Search

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced by Alexandriumcatenella (formerly A. tamarense) in Korean coastal waters caused the deaths of four people (in 1986 and 1996) who consumed contaminated mussels (Mytilus edulis). This led to more detailed consideration of the risks of PST outbreaks and incidents in Korea, including the introduction of shellfish collection bans. In this study, we investigated the relationships between A. catenella population dynamics and PST accumulation in the mussel M. galloprovincialis. Discharges from the Nakdong River affect the environmental conditions along the Geoje coast, resulting in low salinity and high nutrient levels that trigger blooms of A. catenella. At the toxin peak on 24 April 2017, the toxins detected in A. catenella cells were C1, gonyautoxin (GTX)1 and GTX2, whereas the concentrations of PSTs in M. galloprovincialis were high and in the order of GTX4 > GTX1 > GTX3 > saxitoxin (STX) > GTX2 > neoSTX > decarbamoylgonyautoxin (dcGTX)2 > dc GTX3. The PST level in mussels was also high. At 15 °C, the PSTs are constantly found to be higher (10-fold higher in 2017 and 30-fold higher in 2018) than safe levels for human consumption (80 μg STX diHCl equivalents 100 g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 60-year-old man had asymptomatic erythematous nodule on the right inguinal area, which had progressively grown for 2 years. Excision was performed at the Department of Urology of our hospital. Two months later, there was local recurrence on the excision site, and it extended locally to make several tender erythematous nodules on the right inguinal area and firm plaque on the scrotum (Fig. 1). Histopathologic examination of the excision specimen revealed large cell masses with tubular or cribriform pattern and many small, solid epithelial islands unattached to the overlying epidermis. The tumor was confined to the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Round spaces formed by malignant epithelial cells and containing amorphophilic basement membrane-like material occured inside the tumor masses. The tumor cells were basaloid cells with scanty cytoplasm and deeply stained round-to-oval nucleus (Fig. 2). There was clear perineural involvement by the tumor cells. A substance in the pseudoglandular spaces, cystic spaces and the stroma was stained strongly with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue (pH 2.5). A PAS-positive substance was digested by diastase pretreatment. These findings suggested the substance to be a neutral mucopolysaccharide. Immunoperoxidase staining for S-100 protein and cytokeratin were strongly positive with the tumor cells but not with carcinoembryonic antigen. A histopathologic diagnosis of ACC was made. Salivary glands, bronchi, esophagus, and other organs were examined, but there was no evidence of neoplasm in other organs. A diagnosis of primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma was made but the patient refused all the treatment, including surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]