A Case of Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma Associated with HPV58 Infection

We report the case of a 55-year-old man with penile squamous cell car- cinoma (SCC). We found a mass in the patient’s penis, which gradually increased in size. We performed a partial penectomy to remove the mass. Histopathology revealed a highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction. HPV was found to be pres- ent in the squamous cell carcinoma, and sequencing analysis showed that it was type 58

Undifferentiated (Spindle Cell) Pancreatic Carcinoma: A Case Report with Osteochondroid Differentiation

Context Undifferentiated (spindle cell) carcinomas of the pancreas are rare anaplastic variants of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with a frequency of 2% of pancreatic exocrine tumors. Their clinicopathological features are limited and obtained by few previously case reports. We report a case of undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with a rare focal osteochondroid differentiation. Case report A sixty-six-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain and nonspecific nausea for almost 40 days. Imaging studies revealed a well-defined cystic–solid mass with heterogeneous density involving the tail of the pancreas. We performed an en bloc distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy for radical excision, as well as regional lymphadenectomy. The resected specimen revealed a 4.0×5.0 cm exophytic clear-bordered neoplasm of the tail of the pancreas containing necrotic and calcified areas, without splenic invasion. The lymph node involvement was not detected (0/5) and the surgical margins were negative. Microscopy showed pleomorphism with giant cells, spindle-shaped cells with anaplasia, and osteochondroid differentiation. A diagnosis of undifferentiated (spindle cell) carcinoma of the pancreas with focal osteochondroid differentiation was made. The patient declined chemotherapy and extended lymphadenectomy. She suffered from liver and lymph nodes metastasis 9 months after surgery, and she subsequently died 4 months later due to high tumor burden. Conclusions Undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteochondroid differentiation is rare but associated with extremely poor prognosis. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic mass lesions.Image: Ossification in the tumor edge

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Microcrystalline Structure of Phragmites Cellulose

Effect of 60Co-γ irradiation treatment on cellulose structure originating from Phragmites communis trim (PCT) was investigated on the basis of irradiation doses of 0 to 2000 kGy at a dose rate of 2 kGy h-1. Scanning electron micrograph images showed that surface morphologies of PCT cellulose could become fragmented after being treated with 60Co-γ irradiation. Based on X-ray diffraction profiles, crystallinity and amorphous region of microcrystalline cellulose treated by irradiation were obviously changed. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy data indicated that a new characteristic peak corresponding to carbonyl (1734 cm -1) appeared after PCT cellulose was treated with 60Co-γ irradiation, which suggested that PCT cellulose was degraded after irradiation treatment

An efficient DNA isolation method for tropical plants

Due to interfering components such as polysacharrides, polyphenols, etc, DNA isolation from tropical plants had been challenging. We developed a safe, universal and efficient DNA extraction method, which yielded high-quality DNA from 10 tropical plants including cassava, rubber tree, banana, etc. In the extraction buffer, 2 M NaCl was used to provide a high ionic strength reaction environment, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), lauroyl sarcosine (LSS) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) could inhibit DNase activity effectively, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) produced a deoxidized reaction environment, and borax enhanced the precipitation of interfering compounds. Ordinary reagents like β-mercaptoethanol, chloroform and phenol were unnecessary in this protocol, which made it safe and friendly to use. PCR and EcoR I enzyme restriction digestion results show that the obtained DNA is good enough for downstream analysis. In conclusion, this protocol is expected to be a preferable DNA extraction protocol for tropical plants.Keywords: DNA extraction, tropical plants, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2727-273

Tetra­aqua­(1,10-phenanthroline)nickel(II) 3,6-dicarboxy­bicyclo­[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,5-dicarboxyl­ate

In the title compound, [Ni(C12H8N2)(H2O)4](C12H10O8), the NiII ion is six-coordinated by two N atoms from one phenanthroline ligand and by the O atoms of four water mol­ecules in a distorted octa­hedral geometry. In the crystal, inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds form an extensive three-dimensional network, which consolidates the crystal packing