Malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva: a case report with examination of KIT and PDGFRA

Although many clinicopathological studies of malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva have been reported, there have been no studies of the expression and gene mutations of KIT and PDGFRA in melanoma of the conjunctiva. A 69-year-old Japanese woman consulted our hospital because of black mass (0.7 × 0.7 × 0.6 cm) in the conjunctiva. A biopsy was taken. The biopsy showed malignant epithelioid cells with melanin deposition. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for S100 protein, HMB45, p53, Ki-67 (labeling=30%), KIT and PDGFRA. The tumor was negative for pancytokeratins (AE1/3 and CAM5.2). A genetic analysis using PCR-direct sequencing revealed no mutations of KIT gene (exons 9, 11, 13, and 17) and PDGFRA gene (exons 12 and 18). The pathological diagnosis was conjunctival melanoma. Despite chemotherapy, the patient developed multiple metastases of melanoma, and died of melanoma 7 years after the biopsy. In conclusion, the author reported a case of melanoma of conjunctive expressing KIT and PDGFRA proteins without gene mutations of KIT and PDGFRA

Universal magneto-orbital ordering in the divalent AA-site quadruple perovskite manganites AAMn7_7O12_{12} (AA = Ca, Sr, Cd, and Pb)

Through analysis of variable temperature neutron powder diffraction data, we present solutions for the magnetic structures of SrMn$_7$O$_{12}$, CdMn$_7$O$_{12}$, and PbMn$_7$O$_{12}$ in all long-range ordered phases. The three compounds were found to have magnetic structures analogous to that reported for CaMn$_7$O$_{12}$. They all feature a higher temperature lock-in phase with \emph{commensurate} magneto-orbital coupling, and a delocked, multi-\textbf{k} magnetic ground state where \emph{incommensurate} magneto-orbital coupling gives rise to a constant-moment magnetic helix with modulated spin helicity. CdMn$_7$O$_{12}$ represents a special case in which the orbital modulation is commensurate with the crystal lattice and involves stacking of fully and partially polarized orbital states. Our results provide a robust confirmation of the phenomenological model for magneto-orbital coupling previously presented for CaMn$_7$O$_{12}$. Furthermore, we show that the model is universal to the $A^{2+}$ quadruple perovskite manganites synthesised to date, and that it is tunable by selection of the $A$-site ionic radius

Transient thermoelectricity in a vibrating quantum dot in Kondo regime

We investigate the time evolution of the thermopower in a vibrating quantum dot suddenly shifted into the Kondo regime via a gate voltage by adopting the time-dependent non-crossing approximation and linear response Onsager relations. Behaviour of the instantaneous thermopower is studied for a range of temperatures both in zero and strong electron-phonon coupling. We argue that inverse of the saturation value of decay time of thermopower to its steady state value might be an alternative tool in determination of the Kondo temperature and the value of the electron-phonon coupling strength.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physics Letters

Multiple myeloma presenting as an intracranial plasmacytoma: a case report

Multiple myeloma presenting as an intracranial tumor (plasmacytoma) is very rare. An 81-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of gait disturbance. A blood laboratory test revealed a mildly increased lactate dehydrogenase (236 IU/L) and glucose (121 mg/dl). Blood protein fractions were normal. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intracranial mass (5 × 4 × 3 cm) in the brain base next to the clavus, and it was clinically diagnosed as chordoma. An excision of the brain tumor was performed. Imaging modalities including ultrasound, x-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography did not reveal any tumors other than the brain tumor. The tumor was soft, fragile, and bloody. Microscopically, a monotonous proliferation of atypical plasma cells with hyperchromatic nuclei was recognized. Histochemically, the tumor cells were pyroninophilic and the congo-red stain revealed amyloidosis. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for κ-chain and negative for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, CD45, CD20, CD45RO, λ-chain, IgM, IgA, IgG, synaptophysin, chromogranin, S100 protein, desmin, α-smooth muscle antigen, myoglobin, p53 protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The Ki-67 labeling was 11%. Intracranial plasmacytoma was pathologically diagnosed. The patient was treated by adjuvant chemoradiation, and entered into the complete remission stage. However, multiple metastases emerged in the vertebral bones and ribs six months after the remission. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made. The urine revealed Bence-Jones protein of monoclonal IgG κ-chain type, but blood M protein was not recognized. The patient's condition gradually deteriorated. The patient died of respiratory failure due to bronchopneumonia 18 months after the admission. The present case indicates that multiple myeloma may manifest as an intracranial brain tumor (plasmacytoma)

Nested variant of urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder

The nested variant of urothelial carcinoma (NVUC) is characterized by the presence of benign-appearing urothelial carcinoma cells in the lamina propria, sparing the surface urothelial involvement. NVUC shows aggressive clinical course despite of benign-looking histology. Herein reported are two cases of NVUC. One is 80-year-old woman, and another is 78-year-old man. In both cases, atypical cells forming nests and tubules were seen in the lamina propria without surface urothelial involvement. One case resembled nephrogenic metaplasia and another proliferated Brunn's nest or inverted papilloma. Immunohistochemically, both cases showed positive p53 and high Ki67 labeling, suggesting that both cases are malignant. Immunohistochemically, one case was characterized by positive cytokeratins, EMA, p53, Ki-67 (labeling=15%), α-methylacyl CoA racemase, CA19-9, and MUC1, and another case by positive cytokeratins, EMA, p63, p53, Ki-67 (lebeling=30%), CD10, CEA, and MUC1. Cyto keratin immunoprofiles were described and other antigens' expressions were shown. The patients are now free of tumor 6 and 15 months after the resection of the bladder tumor

17β-Estradiol dysregulates innate immune responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection and is modulated by estrogen receptor antagonism

ABSTRACT Females have a more severe clinical course than males in terms of several inflammatory lung conditions. Notably, females with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer worse outcomes, particularly in the setting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Sex hormones have been implicated in experimental and clinical studies; however, immune mechanisms responsible for this sex-based disparity are unknown and the specific sex hormone target for therapeutic manipulation has not been identified. The objective of this study was to assess mechanisms behind the impact of female sex hormones on host immune responses to P. aeruginosa . We used wild-type and CF mice, which we hormone manipulated, inoculated with P. aeruginosa , and then examined for outcomes and inflammatory responses. Neutrophils isolated from mice and human subjects were tested for responses to P. aeruginosa . We found that female mice inoculated with P. aeruginosa died earlier and showed slower bacterial clearance than males ( P &lt; 0.0001). Ovariectomized females supplemented with 17β-estradiol succumbed to P. aeruginosa challenge earlier than progesterone- or vehicle-supplemented mice ( P = 0.0003). 17β-Estradiol-treated ovariectomized female mice demonstrated increased lung levels of inflammatory cytokines, and when rendered neutropenic the mortality difference was abrogated. Neutrophils treated with 17β-estradiol demonstrated an enhanced oxidative burst but decreased P. aeruginosa killing and earlier cell necrosis. The estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182,780 improved survival in female mice infected with P. aeruginosa and restored neutrophil function. We concluded that ER antagonism rescues estrogen-mediated neutrophil dysfunction and improves survival in response to P. aeruginosa . ER-mediated processes may explain the sex-based mortality gap in CF and other inflammatory lung illnesses, and the ER blockade represents a rational therapeutic strategy. </jats:p