Ultrasonic Features of Uncommon Congenital Heterotopic Colon and Pancreas in the Neck: An Extremely Rare Case Report

Congenital heterotopic colon and pancreas localized to the neck has not been reported. Herein, we describe an extremely uncommon case of congenital heterotopic colon and pancreas aberrantly presented within a cyst on the neck, and the thickened wall of the cyst on ultrasound may represent an important ultrasonic feature.

Conceptual Design of Mars Sub-Surface Habitat for Sustaining Thermal Stability

The surface of Mars is seasoned with hostile climate, recurrent dusty sand storms, exposure to galactic cosmic radiation, and temperature variance that persuaded a challenging environment for performing science mission operations. A human mission to Mars requires extended presence for approximately 180-270 days since regular interplanetary transit is limited due to its far distance and technology limitation. So it is significant to have a confined habitat that can ensure crew protection as well as sustainable presence thereby affording necessities. In addition to this, the surface temperature of Mars varies from (-125°C to 20°C) that pose a greater challenge for life forms and crews to sustain thermal stability. Improper temperature balance may lead the crew to experience the effect of hypothermia and frost formation. Hence considering the entire challenges of human survival of Mars, we propose a novel “Mars Sub-Surface Habitat” capable of stabilizing habitat’s internal temperature during night-time. Further, the habitat is environment tolerant to keep the astronauts secure from every critical condition. Its thermal stability is enhanced by the thickened wall structure sealed with either in-situ thermal insulating material or synthetic insulators. Apart from its wall design, its potentiality to isolate itself from the surface environment at night triggers additional temperature stability. Keeping eye on the forthcoming human expedition mission and the strategy for human settlement, we hope this kind of habitat may afford a favourable compact home for a safe and sustainable mission. The habitat is proposed base on the concept that the subsurface of Mars seems to be a perfect platform for future Martians.

Squamous cell carcinoma transformation in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: A case report and review of literature

Introduction: Malignant transformation in mature cystic teratoma of ovary is a rare complication. Case report: A 62-year-old woman was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in a mature cystic teratoma of ovary. Conclusion: Malignant transformation should be suspected in elderly woman with large mature cystic teratoma of ovary with thickened wall.

A bio-syringe mechanism and the pattern of genital correspondence in the weevil genus Sitona (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): an approach to the great interest of Sharp and Muir

The remarkable diversity in male and female genital morphology among the species of Sitona Germar might contribute to the understanding of the structural “lock-and-key” isolating mechanism. Recently, it has been found that in spite of the phallic sizes in male weevils of the genus Sitona, their internal sacs should precisely match with the vaginal infoldings of conspecific females. The present research also deals with the male transfer apparatus, which is a special organ for insemination procedure inside the female bursa copulatrix. A wedge-shaped structure with a fused ejaculatory pump was distinguished as the bio-syringe part of the transfer apparatus in the examined species. Two paired sclerites of the transfer apparatus support the bio-syringe, so that it would slide freely between them and lock precisely over the opening of the spermathecal duct inside the bursa copulatrix of the female. In this phenomenon, several new structures were also found, including a bursal sclerite (“bursal disc”) and a pair of miniature pouches (“bursal plugs”) which are embedded in the thickened wall of the female bursal lumen. These findings explain how the shapes of male and female copulatory organs are normally species-specific and provide an opportunity for understanding the role of the structural lock-and-key isolating mechanism.

The Giant Resectable Carcinoma of Gall Bladder

Background: Gall bladder cancer (GBC) is the fifth most common malignancy in the gastrointestinal system and the most common malignancy of the biliary system. GBC is a very aggressive malignancy having a 5 year survival rate of 19%. Giant Gall Bladder (GGB) is an uncommon condition that can result from cholelithiasis or chronic cholecystitis and rarely with malignancy.Case report: A 65 year old lady presented with vague abdominal pain for 12 years and right abdominal lump of size 20x8 cms was found on examination. CT scan showed a circumferentially irregularly thickened wall (2.5cm) of gall bladder indicative of malignancy. Per-operatively a GB of size 24 x 9 cms was noted and patient underwent radical cholecystectomy. It was surprise to find such a giant malignant GB with preserved planes. Histopathology, it was well differentiated adenocarcinoma of gall bladder of Stage II (T2a N0 M0). Discussion: It is known that mucocoele of GB can attain large size, however chronic cholecystitis will lead to a shrunken gall bladder rather than an enlarged one. A malignant GB of such size and resectable is rare without any lymph node involvement or liver infiltration. Few cases of giant benign gall bladder have been reported in literature, however this appears to be the largest resectable gall bladder carcinoma reported till date as per indexed literature.Conclusion: Giant GB is an uncommon finding. They are mostly benign, however malignant cases can occur. Radiological findings may suggest features of malignancy and define extent of disease. Prognosis depends on stage of disease and resectability, irrespective of size.

Septate gallbladder in a dog with cholecystitis: A case report and literature review

A 5-year-old, Yorkshire terrier was presented due to the acute onset of vomiting and diarrhoea. The imaging studies showed an abnormally separated gallbladder with a thickened wall, a tortuous common bile duct that contained hyperechoic materials. A cholecystectomy was performed because of the failure of the conservative management. The gallbladder was partially divided by a septum and communicated with the cystic duct. Histologically, the dog was diagnosed as having cholecystitis and choledochitis. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first clinical description of a symptomatic septate gallbladder in a dog. Although congenital gallbladder abnormalities are rare in animals, a septate gallbladder can predispose to an inflammatory biliary disease due to the abnormal bile flow.

Schistonchus macrophylla (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae): an enigmatic taxon from sycones of Ficus section Malvanthera in eastern Australia, with description of a new subspecies

Summary Over a period of 15 years, Schistonchus was collected from sycones of Ficus subgenus Urostigma section Malvanthera in eastern Australia, and was found to occur widely. Here, Schistonchus macrophylla macrophylla is redescribed from F. macrophylla and F. superba, and a new subspecies, Schistonchus m. lightfooti subsp. n., from F. rubiginosa and F. superba. Schistonchus m. lightfooti subsp. n., is characterised by having a long post-vulval uterine sac (PUS) with thickened walls and a narrowly rounded or pointed distal tip, procorpus which is usually longer than the stylet length, pyriform metacorpus, trapezoid-shaped head capsule, papillae arranged as one large pair adcloacal, a large pair at mid-tail length, and a small pair near the tail tip, no caudal alae, and a spatulate tail tip in females; and was collected from Sydney in New South Wales (NSW) to southern Queensland. Schistonchus m. macrophylla is characterised by having a procorpus shorter than or equal to the stylet length, an ovoid metacorpus, rectangular-shaped head capsule, long PUS with thickened wall only at its distal tip, caudal alae, and papillae arranged as one pair precloacal, one small pair adcloacal, and a large pair at mid-tail length. It was collected in NSW.

Melampsora salicis-michelsonii sp. nov. on Salix michelsonii and Melampsora salicis-cavaleriei on Salix serrulatifolia from China

Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, two Melampsora species on willows collected in China were identified and described. One species, Melampsora salicis-michelsonii sp. nov. on Salix michelsonii, is characterized by uredinia amphigenous to mainly hypophyllous; urediniospores globoid to ellipsoid, echinulate; paraphyses capitate, clavate, intermixed, sometimes thickened at apex; telia amphigenous to mainly epiphyllous, and teliospores subepidermal with evenly thickened wall. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a new monophyletic clade with high support values 93/0.99 (ML/BI). Another species on Salix serrulatifolia is mainly characterized by epiphyllous uredinia and identified as Melampsora salicis-cavaleriei, of which phylogenetic analysis was performed and reported for the first time herein.

Duodenal Stenosis Due to Carcinoma of the Lower Bile Duct: A Case Report

An 83-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a detailed evaluation for vomiting. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdominal computed tomography showed duodenal stenosis with wall thickness. Biopsy including endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the thickened wall showed inflammation without malignancy. During the clinical course, wall thickening of the distal bile duct appeared. Biopsy under endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed papillary adenocarcinoma. Surgery revealed that the tumor had widely invaded the duodenal wall from the outside; therefore, only gastrojejunostomy was performed. It was hypothesized that the cholangiocarcinoma had progressed to the serosal side, disseminated in the peritoneum, infiltrated the duodenal serosa, and caused duodenal stenosis.

Stump Pyometra Secondary to Human Topical Estrogen Hormone Exposure in a Spayed Female Chihuahua

ABSTRACT A 6 yr old female spayed Chihuahua was presented for evaluation of intermittent vulvar discharge, stranguria, and vomiting. This dog had an ovariohysterectomy as a puppy and did not experience any evidence of estrous until 4.5 yr later. The owner had been using a topical hormone replacement therapy (estradiol spray) twice daily for the duration of the dog’s clinical signs of 1 yr. On presentation, the dog had truncal alopecia, comedones, enlarged vulva with a malodorous, and purulent discharge. Bloodwork showed a leukocytosis with a neutrophilia, döhle bodies, and moderate toxic changes. An abdominal ultrasound revealed an enlarged uterine stump with a thickened wall, ovoid projection cranially, and echogenic luminal contents. An exploratory laparotomy identified an enlarged cervical stump. Histopathology revealed chronic suppurative vaginitis with endometritis, necrosis, and intraluminal coccoid bacteria. The dog recovered well from surgery. A baseline estrogen level post operatively was measured at 56.4 pg/mL (<50.0 pg/mL for a spayed bitch), at this time, the dog had been separated from the owner for 7 days. After surgery, the clinical signs disappeared, and the dog’s dermatologic changes improved. This is the first reported case of stump pyometra following exposure to the owner’s topical estradiol replacement medication.