Search

A 47-year-old female developed a reddish swelling of the right medial canthus over 3 months. On examination, a red, firm mass, involving the right medial canthal and extending into the inferior fornix was present and the globe was displaced upwards and inwards. A staging MRI scan confirmed a lacrimal sac lesion with anterior orbit extension. After an equivocal biopsy, the patient underwent debulking surgery. Histology showed a lacrimal sac invasive adenosquamous carcinoma, comprising poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma and invasive adenocarcinoma areas arranged in a tubulo-glandular pattern. The adenocarcinoma harboured numerous cilia. p16 showed block positivity of both components and micro-dissected tissue from both areas showed the presence of HPV16 DNA by PCR. This is the first description of ciliated adenosquamous carcinoma of the lacrimal sac and this finding is placed into the context of what is known about ciliated head and neck adenosquamous carcinomas and the role of high-risk HPV.

The isohydric-anisohydric continuum describes the relative stringency of stomatal control of leaf water potential (ψ

We report a case of periocular squamous cell carcinoma invading the anterior orbit that significantly reduced in size and regressed from invasive to in situ following treatment with oral acitretin, a second-generation retinoid. The residual in situ disease was then successfully treated with cryotherapy and the patient remains in remission 12 months following cessation of systemic acitretin.

The majority of Northern Irish uveal melanoma (UM) patients are diagnosed in Sheffield. This study aims to present incidence and survival outcomes for UM patients from Northern Ireland (NI).Collaborative retrospective study between Sheffield and Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR). For UM cases not on both databases, outcomes and survival rates (via Kaplan-Meier analysis) were compared. Anonymised NICR data were used to calculate whole-population incidence of UM for NI.In total, 161 patients from NI were diagnosed in Sheffield, 90 of which were not registered with NICR at the start of this study. Data-omissions were not consistent across patient groups, leading to significant differences between those patients registered and those not. Registered patients had an all-cause 5-year survival rate of only 68.9% compared to 92.5% of those not registered (p 0.01) and were17x more likely to have systemic metastases than those not registered (p 0·001). Following rectification of data-omissions, the European age-standardised incidence rate of UM for NI was 8·6 per million.This study illustrates the impact of incomplete population-wide data, serving as a real-world lesson in case-identification bias. Rare cancers are at higher risk of omission due to systemic failures as the small numbers involved are not detected by system-wide validation procedures. Following this study, data-transfer agreements between England and NI were actioned, preventing future data-omissions. We present survival and incidence data for UM in NI for the first time, showing the incidence is amongst the highest in Europe, with good survival rates.

Fil: Grenón, Sandra Liliana. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Fil: Leguizamón, Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Fil: Del Valle, Ana Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Fil: Pallares, Sabrina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Fil: Salvi Grabulosa, Marcelo Ceferino. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Fil: Von Specht, Marta Helena. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Our objective was to evaluate the presence and microbiological characteristics of Shigella in children with acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD), attended at the Paediatric Hospital of Posadas, Misiones between 2016 and 2019. All ADEs documented in the laboratory were included. Standardised microbiological techniques were used. We considered age groups: infants (L)≤ 2 years, preschool (PE): 3-5 years, school (E): 5- 14 years. We recorded 106/2128 (5%) Shigella spp. isolates, with a higher frequency in summer (54.5%). S. flexneri (64; 60.4% serotypes 02(54), 03(3), AA479(2) and 01(1)) and S. sonnei (37; 34.9%) predominated. Mean age: 4.2 years (1.2 m-11a). Those < 5 years old were the most affected (70 %). Hospitalisation was required in 7.7%. S. flexneri/S. sonnei were: in L (42.9% vs 27.7%) and in E (27 vs 42.9%). Overall resistance to AMP was 72.7% and 58.1% to TMS. 97% were sensitive to furazolidone (FUR), cefpodoxime and fluorinated quinolones. In S. flexneri the % resistance to AMP/TMS was (78.7/44.8) and in S. sonnei (61.8/80.6) p< 0.05). We detected 6 resistance phenotypes with low multi-resistance (2.6%). FUR remains an empirical therapeutic option in outpatients. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la presencia y características microbiológicas de Shigella en niños con enfermedad diarreica aguda (EDA), atendidos en el Hospital Pediátrico de Posadas, Misiones entre 2016 y 2019. Se incluyeron todas las EDA documentadas en el laboratorio. Se utilizaron técnicas microbiológicas estandarizadas. Consideramos grupos etarios: lactantes (L)≤ 2 años, preescolar (PE): 3-5 años, escolar (E): 5- 14 años. Se registraron 106/2128 (5%) aislamientos de Shigella spp., con mayor frecuencia en verano (54,5%). Predominaron S. flexneri (64; 60,4% serotipos 02(54), 03(3), AA479(2) y 01(1)) y S. sonnei (37; 34,9%). Edad media: 4,2 años (1,2 m-11a). Los < 5 años fueron los más afectados (70 %). El 7,7% requirió internación. S. flexneri/S. sonnei fueron: en L (42,9% vs 27,7%) y en E (27 vs 42,9%). La resistencia global a AMP fue 72,7% y el 58,1% a TMS. Un 97% sensibles a furazolidona (FUR), cefpodoxima y quinolonas fluoradas. En S. flexneri el % resistencia a AMP/TMS fue (78,7/44,8) y en S.sonnei (61,8/80,6) p< 0,05). Detectamos 6 fenotipos de resistencia con baja multirresistencia (2,6%). FUR continúa siendo opción terapéutica empírica en pacientes ambulatorios.

Introduction Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a valuable treatment option for uveal melanoma, offering excellent tumour control rates and eye preservation. Its efficacy relies upon accurate localisation of the tumour, which is challenging in the mobile eye. Various methods of globe immobilisation have been used, including non-invasive devices, such as eye movement tracking and suction cups, but common practice is to use local anaesthetic block with or without transconjunctival suturing of the extraocular muscles. Some studies have suggested that the addition of muscle suturing to local anaesthetic block provides better immobilisation of the globe, when compared to anaesthetic block alone. Controversy exists regarding the clinical relevance of this observation and ocular oncologists differ in their choice of immobilisation technique. Methods In order to establish if the addition of muscle suturing to local anaesthetic block improves clinical outcomes, we performed a retrospective review of all cases that underwent SRS for uveal melanoma over a 10-year period (May 2008 to May 2018). Based on surgeon preference, all patients received either local anaesthetic block plus muscle suturing (Group A) or local anaesthetic block alone (Group B) to induce globe akinesia. Outcomes assessed were primary treatment failure, tumour recurrence, secondary enucleation and death rate. Results In our cohort of 290 eyes; 118 patients were in group A and 172 patients were in group B. There were no cases of primary treatment failure in either group. With a minimum of 24 months follow-up, only 3 patients experienced tumour recurrence (1 in group A and 2 in group B). There was no significant difference in recurrence, enucleation and all-cause death rates between the two groups. Conclusion Our retrospective review suggests that although extraocular muscle suturing may be considered by some units to provide superior globe immobilisation for SRS, it does not alter the clinical outcome.

The response of cells to forces is critical for their function and occurs via rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton1. Cytoskeletal remodelling is energetically costly2,3, yet how cells signal for nutrient uptake remains undefined. Here we present evidence that force transmission increases glucose uptake by stimulating glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). GLUT1 recruitment to and retention at sites of force transmission requires non-muscle myosin IIA-mediated contractility and ankyrin G. Ankyrin G forms a bridge between the force-transducing receptors and GLUT1. This bridge is critical for enabling cells under tension to tune glucose uptake to support remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton and formation of an epithelial barrier. Collectively, these data reveal an unexpected mechanism for how cells under tension take up nutrients and provide insight into how defects in glucose transport and mechanics might be linked. Salvi et al. show that GLUT1 is critical for glucose uptake in response to external forces and that ankyrin G is required to retain GLUT1 at sites of E-cadherin force transmission, linking mechanotransduction and glucose uptake.

Correction to: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2022; 26 (7): 2631-2638-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202204_28501-PMID: 35442479, published online on 15 April 2022. After publication, at the request of the Italian Ministry of Health, the authors asked to insert the following statement in the Acknowledgments section: "This research was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health (RC 2022)". There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/28501.

Two patients, with non-small cell lung carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab, developed bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (BDUMP) with interesting histopathological features. The first patient developed a right ciliary body mass concurrently with BDUMP. The globe was enucleated. The ciliary body mass was a mitotically active epithelioid uveal melanoma, invading the trabecular meshwork and peripheral corneal stroma, with over 90% of the cells expressing Cyclin D1 protein. The melanoma showed no chromosome 3 or 8 changes. The background uvea showed diffuse, bland spindle cell melanocytic proliferation with much lower Cyclin D1 expression (around 10%). In the choroid, this population was punctuated by islands of pigmented epithelioid cells, some of which were necrotic. All these islands expressed a high level of Cyclin D1, and some islands expressed nuclear preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME). The ciliary body mass, epithelioid cell islands, and the BDUMP all expressed c-Met (the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor [HGF]). The features were those of ciliary body melanoma and choroidal melanoma “tumorlets,” developing on a background of BDUMP. The second patient developed bilateral periocular skin pigmentation following a diagnosis of BDUMP, which when biopsied, showed dermal islands of paraneoplastic perivascular melanocytic cell proliferation. These cells also expressed c-Met protein. These observations implicate the HGF/c-Met axis in the pathogenesis of BDUMP, the uveal melanomas in the ciliary body and choroid in the first patient and the paraneoplastic dermal melanocytic proliferation in the second patient.

We report a case of a choroidal metastasis secondary to testicular mature teratoma, a subtype of non-seminoma germ cell tumours, in a young adult male. The choroidal metastasis was treated successfully with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin chemotherapy without the need for adjuvant radiotherapy. This represents a rare case of mature teratoma metastasizing to the choroid and one of very few reported testicular germ cell tumours to achieve normal or near normal visual acuity with chemotherapy alone despite severe macular disease at presentation.

The current demand for sustainable processes is increasing day by day. The considerable growth in biotechnological industries is attributed to enhanced enzyme production and their stability, and development in technologies for process intensification, which can pave the way towards large scale production and economical formulation. White biotechnology deals with the implementation of biotechnology at the industrial level. It is considered as one of the key tools, which can be utilized to boost the bio-economy. With the increasing research in the field of biocatalysis, it is proved to be a green tool in the synthesis of fine chemicals. It is quite evident that biocatalysis has numerous advantages over chemical catalysis. Immobilization of enzymes is the key towards practical and commercial viability of the processes, which improves the activity, stability, and reusability of enzymes, thereby making the biocatalytic reactions more sustainable and economical. The amalgamation of biocatalysis with process intensification techniques such as microwaves, ultrasound, hydrodynamic cavitation, and the combination of chemical and biological catalysis can be an effective way to enhance the yield and productivity of these processes. The use of microreactor technologies and continuous modes of operation, the co-called flow chemistry, has been exploited for different biocatalytic reactions. The current review summarizes and discusses the applications of immobilized enzymes used in different process intensification techniques. The techniques utilized can help in achieving better productivity and enhanced yields as compared to those with conventional techniques. These advances in bioprocesses will lead to rapid application at the industrial level for strengthening the bio-based economy.

Purpose: To describe our experience in performing biopsy of post-septal orbital masses with core needle under computerized tomography guidance (CT-CNB). Methods: The medical records of all patients who underwent this procedure were reviewed. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia on a day case basis under a peribulbar block. A planning non-contrast computerized tomography (CT) scan of the orbits was performed to localise the mass. A 6-cm 18-G Temno Evolution® semi-automated biopsy needle was inserted through the skin into the orbit. Prior to further advancement of the needle, a low-dose CT limited to the previously determined plane was performed to confirm its position. The needle was then advanced, and the cutting needle was deployed to obtain the biopsy. Results: Five patients who underwent CT-CNB were identified. The CNB was successful in 4 patients and revealed a metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a metastatic neuroendocrine tumour, and orbital inflammatory disease. The biopsy failed in the fifth patient when the needle failed to penetrate the tumour despite good localisation on CT. He was eventually diagnosed with fibrous meningioma of the greater wing of sphenoid on open biopsy. None of the patients had any complications other than peri-ocular bruising which was present in all of them. Conclusion: CT-CNB of mass lesions located in the lateral aspect of the orbit can be an alternative to open biopsy in selected cases. It avoids major surgery and allows the use of radiotherapy, if required, without any delay.

Epoxide hydrolase from Glycine max was partially purified and recovered in a single step using three phase partitioning (TPP). It was found to be exclusively partitioned in the interfacial precipitate phase. TPP was explored for the extraction of epoxide hydrolase using dimethyl carbonate as an organic phase and ammonium sulfate as a salt phase. It was then combined with microwave irradiation for process intensification, and the effect of microwave irradiation on the extent of extraction recovery was studied. The % percent recovery and purification fold achieved in TPP were 121.2 ± 1.6 % and 2.14 ± 0.03, respectively, under the optimized conditions of 40 % ammonium sulfate precipitation, 1:1.5 (v/v) crude extract to solvent ratio at 45 °C. These optimized conditions were further operated under microwave irradiation reducing the contact time from 1 h to 8 min with 20 W microwave power and 50 % duty cycle achieving recovery of 142.6 ± 1.9 % and purification fold of 2.38 ± 0.02. The percent recovery was enhanced up to 1.17 times with the use of microwave-assisted TPP (MTPP). The combined microwave-assisted TPP was found to be a green and effective technique for the recovery and partial purification of epoxide hydrolase from Glycine max.

Limonene is one of the most important terpenes having wide applications in food and fragrance industries. The epoxide of limonene, limonene oxide, finds important applications as a versatile synthetic intermediate in the chemical industry. Therefore, attempts have been made to synthesize limonene oxide using eco-friendly processes because of stringent regulations on its production. In this regard, we have attempted to synthesize it using a cost-effective and eco-friendly process. Chemoenzymatic epoxidation of limonene to limonene oxide was carried out using in situ generation of peroxy octanoic acid from octanoic acid and H2O2. In this study, agricultural-waste rice husk ash (RHA)-derived silica was surface-functionalized using (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTS), which was cross-linked using glutaraldehyde for immobilization of Candida antarctica lipase B. Furthermore, the immobilized enzyme was entrapped in calcium alginate beads to avoid enzyme leaching. Thus, limonene oxide was prepared using this catalyst under conventional and microwave heating. The microwave irradiation intensifies the process, reducing the reaction time under the same conditions. Maximum conversion of limonene to limonene oxide of 75.35 ± 0.98% was obtained in 2 h at 50 °C using a microwave power of 50 W. In the absence of microwave irradiation, the conventional heating gave 44.6 ± 1.14% conversion in 12 h. The reaction mechanism was studied using the Lineweaver-Burk plot, which follows a ternary complex mechanism with inhibition due to peroxyoctanoic acid (in other words H2O2). The prepared catalyst shows high reusability and operational stability up to four cycles.

Mesocellular foam silica (MCF) and Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA-15) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and then amino-functionalized to immobilize two enzymes: epoxide hydrolase and cutinase. In order to achieve high stability and to maintain the activity of enzymes, the supports were surface-functionalized, and the glutaraldehyde cross-linking method was employed for further entrapment of the enzyme. Epoxide hydrolase was partially purified from red mung beans, while cutinase was produced by Fusarium sp. ICT SAC1 and used for immobilization. The developed biocatalysts were well characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, BET, TGA techniques and successfully employed for some reactions such as the chiral resolution of (R,S)-phenyl glycidyl ether, (R,S)-styrene oxide, (R,S)-phenyl ethanol and acylation of geraniol.