Unusual presentation of a cutaneous malignancy: Giant merkel cell carcinoma with intra-abdominal metastasis

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous malignancy with uncertain histogenesis. Here, we present an unusual presentation of giant MCC of the skin with concomitant intra-abdominal metastasis to pancreas. A 53-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with a giant ulcerated mass in the gluteal region. Incisional biopsy of the mass revealed primary poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the cutaneous origin and confirmed the diagnosis of MCC. Clinically, the patient complained of abdominal discomfort and weight loss of 15 kg over the past 4 months. Intra-abdominal computerized tomographic examination demonstrated a heterogenous-appearing giant mass of the right upper quadrant invading the superior mesenteric artery and leading to obstruction of common biliary duct and a second mass (6 cm Χ 6 cm) located at the inferior pole of pancreas extending toward the duodenum. As the gluteal mass was prone to trauma and leading to massive hemorrhage, excision of the gluteal mass with 2 cm of tumor-free margin was performed. V-Y advancement flap based on the perforators of the inferior gluteal and profunda femoris artery was elevated to cover the resulting defect (22 cm Χ 17 cm). Although the patient was referred to medical oncology for further therapeutic management, he could only survive for 11 months from his initial diagnosis. We would like to emphasize that MCC has the potential to spread to unusual organs in short intervals and prompt evaluation and proper management is essential for optimal survival of these patients

Duzce COVID 19 PCR Tests are Worked How, Where and Under Which Conditions?

Shortly after the first cases were reported in late 2019 in Wuhan Province of China, SARS CoV 2 spread all over the world and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 12, 2020. In Turkey the first case was in March 10, 2020 and March 25, 2020 in Duzce. Duzce University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, PCR laboratory was declared to be T.C. Ministry of Health Duzce authorized Covid 19 PCR laboratory in 28.03.2020. Samples are sent to our laboratory from all provincial and district hospitals, private hospitals and public health institutions in Duzce. This is the only Covid 19 center in our city and it works for 7 days a week. In our laboratory, Covid 19 antibody tests are carried out with card tests and ELISA methods. A total of 8500 COVID 19 PCR tests and 2200 anti Covid 19 ELISA total antibody tests were studied in our laboratory within three months Although covid 19 patients are not followed in our hospital, pandemic process continues in our laboratory. In addition, all PCR studies and IFA studies of the hospital are carried out in this laboratory.WOS:00058856330000

A proposal for improved t-staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by using microscopic examination as the basis for determining the size and t-stage

Background: Stage remains as the most helpful prognosticator in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, accurate grossmeasurement of PDAC tumor size, the main stage parameter, is a well-known challenge due to its notoriously ill-defined nature. It hasbeen well documented that there are often satellite microtumor foci beyond the grossly appreciated tumor (PMID: 26832882), which in factmay represent intraparenchymal metastases. This becomes a bigger challenge if the gross room personnel are not experienced enough forthe subtleties of PDAC

A proposal for improved t-staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by using microscopic examination as the basis for determining the size and t-stage

Background: Stage remains as the most helpful prognosticator in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, accurate grossmeasurement of PDAC tumor size, the main stage parameter, is a well-known challenge due to its notoriously ill-defined nature. It hasbeen well documented that there are often satellite microtumor foci beyond the grossly appreciated tumor (PMID: 26832882), which in factmay represent intraparenchymal metastases. This becomes a bigger challenge if the gross room personnel are not experienced enough forthe subtleties of PDAC

High stability of benzotriazole and benzodithiophene containing medium band-gap polymer solar cell

The improvement of polymer solar cell stability is a challenge for the scientists and has significant implications commercially. In this study, we investigated the stability of a novel P-SBTBDT active material applied in an inverted type solar cell. Detailed stability experiments comprising shelf life, laboratory weathering and outdoor testing were carried out according to ISOS testing guidelines. Shelf life showed that P-SBTBDT solar cells were very stable after 840 h with encapsulation. Although accelerated weathering aging tests are a very harsh, the devices remained stable after the bum-in phase with T-50 from 700 to 840 h, with some P-SBTBDT solar cells did not reach T-50 in the time span of the test. Degradation tests on the P-SBTBDT solar cells which were carried out under natural solar light indicated that T-40 was reached after 840 h. The results of dark, light, damp and dry stability tests showed that most of the degradation was provoked by failure of the encapsulation. The experiments indicated that P-SBTBDT solar cells are sensitive to light and oxygen but are strikingly stable under humid conditions. Further developments for minimizing the degradation effects using UV-filters and better encapsulation are some of the necessary improvements in further research