Search Results (695)

Background/Objectives: When the squamocolumnar junction is not fully visible (type 3 transformation zone), colposcopy-directed biopsy may under-sample endocervical disease. Endocervical curettage (ECC) is recommended in selected settings, but its incremental diagnostic yield in this setting, and whether this yield is concentrated in women with HPV16/18, remains clinically debated. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of women referred to colposcopy because of HPV16/18 positivity regardless of cytology, persistent non-16/18 high-risk HPV positivity, and non-16/18 high-risk HPV positivity with abnormal cytology. Persistent non-16/18 high-risk HPV positivity was defined as repeated positivity on two tests performed at least 6 months apart. Eligible women had type 3 transformation zone documented and underwent paired ectocervical biopsy plus ECC at the same visit; biopsy was obtained in all women, including targeted sampling of the most abnormal ectocervical area when no discrete lesion was evident. Women were stratified by HPV genotype into HPV16/18 and non-16/18 high-risk HPV groups. The primary outcome was index high-grade cervical lesion, defined histologically as CIN2, CIN3, or carcinoma in situ; invasive cervical cancer was excluded. The added diagnostic yield of ECC was defined as ECC-only CIN2+, that is, CIN2+ detected on ECC when biopsy was <CIN2. Results: The cohort included 690 women (HPV16/18: 310; non-16/18 high-risk HPV: 380). Baseline cytology was negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy in 116 individuals (16.8%), ASC-US in 155 (22.5%), LSIL in 205 (29.7%), and ASC-H/HSIL in 214 (31.0%). On index composite histology, 122/690 (17.7%) had CIN2, 198/690 (28.7%) had CIN3, and 11/690 (1.6%) had carcinoma in situ. ECC identified CIN2+ not detected by biopsy in 19/690 (2.8%) cases, representing 19/331 (5.7%) of all CIN2+ diagnoses. ECC-only CIN2+ was more frequent in HPV16/18 than non-16/18 high-risk HPV (4.5% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.017). In multivariable analysis, HPV16/18 was associated with increased odds of ECC-only CIN2+ (aOR 3.22, 95% CI 1.10–9.44). No invasive cervical cancers were included in the analytic cohort. Conclusions: In type 3 transformation zone colposcopy, ECC adds a modest incremental yield for CIN2+ detection, with higher yield in HPV16/18-positive women. These findings support a risk-weighted approach to ECC rather than universal routine sampling. Full article

With the continuous expansion of Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation, substantial quantities of post-harvest spent mushroom substrate (SMS) are generated. Improper disposal of this organic waste poses potential threats to soil health, including contamination and ecological imbalance. Consequently, a rigorous safety assessment is indispensable to support the sustainable and agronomically viable utilization of SMS as a soil amendment. In this study, P. ostreatus SMS was subjected to sterilized and non-sterilized treatments, and a controlled co-culture system integrating P. ostreatus mycelium with wheat was established. This system facilitated a comprehensive evaluation of residual mycelium impacts on wheat growth and development at phenotypic, cytological, and non-targeted metabolomics (LC-MS) levels. Results demonstrated that direct field application of non-sterilized SMS severely compromised wheat performance, inducing root necrosis and significantly reducing grain set. Comparative experiments confirmed that non-sterilized SMS—not its sterilized counterpart—exerted pronounced phytotoxic effects, markedly inhibiting seedling growth and triggering wilting symptoms. To elucidate the temporal dynamics of mycelial interaction, wheat seedlings were inoculated with viable P. ostreatus mycelium and co-cultured for seven days. Under these conditions, the mean root length of the control group (10.82 cm) was approximately threefold that of the treatment group. Histopathological analysis revealed a progressive infection pattern initiating at the root apex and extending basipetally; prolonged exposure ultimately caused complete root system collapse. Scanning electron microscopy further showed extensive mycelial colonization on infected root surfaces, accompanied by characteristic cellular damage—including severe cell wall wrinkling and widespread cell death. LC-MS profiling identified 1867 annotated compounds. Comparative analysis revealed significant dysregulation of secondary metabolism, with 495 metabolites upregulated and 419 metabolites downregulated in the treatment group. Collectively, these findings provide robust evidence that unprocessed P. ostreatus SMS poses tangible agronomic risks upon direct soil application. This study establishes a critical scientific foundation for developing safe, evidence-based protocols for the valorization and integrated management of SMS. Full article

China has rich bamboo resources, with Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) being the most economically important species. Bamboo shoot bud development directly determines the eating quality of the shoots and the properties of bamboo materials; however, the intrinsic biological characteristics of this process have hindered foundational research. Traditional methods using whole shoot buds or mixed tissues obscure cellular and tissue heterogeneity, limiting our mechanistic understanding. This review synthesizes cytological features, molecular networks, and technical limitations pertaining to Moso bamboo shoot bud development, identifying four key bottlenecks: tissue homogenization masking cellular heterogeneity, loss of spatial positional information impeding analysis of position effects, challenges in single-cell technology application due to sample preparation and data interpretation issues, and unresolved coupling between chromatin accessibility and transcriptional regulation. To address these, we propose a core strategy centered on constructing a single-cell resolution, spatially resolved, multi-omics integrated, and functionally validated framework. Key approaches include developing bamboo-specific single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, integrating positional information with multi-omics data to identify spatially distinct regulatory targets, standardizing technical pipelines and functional validation platforms, and elucidating epigenetic–transcriptional coupling. Overcoming these bottlenecks will reveal the molecular basis of bamboo’s unique developmental patterns and provide key targets for the genetic improvement of the shoot quality and mechanical properties of bamboo. Full article

In this study, we aimed to isolate indigenous plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with high indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-producing capacity from alfalfa rhizospheres in arid regions of Northwest China and systematically evaluate their bioacceleration effects on alfalfa growth. Fifteen bacterial strains were isolated from rhizosphere soils collected in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. Among them, four high-IAA-producing strains were selected and identified as Brevundimonas sp. B3, Pantoea sp. P10, and Microbacterium sp. M1 and M7 based on 16S rDNA sequencing. Pot experiments showed strain-specific growth-promoting effects: P10 significantly increased plant biomass (increasing fresh weight by 10.04% and dry weight by 11.76%, with p < 0.05), while M7 notably enhanced plant height (by 16.48%, with p < 0.05) and branching. Physiological and cytological analyses revealed that the tested strains improved chlorophyll content (30–45% above the control), reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (20–40% below the control), and differentially regulated root-tip cell elongation. Principal component analysis further supported the comprehensive promotive effects of these strains, with P10 exhibiting the highest overall performance (PC1–PC4 cumulative variance: 83.1%). Within the limitations of controlled pot experiments, these findings highlight the potential of native PGPR strains, particularly P10 and M7, as promising candidates for developing region-specific microbial inoculants with which to enhance alfalfa productivity in arid and semi-arid environments. Full article

Avian trichomonosis is caused by protozoa of the genus Trichomonas, mainly Trichomonas gallinae, which infects the upper digestive tract of birds and is commonly associated with Columbiformes, the main reservoirs of the parasite. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and genetic diversity of Trichomonas spp. in captive synanthropic birds from southeastern Brazil. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 281 birds belonging to 13 avian orders and analyzed using Diamond medium culture, Giemsa-stained smears, and molecular assays. Of the 262 samples submitted to culture analysis, 72 (27.48%) showed trophozoite-like structures under light microscopy. Molecular screening based on the ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 region detected Trichomonas DNA in 76 out of 267 samples with successful DNA extraction (28.46%), including 72 Columba livia domestica from Franca, one Coragyps atratus from Ribeirão Preto, and three rock doves from Jaboticabal. Among the ITS-positive samples, 67 (88.15%) amplified the Fe-hydrogenase gene, and 65 (85.5%) were also positive for the 18S rRNA gene. Only six samples (2.29%) exhibited structures compatible with Trichomonas spp. in Giemsa-stained smears. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequences grouped the isolates into two clades within the Trichomonas gallinae complex. Greater genetic diversity was observed using Fe-hydrogenase and 18S rRNA markers, revealing multiple haplotypes and clades. Molecular assays, particularly PCR applied directly to oropharyngeal swabs, showed higher sensitivity for detecting and characterizing Trichomonas gallinae compared to culture and cytology. These findings highlight the high occurrence and genetic diversity of T. gallinae in captive synanthropic pigeons and reinforce the importance of molecular tools for epidemiological surveillance in wildlife facilities. Full article

Fruit branch length in cotton is a key trait influencing plant architecture and suitability for mechanisation; elucidating its molecular regulatory mechanisms is crucial for breeding varieties with desirable plant architecture. In this study, an F₂ segregating population was established using the long-fruit-branch upland cotton line L16 and the short-fruit-branch line S14 as parents. By integrating morphological, cytological, and omics approaches, we systematically analysed the underlying mechanisms of variation in fruit branch length. Phenotypic analysis indicated that the inter-node elongation rate of the first fruit branch in L16 was significantly higher than that in S14. Tissue section observations revealed that the length of cortical parenchyma cells in L16 was significantly greater than that in S14, suggesting that the difference in fruit branch length primarily stems from variations in the extent of cortical parenchyma cell elongation. BSA-Seq analysis identified five QTL regions significantly associated with fruit branch length, encompassing 82 coding genes. Further RNA-Seq analysis of the fruit branch initiation stage (T0) and rapid elongation stage (T1) identified 3106 differentially expressed genes common to both stages. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to plant hormone signalling, the cytoskeleton, and microtubule organisation. By integrating BSA-Seq and RNA-Seq data, three candidate genes were screened that simultaneously harboured non-synonymous mutations and were significantly highly expressed in the short fruit branch line S14. Combined with bioinformatics analysis, GH_D02G0744 was predicted to be the most likely key candidate gene regulating cotton fruit branch length. This study provides important genetic resources to elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of cotton fruit branch length and lays a theoretical foundation for molecular breeding to improve cotton plant architecture. Full article

Background: Persistent cervical human papillomavirus (Human papillomavirus) infection remains a significant public health concern, as it is the primary etiological factor in the development of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. While prophylactic vaccination and standard screening programs are cornerstones of prevention, a substantial proportion of women with established infection are managed conservatively, often with prolonged follow-up and associated psychological burden. Interest has therefore grown in supportive interventions that may facilitate viral clearance during routine clinical management. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 239 women with confirmed cervical Human papillomavirus infection followed at a tertiary referral center between February 2023 and August 2025. Participants were classified into a treatment group receiving oral Papivir/Pavirona^® twice daily for six months (n = 119) and a control group managed with routine clinical follow-up alone (n = 120). Human papillomavirus DNA testing and cervical cytology were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Results: Human papillomavirus clearance rates were significantly higher in the Papivir/Pavirona^® group compared with controls at both 6 and 12 months. Cytological regression was also more frequent in the treatment group at both time points. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, Papivir/Pavirona^® use emerged as the only independent predictor of both Human papillomavirus clearance and cytological regression, while demographic, reproductive, behavioral, and virological baseline characteristics were not significantly associated with outcomes. Conclusions: Papivir/Pavirona^® supplementation was associated with increased Human papillomavirus clearance and cytological regression rates in women with cervical Human papillomavirus infection, suggesting a potential supportive role alongside standard clinical follow-up. Full article

Cigarette smoke contains a high concentration of carcinogenic substances to which smokers are regularly exposed. Passive smoking is seriously harmful to the health of non-smoking humans and animals. Domestic cats are particularly vulnerable because of their constant grooming activity, which can promote oral ingestion of smoke-derived residues. Cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, is a reliable biomarker for tobacco exposure. Considering these observations, our study aimed to (1) characterize cytological alterations in oral mucosal epithelial cells by conventional morphology and automated digital cytomorphometry; (2) quantify urinary cotinine concentration and investigate its possible correlation with oral epithelial cytological alterations. To this aim, oral smears were collected from 30 cats divided into two groups (20 exposed; 10 non-exposed). Smears were stained with May–Grünwald–Giemsa and Papanicolaou to assess inflammation and dysplasia; digital cytomorphometric analysis was used to quantify the nucleus-to-cytoplasm (N/C) ratio. Urinary cotinine was measured by ELISA. Our results showed that exposed cats had significantly higher urinary cotinine levels and higher N/C ratios (p < 0.01) than non-exposed controls, along with mild-to-severe inflammation and dysplastic-like epithelial alterations. These findings support urinary cotinine as a valid biomarker of household tobacco smoke exposure in domestic cats and suggest that such exposure may be correlated with early cytological and cytomorphometric changes in the oral mucosa. Further studies are needed to better investigate the relationship between exposure duration and cytological, cytomorphometric, and molecular alterations. Full article

Background: Solitary fibrous tumors are uncommon fibroblastic neoplasms. These tumors are characterized by the recurrent NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion, which is a hallmark of solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs), particularly those arising in the thoracic cavity. While SFTs are mostly found in the abdomen and pleura, they can occur in various locations, including the head and neck region (6% of cases of SFTs). Solitary fibrous tumors of the thyroid (SFTTs) are extremely rare, accounting for only 0.1% of all thyroid tumors. The gold standard imaging modality for thyroid tumors is ultrasonography, even though distinctive characteristics for these types of neoplasms are absent, making pre-operative diagnosis more challenging. Aim: The aim of this study is to perform a systematic literature review and to describe our case by analyzing the main clinical features, histological diagnostic features and treatments of this rare tumor, in order to clarify the behavior and molecular characteristics of SFTTs. Methods: A comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines for SFTTs. We searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for articles published up to November 2025. The inclusion criteria include confirmed diagnosis of SFTT, while articles describing unrelated neoplasms or articles that were not in English were excluded. A standardized form was used to extract information on the imaging characteristics, histological diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Results: As of 2025, a total of 43 articles were selected, with 61 reported cases of SFTT in the English literature. Pre-operative diagnosis of SFTT is controversial and usually requires immunohistochemical confirmation. In our case, molecular analysis identified, for the first time, a NAB2ex6–STAT6ex17 fusion, contributing to the molecular characterization of this rare tumor. Conclusions: SFTTs are rare and difficult to diagnose; thus, they require a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis and management. The combination of imaging, cytology, histopathology, and molecular testing is essential in distinguishing SFTTs from other thyroid malignancies. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment, and long-term follow-up is recommended due to the potential risk of recurrence or metastasis. Full article

Cervical cytology screening remains dependent on manual analysis, which is time-consuming and subject to variability. This study proposes a leakage-free hybrid deep learning framework for multiclass classification of cervical cells extracted from whole-slide Papanicolaou images. A fine-tuned DenseNet121 feature extractor was combined with three classifiers: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Stacked Extreme Learning Machine (SELM), and Cascaded Deep Forest (CDF). Experiments were conducted on the CRIC Cervix Collection dataset using slide-level data partitioning and group-aware stratified 7-fold cross-validation. Model comparison followed a paired non-parametric protocol (Friedman test with Wilcoxon post hoc and Holm correction). DenseNet121 + CDF achieved the highest cross-validation Accuracy (0.7370 ± 0.0357), significantly outperforming SVM (0.6644 ± 0.0287) and SELM (0.6431 ± 0.0471) (χ²(2) = 11.14, p = 0.0038; Kendall’s W = 0.79). Independent testing showed competitive generalization across models. These results support the statistical robustness of the Cascaded Deep Forest-based hybrid architecture for multiclass cervical cytology classification under realistic slide-level conditions. Full article

Background and Objectives: In women who are positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), abnormal cytology necessitates colposcopy and biopsy; however, cytology–histology concordance is variable and may differ by menopausal status. This study aimed to evaluate the concordance between cytologic findings and biopsy results in hrHPV-positive women with abnormal Pap tests and to compare outcomes by menopausal status. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 904 hrHPV-positive women with abnormal cytology who underwent colposcopy. Cytology findings [atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), atypical squamous cells—cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL)] were compared with histological findings [normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)-1, -2, -3]. Menopausal status was stratified as premenopausal (<48 years) and postmenopausal (≥48 years). Rates of cyto-histologic concordance, overestimation, and underestimation were calculated. Results: The predominant cytological result was ASC-US (61.7%), followed by LSIL (25.3%), whereas histologically, CIN was most common (66.5%; CIN-1: 42.8%, CIN-2: 11.5%, CIN-3: 12.2%). Cytology–biopsy concordance was 50.7%, with overestimation in 35.4% and underestimation in 13.9%. Overestimation was highest in ASC-US (43.9%) and ASC-H (37%), while underestimation was most frequently seen in LSIL cases (27.1%). HSIL cytology showed the highest agreement (85.7%). Conversely, LSIL cytology showed higher cyto-histologic concordance in postmenopausal women, whereas ASC-H and HSIL cytologies were more commonly overestimated in comparison to premenopausal women. Using ASC-H/HSIL as the positive cytology threshold for CIN-2+ detection, sensitivity was 41.1% and specificity was 95.8% [positive predictive value (PPV) 75.2%, negative predictive value (NPV) 84.0%; overall accuracy 82.9%]. The sensitivity and NPV were higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (50.0% vs. 39.9%; 91.3% vs. 82.3%, respectively). Conclusions: Cytology–histology concordance is moderate among women who are hrHPV-positive with abnormal cytology, characterized by notable underestimation in low-grade cytology and strong predictive value in HSIL cases. Menopausal status influences the outcomes; in postmenopausal women, high-grade lesions are less frequent, and diagnostic accuracy for detecting CIN-2+ is higher. These findings highlight the need for age- and menopause-sensitive diagnostic approaches. Full article

Background: Riedel’s thyroiditis is a rare fibrosing thyroid disorder that remains one of the most difficult to diagnose, often being initially interpreted as malignant due to its clinical, radiological, and histopathological similarities with anaplastic carcinoma or other infiltrative thyroid diseases. Preoperative investigations, including fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), may be misleading and contribute to an erroneous diagnosis of cancer. Methods: We report the case of a 44-year-old woman presenting with a rapidly enlarging, hard goiter associated with compressive symptoms and cytological findings suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma (Bethesda V). Based on these findings and the multidisciplinary team’s assessment, surgical intervention was undertaken. Intraoperatively, the thyroid gland was densely fibrotic and adherent to adjacent structures, prompting frozen-section analysis that revealed a benign fibroinflammatory process consistent with Riedel’s thyroiditis. This intraoperative finding guided the surgical team toward a near-total thyroidectomy, preventing unnecessary radical excision. Results: The paraffin-embedded section confirmed the diagnosis. Postoperative recovery was favorable, with complete resolution of compressive symptoms. Conclusions: This case highlights the persistent diagnostic challenges of Riedel’s thyroiditis and illustrates how intraoperative frozen-section examination can contribute to differentiating it from malignancy when preoperative findings remain inconclusive. A multidisciplinary approach and surgical expertise are essential in tailoring the extent of resection, preventing complications, and achieving both diagnostic confirmation and symptom relief. Full article

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic value of conventional ultrasound (CUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features in differentiating benign from malignant Bethesda III/IV thyroid nodules, and to identify independent predictors of malignancy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 164 surgically confirmed Bethesda III/IV thyroid nodules. CUS and CEUS features were evaluated by two experienced radiologists blinded to pathological outcomes. Univariate analysis compared features between benign and malignant groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors. Diagnostic models were constructed based on CUS alone, CEUS alone, and their combination, with performance evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each model. Results: The malignancy rate was 48.8% (80/164). Multivariate analysis identified microcalcifications (OR = 4.815, p < 0.001), aspect ratio >1 (OR = 2.499, p = 0.028), and irregular shape (OR = 2.465, p = 0.035) as independent risk factors, while older age (OR = 0.926 per year, p < 0.001) was protective. The CUS model achieved an AUC of 0.815 with high sensitivity (91.3%) and NPV (87.7%). The CEUS model performed poorly (AUC = 0.609). The combined model (AUC = 0.823) showed no significant improvement over CUS alone (p > 0.05). Physician subjective diagnosis based on CEUS TI-RADS yielded an AUC of 0.775. Conclusions: Conventional ultrasound features provide good diagnostic value for Bethesda III/IV nodules, with high sensitivity and NPV suitable for clinical screening. The addition of CEUS offered limited incremental benefit in this specific population, suggesting that the diagnostic value of CEUS for differentiating benign from malignant cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) may be limited. Full article

Background/Objectives: The informative value of integrating high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotyping with cytology and p16/Ki67 dual-stain biomarker results, using limited and two types of extended genotyping assays, has not yet been evaluated. Methods: A total of 32,724 screening test results between 2015 and 2024 were included. Limited HPV genotyping was performed using the Abbott RealTime High Risk HPV assay. Extended genotyping was performed using two assays: the Alinity m HR HPV and BD Onclarity HPV Assay. Trends in age-specific, cytology-specific, and p16/Ki67-specific HR-HPV prevalence and distribution were observed, and differences between limited and extended genotyping were examined. Results: The overall HR-HPV positivity rate was 15.0%. HR-HPV prevalence was 13.9% in the limited genotyping group, 17.8% in in the Onclarity group 1, and 17.2% in the Alinity group 2, with a statistically significant difference in the proportions of positive/negative cases (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference was observed between extended genotyping groups (p = 0.706). In the Onclarity group: the highest p16/Ki67 positivity was observed for HPV 33/58 (100.0%) and HPV 31 (58.8%), while the lowest was for HPV 45 (18.2%), HPV 18 (25.0%) and HPV 59/56/66 (28.9%). In the Alinity group: the highest p16/Ki67 positivity was observed for HPV 16 (66.7%) and HPV 31/33/52/58 (58.8%). Conclusions: Based on ten years of HPV-based cervical cancer screening data, this study demonstrates that genotype-specific HR-HPV information obtained through extended genotyping provides clinically relevant risk stratification when interpreted together with cytology and p16/Ki67 dual-stain results. These findings support an integrated screening approach combining molecular HPV testing, cytology, and immunocytochemical biomarkers to improve risk-based triage in cervical cancer screening. Full article

Bladder cancer (BCa) is a major global urinary tract malignancy characterized by high incidence, frequent recurrence, and significant mortality. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving prognosis and minimizing invasive procedures; however, current standard techniques, cystoscopy and urine cytology, are limited by invasiveness, cost, low sensitivity, and subjectivity. This has spurred the development of non-invasive diagnostic strategies based on urine analysis. This review highlights five emerging approaches: AI-augmented urine cytology, genomic biomarker assays (e.g., PCR and NGS for mutations and copy-number variations), DNA methylation profiling, RNA biomarkers (mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA), and protein/peptide/metabolite detection utilizing ELISA, SERS, nanozymes, and mass spectrometry. We assess the diagnostic accuracy, innovations, and clinical potential of each, while addressing persisting issues such as lack of standardization, high costs, and insufficient sensitivity for early-stage lesions. Future directions include integrating multi-omics data with AI, advancing point-of-care devices, and conducting large-scale multicenter trials. Together, these developments promise to shift BCa management toward molecular-based early detection, enabling more precise, non-invasive, and personalized patient care. Full article