Utilization of glycerin byproduct derived from soybean oil biodiesel as a carbon source for heterologous protein production in Pichia pastoris.

Crude glycerol, also known as glycerin, is the main byproduct of the biodiesel industry. It has been estimated that up to 40,000 tons of glycerin will be produced each year by 2020. This study evaluated the value-added use of crude glycerol derived from soybean biodiesel preparation as a carbon source for heterologous protein production using the yeast Pichia pastoris. Eleven glycerin samples were obtained by methanolysis of soybean oil using different acids or bases as catalysts. Cell growth experiments showed that crude glycerol containing either potassium or sodium hydroxide resulted in 1.5-2 times higher final cell densities when compared to glycerol P.A. Finally, crude glycerol containing sodium hydroxide was successfully utilized for constitutive heterologous α-amylase production in P. pastoris. This study demonstrated that crude glycerol without any purification steps may be directly used as carbon source for protein production in P. pastoris.

[Noninvasive ventilation with heliox in an infant with acute respiratory distress syndrome]. / Ventilación no invasiva con heliox en un lactante con síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) combined with heliox therapy (Hx) constitutes a therapeutic option in the management of adult patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Either NIV or Hx alone can also be effective in pediatric patients, but there are no published reports on their combined use. We describe the case of a 4-month-old infant with acute respiratory insufficiency due to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to respiratory syncytial virus infection, successfully treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure and heliox (Hx-nCPAP). A commercially available nCPAP ventilator adapted for heliox use was employed for Hx-nCPAP application. This is the first report of the use of Hx-nCPAP in an infant.

Papillary squamous cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract: a clinicopathologic and molecular study.

BACKGROUND: The limited studies and the small number of published cases of papillary squamous cell carcinoma have precluded accurate assessment of the biologic characteristics of this lesion. METHODS: Thirty-eight of the carcinomas were studied. In-situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction were performed to detect human papilloma virus (HPV) and p53 expression. RESULTS: HPV was found in 4 of 14 assessable carcinomas by in-situ hybridization and in 5 of 14 by polymerase chain reaction. The most frequently identified HPVs were HPVs in 6/11 and 16/18 patients. In general, a reciprocal relationship was found between p53 and HPV prevalence. The most lethal site for this tumor was the sinonasal tract, whereas patients with papillary squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx had the best outlook. Eleven of 25 (44%) assessable patients died of disease (mean time interval, 2 year). CONCLUSIONS: Papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract is a distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma. As such and because of its putative association with HPV, papillary squamous cell carcinoma could be an informative model for defining how viral oncogenes cooperate with other factors in genomic instability, carcinogenesis, and tumor development.

Hybrid carcinomas of salivary glands. Report of 4 cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To report 4 cases of hybrid carcinoma and to review the literature on these rare neoplasms of the salivary gland. METHODS: Hematoxylin-eosin-stained, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 3 parotid tumors and 1 palate tumor were examined. RESULTS: The cases were classified as adenoid cystic and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, epithelial-myoepithelial and salivary duct carcinoma, and adenoid cystic and salivary duct carcinoma. All patients were men, 28 to 71 years old; 3 patients presented with parotid mass, and 1 patient presented with palatal mass. One patient presented with facial nerve paralysis and pain. The soft palatal tumor was a slowly growing mass with maxillary sinus involvement at the time of the diagnosis. All patients were treated with surgery and radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Correct identification of 2 or more neoplastic entities will help assess the aggressiveness and metastatic potential of the tumor and influence the clinical course and treatment.

Don't confuse dental soft tissues with odontogenic tumors.

Surgical pathologists are cautioned against the misinterpretation of immature dental tissues (dental papillae and follicles) and dental pulp as odontogenic tumors, especially odontogenic myxomas and fibromas. The close histologic similarity of the immature tissues to tumors may require a clinical-radiologic correlation with the histopathologic specimen in order to distinguish the locally aggressive tumors from innocuous dental tissues.

Nonneoplastic vascular lesions of the middle ear.

Nonneoplastic vascular lesions in the middle ear may be arterial or venous. For the former, ectopic location of the internal carotid artery is the most common; a high jugular bulb is the most common venous abnormality. Both may be clinically misdiagnosed without radiographic studies and, in the event, lead to disaster.

Tumefactive fibroinflammatory lesions of the head and neck.

Tumefactive fibroinflammatory lesions of the head and neck are idiopathic, histologically benign, tumor-forming lesions that clinically stimulate malignancies. Their histopathologic appearance is nearly identical to that of fibrosclerotic lesions of the mediastinum and retroperitoneum and Riedel's thyroiditis, and in some cases, a congeneric (periarteritis) origin is postulated. There is no optimum treatment, and recurrence and persistence are common. The suggested initial treatment is corticosteroid administration.