Thyroid metastases from a breast cancer diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Case report and overview of the literature

Aim: Intrathyroid metastases are uncommon in cytology practice. We report a case of metastatic lesion in the thyroid from breast carcinoma which was recognized in a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and confirmed by immunohistopathology. In addition, we provide an overview of the literature describing similar cases. Study design: The patient was a 54-year old woman with a large, multinodular goiter and bilaterally enlarged lymph nodes in the supraclavicular areas. Fourteen years earlier she had undergone radical mastectomy followed by chemio- and radiotherapy due to a breast carcinoma. Results: FNA of the thyroid nodules showed a metastatic breast carcinoma and was followed by total strumectomy and lymphadenectomy. Histological reassessment of the surgical thyroid specimens as well as the neck lymph nodes revealed multiple breast metastases. This was strongly confirmed by immunohistochemical examinations, which revealed a positive staining for: CKMNF 116, CK7, CEA as well as for ER, PgR and HER2, and a negative staining for: CK20, thyroglobulin, TTF1, calcitonin, and chromogranin. Conclusion: Every new aggregate in the thyroid in patients with even a long-term history of cancer should be considered as potentially metastatic until proved otherwise. FNA could be helpful in the diagnosis of thyroid metastatic lesion, but it should be confirmed by immunohistopathology

Dephosphorylation of juxtamembrane serines and threonines of the NPR2 guanylyl cyclase is required for rapid resumption of oocyte meiosis in response to luteinizing hormone

AbstractThe meiotic cell cycle of mammalian oocytes starts during embryogenesis and then pauses until luteinizing hormone (LH) acts on the granulosa cells of the follicle surrounding the oocyte to restart the cell cycle. An essential event in this process is a decrease in cyclic GMP in the granulosa cells, and part of the cGMP decrease results from dephosphorylation and inactivation of the natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) guanylyl cyclase, also known as guanylyl cyclase B. However, it is unknown whether NPR2 dephosphorylation is essential for LH-induced meiotic resumption. Here, we prevented NPR2 dephosphorylation by generating a mouse line in which the seven regulatory serines and threonines of NPR2 were changed to the phosphomimetic amino acid glutamate (Npr2–7E). Npr2–7E/7E follicles failed to show a decrease in enzyme activity in response to LH, and the cGMP decrease was attenuated; correspondingly, LH-induced meiotic resumption was delayed. Meiotic resumption in response to EGF receptor activation was likewise delayed, indicating that NPR2 dephosphorylation is a component of the pathway by which EGF receptor activation mediates LH signaling. We also found that most of the NPR2 protein in the follicle was present in the mural granulosa cells. These findings indicate that NPR2 dephosphorylation in the mural granulosa cells is essential for the normal progression of meiosis in response to LH and EGF receptor activation. In addition, these studies provide the first demonstration that a change in phosphorylation of a transmembrane guanylyl cyclase regulates a physiological process, a mechanism that may also control other developmental events

Conversion of the Mycotoxin Patulin to the Less Toxic Desoxypatulinic Acid by the Biocontrol Yeast Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae Strain LS11

Se describe en este artículo el descubrimiento de la degradación de la micotoxina patulina por una levaduraThe infection of stored apples by the fungus Penicillium expansum causes the contamination of fruits and fruit-derived products with the mycotoxin patulin, which is a major issue in food safety. Fungal attack can be prevented by beneficial microorganisms, so-called biocontrol agents. Previous time-course thin layer chromatography analyses showed that the aerobic incubation of patulin with the biocontrol yeast Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae strain LS11 leads to the disappearance of the mycotoxin spot and the parallel emergence of two new spots, one of which disappears over time. In this work, we analyzed the biodegradation of patulin effected by LS11 through HPLC. The more stable of the two compounds was purified and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance as desoxypatulinic acid, whose formation was also quantitated in patulin degradation experiments. After R. kratochvilovae LS11 had been incubated in the presence of 13C-labeled patulin, label was traced to desoxypatulinic acid, thus proving that this compound derives from the metabolization of patulin by the yeast. Desoxypatulinic acid was much less toxic than patulin to human lymphocytes and, in contrast to patulin, did not react in vitro with the thiol-bearing tripeptide glutathione. The lower toxicity of desoxypatulinic acid is proposed to be a consequence of the hydrolysis of the lactone ring and the loss of functional groups that react with thiol groups. The formation of desoxypatulinic acid from patulin represents a novel biodegradation pathway that is also a detoxification process

A Peer-reviewed Newspaper About_ Machine Feeling

On the ability of technologies to capture and structure feelings and experiences that are active, in flux, and situated in the present. Publication resulting from research workshop at CRASSH, University of Cambridge, organised in collaboration with CRASSH, University of Cambridge and transmediale festival for art and digital culture, Berlin

Opportunistic screening for skin cancer using a mobile unit in Brazil

Abstract Background Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the white population worldwide. In Brazil, the National Cancer Institute (INCA) estimates that in 2010 there will be 119,780 and 5,930 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma, respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a mobile unit in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer in several poor regions of Brazil. Methods The diagnosis of skin cancer was accomplished through active medical screening in the prevention Mobile Unit (MU) of Barretos Cancer Hospital (BCH). The study population consisted of patients examined in the MU between 2004 and 2007, and their suspicious lesions were subjected to histopathological evaluation. Data were collected prospectively from standardized forms and analyzed. Results During the screening, 17,857 consultations were carried out. A total of 2012 (11.2%) cases of skin cancer were diagnosed. The predominant histological type reported was basal cell carcinoma (n = 1,642 or 81.6%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (n = 303 or 15.1%), Bowen's disease (n = 25 or 1.2%), malignant melanoma (n = 23 or 1.1%), basosquamous cell carcinoma (n = 3 or 0.1%), miscellaneous lesions (12 or 0.6%), and metatypical carcinoma (n = 4 or 0.2%). Only 0.6% of lesions were stage III. There were no stage IV non-melanoma skin lesions, as well as no melanomas stages III and IV, found. Conclusions It was observed that the MU can be a useful tool for early skin cancer diagnosis and treatment. This program probably is important, especially in developing countries with inadequate public health systems and social inequality

Primerjava toksičnosti etanola in acetaldehida za podganje astrocite v primarni kulturi

This study compared the effects of toxicity of ethanol and its first metabolite acetaldehyde in rat astrocytes through cell viability and cell proliferation. The cells were treated with different concentrations of ethanol in the presence or absence of a catalase inhibitor 2-amino-1,2,4 triazole (AMT) or with different concentrations of acetaldehyde. Cell viability was assessed using the trypan blue test. Cell proliferation was assessed after 24 hours and after seven days of exposure to either ethanol or acetaldehyde. We showed that both ethanol and acetaldehyde decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. In proliferation studies, after seven days of exposure to either ethanol or acetaldehyde, we observed a significant dose-dependent decrease in cell number. The protein content study showed biphasic dose-response curves, after 24 hours and seven days of exposure to either ethanol or acetaldehyde. Co-incubation in the presence of AMT significantly reduced the inhibitory effect of ethanol on cell proliferation. We concluded that long-term exposure of astrocytes to ethanol is more toxic than acute exposure. Acetaldehyde is a much more potent toxin than ethanol, and at least a part of ethanol toxicity is due to ethanol’s first metabolite acetaldehyde.V študiji smo primerjali toksičnost etanola in njegovega prvega metabolita acetaldehida za podganje astrocite z določitvijo celične viabilnosti in proliferacije. Celične kulture smo tretirali z različnimi koncentracijami etanola, etanola v prisotnosti inhibitorja katalaze 2-amino-1,2,4 triazol-a (AMT) ali z različnimi koncentracijami acetaldehida. Celično viabilnost smo vrednotili s pomočjo testa s tripanskim modrilom, celično proliferacijo pa s štetjem celic in določitvijo koncentracije proteinov po 24-urni, kot tudi 7-dnevni izpostavljenosti. S študijo smo pokazali, da tako etanol kot tudi acetaldehid v odvisnosti od njune koncentracije zmanjšata celično viabilnost. V študiji proliferacije sta etanol in acetaldehid, v odvisnosti od njunih koncentracij, značilno zmanjšala število celic po 7-dnevni izpostavljenosti. Pri ugotavljanju vsebnosti proteinov smo dobili bifazno krivuljo tako po 24-urni, kot tudi po 7-dnevni izpostavljenosti različnim koncentracijam etanola oziroma acetaldehida. Prisotnost AMT je signifi kantno zmanjšala učinek etanola na celično proliferacijo. Zaključimo lahko, da je dolgotrajna izpostavljenost astrocitov etanolu bolj toksična kot akutna. Acetaldehid je močnejši toksin kot etanol in vsaj del toksičnosti etanola je posledica delovanja njegovega prvega metabolita, acetaldehida

Mineralna sekwestracja CO2 w zawiesinach mieszanin popiołów lotnych z odpadami z odsiarczania

Mineral sequestration of CO2 in wastewater suspensions is a method which allows both for economic applications of waste and for the reduction of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide at the same time. It can also be used as a method of waste processing which decreases the leaching of some pollutants. The research was conducted using two kinds of aqueous suspensions of fly ashes and desulphurization waste mixtures from the Siersza and Łaziska power plants. A theoretical binding capacity of the mixtures was calculated. The results of research into CO2 binding in aqueous solutions of fly ashes and desulphurization waste mixtures and into the influence of subjecting them to the effects of carbon dioxide on the leachability of pollutants were presented. Based on thermogravimetric research the degree of CO2 binding in the analyzed suspensions was calculated. The research showed an influence of mineral carbonation on the decrease in certain pollutants' leaching from the discussed suspensions subjected to the effects of CO2.Mineralna sekwestracja CO2 w zawiesinach odpadowo-wodnych jest metodą, która pozwala na równoczesne gospodarcze wykorzystanie odpadów oraz redukcję antropogenicznej emisji ditlenku węgla. Może być również stosowana jako metoda obróbki odpadów, ograniczająca wymywalność z nich niektórych zanieczyszczeń. Badania przeprowadzono na dwóch rodzajach zawiesin wodnych mieszanin popiołów z produktami odsiarczania z El. Siersza i El. Łaziska. Obliczono teoretyczną pojemność związania tych mieszanin. Przedstawiono wyniki badań związania CO2 w zawiesinach wodnych mieszanin popiołów lotnych z odpadami z odsiarczania oraz wpływu poddania ich działaniu ditlenku węgla na wymywalność zanieczyszczeń. Na podstawie badań termograwimetrycznych obliczono stopień związania CO2 w analizowanych zawiesinach. Badania wykazały wpływ mineralnej karbonatyzacji na redukcję wymywalności określonych zanieczyszczeń z omawianych zawiesin poddanych działaniu CO2

Application of fly ash from hard coal combustion in water boilers for CO2 sequestration via mineral carbonation

CO2 sequestration via mineral carbonation is one of the reduction methods of anthropogenic emission of CO2. It is based on permanent, and at the same time, ecologically safe CO2 bonding through mineral resources or waste. For CO2 bonding there may be used the alkaline mineral waste, f.ex: fly ash, originating from professional power industry plants - the greatest source of anthropogenic emission of CO2 in Poland. In the article there have been presented the results of examination of carbonation extent for ash aqueous suspension, prepared on the basis of fly ash from hard coal combustion. The findings on carbon dioxide absorption through fresh ash aqueous suspension have been shown, as well as the extent of its bonding in the hardened suspensions. On the basis of thermogravimetric analyses supplemented with phase composition examinations with the use of roentgenographic method and microstructure examinations with the use of a scanning microscope. There has been carried out an analysis of the impact of carbon dioxide insertion on the leachability of the ions: Cl-, SO4, As, total Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, S (sulphide), on the basis of results of leachability examinations from ash suspension with water before and after CO2 insertion, as well as the influence of carbon dioxide insertion on pH of leachates and the chemical oxygen demand (COD). It was affirmed as the result of thermogravimetric investigations of ash-water suspension without introduction of CO2, content of CaCO3 was 0.75 %, and in suspensions with introduced CO2, content of CaCO3 was 2.27% [24], which confirms that processes of mineral carbonation takes place. Investigations of leachability showed increased concentration of Zn and the content of chlorides and sulfates in suspensions with introduced CO2. Concentration of determined elements in extracts of ash-water suspensions "clean" and with the addition of CO2 fulfilled standards of PN-G-11011. Sequestration of CO2 via mineral carbonation is an interesting option of limitation of anthropogenic emission of CO2. Use of wastes for bonding CO2 seems particularly interesting. In case of Poland, where production of electric and thermal energy in plants of professional energetics is based on coal incineration, the waste which used for bonding CO2 is produced in large quantities fly ash

Mineral sequestration of CO2 using water suspensions of selected fly ashes from the combustion of lignite coal

Popioły lotne ze spalania węgla brunatnego są odpowiednim materiałem do sporządzania zawiesin dla wiązania CO2 na drodze mineralnej karbonatyzacji. Ze względu na ich ograniczone wykorzystanie gospodarcze, mineralna sekwestracja CO2, jako etap technologii CCS dla elektrowni spalających węgiel brunatny, może być dobrym sposobem ich zagospodarowania. Do badań mineralnej sekwestracji CO2 wykorzystano popioły lotne ze spalania węgla brunatnego w Elektrowni Pątnów charakteryzujące się wysoką zawartością tlenku wapnia i wolnego CaO. Badania składu fazowego zawiesin potwierdziły zachodzenie procesu karbonatyzacji, któremu uległ cały wodorotlenek wapnia zawarty w 'czystych' zawiesinach popiołowych. Stopień związania CO2 określono na podstawie badań termograwimetrycznych, stwierdzając wzrost zawartości CaCO3 w zawiesinach po wprowadzeniu do nich ditlenku węgla. Konsekwencją karbonatyzacji jest również obniżenie pH zawiesiny. W badanych zawiesinach stwierdzono zmniejszenie wymywalności wszystkich zanieczyszczeń. Uzyskane wyniki porównano z rezultatami wcześniej przeprowadzonych badań popiołów z tej samej elektrowni, ale różniących się składem chemicznym. Badania potwierdziły, że zawiesiny wodne popiołów ze spalania węgla brunatnego w Elektrowni Pątnów, niezależnie od ich składu, charakteryzują się wysokim stopniem karbonatyzacji.Fly ashes from the combustion of lignite coal are suitable materials for the creation of suspensions in which CO2 is bound by mineral carbonation. Considering their limited economic uses, mineral sequestration, as a stage of the CCS technology in lignite coal power plants, can be a way of recycling them. Mineral sequestration of CO2 was researched using fly ashes from the combustion of lignite coal in the Pątnów power plant, distinguished by a high content of CaO and free CaO. Research into phase composition confirmed the process of carbonation of the whole calcium hydroxide contained in pure suspensions. The degree of CO2 binding was determined on the basis of thermogravimetric analysis. A rise in the content of CaCO3 was found in the suspensions after subjecting them to the effects of carbon dioxide. Following carbonation the pH is lowered. A reduction in the leaching of all pollutants was discovered in the studied ashes. The results obtained were compared to earlier research of ashes from the same power plant but with a different chemical composition. Research confirmed that water suspensions of ashes from the combustion of lignite coal in the Pątnów power plant are distinguished for a high degree of carbonation