Identification of aerobic Gram-positive bacilli by use of Vitek MS.

The accuracy of Vitek MS mass spectrometric identifications was assessed for 206 clinically significant isolates of aerobic Gram-positive bacilli representing 20 genera and 38 species. The Vitek MS identifications were correct for 85% of the isolates (56.3% to the species level, 28.

Multicenter validation of the VITEK MS v2.0 MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry system for the identification of fastidious gram-negative bacteria.

The VITEK MS v2.0 MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry system's performance in identifying fastidious gram-negative bacteria was evaluated in a multicenter study. Compared with the reference method (DNA sequencing), the VITEK MS system provided an accurate, species-level identification for 96% of 226 isolates; an additional 1% were accurately identified to the genus level.

Multicenter study evaluating the Vitek MS system for identification of medically important yeasts.

The optimal management of fungal infections is correlated with timely organism identification. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is revolutionizing the identification of yeasts isolated from clinical specimens. We present a multicenter study assessing the performance of the Vitek MS system (bioMérieux) in identifying medically important yeasts.

Multicenter evaluation of the Vitek MS matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry system for identification of Gram-positive aerobic bacteria.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) is gaining momentum as a tool for bacterial identification in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Compared with conventional methods, this technology can more readily and conveniently identify a wide range of organisms. Here, we report the findings from a multicenter study to evaluate the Vitek MS v2.

Evaluation of the Verigene Gram-positive blood culture nucleic acid test for rapid detection of bacteria and resistance determinants.

Rapid identification of pathogens from blood cultures can decrease lengths of stay and improve patient outcomes. We evaluated the accuracy of the Verigene Gram-positive blood culture (BC-GP) nucleic acid test for investigational use only (Nanosphere, Inc., Northbrook, IL) for the identification of Gram-positive bacteria from blood cultures.

Differing von hippel lindau genotype in paired primary and metastatic tumors in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

In sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) gene is inactivated by mutation or methylation in the majority of primary (P) tumors. Due to differing effects of wild-type (WT) and mutant (MT) VHL gene on downstream signaling pathways regulating angiogenesis, VHL gene status could impact clinical outcome. In CCRCC, comparative genomic hybridization analysis studies have reported genetic differences between paired P and metastatic (M) tumors.

Renal cell carcinomas with intratumoral fat and concomitant angiomyolipoma: potential pitfalls in staging and diagnosis.

Intratumoral fat and angiomyolipomas (AMLs) occurring within renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) have rarely been reported but may be mistaken for tumor invasion into perinephric or renal sinus fat or misdiagnosed as tumor exhibiting sarcomatoid differentiation. We report 16 such cases. In 14 RCC cases, there was intratumoral fat, 9 of which had fat located peripherally near the capsule (n = 6), renal sinus (n = 1), or both (n = 2).

ETS gene aberrations in atypical cribriform lesions of the prostate: Implications for the distinction between intraductal carcinoma of the prostate and cribriform high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

Background: Atypical cribriform lesions (ACLs) of the prostate consist of cribriform glands lined with cytologically malignant cells with partial or complete basal cell lining. It may represent cribriform "high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia" (HGPIN) or "intraductal carcinoma of the prostate" (IDC-P), which is almost always associated with clinically aggressive prostate carcinoma (PCa). Distinction between these 2 lesions has profound clinical significance, especially on needle biopsies.

Renal tubulocystic carcinoma is closely related to papillary renal cell carcinoma: implications for pathologic classification.

Tubulocystic carcinoma of the kidney (TC-RCC) is a rare renal tumor with unique gross and microscopic features unlike other types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Several recent studies recommend that it should be classified as a distinct RCC subtype. In this study, we provide pathologic and cytogenetic evidence supporting that TC-RCC is closely related to papillary RCC (PRCC).

Adult cystic nephroma and mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney are the same disease entity: molecular and histologic evidence.

Adult cystic nephroma (CN) and mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney (MEST) are considered as separate entities in the 2004 World Health Organization classification of renal neoplasms. Recent studies suggested that the two share clinicopathologic features and may represent the same disease process of varying morphology. However, definitive genetic evidence is lacking.

Renal angiomyolipoma: clinicopathologic study of 194 cases with emphasis on the epithelioid histology and tuberous sclerosis association.

The majority of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is sporadic and occasionally it occurs as part of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Epithelioid AML (EAML), an uncommon variant, is considered potentially malignant based on anecdotal case reports. The prognostic significance of epithelioid component in an otherwise typical AML is uncertain.

von Hippel-Lindau gene status and response to vascular endothelial growth factor targeted therapy for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene is often inactivated (by mutation or promoter hypermethylation) in renal cell carcinoma but the relation to therapeutic outcome is unclear.

Materials And Methods: Patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma with available baseline tumor samples who received vascular endothelial growth factor targeted therapy were included in analysis. Patient characteristics, VHL gene status and clinical outcome were documented.

Expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen in tumor-associated neovasculature of renal neoplasms.

Objectives: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells. Recently, PSMA has been found in the neovasculature in association with other solid malignant tumors, including clear cell renal carcinoma (RCC). We studied the expression of PSMA in different primary renal tumors.

Renal neuroendocrine tumours: a clinicopathological study.

Objectives: To report cases of primary neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) of the kidney, including carcinoid tumour, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell carcinoma (SCC), which show a wide range of NE differentiation and biological behaviour, and are exceedingly rare.

Patients And Methods: The clinicopathological features of all nine renal NETs diagnosed during a 7-year period were reviewed.

Results: Six carcinoids, two SCC and one LCNEC were identified from 2780 kidney tumours.

Differential expression of caveolin-1 in renal neoplasms.

Background: Caveolin-1 is a major component of membrane caveolae, which are specialized lipid raft microdomains on cell membrane that are implicated in molecular transport, cell adhesion, and signal transduction. The overexpression of caveolin-1 recently was associated with a poor outcome in patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) and was proposed as a useful diagnostic marker. In the current study, the authors used immunohistochemistry to investigate the membranous and cytoplasmic expression of caveolin-1 and its correlation with other pathologic parameters in different subtypes of renal neoplasms.

Detection of a novel point mutation of the prothrombin gene at position 20209.

Detection of the prothrombin G20210A mutation was performed on the LightCycler Instrument (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany) using commercially available primers and hybridization probes. Herein we report four cases from unrelated African American individuals where LightCycler analysis showed atypical melting curves. Sequence analysis of the four samples showed heterozygosity for a C to T mutation 1 bp upstream from the known 20210 mutation at position 20209.