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Genta RM, Turner KO, Collins MH, Wechsler JB, Arva NC, Pletneva MA, Dellon ES, Walker MM. Quantification of Mucosal Mast Cells in the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Primer for Practicing Pathologists. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2024; 148:e25-e35. [PMID: 37450346 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2023-0070-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Mast cells are essential components of the immune system and play crucial pathogenetic roles in several digestive diseases, including mastocytic enterocolitis and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. Pathologists have rarely been asked to evaluate the distribution and density of mast cells in gastrointestinal (GI) biopsy specimens. However, such requests are becoming more common because of an increasing awareness of the role of mast cells in functional GI disease and in both esophageal and nonesophageal eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders. OBJECTIVE.— To provide pathologists with tools to incorporate the assessment of mast cells in the evaluation of esophageal, gastric, and intestinal specimens by developing a systematic approach to their evaluation, counting, and reporting. DESIGN.— This study consisted of a review of the literature followed by multiple consensus sessions to decide where to count mast cells and what a countable mast cell is. RESULTS.— We reviewed 135 papers addressing the content of mast cells in the digestive tract, selected 21 that detailed how cells were counted (microscope lens, area of high-power fields, locations evaluated, type of cells considered as countable), and summarized their data in a table. Then, drawing from both the acceptable literature and our own extensive experience, we reached a tentative consensus on: (1) the normal numbers in the different segments of the GI tract; (2) the morphology of countable mast cells; and (3) the locations and strategies for counting them. CONCLUSIONS.— The result is a set of suggestions for reporting mast cell counts, their distribution, and their location in a way clinicians can understand and use for management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Genta
- From the Departments of Pathology and Medicine (Gastroenterology), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas (Genta)
- Inform Diagnostics, Fulgent, Irving, Texas (Genta, Turner)
| | - Kevin O Turner
- Inform Diagnostics, Fulgent, Irving, Texas (Genta, Turner)
- the Department of Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis (Turner)
| | - Margaret H Collins
- the Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio (Collins)
| | - Joshua B Wechsler
- the Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases Program, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Departments of Pediatrics (Wechsler) and Pathology (Arva), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Nicoleta C Arva
- the Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases Program, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Departments of Pediatrics (Wechsler) and Pathology (Arva), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Maria A Pletneva
- the Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (Pletneva)
| | - Evan S Dellon
- the Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (Dellon)
- the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine (Dellon), University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Marjorie M Walker
- Anatomical Pathology, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia (Walker)
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Virkkula A, Kivela L, Hiltunen P, Sotka A, Huhtala H, Kurppa K, Repo M. Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Helicobacter Pylori-negative Chronic Gastritis in Children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2022; 74:949-955. [PMID: 35258500 DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000003440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The clinical significance of Helicobacter pylori-negative chronic gastritis (HPNCG) in children is unclear. We examined this issue in patients who had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy with systematic gastric sampling. METHODS Data of 1178 consecutive children who underwent diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy were collected. Baseline characteristics and long-term outcomes were compared between children with active and inactive HPNCG and those with normal gastric histology. Follow-up data were available for up to 13 years. RESULTS Altogether 24 (2.0%) children had active and 235 (19.9%) inactive HPNCG, 27 (2.3%) were Hpylori-positive, 46 (3.9%) had other gastric pathology, and 846 (71.8%) normal histology. Diarrhea (31.3% vs 25.1%, P = 0.033), poor growth (23.6% vs 14.7%, P < 0.001), bloody stools (13.9% vs 7.2%, P < 0.001), anemia (46.5% vs 23.4%, P < 0.001), hypersedimentation (39.7% vs 21.4%, P < 0.001), hypoalbuminemia (40.4% vs 16.2%, P < 0.001), and elevated fecal calprotectin (62.4% vs 31.5%, P < 0.001) were more common and heartburn (13.9% vs 22.9%, P = 0.002) less common in the HPNCG group than in the controls. Both active (OR 3.64,95% CI 1.35-9.82) andinactive (2.98, 2.18-4.08) HPNCG predicted a diagnosis in the initial investigations. Crohn disease (41.7%) was the most common diagnosis in active HPNCG and celiac disease (37.4%) in inactive HPNCG. During follow-up, 7 (9.9%) of the 71 initially nondiagnosed HPNCG children received a diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS HPNCG is a frequent finding in children undergoing EGD, the active form being associated especially with Crohn disease and the inactive with celiac disease. The long-term prognosis of patients with HPNCG who do not receive an initial diagnosis is good.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anni Virkkula
- Tampere Centre for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Kivela
- Tampere Centre for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere university, Tampere
- University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Children's Hospital, and Paediatric Research Center, Helsinki
| | - Pauliina Hiltunen
- Tampere Centre for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere
| | - Antti Sotka
- Department of Pediatrics, South Karelia Central Hospital, Lappeen-ranta
| | - Heini Huhtala
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere
| | - Kalle Kurppa
- Tampere Centre for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere university, Tampere
- University Consortium of Seinajoki and Seinajoki Central Hospital, Seinajoki, Finland
| | - Marleena Repo
- Tampere Centre for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Celiac Disease Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere university, Tampere
- Department of Pediatrics, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyvaskyla, Finland
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A Survey of Methodologies for Assessing Mast Cell Density and Activation in Patients with Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders. GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/gidisord3040016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to assess methods utilized in assessing mast cell involvement in functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs), specifically to describe variability in methods utilized to assess both mast cell density and activation and determine if a consensus exists. After a literature search identified 70 manuscripts assessing mast cell density, data were extracted including FAPD diagnosis, site of biopsy, selection of microscopic fields analyzed, selection of mucosal region analyzed, method of mast cell identification, method to assess mast cell density, and if performed, method to assess mast cell activation. There appears to be some consensus favoring inmmunohistochemical stains over histochemical stains for identifying mast cells. Otherwise, considerable variability exists in methodology for assessing mast cell density and activation. Regardless of method, approximately 80% of studies found increased mast cell density and/or activation in comparison to controls with no method being superior. A wide variety of methods have been employed to assess mast cell density and activation with no well-established consensus and inadequate data to recommend specific approaches. The current methodology providing physiologic information needs to be translated to a standard methodology providing clinical information with the development of criteria establishing abnormal density and/or activation, and more importantly, predicting treatment response.
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Liu JA, Yu J, Cheung CW. Immune Actions on the Peripheral Nervous System in Pain. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031448. [PMID: 33535595 PMCID: PMC7867183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain can be induced by tissue injuries, diseases and infections. The interactions between the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and immune system are primary actions in pain sensitizations. In response to stimuli, nociceptors release various mediators from their terminals that potently activate and recruit immune cells, whereas infiltrated immune cells further promote sensitization of nociceptors and the transition from acute to chronic pain by producing cytokines, chemokines, lipid mediators and growth factors. Immune cells not only play roles in pain production but also contribute to PNS repair and pain resolution by secreting anti-inflammatory or analgesic effectors. Here, we discuss the distinct roles of four major types of immune cells (monocyte/macrophage, neutrophil, mast cell, and T cell) acting on the PNS during pain process. Integration of this current knowledge will enhance our understanding of cellular changes and molecular mechanisms underlying pain pathogenies, providing insights for developing new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Aijia Liu
- Correspondence: (J.A.L.); (C.W.C.); Tel.: +852-2255-3303 (J.A.L. & C.W.C.); Fax: +852-2855-1654 (J.A.L. & C.W.C.)
| | | | - Chi Wai Cheung
- Correspondence: (J.A.L.); (C.W.C.); Tel.: +852-2255-3303 (J.A.L. & C.W.C.); Fax: +852-2855-1654 (J.A.L. & C.W.C.)
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Lee EH, Yang HR, Lee HS. Analysis of Gastric and Duodenal Eosinophils in Children with Abdominal Pain Related Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders According to Rome III Criteria. J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2016; 22:459-69. [PMID: 27053514 PMCID: PMC4930301 DOI: 10.5056/jnm15174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims Abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorder (AP-FGID) is common in children and adults. However, the mechanism of AP-FGID is not clearly known. Recently, micro-inflammation, especially eosinophilia in the gastrointestinal tract, was suggested in the pathophysiology of AP-FGID in adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of gastric and duodenal eosinophilia with pediatric AP-FGID. Methods In total, 105 pediatric patients with AP-FGID were recruited and classified into 4 subgroups based on the Rome III criteria. Eosinophil counts in the gastric and duodenal tissues of children with AP-FGID were compared to those from normal pathology references or those of children with Helicobacter pylori infection. Tissue eosinophil counts were also compared among the 4 subtypes of AP-FGID. Results Eosinophil counts in the gastric antrum and body were significantly higher in children with AP-FGID than normal reference values. Duodenal eosinophil counts were higher in children with AP-FGID, but not significantly when compared with normal reference values. There were no significant differences in eosinophil counts of the stomach or duodenum among the 4 subtypes of AP-FGID. Eosinophils counts in the gastric antrum and body were significantly higher in children with H. pylori infection than in those with AP-FGID. Duodenal eosinophilia was prominent in cases of H. pylori infection, but not statistically significant when compared with AP-FGID. Conclusions Our study revealed that gastric eosinophilia is associated with AP-FGID in children, regardless of the subtype of functional abdominal pain. This suggests some contribution of gastrointestinal eosinophils in the development of pediatric AP-FGID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hye Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Hye Ran Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.,Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Seung Lee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
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Chronic pain treatment: the influence of tricyclic antidepressants on serotonin release and uptake in mast cells. Mediators Inflamm 2013; 2013:340473. [PMID: 23710115 PMCID: PMC3654333 DOI: 10.1155/2013/340473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of serotonin (5-HT) in chronic pain mechanisms is established. 5-HT inhibits central painful stimuli, but recent data suggests that 5-HT could also enhance pain stimulus from the periphery, where mast cells play an important role. We aimed in our study to clarify the influence of selected tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) on mast cell function: secretion, uptake, and reuptake of 5-HT, that could interfere with 5-HT levels and in this way contribute to the generation of pain. As an experimental model, we used isolated rat peritoneal mast cells and incubated them with selected TCAs (clomipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin, and imipramine) under different experimental conditions. 5-HT release, uptake, and reuptake were determined spectrofluorometrically. We showed that TCAs were able to inhibit 5-HT secretion from mast cells, as well as uptake of exogenous 5-HT and reuptake of secreted 5-HT back into mast cells. The effects of TCAs were concentration dependent; higher concentrations of TCAs inhibited the secretion of 5-HT induced by compound 48/80, whereas lower concentrations of TCAs inhibited 5-HT uptake. The most effective TCA was halogenated clomipramine. As TCAs are well introduced in chronic pain treatment, the insight into mechanisms of action is important for an understanding of their effect in various pain conditions.
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Henderson WA, Shankar R, Taylor TJ, Del Valle-Pinero AY, Kleiner DE, Kim KH, Youssef NN. Inverse relationship of interleukin-6 and mast cells in children with inflammatory and non-inflammatory abdominal pain phenotypes. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2012; 3:102-8. [PMID: 23516176 PMCID: PMC3602438 DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v3.i6.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 12/06/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate interleukin-6 (IL-6), mast cells, enterochromaffin cells, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and substance P in the gastrointestinal mucosa of children with abdominal pain. METHODS Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastrointestinal biopsy blocks from patients (n = 48) with non-inflammatory bowel disease (irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain) and inflammatory bowel disease were sectioned and stained for IL-6, mast cells, enterochromaffin cells, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and substance P. All children had chronic abdominal pain as part of their presenting symptoms. Biopsy phenotype was confirmed by a pathologist, blinded to patient information. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and independent sample t tests were used to compare differences between the inflammatory and non-inflammatory groups. RESULTS The cohort (n = 48), mean age 11.9 years (SD = 2.9), 54.2% females, 90% Caucasian, was comprised of a non-inflammatory (n = 26) and an inflammatory (n = 22) phenotype. There was a significant negative correlation between substance P expression and mast cell count (P = 0.05, r = -0.373). Substance P was found to be expressed more often in female patient biopsies and more intensely in the upper gastrointestinal mucosa as compared to the lower mucosa. There were significantly increased gastrointestinal mucosal immunoreactivity to IL-6 (P = 0.004) in the inflammatory phenotype compared to non-inflammatory. Additionally, we found significantly increased mast cells (P = 0.049) in the mucosa of the non-inflammatory phenotype compared to the inflammatory group. This difference was particularly noted in the lower colon biopsies. CONCLUSION The findings of this study yield preliminary evidence in identifying biomarkers of undiagnosed abdominal pain in children and may suggest candidate genes for future evaluation.
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Sekula-Neuner S, Maier J, Oppong E, Cato ACB, Hirtz M, Fuchs H. Allergen arrays for antibody screening and immune cell activation profiling generated by parallel lipid dip-pen nanolithography. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2012; 8:585-91. [PMID: 22278752 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201101694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2011] [Revised: 09/21/2011] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Multiple-allergen testing for high throughput and high sensitivity requires the development of miniaturized immunoassays that allow for a large test area and require only a small volume of the test analyte, which is often available only in limited amounts. Developing such miniaturized biochips containing arrays of test allergens needs application of a technique able to deposit molecules at high resolution and speed while preserving its functionality. Lipid dip-pen nanolithography (L-DPN) is an ideal technique to create such biologically active surfaces, and it has already been successfully applied for the direct, nanoscale deposition of functional proteins, as well as for the fabrication of biochemical templates for selective adsorption. The work presented here shows the application of L-DPN for the generation of arrays of the ligand 2,4-dinitrophenyl[1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[6-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl)amino]hexanoyl] (DNP)] onto glass surfaces as a model system for detection of allergen-specific Immunoglobin E (IgE) antibodies and for mast cell activation profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Sekula-Neuner
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Institut für Nanotechnologie (INT), Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMF), 76021 Karlsruhe Germany.
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Abstract
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common and currently defined by a symptom-based classification with no discernable pathology. In functional dyspepsia (FD), the duodenum is now implicated as a key area where symptoms originate.This is attributed to immune activation with increasing evidence indicating a role for duodenal eosinophilia. In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), mastocytosis has been documented throughout the small and large intestine. Eosinophils and mast cells are an important link between innate and adaptive immunity, and are important in allergic type TH2 inflammation. Eosinophils may give rise to symptoms due to release of preformed cytokine proteins, which trigger neural excitation, muscle spasm, and pain. The close relationship of mast cells to nerves in IBS may similarly give rise to symptoms. Genetic studies also support of the role of innate immunity in FGIDs. The data supporting a prime role for eosinophils and mast cells in subsets of FD and IBS has become credible, and these data should be used to implement advances in diagnosis and therapeutic trials.
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Taylor TJ, Youssef NN, Shankar R, Kleiner DE, Henderson WA. The association of mast cells and serotonin in children with chronic abdominal pain of unknown etiology. BMC Res Notes 2010; 3:265. [PMID: 20964845 PMCID: PMC2974734 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-3-265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2010] [Accepted: 10/21/2010] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Abdominal pain of unknown origin affects up to 20% of school-aged children. Evaluation of children is symptom-based without clear guidelines to investigate molecular mechanisms of abdominal pain. Aberrant molecular mechanisms may increase intestinal permeability leading to interactions between the immune and nervous systems, subclinical inflammation, and visceral pain. This study evaluated the association between interleukin-6 (IL-6), mast cell infiltrates, and serotonin (5-HT) levels in gastrointestinal (GI) biopsies, with perceived abdominal pain in a pediatric cohort. Methods Clinical data and biopsy samples from pediatric patients (n = 48) with chronic abdominal pain, with and without inflammation were included. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded GI biopsies were sectioned and immunohistochemistry performed for IL-6 and 5-HT; mast cells were identified with toluidine blue stain. Histological findings were compared to self-reported abdominal pain between groups. Results There was significantly greater IL-6 immunoreactivity in biopsies with confirmed histologic inflammation (p = 0.004). There was a greater number of mast cells per HPF in non-inflammatory biopsies (3.5 ± 2.9) compared to the inflammatory biopsies (2.6 ± 1.8) p = 0.049. The non-inflammatory biopsy group was significantly less likely to respond to standard treatment as evidenced by higher pain reports (p = .018). Mast cells (p = .022) and 5-HT (p = .02) were significantly related to abdominal pain scores. Conclusions A potential association between self-reported abdominal pain, number of mast cells, and 5-HT levels, which may contribute to perceived GI pain in pediatric patients may exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara J Taylor
- National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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