Three-Dimensional Nuclear Telomere Profiling as a Biomarker for Recurrence in Oligodendrogliomas: A Pilot Study

Mechanisms of recurrence in oligodendrogliomas are poorly understood. Recurrence might be driven by telomere dysfunction-mediated genomic instability. In a pilot study, we investigated ten patients with oligodendrogliomas at the time of diagnosis (first surgery) and after recurrence (second surgery) using three-dimensional nuclear telomere analysis performed with quantitative software TeloView® (Telo Genomics Corp, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). 1p/19q deletion status of each patient was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization on touch preparation slides. We found that a very specific 3D telomeric profile was associated with two pathways of recurrence in oligodendrogliomas independent of their 1p/19q status: a first group of 8 patients displayed significantly different 3D telomere profiles between both surgeries (p < 0.0001). Their recurrence happened at a mean of 231.375 ± 117.42 days and a median time to progression (TTP) of 239 days, a period defined as short-term recurrence; and a second group of three patients displayed identical 3D telomere profiles between both surgery samples (p > 0.05). Their recurrence happened at a mean of 960.666 ± 86.19 days and a median TTP of 930 days, a period defined as long-term recurrence. Our results suggest a potential link between nuclear telomere architecture and telomere dysfunction with time to recurrence in oligodendrogliomas, independently of the 1p/19q status.

Medical Image of the Month: Buffalo Chest Identified at the Time of Lung Nodule Biopsy

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. A gentleman in his late 50s with a past medical history of squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue had numerous slowly-growing pneumocyst-like lesions despite clinical remission status post surgery and chemoradiation. Biopsy of one of these lesions was recommended by a multidisciplinary tumor board. An outpatient pre-procedural supine chest CT revealed a right pneumothorax above the lesion targeted for biopsy. A subsequent pre-procedural right lateral decubitus chest CT three weeks later demonstrated a left-sided pneumothorax, raising concern for buffalo chest. (A less likely possibility would be spontaneous resolution of the right pneumothorax and development of a new left pneumothorax in the less than 4-week interval.) Intraprocedural imaging continued to demonstrate the left-sided pneumothorax. A biopsy touch preparation of the first sample obtained did not demonstrate malignancy. Therefore, an attempt was made at obtaining another sample. However, the patient developed a brief but forceful coughing fit, resulting in …

A CYTOLOGICAL STUDY OF IMPRINT SMEARS (TOUCH PREPARATION CYTOLOGY) TO EVALUATE THE TOXICITY OF METAL-CONTAINING NANOPARTICLES IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS

Introduction. Touch preparation cytology is a well-known technique widely used in clinical practice. It can be also applied for an express assessment of cyto-morphological effects of metal-containing nanoparticles in experimental animals. Material and methods. We’ve studied 144 imprint smears (of the liver, kidneys, lungs, tracheobronchial and mesenteric lymph nodes) taken from 52 rats, weighed 280-300 g, aged 3.5 months. This was done following a subchronic intraperitoneal administration of TiO2, Al2O3, and SiO2 nanoparticles, in a range of doses, and a subacute (5-times) inhalational exposure to 1 mg/m3 NiO NPs. Leishman stain was used. Cytological markers were studied at х100/х1000 magnification, using a Carl Zeiss Primo Star microscope, with a USCMOS camera for visualization. The count was done for every 200 cells of lung, liver and kidney specimens and for every 100 cells of lymph node tissue. The differences between the group means (in case of quantitative results) were analyzed using a Student’s t-test. The differences between the group means were considered statistically significant if the probability of those differences being accidental didn’t exceed 5% (р < 0,05). Results. We report the principal results obtained in a cytological study of imprint smears (touch preparations) of rat organs following the exposure to metal-containing nanoparticles. The main types of cellular responses were determined. Degenerative and dystrophic changes were observed in touch preparations of the liver, kidneys, and lungs following administration of nanoparticles in a range of doses and by various routes of exposure. Hyperergic inflammatory responses were seen upon the exposure to nickel oxide nanoparticles. A local cellular immune response was observed as an increase of macrophage percentage in imprint smears of some organs. Conclusion. The use of touch preparation cytology together with histological examination of tissue specimens expand opportunities for a more relevant morphological and quantitative analysis when studying the toxic effects of metal-containing nanoparticles.

The Sensitivity and Specificity of Touch Preparation for Rapid Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Sinusitis: A Pilot Study

Invasive fungal sinusitis is a morbid pathology that typically affects immunocompromised patients and may quickly progress to fulminant disease. The purpose of this study was to measure the sensitivity and specificity of touch preparation of nasal debridement specimens as a rapid diagnostic tool for invasive fungal sinusitis. A retrospective chart review was performed of 22 patients undergoing nasal debridement due to suspicion for invasive fungal sinusitis over a 10-year period. Thirteen patients had touch preparation of nasal specimens followed by routine histologic processing; two of these patients underwent 2, and 1 patient had 3 separate debridements, for a total of 17 touch preparations performed. The sensitivity and specificity of touch preparation were calculated by correlating the initial results with the presence of fungal invasion on final pathologic analysis. The sensitivity of touch preparation was 56% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.85), specificity was 100% (95% CI: 0.60-1.00), positive predictive value was 100% (95% CI: 0.46-1.00), and negative predictive value was 67% (95% CI: 0.35-0.89). This procedure may be a useful adjunct in situations requiring rapid diagnosis of invasive fungal sinusitis but should not be used as the sole criteria for determining the need for surgical intervention.