Cardiac myxoma with cartilaginous differentiation-An uncommon variant presented as mitral stenosis

The estimated incidence of primary cardiac tumors is extremely rare. Among it, cardiac myxoma represents the most common benign cardiac tumor constituting about 80% of cases. We are presenting a 30–year-old female with large left atrial myxoma. She was presented with severe dyspnea, palpitations, and systolic murmurs. On 2D echocardiography, left atrial mass obstructing mitral flow was noted. On cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, a single, large, mobile pedunculated mass lesion in left atrium attached to inferior interatrial septum with heterogeneous enhancement was noted, which was likely represented to be myxoma. The mass was surgically excised and valve repairing was done. We received large, solid, lobulated, gray white, soft-to-firm mass measuring 4.5 × 4.1 × 2.5 cm, and on microscopy showed cardiac myxoma with cartilaginous differentiation. We are presenting this case for its clinical, imaging, and uncommon histological features.

Retrospective analysis of clinicopathological factors and outcome in breast cancer in young women in a tertiary care hospital in India.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of breast cancer is rising in India. It presents at a younger age in India as compared to the western countries. AIMS: This is a retrospective study of 86 breast cancer patients less than 40 years treated in a single center from June 2006 to June 2011. The aim was to assess the factors that may influence clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from medical records. Variables such as age, stage, surgery, chemotherapy, tumor size, grade, nodal status, perinodal extension, lymphovascular emboli, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER‑2 neu were analyzed in relation to outcome. RESULTS: Out of total 613 breast cancer patients, 91 (14.8%) were younger than 40 years. Five were excluded due to incomplete data; hence, 86 patients were included in this study. Median tumor size was 3 cm and lymph node positivity was 56.9%. Lymphovascular emboli were positive in 48.8% and perinodal extension was positive in 41.8%. Estrogen receptor positivity was 34.8%, progesterone receptor positivity was 45.3%, and triple negativity was 45.3%. The median follow‑up period was 27 months with disease free survival being 73.2% and overall survival being 87.2%. In univariate analysis, the factors significantly associated with survival were stage at presentation, presence of lymphovascular emboli, perinodal extension and grade of the tumor. In multivariate analysis grade of tumor was the only significant factor. CONCLUSIONS: In young women with breast cancer, the factors significantly associated with survival were clinical stage at presentation, the presence of lymphovascular emboli and perinodal extension and grade of tumor.

Salt stress induced alteration in growth characteristics of a grass Pennisetum alopecuroides.

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that adversely affect crop productivity and quality. The present investigation was carried out to study the alterations in the growth characteristics of a grass species, Pennisetum alopecuroides under the influence of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity. From the results it is clear that shoot length of Pennisetum alopecuroides was increased by 13.17% at 100 mM NaCl concentration while the root length was observed to be increased at 50 mM NaCl concentration by 26.93%. Maximum height of the plant was observed by 18.23% at 50 mM while shoot to root ratio was higher at 300 mM concentrations by 29.17% increase over the control. Moreover, the maximum percent increase in leaf area was recorded as 11.17% (100 mM). Fresh weight was increased by 50.92 % at 100 mM while dry weight of the experimental grass was increased by 33.64 % at the same concentration of salt to the rooting medium while moisture percentage was increased to a maximum by 24.61% at 50 mM. It appears that the grass species studied exhibit a moderate salinity tolerance as far as linear growth of plant is concerned.

Synthesis of new pyrroles and their biological activities.

Coumarino acid hydrazides and acid hydrazide of 2-oxy 3, 5, 6-trichloropyridine were prepared in two steps. These acid hydrazides on condensation with Acetonyl acetone i.e. 2,5-hexanedione yields new pyrroles. These pyrroles showed good to moderate antimicrobial activities against Alternaria brassicicola, Aspergillus niger, E. coli and Lactobacillus.