Publications by authors named "Robert M Humble"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the occurrence of rete hyperplasia and hyaline globules in germ cell tumors, with a focus on their potential to mimic yolk sac tumors, noting a significant misdiagnosis risk over the years.
- Out of 348 evaluated orchiectomies, 30% showed rete hyperplasia and/or hyaline globules, often without any yolk sac tumor component, suggesting a complexity in tumor classifications.
- The findings highlight the importance of accurately identifying these histological features, as they may indicate underlying testicular obstruction due to the tumor, which is crucial for proper treatment decisions.
Primary tumor site determination for gastrointestinal (GI) tract and pancreaticobiliary (PB) tree carcinomas that present as metastasis of unknown primary can be problematic. Annexin A10 (ANXA10), claudin 18 (CLDN18), and trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) have been identified through expression profiling as markers of gastric lineage commitment; sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) expression has been reported in several tumor types, including gastric adenocarcinomas. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of immunohistochemistry for ANXA10, CLDN18, SOX2, and TFF1 for determining the site of origin for GI/PB adenocarcinomas.
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- The study examines the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (estrogen and testosterone) on various clinical chemistry analytes in healthy transgender and nonbinary individuals.
- Key findings indicate that while most measures like electrolytes and urea nitrogen remained stable, certain enzymes and lipid levels shifted toward those typical for their affirmed gender, particularly in the testosterone group.
- The research highlights the need for more tailored reference intervals for transgender patients, as hormone therapy may significantly alter some lab values that differ by biological sex in cisgender individuals.
Molecular techniques, especially reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), have been the gold standard for the diagnosis of acute severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 have been widely used for serosurveys, epidemiology, and identification of potential convalescent plasma donors. However, the clinical role of serologic testing is still limited and evolving.
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- Gender-affirming therapy with testosterone helps transgender men masculinize, but understanding hormone levels can be challenging due to limited reference data.
- A study of 82 healthy transgender individuals on testosterone examined various hormone levels and found that testosterone and SHBG reference intervals from cisgender men are applicable, while others like estradiol and AMH need transmasculine-specific intervals.
- Clinicians and labs should use these tailored reference intervals to accurately interpret hormone tests, as masculinizing hormones significantly affect endocrine profiles.
Background: Transgender women and nonbinary people seeking feminizing therapy are often prescribed estrogen as a gender-affirming hormone, which will alter their reproductive hormone axis. Testosterone, estradiol, and other reproductive hormones are commonly evaluated to assess therapy, but reference intervals specific to transgender women have not been established. The objective of this study was to derive reference intervals for commonly measured analytes related to reproductive endocrinology in a cohort of healthy gender nonconforming individuals on stable feminizing hormone therapy.
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- This study examines how hormone therapy affects lab test results in transgender individuals, highlighting the need for sex-specific reference intervals.
- Researchers analyzed a large group of transgender patients who had been on hormone therapy for at least 6 months, documenting changes in various lab parameters over time.
- Findings revealed significant shifts in basic chemistry, endocrine, and hematologic results, emphasizing the variability in hormone treatment methods and the necessity for further research.
Background: The complete blood count (CBC) is a cornerstone of patient care. Several of the normal values for the components of the CBC differ by sex and, therefore, male-specific and female-specific reference intervals are required to interpret these laboratory results. Transgender individuals are often prescribed hormone therapy to affirm their gender, with resulting serum hormone concentrations similar to those of cisgender individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Electronic medical records (EMRs) and laboratory information systems (LISs) commonly utilize patient identifiers such as legal name, sex, medical record number, and date of birth. There have been recommendations from some EMR working groups (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pentobarbital is used for management of intractable seizures and for reducing elevated intracranial pressure. Dosing of pentobarbital can be aided by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). There is no commercially available automated assay for measurement of pentobarbital serum/plasma concentrations; consequently, chromatography-based assays are often used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Clinical laboratories frequently receive orders to perform additional tests on existing specimens ('add-ons'). Previous studies have examined add-on ordering patterns over short periods of time. The objective of this study was to analyze add-on ordering patterns over an extended time period.
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