Case report: glomus tumor of the colon

Glomus tumors are tumors of pericytic origin and are usually found in the distal extremities. Glomus tumors have rarely been reported in viscera. The authors report a glomus tumor of the colon that caused rectal bleeding in a 40-yr-old man and was biopsied and excised endoscopically. The histology and immunohistochemical profile of the tumor are described and the literature on visceral glomus tumors is reviewed.     

Open-source,vendor-independent,automated multi-beat tissue Doppler echocardiography analysis

Current guidelines for measuring cardiac function by tissue Doppler recommend using multiple beats, but this has a time cost for human operators. We present an open-source, vendor-independent, drag-and-drop software capable of automating the measurement process. A database of ~8000 tissue Doppler beats (48 patients) from the septal and lateral annuli were analyzed by three expert echocardiographers. We developed an intensity- and gradient-based automated algorithm to measure tissue Doppler velocities. We tested its performance against manual measurements from the expert human operators. Our algorithm showed strong agreement with expert human operators. Performance was indistinguishable from a human operator: for algorithm, mean difference and SDD from the mean of human operators’ estimates 0.48?±?1.12 cm/s (R²?=?0.82); for the humans individually this was 0.43?±?1.11 cm/s (R²?=?0.84), ?0.88?±?1.12 cm/s (R²?=?0.84) and 0.41?±?1.30 cm/s (R²?=?0.78). Agreement between operators and the automated algorithm was preserved when measuring at either the edge or middle of the trace. The algorithm was 10-fold quicker than manual measurements (p?<?0.001). This open-source, vendor-independent, drag-and-drop software can make peak velocity measurements from pulsed wave tissue Doppler traces as accurately as human experts. This automation permits rapid, bias-resistant multi-beat analysis from spectral tissue Doppler images.     

A Rare Case of Carcinoma Cuniculatum Involving the Larynx in Association with a Saccular Cyst

Carcinoma cuniculatum (CC), a rare, well-differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma, is uncommon in head and neck sites but when it does occur is most common in the oral cavity. Here we report a rare case of CC involving the larynx. A 49-year-old man presented with 10 months of worsening hoarseness and, despite multiple biopsies, no diagnosis of malignancy could be established. Eventual partial excision of the lesion and histologic review of prior specimens confirmed the diagnosis of CC. Focally, a transition to respiratory epithelium indicated the presence of an associated saccular cyst. Total laryngectomy was performed and 6 months later the patient is free of disease. Only two prior cases of CC have been reported in the larynx. Diagnosis of CC is challenging given the low grade histologic features and awareness of this entity for both treating physicians and the pathologist is important to reach a diagnosis of malignancy. This case highlights the challenges in diagnosis of CC, especially in unusual locations and when associated with other lesions such as a saccular cyst. Awareness of this rare tumor type combined with close communication between treating clinicians, radiologists and pathologists should allow earlier diagnosis and treatment.     

Salecan-Clay Based Polymer Nanocomposites for Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery Systems; Characterization and In Vitro Biocompatibility Studies

Salecan is a microbial polysaccharide suitable to obtain hydrogel for biomedical applications due to the excellent hydrophilicity and biocompatibility properties. In this work, Salecan of different concentrations was introduced into polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) in the presence of clay to form novel semi synthetic hydrogel nanocomposites systems and loaded afterwards with doxorubicin (DOX). The physical–chemical characteristics of the nanocomposites systems and their effect on the viability, and morphology of MDBK (Madin–Darby bovine kidney), HT-29 human colorectal adenocarcinoma and Colo 205 human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines were investigated. DOX release from the nanocomposite systems, cell up-take and subsequent effect on cell proliferation was also analyzed. It was found that Salecan concentration determined the swelling behavior, structural parameters and morphological features of the nanocomposite systems. The hydrogen bonds strongly influenced the formation of PMAA–Salecan–clay systems, each component bringing its own contribution, thus demonstrating the achievement of an advanced crosslinked network and a more compacted hydrogel nanocomposite morphology. All the synthesized nanocomposites had negligible toxicity to normal MDBK cells and chemoresistent HT-29 cell line, whereas in the case of Colo 205 cells a decrease by 40% of the cell viability was obtained for the sample containing the highest amount of Salecan. This effect was correlated with the lowest pore size distribution leading to highest available specific surface area and entrapped amount of DOX which was further released from the nanocomposite sample. Corroborating all the data it can be suggested that the synthesized nanocomposites with Salecan and clay could be good candidates as vehicles for chemotherapeutic agents.     

Younger donor's age and upfront tandem are two independent prognostic factors for survival in multiple myeloma patients treated by tandem autologous-allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a retrospective study from the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle et de Thérapie Cellulaire (SFGM-TC)

Background

How tandem autologous-allogeneic stem cell transplantation should be integrated in the treatment of multiple myeloma remains controversial. We examined the long-term outcome of patients with multiple myeloma managed with tandem autologous-allogeneic stem cell transplantation and present a prognostic factor analysis based on the experience of the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle et de Thérapie Cellulaire (SFGM-TC).

Design and Methods

This French, retrospective, registry-based study included 146 patients who had undergone tandem autologous-allogeneic transplantation for multiple myeloma at 20 SFGM-TC centers between 1998 and 2010. The patients included in the study had fully completed the two steps of a planned tandem autologous-allogeneic transplantation. No treatment had to be administered between the autologous and allogeneic parts of the tandem procedure.

Results

Seventy-seven patients (53%) underwent tandem autologous-allogeneic transplantation as part of upfront treatment, i.e. after a single line of treatment not including autologous transplantation. The median follow-up from the allogeneic transplant was 47.5 months (range, 1.2–132 months). At 4 years, the overall survival and event-free survival rates were 48% (95% CI 39–57 %) and 27% (95% CI 19–36), respectively. Eighteen patients (12%) experienced grade III–IV acute graft-versus-host disease and 43 patients (30%) had chronic graft-versus-host disease. The transplant-related mortality rate at 1 year was 15% (95% CI 10–22). Patients receiving tandem transplantation as upfront treatment had significantly improved event-free survival (36% versus 11%; P=0.005) and overall survival (56% versus 34%; P=0.02). Donor’s age ≤50 years was associated with improved event-free survival (35% versus 16%; P=0.005) and overall survival (54% versus 41%; P=0.02). In the multivariable analysis, upfront tandem transplantation, donor’s age ≤50 years and full chimerism were independent prognostic factors for better outcome.

Conclusions

We confirmed the feasibility of tandem autologour-allogeneic transplantation in heavily treated patients with multiple myeloma. We identified younger donor’s age and upfront tandem transplantation as two independent prognostic factors for survival which could be further explored in prospective studies.     

Immuno-SLM-a combined sample handling and analytical technique

Immuno-supported liquid membrane (immuno-SLM) extraction is a new technique that makes use of antibody (Ab)-antigen interactions as the "extraction force" to drive the mass transfer in a selective way. In immuno-SLM, anti-analyte (Ag) Abs are introduced into the acceptor phase of the SLM unit to trap the Ag that passes from the flowing donor through the SLM into the stagnant acceptor. The amount of immuno-extracted analyte (AbAg) is quantified by connecting the immuno-SLM unit on-line with a non-competitive heterogeneous fluorescence flow immunoassay (FFIA) that makes use of a fluorescein-labeled analyte tracer that titrates the residual excess of Ab present in the acceptor. A restricted access (RA) column is used for the separation of the two tracer fractions (Ag* and AbAg*) formed, and the eluted AbAg* fraction is measured downstream by a fluorescence detector. Factors influencing the optimum immuno-SLM extraction parameters, i.e., donor flow rate, extraction time and type of Ab, were investigated for immuno extraction of the model analyte atrazine. Immuno-SLM coupled to FFIA (immuno-SLM-FFIA) and FFIA alone were compared in terms of the assay sensitivities obtained and the sample matrix influence. The concentration at the mid-point of the calibration curve (IC(50)) was 16.0+/-1.4 and 36+/-16 microg/l, the limit of detection (LOD) was 2.0+/-1.1 and 20+/-10 microg/l, and the dynamic range was 2-100 and 20-500 microg/l atrazine for immuno-SLM-FFIA and FFIA, respectively. The matrix influence on the FFIA was significant in orange juice and surface water, whereas the influence was minor for immuno-SLM-FFIA with recoveries between 104% and 115% for 5 microg/l atrazine in tap water, orange juice and river water.     

Parasitological and molecular diagnostic of a clinical Babesia caballi outbreak in Southern Romania

Parasitology Research - Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equids caused by Babesia caballi and/or Theileria equi, which is endemic in many tropical and temperate areas of the...