SARS-CoV-2 infections are characterized by viral proliferation and clearance phases and can be followed by low-level persistent viral RNA shedding. The dynamics of viral RNA concentration, particularly in the early stages of infection, can inform clinical measures and interventions such as test-based screening. We used prospective longitudinal quantitative reverse transcription PCR testing to measure the viral RNA trajectories for 68 individuals during the resumption of the 2019–2020 National Basketball Association season. For 46 individuals with acute infections, we inferred the peak viral concentration and the duration of the viral proliferation and clearance phases. According to our mathematical model, we found that viral RNA concentrations peaked an average of 3.3 days (95% credible interval [CI] 2.5, 4.2) after first possible detectability at a cycle threshold value of 22.3 (95% CI 20.5, 23.9). The viral clearance phase lasted longer for symptomatic individuals (10.9 days [95% CI 7.9, 14.4]) than for asymptomatic individuals (7.8 days [95% CI 6.1, 9.7]). A second test within 2 days after an initial positive PCR test substantially improves certainty about a patient’s infection stage. The effective sensitivity of a test intended to identify infectious individuals declines substantially with test turnaround time. These findings indicate that SARS-CoV-2 viral concentrations peak rapidly regardless of symptoms. Sequential tests can help reveal a patient’s progress through infection stages. Frequent, rapid-turnaround testing is needed to effectively screen individuals before they become infectious.
SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics that report viral RNA concentrations can be used to determine a patient's stage of infection, but this potential has not yet been realized due to a lack of prospective longitudinal data to calibrate such inferences. Here, we report the viral RNA trajectories for 68 individuals using quantitative PCR testing. On average, symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals reached similar peak viral RNA concentrations (22.2 Ct, 95% credible interval [19.1, 25.1] vs. 22.4 Ct [20.2, 24.5]) within similar amounts of time (2.9 days [0.7, 4.7] vs. 3.0 days [1.3, 4.3]), but acute shedding lasted longer for symptomatic individuals (10.5 days [6.5, 14.0] vs. 6.7 days [3.2, 9.2]). A second test within 2 days after an initial positive PCR result reliably indicated whether viral RNA concentration was increasing, decreasing, or in a low-level persistent phase. Quantitative viral RNA assessment, informed by viral trajectory, can improve algorithms for clinical and public health management.
T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders are among the most challenging diagnoses in hematopathology.Unlike the more common B-cell disorders, in which clonality is often readily discernible by surface immunoglobulin light chain restriction, there is no specific immunophenotypic signature that is diagnostic of a clonal T-cell population. Immunophenotypic criteria that are helpful in the diagnosis of T-cell neoplasms include T-cell subset antigen restriction, anomalous T-cell subset antigen expression, deletion or diminution of one of the pan T-cell antigens, a precursor T-cell phenotype, and expression of additional markers (e.g., CD30, CD20, major myeloid antigens, and TCR␥␦). Analysis of the inherent forward and orthogonal light scatter properties of the cell can also provide important diagnostic clues. None of these features is 100% specific, however, for aberrant expression of pan-T antigens may be seen in viral infections, B-cell malignancies, or in reactive changes following administration of certain medications. An increased CD4:CD8 ratio is often observed in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Based on the analysis of 87 neoplastic and 80 control cases, we conclude that flow cytometric features that are most suspicious for malignancy include the loss or markedly dim expression of CD45; complete loss of one or more pan-T antigens; diminished expression of more than two pan-T antigens in conjunction with altered light scatter properties; and CD4/CD8 dual-positive or dual-negative expression (except thymic lesions). Cytometry (Clin. Cytometry) 50:177-190, 2002.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) typically expresses B-cell antigens and CD5 and overexpresses bcl-1 protein. However, unusual cases of bcl-1+ and CD5-MCL have been observed, posing a practical challenge for correct diagnosis and management. We identified 25 cases (48 samples) of bcl-1+ and CD5- lymphoma. CD5 expression was assessed by flow cytometric analysis alone (1 case), immunohistochemical analysis alone (17 cases), or dual flow cytometric/immunohistochemical methods (7 cases). The morphologic features were consistent with MCL with centrocytic cytomorphology in 20 cases and blastic variant in 5 cases. The t(11;14) was confirmed in 8 of 11 cases by fluorescence in situ hybridization of paraffin-embedded tissue. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the t(11;14) within a complex karyotype in 2 additional cases. These data show that MCL may lack CD5 expression. Evaluation of bcl-1 expression by immunohistochemical analysis or molecular genetics may be indicated if MCL is suspected clinically or morphologically despite a lack of CD5 expression.
Coexpression of CD5 and CD10 is highly unusual in B-cell lymphomas and may pose a diagnostic challenge. We report 42 cases of B-cell lymphoma with simultaneous expression of CD5 and CD10. They made up approximately 0.4% of all B-cell lymphomas seen during the study period and included the following cases: large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), 14 (33%); follicular lymphoma (FL), 10 (24%); mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), 9 (21%); chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 4 (10%); acute precursor B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, 2 (5%); and other low-grade B-cell lymphomas, 3 (7%). All MCLs had overexpression of bcl-1 or the t(11;14) and were CD43+. All FLs had typical histomorphologic features and were bcl-2+ and bcl-6+ but CD43-. Of 14 LBCLs, 5 were histologically high-grade. Six (43%) of 14 patients with LBCL died within 10 months of diagnosis of CD5+CD10+ lymphoma (median survival, 4 months), including all 3 patients with stage IV disease and 2 of 5 with histologically high-grade lymphoma. Our findings indicate that coexpression of CD5 and CD10 is rare but occurs in diverse subtypes of B-cell lymphoma. Investigation of bcl-1, bcl-6, and CD43 and morphologic evaluation may resolve the potential confusion in diagnosis and lead to the recognition of the correct lymphoma subtype.
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