Forensic Pathology Fellows Allison Hade, DO, David Negrete, MD – attendance at NAME (National Association of Medical Examiners) Annual Meeting in San Jose, CA, October 13 – 17, 2023
Transfusion Medicine Fellow Andres E. Mindiola Romero, MD – attendance at Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN, October 14 – 17, 2023
Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellows Jordan Redemann, MD, Ryan Rebbe, MD – attendance at AMP (Association for Molecular Pathology) Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT, November 14 – 18, 2023
Hematopathology Fellows Amira Kuzu, MD, Austin Green, MD, Clayton Kibler, MD, Ryan Braunberger, MD – attendance at 2024 Tutorial on Neoplastic Hematopathology: Focus on New Classifications in Phoenix, AZ, January 15 – 19, 2024
Books: Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow Foucar, Kathryn
Hematopathology and Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellows received a copy of Dr. Foucar’s recently published 3rd edition of Diagnostic Pathology: Blood and Bone Marrow as a resource to enhance the UNM School of Medicine training mission for the Department of Pathology
2023 Hematopathology Fellow Andres Mindiola Romero, MD – attendance at Society for Hematopathology / USCAP (United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology) Meeting in New Orleans, LA, March 11 – 13, 2023
2023 Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellow – Elise Venable, MBBS, and Principal Investigators Devon Chabot-Richards, MD, Daniel Babu, MD
We plan to pursue RNA sequencing on a case of a U2AFJ-mutated acute myeloid leukemia found to have an interesting translocation t(18;19)(ql2;p13) of unclear significance. Given the atypical leukemic cell morphology, abnormal phenotype, and unusual translocation, we seek further genetic characterization of this unusual leukemia.
Residents – Megan Gage, DO, Mariah Hukins, MD, and Principal Investigator David Grenache, PhD
Comparison Study of Two Glucose Beverages Used for Glucose Tolerance Tests:
This study will compare blood glucose concentrations in nonpregnant, adult volunteers on two occasions one week apart. The first two glucose concentrations will be measured before and after consuming the traditional beverage currently utilized by TriCore Reference Laboratories, and the second two values will be measured before and after consuming the Fresh Test beverage. The hypothesis is that the Fresh Test glucose beverage is equivalent to the traditional glucose beverage.
Resident – Yonatan Carl, MD, and Principal Investigators Lauren E. Dvorscak, MD, Jamie Elifritz MD, Kethery K. Haber MHA, BS, RT(R)(M)(CT)(MR),ARRT, Michael Harrell, MD
Postmortem CT-Guided Biopsy, pneumonia, Minimally Invasive Post Mortem Autopsies Using CT-guided Biopsies in Suspected Cases of Pneumonia: A Feasibility Study: PMCT-guided biopsy could provide invaluable histologic and culture samples in cases of suspected pneumonia, acting as a surrogate to full autopsy. As such, we set out to develop a protocol for CT-guided biopsy in the postmortem setting, as well as evaluate the usefulness of CT-guided biopsies in culturing and diagnosing pneumonia. We hope to compare tissue diagnosis from tissue sampling at autopsy to that interpreted from a blinded forensic pathologist reviewing the CT-guided sample. Both Forensic pathologists will have access to relevant case and scene information as well as the PMCT.
Hematopathology Fellows Anthony Jake Emanuel, MD, Stephanie Holdener, MD, Elise Venable, MBBS, Feras Zaiem, MD – attendance at 2022 Tutorial on Neoplastic Hematopathology in San Diego, CA, January 17-21, 2022
Audrey Sato – attendance at ISLH Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia in May 2019
Dennis Sosnovske – attendance at ISLH Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia in May 2019
Hematopathology Fellows – attendance at Knowles Tutorial on Neoplastic Hematopathology in Miami, FL in January 2019
Devon Chabot-Richards and Cana Tompkins: Active Immune Cells in Lymph Nodes of HCPS Decedents
Jay Raval and Kat Madden: Rapid Thaw Plasma: An Alternative to Conventional Thawed Plasma for Initial Hemorrhage Resuscitation
Matthew Cain and Jolee Suddock: Histologic evaluation of hypertrophic changes in the heart and consideration of bias
Mohammad Vasef and Andrew Judd: Expedited molecular testing for BRAF mutation)
Candice Espinoza – attendance at Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists in Houston, Texas in May 2018
Joshua Routh – attendance at AMP (Association for Molecular Pathology) Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah in November 2017
Sean Ricciardo – attendance at Cleveland Clinic Multispecialty Pathology Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2018
Stefan Brettfield – attendance at USCAP Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia in March 2018
Hematopathology Fellows – attendance at Knowles Tutorial on Neoplastic Hematopathology in Miami, FL in January 2018
Emily Helmrich, V. Singh, Sarah Lathrop, Karissa Culbreath, and Matthew Cain: Comparison of Sterilization Methods for Postmortem Tissue Culture at Autopsy
Jie Yan, Joanna Conant, and Mohammad Vasef: IDH Mutations in Glial and Myeloid Malignancies: Correlation between IDH1 and IDH2 Mutation Specific Immunohistochemistry and DNA-based Sequencing
Peter Carbone and Qian-Yun Zhang: Validation of CD137 immunohistochemical stain on paraffin-embedded tissue as a marker to facilitate distinction between classical Hodgkin lymphoma, nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, and anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Marsha Xiong and Sam Reynolds: Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: Two Cases with Novel Histologic and Immunohistochemical Features Simulating Chondroblastoma but Without Evidence of H3F3A or H3F3B Hotspot Mutations
Shaun Yang and Albert Huho: Developing a High-risk Human Papillomavirus PCR Test on Head and Neck Tumor Tissue (FFPE)
Albert Huho, Nour Yadek, Therese Bocklage, Shangxin Yang: Evaluation of Diagnostic Utility of a High-Risk Human Papillomavirus PCR Test on Formalin Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Head and Neck Tumor Tissues
Brandon Allen – attendance at USCAP Annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas in May 2017
Jie Yan – attendance at ISLH Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii in May, 2017
Marissa Tafoya – attendance at ISLH Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii in May, 2017
Hematopathology Fellows – attendance at Knowles Tutorial on Neoplastic Hematopathology in Miami, FL in January, 2017
Rebecca Asch-Kendrick and Matthew Cain: Postmortem Ethanol in Liver
Shaun Yang and Albert Huho: Developing a High-risk Human Papillomavirus PCR Test on Head and Neck Tumor Tissue (FFPE)
Shaun Yang and Cory Broehm: Developing a Multiplex PCR Test to Detect Pneumocystis Jirovecii, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simple Virus, and Legionella in Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Specimens
Mohammad Vasef and Albert Huho: Genomic Profiling of Sarcomatoid and Biphasic Malignant Pleural Mesotheliomas Using Targeted Next Generation Sequencing
Mohammad Vasef and Nour Yadek: Genomic Profiling of EBV-Associated Gastric Cancer in New Mexican Population
Casey Bitting—attendance at CAP in October 2015
Casey Bitting—attendance at AAFS (Academy of Forensic Sciences) conference in February 2016
Hematopathology Fellows—attendance at Knowles Tutorial in New Orleans, Louisiana in January 2016
Qian-Yun Zhang and Brittany Murphy: Immunohistochemical Study of CD49d in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Lauren Dvorscak and Hannah Kastenbaum: Comparison of Postmortem Serum and Vitreous Cortisol Levels
Sophia Rodriguez—attendance at AAFS (Academy of Forensic Sciences) Annual Meeting in February 2015
Nika Aljinovic—attendance at AAFS (Academy of Forensic Sciences) Annual Meeting in February 2015
Parisa Khalili—attendance at 2014 Annual AMP meeting
Eric Loo—attendance at 2014 Annual AMP meeting
Amer Mahmoud—attendance at CAP conference in September 2014
Hematopathology Fellows—attendance at Knowles Tutorial in Miami, Florida in January 2015
Sarah Khaled—62nd Annual Scientific Meeting in November 2014
Jason Morin—National Association of Medical Examiner’s Annual Meeting in September 2014
Angela Miller—National Association of Medical Examiner’s Annual Meeting in September 2014
Joshua Hanson, Ryan Berry, and Benjamin Ramos: Utility of SATB2 in differentiating mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from the colon, upper gastrointestinal tract, ovary, and lung
Mohammad Vasef, Parisa Khalili, and Eric Loo: Evaluation of Mutation Specific Antibodies (i.e., BRAF V600E) in Hematopoietic and Non-Hematopoietic Neoplasms for Potential Targeted Therapies
Principal Investigator: Dr. Therese Bocklage, M.D., Department of Pathology
Additional Investigators: Cory J. Broehm, Jin Wu, Rama Gullapalli, Sue Bassinger, Department of Pathology
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular neoplasm with variable intermediate to aggressive behavior. The t(1;3)(p36.3;q25) translocation is unique to this neoplasm, transposing the CAMTA1 and WWTR1 genes, but additional cytogenetic abnormalities have been described, suggesting multiple pathways may lead to its development.
Two cases of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma with previously unreported translocations involving the 9q13 region have recently been found at University of New Mexico Hospital. The primary goal of this project is to identify the genes that are disrupted by this novel translocation. We then hope to elucidate what role they might play in the pathogenesis of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and how this compares to the current knowledge of tumorigenesis.
"I have a strong interest in both cytogenetics and soft tissue tumors. This project has significantly increased my overall knowledge base in both areas, as well as in basic cytogenetic techniques in the laboratory. I have also gained valuable experience in the planning, including the application process and institutional review board requirements, and execution of research projects."
Principal Investigator: Dr. Qian-Yun Zhang, Department of Pathology
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jennifer Gillette, Department of Pathology
Investigator: Dr. Daniel Bustamante, Department of Pathology
CLL cells have multiple intimate relationships with their microenvironment in promoting leukemic cell homing, clonal maintenance, proliferation, and surviving. Among them, CXCR4-CXCL12, CXCR5-CXCL13, integrins, cadherins, tetraspanins molecules have been described to play critical roles in CLL interactions with stromal cells. Therefore, in order to better identify patients who may respond to drug treatments and improve patient therapies, it is essential that we determine the role of the cellular microenvironment and identify the specific proteins responsible for regulating CLL cells. The study will enhance our understanding of the cell-to-cell interaction between CLL cells and its microenvironment through direct observation at the molecular level, the protein expression profiling, mapping of proteins at the cell-niche interaction, and correlation with the CLL behaviors such as adhesion, proliferation and metabolism.
Our data will then be correlated with patient outcome and response to therapy. As such, we expect to identify specific proteins and stromal cell partners that regulate CLL behavior. The knowledge gained through the study will have potential role in evaluating efficacy of adhesion molecule inhibitors in the treatment of CLL.
Thus far, the study is still in the early stages. Few specimens have been studied but the results have already shed some light on further characterizing CLL cells. Eventually we will submit our results/project to be published and will also pursue a poster presentation.
"Working on this project has been an exciting new experience. Coming from very little research exposure, this project has shed some light on the once mysterious process of IRB submission/approval, research-training, and multi-disciplinary collaborations. Given that this project requires heavy contributions from the Research lab and also from the clinical Hem-Oncology side, I have been able to approach issues from different perspectives other than simply a diagnostic side."
