Epithelial–Myoepithelial Carcinoma Presenting as a Pseudo Veno-Lymphatic Malformation

A 41-year-old woman presented with several days of right eye pain and blurred vision. Examination and radiologic workup were consistent with a veno-lymphatic malformation, including demonstration of cystic fluid–fluid levels on imaging. Histopathology supported the presence of cystic spaces but revealed the final diagnosis of lacrimal epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma, a rare neoplasm typically associated with the salivary gland. This represents the first reported case of lacrimal epithelial–myoepithelial carcinoma presenting with pain and evidence of intralesional cysts on radiographic and histopathologic evaluation. Better characterization will enable recognition, complete surgical excision, and potential adjuvant radiation therapy. Accepted for publication June 5, 2018. The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose. Supported by the National Institutes of Health Research Grant CA 16359 from the National Cancer Institute. Presented at the New York Orbital Society Spring Meeting, New York, NY on April 18, 2018. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Emily Li, M.D., 40 Temple Street, Suite 3D, New Haven, CT 06510. E-mail: emily.li@yale.edu © 2018 by The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc., All rights reserved.

Age-Related Changes in Globe Position

Purpose: To longitudinally evaluate for changes in globe position as part of the natural aging process. Methods: A Cleveland Clinic Foundation imaging database of all head imaging scans performed from 1995 to 2017 was used to identify adults with normal orbits undergoing imaging studies at least 20 years apart. A total of 100 patients (200 globes) who had CT or MRI scans were studied. Globe position was determined by measuring the distance from the anterior aspect of the cornea to the zygomaticofrontal processes baseline. Clinically significant changes in globe position were defined as changes of ≥2 mm posteriorly (enophthalmos) or anteriorly (exophthalmos). Results: On average, globe projection decreased by 0.25 ± 2.3 and 0.26 ± 2.2 mm in the right and left eyes, respectively. Clinically significant enophthalmos with age was measured in 55 (27.5%) globes in 35 (35%) individuals, while clinically significant exophthalmos with age was measured in 43 (21.5%) globes in 26 (26%) individuals. The proportion of cases that developed enophthalmos, exophthalmos, or experienced no change were not significantly different from each other (p = 0.26). No patients developed clinically significant enophthalmos in one eye and exophthalmos in the other. Conclusions: Adults may develop clinically significant enophthalmos, exophthalmos, or no change in globe position over a 20-year period. This lack of uniform change in globe position with age impacts surgical considerations for treatment of the aging periocular region. Accepted for publication June 22, 2018. The authors have no financial or conflicts of interest to disclose. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Julian D. Perry, M.D., Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195. E-mail: perryj1@ccf.org © 2018 by The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc., All rights reserved.

In situ phytoremediation characterization of heavy metals promoted by Hydrocotyle ranunculoides at Santa Bárbara stream, an anthropogenic polluted site in southern of Brazil

Abstract

Aquatic environments are widely affected by anthropogenic activities and efficient remediation of these areas requires detailed studies for each natural ecosystem. This research aimed to evaluate the natural phytoremediation potential of Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L., a floating aquatic macrophyte located in a polluted aquatic environment in South of the Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Nutrients such as P, K, Ca, Mg, and S and heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Na, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Al, As, Co, and V content in the roots and shoots of the plants were evaluated through nitric perchloric acid digestion (HNO₃-HClO₄) methods and quantified by ICP-OES. Bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), plant effective number (PEN), and potential phytoremoval (mg m⁻²) were carried out. H. ranunculoides showed a substantial ability for phytoextracting P, Na, and As, since showed ability of uptake these elements from the water and translocate them to the shoots of the plants. H. ranunculoides also showed potential for application in rhizofiltration of Mg, S, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Al, and V, since exhibited high potential to uptake higher levels in the roots. The highest potential for bioremoval (mg m⁻²) of the H. ranunculoides was detected for K, Ca, P (recommending thus the use for phytoextraction), Fe, and Al (highly recommended for rhizofiltration). Therefore, this species under study showed high potential for in situ phytoremediation at Santa Bárbara stream, and as a widespread species, it might be tested for phytoremediation in other sites.

The way forward confronting eco-environmental challenges during land-use practices: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

With rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, land-use practice, while satisfying the ever-increasing desires of our material civilisation in the short term, may undermine natural ecosystems on a local, regional and global scale in the long run. Innovative and sustainable land-use practices should be developed in response, so that eco-environmental problems can assessed and dealt with during the whole process of land-use planning, construction, operation, maintenance and management. Using a bibliometric analysis, this study has traced global trends in land-use research from 1992 to 2016, as indexed in the Science Citation Index EXPANDED (SCI-EXPANDED) and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). A novel method called 'word cluster analysis' has revealed that hotspot analysis is one of the emerging techniques, tools and strategies used to respond to, improve, and protect deteriorating ecosystems during land use. Based on involving various elements, the emerging analytical techniques and tools, including geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, have attracted attention for their ability to assess and solve increasingly serious eco-environmental problems, such as climate change, deforestation, soil erosion, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and eutrophication. Ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, protected areas, and sustainable development are also potential resilience strategies used to confront eco-environmental destruction. The maximum benefits that can be derived from natural ecosystems should be pursued to achieve environmentally sustainable land-use development, strengthening the socio-economy and eco-environment, as well as enhancing the well-being of people and nature.

A yeast for all seasons – Is Pichia pastoris a suitable chassis organism for future bioproduction?

Abstract

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (Komagataella spp.) is well established as a host for recombinant protein production. Since a few years it has also been subject to metabolic engineering to produce a diversity of biochemicals. Based on these developments we discuss here why P. pastoris is a suitable future chassis organism for synthetic biology, and we provide a roadmap for a community effort towards this aim.

Relationship of diversity and the secondary structure in 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer: a case in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Abstract

The 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence, located in the rrn operon, has been analyzed and evaluated for use in phylogenetic analysis and the detection target of bacteria. The ITS region displays a high level of diversity, being present in multiple copies and displaying variability in both length and sequence, and it carries more phylogenetic information than 16S rDNA. However, appropriately identifying ITS regions to use in analyses is challenging. To solve this problem, we analyzed the ITS regions in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and predicted the secondary structure of each analogous rrn transcript. The genomic DNA of V. parahaemolyticus contains approximately 8-14 rrns, making it more complex than the sequences of most other bacterial species. We analyzed 216 ITSs, of which 206 ITSs come from 18 complete genomes, and 10 ITSs were identified in the present study. The subunits of each ITS were distinguished by their predicted secondary structures. We propose a refined backbone model of the V. parahaemolyticus ITS that can be applied to the sequences of other bacteria. The backbone includes C, V, tDNA and linker blocks. These blocks, which may represent true functional units, may be used as potential targets for phylogenetic analysis or molecular detection.