Primitive clasts in the Dar al Gani 319 polymict ureilite: Precursors of the ureilites

Primitive clasts in the polymict ureilite Dar al Gani (DaG) 319 include dark clasts, sulfide- or metal-rich clasts, and unusual chondritic fragments. The dark clasts consist mainly of phyllosilicates, sulfides and magnetite with or without fayalitic olivine. The sulfide-rich clasts consist of a silicate-rich matrix and heterogeneously distributed sulfide. The metal-rich clasts consist of a silicate-rich matrix with variable amounts of metal. The unusual chondritic fragments are chondrule and equilibrated chondrite fragments. Oxygen isotopic compositions of the silicate-rich matrices in the sulfide-rich or metal-rich clasts plot on the carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral (CCAM) mixing line between Allende matrix and a dark clast in the Nilpena polymict ureilite. Their oxygen isotopic compositions are similar to those of the monomict ureilites. Considering its chondritic composition and oxygen isotopic composition, the silicate-rich matrix of the sulfide-rich clasts is the best candidate for the ureilite precursors. However, the matrix has an Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratio (mg ratio) of 0.56 and is too ferroan to produce the monomict ureilites with mg ratios of 0.74-0.95. Therefore, it may have experienced various degrees of reduction to produce precursors with the mg ratios, needed to form the monomict ureilites as residues during fractional melting. Oxygen isotopic compositions of the unusual chondritic fragments plot near the ordinary chondrites on a 3-isotope diagram, suggesting that they have no direct genetic relationship to the monomict ureilites. They were projectiles that collided with the ureilite parent body (UPB)

Long-term survivor of relapsed MFH on the thigh treated with autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine (AFTV) combined with limb-sparing surgery and radiotherapy

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is an aggressive spindle cell cancer of soft-tissue sarcoma type in the elderly, mostly affecting the extremities. Lesions > 5 cm, positive margins, and local recurrence are significant poor prognostic indicators. The strongest predictor for distant metastasis was tumor size (> 5 cm), and for overall survival, presence of local recurrence. Limb-sparing extensive tumor resection is preferred to achieve negative surgical margins. However, in some circumstances, amputation is inevitable. Recent studies demonstrated that adjuvant radiotherapy for microscopically positive surgical margins significantly improved local control and disease-free survival rates. Therefore, effective therapeutic strategies against locally relapsed high grade MFH are required to prevent distant metastasis and to achieve long-term disease-free survival. Here, we report local relapse of high grade MFH treated by successive application of autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccination (AFTV) with limb-sparing surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. The patient is alive and well, disease-free and with no functional impairment, more than five years after treatment

Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Lung

IntroductionLarge cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) show considerable differences in their histology but share neuroendocrine (NE) characteristics and also genetic and/or expression patterns.MethodsWe used the subtractive expression method to identify differences in gene expression that would allow discrimination between these two types of NE lung carcinoma.ResultsEight cDNA fragments were transcribed at a higher level in LCNEC compared with SCLC, and these corresponded to five mitochondrial genes, two ribosomal genes, and one fetal regulation factor, neuronatin (NNAT). Immunohistochemically, NNAT protein was detected in 43% (6/14) of LCNECs but in only 8% (1/13) of SCLCs (p < 0.05). Positive staining for NNAT was observed in areas that did not show the NE morphology, such as palisading and rosettes.ConclusionsThe present results suggest that NNAT has the potential to be used as a differential maker between LCNEC and SCLC

Petrology of a new basaltic shergottite: Dhofar 378

Dhofar 378 is a new basaltic shergottite, consisting mainly of pyroxenes, plagioclase glass, phosphates, titanomagnetite, and mesostasis. It is one of the most ferroan shergottites and resembles the Los Angeles shergottite. Pyroxenes show remarkable chemical zoning from 0.4 of Mg/(Mg+Fe) to less than 0.1, and their REE patterns are depleted in light REE whereas the REE pattern of the bulk Dhofar 378 is flat. All plagioclase grains in the original lithology completely melted by an intense impact shock, and the plagioclase melts crystallized fibrous plagioclase to form the rims surrounding the plagioclase melts. Then, the melts quenched as plagioclase glass to form the cores. The shock stage of Dhofar 378 is higher than that of the Los Angeles shergottite. The degree of impact shock for Dhofar 378 may be about 55-75GPa and is the highest among all known martian meteorites

A long-term survivor of repeated inguinal nodes recurrence of papillary serous adenocarcinoma of CUP: case report

BACKGROUND: Tumor spread beyond the peritoneal cavity in cases of papillary serous adenocarcinoma of the unknown primary (CUP) is a rare late event and carries a poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of a large right inguinal tumor with biopsy evidence of carcinoma as well as an elevated serum CA125 (cancer antigen 125). She underwent complete resection of the right inguinal tumor and multiple pelvic tumors, which involved the rectum, ovary and uterus. Pathological examination revealed the tumors to be metastases of a papillary serous adenocarcinoma with a psammoma body of CUP. On the 28th postoperative day, newly developed asymptomatic small left inguinal node metastases in the setting of a normal CA125 level were removed. Four and a half years after the primary resection, the CA125 level increased again and newly developed asymptomatic metastases were found in the right deep inguinal nodes and extirpated at that time. All surgical resections followed the modified FAM (5FU, Adriamycin; ADM, MMC) regimen, including protracted dairy oral administration of UFT or 5'-FDUR, Cimetidine and PSK (protein-bound polysaccharide K) as an immunomodulator or biological response modifier in conjunction with intermittent one-day continuous infusion (ADM+MMC) or intermittent single bolus injection of ADM+MMC. At present, the patient has been living in good health for almost 7 years with no evidence of relapse. CONCLUSION: Aggressive resection surgery followed by effective adjuvant chemotherapy is necessary for surviving long time without relapse of poorly prognostic patients with metastases outside of the abdominal cavity from peritoneal papillary serous adenocarcinomas

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362