Background: The 20-minute whole blood clotting test (20WBCT) has been used to detect coagulopathy following snakebite for almost 50 years. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the 20WBCT was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the 20WBCT to detect coagulopathy, indicative of systemic envenoming. Methods and findings: Databases were searched from inception up to 09/12/2020 to identify studies that compared the 20WBCT and INR/fibrinogen on five or more subjects. Data was extracted from full-text articles by two reviewers using a predetermined form. Authors of 29 studies that lacked sufficient details in the manuscript were contacted and included if data meeting the inclusion criteria were provided. Included studies were evaluated for bias using a tailored QUADAS-2 checklist. The study protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO database (CRD42020168953). The searches identified 3,599 studies, 15 met the inclusion criteria and 12 were included in the meta-analysis. Data was reported from 6 countries and included a total of 2,270 patients. The aggregate weighted sensitivity of the 20WBCT at detecting INR >1.4 was 0.84 (CI 0.61 to 0.94), the specificity was 0.91 (0.76 to 0.97) and the SROC AUC was 0.94 (CI 0.91 to 0.96). The aggregate weighted sensitivity of the 20WBCT at detecting fibrinogen <100 mg/dL was 0.72 (CI 0.58 to 0.83), the specificity was 0.94 (CI 0.88 to 0.98) and the SROC AUC was 0.93 (0.91 to 0.95). Both analyses that used INR and fibrinogen as the reference test displayed considerable heterogeneity. Conclusions: In the absence of laboratory clotting assays, the 20WBCT remains a highly specific and fairly sensitive bedside test at detecting coagulopathy following snakebite. However, clinicians should be aware of the importance of operator training, standardized equipment and the lower sensitivity of the 20WBCT at detecting mild coagulopathy and resolution of coagulopathy following antivenom.

Background: The plethora of biomarkers available for the diagnosis and prognostication of gliomas has refined the classification of gliomas. The new World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 classification integrates the phenotypic and genotyping features for a more robust diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Fifty gliomas with oligodendroglial morphology according to the WHO 2007 classification were analyzed for isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) mutations by polymerase chain reaction, 1p/19q status by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and IDH1 and X-linked alpha-thalassemia retardation (ATRX) expression by immunohistochemistry. Tumors were reclassified into oligodendrogliomas, astrocytomas, and glioblastomas (GBMs) according to the new “integrated” diagnostic approach. Results: 30% of previously diagnosed oligodendrogliomas and almost 90% of oligoastrocytomas were reclassified as astrocytomas. Twenty gliomas showed 1p/19q co-deletion, while 18 gliomas showed polysomy of chromosome 1/19. Polysomy of chromosome 1/19 was significantly associated with astrocytic tumors (P ≤ 0.001). Loss of ATRX expression was seen in 20 of 23 WHO grade II/III astrocytomas and 3 of 7 GBMs. All WHO grade II and III gliomas in our cohort showed IDH1/2 mutations. Moreover, 4 of 7 GBMs showed the wild-type IDH1/2 mutation, and 2 of 3 GBMs which showed IDH1/2 mutations were secondary GBMs. There was no significant difference in progression-free and overall survival between WHO grade II and III gliomas, possibly because all these tumors showed IDH1/2 mutations. In multivariate analysis, only the WHO grade (grade IV versus II and III combined) was significantly associated with increased risk of recurrence and death (P = 0.016 and 0.02). Conclusion: The new integrated diagnosis provides a more meaningful classification, removing the considerable subjectivity that existed previously.

We present a case of adult-onset systemic chronic active EBV disease (CAEBV) in a 40-year-old woman with chronic HBV hepatitis. Initial symptoms resembled a viral illness, progressing to recurrent fever, transaminitis, and anasarca. Investigations revealed high-level EBV viremia and an abnormal T-cell population in the liver and bone marrow, indicative of CAEBV. The liver biopsy showed CD3+ T-cells lacking TCRbeta and displaying dim/negative CD5, with elevated EBV-infected T-cells. Next-generation sequencing identified rare variants in CREBBP, SPEN, TP73, and PLCG2, suggesting potential contributions to disease pathogenesis. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges and management complexities of adult-onset CAEBV, particularly with underlying chronic HBV infection. Genomic profiling offers crucial insights into the molecular landscape of rare lymphoid malignancies, highlighting the importance of personalized treatment strategies. The distinct immunophenotypic features underscore the heterogeneity in EBV-associated T-cell LPDs, urging further research for optimized clinical management.