APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica
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Coronaviruses are a class of RNA viruses that can cause respiratory and intestinal infections in animals and humans. SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 [2019-nCoV]) belong to the family Coronaviridae and the genus Betacoronavirus. At present, the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 is getting deeper and deeper. In order to better prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2, this article compares the infectivity, pathogenicity, and related clinical characteristics of the three human pathogenic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV to help us further understand the pathogenic characteristics of novel coronaviruses.
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This study aims to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus colonizing patients and ICU environment of a teaching hospital, the virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates, and to evaluate the genetic relationship among them. A total of 536 swabs (134 of patients and 402 of ICU environment) were collected and analyzed to detect S. aureus. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was determined by disk diffusion test, and the detection of the mecA and virulence factors genes was performed by PCR, in addition to SCCmec typing. ⋯ The intermediate resistance to vancomycin was detected in 5.9% and 4.4% of the isolates obtained from patients and environment, respectively. Identical isolates obtained from different patients and sources were grouped into several clusters. The results showed dissemination of multidrug-resistant strains between patients and fomites and the persistence of MRSA and VISA isolates in the ICU environment.
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There is no consensus on the classification of the diagnostic certainty of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) based on the histopathological findings. This retrospective study aimed to describe the clinical and histopathological spectrum of HP. Herein, we also propose different grades of diagnostic certainty. ⋯ Based on the various combinations of histopathological findings, the cases were classified as 'definite', 'probable', and 'possible' HP in 56.7%, 33.3%, and 10%, respectively. Chronic HP was diagnosed in 56.7% cases based on the presence of fibrosis on histopathology. The histopathological diagnosis of subacute or chronic HP did not corroborate with the disease duration, and 17.6% of the subjects with duration of symptoms of <6 months had evidence of fibrotic disease on histopathology.
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The placenta is a fetal organ, composed of fetal DNA and as such reflects the fetal phenotype. The placenta consists of an umbilical cord, fetal membranes (amnion and chorion), and the placental disc which in turn is comprised of villous tissue. Both maternal and fetal disorders have placental sequelae and placental abnormalities can affect both maternal and fetal well-being. ⋯ On this basis, a list of indications for placental examinations has been created by a multidisciplinary group of pathologists, maternal-fetal-medicine specialists, and neonatologists that, if followed, will ensure that the vast majority of placentas that ultimately show any significant pathology will be examined (Arch Pathol Lab Med, 121, 1997, 449-76). This list include fetal, maternal, and placental indications. This chapter will discuss those indications as well as give a brief overview of macroscopic placental examination and procedure.
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and causes of death worldwide. In this study, we assessed the correlation between clinicopathologic factors with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule-4 (CTLA-4) expressions. Furthermore, we analyzed the prognostic significance of these proteins in a subgroup of patients. ⋯ High PD-L1 expression was demonstrated as an independent poor prognostic factor for disease-free survival in addition to previous known factors, size >5 cm and serum albumin ≤3.5 g/dL in high CD8+ TILs group. We have demonstrated that the combined high expression of PD-L1 and CD8+ TIL is an important prognostic factor related to the immune checkpoint pathway in HCC and furthermore, there is a possibility that it could be used as a predictor of therapeutic response. Also, this result would be helpful in evaluating the applicable group of PD-1/PD-L1 blocking agent for HCC patients.