistetes” OTU 4.2 was found in significantly more subjects with periodontitis than controls (P = 0.048) and was more abundant in subgingival plaque at diseased sites than at healthy sites in subjects with periodontitis (P = 0.019) or controls (P = 0.019). FISH analysis revealed that unculturable oral “Synergistetes” cells were large curved bacilli. The human oral cavity harbors a diverse population of “Synergistetes.” “Synergistetes” OTU 4.2 is associated with periodontitis and may have a pathogenic role.


2017 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 180-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Schmid ◽  
Claus Steinlein ◽  
Wolfgang Feichtinger ◽  
Indrajit Nanda

A 7-year cytogenetic study on the leaf litter frog Craugastor fitzingeri from Costa Rica and Panama revealed the existence of highly mobile nucleolus organizing regions (NORs) in their genomes. Silver (Ag)-staining of the active NORs demonstrated an exceptional interindividual pattern of NOR distribution at the telomeres of the chromosomes. All individuals examined showed a different and specific NOR location in their karyotypes. Furthermore, intraindividual variation in the NOR sites was found. This observation suggested the existence of mobile NORs in C. fitzingeri. Confirmation of this phenomenon was possible by systematic FISH analysis using an 18S + 28S rDNA probe. The extremely variable number and position of the NORs in C. fitzingeri is best explained by highly mobile NORs that move freely between the telomeres of the chromosomes. These transpositions must occur preferentially in premeiotic, meiotic, or postmeiotic stages, but also at a lower incidence in the somatic tissues of the animals. It is hypothesized that transposable (mobile) elements are closely linked to the NORs or are inserted into the major 18S + 28S rDNA spacers of C. fitzingeri. When such transposable elements spread by transpositions, they can carry with them complete or partial NORs. The present study provides detailed information on various differential chromosome banding techniques, in situ hybridization experiments, chromosomal hypermethylation patterns, determination of the genome size, and analyses of restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the DNA.


2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Shen

In this paper, we address mobility management for 4th generation heterogeneous networks from a quality of service (QoS), optimisation and cross layer design perspective. Users are classified as high profile, normal profile and low profile according to their differentiated service requirements. Congestion avoidance control and adaptive handover mechanisms are implemented for efficient cooperation within the mobile heterogeneous network environment consisting of a TDMA network, ad hoc network and relay nodes. A previous proposed routing algorithm is also revised to include mobility management.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Smith-Togobo ◽  
Mette Ø Pedersen ◽  
Steffen G Jensen ◽  
Babatunde Duduyemi ◽  
Richard K Gyasi ◽  
...  

Abstract Endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma, which is a common childhood cancer in areas with intense transmission of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Early and accurate diagnosis is a prerequisite for successful therapy, but it optimally involves advanced laboratory investigations. These are technologically demanding, expensive, and often difficult to implement in settings where eBL is prevalent. Diagnosis is thus generally based on clinical assessment and morphological examination of tumour biopsies or fine-needle aspirates (FNAs). The purpose of the present study was to assess the accuracy of eBL diagnosis at two tertiary hospitals in Ghana. To that end, we studied FNAs from 29 eBL patients and 21 non-eBL lymphoma patients originally diagnosed in 2018. In addition, we examined 111 archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsies from Ghanaian patients originally diagnosed as eBL (N=55) or non-eBL (N=56) between 2010 and 2017. Availability-based subsets of samples were subjected to haematoxylin-eosin or Giemsa staining, C-MYC immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis of c-myc rearrangements We found a good correlation between original diagnosis and subsequent retrospective assessment, particularly for FNA samples. However, evidence of intact c-myc genes and normal C-MYC expression in samples from some patients originally diagnosed as eBL indicates that morphological assessment alone can lead to eBL over-diagnosis in our study area. In addition, several FFPE samples could not be assessed retrospectively, due to poor sample quality. Therefore, the simpler FNA method of obtaining tumour material is preferable, particularly when careful processing of biopsy specimens cannot be guaranteed. We conclude that the accuracy of eBL diagnostic tools available in Ghana is generally adequate, but could be improved by implementation of additional pathology laboratory investigations. Improved attention to adequate preservation of archival samples is recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Pita Rahmawati ◽  
Jawoto Nusantoro ◽  
Gustin Padwa Sari

This research aims to determine whether there are differences in stock prices, stock returns and abnormal returns before and after a stock split in high profile and low profile companies. The research period used in this study was on 2016-2018. The research was analyzed in quantitative method by using a purposive sampling method. Based on the sampling criteria, 40 companies were selected as research samples. Kolmogorov Smirnov One Sample test was used for the normality test. After the normality test was carried out, the data was processed using the two paired-sample difference test. The t-test (paired sample t-test) was used if data were normally distributed but if it was not normally distributed the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test would be used. Hypothesis testing results showed that (1) there are differences in stock prices whether before and after a stock split in high profile companies (2) there are differences in stock prices whether before and after the stock split in low profile companies (3) there are differences in stock returns whether before and after a stock split in the company high profile (4) there is no difference in stock returns whether before and after the stock split in low profile companies (5) there is no difference in abnormal returns whether before and after the stock split in high profile companies (6) there is no difference in abnormal returns whether before and after the stock split in low profile companies (7) there are differences in stock prices after a stock split in high profile companies and low profile (8) there is no difference in stock returns whether before and after the stock split in high profile and low profile companies (9) there is no difference in abnormal stock returns whether before and after a stock split at high profile and low profile companies.


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