Cervical Cytology–Histology Correlation Based on the American Society of Cytopathology Guideline (2017) at the Russian National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology

Recent evidence suggests that a cytology–histology correlation (CHC) with discrepancy detection can both evaluate errors and improve the sensitivity and specificity of the cytologic method. We aimed to analyze the errors in cytologic–histologic discrepancies according to the CHC protocol guideline of the American Society of Cytopathology (2017). This retrospective study included 273 patients seen at the National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology (Moscow, Russia) between January 2019 and September 2021. The patients’ mean age was 34 ± 8.1 years. The cytology–histology agreement was noted in 158 cases (57.9%). Major discrepancies were found in 21 cases (7.6%), while minor discrepancies were noted in 93 cases (34.1%). The reason for 13 (4.8%) discrepancies was a colposcopy sampling error and, in 46 (16.8%) cases, the reason was a Papanicolaou (PAP) test sampling error. The discrepancy between primary and reviewed cytology was due interpretive errors in 13 (4.8%) cases and screening errors in 42 (15.4%) cases. We demonstrated that the ASC guidelines facilitate cervical CHC. A uniform application of these guidelines would standardize cervical CHCs internationally, provide a scope for the inter-laboratory comparison of data, and enhance self-learning and peer learning.

ATP6V1B2 and IFI27 and their intrinsic functional genomic characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2

Genes functionally associated with SARS-CoV-2 and genes functionally related to COVID-19 disease can be different, whose distinction will become the first essential step for successfully fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this first step has not been completed in all biological and medical research. Using a newly developed max-competing logistic classifier, two genes, ATP6V1B2 and IFI27, stand out to be critical in transcriptional response to SARS-CoV-2 with differential expressions derived from NP/OP swab PCR. This finding is evidenced by combining these two genes with one another gene in predicting disease status to achieve better-indicating power than existing classifiers with the same number of genes. In addition, combining these two genes with three other genes to form a five-gene classifier outperforms existing classifiers with ten or more genes. With their exceptional predicting power, these two genes can be critical in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic as a new focus and direction. Comparing the functional effects of these genes with a five-gene classifier with 100% accuracy identified and tested from blood samples in the literature, genes and their transcriptional response and functional effects to SARS-CoV-2 and genes and their functional signature patterns to COVID-19 antibody are significantly different, which can be interpreted as the former is the point of a phenomenon, and the latter is the essence of the disease. Such significant findings can help explore the causal and pathological clue between SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 disease and fight against the disease with more targeted vaccines, antiviral drugs, and therapies.

A framework for inserting visually-supported inferences into geographical analysis workflow: application to road safety research

Road safety research is a data-rich field with large social impacts. Like in medical research, the ambition is to build knowledge around risk factors that can save lives. Unlike medical research, road safety research generates empirical findings from messy observational datasets. Records of road crashes contain numerous intersecting categorical variables, dominating patterns that are complicated by confounding and, when conditioning on data to make inferences net of this, observed effects that are subject to uncertainty due to diminishing sample sizes. We demonstrate how visual data analysis approaches can inject rigour into exploratory analysis of such datasets. A framework is presented whereby graphics are used to expose, model and evaluate spatial patterns in observational data, as well as protect against false discovery. The framework is supported through an applied data analysis of national crash patterns recorded in STATS19, the main source of road crash information in Great Britain. Our framework moves beyond typical depictions of exploratory data analysis and helps navigate complex data analysis decision spaces typical in modern geographical analysis settings, generating data-driven outputs that support effective policy interventions and public debate.

Stability of Enveloped and Nonenveloped Viruses in a Stable Gelatin Liquid Formulation

The thermal stability of relevant viruses in gelatin liquid formulations for medical research and application is poorly understood. Bovine herpesvirus (BHV) was used as a model virus to examine the molecular weight (MW), concentration and gelatin type and to optimize virus stability in liquid formulations at 25 °C and 4 °C. Using the model virus stable liquid formulation, the stability of multiple enveloped and nonenveloped RNA and DNA viruses, including parainfluenza virus (PIV), reovirus (RV), BHV, and adenovirus (AdV), was monitored over up to a 30-week storage period. The BHV model virus was considered stable after 3 weeks in hydrolyzed gelatin (MW: 4000) with a 0.8 LRV (log10 reduction value) at 25 °C or a 0.2 LRV at 4 °C, compared to the stabilities observed in higher MW gelatin (60000 and 160000) with an LRV above 1. Based on the gelatin type, BHV in B-type gelatin samples were unexpectantly more stable than in A-type gelatin sample. All four viruses exhibited stability at 4 °C for at least 8 weeks, BHV or AdV remained stable for over 30 weeks of storage, and at 25 °C, AdV and RV remained stable for 8 weeks. The results demonstrated that 5% hydrolyzed gelatin can act as a relevant stabilizer for the thermal stability of viruses in medical research and application.

Population-nosological research biobank of the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine: analysis of biosamples, principles of collecting and storing information

Aim. To analyze the structure of clinical data, as well as the principles of collecting and storing related data of the biobank of the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine (hereinafter Biobank).Material and methods. The analysis was carried out using the documentation available in the Biobank, as well as the databases used in its work. The paper presents clinical data on biosamples available in the Biobank as of August 18, 2021.Results. At the time of analysis, the Biobank had 373547 samples collected from 54192 patients within 37 research projects. The article presents the analysis of data representation and quantitative assessment of the presence/absence of common diagnoses in clinical projects. Approaches to documenting clinical information associated with biological samples stored in the Biobank were assessed. The methods and tools used for standardization and automation of processes used in the Biobank were substantiated.Conclusion. The Biobank of the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine is the largest research biobank in Russia, which meets all modern international requirements and is one of the key structures that improve the research quality and intensify their conduct both within the one center and in cooperation with other biobanks and scientific institutions. The collection and systematic storage of clinical abstracts of biological samples is an integral and most important part of the Biobank’s work.

Creation of a collection of blood samples of patients with multiple myeloma

Aim. To create a collection of samples of blood components of patients with multiple myeloma for potential fundamental and applied biomedical research.Material and methods. The material was collected according to the developed algorithm, including the collection of clinical information, biological material, sample preparation, quality control and storage in the biobank of the National Medical Research Center of Oncology.Results. As of August 2021, the cryostorage of the National Medical Research Center of Oncology biobank contains a collection of 175 samples of blood serum, plasma and mononuclear cell fraction of patients with multiple myeloma. Samples were obtained from 32 patients of both sexes, the mean age of which was 59,5±1,65 years. To create an electronic catalog, personal, clinical and laboratory data about patients were collected, after which each sample was assigned its own unique identification number. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients for the storage of their biomaterial in a biobank with possible subsequent use for scientific purposes. Freezing of the obtained samples was carried out in accordance with low-temperature storage protocol. The electronic catalog contains a wide range of systematized clinical and laboratory information on samples.Conclusion. The collection of multiple myeloma samples is a unique resource for potential research on its pathophysiology, the development of diagnostic biomarkers, and the search for targeted agents.

Using theory and reflexivity to preserve methodological rigour of data collection in qualitative research

This paper examines the place of theory in qualitative medical research. While theory’s place in research planning and data analysis has been well-established, the contribution of theory during qualitative data collection tends to be overlooked. Yet, data collection is not an asocial or apolitical process and requires reflection and analysis in and of itself. Therefore, drawing on an exemplar case study research project which focused on patients’ use of medicines, the paper argues that engaging with theory to think reflexively, throughout a project but particularly during the process of data collection can ensure the rigour and trustworthiness of qualitative data. In this case study, we draw on sociologist Erving Goffman’s theoretical framework of the dramaturgical metaphor to address the multiplicity of roles that healthcare practitioners undertaking qualitative research have to occupy and navigate. Rather than painting researchers out of their research through a naïve search for ‘objectivity’, reflexivity that is scaffolded by theory, offers a way through which researchers’ biases and subjectivities can be made explicit and their data analysis transparent. In making this argument, we encourage medical researchers to engage with, and be attuned to, theoretical perspectives outwith their own discipline.

Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma lysate in the treatment of patients with post-traumatic eyelid scarring: an overview of clinical cases

Purpose: to evaluate the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma lysate (PRP) in the treatment of patients with post-traumatic eyelid scarring by clinical examples. Material and methods. Patients with post-traumatic scarring changes in eyelid tissues causing a damage in the functional and cosmetic state of the auxiliary apparatus of the eye were treated in the Department of Plastic Surgery and Eye Prosthetics at the Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases. Two of the patients, who had been traumatized shortly before the examination and one patient who had rejected surgery were offered treatment by PRP lysate manufactured at the Sklifosovsky Medical Research Institute of Emergency Medicine. After local infiltration anesthesia, each patient received a single injection of PRP lysate (2 ml) into the scar tissue. The result was evaluated at a follow-up that took place 3 months after the injection. Results. The clinical picture of the three patients showed a pronounced positive dynamic of the functional and cosmetic state of the auxiliary eye apparatus, which made the patients reject subsequent (additional) surgical treatment. Conclusion. An improvement tissue repair and regeneration processes after PRP lysate injection allows us to assess this method as an applicable alternative of reconstructive operations in certain cases.