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Context.--Transbronchial cryobiopsy is an emerging procedure to obtain lung tissue for diagnosis of interstitial lung disease and has gained popularity because it is less invasive and has a lower rate of complications compared with nonselective surgical lung biopsy. Objective.--To provide an overview of the status of the medical literature regarding transbronchial cryobiopsy. Data Sources.--A literature search was performed using PubMed search engine. The terms "cryobiopsy" or "cryoprobe" and "interstitial lung disease" or "diffuse parenchymal lung disease" or "pulmonary fibrosis" were used, with the search concluding at the end of November 2019. Conclusions.--While the diagnostic yield of transbronchial cryobiopsy is slightly lower than surgical lung biopsy, a growing amount of literature suggests that with a multidisciplinary approach cryobiopsy provides diagnostic and prognostic information approaching that of surgical lung biopsy with lower morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "new originalism" is all about the text of the Constitution. Originalists insist that the whole point of originalism is to respect and follow the original meaning of the text, and that originalism derives its legitimacy from its unwavering focus on the text alone as the sole basis of higher law. And yet, many leading Supreme Court decisions in matters of great importance to conservatives--in opinions authored and joined by originalist judges, and often praised by originalist scholars--are seemingly not grounded in the constitutional text at all. They rest instead on abstract structural argument: on freestanding principles of federalism and separation of powers in lieu of the original meaning of any particular provision of the Constitution. This Essay demonstrates and examines the underexplored tension between original meaning textualism and structural argument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to cigarette smoke can lead to a variety of parenchymal lung diseases, including diffuse cystic lung diseases (DCLDs). Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is the prototypical DCLD and has a characteristic appearance on high-resolution CT (HRCT). We present a series of four patients with DCLD on HRCT who were referred to our institution with a presumed diagnosis of LAM and who were found instead to have smoking-related injury of the small airways on histopathological analysis. We submit that cigarette smoke-induced small airway injury can present as DCLD on HRCT in a pattern that can mimic LAM. A detailed history of cigarette smoke exposure should be obtained in patients presenting with DCLD, and imaging features should not be used in isolation to establish a firm diagnosis of LAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.--Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an uncommon tumor that can be difficult to diagnose. Objective.--To provide updated, practical guidelines for the pathologic diagnosis of MM. Data Sources.--Pathologists involved in the International Mesothelioma Interest Group and others with an interest and expertise in the field contributed to this update. Reference material included up-to-date, peer-reviewed publications and textbooks. Conclusions.--There was discussion and consensus opinion regarding guidelines for (1) distinguishing benign from malignant mesothelial proliferations (both epithelioid and spindle cell lesions), (2) cytologic diagnosis of MM, (3) recognition of the key histologic features of pleural and peritoneal MM, (4) use of histochemical and immunohistochemical stains in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MM, (5) differentiating epithelioid MM from various carcinomas (lung, breast, ovarian, and colonic adenocarcinomas, and squamous cell and renal cell carcinomas), (6) diagnosis of sarcomatoid MM, (7) use of molecular markers in the diagnosis of MM, (8) electron microscopy in the diagnosis of MM, and (9) some caveats and pitfalls in the diagnosis of MM. Immunohistochemical panels are integral to the diagnosis of MM, but the exact makeup of panels employed is dependent on the differential diagnosis and on the antibodies available in a given laboratory. Depending on the morphology, immunohistochemical panels should contain both positive and negative markers for mesothelial differentiation and for lesions considered in the differential diagnosis. Immunohistochemical markers should have either sensitivity or specificity greater than 80% for the lesions in question. Interpretation of positivity generally should take into account the localization of the stain (eg, nuclear versus cytoplasmic) and the percentage of cells staining (>10% is suggested for cytoplasmic and membranous markers). Selected molecular markers are now being used to distinguish benign from malignant mesothelial proliferations. These guidelines are meant to be a practical diagnostic reference for the pathologist; however, some new pathologic predictors of prognosis and response to therapy are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.--Transbronchial cryobiopsy has recently been proposed as an alternative to surgical biopsy in the diagnosis of diffuse lung disease. Objective.--To familiarize pathologists with transbronchial cryobiopsy, including what it is, how it is performed, how it compares to other techniques of lung biopsy in diffuse lung disease, what are the technical issues relating to it, what the complications are, how cryobiopsies should be interpreted, and the clinical usefulness of cryobiopsy. Data Sources.--All the available literature on cryobiopsy in diffuse lung disease through May 2016, primarily in the last 5 years, was reviewed, and some unpublished data known to the authors were included. Conclusions.--Cryobiopsies are considerably larger than forceps biopsies and allow pattern recognition approaching that of a surgical lung biopsy in many cases. Artifacts associated with cryobiopsy are minimal. In comparison with surgical lung biopsies, the diagnosis rate with cryobiopsies is lower, in the neighborhood of 80%, versus higher than 90% for surgical lung biopsies. Cryobiopsy is proposed as an alternative to surgical lung biopsy and a technique that may appreciably decrease the number of patients who require surgical lung biopsy for diagnosis. This is important because the mortality from cryobiopsy is very small (0.1% to date) compared with surgical lung biopsy (1.7% for elective procedures and considerably higher for nonelective procedures). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.--Amyloidosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by the deposition of congophilic amyloid fibrils in the extracellular matrix of tissues and organs. To date, 31 fibril proteins have been identified in humans, and it is now recommended that amyloidoses be named after these fibril proteins. Based on this classification scheme, the most common forms of amyloidosis include systemic AL (formerly primary), systemic AA (formerly secondary), systemic wild-type ATTR (formerly age-related or senile systemic), and systemic hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (formerly familial amyloid polyneuropathy). Three different clinicopathologic forms of amyloidosis can be seen in the lungs: diffuse alveolar-septal amyloidosis, nodular pulmonary amyloidosis, and tracheo-bronchial amyloidosis. Objective.--To clarify the relationship between the fibril protein-based amyloidosis classification system and the clinicopathologic forms of pulmonary amyloidosis and to provide a useful guide for diagnosing these entities for the practicing pathologist. Data Sources.--This is a narrative review based on PubMed searches and the authors' own experiences. Conclusions.--Diffuse alveolar-septal amyloidosis is usually caused by systemic AL amyloidosis, whereas nodular pulmonary amyloidosis and tracheobronchial amyloidosis usually represent localized AL amyloidosis. However, these generalized scenarios cannot always be applied to individual cases. Because the treatment options for amyloidosis are dependent on the fibril protein-based classifications and whether the process is systemic or localized, the workup of new clinically relevant cases should include amyloid subtyping (preferably with mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis) and further clinical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Supreme Court of the United States based its landmark decision in Shelby County v. Holder on the proposition that the Constitution contains "a fundamental principle of equal sovereignty among the States." For the central holding of a blockbuster constitutional case, that assertion was surprisingly unsupported. The Court simply declared it to be true and made little effort to substantiate it. That naked conclusion prompted savage criticism not only from the left, but also from the right. The consensus critical reaction was epitomized by Judge Richard Posner's remark that "the court's invocation of ‘equal sovereignty' is an indispensable prop of the decision. But . . . there is no doctrine of equal sovereignty. The opinion rests on air." Critics also worried that, because there are countless federal laws that can be said to treat the states disparately, the Court's brand-new equal sovereignty principle is, as Justice Ginsburg put it in her strident dissent, "capable of much mischief." This Article contends that the critics of Shelby County are only half right—and that the Shelby County majority, despite its cursory analysis, is half right too. The critics are correct that the Court seemingly pulled the equal sovereignty principle out of thin air—that it played a little too fast and loose with precedent and failed to wrestle adequately with constitutional text, structure, and history. Nonetheless, this Article concludes—after performing the thorough examination of the traditional sources of constitutional law that was missing from the ipse dixit of Shelby County—that there is indeed a deep principle of equal sovereignty that runs through the Constitution. In James Madison's words, the Constitution contemplates "a government of a federal nature, consisting of many coequal sovereigns." Properly understood, however, the equal sovereignty principle is not a guarantee of state equality in all respects. It guarantees only equal sovereignty-that is, equal capacity for self-government-which makes it more fundamental, but also less expansive, than critics have feared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleural biopsies for the evaluation of malignant mesothelioma can be some of the most challenging cases faced by the practicing surgical pathologist. We review the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and imaging studies in patients with malignant mesothelioma, and then present a practical approach to the diagnosis using the cytologic features for malignancy and whether there is an epithelioid or spindled morphology; four main scenarios are discussed. The pertinent immunohistochemical work-up is reviewed for each scenario. Following this general overview, more unusual histologic patterns are compared and unusual presentations are discussed. Brief mention of grading systems for malignant mesothelioma and the use of electron microscopy and molecular studies is made. Practical considerations in the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma are made throughout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originalists have traditionally based the normative case for originalism primarily on principles of popular sovereignty: the Constitution owes its legitimacy as higher law to the fact that it was ratified by the American people through a supermajoritarian process. As such, it must be interpreted according to the original meaning that it had at the time of ratification. To give it another meaning today is to allow judges to enforce a legal rule that was never actually embraced and enacted by the people. Whatever the merits of this argument in general, it faces particular hurdles when applied to the Fourteenth Amendment. The Fourteenth Amendment was a purely partisan measure, drafted and enacted entirely by Republicans in a rump Reconstruction Congress in which the Southern states were denied representation; it would never have made it through Congress had all of the elected Senators and Representatives been permitted to vote. And it was ratified not by the collective assent of the American people, but rather at gunpoint. The Southern states had been placed under military rule, and were forced to ratify the Amendment--which they despised--as a condition of ending military occupation and rejoining the Union. The Amendment can therefore claim no warrant to democratic legitimacy through original popular sovereignty. It was added to the Constitution despite its open failure to obtain the support of the necessary supermajority of the American people. This Article explores the fundamental challenge that this history poses to originalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The fault zone architectural elements of the Copper Basin fault include a fault core, inner damage zone, and outer damage zone. Utilizing Yb as a reference frame element, significant elemental mass changes were documented across all three architectural zones, with the greatest change in the fault core. Porosity and volumetric strain both increase toward the principal slip surface reaching a maximum in the inner damage zone and then dropping significantly in the fault core. In the damage zone and unaffected wall rocks, smectite is the most prominent clay species, whereas illite dominates the fault core suggesting that temperatures may have reached ∼100–150 °C or more during the production of the fault core. A number of studies have interpreted similar mass changes and clay mineral reactions to indicate high water/rock ratios. Such interpretations imply that during rupture, permeability increased within the fault core allowing it to act as a pathway for hot, chemically reactive fluids. Then during and after rupture, CO2 and SiO2 rich fluids moved into the inner and outer damage zones where calcite and quartz precipitation healed the fractured and permeable rock. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The extracellular space or apoplast forms a path through the whole plant and acts as an interface with the environment. The apoplast is composed of plant cell wall and space within which apoplastic fluid provides a means of delivering molecules and facilitates intercellular communications. However, the apoplastic fluid extraction from in planta systems remains challenging and this is particularly true for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), a worldwide-cultivated fruit plant. Large-scale proteomic analysis reveals the protein content of the grapevine leaf apoplastic fluid and the free interactive proteome map considerably facilitates the study of the grapevine proteome. Results: To obtain a snapshot of the grapevine apoplastic fluid proteome, a vacuum-infiltration-centrifugation method was optimized to collect the apoplastic fluid from non-challenged grapevine leaves. Soluble apoplastic protein patterns were then compared to whole leaf soluble protein profiles by 2D-PAGE analyses. Subsequent MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry of tryptically digested protein spots was used to identify proteins. This large-scale proteomic analysis established a well-defined proteomic map of whole leaf and leaf apoplastic soluble proteins, with 223 and 177 analyzed spots, respectively. All data arising from proteomic, MS and MS/MS analyses were deposited in the public database world-2DPAGE. Prediction tools revealed a high proportion of (i) classical secreted proteins but also of non-classical secreted proteins namely Leaderless Secreted Proteins (LSPs) in the apoplastic protein content and (ii) proteins potentially involved in stress reactions and/or in cell wall metabolism. Conclusions: This approach provides free online interactive reference maps annotating a large number of soluble proteins of the whole leaf and the apoplastic fluid of grapevine leaf. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed proteome study of grapevine apoplastic fluid providing a comprehensive overview of the most abundant proteins present in the apoplast of grapevine leaf that could be further characterized in order to elucidate their physiological function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.-Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an uncommon tumor that can be difficult to diagnose. Objective.-To provide updated practical guidelines for the pathologic diagnosis of MM. Data Sources.-Pathologists involved in the International Mesothelioma Interest Group and others with an interest in the field contributed to this update. Reference material includes peer-reviewed publications and textbooks. Conclusions.-There was consensus opinion regarding (1) distinction of benign from malignant mesothelial proliferations (both epithelioid and spindle cell lesions), (2) cytologic diagnosis of MM, (3) key histologic features of pleural and peritoneal MM, (4) use of histochemical and immunohistochemical stains in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MM, (5) differentiation of epithelioid MM from various carcinomas (lung, breast, ovarian, and colonic adenocarcinomas, and squamous cell and renal cell carcinomas), (6) diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, (7) use of molecular markers in the diagnosis of MM, (8) electron microscopy in the diagnosis of MM, and (9) some caveats and pitfalls in the diagnosis of MM. Immunohistochemical panels are integral to the diagnosis of MM, but the exact makeup of panels used is dependent on the differential diagnosis and on the antibodies available in a given laboratory. Immunohistochemical panels should contain both positive and negative markers. It is recommended that immunohistochemical markers have either sensitivity or specificity greater than 80% for the lesions in question. Interpretation of positivity generally should take into account the localization of the stain (eg, nuclear versus cytoplasmic) and the percentage of cells staining (>10% is suggested for cytoplasmic membranous markers). These guidelines are meant to be a practical reference for the pathologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colletotrichum acutatum is an important phytopathogenic fungus causing anthracnose in commercially important fruit crops, such as strawberry. The conidia produced by the fungus are survival structures which play a key role in host infection and fungal propagation. Despite its relevance to the fungal life cycle, conidial biology has not been extensively investigated. Here, we provide the first proteomic description of the conidial germination in C. acutatum by comparing the proteomic profiles of ungerminated and germinated conidia. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry, we have identified 365 proteins in 354 spots, which represent 245 unique proteins, including some proteins with key functions in pathogenesis. All these proteins have been classified according to their molecular function and their involvement in biological processes, including cellular energy production, oxidative metabolism, stress, fatty acid synthesis, protein synthesis, and folding. This report constitutes the first comprehensive study of protein expression during the early stage of the C. acutatum conidial germination. It advances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the conidial germination process, and provides a useful basis for the further characterization of proteins involved in fungal biology and fungus life cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that reviews the consensus guidelines that have been developed for diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Several literature reviews are carried out to suggest the possible classification updates and changes that can be made to the guidelines. The study highlights the importance of multidisciplinary discussions for the diagnosis of the condition.

The article focuses on judicial empathy and why it is an important characteristic in judges. Topics include constitutional law in the U.S., the rule of law, and judicial discretion. Information is provided on a judge's capacity for compassion, adherence to legal doctrine, and popular discourse on judging in the U.S.

The article discusses the originalism theory of interpretation in relation to the U.S. Constitution as of March 2011, focusing on an allegedly improved version of originalism, known as the New Originalism, and its impact on judicial constraint in the U.S. court system. According to the article, originalism was established following several rights-expansive decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court under the leadership of Chief Justices Earl Warren and Warren E. Burger.

Originalists routinely argue that originalism is the only coherent and legitimate theory of constitutional interpretation. This Article endeavors to undermine those claims by demonstrating that, despite the suggestion of originalist rhetoric, originalism is not a single, coherent, unified theory of constitutional interpretation, but is rather a disparate collection of distinct constitutional theories that share little more than a misleading reliance on a common label. Originalists generally agree only on certain very broad precepts that serve as the fundamental underlying principles of constitutional interpretation: specifically, that the "writtenness" of the Constitution necessitates a fixed constitutional meaning, and that courts that see themselves as empowered to give the Constitution some avowedly different meaning are behaving contrary to law. Originalists have been able to achieve agreement on these broad underlying principles, but they have often viewed as unduly narrow and mistaken the understanding held by the original originalists-the "framers" of originalism, if you will-as to how those principles must be put into action. And originalists disagree so profoundly amongst themselves about how to effectuate those underlying principles that over time they have articulated-and continue to articulate-a wide array of strikingly disparate, and mutually exclusive, constitutional theories. In this regard, originalists have followed a living, evolving approach to constitutional interpretation. Our account of originalism's evolution-and of the extensive disagreement among originalists today-undermines originalists' normative claims about the superiority of their approach. Originalists' claims about the unique and exclusive legitimacy of their theory-that originalism self-evidently represents the "correct" method of constitutional interpretation-founder when one considers that originalists themselves cannot even begin to agree on what their "correct" approach actually entails. And their claims that originalism has a unique ability to produce determinate and fixed constitutional meaning, and thus that only originalism properly treats the Constitution as law and properly constrains judges from reading their own values into the Constitution, stumble when one considers the rapid evolution and dizzying array of versions of originalism; because each version has the potential to produce a different constitutional "meaning," the constitutional meaning that a committed originalist judge would find turns out to be anything but fixed. As originalism evolves, the constitutional meanings that it produces evolve along with it. Today's originalists not only reach results markedly different from those originalists reached thirty years ago, but also produce widely divergent results amongst themselves. Judges committed to the originalist enterprise thus have significant discretion to choose (consciously or subconsciously) the version of originalism that is most likely to dictate results consistent with their own preferences. As such, originalism suffers from the very flaws that its proponents have identified in its alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.—Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an uncommon tumor that can be difficult to diagnose. Objective.—To develop practical guidelines for the pathologic diagnosis of MM. Data Sources.—A pathology panel was convened at the International Mesothelioma Interest Group biennial meeting (October 2006). Pathologists with an interest in the field also contributed after the meeting. Conclusions.—There was consensus opinion regarding (1) distinguishing benign from malignant mesothelial proliferations (both epithelioid and spindle cell lesions), (2) cytologic diagnosis of MM, (3) key histologic features of pleural and peritoneal MM, (4) use of histochemical and immunohistochemical stains in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MM, (5) differentiating epithelioid MM from various carcinomas (lung, breast, ovarian, and colonic adenocarcinomas and squamous cell and renal cell carcinomas), (6) diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, (7) use of molecular markers in the differential diagnosis of MM, (8) electron microscopy in the diagnosis of MM, and (9) some caveats and pitfalls in the diagnosis of MM. Immunohistochemical panels are integral to the diagnosis of MM, but the exact makeup of panels used is dependent on the differential diagnosis and on the antibodies available in a given laboratory. Immunohistochemical panels should contain both positive and negative markers. The International Mesothelioma Interest Group recommends that markers have either sensitivity or specificity greater than 80% for the lesions in question. Interpretation of positivity generally should take into account the localization of the stain (eg, nuclear versus cytoplasmic) and the percentage of cells staining (>10% is suggested for cytoplasmic membranous markers). These guidelines are meant to be a practical reference for the pathologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Executive branch agencies typically use a process of "notice and comment" to permit the public to respond to the proposed text of rules. The legal literature has not considered whether a similar process would be helpful for the judicial branch. This Article argues that it would be. Neither the parties to a litigation nor third parties generally have an opportunity to comment on judicial opinions after they are drafted but before they are made final. As a result, judicial opinions often contain errors and frequently have far-ranging and unanticipated negative consequences. A notice-and comment system could mitigate these concerns, and could also help to constrain judges to follow the rule of law and to improve the legitimacy of the judicial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conidiospores are the asexual propagation units of many plant-pathogenic fungi. In this article, we report an annotated proteome map of ungerminated conidiospores of the ascomycete barley powdery mildew pathogen, Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei. Using a combination of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we have identified the proteins in 180 spots, which probably represent at least 123 distinct fungal gene products. Most of the identified proteins have a predicted function in carbohydrate, lipid or protein metabolism, indicating that the spore is equipped for the catabolism of storage compounds as well as for protein biosynthesis and folding on germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Philip Morris USA v. Williams, the Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not permit the imposition of punitive damages to punish a defendant for harm caused to third parties. This Article critiques the reasoning, but seeks ultimately to vindicate the result, of that landmark decision. It argues that, although the Court's procedural due process analysis does not stand up to scrutiny, punitive damages as punishment for third-party harm do indeed violate procedural due process, but for reasons far more profound than those offered by the Court. To reach that conclusion, the Article confronts the most basic and fundamental questions about punitive damages - questions that the Supreme Court has studiously avoided for more than a century: what, exactly, is the purpose of punitive damages, and how is it constitutional to impose them as a form of punishment in a judicial proceeding without affording the defendant the protection of the Constitution's criminal procedural safeguards? The Article argues that punitive damages are properly conceptualized as a form of punishment for private wrongs: judicially sanctioned private revenge. As such, it makes both theoretical and doctrinal sense to impose them without affording the defendant criminal procedural protections, which are necessitated only for the punishment of public wrongs on behalf of society. When, however, courts employ punitive damages as a form of punishment for public wrongs, they become a substitute for the criminal law, which thus makes an intolerable end run around the Bill of Rights. For that reason, Williams was ultimately correct that punitive damages must be limited to punishment for the harm done to the individual plaintiff, not the harm done to the general public. This reasoning suggests that contrary to the emerging conventional wisdom, Williams does not stand in the way of the imposition of nonpunitive extracompensatory damages of the type favored by law and economics scholars as a means of forcing the defendant to internalize the costs of its behavior in order to achieve optimal deterrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Article approaches the originalism debate from a new angle-through the lens of the recently defeated Federal Marriage Amendment. There was profound and very public disagreement about the meaning of the FMA-in particular about the effect that it would have had on civil unions. The inescapable conclusion is that there was no original public meaning of the FMA with respect to the civil unions question. This suggests that often the problem with originalism is not just that the original public meaning of centuries-old provisions of the Constitution is hard to find (especially by judges untrained in history). The problem is frequently much more fundamental, and much more fatal; it is that there was no original public meaning to begin with. It is a natural consequence of the constitution-making process that a constitutional provision addressing a deeply controversial subject can only be enacted when it is drafted with highly ambiguous language so that, rather than possessing a single original meaning, it appeals to disparate factions with divergent understandings of its terms. As such, the central premise of originalism-that, in Justice Scalia's words, the Constitution was enacted with "a fixed meaning ascertainable through the usual devices familiar to those learned in the law"-is often inaccurate. And for that reason, the central promise of originalism-that, by relying on an objective, discoverable, fixed constitutional meaning, originalism can prevent judges from subverting democracy and the rule of law by reading their personal values into the Constitution-is a false one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttranslational protein modification by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is a highly dynamic and reversible process. To analyze the substrate specificity of SUMO-conjugating and -deconjugating enzymes from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we reconstituted its SUMOylation cascade in vitro and tested the capacity of this system to conjugate the Arabidopsis SUMO isoforms AtSUMO1, 2, and 3 to the model substrate ScPCNA from yeast (Saccharornyces cerevisiae). This protein contains two in vivo SUMOylated lysine residues, namely K127 and K164. Under in vitro conditions, the Arabidopsis SUMOylation system specifically conjugates all tested SUMO isoforms to lysine-127, but not to lysine-164, of ScPCNA. The SUMO isoforms AtSUMO1 and AtSUMO2, but not AtSUMO3, were found to form polymeric chains on ScPCNA due to a self-SUMOylation process. h-i a complementary approach, we analyzed both the SUMO isopeptidase activity and the pre-SUMO-processing capacity of the putative Arabidopsis SUMO proteases At1g60220, At1g10570, and At5g60190 using the known SUMO isopeptidases ScULP1, XopD, and ESD4 (At4g15880) as reference enzymes. Interestingly, At5g60190 exhibits no SUMO protease activity but processes the pre-form of Arabidopsis Rub1. The other five enzymes represent SUMO isopeptidases that show different substrate preferences. All these enzymes cleave AtSUMO1 and AtSUMO2 conjugates of ScPCNA, whereas only the putative bacterial virulence factor XopD is able to release AtSUMO3. In addition, all five enzymes cleave pre-AtSUMO1 and pre-AtSUMO2 peptides, but none of the proteins efficiently produce mature AtSUMO3 or AtSUMO5 molecules from their precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the opinion of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia that the display of Ten Commandments monuments in government property are constitutional because the Establishment Clause permits the government to favor religion over nonreligion. Analysis of the implications of the opinion of Scalia; Reason of Scalia for concluding that the Constitution permits the government to favor Judeo-Christian monotheism; Information on the opinion of Scalia in the case McCreary County versus American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky.

This article focuses on the history, nature and the modern rule regarding uniformity constraint on the commerce power. According to the Court, the U.S. Congress is free to enact commercial regulations that apply in some states, but not in others, or that explicitly treat some states differently than others. In this article, the author first reviews modern cases articulating the lack of a uniformity constraint on the commerce power and criticizes the current doctrine as the product of a perfunctory textual analysis of a type wholly unsuited to constitutional decision-making. Subsequently, he briefly explores the notion of uniformity in constitutional law, examining the various types of uniformity that might be expected from federal laws and the various rationales for seeking them.

Study Objectives: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology, affecting almost exclusively women of childbearing age, that is associated with the proliferation of spindle cells and cystic changes in the affected lung. The underlying processes that contribute to this disease are poorly understood. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) is a potent cytokine that promotes mesenchymal cell proliferation and regulates the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, particularly fibronectins. Herein, we evaluate the expression of TGF beta(1) and matrix-associated fibronectin in lung specimens demonstrating LAM.Design: Lung biopsy specimens that were confirmed to contain pathologic LAM cells were obtained from 13 patients. The specimens were submitted to immunohistochemical evaluation for TGF beta(1) and fibronectin, as well as the typical markers of LAM cells. Healthy lung parenchyma surrounding resected neoplasms was studied in a parallel fashion as control tissues.Measurements and Results: In all 13 LAM cases and in healthy lung parenchyma, we demonstrated that TGF beta(1) localized consistently to airway epithelial cells. However, in LAM tissues, matrix-associated TGF beta(1) was also consistently found in regions containing pathologic LAM cells. Notably, more abundant TGF beta(1) was observed in highly cellular areas compared to the walls of chronic cystic regions in LAM tissues. Fibronectin, a matrix component that is strongly expressed in response to active TGF beta(1) was found to consistently colocalize with this protein in these highly cellular regions, supporting TGF beta(1) activity in these regions. The markers of proliferating LAM cells, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen, were also markedly present in these highly cellular LAM regions.Conclusion: These studies suggest that the proliferation of aberrant LAM cells may be associated with altered regional expression of TGF beta(1) and related ECM proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study objectives: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology, affecting almost exclusively women of childbearing age, that is associated with the proliferation of spindle cells and cystic changes in the affected lung. The underlying processes that contribute to this disease are poorly understood. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is a potent cytokine that promotes mesenchymal cell proliferation and regulates the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, particularly fibronectins. Herein, we evaluate the expression of TGFβ1 and matrix-associated fibronectin in lung specimens demonstrating LAM. Design: Lung biopsy specimens that were confirmed to contain pathologic LAM cells were obtained from 13 patients. The specimens were submitted to immunohistochemical evaluation for TGFβ1 and fibronectin, as well as the typical markers of LAM cells. Healthy lung parenchyma surrounding resected neoplasms was studied in a parallel fashion as control tissues. Measurements and results: In all 13 LAM cases and in healthy lung parenchyma, we demonstrated that TGFβ1 localized consistently to airway epithelial cells. However, in LAM tissues, matrix-associated TGFβ1 was also consistently found in regions containing pathologic LAM cells. Notably, more abundant TGFβ1 was observed in highly cellular areas compared to the walls of chronic cystic regions in LAM tissues. Fibronectin, a matrix component that is strongly expressed in response to active TGFβ1 was found to consistently colocalize with this protein in these highly cellular regions, supporting TGFβ1 activity in these regions. The markers of proliferating LAM cells, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen, were also markedly present in these highly cellular LAM regions. Conclusion.. These studies suggest that the proliferation of aberrant LAM cells may be associated with altered regional expression of TGFβ1 and related ECM proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objectives: To determine the frequency and type of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in consecutive subjects with symptomatic Ig deficiency.Patients: One hundred forty-eight consecutive subjects with repeated respiratory infections and Ig deficiency.Measurements: Ig classes and IgG subclasses (IgGSCs), the response to vaccination, pulmonary function tests, chest radiography, CT scan, Ga scan and, when possible, BAL and lung biopsy.Results: Twenty-nine of 148 subjects (19 men and 10 women aged 18 to 72 years) had evidence of ILD. In 20 subjects, no cause of ILD was apparent. The remaining nine cases were ostensibly due to identifiable causes. Twenty subjects had IgGSC deficiency, 8 subjects had common variable immunodeficiency, and 1 subject had combined IgM plus IgGSC deficiency. No isotype deficiency was consistently related to a specific ILD. After administration of IV Ig, eight subjects, all with IgGSC deficiency, improved clinically, physiologically, radiologically, and occasionally histologically, regardless of immunologic or radiologic features. In this selective sample, the prevalence of ILD in consecutive subjects with recurrent respiratory infections and Ig deficiency (29 of 148 subjects; 19.6%) was higher than in the general population (0.8%; p < 0.05).Conclusions: ILD in Ig deficiency is frequent and usually involves IgGSC deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To present a case of pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) in a child with Behcet''s disease (BD). Nature of the study: Case report and review of the literature. Materials and methods: The patient had a complete autopsy, drug screen and serological testing. A medical history was obtained and the literature was reviewed. Results: A 10-year-old African–American boy had massive hemoptysis while at home and died shortly thereafter in the emergency department of a local hospital. He had had two other episodes of hemoptysis in the past 2 months. At autopsy, he had bilateral inflammatory aneurysms of the lower lobe branches of the pulmonary arteries. The left aneurysm had eroded into the adjacent bronchus and accounted for the fatal hemoptysis. The right ventricle had endocardial fibrosis. Systemic vasculitis was absent. The child did not have oral, genital, eye or skin lesions at autopsy, or by clinical history. Based on the autopsy findings, a diagnosis of BD was made. Conclusions: We present the very unusual case of a 10-year-old African–American boy who died from hemoptysis resulting from bilateral pulmonary aneurysms caused by BD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Deals with a study which explored the effects of crystal structure of human type II inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMP) on ligand binding. Experimental procedures of the study; Dinucleotide ligand binding; General features of IMP; Description of dinucleotide binding and the active-site flap.

Provides information on a study which described two crystal structures of a double mutant of liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Discussion on horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase; Oxidation of alcohol to aldehyde; Methodology used to conduct the study; Results of the study.

Presents information on the link between protein structure and enzyme catalyzed hydrogen tunneling. Presentation of evidence; Measurement of primary and secondary kinetic isotope effects; Discovery of quantum tunneling effects.

The Envisia Genomic Classifier (Envisia) detects UIP at the molecular level ("molecular UIP") in transbronchial biopsy samples, using a locked machine learning algorithm applied to the expression of 190 genes. Diagnostic agreement between local and central radiology was low (kappa= 0.28), but improved when confident UIP (definite or probable UIP) was compared to those with either possible UIP or a pattern inconsistent with UIP (kappa =0.49). [Extracted from the article]

Context.-- The pathologic diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) remains a challenging area, and application of histologic UIP guidelines has proved difficult. Objective.-- To understand current practice approaches by pulmonary pathologists for the histologic diagnosis of UIP and other fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Design.-- The Pulmonary Pathology Society (PPS) ILD Working Group developed and sent a 5-part survey on fibrotic ILD electronically to the PPS membership. Results.-- One hundred sixty-one completed surveys were analyzed. Of the respondents, 89% reported using published histologic features in clinical guidelines for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in their pathologic diagnosis; however, there was variability in reporting terminology, quantity and quality of histologic features, and the use of guideline categorization. Respondents were very likely to have access to pulmonary pathology colleagues (79%), pulmonologists (98%), and radiologists (94%) to discuss cases. Half of respondents reported they may alter their pathologic diagnosis based on additional clinical and radiologic history if it is pertinent. Airway-centered fibrosis, granulomas, and types of inflammatory infiltrates were considered important, but there was poor agreement on how these features are defined. Conclusions.-- There is significant consensus among the PPS membership on the importance of histologic guidelines/features of UIP. There are unmet needs for (1) consensus and standardization of diagnostic terminology and incorporation of recommended histopathologic categories from the clinical IPF guidelines into pathology reports, (2) agreement on how to incorporate into the report relevant clinical and radiographic information, and (3) defining the quantity and quality of features needed to suggest alternative diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The histology in cases of primary spontaneous pneumothorax is generally nonspecific, but a careful examination, taking into account clinical data, may reveal subtle tissue alterations leading to a specific diagnosis in cases that might otherwise be taken as primary and spontaneous. In this article, we describe 3 cases of catamenial pneumothorax histologically demonstrated by the presence of scattered and submillimeter aggregates of bland-looking spindle endometrial stromal cells (so-called "stromal endometriosis") into the visceral pleural layer. The use of CD10 and estrogen and progesterone receptors in lung resection specimens from young women experiencing recurrent pneumothorax is extremely helpful in disclosing endometriosis and confirming a diagnosis of catamenial pneumothorax. A review of the literature on this topic is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the prognostic value of fibroblastic foci (FF) in patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Characterization of UIP; Histologic hallmark of UIP; Use of a Cox proportional-hazard to assess the effect of FF score for each patient on survival.

Background: Radiologic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE)-like lesion including pulmonary apical cap can be occasionally observed in clinical settings. However, the significance of radiologic PPFE-like lesion is unclear in connective tissue disease (CTD)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD). Materials and methods: A total of 113 patients with CTD-related ILD were enrolled and assessed for radiologic PPFE-like lesion, which was defined as bilateral, upper lobe, and subpleural dense consolidations with or without pleural thickening on chest high-resolution computed tomography. The clinical, radiologic, and pathologic characteristics were evaluated. Results: Radiologic PPFE-like lesion was found in 21 patients (19%) and were relatively frequent in those with systemic sclerosis (6/14: 43%) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (4/14: 29%). Patients with PPFE-like lesion were significantly older, had lower body mass index, higher ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity, and higher complication rate of pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum than those without. Twelve of the 21 patients were diagnosed radiologically as usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) or possible UIP pattern. Two of three patients who underwent surgical lung biopsy of the upper lobes showed UIP on histopathology. Another patient was confirmed to have upper lobe PPFE on autopsy. During the clinical course, progression of the radiologic PPFE-like lesions was observed in 13 of 21 patients. Six patients died (mortality rate: 29%) and their PPFE-like lesions were commonly progressive. In the total cohort, our multivariate analysis identified the presence of PPFE-like lesion as a significant risk factor for respiratory death (hazard ratio: 4.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.33–12.65, p = 0.01). Conclusion: In patients with CTD-related ILD, radiologic PPFE-like lesion, which may present as not only PPFE but also apical cap and upper lobe subpleural fibrosis commonly due to UIP, was not uncommon and was associated with poor prognosis. Clinicians should be cautious with this radiologic finding, particularly when it is progressive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary minute meningothelial-like nodules (MMNs) are common incidental findings in surgical specimens, consisting of tiny proliferation (usually no larger than 5–6 mm) of bland-looking meningothelial cells showing a perivenular and interstitial distribution, sharing morphologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical profiles with meningiomas. The identification of multiple bilateral MMNs leading to an interstitial lung disease characterized by diffuse and micronodular/miliariform patterns radiologically allows the diagnosis of diffuse pulmonary meningotheliomatosis (DPM). Nevertheless, the lung is the most common site of metastatic primary intracranial meningioma, and differential diagnosis with DPM may be impossible without clinic–radiologic integration. Herein, we report four cases (three females; mean age, 57.5 years) fitting the criteria of DPM, all incidentally discovered and histologically evidenced on transbronchial biopsy (2) and surgical resection (2). All cases showed immunohistochemical expression of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), progesterone receptor, and CD56. Notably, three of these patients had a proven or radiologically suspected intracranial meningioma; in two cases, it was discovered before, and in one case, after the diagnosis of DPM. An extensive literature review (44 patients with DPM) revealed similar cases with imaging studies excluding intracranial meningioma in only 9% (4 of 44 cases studied). The diagnosis of DPM requires close correlation with the clinic–radiologic data since a subset of cases coexist with or follow a previously diagnosed intracranial meningioma and, thus, may represent incidental and indolent metastatic deposits of meningioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a chronic sterile skin disorder that is frequently seen in association with systemic disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Extracutaneous pyoderma gangrenosum is rare and most commonly occurs in the lungs. It is particularly unusual for extracutaneous pyoderma gangrenosum to manifest prior to skin findings and without an associated systemic disorder. A 19-year-old white man presented with shortness of breath and a productive cough. His skin exam was normal. Unenhanced chest computed tomography showed peripheral consolidations, areas of cavitation, nodules and bilateral pleural effusions. A bronchoalveolar lavage and an autoimmune panel were unremarkable. Right lung wedge biopsies via thoracostomy was performed and showed pulmonary pyoderma gangrenosum.He was treated with corticosteroids and has returned back to his baseline. This is the first case of pulmonary pyoderma gangrenosum without any associated underlying systemic disorder and without any cutaneous manifestations to date. Serial follow-ups are necessary to assess for the development of an associated systemic disorder or skin lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justificación: La criobiopsia pulmonar transbronquial (TBLC) se ha propuesto como un método menos invasivo para obtener un diagnóstico tisular en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar intersticial (EPI). El rendimiento diagnóstico de la TBLC en comparación con la biopsia pulmonar quirúrgica (SLB) sigue siendo incierto. Objetivos: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la precisión diagnóstica de la biopsia pulmonar transbronquial (TBLB) con fórceps y de la TBLC en comparación con la SLB para realizar el diagnóstico final con base en una discusión multidisciplinaria (MDD). Métodos: Los pacientes incluidos en el estudio se sometieron a TBLB y TBLC secuenciales, seguidas inmediatamente de SLB. Los casos, anonimizados y sin información sobre el método de biopsia, fueron revisados por un patólogo, quien trabajó a ciegas con respecto a dicha información, y luego discutidos en una conferencia multidisciplinaria. Resultados: Principales: Entre agosto de 2013 y octubre de 2017 se reclutaron 16 pacientes. La concordancia primaria entre TBLC y SLB para el diagnóstico final de MDD fue de 68.75%, con una kappa de Cohen de 0.6 (IC 95%: 0.39, 0.81). La concordancia primaria y la kappa de Cohen de la TBLC frente a la SLB para el diagnóstico final de MDD fueron mucho menores (50%, 0.21 [IC 95%: 0, 0.42] y 18.75%, 0.08 [IC 95%: -0.03, 0.19], respectivamente). La TBLC se asoció con hemorragia leve (hemorragia de grado 1, que requirió aspiración) en 56.2% de los pacientes. Conclusiones: En los pacientes con EPI de tipo incierto según con los datos clínicos y radiográficos, quienes requieren la toma de muestra de tejido para obtener un diagnóstico específico, la TBLC mostró una correlación moderada con la SLB al realizar el diagnóstico con la guía de una MDD. La TBLB mostró mala concordancia con los diagnósticos de la MDD, tanto mediante TBLC como por SLB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botrytis cinerea is one of the most relevant plant pathogenic fungi. The first step during its infection process is the germination of the conidia. Here, we report on the first proteome analysis during the germination of B. cinerea conidia, where 204 spots showed significant differences in their accumulation between ungerminated and germinated conidia by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and qPCR. The identified proteins were grouped by gene ontology revealing that the infective tools are mainly preformed inside the ungerminated conidia allowing a quick fungal development at the early stages of conidial germination. From 118 identified spots, several virulence factors have been identified while proteins, such as mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine synthase or uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, have been disclosed as a new potential virulence factors in botrytis whose role in pathogenicity needs to be studied to gain new insights about the role of these proteins as therapeutic targets and virulence factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has emerged as a less invasive method to obtain a tissue diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The diagnostic yield of TBLC compared to surgical lung biopsy (SLB) remains uncertain. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of forceps transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and TBLC compared to SLB when making the final diagnosis based on multidisciplinary discussion (MDD). Methods: Patients enrolled in the study underwent sequential TBLB and TBLC followed immediately by SLB. De-identified cases, with blinding of the biopsy method, were reviewed by a blinded pathologist and then discussed at a multidisciplinary conference. Main Results: Between August 2013 and October 2017, we enrolled 16 patients. The raw agreement between TBLC and SLB for the MDD final diagnosis was 68.75% with a Cohen's kappa of 0.6 (95% CI 0.39, 0.81). Raw agreement and Cohen's kappa of TBLB versus TBLC and TBLB versus SLB for the MDD final diagnosis were much lower (50%, 0.21 [95% CI 0, 0.42] and 18.75%, 0.08 [95% CI −0.03, 0.19], respectively). TBLC was associated with mild bleeding (grade 1 bleeding requiring suction to clear) in 56.2% of patients. Conclusions: In patients with ILD who have an uncertain type based on clinical and radiographic data and require tissue sampling to obtain a specific diagnosis, TBLC showed moderate correlation with SLB when making the diagnosis with MDD guidance. TBLB showed poor concordance with both TBLC and SLB MDD diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The identification of endogenous cis-regulatory DNA elements (CREs) responsive to endogenous and environmental cues is important for studying gene regulation and for biotechnological applications but is labor and time intensive. Alternatively, by taking a synthetic biology approach small specific DNA binding sites tailored to the needs of the scientist can be generated and rapidly identified. Results Here we report a novel approach to identify stimulus-responsive synthetic CREs (SynCREs) from an unbiased random synthetic element (SynE) library. Functional SynCREs were isolated by screening the SynE libray for elements mediating transcriptional activity in plant protoplasts. Responsive elements were chromatin immunoprecipitated by targeting the active Ser-5 phosphorylated RNA polymerase II CTD (Pol II ChIP). Using sequential enrichment, deep sequencing and a bioinformatics pipeline, candidate responsive SynCREs were identified within a pool of constitutively active DNA elements and further validated. These included bonafide biotic/abiotic stress-responsive motifs along with novel SynCREs. We tested several SynCREs in Arabidopsis and confirmed their response to biotic stimuli. Conclusions Successful isolation of synthetic stress-responsive elements from our screen illustrates the power of the described methodology. This approach can be applied to any transfectable eukaryotic system since it exploits a universal feature of the eukaryotic Pol II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Higher plants evolved various strategies to adapt to chilling conditions. Among other transcriptional and metabolic responses to cold temperatures plants accumulate a range of solutes including sugars. The accumulation of the reducing sugars glucose and fructose in mature potato tubers during exposure to cold temperatures is referred to as cold induced sweetening (CIS). The molecular basis of CIS in potato tubers is of interest not only in basic research on plant adaptation to environmental stress but also in applied research, since high amounts of reducing sugars affect negatively the quality of processed food products such as potato chips. CIS-tolerance varies considerably among potato cultivars. Our objective was to identify by an unbiased approach genes and cellular processes influencing natural variation of tuber sugar content before and during cold storage in potato cultivars used in breeding programs. We compared by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the tuber proteomes of cultivars highly diverse for CIS. DNA polymorphisms in genomic sequences encoding differentially expressed proteins were tested for association with tuber starch content, starch yield and processing quality. Results: Pronounced natural variation of CIS was detected in tubers of a population of 40 tetraploid potato cultivars. Significant differences in protein expression were detected between CIS-tolerant and CIS-sensitive cultivars before the onset as well as during cold storage. Identifiable differential proteins corresponded to protease inhibitors, patatins, heat shock proteins, lipoxygenase, phospholipase A1 and leucine aminopeptidase (Lap). Association mapping based on single nucleotide polymorphisms supported a role of Lap in the natural variation of the quantitative traits tuber starch and sugar content. Conclusions: The combination of comparative proteomics and association genetics led to the discovery of novel candidate genes for influencing the natural variation of quantitative traits in potato tubers. One such gene was a leucine aminopeptidase not considered so far to play a role in starch sugar interconversion. Novel SNP's diagnostic for increased tuber starch content, starch yield and chip quality were identified, which are useful for selecting improved potato processing cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), is a necessary feature pathologically or radiologically for the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The predictive value of transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in identifying UIP is currently unknown. The objective of this study is to assess the accuracy with which histopathologic criteria of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) can be identified in transbronchial biopsy (TBB) and to assess the usefulness of TBBx in predicting a the diagnosis of UIP pattern. We conducted a retrospective blinded and controlled analysis of TBB specimens from 40 established cases of UIP and 24 non-UIP interstitial lung diseases. Results: Adequate TBB specimens were available in 34 UIP cases (85% of all UIP cases). TBB contained histopathologic criteria to suggest a UIP pattern (ie. at least one of three pathologic features of UIP present; patchy interstitial fibrosis, fibroblast foci, honeycomb changes) in 12 cases (30% of all UIP cases). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the two pathologists were 30% (12/40), 100% (24/24), 100% (12/12), 46% (24/52) and 30% (12/40), 92% (22/24), 86% (12/14), 55% (22/40) respectively. Kappa coefficient of agreement between pathologists was good (0.61, 95% CI 0.31-0.91). The likelihood of identifying UIP on TBB increased with the number and size of the TBB specimens. Conclusion: Although sensitivity is low our data suggest that even modest amount of patchy interstitial fibrosis, fibroblast foci, honeycomb changes detected on TBB can be highly predictive of a UIP pattern. Conversely, the absence of UIP histopathologic criteria on TBB does not rule out UIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of an elderly man with chest pain and progressive miliary infiltrates. His medical history and physical examination are presented. Laboratory findings and imaging are discussed. He was diagnosed of miliary metastatic epithelioid mesothelioma, a rare tumor of which most are associated with prior exposure to asbestos.

Reversible phosphorylation of proteins is an important mechanism by which organisms regulate their reactions to external stimuli. To investigate the involvement of phosphorylation during acquisition of desiccation tolerance, we have analysed dehydration-induced protein phosphorylation in the desiccation tolerant resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum. Several dehydration-induced proteins were shown to be transiently phosphorylated during a dehydration and rehydration (RH) cycle. Two abundantly expressed phosphoproteins are the dehydration- and abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive protein CDeT11-24 and the group 2 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein CDeT6-19. Although both proteins accumulate in leaves and roots with similar kinetics in response to dehydration, their phosphorylation patterns differ. Several phosphorylation sites were identified on the CDeT11-24 protein using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The coincidence of phosphorylation sites with predicted coiled-coil regions leads to the hypothesis that CDeT11-24 phosphorylations influence the stability of coiled-coil interactions with itself and possibly other proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary pleural thymoma is a rare but well-recognized entity that occurs in adults, with a slight male predominance. Patients with primary pleural thymoma may be asymptomatic or present with chest pain and respiratory difficulty. The behavior of primary pleural thymoma is usually indolent; however, recurrence, distant metastasis, and even death caused by respiratory failure have been reported. Because of their peculiar location and variety of histologic patterns manifested, pleural thymomas may be confused with other neoplasms and may cause diagnostic problems clinically, radiologically, and morphologically. A combination of clinical information, histopathologic appearance of the tumor, and immunohistochemical studies will often help to distinguish a primary pleural thymoma from other neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The male gametophyte (or pollen) plays an obligatory role during sexual reproduction of higher plants. The extremely reduced complexity of this organ renders pollen a valuable experimental system for studying fundamental aspects of plant biology such as cell fate determination, cell–cell interactions, cell polarity, and tip-growth. Here, we present the first reference map of the mature pollen proteome of the dicotyledonous model plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana. Based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight, and electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we reproducibly identified 121 different proteins in 145 individual spots. The presence, subcellular localization, and functional classification of the identified proteins are discussed in relation to the pollen transcriptome and the full protein complement encoded by the nuclear Arabidopsis genome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]