Overall Survival and Response to Systemic Therapy in Metastatic Extrauterine Leiomyosarcoma.

Background. Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) represent a heterogeneous subset of soft tissue sarcomas. Factors influencing prognosis for patients with metastatic extrauterine LMS (euLMS) are not well described. Limited data are available regarding responses to systemic therapy. Methods. We collected clinical and pathologic information for all patients with metastatic euLMS seen at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 1989 and 2012. Objective responses to first-line therapy were analyzed for a subset of patients with available baseline and on-treatment imaging using RECIST 1.1. Results. 215 patients with metastatic euLMS had a median overall survival (OS) of 2.6 years from the time of metastasis. Older age, male sex, and ≥3 initial sites of metastasis were associated with worse OS on multivariate analysis. Objective response rate (ORR) in N = 113 was 19% overall and 25%, 26%, and 25% for gemcitabine, gemcitabine plus docetaxel, and anthracycline-alkylator combinations. Patients whose tumors objectively responded to first-line therapy had a lower risk of death versus those who did not (Hazard Ratio 0.46; 95% CI: 0.26-0.79, p = 0.005). Conclusions. Anthracycline- and gemcitabine-based regimens have similar activity in this cohort of euLMS. Prognostic factors for OS include older age, male sex, and ≥3 initial sites.

Dietary glycerol for quail: association between productive performance and COX III mRNA expression.

This study was carry out to evaluate mRNA expression of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase III in the Pectoralis superficialis muscle of 28-day-old quails fed diets containing 0, 8, and 12% glycerol. Total RNA was extracted (N = 10) and cDNA was amplified using specifics primers for qRT-PCR. Feed efficiency and feed intake were evaluated. COX III mRNA expression in breast muscle was higher in the group fed with 12% glycerol (0.863 AU); no differences were observed in the expression of this gene between the muscle of animals fed diets without glycerol (0.357 AU) and 8% glycerol (0.415 AU). Quails that showed greater COX III mRNA expression also showed the lowest feed efficiency. These results show that there is a difference in COX III mRNA expression in breast muscle of 28-day-old quail fed diets different concentrations of glycerol.

Molecular identification of indigenous manganese solubilising bacterial biodiversity from manganese mining deposits.

Manganese (Mn) ranks twelfth among the most exuberant metal present in the earth's crust and finds its imperative application in the manufacturing steel, chemical, tannery, glass, and battery industries. Solubilisation of Mn can be performed by several bacterial strains which are useful in developing environmental friendly solutions for mining activities. The present investigation aims to isolate and characterize Mn solubilising bacteria from low grade ores from Sanindipur Manganese mine of Sundargh district in Odisha state of India. Four morphologically distinct bacterial strains showing visible growth on Mn supplemented plates were isolated. Mn solubilising ability of the bacterial strains was assessed by visualizing the lightening of the medium appearing around the growing colonies. Three isolates were gram negative and rod shaped while the remaining one was gram positive, coccobacilli. Molecular identification of the isolates was carried out by 16S rRNA sequencing and the bacterial isolates were taxonomically classified as Bacillus anthrasis MSB 2, Acinetobacter sp. MSB 5, Lysinibacillus sp. MSB 11, and Bacillus sp. MMR-1 using BLAST algorithm. The sequences were deposited in NCBI GenBank with the accession number KP635223, KP635224, KP635225 and JQ936966, respectively. Manganese solubilisation efficiency of 40, 96, 97.5 and 48.5% were achieved by MMR-1, MSB 2, MSB 5 and MSB 11 respectively. The efficiency of Mn solubilisation is suggested with the help of a pH variation study. The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms involved in Manganese solubilisation efficiency of bacterial isolates.

Effect of dissimilatory Fe(III) reducers on bio-reduction and nickel-cobalt recovery from Sukinda chromite-overburden.

The effect of an adapted dissimilatory iron reducing bacterial consortium (DIRB) towards bio-reduction of Sukinda chromite overburden (COB) with enhanced recovery of nickel and cobalt is being reported for the first time. The remarkable ability of DIRB to utilize Fe(III) as terminal electron acceptor reducing it to Fe(II) proved beneficial for treatment of COB as compared to previous reports for nickel leaching. XRD studies showed goethite as the major iron-bearing phase in COB. Under facultative anaerobic conditions, goethite was reduced to hematite and magnetite with the exposure of nickel oxide. FESEM studies showed DIRB to be associated with COB through biofilm formation with secondary mineral precipitates of magnetite deposited as tiny globular clusters on the extra polymeric substances. The morphological and mineralogical changes in COB, post DIRB application, yielded a maximum of 68.5% nickel and 80.98% cobalt in 10 days using 8M H2SO4.

Micro-Raman analysis and AFM imaging of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans biofilm grown on uranium ore.

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans biofilm grown on uranium ore substrate was analyzed by a micro-Raman spectrometer and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The bacterium employed for this study, A. ferrooxidans BM1, was isolated from a uranium mine (Jaduguda, India). Micro-Raman analysis revealed the different constituents of molecular fragments present in microbial cells and in secreted extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). AFM images clearly revealed bacterial cells surrounded by EPS. From Raman spectral data, the composition of EPS from A. ferrooxidans BM1 appeared to be similar to that of EPS secreted in a different Pseudomonas bacterium.

Thiamphenicol in treatment of genital gonorrhoeae in Central African Republic.

PIP: Gonorrhea treatment has become a problem in most parts of the world and valid recommendations regarding treatment are an important control tool. In Central African Republic genital gonorrhea is one of the most common communicable diseases. In 1981 Penicillinase Producing Neisseria Gonorrhea (PPNG) was 1st isolated and, in spite of control measures, its prevalence reached 12% by the end of 1982. Effective and inexpensive treatment regimens are now needed as an alternative to the Procain Penicillin + Probenicid regimen currently in use. Since its introduction, many authors in industrialized countries have reported excellent results with Thiamphenicol (TAP) in the treatment of gonococal infections, particularly in the single dose oral treatment. Gonococcal infections caused by Penicillinase Producing Neisseria gonorrhea (PPNG) also responded favorably to the antibiotic. However, few careful studies were done in Africa. This study evaluates the efficacy of TAP compared with the standard regimen of Aqueous Procain Penicillin + Probenicid in the treatment of uncomplicated genital gonorrhea in men in Central African Republic. 380 such cases were used. Patients with coexisting genital ulcers and those treated with antimicrobics within the last 2 weeks were excluded. Gram stained smears were examined and a urethral swab was taken and cultured on a modified Thayer Martin medium. Blood specimens were collected for VDRL and TPHA tests. During a 3-month period 338 patients were treated with a positive pretreatment culture for N. gonorrhea. 242 (71.6%) presented at follow-up, with similar follow-up rates in both treatment groups (25 mg. Thiamphenicol and Aqueous Procain Penicillin G. + 1g. Probenicid). All failures but 1 in the APPG treatment group were due to PPNG infections. All of those cases were treated with Thiamphenicol regimen, 4 were cured and 6 lost for follow-up. Of 12 PPNG infections treated with Thiamphenicol, only 1 failed treatment and was cured with spectinomycin. Only few and mild side effects (diarrhea or dizziness) resulted from treatment. Thiamphenicol in single oral regimen is a low cost, effective therapy for uncomplicated gonococcal infection in males in the Central African Republic and may become potentially one of the recommended regimens if the prevalence of PPNG continues to increase.^ieng