Spermatocytic Seminoma: Clinical Case and Review

Introdução: O seminoma espermatocítico é um diagnóstico incomum de tumores do testículo, frequentemente exuberantes na sua dimensão, mas com bom prognóstico. Apesar da designação errónea, trata-se de tumores de células germinativas do tipo não-seminoma. Caso Clínico: Descreve-se o caso clínico de um homem de 49 anos de idade, com exuberante aumento de volume escrotal de agravamento recente, à custa de massa indolor do testículo direito. Foi feita ecografia escrotal que mostrou hidrocelo e imagem sugestiva de massa atípica do epidídimo direito. TC torácica, abdominal e pélvica não mostrou adenomegalias retroperitoneais ou outra alteração; os valores de LDH, αFP e βHCG eram normais. Foi feita orquidectomia por via escrotal à direita, com excisão de uma ampla área do escroto. Identificou-se na peça operatória, com 1375g, seminoma espermatocítico com invasão vascular da túnica albugínea (pT2). O doente iniciou quimioterapia com BEP (dois ciclos). Discussão: O seminoma espermatocítico é raro, com cerca de 2% de incidência, o diagnóstico faz-se habitualmente na 6ª década de vida, e tem localização exclusivamente testicular. A orquidectomia é frequentemente curativa. Apesar de estarem descritos tumores de maior volume do que o seminoma clássico, destaca-se neste caso a exuberância clínica incomum pela dimensão do testículo, bem como do hidrocelo que o acompanhava

Applicability of ecological evaluation tools in estuarine ecosystems: the case of the lower Mondego estuary (Portugal)

Abstract In accordance with the Water Framework Directive guidelines (WFD, 2000, European Communities Official Journal L327 2000/60/EC), classification schemes and ecological evaluation tools (based on benthic invertebrate fauna data sets from 1990 to 2002) were applied in the lower Mondego estuary. Two distinct scenarios could be tested due to the implementation of mitigation practices in 1999, following a long eutrophication process, which started by the early 1980s. Some discrepancies in the results were found by the application of the different indices. The AMBI index (accounting for taxonomic composition) and the ABC method (accounting for abundance and biomass k-dominance patterns) classifications often disagreed with those based on species diversity (Margalef and Shannon-Wiener). The ambiguous results made the classification a complex task to achieve, contrary to the Directive’s objective of maintaining it simple and clear. Our results suggest the necessity of adjusting some of the indices and their ranges to estuarine characteristics, namely to account the typical dominance and abundance of some particular species. These aspects are not taken into consideration by some of the indices proposed, which are more adapted to typical marine conditions. Based on our results, these widely applied indices might still improve their efficiency in estuarine systems allowing their use in the resembling types already established within the new Directive agenda

Secretory breast carcinoma--case report and review of the medical literature.

Secretory breast carcinoma (SBC) is a rare type of invasive breast cancer. Since little is known about the biology of this rare tumour, it is useful to report every such case, in order to make as much information as possible available in the medical literature. We present the case of an 18-year-old woman with a SBC treated by mastectomy (Madden) and axillary node dissection (stage pT3N1M0) followed by chemotherapy (FEC regimen) and radiotherapy. The patient has meanwhile completed 4 years of follow-up with no evidence of recurrence. The authors review the literature and summarize relevant findings concerning definition, pathology, clinical picture, treatment, and follow-up

Por um sistema de inovação organizacional

Dizer que o grande segredo do sucesso das empresas, especialmente em tempos conturbados, é a sua adaptabilidade às condições do mercado, parece um lugar comum mas não deixa de ser verdade. No entanto, afirmar que a adaptabilidade é função da capacidade das chefias em levar os colaboradores a pensar em modos inovadores, já não parece tão evidente, por isso iremos dedicar este artigo à demonstração desta perspectiva

Estuarine production of resident and nursery fish species: Conditioning by drought events?

The production of resident (Pomatoschistus minutus and Pomatoschistus microps) and marine juvenile fish species using the Mondego estuary (central Portugal) as nursery grounds (Dicentrarchus labrax, Platichthys flesus, Solea solea), was assessed in order to: (1) understand the potential of the estuary for fish production; (2) know the production of nursery fish species likely to be exported to the coastal stocks; and (3) how anthropogenic and natural stress could influence the estimated production. Sampling occurred from June 2003 to May 2006 and together the 5 species in study comprised around 70% of the whole fish community numbers and biomass. Increasing drought conditions were observed, starting with a normal hydrological year in 2003 until attaining a severe drought in 2005, which resulted in low river discharges (1/3 of the mean river discharges in 2003). Additionally, high water temperatures were observed in 2003 and 2005 (24 and 26 °C, night temperatures). The secondary production was estimated using the increment summation method, after recognition of the cohorts. Production was in general lower in the Mondego estuary when compared to other systems, which was associated to the estuary's small area (only 3.4 km2, less than 1/4 of area compared to other studied systems). Dicentrarchus labrax was among the most productive species. Production decreased in the drought year for all species, especially evident for D. labrax, P. minutus and P. flesus. No direct effects could be attributable to the salinity and temperature variations and to the low freshwater discharges (resulting from the drought and high temperatures), yet these were pointed as probable major reasons for the decreased production. A significant reduction (15-45% reduction in the estuarine production) was also concluded for the potential production to be exported for coastal areas by the nursery species in the drought conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WDV-4R9GGXS-2/1/663d5981f8928a75fea6999bf328f16

Assessing estuarine environmental quality using fish-based indices: Performance evaluation under climatic instability

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V6N-4TFDY7X-2/2/c9f9bbc565621cbb798d6d663e74a8f

Transformasi Genetik Kedelai Dengan Gen Proteinase Inhibitor II Menggunakan Teknik Penembakan Partikel

An experiment was conducted at the Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Laboratory of BB-Biogen, Bogor with an objective to obtain transgenic soybean plants containing the proteinase inhibitor II (pinII) gene. The experiment consisted of three steps, i.e., optimalization of the soybean transformation technique using the gus gene; transformation of soybean using the pinII gene, and molecular analysis of the transformed soybean plants. Two type of explants (young embryo and cotyledon) were bombarded with pRQ6 plasmid containing the gus gene with the following treatment: Helium gas pressure (1100 psi and 1300 psi), shoot distance (5 and 7 cm), and number of bombardment (1x and 2x). The result of gus assay indicated that the best bombardment was done on young cotyledon explants with 1100 psi Helium pressure, shoot distance 5 cm, and 1x bombardment. Transformation of the soybean explant using the pinII gene (inside the pTWa plasmid) was conducted using the best bombardment treatment from the first activity. Two plants from c.v. Wilis (WP1, WP2) and three plants from c.v. Tidar (TP1, TP2, TP3) were recovered from regeneration and selection of the transformed explants. Molecular analysis of the regenerated plants using the PCR technique showed that only WP2 contained the pinII gene. This plant was fertile and will be used for further evaluation

Phosphorus speciation and availability in intertidal sediments of a temperate estuary: relation to eutrophication and annual P-fluxes

For a better understanding of the phosphorus dynamics and bioavailability in temperate climates, sequential chemical extraction techniques were used to study sediment P-pools distribution and relative importance in a eutrophicated estuary.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WDV-4D34K0B-4/1/81664d8a2942d81fa74d7a11d696e2b