Cadherin-16 (CDH16) Immunohistochemistry: A Novel Diagnostic Tool for Renal Cell Carcinoma and Papillary Carcinomas of the Thyroid

Introduction/Objective

Introduction: Cadherin-16 (CDH16), also termed kidney specific cadherin (ksp-cadherin), is a membrane-associated glycoprotein with a role in the embryonal development of tubules in kidney and thyroid. Downregulation of CDH16 RNA was found in papillary carcinomas of the thyroid.

Methods/Case Report

Methods: A set of tissue microarrays containing 14,978 samples from 149 different tumor types and subtypes as well as 608 samples of 76 different normal tissue types was analyzed by immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of CDH16 in cancer and to assess the diagnostic utility of immunohistochemical CDH16 analysis.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

Results: Among normal tissues, a membranous CDH16 immunostaining predominated in thyroid, kidney, cauda epididymis, and in mesonephric remnants. In the thyroid, CDH16 staining was seen in 100% of normal samples, 83% of follicular adenomas, 58% of follicular carcinomas, but in only 9% of papillary carcinomas (p<0.0001). Among non-thyroidal tumors, CDH16 positivity was particularly frequent in nephrogenic adenomas (100%), oncocytomas (98%), chromophobe (97%), clear cell (85%), and papillary (76%) renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), clear cell (56%), mucinous (36%), and endometroid (16%) carcinomas as well as carcinosarcomas (18%) of the ovary, adenocarcinomas of the cervix uteri (40%), serous (33%), clear cell (33%), and endometroid carcinomas (18%) of the endometrium and in various subtypes of neuroendocrine neoplasms (4-26%).

Conclusion

Given the massive loss of CDH16 expression in >90% of papillary carcinomas of the thyroid, CDH16 is a highly useful diagnostic marker for these tumors. CDH16 immunohistochemistry is also useful for the identification of nephrogenic adenomas and the distinction of renal cell carcinomas from other neoplasms.

MALDI imaging mass spectrometry reveals multiple clinically relevant masses in colorectal cancer using large-scale tissue microarrays

For identification of clinically relevant masses to predict status, grade, relapse and prognosis of colorectal cancer, we applied Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to a tissue micro array containing formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 349 patients. Analysis of our MALDI-IMS data revealed 27 different m/z signals associated with epithelial structures. Comparison of these signals showed significant association with status, grade and Ki-67 labeling index. Fifteen out of 27 IMS signals revealed a significant association with survival. For seven signals (m/z 654, 776, 788, 904, 944, 975 and 1013) the absence and for eight signals (m/z 643, 678, 836, 886, 898, 1095, 1459 and 1477) the presence were associated with decreased life expectancy, including five masses (m/z 788, 836, 904, 944 and 1013) that provided prognostic information independently from the established prognosticators pT and pN. Combination of these five masses resulted in a three-step classifier that provided prognostic information superior to univariate analysis. In addition, a total of 19 masses were associated with tumor stage, grade, metastasis and cell proliferation. Our data demonstrate the suitability of combining IMS and large-scale tissue micro arrays to simultaneously identify and validate clinically useful molecular marker. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Analysing the effect of crystal size and structure in highly efficient CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells by spatially resolved photo- and electroluminescence imaging

CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells with a mesoporous TiO2 layer and spiro-MeOTAD as a hole transport layer (HTL) with three different CH3NH3I concentrations (0.032 M, 0.044 M and 0.063 M) were investigated. Strong variations in crystal size and morphology resulting in diversified cell efficiencies (9.2%, 16.9% and 12.3%, respectively) were observed. The physical origin of this behaviour was analysed by detailed characterization combining current-voltage curves with photo- and electroluminescence (PL and EL) imaging as well as light beam induced current measurements (LBIC). It was found that the most efficient cell shows the highest luminescence and the least efficient cell is most strongly limited by non-radiative recombination. Crystal size, morphology and distribution in the capping layer and in the porous scaffold strongly affect the non-radiative recombination. Moreover, the very non-uniform crystal structure with multiple facets, as evidenced by SEM images of the 0.032 M device, suggests the creation of a large number of grain boundaries and crystal dislocations. These defects give rise to increased trap-assisted non-radiative recombination as is confirmed by high-resolution μ-PL images. The different imaging techniques used in this study prove to be well-suited to spatially investigate and thus correlate the crystal morphology of the perovskite layer with the electrical and radiative properties of the solar cells and thus with their performance.

Charge transport and trapping in bulk-heterojunction solar cells

Charge carrier transport and trapping was investigated in organic solar cell structures consisting of poly-3-hexylthiophene blended with the fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester in 6:5 weight ratio. The analysed devices having solar efficiency of 3.7 per cent were produced in the inverted layer sequence. The fill factor of the IV characteristics was as high as 68 per cent. It was demonstrated that despite of such relatively high fill factor carrier trapping is effectively involved in the charge transport phenomena. The density of the trapping states was evaluated to be up to 10(20) division by 7 x 10(21) cm(-3) and their activation energy was about 0.18 eV. At such high densities these states may probably act as transport states, limiting carrier mobility. The results were analyzed by taking into account carrier thermal generation from traps as well their mobility variation according to the Gaussian disorder model. The mobility parameters obtained by both methods demonstrated good coincidence.

Spatial Electron Distribution and Its Origin in the Nanoporous TiO2 Network of a Dye Solar Cell

Dye solar cells have been investigated by charge carrier extraction under short and open circuit conditions and an illumination intensity equivalent to 1 sun (AM 1.5). Under short circuit conditions, a surprisingly high amount of charge carriers stored in the nanoporous TiO2 network has been observed. A theoretical model was developed to describe the charge transport in the nanoporous TiO2 network of a dye solar cell, and the spatial distribution of the electron concentration was calculated. These results were compared with the experimental data of charge carriers stored in the TiO2 network under short and open circuit conditions. We were able to conclude that under short circuit conditions, the electrochemical potential of the electrons in the region far from the electrode is up to 550-570 meV higher than that of the electrons at the front electrode. This internal voltage is the driving force across the nanoporous TiO2 film under short circuit conditions.

Kelvin probe force microscopy study on conjugated polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

We conducted a comprehensive Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) study on a classical organic solar cell system consisting of MDMO-PPV/PCBM blends. The KPFM method yields the information of topography and local work function at the nanometer scale. Experiments were performed either in the dark or under cw laser illumination at 442 nm. We identified distinct differences in the energetics on the surface of chlorobenzene and toluene cast blend films. Together with high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments we were able to interpret the KPFM results and to draw some conclusions for the electron transport toward the cathode in the solar cell configuration. The results suggest that surfaces of toluene cast films exhibit a morphologically controlled hindrance for electron propagation toward the cathode, which is usually evaporated on top of the films in the solar cell device configuration.

Different patterns of sighs in neonates and young infants

To examine the prevalence and clinical assessment of sighs in neonates, we observed three different patterns of sighs: (A) sighs in the absence of apneic pause; (B) sighs with instantly following apneic pause >2 s, and (C) sighs with apneic pause >2 s following 1-3 normal breaths. We investigated preterm and term infants with 12 h nocturnal polygraphic recording. Sighs were more frequent in preterm than in term infants and more so during REM sleep than non-REM sleep. The part of sighs B of total number of sighs increased with gestational age. During REM sleep sighs without apnea were predominant, whereas apnea-associated sighs were mainly found during non-REM sleep.