Nerve Epidermal Growth Factor-Like 1 Protein (NELL-1) Expression in Mercury-Related Membranous Nephropathy: Is It a True Association or a Chance Occurrence?

Background: Neural epidermal-like growth factor-like 1 (NELL-1) is a protein kinase C binding protein expressed in osteoblasts and renal tubules. It is expressed in 5%-25% glomerular cells at the mRNA level. Membranous Nephropathy (MN) is characterized by the presence of antibodies against certain types of antigens on the glomerular basement membrane.

Exploring the role of Aspergillus galactomannan antigen in assessing the risk factor of acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a cross-sectional study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by permanent airflow obstruction due to abnormalities of the airways and alveoli. This study investigated the potential role of Aspergillus species in acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) and evaluated the diagnostic utility of serum Aspergillus galactomannan antigen. This cross-sectional study, carried out at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research from January 2021 to June 2022, involved COPD patients aged ≥40 years.

Validation of histopathological chronicity scores in native kidney biopsies using light microscopy and digital morphometry for predicting renal outcome.

Quantitative assessment of chronicity changes in native kidney biopsies offer valuable insights in to disease prognosis, despite the strength of qualitative information. Yet, standardization and reproducibility remain challenging. The present study aims to assess and compare the prognostic utility and reproducibility of two chronicity scoring systems based on light microscopy and whole slide imaging with morphometry and also to evaluate the prognostic utility of structural measurements: cortical non-sclerotic glomerular (NSG) density and NSG area/volume.

Validation of a novel alcohol-free preservative solution in comparison with conventional prefixation on quality of serous body fluid smears.

Background: We describe a novel alcohol-free preservative composed of glucose, mannitol, disodium hydrogen orthophosphate, thymol, and distilled water (glucose-mannitol-disodium dihydrogen orhtophosphate-thymol [GMDT] preservative) in appropriate proportion as an alternative to alcohol prefixation (APF) of body fluids.

Objectives: To assess the cytomorphologic preservation and staining quality of serous body fluid smears generated by GMDT preservative and compare it with smears processed by standard 50% APF.

Methodology: The study comprised 151 effusion samples.