Childhood teratomas in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Childhood teratomas are uncommon neoplasms worldwide. They are nonetheless important because their exact histogenesis has not yet been resolved. The weight of the evidence points to a germ cell origin for these neoplasms. Eighteen percent of 407 teratomas reviewed in the Department of Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between 1960 and 1985 occurred in children up to 15 years of age. There was a bimodal peak age incidence among these children, the first being due to sacrococcygeal and the second to ovarian teratomas. The female to male ratio was 5:1. The two most common sites of occurrence were the sacrococcygeal region and the ovaries. Eighty-one percent of all childhood teratomas were mature, 15% were immature, and 4% were malignant. Both malignant neoplasms arose in the sacrococcygeal region and occurred in patients relatively older than those with benign sacrococcygeal teratomas. These two malignant teratomas contained yolk sac elements.     

Maturation and d-amphetamine–induced changes in web building

Webs of Araneus diadematus Cl. were obtained under drugged (dextroamphetamine) and control conditions at three age-periods in the development of the spider from juvenility to sexual maturity. Although certain features of construction are affected in all periods and some exhibit differential effects with age, it was not possible to separate the latter from changes in body mass between periods.     

Prevalence of Chikungunya,Dengue and Zika viruses in blood donors: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

BackgroundBlood transfusion centres should understand the epidemiology of emerging diseases that are transmissible through the transfusion of blood components. The risk of transmission of arboviruses through this route has become apparent in recent years. The aim of our study is to summarise the reported prevalence (viraemic rate, seroprevalence and/or antigen detection) of Chikungunya (CHIKV), Dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses in blood donors according to screening test used and world region.Materials and methodsWe conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis having searched for information in the main bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus). The prevalence for each of the viruses was calculated according to the screening test used and geographic location.ResultsWe included 18 records on CHIKV, 71 on DENV, and 27 on ZIKV. The highest prevalences of RNA for CHIKV were 1.9% in Puerto Rico (2014), 1.0% in Thailand (2009), and 1.0% in French Polynesia (2014–15). The highest prevalences of RNA for DENV were 5.5% in Saudi Arabia (2015–16), 2.3% in Madeira, Portugal (2012–13), and 0.6% in Brazil (2012). The highest prevalences of RNA for ZIKV were 2.8% in French Polynesia (2013–14), 2.7% in Brazil (2015–16), and 1.8% in Martinique (2016). Overall seroprevalence, as assessed by IgG antibodies, was 21.6% for CHIKV, 24.0% for DENV, and 5.1% for ZIKV.DiscussionOur study shows a high proportion of donors who are viraemic and asymptomatic, especially during outbreaks, with prevalences surpassing 5% for DENV, 1% for CHIKV, and 2% for ZIKV. These data confirm a clear threat to blood transfusion safety. The elevated seroprevalence for these three arboviruses is also indicative of their wide circulation in populations, correlating with an increased risk of infected but asymptomatic donors. Health centres and institutions must address this threat, especially in tropical regions where the biggest outbreaks occur.     

Prognostic influence of the third Gleason grade in prostatectomy specimens

BackgroundGleason grading of prostatic specimens remains as one of the most powerful factors predicting prognosis in patients with prostate cancer. This grading system was created by Donald Gleason about 49 years ago and it takes into account the 2 most prevalent grades in the tumor sample, but it does not consider the presence of a third high grade pattern when it represents less than 5% of the whole radical prostatectomy specimen.ObjectiveThe objective of the present study is to determine whether the existence of a third pattern of growth in the radical prostatectomy samples correlates with a shorter recurrence free survival.Material and methodsWe have reviewed 85 consecutive specimens of radical prostatectomy from patients with clinical localized disease. Those who received previous hormonal or radiation therapy were excluded. We have determined the Gleason grade and also the presence of a third higher grade pattern, surgical margins status, capsular, vascular, and lymphatic invasion. We have analyzed whether the existence of this high grade third pattern areas influences prognosis. Recurrence was defined with PSA levels (biochemical recurrence).ResultsWe have shown that the presence of a Gleason's grade 5 pattern of growth worsens prognosis in patients with tumors grade 7 (both 3 + 4 and 4 + 3), with a shorter time to recurrence. The latter group of patients behaves more like patients with Gleason 8 tumors. This worse prognosis should be taken into account for patient surveillance and future adjuvant therapies. We feel this information is relevant and should be reported in the pathology reports.     

Effects of obstruction on renal functions

Following ureteral obstruction there is a progressive fall in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) due to a reduction in single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) and a reduced number of filtering nephrons. Renal plasma flow also declines after a transient, prostaglandin-dependent increase, due to afferent and efferent arteriolar vasoconstriction. The vasoactive hormones thromboxane A₂ and angiotensin II are implicated in the pathogenesis of the vasoconstriction following ureteral obstruction and they also reduce the glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient by causing mesangial contraction. Ureteral obstruction also leads to profound changes in renal tubular cell function. These include altered sodium and water handling resulting in a post-obstructive diuresis and natriuresis and a failure to dilute or concentrate the urine. Potassium and divalent cation exchange is also affected, as is urinary acidification. Furthermore, the response of the tubule to hormones such as antidiuretic hormone and parathyroid hormone is impaired. The pathophysiology of these alterations in renal function is discussed.