Radar Evidence of Subglacial Liquid Water on Mars

Strong radar echoes from the bottom of the martian southern polar deposits are interpreted as being due to the presence of liquid water under 1.5 km of ice

Cancers of unknown primary origin: current perspectives and future therapeutic strategies

It is widely accepted that systemic neoplastic spread is a late event in tumour progression. However, sometimes, rapidly invasive cancers are diagnosed because of appearance of metastatic lesions in absence of a clearly detectable primary mass. This kind of disease is referred to as cancer of unknown primary (CUP) origin and accounts for 3-5% of all cancer diagnosis. There is poor consensus on the extent of diagnostic and pathologic evaluations required for these enigmatic cases which still lack effective treatment. Although technology to predict the primary tumour site of origin is improving rapidly, the key issue is concerning the biology which drives early occult metastatic spreading. This review provides the state of the art about clinical and therapeutic management of this malignant syndrome; main interest is addressed to the most recent improvements in CUP molecular biology and pathology, which will lead to successful tailored therapeutic options

Cyclosporine-induced gingival overgrowth is associated to increased Transglutaminase -2 expression

Background. Cyclosporine A induced gingival overgrowth, which is characterized by an extracellular matrix increase, is due to an altered balance between collagen synthesis and degradation. Cyclosporine A is a potent immunosuppressant used to prevent organ transplant rejection and to treat various autoimmune diseases. Methods. This study proposed to verify if transglutaminase 2, an enzyme that is thought to be responsible for the assembling and remodeling of extracellular matrix, played some kind of role in the pathogenesis of the cyclosporine A-induced gingival overgrowth, its expression in the gingival overgrowth was compared to normal tissue to evidence any differences. Cyclosporine A-induced gingival overgrowth tissues were collected from 21 liver transplanted patients and case-controlled with 20 non-hyperplastic gingival biopsies from healthy patients who had had previous periodontal treatment. Both the presence and tissue distribution of transglutaminase 2 was determined in the two groups by immunohistochemistry and analysed in comparison to the tissue morphology and expression of lymphocyte related antigens (CD3 and CD20) and a vessel related marker (CD34). Results. A significant increase in the transglutaminase 2 expression was observed within the stromal component in the cyclosporine A treated patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). An increased transglutaminase 2 expression in mesenchymal cells and/or extracellular matrix in gingival overgrowth suggests that this molecule has a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Further studies will investigate the therapeutic effect of antitransglutaminase 2 drugs (putrescine or 1,4-diaminobutane) in these patients

[Two cases of retroperitoneal metastasis from a completely regressed burned-out testicular cancer.]

Introduction: Primary extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCT) are rare and it is still a matter of debate if they have to be considered as primary extragonadal issues or metastases from a primary testicular neoplasm. We describe two cases of the so-called burned-out seminoma, a primary \u2028testicular germ-cell tumor that spontaneously regressed after demonstration of retroperitoneal \u2028metastases.
Cases presentation: Two patients (35 and 50 years old, respectively) presented with CT findings of retroperitoneal masses. In both cases physical examination of the testis was not suspicious, and only scrotal ultrasound (SUS) showed parenchymal alterations such as scarring, calcifications and nodular lesions. Left orchiectomy and chemotherapy were then performed in both cases. Currently, they are both free of disease.
Conclusions: Although primary germ cell tumors may be of retroperitoneal origin, the likelihood of metastasis from a testicular primary origin should always be carefully considered in order to avoid misdiagnosis and to apply the best treatment schedule for the patients. Therefore, a testicular ultrasonography is mandatory in patients presenting CT findings of retroperitoneal adenopathy, even if patients are completely asymptomatic and their physical examination appears normal