Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin's gland is easily misdiagnosed: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) often occurs in the major and minor salivary glands and other sites containing secretory glands, while ACC of the Bartholin's gland (BG-ACC) in the vulva is rare and easily misdiagnosed. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 58-year-old female was referred to our hospital for further valuation of a mass occurring on the left side of her vulva. In the other hospital, the beginning of the period, local ultrasound showed a vulva mass, which was suspected to be a Bartholin's gland cyst. Mixed neoplasms were considered in some biopsies. When transferred to our hospital, virtuous tumors were considered by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Pathology initially considered benign hyperplastic active tumor or borderline tumor. DIAGNOSES: Histological, immunochemical, and molecular tests confirmed a diagnosis of BG-ACC, negative surgical margin, without lymphatic metastasis. INTERVENTIONS: Extended excision of the mass at left labia majora plus left inguinal lymph node dissection was performed. OUTCOMES: The patient received surgery therapy, no recurrence was observed during a 18-month follow-up period. LESSONS: Due to its lack of specific characteristics in clinical, ultrasound and imaging, it is easy to be misdiagnosed, Due to its rarity and nonspecific clinical, radiologic and ultrasonographic manifestations, BG-ACC can be easily misdiagnosed. And its pathomorphological features overlap with other benign and malignant tumors occurring at vulva, BG-ACC can be easily misdiagnosed, and diagnosis by puncture biopsy is extremely difficult. Use of paraffin sections to identify tumor growth characteristics, combined with immunohistochemical findings, is the key to the diagnosis of ACC. In rare sites, MYB gene split are helpful in making a definite diagnosis.

Wading bird guano contributes to Hg accumulation in tree island soils in the Florida Everglades.

Tree islands are habitat for wading birds and a characteristic landscape feature in the Everglades. A total of 93 surface soil and 3 soil core samples were collected from 7 degraded/ghost and 34 live tree islands. The mean Hg concentration in surface soils of ghost tree islands was low and similar to marsh soil. For live tree islands, Hg concentrations in the surface head region were considerably greater than those in mid and tail region, and marsh soils. Hg concentrations in bird guano (286 µg kg(-1)) were significantly higher than those in mammal droppings (105 µg kg(-1)) and plant leaves (53 µg kg(-1)). In addition, Hg concentrations and δ(15)N values displayed positive correlation in soils influenced by guano. During 1998-2010, estimated annual Hg deposition by guano was 148 µg m(-2) yr(-1) and ~8 times the atmospheric deposition.

Ionic strength reduction and flow interruption enhanced colloid-facilitated Hg transport in contaminated soils.

The effects of ionic strength (IS) reduction (5-0.05mM) and flow interruption (FI, flow stopped for 7d) on colloid and Hg release in the leachate were examined in column experiment. Two Hg contaminated soils (13.9 and 146mg/kg) were used, with Hg concentrations in colloids being 2-4 times greater than bulk soils. Based on sequential extraction, Hg concentrations in organic matter (OM) fraction were the most abundant in soils (31-48%). Column leaching after IS reduction and FI released large amounts of colloidal Hg, accounting for 44-48% of released Hg. The highest colloidal Hg concentrations at 27.8 and 360µg/L were observed at ∼1 pore volume after FI. Concentration distribution of colloidal OM and colloidal Fe was similar to colloidal Hg in the leachate, showing peak concentrations after IS reduction and FI. Most of the released colloidal Hg was in OM fraction (37-53%), with some in Fe/Mn oxide fraction (11-19%). Based on composition of released colloids and Hg fractionation in soils and colloids, colloidal OM could serve as an important carrier for Hg transport in soils.

Mechanistic investigation of mercury sorption by Brazilian pepper biochars of different pyrolytic temperatures based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and flow calorimetry.

We investigated the mechanisms of Hg sorption onto biochars produced from Brazilian pepper (BP; Schinus terebinthifolius) at 300, 450, and 600 °C using different analytical techniques. The Hg sorption capacity of BP300, BP450, and BP600 was 24.2, 18.8, and 15.1 mg g(-1) based on Langmuir isotherm. FTIR data suggested the participation of phenolic hydroxyl and carboxylic groups in Hg sorption by biochars. XPS analysis showed that 23-31% and 77-69% of sorbed Hg was associated with carboxylic and phenolic hydroxyl groups in biochars BP300-450, whereas 91% of sorbed Hg was associated with a graphite-like domain on an aromatic structure in BP600 biochar, which were consistent with flow calorimetry data. Based on flow calorimetry, sorption of K and Ca onto biochar was exchangeable with the molar heat of sorption of 3.1 kJ mol(-1). By comparison, Hg sorption was via complexation with functional groups as it was not exchangeable by K or Ca with molar heat of sorption of -19.7, -18.3, and -25.4 kJ mol(-1) for BP300, BP450, and BP600. Our research suggested that Hg was irreversibly sorbed via complexation with phenolic hydroxyl and carboxylic groups in low temperature biochars (BP300 and BP450) and graphite-like structure in high temperature biochar (BP600).

Transport and interactions of kaolinite and mercury in saturated sand media.

To evaluate the potential of Hg release and co-transport by colloids, it is important to understand how Hg, colloids and Hg-loaded colloids migrate in soils. Hg sorption by kaolinite and sand were nonlinear and fit the Langmuir model, with the maximum Hg sorption capacity being 1.2mg/g kaolinite and 0.11 mg/g sand. Co-transport of Hg and kaolinite was evaluated using: (1) 1 or 100 mg/L Hg or 100mg/L kaolinite, (2) 1 or 100 mg/L Hg mixed with 100mg/L kaolinite, (3) 1 or 100 mg/L Hg presorbed onto kaolinite, and (4) 25 0mg/L kaolinite in Hg-loaded sand columns. The presence of kaolinite (100 mg/L) reduced Hg's mobility through sand column by increasing deposition rate of Hg-loaded kaolinite. At 100 mg/L Hg, soluble Hg dominated Hg transport; but at 1 mg/L Hg, colloidal Hg (Hg sorbed on kaolinite) affected Hg transport. Preloading 100 mg/L Hg onto kaolinite (0.43 mg/g) reduced kaolinite's mobility with low recovery rate (78%), with Hg retardation (R=1) in Hg-loaded kaolinite being lower than Hg retardation at 100 mg/L Hg (R=1.287). The Hg recovery rate (93%) from Hg-loaded kaolinite at 1mg/L Hg was higher compared to 22% from 1 mg/L Hg. Kaolinite can serve as a carrier to enhance Hg transport in porous media, with 250 mg/L kaolinite mobilizing ~2.4% Hg presorbed onto sand media. Correlation analysis revealed that desorbed Hg was significantly correlated with kaolinite (r=0.81, P<0.0001). Hence kaolinite enhanced Hg transport in the sand media serving both as a carrier (Hg was loaded before transport) and as mobile colloids stripping Hg off the sand media (Hg was loaded during transport).