Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Glypican-3 And Cd81 Promote Development Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma And Hepatoblastoma Through Negative Selection., Yuhua Xue, Wendy Mars, William Bowen, Aatur D. Singhi, Sarangarajan Ranganathan, George K. Michalopoulos

Hepatobiliary Cancers: Pathobiology and Translational Advances

No abstract provided.

Proteoglycan Neofunctions: Regulation Of Inflammation And Autophagy In Cancer Biology., Liliana Schaefer, Claudia Tredup, Maria A. Gubbiotti, Renato V. Iozzo

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Inflammation and autophagy have emerged as prominent issues in the context of proteoglycan signaling. In particular, two small, leucine-rich proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin, play pivotal roles in the regulation of these vital cellular pathways and, as such, are intrinsically involved in cancer initiation and progression. In this minireview, we will address novel functions of biglycan and decorin in inflammation and autophagy, and analyze new emerging signaling events triggered by these proteoglycans, which directly or indirectly modulate these processes. We will critically discuss the dual role of proteoglycan-driven inflammation and autophagy in tumor biology, and delineate the potential mechanisms through which …

The [E]Motionless Body No Longer: Tracing The Historical Intersections Of Mental Illness And Movement In The American Asylum, Holly Adele Herzfeld

Senior Projects Spring 2017

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Multidisciplinary Studies of Bard College.

Widespread Tau Seeding Activity At Early Braak Stages, Jennifer L. Furman, Jaime Vaquer-Alicea, Charles L. White, Nigel J. Cairns, Peter T. Nelson, Marc I. Diamond

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

Transcellular propagation of tau aggregates may underlie the progression of pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Braak staging (B1, B2, B3) is based on phospho-tau accumulation within connected brain regions: entorhinal cortex (B1); hippocampus/limbic system (B2); and frontal and parietal lobes (B3). We previously developed a specific and sensitive assay that uses flow cytometry to quantify tissue seeding activity based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in cells that stably express tau reporter proteins. In a tauopathy mouse model, we have detected seeding activity far in advance of histopathological changes. It remains unknown whether individuals with AD also …

Hematuria Without Microalbuminuria, Angela Ferguson, Vimal Chadha, Amy Wiebold, Uttam Garg

Posters

Background

Microabubiminuria is a condition in which small amounts of albumin are excreted in the urine without overt nephropathy. Based on the

American Diabetic Association classification, microalbuminuria is defined as urinary excretion of albumin of 30–300 mg per 24 hours or 20–200 mcg/min or 30–300 mcg/mg creatinine. Various conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and impaired renal tubular reabsorption can lead to microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria is an indicator and predictor of the development of overt nephropathy. If identified and treated early, overt nephropathy can be prevented and averted. Proteinuria and hematuria are the two most common urinary abnormalities encountered during routine urinalysis. …

High Resolution Melting: A Useful Field-Deployable Method To Measure Dhfr And Dhps Drug Resistance In Both Highly And Lowly Endemic Plasmodium Populations, Yaye Dié Ndiaye, Cyrille K. Diédhiou, Amy K. Bei, Baba Dieye, Aminata Mbaye, Nasserdine Papa Mze, Rachel F. Daniels, Ibrahima M. Ndiaye, Awa B. Déme, Amy Gaye, Mouhamad Sy, Tolla Ndiaye, Aida S. Badiane, Mouhamadou Ndiaye, Zul Premji, Dyann F. Wirth, Souleymane Mboup, Donald Krogstad, Sarah K. Volkman, Ambroise D. Ahouidi, Daouda Ndiaye

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Emergence and spread of drug resistance to every anti-malarial used to date, creates an urgent need for development of sensitive, specifc and feld-deployable molecular tools for detection and surveillance of validated drug resistance markers. Such tools would allow early detection of mutations in resistance loci. The aim of this study was to compare common population signatures and drug resistance marker frequencies between two populations with diferent levels of malaria endemicity and history of anti-malarial drug use: Tanzania and Sénégal. This was accomplished by implementing a high resolution melting assay to study molecular markers of drug resistance as compared to …

Reference Intervals For Thyroid Stimulating Hormone And Free Thyroxine Derived From Neonates Undergoing Routine Screening For Congenital Hypothyroidism At A University Teaching Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya: A Cross Sectional Study, Geoffrey Omuse, Ali Kassim, Francis Kiigu, Ra'ana Hussain, Mary Limbe

Pathology, East Africa

Background: In order to accurately interpret neonatal thyroid function tests (TFTs), it is necessary to have population specific reference intervals (RIs) as there is significant variation across different populations possibly due to genetic, environmental or analytical issues. Despite the importance of RIs, globally there are very few publications on RIs for neonatal TFTs primarily due to ethical and technical issues surrounding recruitment of neonates for a prospective study. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from Africa on neonatal RIs for TFTs.

Methods: We used hospital based data largely derived from neonates attending the wellness clinic …

Gallium Nanoparticles Facilitate Phagosome Maturation And Inhibit Growth Of Virulent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Macrophages., Seoung-Ryoung Choi, Bradley E. Britigan, David M. Moran, Prabagaran Narayanasamy

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

New treatments and novel drugs are required to counter the growing problem of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). Our approach against drug resistant M.tb, as well as other intracellular pathogens, is by targeted drug delivery using nanoformulations of drugs already in use, as well as drugs in development. Among the latter are gallium (III) (Ga)-based compounds. In the current work, six different types of Ga and rifampin nanoparticles were prepared in such a way as to enhance targeting of M.tb infected-macrophages. They were then tested for their ability to inhibit growth of a fully pathogenic strain (H37Rv) or a …

An Expanded Role For Nurses In Laboratory Utilization, Marilyn S. Hamilton, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Michele Fix, Lynn E. Shriver

Posters

Introduction: The majority of laboratory testing errors occur in the pre-analytical stage, including specimen collection. Children provide special challenges including small blood volumes, small veins, and an inability to cooperate. We describe collaboration between laboratorians and nursing staff to improve specimen collection and the reliability of test results.

Methods: We identified three areas for improvement: 1) Volume of blood for culture, 2) Urine collection, and 3) Appropriate blood collection through a line. Base line data was established. Guidelines for specimen collection were updated. Nurse members of the Laboratory Utilization Committee developed educational tools.

Results: Nursing education was effective at improving …

Urolithiasis Analysis In A Multiethnic Population At A Tertiary Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya, Francis Kiigu, Alfred Hayombe, Daniel Maina

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Urolithiasis is a global problem whose incidence is reported to be on the rise across the world. Previously, urolithiasis was reported as being rare among the indigenous African population but recent data suggest otherwise. This study reviewed the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with urolithiasis seen at the Aga Khan University hospital Nairobi (AKUHN) as well as the chemical composition of the stones and the modalities of therapy used.

Methods: This was a retrospective study which utilized patients’ clinical and laboratory records from 2013 to 2014. Sixty-seven symptomatic patients with confrmed urolithiasis formed the study. This study aimed …

The Path Report Volume 1 Issue 3, Pathology Department, New York Medical College

The Path Report

No abstract provided.

Pediatric Ovarian Growing Teratoma Syndrome., Rebecca M. Rentea, Aaron Varghese, Atif Ahmed, Alexander Kats, Michelle Manalang, Tazim Dowlut-Mcelroy, Richard J. Hendrickson

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Ovarian immature teratoma is a germ cell tumor that comprises less than 1% of ovarian cancers and is treated with surgical debulking and chemotherapy depending on stage. Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is the phenomenon of the growth of mature teratoma elements with normal tumor markers during or following chemotherapy for treatment of a malignant germ cell tumor. These tumors are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to invasive and compressive growth as well as potential for malignant transformation. Current treatment modality is surgical resection. We discuss a 12-year-old female who presented following resection of a pure ovarian immature teratoma …

Practical Guide And Atlas For The Diagnosis Of Fungal Infections, Afia Zafar, Kauser Jabeen, Joveria Farooqi

Books

Laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections remains challenging in South East Asia as it is a neglected field in most diagnostic centres in the developing world. Initial microscopic examination of clinical specimens for the presence of fungal elements followed by growth and eventual identification of isolates up to genus and species levels are very basic and important services that must be provided by any clinical microbiology laboratory. These services have considerable impact on selection of appropriate antifungal therapy and ultimate reduction in morbidity and mortality. With the realisation of scarcity of this service and expertise in Pakistan, our group decided to …

A Previously Unreported Arterial Variant Of The Suboccipital Region Based On Cadaveric Dissection., Christian Fisahn, Brittni Burgess, Joe Iwanaga, Fernando Alonso, Jens R Chapman, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Immunodeficiency-Associated Lymphoid Hyperplasia As A Cause Of Intussusception In A Case Of Activated Pi3k-Δ Syndrome., Daniel Mettman, Isabelle Thiffault, Chitra Dinakar, Carol J. Saunders

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Activated PI3K-δ syndrome refers to a recently described primary immunodeficiency syndrome consisting of recurrent sinopulmonary infections, lymphadenopathy, mucosal lymphoid aggregates, increased susceptibility to Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus, and increased incidence of B-cell lymphomas. Variants in PIK3CD, which encodes the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit delta isoform, enhance membrane association and kinase activity, resulting in increased signal transduction through the PI3K-Akt pathway. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a pathogenic PIK3CD variant in a patient with history of immunologic impairment, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, and lymphoid hyperplasia presenting as intussusception. This case illustrates that while lymphoid hyperplasia secondary to immunodeficiency is most often unsurprising and …

Yap And The Hippo Pathway In Pediatric Cancer., Atif Ahmed, Abdalla D. Mohamed, Melissa Gener, Weijie Li, Eugenio Taboada

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The Hippo pathway is an important signaling pathway that controls cell proliferation and apoptosis. It is evolutionarily conserved in mammals and is stimulated by cell-cell contact, inhibiting cell proliferation in response to increased cell density. During early embryonic development, the Hippo signaling pathway regulates organ development and size, and its functions result in the coordinated balance between proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Its principal effectors, YAP and TAZ, regulate signaling by the embryonic stem cells and determine cell fate and histogenesis. Dysfunction of this pathway contributes to cancer development in adults and children. Emerging studies have shed light on the upregulation …

Primary Care To The Rescue, Again! Autopsy And The Death Certificate, Emily E. Ryan

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

An pre and post testing, an educational module, a presentation, and a dot phrase were developed to improve providers' knowledge of the hospital autopsy and the correct completion of death certificates.

Phenotypic Low-Level Isoniazid Resistance As A Marker To Predict Ethionamide Resistance In Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Salima Qamar, Joveria Q. Farooqi, Kausar Jabeen, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the most prevalent diseases in Pakistan. Pakistan has the highest burden of MDR-TB in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Ethionamide is an anti-tuberculous drug frequently used to treat MDR-TB. Its drug susceptibility testing is not easily available in resource limited settings. Since it acts on the same target protein as isoniazid (inhA protein encoded by inhA gene), we sought to find out if phenotypic isoniazid resistance can be a marker of ethionamide resistance.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the Aga Khan University hospital section of microbiology. Data was retrieved between …

Utility Of Peripheral Film Findings And Its Correlation With Automated Analyzer - An Audit From Tertiary Care Hospital, Sidra Asad, Imran Ahmed, Natasha Ali

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background and Objective: With the advent of automated hematology analyzer, the use of traditional microscopy of blood film has become limited. The objective of our study was to determine the percentage of peripheral blood smear review in our institution in the era of automation and to identify reasons of manual review.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective audit from January 1, 2015, to January 15, 2015. Consecutive complete blood count (CBC) samples and peripheral smear requests made up the sample size. All age groups and genders were included. CBCs were performed on Sysmex XE-5000. The variables to be analyzed …

Papillary Craniopharyngioma: A Clinicopathologic Study Of A Rare Entity From A Major Tertiary Care Center In Pakistan, Muhammad Usman Tariq, Nasir Ud Din, Zubair Ahmad, Wasim Memon

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Papillary craniopharyngioma (PCP) are uncommon variants of craniopharyngiomas (CP), which are benign epithelial neoplasms of the sellar and suprasellar region. Histologically, PCPs are typically composed of well-differentiated stratified squamous epithelium; however, focal variations are not uncommon. A distinction from other lesions of the region, despite being difficult to achieve due to the overlapping radiological and clinical features, is important for adequate treatment to be administered.
Objective: Our aim was to study the clinical and histological features of PCP with emphasis on features that are helpful in its distinction from other lesions that are similar in appearance.
Materials and Methods: …

Rapid Detection Of In Vitro Antituberculous Drug Resistance Among Smear-Positive Respiratory Samples Using Microcolony Detection-Based Direct Drug Susceptibility Testing Method, Irim Iftikhar, Seema Irfan, Joveria Farooqi, Zahida Azizullah, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: With the rise in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, there is a search for newer techniques that will rapidly detect drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although molecular techniques can detect resistance, culture is still considered gold standard, especially in resource-limited settings where quick, cheap, and easy techniques are needed. The aim of the study was to evaluate microcolony method thin layer agar (TLA) for quick detection of resistance against the first- and second-line antituberculous drugs in clinical isolates. This was a cross-sectional study performed at Aga Khan University Hospital.
Material and Methods: A total of 87 Z-N stain smear-positive pulmonary samples were received and …

Readiness For Antimicrobial Resistance (Amr) Surveillance In Pakistan; A Model For Laboratory Strengthening, Dania Khalid Saeed, Rumina Hasan, Mahwish Naim, Afia Zafar, Erum Khan, Kauser Jabeen, Seema Irfan, Imran Ahmed, Mohammad Zeeshan, Zabin Wajidali, Joveria Farooqi, Sadia Shakoor, Abdul Chagla, Jason Roy

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Limited capacity of laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) presents a critical diagnostic bottleneck in resource limited countries. This paper aims to identify such gaps and to explore whether laboratory networks could contribute towards improving AST in low resource settings. Methods: A self-assessment tool to assess antimicrobial susceptibility testing capacity was administered as a pre-workshop activity to participants from 30 microbiology laboratories in 3 cities in Pakistan. Data from public and private laboratories was analyzed and capacity of each scored in percentage terms. Laboratories from Karachi were invited to join a support network. A cohort of five laboratories that …