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BACKGROUND: The American Thyroid Association recommends either repeat fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) or molecular testing (eg, ThyroSeq) of Bethesda category III (atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance [AUS/FLUS]) nodules to provide further risk stratification. How a testing algorithm that uses ancillary molecular tests performs as a reflex test for repeat sampling of indeterminant nodules remains unclear. METHODS: Thyroid FNABs performed over a 24‐month period that received a diagnosis of AUS/FLUS and underwent subsequent FNAB were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 187 patients were identified who received an FNAB diagnosis of AUS/FLUS and had repeat sampling. Of these patients, 64% received a subsequent indeterminant diagnosis on repeat biopsy: 7 (3.7%) repeat biopsies were diagnosed as nondiagnostic/unsatisfactory, 104 (55.6%) were diagnosed as AUS/FLUS, and 8 (4.3%) were diagnosed as follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm. Of the repeat biopsied nodules, 63% underwent subsequent testing with ThyroSeq version 3. The diagnostic performance was calculated using only surgically confirmed nodules (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 30%; positive predictive value, 41%; negative predictive value, 100%) and by assigning nonresected nodules with negative ThyroSeq or benign cytology results as benign (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 88%; positive predictive value, 41%; negative predictive value, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of patients, repeat FNAB for AUS/FLUS did not preclude subsequent molecular ancillary testing because of the high rate of indeterminant results on repeat biopsy. The diagnostic performance of the testing algorithm reported here was very similar to other reports using either repeat biopsy or molecular testing alone. Ultimately, the algorithm of performing molecular testing on repeat indeterminant nodules increased the number of biopsies performed and lengthened the time to definitive risk stratification without a disproportionate decrease in the use of molecular testing or an appreciable improvement in diagnostic performance.; Some institutions use molecular testing as a reflex test for nodules that repeat as indeterminate. The performance of this combined testing algorithm is examined, and the results are compared with other studies that have used either repeat biopsy or molecular testing alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type V adenylyl cyclase has been overexpressed in the transgenic mice hearts. Results demonstrate that adenylyl cyclase levels influence basal activities and cardiac functions.

Context.--Biospecimens must have appropriate clinical annotation (data) to ensure optimal quality for both patient care and research. Clinical preanalytic variables are the focus of this study. Objectives.--To define the essential preanalytic variables (data fields) that should be attached to every collected biospecimen and to provide a complete list of such variables, along with their relative importance, which can vary, depending on downstream use, institutional needs, and information technology capabilities. Design.--The College of American Pathologists Diagnostic Intelligence and Health Information Technology Committee sponsored a Biorepository Working Group to develop a ranked list of the preanalytic variables for annotating biospecimens. Members of the working group were experts in anatomic, clinical, and molecular pathology; biobanking; medical informatics; and accreditation. Several members had experience with federal government programs, such as the National Cancer Institute's Biospecimens and Biorepository Branch and the National Cancer Institute's Community Cancer Center Program. Potential preanalytic variables were identified and ranked along with available supporting evidence, definitions, and potential negative effects if the variable was not attached to the biospecimen. Additional national and international stakeholders reviewed the draft manuscript. Results.--The ranked listing of 170 preanalytic variables produced can be used as a guide for site-specific implementation into patient care and/or research biorepository processes. Conclusions.--In our collective experience, it is often difficult to choose which of the many preanalytic variables to attach to any specific set of biospecimens used for patient care and/or research. The provided ranked list should aid in the selection of preanalytic variables for a given biospecimen collection. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2014; 138:526-537; doi: 10.5858/arpa.2013-0250-CP), The College of American Pathologists (CAP) is committed to helping pathologists and the medical specialty of pathology successfully implement genomically informed, personalized, precision health care. As part of that mission, [...]

Disturbingly high rates of consumption of surfactants in household and industries have led to mark them as emerging contaminants in the environment. In the present work, removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant, using an industrial waste (dolochar) was explored. The adsorbent material was characterized with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Kinetic evaluation was performed using first, pseudo‐first, second, and pseudo‐second order models. Adsorption of SDS over dolochar was expressed best by pseudo‐second order kinetic model with regression coefficient (R2) of.99. Three input parameters including adsorbent dose (20–10 g/L), initial concentration (30–100 mg/L) of the surfactant, and contact time (2–60 min) were chosen for optimization using response surface methodology based on Box–Behnken design (BBD) approach. A total of 15 experiments were run to examine the effect of these variables on removal of SDS by dolochar in a multivariate system. A regression analysis indicated the experimental data fitted well to a quadratic polynomial model with coefficient of regression (R2) as.99. ANOVA and lack‐of‐fit test depicted the precision and efficiency of the model. The optimized conditions for SDS removal were found to be adsorbent dose 16.62 g/L, contact time 40 min, and initial concentration 47 mg/L with removal efficiency as 98.91%. Practitioner points: Daily ablutions and use of personal care products introduce a number of surfactants and recalcitrant compounds into the environment.Adsorption is a handy and easy to operate treatment technique to remove graywater pollutants.Kinetic and statistical modeling may be recommended as one of the most prominent tools to understand the removal mechanism.Decentralized treatment of graywater using industrial wastes is recommended as sustainable solution in the developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Pathologists have long served as custodians of human biospecimens collected for diagnostic purposes. Rapid advancements in diagnostic technologies require that pathologists change their practices to optimize patient care. The proper handling of biospecimens creates opportunities for pathologists to improve their diagnoses while assessing prognosis and treatment. In addition, the growing need for high-quality biorepositories represents an opportunity for community pathologists to strengthen their role within the health care team, ensuring that clinical care is not compromised while facilitating research. This article provides a resource to community pathologists learning how to create high-quality biorepositories and participating in emerging opportunities in the biorepository field. While a variety of topics are covered to provide breadth of information, the intent is to facilitate a level of understanding that permits community pathologists to make more informed choices in identifying how best their skills and practice may be augmented to address developments in this field. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012;136:668-678; doi: 10.5858/arpa.2011-0274-SO), BACKGROUND AND CHALLENGES FOR THE COMMUNITY PATHOLOGIST Drivers of this transformation relate to the concept of 'personalized medicine,' namely, the idea of tailoring medical management to a patient's genetic background [...]

Context.--Granular cell tumors (GCTs) of the breast are rare neoplasms that mimic epithelial malignancy clinically and rarely occur in association with it. Granular cell tumors of the breast are not infrequently excised with positive margins. Reports describing risk of recurrence including data on margin status and follow-up are lacking. Objective.--To review our series of GCTs of the breast to determine the risk of recurrence if excised with positive or close margins. Design.--Cases of GCT of the breast were reviewed. Margin status of specimens was recorded as positive, close ( Results.--Thirteen female patients with GCT of the breast were identified. Mean patient age at presentation was 45 years. Seventy-seven percent of patients were African American and 23% were white. African American patients presented on average 13 years earlier than white patients. Average tumor size was 1.22 cm. Fifteen percent of lesions had positive margins on excisional biopsy or lumpectomy and 31% had tumor cells within 1 mm of the margin. One of 13 patients (8%) had coexistent invasive ductal carcinoma. Average follow -up for the entire group was 77 months. Patients with positive margins remained free of tumor progression or recurrence for 89 months and patients with close margins also remained disease free during a 64-month follow-up period. No tumors recurred out of the entire group. Conclusion.--Granular cell tumors of the breast have little long-term risk for recurrence, even when excised with positive margins. Surgical evaluation after nonexcisional biopsy may still be indicated to assess for the possible association of colocalized carcinoma. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011;135:890-895), Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are Schwann cell-derived neoplasms that frequently involve skin and soft tissues. (1) Most commonly, they present in the tongue in middle-aged patients but also occur in [...]