A comparison between conventional and the Paris systems of reporting urinary cytopathology with a literature update

INTRODUCTION

Owing to certain inherent limitations of earlier reporting systems, "The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS)" was implemented in 2015 to standardize reporting urine cytology with more stringent cytomorphologic criteria. We share our post-TPS experience, comparing it with the conventional system (CS).

AIM

To assess and compare the cyto-histopathologic/cystoscopic agreement between the conventional and the Paris systems (CS and TPS) for reporting urine cytology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It is a cross-sectional study involving urine samples from 170 patients divided into two groups (CS and TPS). Of the 170 cases, 85 were reported according to the CS, and 85 were reported according to TPS with all the relevant clinical, radiologic, and cystoscopic findings. Using the kappa statistics, both groups were statistically analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and agreement.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity for high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) as per TPS were 83.33% and 94.59%, respectively, while they were 73.47% and 80.56% for the conventional system. The agreement for HGUC with TPS was 87.06% with a kappa value of 0.7416, while it was 76.5% with a kappa value of 0.53 for the CS. Implementing the TPS minimized usage of the atypical urothelial cells (AUC) category, increasing the clarity in detecting HGUC.

CONCLUSION

TPS provides better agreement with histopathology than the CS for diagnosing HGUC, which is attributable to stringent TPS criteria that prompt cytopathologists to look more diligently for morphologic and numeric criteria.

Susceptibility of Commensal E. coli Isolated from Conventional, Antibiotic-Free, and Organic Meat Chickens on Farms and at Slaughter toward Antimicrobials with Public Health Relevance

The spread of resistant bacteria from livestock to the food industry promoted an increase of alternative poultry production systems, such as organic and antibiotic-free ones, based on the lack of antimicrobial use, except in cases in which welfare is compromised. We aimed to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility of commensal Escherichia coli isolated from organic, antibiotic-free, and conventional broiler farms and slaughterhouses toward several antimicrobials critically important for human health. To assess antimicrobial susceptibility, all E. coli isolates and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli were analysed by the microdilution method. The prevalence of tigecycline, azithromycin and gentamicin E. coli-resistant strains was highest in organic samplings. Conversely, the lowest prevalence of resistant E. coli strains was observed for cefotaxime, ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin in organic systems, representing a significant protective factor compared to conventional systems. All E. coli strains were colistin-susceptible. Contamination of the external environment by drug-resistant bacteria could play a role in the presence of resistant strains detected in organic systems. Of interest is the highest prevalence of cephalosporin resistance of E. coli in conventional samplings, since they are not permitted in poultry. Our results suggest that monitoring of antibiotic resistance of the production chain may be helpful to detect "risks" inherent to different rearing systems.

Mechanical Tillage Diversely Affects Glomalin Content, Water Stable Aggregates and AM Fungal Community in the Soil Profiles of Two Differently Managed Olive Orchards

This work was designed to investigate the effect of mechanical tillage on glomalin content, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance and diversity, and the concentration of water stable aggregates (WSA), in two adjacent olive groves located in Basilicata (Italy) that were managed over the course of 11 years in accordance with different horticultural models (conventional and sustainable). Soil sampling was performed at four depths between the trees within a row and between rows. In the end, WSA was found to be a highly sensitive indicator (especially in the "macro" fraction) of the effect of management on soil structure, showing the highest statistically significant values within the sustainable system. In the same regard, the diversity of the AM fungal community was negatively affected by conventional practices; on the other hand, a higher concentration of glomalin in the first 20 cm layer of the conventional system is here reported for the first time, as a likely result of disruption of the mycelium provoked by the mechanical tillage.