Megakaryocytic alterations in bone marrow aspiration smears in thrombocytopenia

Background: Thrombocytopenia can be seen in any patients irrespective of age and the causes are diverse. This study was done to determine the frequency of various conditions associated with thrombocytopenia and to assess the number and morphology of megakaryocytes in various cases of thrombocytopenia. Megakaryocytic alterations in myelodysplastic versus non-myelodysplastic conditions were also evaluated in this study. Materials and methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 132 cases of bone marrow aspirates of thrombocytopenia over a duration of one year from 14th April 2017 to 13th April 2018 in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu. All the statistical evaluation was done by using SPSS version 24. Results: In this study of 132 cases, megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia was the most common cause of thrombocytopenia for which bone marrow aspiration was done. The most common dysplastic change observed in megakaryocytes was micro megakaryocyte which was more commonly seen in MDS. Nondysplastic changes frequently observed were immature forms followed by bare nuclei and were more frequently seen in megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia followed by in myelodysplastic syndromes. Conclusions: Many similar morphological changes were observed in megakaryocytes among different hematological diseases. So, the presence of dysplastic megakaryocyte should not prompt an interpretation of myelodysplastic syndromes and should always be correlated with patient’s clinical and hematological parameter.

Neuropathology and Craniofacial Lesions of Osteopetrotic Red Angus Calves

Inherited osteopetrosis was identified in cattle herds in Wyoming, Nebraska, and Missouri in 2008 to 2010. Ten affected Red Angus calves were examined to characterize lesions in brain, teeth, and skull. Six affected aborted or stillborn calves were homozygous for the recently characterized deletion mutation in SLC4A2. Four affected calves were heterozygous for the SLC4A2 mutation and survived 1 to 7 days after birth. Gross lesions were similar in all 10 calves. Brains were rectangular and dorsoventrally compressed, with concave depressions in the parietal cortex owing to thickened parietal bone. Cerebellar hemispheres were compressed with herniation of the cerebellar vermis into the foramen magnum. Moderate bilateral chromatolysis affected multiple cranial nerve nuclei and, in some calves, the red nucleus. There was loss of retinal ganglion cells with severe atrophy of optic nerves. Periventricular corpora amylacea were in the thalamus, caudate nucleus, and midbrain. Vessels and neuropil in the dorsomedial aspect of the thalamus were mineralized. Dysplastic change in premolar and molar teeth comprised intra-alveolar intermingling of dentin, enamel, cementum, and bone, contributing to dental ankylosis. Changes in the heads of osteopetrotic calves are similar to those in children with malignant forms of homozygous recessive osteopetrosis.

Overexpression of Fascin-1 in Advanced Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Tissue Microarray Analysis of Immunostaining Scores with Clinicopathological Parameters

Objective:Fascin-1 is an actin-binding protein that promotes cell proliferation, adhesion and motility. We tested the hypothesis that fascin-1 expression correlates with clinicopathological parameters of colorectal adenocarcinomas.Methods:Immunohistochemical analysis of fascin-1 was performed in tissue microarrays of 91 surgical specimens, including 32 well, 33 moderately, and 26 poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinomas; and in 22 specimens from colorectal adenomas with dysplasia.Results:Scattered fascin-1 expression was demonstrated in 9 control specimens of normal colonic glandular epithelia. Higher fascin-1 immunostaining scores were significantly associated with advanced dysplasia in colorectal adenomas (mild 4.2 ± 1.3, moderate 13.5 ± 5.3, and severe 22.5 ± 6.7) and high-grade histopathological differentiation of colorectal adenocarcinomas (grade I 88.6 ± 9, grade II 101 ± 11, and grade III 144 ± 13). Higher immunostaining scores of fascin-1 were also significantly associated with advanced T stage (T1: 42 ± 10, T2: 60 ± 12, T3: 108 ± 12, and T4: 142 ± 15). Higher fascin-1 scores were related with more advanced M and N stages of colorectal carcinomas, but not significant correlation.Conclusions:Higher expression of fascin-1 correlates significantly with tumor grades and TNM stages in colorectal adenocarcinomas and also with levels of dysplastic change in colorectal adenomas.