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AimsThe 2017 Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) recommends subclassification of atypia of undetermined significance (AUS)/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS) into six subcategories. The present study evaluates the risk of malignancy (ROM) and risk of neoplasm (RON) among these.MethodsAll thyroid aspirates reported as AUS/FLUS over a 4.5-year period, with available histology, were reviewed and subclassified as per TBSRTC. ROM and RON were calculated and compared.ResultsOf 2554 thyroid aspirates, 281 (11.0%) were AUS/FLUS. Eighty-one with available histology were evaluated. ROM was 51.8%. Cytologic and architectural atypia (AUS-C&A) was the most prevalent (62.9%), followed by Hu¨rthle cell type (19.6%), AUS-A (11.1%), AUS-not otherwise specified (NOS) (7.4%), cytologic atypia (AUS-C) (4.9%) and atypical lymphoid cells (1.2%). Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and adenomatous goitre (AG) were the most common histological diagnoses (27% each). On histology, AUS-C had 2/4 PTC and 2/4 AG on histology. AUS-A had 4/9 follicular neoplasm (FN) and 2/9 non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) while AUS C&A had 18/51 PTC, 13/51 AG, 11/51 NIFTP and 5/51 FN. ROM and RON were similar across subcategories, ROM was the highest for AUS-C&A (58.8%), AUS-C (50%) and AUS-NOS (50%). NIFTP reclassification as non-malignant reduced ROM to 35.8% (absolute reduction of 16% and a relative decrease of 31%) with the greatest relative decrease seen in AUS-A (50%), followed by AUS-C&A (37%), and none in others.ConclusionsAUS/FLUS subcategorisation helped to indicate risk for the more likely neoplasm, whether PTC or FN. ROM was the highest for cases with cytological atypia but did not differ significantly across different subcategories. NIFTP changed the ROM of AUS-A and AUS-C&A, since both NIFTP and FN have microfollicles.

Our objective was to determine the human papillomavirus (HPV)-type prevalence in cervical samples in women with and without cervical neoplasia in an opportunistic hospital-based cancer-screening program.

abstractSouth Asian states have enjoyed a mixed record regarding freedom of expression. In colonial times periods of enlightened liberalism alternated with periods of repression. The post colonial experience has been little different. Despite expressions of strong resolve to eliminate past repressive practices, the newly independent states have not always been able to match their actions with their rhetoric. Over the years there has been a proliferation of laws which have diluted those constitutional guarantees which had occupied pride of place in these countries. While the most obvious solution lies in the strengthening of domestic legal controls, some commentators have wondered if it might not be a good idea also to bring some external pressure to bear through the establishment of a set of transnational minimum standards to which all countries in the region might be persuaded to subscribe. This paper attempts to examine the feasibility of putting in place such a mechanism with specific reference to freedom of expression, and to suggest possible options in this regard.

Positron lifetime measurements have been made on graphite powders, grafoils, and pyrolytic graphite crystals with different surface areas in the temperature range between 25° and 600 °C. Three positron lifetimes were found in these systems: a short-lived component (~0.2 ns) due to positrons in the bulk; a component (~0.45 ns) due to surface-trapped positrons; and a long-lived component (~2 ns) ofo-Ps in the voids or the interfacial spaces of powders. Both bulk and surface positron lifetimes increase as a function of temperature. Correlations between the intensity of surface-trapped positrons and the surface area and between Ps formation and the surface area of graphite are found. The Ps formation probability increases as a function of temperature. A thermal desorption model interprets the emission process of Ps atoms from the surface of graphite to the vacuum and gives an activation energy of 0.23±0.02 eV.

The effect of the addition of arsenic compounds on the inhibition of PbO2 formation on the anode, thus promoting oxygen evolution in the electrowinning process of lead, has been investigated. Various possible anode reactions involving arsenic have been discussed. Preferential adsorption of arsenic compounds on the electrode surface seems to be the most probable reason for the inhibition of PbO2 formation.

Based on the responses of 132 executives of a large public sector heavy engineering organization located in Karnataka, this study attempts to analyse the major factors that are conductive to the development of HRD climate and concludes that early identification of human resource potential and development of skill are the two major tasks of HRD.

The performance of titanium anodes coated with oxides of Ir–Co or Ir–Ta has been compared using long term polarization techniques under simulated electrowinning conditions. Possible reasons for anode failure are explained from SEM and XRD. Potentiodynamic studies in 2m H2SO4 indicate that approximately 450mV reduction in anode potential can be achieved with Ti/(Ir–Co) as against lead. This anode is also suitable in chloride contaminated sulfate electrolyte. The anode potential measurements in different electrowinning electrolytes indicate that a potential saving up to 370– 420mV can be achieved. It is interesting to note that mixed electrolyte containing sulfate and chloride behaves similarly to pure chloride electrolyte with respect to anode potential.

Abstract: The bimolecular rate constants for muonium addition to ethene (CH2=CH2) in hydrocarbon liquids were found to be ∼21010 M−1s−1. These rate constants change with temperature in accordance with the Arrhenius equation; but the energy barrier to reaction (Ea) in 2-methylbutane is much less than that for viscous flow. This suggests either non-classical interaction rates stemming from the quantum character for muonium, or non-Stokes-Einstein behavior.

Arecoline, a suspected carcinogenic/cocarcinogenic alkaloid was screened to explore in detail its immunomodulatory influence in murine model system. The oral LD50 value for male mice was 371 mg/kg bw whereas it was 309 mg/kg bw for female mice. The subcutaneous LD50 value for both sexes was 97 mg/kg bw. Only a marginal difference was observed in intraperitoneal LD50 values between male (120 mg/kg bw) and female (109 mg/kg bw) mice. Arecoline was administered subcutaneously to male mice at subtoxic dose levels (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg bw) for 1, 2 and 3 weeks on a daily basis. In groups where significant decreases in body weight were present (at 20 mg/kg bw for both sexes), reductions in thymus weight were also noted. Spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, and kidney showed moderate reductions in their weights. Histopathological effects at 20 mg/kg bw included lymphocyte depletion of the thymic cortex, and the B and T lymphocyte areas in spleen and MLN. In concordance with the zona fasciculate hypertrophy of adrenals, corticosterone concentration in serum increased depending on the dose with a significant elevation at 20 mg/kg bw. While total protein, albumin, glucose, acid phosphatase and hemoglobin concentrations were not altered, increases in SG0T and SGPT levels were observed at the high dose. The white and red blood cell counts decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Marked reduction in cell number of thymus, and moderate effect on cellularity of spleen and MLN, were observed at 20 mg/kg bw. In vitro exposure of rat thymocytes to arecoline resulted in a biphasic oxygen consumption response with progressive increase in oxygen consumption, reaching a maximum value at 10-5 M and decreasing sharply at 10-3 M, Exogenously added substrates such as glucose, pyruvic acid and lactic acid retarded the fall in the oxygen consumption induced at 10-3 M arecoline. These observations demonstrate the effects of arecoline on lymphoid organs, which may be due to its direct action or through the elevation of corticosterone.

Two reactions of muonium atoms close to the diffusion-controlled limit were analyzed as a function of solute size and solvent viscosity. With Cr(NCS)6^3- as solute in water, the reaction is an electron spin-conversion process, and the observed rate is taken to be half of the actual encounter rate, because of the quantum mechanical statistical factor and the occurrence of multiple collisions due to the solvent cage effect. The encounter rate deduced is 6.2 × 10¹⁰ M^-1 s^-1, which implies a large cross section for the Cr complex. In a second series of experiments, the rate of reaction of muonium with I2 was compared in water, methanol and n-heptane. The bimolecular rate constants determined are (1.7 ± 0.3), (7.0 ± 1.2), and (57 ± 22) × 10¹⁰ M^-1 s^-1, respectively, in these three solvents. This ~30-fold change in rate is not matched by the change in the inverse of the solvents' viscosities, which changed overall by a factor of only 2.4. It looks as if quantum tunneling dominates over classical diffusion in less polar media where muonium is unencumbered by solvent clathration.

Abstract: This short communication draws attention to the power of μSR and related measurements in providing an unusually complete characterisation of muonium substituted organic radicals in the gas phase. Spectroscopic information is available from muon spin rotation and muon level crossing resonance, giving all the nuclear hyperfine coupling constants, just as in the liquid phase. In addition, measurements of the relaxation time of the muon Zeeman energy become possible; these are potentially informative on the molecular collision dynamics. Demonstration results are presented in summary for the muonium substituted ethyl radical, ĊH2CH2Mu, in ethene gas.

Extract of fermentation broth of an indigenous funqal isolate of Tolypocladium sp., found to contain Cyclosporine-A (Cy A) has been investigated by spectroscopic and immunological analyses. A preparative scale High Performance Liquid Chromatogrphy (HPLC) for Cy A on an analytical reversed phase HPLC column by interval injection followed by gradient elution has been described. The identity of this preparation was confirmed by matching the spectra with the reference standard using photo diode array detector.

Core orbital binding energies for N 1s and S 2p3/2, in the metal chelates of dibenzyldithiocarbamic acid M(DBDTC)n for n=2, M=Cu(II) and Zn(II), and for n=3, M=Bi(III), have been measured using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The nature of the spectral peaks and the core binding energies indicates that the nitrogen atom in the DBDTC is not intramolecularly bound with the metal as had been previously suggested. The relatively high binding energies for the N 1s orbitals indicate planar geometry for the ligands, and the form [image omitted] to reasonably represent their structure, which agrees with previous infrared studies.

Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) causes infertility in a significant number of females. The immunological impact of tuberculosis on endometrium in infertile females has not been studied before. The present study was designed to evaluate markers related to infiltrating immune cells and implantation in endometrial aspiration from infertile females and correlate with conventional tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for tuberculosis (TB).

Abstract: The possibility of using electrolytic processing to regenerate etchants while simultaneously recovering copper used in the printed-wiring-board industry is considered for such systems as ferric chloride, acid, and ammoniacal-cupric chloride. This article discusses the cell design and anodic and cathodic processes, and concludes that the electrolytic process is ecofriendly with a minimal discharge of effluents.

It is shown that the low-level minority-carrier lifetime in p+-n-n+ diodes obtained by measuring the stored charge can be in error owing to the charging of the depletion-layer capacitance. A simple method is described for eliminating the error due to this charge.

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We present two cases of carcinoma cuniculatum (CC), a very rare, most commonly cutaneous variant of extremely well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The tumours were located in the tongue (62-year-old male with enlarging chronic ulcer) and oesophagus (77-year-old male with progressive dysphagia and odynophagia). Both patients were treated surgically (hemiglossectomy and oe-sophagectomy). Histologically, both tumours were composed of deeply invaginating, keratin filled, focally dilated, burrowing channels lined by squamous epithelium which in the lingual tumour was very well differentiated, i.e., with no significant nuclear atypia/pleomorphism. The oesophageal tumour showed intratu-moural dense infiltration of neutrophilic granulocytes with varying degrees of nuclear atypia of the neoplastic squamous epithelium limited to the areas with acute inflammation. These atypical areas did not show any significant nuclear expression of p53 on im-munohistochemistry and no mutation of TP53was identified after analysis of exons 2 to 11.