Granular cell tumors of the urinary bladder

BACKGROUND: Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are extremely rare lesions of the urinary bladder with only nine cases being reported in world literature of which one was malignant. Generally believed to be of neural origin based on histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies; they mostly follow a clinically benign course but are commonly mistaken for malignant tumors since they are solid looking, ulcerated tumors with ill-defined margins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We herein report two cases of GCTs, one benign and one malignant, presenting with gross hematuria in a 14- and a 47-year-old female, respectively. RESULTS: Histopathology revealed characteristic GCTs with positive immunostaining for neural marker (S-100) and negative immunostaining for epithelial (cytokeratin, Cam 5.2, AE/A13), neuroendocrine (neuron specific enolase, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin) and sarcoma (desmin, vimentin) markers. The benign tumor was successfully managed conservatively with transurethral resection alone while for the malignant tumor, radical cystectomy, hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, anterior vaginectomy, plus lymph node dissection was done. Both cases show long-term disease free survival. CONCLUSION: We recommend careful pathologic assessment for establishing the appropriate diagnosis and either a conservative or aggressive surgical treatment for benign or localized malignant GCT of the urinary bladder, respectively

Effect of HLA-matching recipients to donor non-inherited maternal antigens on outcomes after mismatched umbilical cord blood transplantation for hematologic malignancy

peer reviewe

Regional differences in psychiatric disorders in Chile

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric epidemiological surveys in developing countries are rare and are frequently conducted in regions that are not necessarily representative of the entire country. In addition, in large countries with dispersed populations national rates may have low value for estimating the need for mental health services and programs. METHODS: The Chile Psychiatric Prevalence Study using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was conducted in four distinct regions of the country on a stratified random sample of 2,978 people. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence and service utilization rates were estimated. RESULTS: Significant differences in the rates of major depressive disorder, substance abuse disorders, non-affective psychosis, and service utilization were found across the regions. The differential prevalence rates could not be accounted by socio-demographic differences between sites. CONCLUSIONS: Regional differences across countries may exist that have both implications for prevalence rates and service utilization. Planning mental health services for population centers that span wide geographical areas based on studies conducted in a single region may be misleading, and may result in areas with high need being underserved

The immature stages of Neoscelis dohrni (Westwood) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Goliathini) with notes on adult behavior

Detailed description of the second instar larva and pupa, comparative comments on the third instar and first instar larvae, and some observations on the adult behavior and the life cycle of Neoscelis dohrni (Westwood) are presented. Diagnostic structures are illustrated, and a key to the known third instar larvae of Goliathini from the world is included

Utilización de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para amplificar dos secuencias del gen glicina decarboxilasa que codifica para la proteína P del sistema de clivaje de la glicina, relacionado con hiperglicinemia no cetósica

Los Errores Congénitos del Metabolismo son trastornos bioquímicos de origen genético, que causan un defecto específico en la estructura o función de las moléculas proteicas involucradas en una vía metabólica.Dentro de los errores innatos del metabolismo se encuentra la hiperglicinemia no cetósica (HNC), la cual es un desorden autosómico recesivo, que se caracteriza por un defecto en el sistema de clivaje de la glicina, (SCG) ocasionando la acumulación de este aminoácido en los diferentes fluidos corporales, causando alteraciones neurológicas y desórdenes somáticos que llegan a ser letales. El SCG es un sistema multienzimático de carácter mitocondrial y está compuesto por cuatro proteínas individuales reconocidas como proteína P (piridoxal fosfato), H (ácido lipóico), T (tetrahidrofolato) y L (deshidrogenasa lipoamida) (1). La proteína P es codificada por el gen glicina decarboxilasa (GLDC) (2); se han reportado varias mutaciones en este gen, siendo la mutación S564I, la más común (3). La actividad de esta proteína se encuentra disminuida o ausente en 80% de los pacientes con HNC (4). Los estudios de esta entidad en Colombia, se iniciaron con Barrera y col (5), pero no se disponía de un diagnóstico enzimático ni molecular para la HNC; por lo tanto, la Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, en asociación con la unidad de biología procreativa del Instituto Materno Infantil y la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, inició el estudio bioquímico y molecular de esta enfermedad

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CO2 FLOOD UTILIZING ADVANCED RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION AND HORIZONTAL INJECTION WELLS IN A SHALLOW SHELF CARBONATE APPROACHING WATERFLOOD DEPLETION

The purpose of this project was to economically design an optimum carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) flood for a mature waterflood nearing its economic abandonment. The original project utilized advanced reservoir characterization and CO{sub 2} horizontal injection wells as the primary methods to redevelop the South Cowden Unit (SCU). The development plans; project implementation and reservoir management techniques were to be transferred to the public domain to assist in preventing premature abandonment of similar fields. The Unit was a mature waterflood with water cut exceeding 95%. Oil must be mobilized through the use of a miscible or near-miscible fluid to recover significant additional reserves. Also, because the unit was relatively small, it did not have the benefit of economies of scale inherent in normal larger scale projects. Thus, new and innovative methods were required to reduce investment and operating costs. Two primary methods used to accomplish improved economics were use of reservoir characterization to restrict the flood to the higher quality rock in the unit and use of horizontal injection wells to cut investment and operating costs. The project consisted of two budget phases. Budget Phase I started in June 1994 and ended late June 1996. In this phase Reservoir Analysis, Characterization Tasks and Advanced Technology Definition Tasks were completed. Completion enabled the project to be designed, evaluated, and an Authority for Expenditure (AFE) for project implementation submitted to working interest owners for approval. Budget Phase II consisted of the implementation and execution of the project in the field. Phase II was completed in July 2001. Performance monitoring, during Phase II, by mid 1998 identified the majority of producing wells which under performed their anticipated withdrawal rates. Newly drilled and re-activated wells had lower offtake rates than originally forecasted. As a result of poor offtake, higher reservoir pressure was a concern for the project as it limited CO{sub 2} injectivity. To reduce voidage balance, and reservoir pressure, a disposal well was therefore drilled. Several injection surveys indicated the CO{sub 2} injection wells had severe conformance issues. After close monitoring of the project to the end of 1999, it was evident the project would not recover the anticipated tertiary reserves. The main reasons for under-performance were poor in zone CO{sub 2} injection into the upper San Andres layers, poorer offtake rates from newly drilled replacement wells and a higher than required reservoir pressure. After discussion internally within Phillips, externally with the Department of Energy (DOE) and SCU partners, a redevelopment of South Cowden was agreed upon to commence in year 2000. The redevelopment essentially abandoned the original development for Budget Phase II in favor of a revised approach. This involved conformance techniques to resolve out of zone CO{sub 2} injection and use of horizontal wells to improve in zone injectivity and productivity. A phased approach was used to ensure short radius lateral drilling could be implemented effectively at South Cowden. This involved monitoring drilling operations and then production response to determine if larger investments during the second phase were justified. Redevelopment Phase 1 was completed in May 2000. It was deemed a success in regard to finding suitable/cost-effective technology for drilling horizontal laterals and finding a technique that could sustain long-term productivity from the upper layers of the San Andres reservoir. Four existing vertical producing wells were isolated from their existing completions and sidetracked with horizontal laterals into the upper layers of the San Andres. Overall average offtake rates for the four wells increased by a factor of 12 during the first four months after completion of Phase 1. Phase 2 of the redevelopment focused on current CO{sub 2} vertical injection wells. Techniques were applied to resolve near well conformance concerns and then either single or dual laterals were drilled in the upper layers. Additional work required conformance resolution with a horizontal injection well and additional lateral drilling from four existing producing wells. Although Phase 1 had provided a short-term boost to lease offtake, it was Phase 2, by ensuring in zone CO{sub 2} injection in all existing vertical wells, which would provide the longer-term reserve recovery from the upper San Andres. Phase 2 activities commenced in October 2000 with drilling a single lateral in an existing CO{sub 2} injector. Four dual lateral and one single lateral CO{sub 2} injection wells were completed from existing wellbores to replace the poorly performing CO{sub 2} vertical injection wells. Four additional single laterals from existing vertical production wells were also completed. Phase 2 was completed in April 2001