Value of histopathologic analysis of subcutis excisions by general practitioners

BACKGROUND: Only around 60% of skin lesions excised by GPs are referred to a pathologist. Clinical diagnoses of skin excisions by GPs may not be very accurate. Subcutis excisions are rarely done by GPs, and there is hence little information in the literature on the histopathological yield of subcutis excisions by GPs with regard to malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of histopathological investigation of a relatively large group of subcutis excisions by GPs, with special emphasis on discrepancies between clinical and histopathological diagnoses of malignancy. METHODS: We investigated a series of 90 subcutis excisions, which was derived from a database of consecutive GP submissions from the years 1999–2000 where in the same time period 4595 skin excisions were performed by the same group of GPs. This underlines the apparent reluctance of GPs to perform subcutis excisions. RESULTS: The final diagnosis was benign in 88 cases (97.8%) and malignant in 2 cases (2.2%). Seven cases had no clinical diagnosis, all of which were benign. Of the 83 clinically benign cases, 81 (97.6%) were indeed benign and 2 (2.4%) were malignant: one Merkel cell carcinoma and one dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The former was clinically thought to be a lipoma, and the latter a trichilemmal cyst. The dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans presented at the age of 27, and the Merkel cell carcinoma at the age of 60. Both were incompletely removed and required re-excision by a surgical oncologist. CONCLUSION: Histopathological investigation of subcutis excisions by GPs yields unexpected and rare malignancies in about 2% of cases that may initially be excised inadequately. Based on these data, and because of the relatively rareness of these type of excisions, it could be argued that it may be worthwhile to have all subcutis excisions by GPs routinely investigated by histopathology

Small-angle X-ray diffraction studies of a molluscan smooth muscle in the catch state

Small-angle X-ray diffraction patterns from the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus edulis in the resting, active, and catch states were examined closely to elucidate the structural features of catch. The specimens were isometrically contracted by stimulation with acetylcholine. The specimens that produced strong tensions in both the active and catch states showed noticeable structural change in the thick filaments. Although the tension was weaker in the catch state than in the active state, the axial spacings of the 14.5 nm meridional reflection and its higher order reflections from the thick filaments were more elongated in the catch state than in the active state. This means that the thick filaments were stretched more strongly in the catch state than in the active state

Radiocarbon investigation of the Superlative African Baobabs from Savé Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe

Author Posting. © Studia Chemia, 2019. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia is an Open Access Journal (read, download, copy, distribute, print for research use, search, or link to the full texts of articles). The definitive version was published in Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Seria Chemia , 64(2), Tom II, (2019): 411-419, doi:10.24193/subbchem.2019.2.35.The article reports the radiocarbon investigation results of the superlative African baobabs from Savé Valley, Zimbabwe. Several wood samples collected from these baobab were analysed by AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating. The radiocarbon dates of the oldest samples were 1529 ± 14 BP for Matendere Big baobab, 1179 ± 19 BP for Chishakwe Big tree and 1096 ± 35 BP for Mokore Giant baobab. The corresponding calibrated ages are 1430 ± 15, 1090 ± 40 and 1020 ± 25 calendar yr. The oldest tree from Savé Valley, which we described previously, is the Humani Bedford Old baobab. The radiocarbon date of its oldest sample, 1655 ± 14 BP, corresponds to a calibrated age of 1580 ± 30 calendar yr.Authors would like to acknowledge Léon and Judy Duplessis, the owners of the Matendere Rach, Lisa-Jane Campbell of Chishakwe Ranch, Roger Whittall, the owner of the Humani Ranch and his wife Anne Whittall, Greg and Melanie Duckworth of Mokore Ranch for granting access in the ranches and for authorising the investigation and sampling of the monumental baobabs. The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of National Education CNCS-UEFISCDI under grant PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0776, Nr. 90/2017

Radiocarbon dating of the historic Livingstone Tree at Chiramba, Mozambique

Author Posting. © Studia Chemia, 2020. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia is an Open Access Journal (read, download, copy, distribute, print for research use, search, or link to the full texts of articles). The definitive version was published in Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Seria Chemia 65, no. 3 (2020): 149-156, doi:10.24193/subbchem.2020.3.11.The article reports the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating results of the Livingstone Tree, a large African baobab on the right bank of the Zambezi, near Chiramba, Mozambique. In 1858, David Livingstone, who discovered the baobab, carved his monogram on the walls of its inner cavity. In 1996, the historic baobab was uprooted when a cyclone struck the area. Several wood fragments were extracted from the remains of the toppled tree. Five samples which originate from these fragments were subsequently dated by radiocarbon. The oldest sample had a radiocarbon date of 1598 ± 17 BP, that corresponded in 1996 to a calibrated age of 1490 ± 35 calendar years. According to this value, the Livingstone Tree at Chiramba becomes one of the oldest known African baobabs, with an age of over 1500 years. The Livingstone Tree had a closed ring-shaped structure, that consisted of 4 fused stems around a false cavity and also 2 additional stems outside the ring.The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of National Education CNCS-UEFISCDI under grants PN-II-ID-PCE-2013-76 and PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0776, Nr. 90/2017

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative drug users

Nasal colonization plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infections. To identify characteristics associated with colonization, we studied a cross-section of a well-described cohort of HIV-seropositive and -seronegative active and former drug users considered at risk for staphylococcal infections. Sixty percent of the 217 subjects were Hispanic, 36% were women, 25% actively used injection drugs, 23% actively used inhalational drugs, 23% received antibiotics, and 35% were HIV-seropositive. Forty-one percent of subjects had positive nasal cultures for S. aureus. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns were similar to the local hospital's outpatient isolates and no dominant strain was identified by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AB-PCR). Variables significantly and independently associated with colonization included antibiotic use (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37; confidence interval [CI] = 0.18-0.77), active inhalational drug use within the HIV-seropositive population (OR = 2.36; CI = 1.10-5.10) and female gender (OR = 1.97; CI = 1.09-3.57). Characteristics not independently associated included injection drug use, HIV status, and CD4 count. The association with active inhalational drug use, a novel finding, may reflect alterations in the integrity of the nasal mucosa. The lack of association between HIV infection and S. aureus colonization, which is contrary to most previous studies, could be explained by our rigorous control for confounding variables or by a limited statistical power due to the sample sizes

Radiocarbon dating of the old ash of Aiton, Romania

Author Posting. © Studia Chemia, 2018. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia is an Open Access Journal (read, download, copy, distribute, print for research use, search, or link to the full texts of articles). The definitive version was published in Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Seria Chemia 63, no. 3 (2018): 41-48, doi:10.24193/subbchem.2018.3.03.The article reports the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon investigation results of the old common ash of Aiton. Five wood samples were collected from the trunk of the tree. The deepest ends of the samples were analysed by AMS radiocarbon. We found radiocarbon dates between 165 ± 20 BP and 240 ± 18 BP, which correspond to calibrated ages of 230 – 360 years. These results, combined with a ring counting estimate, indicate an age of 330 ± 30 years for the ash of Aiton. By this value, the ash of Aiton becomes the oldest known common ash with accurate dating results.The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation CNCS-UEFISCDI under grant PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0776, Nr. 90/2017

African baobabs with double closed ring-shaped structures and two separate false cavities : radiocarbon investigation of the baobab of Golconda Fort

Author Posting. © Studia Chemia, 2016. This article is posted here by permission of Studia Chemia for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Studia Chemia 2016, no. 4 (2016): 21-30.The article discloses the results of radiocarbon investigation of the baobab of Golconda Fort, Hyderābād, India, which is the largest African baobab outside Africa. Two wood samples were collected from the large inner cavity; of these we extracted several segments for AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating. The oldest sample segment had a radiocarbon date of 342 ± 22 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 430 ± 20 yr. We estimate that the oldest part of the baobab has an age of 475 ± 50 yr. The investigation of the baobab of Golconda Fort revealed that it consists of 6 + 2 fused stems. Six stems build two rings that close two distinct false cavities, while two additional stems are located outside the rings. We called this new type of architecture double closed ring-shaped structure with two separate false cavities.The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of National Education CNCS-UEFISCDI under grant PN-II-ID-PCE-2013-76

Radiocarbon dating of Makuri Le boom, a very old African baobab from Nyae Nyae, Namibia

© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Patrut, R. T., Patrut, A., Rakosy, D., Rakosy, L., Lowy, D. A., Von Redenf, K. F., & Bodis, J. Radiocarbon dating of Makuri Le boom, a very old African baobab from Nyae Nyae, Namibia. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Chemia, 65(2), (2020): 149-159, doi:10.24193/subbchem.2020.2.12.The article reports the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating results of Makuri Lê boom, a very large African baobab from Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia. The investigation of this superlative baobab shows that it consists of 12 independent stems of different dimensions, which belong to three generations. Makuri Lê boom has an open ring-shaped structure, a type of architecture which allows baobabs to reach very large sizes and old ages. The oldest sample has a radiocarbon date of 1602 ± 17 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 1520 ± 35 calendar yr. By this value, Makuri Lê boom becomes one of the oldest dated baobabs and angiosperms with accurate dating results.The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of National Education CNCS-UEFISCDI under grant PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0776, Nr. 90/2017

Radiocarbon dating of a very old African baobab from Savé Valley, Zimbabwe

Author Posting. © Studia Chemia, 2016. This article is posted here by permission of Studia Chemia for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Studia Chemia 2016, no. 4 (2016): 7-20.The article reports the radiocarbon investigation results of the Humani Bedford baobab, an old African baobab from Savé Valley, Zimbabwe. Two wood samples were collected from the large inner cavity. Several segments were extracted from these samples and analysed by AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating. We found that the age values of segments increase with the distance into the wood. This major anomaly is characteristic to multi-stemmed baobabs with a closed ring-shaped structure and a false cavity inside. The investigation of the Humani Bedford baobab evinced that the baobab consists of three fused stems. The fourth stem of the ring is missing. The oldest dated segment was found to have a radiocarbon date of 1655 ± 14 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 1575 ± 30 yr. The dating results show that the stems which build the ring stopped growing toward the false cavity more than 600 yr ago. By considering the position of the oldest segment in the investigated stem, we concluded that the Humani Bedford baobab is around 1800 yr old. According to our dating results, the Humani Bedford baobab becomes the oldest living African baobab.The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of National Education CNCS-UEFISCDI under grant PN-II-ID-PCE-2013-76

Radiocarbon dating of a very large African baobab from Limpopo, South Africa : investigation of the Sagole Big Tree

Author Posting. © Studia Chemia, 2017. This article is posted here by permission of Studia Chemia for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Seria Chemia 62, no. 2, Tom 2 (2017): 355-364, doi:10.24193/subbchem.2017.2.28.The article reports the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating results of Sagole Big tree, a giant African baobab from Limpopo, South Africa. Several wood samples were collected from the walls of its inner cavity and dated by radiocarbon. The age values along the cavity samples increase with the distance into the wood. This anomaly shows that the cavity is a false one. The oldest sample segment had a radiocarbon date of 781 ± 29 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 740 ± 15 yr. We estimate that the oldest part of the Sagole baobab has an age of 800-900 yr. We determined that the tree has a closed ring-shaped structure, which consists of a large unit with six fused stems and of two additional leaning stems.The research was funded by the Romanian Ministry of Scientific Research CNCSUEFISCDI under grant PN-II-ID-PCE-2013-76