An artificial intelligent diagnostic system on differential recognition of hematopoietic cells from microscopic images

The endothelium participates actively in homeostatic mechanisms such as the regulation of vascular tone and maintenance of a nonthrombotic environment, as well as directing biological responses such as leukocyte trafficking to inflammatory sites. Disruption of these processes leads to disease. In the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome autoantibodies provoke the endothelium to develop a prothrombotic surface. In systemic vasculitides associated with presence of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies, it is likely that the autoantibodies incite premature neutrophil activation, disrupted neutrophil-endothelium interactions and endothelial damage. This review considers how normal endothelial functions may be subverted in disease and how active endothelial responses may contribute to disease.     

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: mammographic appearance with pathologic correlation

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the mammographic appearance with pathologic correlation of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast. CONCLUSION: Metaplastic carcinomas of the breast are masses with mammographic characteristics of low suspicion because of their histologic appearance. Metaplastic carcinoma should be included in the differential assessment of predominately circumscribed, noncalcified masses revealed on mammography. One salient feature that may distinguish metaplastic carcinomas is the occurrence of a circumscribed portion with a spiculated portion, which is seen in carcinomas that have a significant mixture of metaplastic and invasive carcinoma growth patterns.     

Exclusion of BMP6 as a candidate gene for cleidocranial dysplasia

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an autosomal dominant, generalized skeletal dysplasia in humans that has been mapped to the short arm of chromosome 6. We report linkage of a CCD mutation to 6p21 in a large family and exclude the bone morphogenetic protein 6 gene (BMP6) as a candidate for the disease by cytogenetic localization and genetic recombination. CCD was linked with a maximal two-point LOD score of 7.22 with marker D6S452 at theta = 0. One relative with a recombination between D6S451 and D6S459 and another individual with a recombination between D6S465 and CCD places the mutation within a 7 cM region between D6S451 and D6S465 at 6p21. A phage P1 genomic clone spanning most of the BMP6 gene hybridized to chromosome 6 in band region p23-p24 using FISH analysis, placing this gene cytogenetically more distal than the region of linkage for CCD. We derived a new polymorphic marker from this same P1 clone and found recombinations between the marker and CCD in this family. The results confirm the map position of CCD on 6p21, further refine the CCD genetic interval by identifying a recombination between D6S451 and D6S459, and exclude BMP6 as a candidate gene.     

Epidemiological and clinical aspects relating to the variability of rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To review epidemiological studies dealing with the temporal and geographic variability in the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and clinical studies that address the variability of severity and manifestations among populations. METHODS: An extensive search of the literature, including a Medline search, was completed. Studies addressing the origin, history, and trends in the occurrence of RA were reviewed first. Next, studies of the prevalence and incidence of RA in different populations were reviewed, and occurrence rates compared. Standardization was attempted by tabulating adult prevalence rates of studies using equivalent sets of criteria. Studies comparing RA patients from two populations were sought next. Finally, studies dealing with explanations of the presumed variability were reviewed. RESULTS: Temporal variability is indicated by paleopathological evidence that RA has existed in the New World since 4000 BC, whereas there is no evidence that it occurred in Europe before the 17th century, or in Africa before the 20th century. Epidemiological studies show a possible trend of decreasing incidence of RA in the United States and Western Europe, whereas reports from Africa note a rising incidence. In white populations of Europe and America, prevalence is approximately 1%, and incidence is 0.03%. Significantly higher rates are found in some North American Indians, and significantly lower rates in some Asian and African populations, even when the different population structures are taken into account. In the latter populations, different patterns of occurrence from those observed in whites emerge, such as greater female preponderance and a much younger peak age at onset. Direct standardized comparisons of two diverse populations of RA patients showed some differences in expression, severity, or manifestations of RA between populations. CONCLUSION: The occurrence and manifestations of RA are temporally and geographically variable.     

Incorporating social support into a community-wide smoking-cessation contest

Exposure to foreign particles sometimes causes inflammatory reactions through production of cytokines and chemoattractants by phagocytic cells. In this study, we focused on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) to evaluate its pathophysiological role in the phagocytic process. Immunohistochemical analysis of human pseudosynovial tissues retrieved at revision of total hip arthroplasty showed that infiltrating mononuclear and multinuclear cells were positively stained by both an anti-CD68 antibody and anti-human MIF antibody. For in vitro study, MIF was released from murine macrophage-like cells (RAW 264.7) in response to phagocytosis of fluorescent-latex beads in a particle dose-dependent manner. Northern blot analysis showed marked elevation of the MIF mRNA level in the phagocytic macrophage-like cells. Moreover, pretreatment of RAW 264.7 cells with rat recombinant MIF increased the extent of phagocytosis by 1.6-fold compared with the control. Taken together, these results suggest that MIF plays an important role by activating macrophages in autocrine and paracrine fashion to phagocytose foreign particles.     

Continuity and change: past experience as adaptive repertoire in occupational adaptation

Narratives are gaining recognition as important ways occupational therapists and other clinicians can think about the life stories of clients. The purpose of this article is to examine a conceptualization of how changes from one chapter to another occur in life stories, using the metaphor of an adaptive repertoire, and to consider how this notion can be useful in helping clients maintain continuity and a coherent life story in times of change. Three premises based on the concept of adaptation address (a) configurations of occupational forms embedded in particular local worlds, (b) cumulative development of an adaptive repertoire that allows one to perform both competently and appropriately, and (c) adaptive transitions and application of one's repertoire to new circumstances. Implications for research and clinical practice in occupational therapy also are examined.     

Computational study of packing a collagen-like molecule: quasi-hexagonal vs "Smith" collagen microfibril model

The lateral packing of a collagen-like molecule, CH3CO-(Gly-L-Pro-L-Pro)4-NHCH3, has been examined by energy minimization with the ECEPP/3 force field. Two current packing models, the Smith collagen microfibril twisted equilateral pentagonal model and the quasi-hexagonal packing model, have been extensively investigated. In treating the Smith microfibril model, energy minimization was carried out on various conformations including those with the symmetry of equivalent packing, i.e., in which the triple helices were arranged equivalently with respect to each other. Both models are based on the experimental observation of the characteristic axial periodicity, D = 67 nm, of light and dark bands, indicating that, if any superstructure exists, it should consist of five triple helices. The quasi-hexagonal packing structure is found to be energetically more favorable than the Smith microfibril model by as much as 31.2 kcal/mol of five triple helices. This is because the quasi-hexagonal packing geometry provides more nonbonded interaction possibilities between triple helices than does the Smith microfibril geometry. Our results are consistent with recent x-ray studies with synthetic collagen-like molecules and rat tail tendon, in which the data were interpreted as being consistent with either a quasi-hexagonal or a square-triangular structure.