Nicola gen. nov. with redescription of Nicola tetela (Borojevic & Peixinho, 1976) (Porifera: Calcarea: Calcinea: Clathrinida).

Guancha tetela was originally described as a species having a peduncle and a skeleton exclusively composed of sagittal triactines. Therefore, according to the most recent phylogeny of Clathrinida, it should be placed in the genus Clathrina. This species was collected on the Northeastern Brazilian coast in 1968 and it was not collected again until 2011 in Curaçao. In this study, we reanalyzed the type material and the new specimens from Curaçao under a morphological-molecular approach. Morphological analysis revealed the presence of tetractines in the skeleton of all the studied specimens, including a slide of the holotype. In the molecular phylogeny G. tetela grouped with genera containing tetractines, but as an independent new lineage, different from all the other genera of Clathrinida. Based on these results, we propose the erection of a new genus, Nicola gen. nov., to include species whose body is composed of tubes without anastomosis nor branches but that run in parallel and coalesce at the apical and basal regions. Moreover, the skeleton is exclusively composed of sagittal triactines and tetractines.

Activation of the EGFR/ERK pathway in high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the salivary glands.

BACKGROUND: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) shows differences in biological behaviour depending mainly on its histological grade. High-grade tumours usually have an aggressive biological course and they require additional oncological treatment after surgery. METHODS: In a series of 43 MECs of the salivary glands, we studied the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene by using dual-colour chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH). Moreover, we assessed the protein expressions of the EGFR and the activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK1/2) by using immunohistochemistry. These results were correlated with the histological grade of the tumours and the outcome of the patients. RESULTS: The CISH study demonstrated a high-EGFR gene copy number, with balanced chromosome 7 polysomy, in 8 out of 11 high-grade MECs (72.7%), whereas 27 low-grade and 15 intermediate-grade tumours had a normal EGFR gene copy number (P<0.001). The EGFR gene gains correlated with disease-free interval (P=0.003) and overall survival of the patients (P=0.019). The EGFR protein expression had a significant correlation with the histological grade of the tumours but not with the outcome of the patients. The pERK1/2 expression correlated with histological grade of tumours (P<0.001), disease-free interval (P=0.004) and overall survival (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The EGFR/ERK pathway is activated in high-grade MECs with aggressive behaviour. Patients with these tumours who require oncological treatment in addition to surgery could benefit from EGFR and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitors.

Visualización de ganglio centinela axilar contralateral por linfogammagrafía en cáncer de mama: implicaciones pronósticas / Detection of contralateral axillary sentinel lymph node by lymphoscintigraphy in breast cancer: prognostic implications

La medicina nuclear, aplicada a la detección de ganglios centinela en los tumores primarios mamarios, es de gran utilidad para conocer el drenaje linfático regional de la mama afecta, principalmente su variabilidad individual anatómica y/o tumoral, para determinar el estadio tumoral inicial.Presentamos el caso de un carcinoma ductal infiltrante mamario (T2), en la unión de cuadrantes internos de mama derecha estudiado por linfogammagrafía y sonda gammadetectora. Se reconocieron 3 ganglios centinelas, 2 axilares homolaterales, y uno axilar contralateral, no metastásicos.El hallazgo linfogammagráfico del ganglio centinela axilar, contralateral a la mama afecta, demuestra la variabilidad anatómica individual en el drenaje mamario, remarca la importancia de la medicina nuclear en su detección, generando nuevos planteamientos pronósticos con repercusión en las medidas terapéuticas y en el seguimiento de los pacientes(AU)

The role of nuclear medicine in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in primary breast cancer is very useful to determine regional lymphatic drainage from the affected breast, mainly its anatomical and/or tumoral individual variability and to determine the initial tumor stage.We present the case of an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast (T2) in the junction of the inner quadrants of the right breast studied by lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe detection. Three non-metastatic sentinel lymph nodes were found with the selective lymphadenectomy: two in the ipsilateral axilla and one in the contralateral axilla.The lymphoscintigraphic finding of the axillary sentinel lymph node contralateral to the affected breast demonstrates the individual anatomical variability in mammary drainage. It emphasizes the importance of nuclear medicine imaging techniques in its detection and generates new prognostic approaches with impact on therapeutic measuresand patient follow-up(AU)

[Detection of contralateral axillary sentinel lymph node by lymphoscintigraphy in breast cancer: prognostic implications]. / Visualización de ganglio centinela axilar contralateral por linfogammagrafía en cáncer de mama: implicaciones pronósticas.

The role of nuclear medicine in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in primary breast cancer is very useful to determine regional lymphatic drainage from the affected breast, mainly its anatomical and/or tumoral individual variability and to determine the initial tumor stage. We present the case of an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast (T2) in the junction of the inner quadrants of the right breast studied by lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe detection. Three non-metastatic sentinel lymph nodes were found with the selective lymphadenectomy: two in the ipsilateral axilla and one in the contralateral axilla. The lymphoscintigraphic finding of the axillary sentinel lymph node contralateral to the affected breast demonstrates the individual anatomical variability in mammary drainage. It emphasizes the importance of nuclear medicine imaging techniques in its detection and generates new prognostic approaches with impact on therapeutic measures and patient follow-up.

[Sentinel node in gynaecological cancers. Our experience]. / Ganglio centinela en cánceres ginecológicos. Nuestra experiencia.

UNLABELLED: Although sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification is widespread used in melanoma and breast cancer some concerns exist in other malignancies, such gynaecologic cancers, and this staging method has not been adopted in many centers due to lack or large validation studies. AIM: To evaluate the applicability and results of SLN technique in gynaecological malignancies referred to our institution. METHOD: We studied 155 patients with different malignancies (70 vulvar, 50 cervical and 35 endometrial cancers). The day before surgery a lymphoscintigraphy was performed by injecting 111 MBq of (99m)Tc-nanocolloid in several ways depending on the type of cancer studied. Intraoperative detection of the SLN was always performed by using a hand-held gammaprobe and, in 100 cases with the aid of blue dye injection (70 vulvar and 30 in cervical cancer) few minutes before surgical intervention. Pathological study of SLN was performed in all cases. Lymphadenectomy was done in all cervix and endometrial cancer patients and in the first 35 vulvar cancer patients. RESULTS: Pre-surgical lymphoscintigraphy demonstrated one, at least, SLN in 97% of vulvar cancer patients, 92% in the cervical malignancy and 64% in the endometrial cancer patients. During surgery, SLN was harvested in 97%, 90% and 62% of patients, respectively. The pathological study showed metastases in 24.2%, 8.8 and 4.5% of patients with vulvar, cervical and endometrial cancer, respectively. The false negative percentage was 5.5% in vulvar cancer patients, with 2 cases in the endometrial cancer and without any case in the cervical cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Lymphoscintigraphy is a relatively simple and useful technique to identify the SLN in this kind of tumours. However, in endometrial cancer more effort has to be made to reach a suitable result. Sentinel lymph node biopsy seems to be a reliable technique in vulvar and cervical malignancies.

Ganglio centinela en cánceres ginecológicos. Nuestra experiencia / Sentinel node in gynaecological cancers. Our experience

Aunque la identificación del ganglio centinela (GC) presenta en la actualidad una amplia aplicación en el melanoma y el cáncer de mama, no se utiliza rutinariamente en otras neoplasias, como pueden ser las ginecológicas.ObjetivoEvaluar la aplicabilidad y los resultados de la técnica de localización del GC en pacientes con cánceres ginecológicos.MétodoSe estudiaron 155 pacientes con diversas neoplasias ginecológicas (70 vulvares, 50 de cuello uterino y 35 endometriales). Se realizó una linfogammagrafía el día previo a la intervención quirúrgica mediante la inyección de 111 MBq de 99mTc-nanocoloide por diversas vías según el tipo de lesión. La localización intraoperatoria se realizó mediante una sonda detectora y en 100 casos (70 vulvares y 30 de cuello uterino) se administró también un colorante vital pocos minutos antes del inicio de la intervención. Se realizó estudio anatomopatológico del GC. Se practicó linfadenectomía reglada en todas las pacientes con cáncer de cérvix y de endometrio y en las primeras 35 pacientes con cáncer de vulva.ResultadosLa linfogammagrafía prequirúrgica visualizó como mínimo un GC en el 97% de los cánceres de vulva, en el 92% de cérvix y el 64% de tumores de endometrio. Intraoperatoriamente la localización del GC mostró unos porcentajes del 97, del 90 y del 62%, respectivamente. El estudio anatomopatológico demostró metástasis en el 24,2% de las pacientes con lesiones vulvares, el 8,8% en las de cérvix y el 4,5% en las de endometrio. El porcentaje de falsos negativos fue del 5,5% en los cánceres de vulva (1 caso), presentándose 2 casos en el endometrio y ninguno en las pacientes con cáncer de cérvix.ConclusiónLa linfogammagrafía es una técnica útil y sencilla para identificar los GC en este tipo de tumores. La biopsia del GC ofrece resultados fiables en los cánceres de vulva y cuello uterino. Sin embargo, en el cáncer de endometrio nuestros resultados no son óptimos y debe valorarse la adecuación de la técnica(AU)

Although sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification is widespread used in melanoma and breast cancer some concerns exist in other malignancies, such gynaecologic cancers, and this staging method has not been adopted in many centers due to lack or large validation studies.AimTo evaluate the applicability and results of SLN technique in gynaecological malignancies referred to our institution.MethodWe studied 155 patients with different malignancies (70 vulvar, 50 cervical and 35 endometrial cancers). The day before surgery a lymphoscintigraphy was performed by injecting 111MBq of 99mTc-nanocolloid in several ways depending on the type of cancer studied. Intraoperative detection of the SLN was always performed by using a hand-held gammaprobe and, in 100 cases with the aid of blue dye injection (70 vulvar and 30 in cervical cancer) few minutes before surgical intervention. Pathological study of SLN was performed in all cases. Lymphadenectomy was done in all cervix and endometrial cancer patients and in the first 35 vulvar cancer patients.ResultsPre-surgical lymphoscintigraphy demonstrated one, at least, SLN in 97% of vulvar cancer patients, 92% in the cervical malignancy and 64% in the endometrial cancer patiuents. During surgery, SLN was harvested in 97%, 90% and 62% of patients, respectively. The pathological study showed metastases in 24.2%, 8.8 and 4.5% of patients with vulvar, cervical and endometrial cancer, respectively. The false negative percentage was 5.5% in vulvar cancer patients, with 2 cases in the endometrial cancer and without any case in the cervical cancer patients.ConclusionLymphoscintigraphy is a relatively simple and useful technique to identify the SLN in this kind of tumours. However, in endometrial cancer more effort has to be made to reach a suitable result. Sentinel lymphm node biopsy seems to be a reliable technique in vulvar and cervical malignancies(AU)

Determination of phenol using an enhanced chemiluminescent assay.

Enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) describes the phenomenon of increased light output in the luminol oxidation reaction catalysed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of certain compounds, such as para-iodophenol. In this work, the effects of phenol on the para-iodophenol-enhanced HRP-catalysed chemiluninescent reaction intensity in an aqueous buffer (Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.5) and in a surfactant-water-octane mixture were compared. Preincubation of HRP at low phenol concentrations stimulated the chemiluminescent intensity in the assay performed in an aqueous buffer, but did not have significant effect in the sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulphosuccinate) (Aerosol OT, AOT) applied system. It was also observed that HRP preincubation with phenol concentration higher than 0.003 mg/mL produced an inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity for both assay systems. Only an inhibitory effect of phenol on the chemiluminescent intensity in the surfactant system in octane (as organic solvent) was observed. Three assays were developed to determine phenol concentration in water and in an organic solvent mixture. The detection limits were 0.006, 0.003 and 0.0005 mg/mL, respectively, for the buffer-containing system, the AOT-applied system with phenol standard solutions in water and for the AOT-applied system with phenol standard solutions in octane.

Alteraciones visuales inducidas por digoxina con niveles terapéuticos / Induced visual alterations with therapeutic blood levels

Caso clínico: Presentamos el caso clínico de una paciente que acudió al Servicio de Oftalmología por referir fotopsias. Tras una exploración minuciosa no se constató ninguna alteración visual que justificara la sintomatología. Como único antecedente personal de interés encontramos el inicio del tratamiento con digital dos meses antes. Ante la sospecha de una intoxicación digitálica, se remitió a la paciente para su estudio en el Servicio de Urgencias. Discusión: Tras los estudios realizados se decidió retirar el tratamiento con digitálicos, lo que conllevó la mejoría subjetiva de la paciente y la desaparición de las alteraciones visuales. No debemos olvidar que la toxicidad ocular de la digoxina puede aparecer tanto con niveles tóxicos del fármaco en sangre, como con niveles terapéuticos, y es, en este caso, cuando el cuadro puede pasar desapercibido si se confía únicamente en la digoxinemia (AU)

[Visual disorders induced by therapeutic levels of digoxin]. / Alteraciones visuales inducidas por digoxina con niveles terapéuticos.

CASE REPORT: An elderly patient was referred to the ophthalmologist for evaluation of photopsia. An ophthalmic examination demonstrated no objective visual alterations. The patient had been receiving digitalis for two months. We suspected digitalis intoxication and the patient was remitted to the Emergency Service. The patient's digoxin blood level was normal. We obtained a rapid improvement in the patient's symptoms by discontinuing the medication. DISCUSSION: We must remember that ocular toxicity may occur with therapeutic blood level of the medication and not only when the intoxication appears.

Incorporation and utilization of [3-13C]lactate and [1,2-13C]acetate by rat skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle can utilize many different substrates, and traditional methodologies allow only indirect discrimination between oxidative and nonoxidative uptake of substrate, possibly with contamination by metabolism of other internal organs. Our goal was to apply 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to monitor the patterns of [3-13C]lactate and [1,2-13C]acetate (model of simple carbohydrates and fats, respectively) utilization in resting vs. contracting muscle extracts of the isolated perfused rat hindquarter. Total metabolite concentrations were measured by using NADH-linked fluorometric assays. Fractional oxidation of [3-13C]lactate was unchanged by contraction despite vascular endogenous lactate accumulation. Although label accumulated in several citric acid cycle (CAC) intermediates, contraction did not increase the concentration of CAC intermediates in any muscle extracts. We conclude that 1) the isolated rat hindquarter is a viable, well-controlled model for measuring skeletal muscle 13C-labeled substrate utilization; 2) lactate is readily oxidized even during contractile activity; 3) entry and exit from the CAC, via oxidative and nonoxidative pathways, is a component of normal muscle metabolism and function; and 4) there are possible differences between gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in utilization of nonoxidative pathways.

Medical concerns for exploration-class missions.

The Space Exploration Initiative will challenge life scientists with a diverse set of crew medical risks. The varied sources of this cumulative risk are identified and briefly discussed in terms of risk assessment and preliminary plans for risk management. The roles of Space Station Freedom and other flight programs are discussed in the context of exploration medical objectives; and the significant differences between Space Station era (second generation) and exploration medical support systems (third generation) are reviewed.

Future prospects for space life sciences from a NASA perspective.

As the U.S. Space Program lifted off the ground again on September 29, 1988, along with it came the return of scientific possibilities for the U.S. space science community. The end of that mission, STS-26, marked a new beginning for NASA. The success of STS-26 was critical to the dreams and careers of many people. Many of those dreams had been put on hold and, in fact, were fading as the U.S. watched the rest of the world move ahead rapidly with attempts to gain access to the limited and precious laboratory of space.

The case for modifying adolescents' cognitive self-statements.

The purpose of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate a cognitive-behavior modification program designed to change adolescents' self-statements and increase their levels of self-esteem. Subjects were 27 ninth graders, 18 in the experimental group and 9 in the no-contact control group. Students in the experimental group were given 14 hours of training designed to modify their self-statements to be more positive. Results indicated a significant increase in positive self-statements for the experimental group as compared with the control group immediately after training and three months following training. There were no significant changes in self-esteem. Discussion focused on the relative merits of the program and on the implications of the findings for future research.