Grain Entrapment Pressure on the Torso: Can You Breathe while Buried in Grain?

The pressure applied to the chest and back of a simulated grain entrapment victim was measured. Pressure sensors were attached to the chest and back of a manikin that was buried in grain in the vertical position. Measurements were made in four grain types at four grain depths ranging from the top of the manikin's shoulders to 0.61 m (24 in.) over the head. The pressure ranged from 1.6 to 4.0 kPa (0.23 to 0.57 psi). Based on available physiological information, this amount of pressure is unlikely to limit the respiration of an otherwise healthy adult male victim. However, other factors, such as the victim's age, gender, and body position in the grain, may influence respiration. The aspiration of grain appears to be the most likely asphyxiation risk during grain bin entrapment. Entering a grain storage bin is inherently dangerous, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for permit-required confined spaces and grain handling facilities must be followed. Due to the risk of grain aspiration during engulfment, the development of safety equipment that could help protect the airway of a victim should be investigated.

Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma is an entity that is immunohistochemically and genetically distinct from papillary renal cell carcinoma.

AIMS: Some studies have suggested that tubulocystic carcinoma may be related to papillary renal cell carcinoma. We sought to compare and contrast the molecular and immunohistochemical profiles of tubulocystic carcinoma with those of papillary renal cell carcinoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve cases of pure tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma were subjected to fluorescence in-situ hybridization assessment of chromosomal number for chromosomes 7 and 17, and for TFE3 translocation. Immunohistochemical labelling for AMACR, p63, cytokeratin 7, PAX8, cytokeratin 20 and carbonic anhydrase IX was assessed in all tumours. No tumour showed gains of chromosomes 7 or 17, or TFE3 translocation by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. Immunohistochemistry revealed all tumours to be non-reactive with antibodies against p63 and cytokeratin 20. Conversely, the antibody against AMACR gave a positive reaction in the neoplastic cells of all tumours. Four tumours showed focal labelling with antibody against carbonic anhydrase IX, and five tumours showed focally positive reactions with antibody against cytokeratin 7. Recurrence and metastatic disease were not found for the patients with available follow-up information. CONCLUSIONS: Pure tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma is an indolent tumour with a good prognosis. Our data support the distinction of this neoplasm as a separate entity.

Basal cell carcinoma of the prostate is an aggressive tumor with frequent loss of PTEN expression and overexpression of EGFR.

Basal cell carcinoma (also referred to as adenoid cystic carcinoma) is a rare tumor of the prostate. Although largely characterized as indolent, poor outcomes have been reported in a considerable fraction of cases. As yet, optimum treatment strategies for this cancer have not been developed. This study investigates protein expression of common or potential molecular therapeutic targets and reports on the clinicopathological features of 9 new cases. We evaluated the expression of ERBB2, KIT, androgen receptor, PTEN, EGFR, ERG, and p53 via immunohistochemistry. We also examined EGFR amplification and TMPRSS2-ERG gene rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The mean clinical follow-up was 44 months. We found that basal cell carcinoma behaved aggressively with almost one-half of the cases displaying high-risk pathologic features or local recurrence (44%). One patient died as a result of metastatic disease. The most consistent abnormalities included a loss of PTEN expression (56% of cases) and EGFR overexpression (67% of cases). EGFR overexpression occurred in the absence of gene amplification. The TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangement was not detected in any of the tumors studied, nor was ERG protein positivity identified by immunostaining. In addition, ERBB2, KIT, p53, and androgen receptor expressions were either absent or showed only weak, limited reactivity. Our results suggest that there is a high morbidity associated with this tumor, and more intense follow-up and additional treatment may be indicated. Furthermore, targeted therapies directed against the EGFR and PTEN proteins or their constitutive pathways may be promising for future clinical management.

Effect of preprocessing and compressed propane extraction on quality of cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.).

Dehydration leads to quality defects in cilantro such as loss in structure, color, aroma and flavor. Solvent extraction with compressed propane may improve the dehydrated quality. In the present study, effect of drying temperature, particle size, and propane extraction on color, volatile composition, and fatty acid composition of cilantro was evaluated. Cilantro was dehydrated (40°C or 60°C), size reduced and separated into three particles sizes, and extracted with compressed propane at 21-27°C. Major volatile compounds found in dried cilantro were E-2-tetradecenal, dodecanal, E-2-dodecenal, and tetradecanal. Major fatty acids were linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid. Drying at 60°C compared to 40°C resulted in better preservation of color (decrease in browning index values) and volatile compounds. Propane extraction led to a positive change in color values and a decrease in volatile composition, oil content, and fatty acid composition.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the urinary bladder: the role of immunoglobulin G4 and the comparison of two immunohistochemical antibodies and fluorescence in-situ hybridization for the detection of anaplastic lymphoma kinase alterations.

AIMS: We examined gene rearrangement and the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in urinary bladder inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and two immunohistochemical antibodies to ALK. We also investigated whether IMT represents an immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: The performance of the Dako FLEX ALK monoclonal antibody (CD246) and the Cell Signaling Technology ALK (D5F3) XP monoclonal antibody were compared. Overall, 11 of 16 tumours showed ALK expression by immunohistochemistry (69%). Ten demonstrated ALK expression with both stains and one was positive with D5F3 but not CD246 (91% correlation). The D5F3 antibody yielded a stronger staining intensity and a higher sensitivity. Nine tumours demonstrated ALK rearrangements (56%) by FISH. Three were ALK(+) by immunohistochemistry but negative for rearrangement by FISH, whereas one showed rearrangement by FISH but was negative by immunohistochemistry. In total, 12 tumours were positive for ALK abnormalities (75%). Using current criteria, no cases were classified as an IgG4-related disease. CONCLUSIONS: The ALK D5F3 immunohistochemical stain showed superior staining characteristics compared with ALK CD246. Discrepancies in the results between FISH and immunohistochemistry for ALK abnormalities may have causes that are multifactorial. By current criteria, IMT does not represent an IgG4-related disease.

The expression patterns of p53 and p16 and an analysis of a possible role of HPV in primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder.

BACKGROUND: Primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder is rare. The molecular and cellular events leading to its pathogenesis are not well delineated. The goal of this study was to investigate p53 and p16 expression, as well as HPV status, in a relatively large series of primary bladder adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty six cases of urinary bladder adenocarcinoma were chosen from participating institutions. The diagnosis and available clinical history were reviewed in each case. Immunostains for p53, p16 and HPV and high-risk and low-risk HPV-ISH were performed on all tumors. RESULTS: Patients had an average age of 61 years with a male predominance (1.5 ∶ 1 male ∶ female ratio). The average tumor size in cystectomy specimens was 4.3 cm. Of the cases managed by transurethral resection, 40% were pT2 at the time of diagnosis. In cystectomy specimens, 77% were either pT3 or pT4. Strong nuclear p16 expression was seen in 67% of all cases and p53 expression was present in 58% of the cases. Expression of both markers was seen in 33% of cases. Expression of p16 or p53 alone was present in 12 (33%) and 9 (25%) cases, respectively. Neither marker was expressed in only 3 (8%) of the tumors. No significant correlation between clinical variables and any of the markers we studied was identified. No HPV infection was detected in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of p53 and/or p16 is very common in urinary bladder adenocarcinoma. These findings implicate a high likelihood that alterations in these cell cycle proteins contribute to the pathogenesis of these tumors. Despite frequent immunohistochemical labeling for p16, no evidence of HPV infection was found.

Scenario optimization modeling approach for design and management of biomass-to-biorefinery supply chain system.

The aim of this study was to develop a scenario optimization model to address weather uncertainty in the Biomass Supply Chain (BSC). The modeling objective was to minimize the cost of biomass supply to biorefineries over a one-year planning period using monthly time intervals under different weather scenarios. The model is capable of making strategic, tactical and operational decisions related to BSC system. The performance of the model was demonstrated through a case study developed for Abengoa biorefinery in Kansas. Sensitivity analysis was done to demonstrate the effect of input uncertainty in yield, land rent and storage dry matter loss on the model outputs. The model results show that available harvest work hours influence major cost-related decisions in the BSC.

Effects of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin on thermochemical conversion characteristics of the selected biomass.

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of biomass constituents (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) on biomass thermal decomposition and gas evolution profiles of four biomass materials. Switchgrass, wheat straw, eastern redcedar and dry distilled grains with solubles (DDGS) were selected as the biomass materials. No significant difference was observed in the weight loss profiles of switchgrass, wheat straw and eastern redcedar even though their cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents were considerably different. The weight loss kinetic parameters were also not significantly different except for activation energy of the eastern redcedar. However, biomass composition did significantly affect gas evolution profiles. The higher contents of cellulose and hemicellulose in switchgrass and wheat straw may have resulted in their higher CO and CO(2) concentrations as compared to eastern redcedar. On the other hand, higher lignin content in eastern redcedar may have resulted in significantly its high CH(4) concentration.

Analysis of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signal transduction pathway.

Analysis of the Ah Receptor Signal Transduction Pathway (Michael S. Denison, Jane M. Rohers, S. Renee Rushing. Carol L. Jones, Selwyna C. Tetangico, and Sharon Heath-Pagliuso, University of California, Davis, California).The protocols in this unit will allow researchers to detect the Ah receptor and characterize its functional activities (i.e., ligand binding, transformation and DNA binding, and gene expression) in their biological test system and to use these methods to detect chemical and biochemical events that affect this signaling system.