Genetic diversity revealed in the apomictic fruit species Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen)

The novel molecular marker technique Randomly Amplified DNA Fingerprinting (RAF) was used to survey genetic relationships between 37 accessions of the tropical fruit G. mangostana (mangosteen) and among 11 accessions from eight other Garcinia species. Although mangosteen is believed to reproduce exclusively through apomixis, our results show that considerable genetic diversity exists within G. mangostana and between other Garcinia species. Among the 37 G. mangostana accessions examined, nine different genotypes were identified which clustered into three distinct groups based on correspondence analysis (reciprocal averaging). For 26 (70%) of the accessions no marker variation was detected over 530 loci screened. A further eight (22%) accessions exhibited very low levels of variation (0.2-1%) suggesting at least one well conservedm angosteen genotype. The remaining three accessions (8%) showed extensive variation (22-31%) compared with the majority of accessions. The three mangosteen groups were 63-70% dissimilar to the other Garcinia species investigated. The genetic diversity identified in this research will assist in the conservation of Garcinia germplasm and provides a valuable framework for the genetic improvement of mangosteen.

(Table 1, page 400) Metal content of different manganese nodules from cruise VA-04 (R/V Valdivia) in the Pacific Ocean

Deep sea manganese nodules are considered as important natural resources for the future because of their Ni, Cu and Co contents. Their different shapes cannot be correlated clearly with their chemical composition. Surface constitution, however, can be associated with the metal contents. A classification of the nodules is suggested on the basis of these results. The iron content of the nodules strikingly shows relations to the physical properties (e.g. density and porosity). The method of density-measurement is the reason for this covariance. The investigation of freeze-dried nodular substance does not give this result. The Fe-rich nodules lose more hydration water than the Fe-poor ones during heat drying. The reason for this effect is the different crystallinity, respectively the particle size. The mean particle size is calculated on the basis of geometrical models. The X-ray-diffraction analysis proves the variation of crystallinity in connection with the Fe-content, too. The internal nodular textures also show characteristic distinctions.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of ferromanganese concretions from the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea

Ferromanganese concretions cover large areas of the Gulf of Bothnia. They are flat to well-rounded, the rounded ones being richer in oxyhydroxides of iron and manganese. Rounded and ellipsoidal nodules, particularly those in the northern Gulf of Bothnia, are richest in Mn, Ni, Ba and Cu, which probably coexist in a Mn oxyhydroxide phase. Flat nodules are enriched in Fe, P, rare earths and As, probably associated with an Fe oxy-hydroxide component. Aluminum, V, Cr and Ti occur in still another phase. The sediments of the gulf generally consist of a 10-50 mm-thick layer of oxidized surface sediment, enriched in Mn, Ba, P and Ni lying on top of reduced sediments which are diagenetically depleted in these elements. The remobilized elements have redeposited in the nodules, but this process cannot explain the origin of all the nodular material. Some released Mn, Ba and Ni furthermore enter into suspended phases, which eventually leave the Baltic Sea. The economic value of the nodules in the Gulf of Bothnia is probably limited at present.

Neurilemmoma of the oral cavity in pediatric patient

Neurilemmomas arising from Schwann cells, rarely found in oral cavity, are characterized by solitary occurrence, slow growth and smooth surface with variable clinical aspects, depending on the nerve origin. Most instances are typically asymptomatic. Microscopically, the histopathological characteristic consists of alternating regions of hypercellularity and hypocellularity such as Antoni A and Antoni B, respectively. The prognosis is favorable; complete surgical removal is the treatment of choice, no recurrence should be expected. The present report shows the case of neurilemmoma in bucal mucosa, in a 9-year-old child. Patient was referred to the Stomatology Clinic of School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, with complaint of nodular mass, with approximately one year development. Patient was submitted to excisional biopsy, with histopathological exam showing diagnosis of neurilemmoma. After 1 year follow-up there has been no recurrence of lesion.

Neurilemmoma of the oral cavity in pediatric patient

Neurilemmomas arising from Schwann cells, rarely found in oral cavity, are characterized by solitary occurrence, slow growth and smooth surface with variable clinical aspects, depending on the nerve origin. Most instances are typically asymptomatic. Microscopically, the histopathological characteristic consists of alternating regions of hypercellularity and hypocellularity such as Antoni A and Antoni B, respectively. The prognosis is favorable; complete surgical removal is the treatment of choice, no recurrence should be expected. The present report shows the case of neurilemmoma in bucal mucosa, in a 9-year-old child. Patient was referred to the Stomatology Clinic of School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, with complaint of nodular mass, with approximately one year development. Patient was submitted to excisional biopsy, with histopathological exam showing diagnosis of neurilemmoma. After 1 year follow-up there has been no recurrence of lesion.

Description of manganese deposits from the Oriente province in Cuba

Deposits of manganese ore have been found in five of the six provinces of Cuba and have been reported from the sixth. Only Oriente and Pinar del Rio provinces have more than a few known deposits and only the deposits of Oriente have yielded any appreciable amount of ore. In this area the Cobre formation, of late Cretaceous(?) to middle Eocene age, overlies the Vinent formation but their stratigraphie relations are unknown. The Cobre overlies unconformably the Habana(?) formation. The Cobre formation consists of andesitic, basaltic, and dacitic tuff, agglomerate, and lavas with minor amounts of marine clastic and limestone deposits, and a prominent limestone bed, the Charco Redondo limestone member, at the top of the formation. All productive manganese deposits of Oriente are in the Cobre formation, usually within a few tens of meters above or below the base of the Charco Redondo limestone member.

Síndrome de Cogan: achados oculares em um caso da forma atípica

A síndrome de Cogan é entidade multissistêmica rara caracterizada por ceratite intersticial associada à disfunção áudio-vestibular e possível surdez irreversível classificada em duas formas clínicas: típica e atípica. Há discordância na literatura quanto à presença de acometimento corneano na forma atípica. Uma paciente de 32 anos queixando-se de hiperemia e dor ocular, fotofobia e baixa da acuidade visual no olho direito, associada à perda súbita de audição à esquerda, vômitos, diarréia, oligúria, dor na orofaringe e febre. História prévia de semelhante acometimento do olho esquerdo e audição direita. Havia intensa hiperemia conjuntival, esclerite nodular, episclerite e infiltrados circulares no estroma corneano. A paciente recebeu pulsoterapia com metilprednisolona e ciclofosfamida. Evoluiu com grande melhora ocular, porém com resposta auditiva pobre. O caso reportado pode constituir forma típica da síndrome de Cogan (de acordo com autores que defendem o nãoacometimento corneano na forma atípica) com alguns achados característicos da forma atípica ou um caso da forma atípica da síndrome de Cogan (para aqueles que defendem o acometimento corneano na forma atípica). O diagnóstico diferencial também é discutido

Repercusiones xoonóticas de la "Dirofilaria immitis" en las Islas Canarias

Programa de doctorado: Clínica e investigación terapéutica. La fecha de publicación es la fecha de de lectura.

Dermoscopic variability of basal cell carcinoma according to clinical type and anatomic location

Background Correctly diagnosing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) clinical type is crucial for the therapeutic management. A systematic description of the variability of all reported BCC dermoscopic features according to clinical type and anatomic location is lacking. Objectives To describe the dermoscopic variability of BCC according to clinical type and anatomic location and to test the hypothesis of a clinical/dermoscopic continuum across superficial BCCs (sBCCs) with increasing palpability. Methods Clinical/dermoscopic images of nodular BCCs (nBCCs) and sBCCs with different degrees of palpability were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of dermoscopic criteria including degree of pigmentation, BCC-associated patterns, diverse vascular patterns, melanocytic patterns and polarized light patterns. Results We examined 501 histopathologically proven BCCs (66.9% sBCCs; 33.1% nBCCs), mainly located on trunk (46.7%; mostly sBCCs) and face (30.5%; mostly nBCCs). Short fine telangiectasias, leaf-like areas, spoke-wheel areas, small erosions and concentric structures were significantly associated with sBCC, whereas arborizing telangiectasias, blue-white veil-like structures, white shiny areas and rainbow pattern with nBCCs. Short fine telangiectasia, spoke-wheel areas and small erosions were independently associated with trunk location, whereas arborizing telangiectasias with facial location. Scalp BCCs had significantly more pigmentation and melanocytic criteria than BCCs located elsewhere. Multiple clinical/dermoscopic parameters displayed a significant linear trend across increasingly palpable sBCCs. Conclusions Particular dermoscopic criteria are independently associated with clinical type and anatomic location of BCC. Heavily pigmented, scalp BCCs are the most challenging to diagnose. A clinical/dermoscopic continuum across increasingly palpable sBCCs was detected and could be potentially important for the non-surgical management of the disease.

Retrocaval mass in patient with von Recklinghausen disease. Case report

Type I Neurofibromatosis (NF1) is an autosomal-dominant inheritable disorder, with an incidence of 1:3,000, and a prevalence of 1:4,000 to 5,000. Pathogenesis is based on mutations of the NF1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene encoding a cytoplasmic protein named neurofibromin that controls cellular proliferation. Patients affected by NF1 typically present with cutaneous neurofibromas, cafè au lait spots and eye involvement, but they can also be affected by various visceral tumors, such as neurofibromas (nodular or plexiform type), gastrointestinal stromal tumors or endocrine tumors, such as pheochromocytomas. Visceral neurofibromas are often asymptomatic but when growing in size they may present with pain, palpable abdominal mass, symptoms secondary to bowel obstruction or main vessels compression, and even gastrointestinal bleeding when mucosa or submucosa are involved. In these cases surgery becomes mandatory in order to remove all neoplastic tissue. The Authors describe a case of a young man affected by NF1 with associated retrocaval abdominal mass with compression and displacement of the inferior vena cava, thus requiring a complex surgical procedure.

Surgical strategy for the treatment of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma: our experience

Background. Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare disease which accounts for approximately 5-9% of all thyroid cancers and originates from the calcitonin-secerning parafollicular C cells. MTC can be divided into two subgroups: sporadic (75%) or inherited (25%). The majority of patients with invasive MTC have metastasis to regional lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis, as evidenced by the frequent finding of persistently elevated calcitonin levels after thyroidectomy and the high rates of recurrence in the cervical lymph nodes reported in retrospective studies. Objectives. The purpose of the study is to review our single institution's experience with MTC since 1998 and to evaluate surgical strategy, patterns of lymph node metastases and calcitonin response to compartment-oriented lymphadenectomy in patients with primary or recurrent sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma. Methods. A retrospective review of 26 patients treated for MTC at the “Antonio Cardarelli” Hospital referral center, in Naples, between 1998 and 2012. There were 18 female and 8 male patients, median age at presentation was 55 years, and median follow-up for survivors was 5 years. Total thyroidectomy was performed in all 26 patients; central compartment (CC) node dissection (level VI) in 12 (46%) patients; central plus lateral compartment (LC) node dissection (levels II, III, and IV) in 7 (27%) patients. 4 patients (15%) underwent reoperation for loco-regional recurrent/persistent MTC. Results. After a median post-surgical follow-up of 5 years (range 1-10 years), 63 % of patients were living disease-free, 15% were living with disease and/or persistently elevated calcitonin levels after surgery, 11% were deceased due to MTC and 11 % were lost to follow-up. Conclusions. We agree with most authors advocating for a total thyroidectomy and prophylactic central neck dissection in the setting of clinically detected MTC. Lateral neck dissection may be best reserved for patients with positive preoperative imaging. Nevertheless MTC has a high rate of lymph node metastases that are sub optimally detected preoperatively in the central compartment by neck ultrasound or intra-operatively by the surgeon, and reoperation is associated with a higher rate of surgical complications. In our limited experience, patients with thyroid confined nodular pathology, without nodal disease and unknown preoperative diagnosis of MTC, underwent only total thyroidectomy with a good prognosis.

Actual status of preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer in Albania

Introduction. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and accounts for almost 1% of human cancer. It is well known that the majority of cases occur in women in the middle decades of life. Thyroid cancer is a relatively rare disease; on the other hand clinically apparent thyroid nodules are present in 4-7% of the adult population. Most thyroid nodules are not malignant, with reported malignancy rates from 3-12%. It is important for the surgeon to know beforehand the diagnosis of malignancy, in order to perform a more radical operation on the thyroid gland. Patients and Methods. In our study we have analyzed the preoperative clinical data of 84 patients operated in the First Clinic of General Surgery, UHC “Mother Theresa” in Tirana; all with a positive histopathologic diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The data comprised age, sex, age distribution, blood group, time-lapse from the first endocrinologic visit, clinical examination, signs and symptoms, imaging, functional tests, preoperative FNA, admission diagnosis, associated diseases and preoperative treatment. Results. From the study emerged that only 9,3% of these patients were diagnosed preoperatively as thyroid cancer. Another related problem is the low percentage of preoperative FNA – only 22%. Among the signs and symptoms related to thyroid cancer we found that 40 and 33% of these patient presented dyspnea and dysphagia, respectively. The physical examination revealed apparent nodular growth of the thyroid gland in 81% and nodular hard consistency in 79% of cases. The proper endocrinologist consultation lacked in 23% of cases. Conclusion. In our opinion, close collaboration between endocrinologists and surgeons in a multidisciplinary frame is the key to correct preoperative thyroid cancer diagnosis and optimal treatment.

Síndrome de Cogan: achados oculares em um caso da forma atípica

A síndrome de Cogan é entidade multissistêmica rara caracterizada por ceratite intersticial associada à disfunção áudio-vestibular e possível surdez irreversível classificada em duas formas clínicas: típica e atípica. Há discordância na literatura quanto à presença de acometimento corneano na forma atípica. Uma paciente de 32 anos queixando-se de hiperemia e dor ocular, fotofobia e baixa da acuidade visual no olho direito, associada à perda súbita de audição à esquerda, vômitos, diarréia, oligúria, dor na orofaringe e febre. História prévia de semelhante acometimento do olho esquerdo e audição direita. Havia intensa hiperemia conjuntival, esclerite nodular, episclerite e infiltrados circulares no estroma corneano. A paciente recebeu pulsoterapia com metilprednisolona e ciclofosfamida. Evoluiu com grande melhora ocular, porém com resposta auditiva pobre. O caso reportado pode constituir forma típica da síndrome de Cogan (de acordo com autores que defendem o nãoacometimento corneano na forma atípica) com alguns achados característicos da forma atípica ou um caso da forma atípica da síndrome de Cogan (para aqueles que defendem o acometimento corneano na forma atípica). O diagnóstico diferencial também é discutido

Sialadenoma Papilliferum with Inverted Pattern in a Young Patient: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Sialadenoma papilliferum (SP) is a rare, benign neoplasm of salivary gland origin which manifests as an exophytic papillary excrescence of the mucosa. Indeed, SP is both an exophytic proliferation of papillary stratified squamous epithelium above the mucosal surface and an endophytic salivary ductal proliferation beneath the mucosa. It arises predominantly in minor salivary glands and usually affects patients in the age range of 32-87 years, with reports in young patients being exceedingly rare.

Um caso pediátrico de tuberculose miliar: achados raros e evolução atípica

Introdução: A tuberculose miliar resulta da disseminação linfohematogénica do Mycobacterium tuberculosis, sendo uma manifestação grave da infeção. Caso clínico: Criança de 9 anos, género feminino, com his¬tória de febre prolongada. O diagnóstico de tuberculose miliar foi colocado após telerradiografia torácica com infiltrado reticu¬lonodular difuso bilateral, e corroborado pelo achado de tubér¬culos coroideus no olho direito e visualização de bacilos álcool¬ ¬ácido resistentes em amostra de suco gástrico. Detetaram¬-se tuberculomas cerebrais na ressonância magnética. Isolou¬se Mycobacterium tuberculosis multissensível em amostras de suco gástrico. Após mais de 40 dias de tratamento, persistia a febre e baciloscopia positiva. Foi excluída infeção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana. Não foram detetadas complicações. Posteriormente, a evolução clínica foi favorável. Discussão/Conclusão: A tuberculose mantém-¬se um diag¬nóstico relevante na criança com febre prolongada. A associa¬ção da imagem torácica, baciloscopias positivas e tubérculos coroideus foram fundamentais para a celeridade do diagnóstico e implementação do tratamento. Reforça¬-se a importância de manter elevado índice de suspeição para uma patologia que tem tratamento.