Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor Mimicking Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: A Case Report

Gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare lesions that arise from enterochromaffin-like cells of the gastric mucosa. Gastric NETs are classified into 3 types of NETs and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine cancers. Most gastric NETs usually present as hemispherical, yellowish, polypoid lesions with a central depression and often as subepithelial tumors (SETs) because they are confined within the submucosal layer. Here, we report a case of gastric NET presenting as SET mimicking a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Endoscopy revealed a 2.3-cm-sized SET with intact surface mucosa, and endoscopic ultrasonography showed a homogeneous hypoechoic lesion with a well-circumscribed margin. Typical features of gastric NET, such as yellowish mucosal changes or central ulceration, were not observed. GIST was suspected, and a laparoscopic wedge resection was performed. The final diagnosis was gastric NET with grade 2 differentiation.

Effect of Resin Infiltration on Enamel: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Subsurface enamel demineralization beneath an intact surface layer or white spots lesions (WSL) can and should be treated with non-invasive procedures to impede the development of a cavitated lesion. We aim to analyze if infiltrative resin improves enamel roughness, microhardness, shear bond strength, and penetration depth. MEDLINE [via Pubmed], Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Web of Science, Scholar, and LILACS were searched until May 2021. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Clinical Appraisal Checklist for Experimental Studies. Pairwise ratio of means (ROM) meta-analyses were carried out to compare the enamel properties after treatment with infiltrative resin on sound enamel and WSLs. From a total of 1604 articles, 48 studies were included. Enamel surface roughness decreased 35% in sound enamel (95%CI: 0.49–0.85, I2 = 98.2%) and 54% in WSLs (95%CI: 0.29–0.74, I2 = 98.5%). Microhardness reduced 24% in sound enamel (95%CI: 0.73–0.80, I2 = 99.1%) and increased by 68% in WSLs (95%CI: 1.51; 1.86, I2 = 99.8%). Shear bond strength reduced of 25% in sound enamel (95%CI: 0.60; 0.95, I2 = 96.9%) and increased by 89% in WSLs (95%CI: 1.28–2.79, I2 = 99.8%). Penetration depth was 65.39% of the WSLs (95%CI: 56.11–74.66, I2 = 100%). Infiltrative resins effectively promote evident changes in enamel properties in sound and WSLs. Future studies with long-term follow-ups are necessary to corroborate these results from experimental studies.

High carbon-di-oxide modified atmospheric packaging on quality of ready-to-eat minimally processed fresh-cut iceberg lettuce

Fresh-cut lettuce is a very well-known salad for today's routines because it obliges minimal preparation to minimize the loss of health beneficial vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytochemicals. It is a prodigious challenge to serve its consumers fresh. Quality of freshly processed lettuce under high CO2 modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has been investigated as a realistic alternative technique for its preservation. Storage under high CO2 atmospheric treatments exhibited a significant impact in microbial development, electrolyte leakage, volatile metabolites and sensory quality of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce. This storage condition (MAP 1: 5 kPa O2 and 20 kPa CO2 balanced by N2 at 7 °C for 6 days) inhibited the growth of mesophilic bacteria and yeasts; delayed the enzymatic browning (cut-edges and intact surface) of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce and overall visual quality was also in acceptance limit. The development of off-odors was perceived in high CO2 MAP as a consequence of volatiles (ethanol and acetaldehyde) accumulation which was persisted at an inexcusable level during 6 days of storage periods.

Incidental diagnosis of granulosa cell tumour in a 25-year-old woman

A 25-year-old woman presented with backache of 2 weeks duration and had 45-60 days menstrual cycle. On transvaginal sonography (TVS), her left adnexa showed a heterogenous solid mass of 5.3×4.2 cm and moderate vascularity on color doppler. Serum inhibin B was raised to 2249 pg/ml. MRI showed 5.5× 4.5 cm solid mass in the left ovary with lobulated margins suggestive of sex cord-stromal/ germ cell tumor. Laparoscopy showed an enlarged left ovary with intact surface. Left adnexectomy with staging biopsies and infracolic omentectomy was performed. Histopathology showed adult granulosa cell tumor with intact ovarian capsule. One-month post-surgery, inhibin B level was 44 pg/ml. She wishes to conceive after six months follow-up.

Study of deformation properties of road foundations of the mixed type intended for the movement of mobile complexes for monitoring and transporting raw materials

Analysis of the conditions of movement of mobile robotic complexes showed that about 70% of the time of movement is made up of sand, gravel and sandy areas. In winter, it is covered with snow. An unsolved problem is the traffic conditions during the transition period, namely, movement on snow-sandy support bases. This paper is devoted to the study of road and soil foundations, i.e. mixed surfaces consisting of sand and snow. A method for obtaining mixed surfaces (mixtures) with different percentages is described. It is shown how the measurements of the density and fractional composition of the sand were carried out. It also shows how the snow density was measured. Examples of test fragments are given. A test procedure for measurement of deformation properties is presented. “Load-deformation” curves are provided. The study reveals how the sand and snow percentage affects the curve behaviour. Dependencies are given to describe the process “load deformation” for sand and snow. The dependence of the mixtures is proposed. The generalized dependence includes the dependences of Goryachkin - Letoshnev and Malygin. This paper also specifies the curve behaviour for an undisturbed road and soil foundation, and a surface exposed to an operating mover or a utility vehicle. It is shown that for mixtures of various compositions for an intact surface and under repeated loading, the difference in stresses is from 1.25 to 5 times.

ComBase models are valid for predicting fate of Listeria monocytogenes on ten whole intact raw fruits and vegetables

L. monocytogenes was associated with more than 60 produce recalls between 2017 and 2020 including tomato, cherry, broccoli, lemon, and lime recalls. This study describes the effects of temperature, time and food substrate as factors influencing L. monocytogenes behavior on whole intact raw fruits and vegetables. A cocktail of five L. monocytogenes strains previously associated with foodborne outbreaks were used. Ten intact whole fruit and vegetable commodities were chosen based on data gaps identified in a systematic literature review. Produce investigated belong to major commodity families: Ericaceae (blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry), Rutaceae (lemon and mandarin orange), Roseaceae (sweet cherry), Solanaceae (tomato), Brassaceae (cauliflower and broccoli) and Apiaceae (carrot). Intact inoculated whole fruit and vegetable commodities were incubated at 2, 12, 22, 30 and 35 °C with relative humidities matched to typical real-world conditions. Foods were sampled (n=6) for up to 28 days, depending on temperature. Growth and decline rates were estimated using the DMFit for Excel. Growth rates were compared with ComBase modeling predictions for L. monocytogenes. Almost every experiment showed initial growth, followed by subsequent decline. L. monocytogenes was able to grow on whole intact surface of all produce tested, except for carrot. The 10 produce commodities supported growth of L. monocytogenes at 22 and 35°C. Growth and survival at 2 and 12°C varied by produce commodity. The standard deviation of the square root growth and decline rates showed significantly larger variability in both growth and decline rates within replicates as temperature increased. When L. monocytogenes growth occurred, it was conservatively modeled by ComBase Predictor, and growth was generally followed by decreases in concentration. This research will assist in understanding the risks of foodborne disease outbreaks and recalls associated with L. monocytogenes on fresh whole produce.

The impact of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on COVID-19 patients, especially those admitted to the intensive care unit

Physiotherapy and early mobilization are necessary to treat COVID-19 patients. Physiotherapy is effective in strengthening of respiratory muscles, reduction of inflammation, and enhanced immune function in COVID-19 patients. Physiotherapy can relieve various symptoms of COVID-19. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is a kind of physiotherapy that uses electric current to activate nerves for therapeutic reasons. It passes electrical currents across the intact surface of the skin to activate underlying nerves. There are many studies that shown that TENS can alleviate dyspnea and lung function and improve FEV1 in patients with COPD and asthma, which is a more common complication in COVID-19 patients. TENS is effective in the treatment of muscle weakness and able to preserve protein synthesis in muscle in admitted patients, especially those admitted to ICU. Because of those reasons mentioned in the article, we recommend to investigate TENS effects on COVID-19 patients.

A Study into the Localized Corrosion of Magnesium Alloy Magnox Al-80

Magnesium (Mg) non-oxidizing alloy, known as Magnox, was historically used as a fuel cladding material for the first-generation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas-cooled nuclear reactors in the UK. Waste Magnox is currently stored in cooling ponds, pending final disposal. The corrosion resistance of Mg and its alloys is relatively poor, compared to modern cladding materials such as zirconium (Zr) alloys, so it is important to have a knowledge of the chloride concentration/pH dependence on breakdown and localized corrosion characteristics prior to waste retrievals taking place. Our results show that Magnox exhibits passivity in high pH solutions, with charge transfer resistance and passive film thicknesses showing an increase with immersion time. When chloride is added to the system the higher pH maintains Magnox passivity, as shown through a combination of potentiodynamic and time-lapse/post corrosion imaging experiments. Potentiodynamic polarization of Magnox reveals a -229 mV^-decade linear dependence of breakdown potential with chloride ion concentration. The use of the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) enabled the localized corrosion characteristics to be followed. At high pH where Magnox is passive, at low chloride concentrations, the anodes which form predominantly couple to the visually intact surface in the vicinity of the anode. The high pH however means that visually intact Magnox in the vicinity of the anode is less prone to breakdown, restricting anode propagation such that they remain largely static. In high chloride concentrations the higher conductivity means that the anode and cathode can couple over greater distances and so propagation along the surface can occur at a much faster rate, with the visually intact surface acting as a distributed cathode. In addition, the chloride anion itself, when present at high concentration will play a role in rapid passive film dissolution, enabling rapid anode propagation.

Baseline survey of the fish and invertebrate fauna of Hill Inlet, the northernmost estuary in south-western Australia

Microtidal estuaries in Mediterranean climates are particularly vulnerable to the effects of anthropogenic degradation. This study provides the first data on the fish and benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of Hill Inlet, the northernmost estuary in south-western Australia. Sampling was conducted in June 2019 (Austral winter), when water levels were very high due to recent heavy rainfall and the bar at the mouth of the estuary was intact. Surface salinities were oligohaline and declined along the longitudinal axis, ranging from 12 to 3. A marked halocline was present at most sites, resulting in pronounced hypoxia. High water levels precluded the use of a seine net at some sites to sample the nearshore fish fauna, however, two species were recorded (Pseudogobius olorum and Acanthopagrus butcheri), both of which complete their life-cycle within the estuary. Deeper, offshore waters, sampled using gill nets, yielded only four species (Mugil cephalus, A. butcheri, Adrichetta forsteri and Pomatomus saltatrix), due to the bar at the mouth of the estuary being closed prior to sampling thus limiting recruitment from marine species. Ten benthic macroinvertebrates species were collected, representing mainly polychaetes, molluscs and crustaceans. The low number of species was likely caused by the hypoxia present throughout most of the bottom waters. Although these data represent a benchmark against which future changes can be detected, it is recommended that additional sampling is conducted when water levels are lower and the bar has been open to provide a more holistic assessment of the fauna of Hill Inlet.