[Clinical and pathological characteristics and surgical treatment of carotid body tumor with endocrine activity].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics and surgical treatment of carotid body tumor with endocrine activity (CBT). METHODS: Records of seven CBT patients with endocrine activity (Jan, 1991-Aug, 2011) who underwent surgical excision of tumor were retrospectively reviewed. The operations were performed with the careful peroperative preparation on the control of blood pressure, serum potassium and catecholamine. All the tumors were studied with the methods of HE staining, immunohistochemistry of chromogranin A (CgA) and S-100. RESULTS: All the operations were successfully accomplished and the patients recovered quickly. It was confirmed with pathological examination that all the tumors were CBT, coming from paraganglioma. Tumor cells and sertoli cells were found in HE staining, and all were positive of CgA and S-100. All patients were followed up for 12-60 months and no recurrence was found during the follow up. CONCLUSION: CBT with endocrine activity presents with identifiable clinical and pathological characteristics. The recommended treatment is surgical resection, careful perioperative preparation and care is important to avoid the severe complication due to the endocrine activity of tumor.

The complete chloroplast genome of Rhododendron datiandingense (Ericaceae).

Rhododendron datiandingense is newly reported and endemic to China. The genome of R. datiandingense is 207,311 bp in length, including a large single-copy region of 190,689 bp and a small single-copy region of 2582 bp, a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRA) of 7020 bp each. The genome encodes 110 genes, comprising 77 protein-coding genes, four ribosomal RNA genes, and 29 transfer RNA genes. Repeat analysis revealed 62 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that R. datiandingense is clearly separated from the other Rhododendron species and shown in the basal position.