Sample records for occult primary squamous

  1. General Information about Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary

    MedlinePlus

    ... Occult Primary Treatment (Adult) (PDQ®)–Patient Version General Information About Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary ... the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board . Clinical Trial Information A clinical trial is a study to answer ...

  2. Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary Treatment (PDQ®)—Health Professional Version

    Cancer.gov

    Metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy or a combination of both. Get detailed information about newly diagnosed or recurrent metastatic squamous neck cancer in this summary for clinicians.

  3. Detection of occult endocervical glandular dysplasia in cervical conization specimens for squamous lesions.

    PubMed

    Sopracordevole, F; Clemente, N; Alessandrini, L; Di Giuseppe, J; Cigolot, F; Buttignol, M; Ciavattini, A; Canzonieri, V

    2017-03-01

    The aim of this work was to evaluate the incidence of occult cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (CGIN) and adenocarcinoma of the cervix (AC) in women treated with CO2-laser conization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or squamocellular cervical cancer (SCC). The medical records of all women with a histological diagnosis of squamous lesions of the uterine cervix (persistent CIN1, CIN2, CIN3 and SCC) who were subsequently treated with CO2-laser conization at our institution, during the period from January 1991 to December 2014, were analyzed in a retrospective case series. Among the 1004 women fulfilling the study inclusion/exclusion criteria, 77 cases (7.7%) of occult glandular lesions (CGIN and AC) were detected on the final cone specimen (48 cases of occult low-grade cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (LCGIN), 25 cases of occult high-grade cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia (HCGIN), and four cases of occult "usual-type" AC). No difference in the mean age between women diagnosed with occult glandular lesions and women without occult glandular lesions on the final specimen emerged (39.1±9.3 vs 38.4±9.4, p=0.5). In women with occult LCGIN on cone specimen, mean follow-up of 48 months was reported (range 7-206 months) and no cases of progression to HCGIN or AC were observed. In conclusion, a relatively high rate of occult glandular lesions was found in women treated for squamous lesions. The natural history of CGIN is still uncertain and, in particular, there are some controversies as to whether LCGIN is a precursor lesion of HCGIN or AC. In this context the role of pathologists become very important since the appropriate diagnosis of these lesions could have potential implications in the clinical management of these patients. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  4. Prediction of occult lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and the oropharynx using peritumoral Prospero homeobox protein 1 lymphatic nuclear quantification.

    PubMed

    Mermod, Maxime; Bongiovanni, Massimo; Petrova, Tatiana V; Dubikovskaya, Elena A; Simon, Christian; Tolstonog, Genrich; Monnier, Yan

    2016-09-01

    The use of lymphatic vessel density as a predictor of occult lymph node metastasis (OLNM) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has never been reported. Staining of the specific lymphatic endothelial cells nuclear marker, PROX1, as an indicator of lymphatic vessel density was determined by counting the number of positive cells in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the oral cavity and the oropharynx with clinically negative necks. Correlation with histopathological data was established. Peritumoral PROX1 lymphatic nuclear count significantly correlated with the detection of OLNM in multivariate analysis (p < .005). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of this parameter was 60%, 95%, 85%, and 90%, respectively. Peritumoral PROX1 lymphatic nuclear count in primary SCCs of the oral cavity and the oropharynx allows accurate prediction of occult lymph node metastasis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1407-1415, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Tumor budding as a novel predictor of occult metastasis in cT2N0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Sakata, Junki; Yamana, Keisuke; Yoshida, Ryoji; Matsuoka, Yuichiro; Kawahara, Kenta; Arita, Hidetaka; Nakashima, Hikaru; Nagata, Masashi; Hirosue, Akiyuki; Kawaguchi, Sho; Gohara, Shunsuke; Nagao, Yuka; Hiraki, Akimitsu; Shinohara, Masanori; Toya, Ryo; Murakami, Ryuji; Nakayama, Hideki

    2018-06-01

    Occult neck metastasis is an important prognostic factor in patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) who are deemed clinically negative for neck metastasis. The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors for occult neck metastasis arising from TSCC and to determine patient prognosis. Ninety-seven patients with cT2N0 TSCC who underwent surgical resection of their primary lesion as initial therapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Cutoff values for depth of invasion (≥3.3 mm) and the tumor budding score (≥4) were determined using receiver operator characteristic analyses. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that a tumor budding score ≥4 is a significant independent predictive factor for the occurrence of occult neck metastasis, which in turn is a significant independent prognostic factor. When evaluating tumor budding, we demonstrated greater interobserver and intraobserver agreement when using immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 than with hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE). We conclude that the evaluation of tumor budding is effective for identifying populations at high risk of occult neck metastasis, which will enable the planning of appropriate therapeutic strategies for patients with cT2N0 TSCC. Furthermore, cytokeratin staining is recommended over HE staining for simpler and more accurate evaluation of tumor budding. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Sunitinib, Cetuximab, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-07-01

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IV Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Tongue Cancer; Untreated Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary

  7. Histopathological Parameters predicting Occult Nodal Metastases in Tongue Carcinoma Cases: An Indian Perspective.

    PubMed

    Jacob, Tina Elizabeth; Malathi, N; Rajan, Sharada T; Augustine, Dominic; Manish, N; Patil, Shankargouda

    2016-01-01

    It is a well-established fact that in squamous cell carcinoma cases, the presence of lymph node metastases decreased the 5-year survival rate by 50% and also caused the recurrence of the primary tumor with development of distant metastases. Till date, the predictive factors for occult cervical lymph nodes metastases in cases of tongue squamous cell carcinoma remain inconclusive. Therefore, it is imperative to identify patients who are at the greatest risk for occult cervical metastases. This study was thus performed with the aim to identify various histopathologic parameters of the primary tumor that predict occult nodal metastases. The clinicopathologic features of 56 cases of lateral tongue squamous cell carcinoma with cT1NoMo/cT2NoMo as the stage and without prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy were considered. The surgical excision of primary tumor was followed by elective neck dissection. The glossectomy specimen along with the neck nodes were fixed in formalin and 5 urn thick sections were obtained. The hematoxylin & eosin stained sections were then subjected to microscopic examination. The primary tumor characteristics that were analyzed include tumor grade, invading front, depth of tumor, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion and inflammatory response. The nodes were examined for possible metastases using hematoxylin & eosin followed by cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. A total of 12 cases were found with positive occult nodal metastases. On performing univariate analysis, the histopathologic parameters that were found to be statistically significant were lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.004) and perineural invasion (p = 0.003) along with a cut-off depth of infiltration more than 5 mm (p = 0.01). Histopathologic assessment of the primary tumor specimen therefore continues to provide information that is central to guide clinical management, particularly in cases of occult nodal metastases. Clinical significance The study highlights the importance of

  8. The clinical significance of occult gynecologic primary tumours in metastatic cancer.

    PubMed

    Hannouf, M B; Winquist, E; Mahmud, S M; Brackstone, M; Sarma, S; Rodrigues, G; Rogan, P K; Hoch, J S; Zaric, G S

    2017-10-01

    We estimated the frequency of occult gynecologic primary tumours (gpts) in patients with metastatic cancer from an uncertain primary and evaluated the effect on disease management and overall survival (os). We used Manitoba administrative health databases to identify all patients initially diagnosed with metastatic cancer during 2002-2011. We defined patients as having an "occult" primary tumour if the primary was classified at least 6 months after the initial diagnosis. Otherwise, we considered patients to have "obvious" primaries. We then compared clinicopathologic and treatment characteristics and 2-year os for women with occult and with obvious gpts. We used Cox regression adjustment and propensity score methods to assess the effect on os of having an occult gpt. Among the 5953 patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer, occult primary tumours were more common in women ( n = 285 of 2552, 11.2%) than in men ( n = 244 of 3401, 7.2%). In women, gpts were the most frequent occult primary tumours ( n = 55 of 285, 19.3%). Compared with their counterparts having obvious gpts, women with occult gpts ( n = 55) presented with similar histologic and metastatic patterns but received fewer gynecologic diagnostic examinations during diagnostic work-up. Women with occult gpts were less likely to undergo surgery, waited longer for radiotherapy, and received a lesser variety of chemotherapeutic agents. Having an occult compared with an obvious gpt was associated with decreased os (hazard ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 2.35). Similar results were observed in adjusted analyses. In women with metastatic cancer from an uncertain primary, gpts constitute the largest clinical entity. Accurate diagnosis of occult gpts early in the course of metastatic cancer might lead to more effective treatment decisions and improved survival outcomes.

  9. Prognostic significance of extranodal extension in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cN0 patients with occult metastatic neck nodes.

    PubMed

    Lop, Joan; Rigó, Antoni; Codina, Alberto; de Juan, Julia; Quer, Miquel; León, Xavier

    Extranodal extension in nodal metastases is an independent adverse prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. However, few studies specifically address the subgroup of patients with no clinical evidence of nodal disease. We retrospectively analysed data from 348 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients without any previous treatment and lacking clinical or radiological evidence of neck node metastases during the initial workup, treated with an elective neck dissection between 1992-2014. The incidence of occult metastatic neck nodes with extranodal extension and the impact of extranodal extension in survival were evaluated. The proportion of patients with occult neck node metastases was 33%. Of these, 23.5% had at least one metastatic neck node with extranodal extension. There were significant differences in the disease-specific survival rate according to neck node status. Five-year disease-specific survival for patients without histopathological metastases was 90%, for patients with occult neck node metastases without extranodal extension it was 71.2%, and for patients with occult neck node metastases with extranodal extension it was 25.9% (P=.0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of occult node metastases with extranodal extension was the factor with strongest impact on survival. The inclusion of the extranodal extension as a criterion of histopathological evaluation in the 8th TNM classification edition improves the prognostic capacity compared to previous TNM editions. Appearance of metastatic neck nodes with extranodal extension is an adverse prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients without clinical evidence of regional disease during the initial workup of the tumour. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello. All rights reserved.

  10. The clinical significance of occult gynecologic primary tumours in metastatic cancer

    PubMed Central

    Hannouf, M.B.; Winquist, E.; Mahmud, S.M.; Brackstone, M.; Sarma, S.; Rodrigues, G.; Rogan, P.K.; Hoch, J.S.; Zaric, G.S.

    2017-01-01

    Objective We estimated the frequency of occult gynecologic primary tumours (gpts) in patients with metastatic cancer from an uncertain primary and evaluated the effect on disease management and overall survival (os). Methods We used Manitoba administrative health databases to identify all patients initially diagnosed with metastatic cancer during 2002–2011. We defined patients as having an “occult” primary tumour if the primary was classified at least 6 months after the initial diagnosis. Otherwise, we considered patients to have “obvious” primaries. We then compared clinicopathologic and treatment characteristics and 2-year os for women with occult and with obvious gpts. We used Cox regression adjustment and propensity score methods to assess the effect on os of having an occult gpt. Results Among the 5953 patients diagnosed with metastatic cancer, occult primary tumours were more common in women (n = 285 of 2552, 11.2%) than in men (n = 244 of 3401, 7.2%). In women, gpts were the most frequent occult primary tumours (n = 55 of 285, 19.3%). Compared with their counterparts having obvious gpts, women with occult gpts (n = 55) presented with similar histologic and metastatic patterns but received fewer gynecologic diagnostic examinations during diagnostic work-up. Women with occult gpts were less likely to undergo surgery, waited longer for radiotherapy, and received a lesser variety of chemotherapeutic agents. Having an occult compared with an obvious gpt was associated with decreased os (hazard ratio: 1.62; 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 2.35). Similar results were observed in adjusted analyses. Conclusions In women with metastatic cancer from an uncertain primary, gpts constitute the largest clinical entity. Accurate diagnosis of occult gpts early in the course of metastatic cancer might lead to more effective treatment decisions and improved survival outcomes. PMID:29089807

  11. Sorafenib Tosylate, Cisplatin, and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-22

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IVA Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Tongue Cancer; Untreated Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary

  12. Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-19

    Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Neck With Occult Primary; Recurrent Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastatic in the Neck With Occult Primary; Stage IV Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IV Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVA Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVA Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVA Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVB Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVB Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVB Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVC Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVC Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVC Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Tongue Carcinoma; Untreated Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Neck With Occult Primary

  13. Occult urolithiasis in asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism.

    PubMed

    Tay, Yu-Kwang Donovan; Liu, Minghao; Bandeira, Leonardo; Bucovsky, Mariana; Lee, James A; Silverberg, Shonni J; Walker, Marcella D

    2018-05-01

    Recent international guidelines suggest renal imaging to detect occult urolithiasis in all patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), but data regarding their prevalence and associated risk factors are limited. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for occult urolithiasis. Cross-sectional analysis of 96 asymptomatic PHPT patients from a university hospital in the United States with and without occult nephrolithiasis. Occult urolithiasis was identified in 21% of patients. Stone formers had 47% higher 24-hour urinary calcium excretion (p = 0.002). Although available in only a subset of patients (n = 28), activated vitamin D [1,25(OH) 2 D] was 29% higher (p = 0.02) in stone formers. There was no difference in demographics, BMI, calcium or vitamin D intake, other biochemistries, renal function, BMD, or fractures. Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that urinary calcium excretion and 1,25(OH) 2 D had an area under the curve of 0.724 (p = 0.003) and 0.750 (p = 0.04), respectively. A urinary calcium threshold of >211mg/day provided a sensitivity of 84.2% and a specificity of 55.3% while a 1,25(OH) 2 D threshold of >91pg/mL provided a sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% and 90.0% respectively for the presence of stones. Occult urolithiasis is present in about one-fifth of patients with asymptomatic PHPT and is associated with higher urinary calcium and 1,25(OH) 2 D. Given that most patients will not have occult urolithiasis, targeted imaging in those most likely to have occult stones rather than screening all asymptomatic PHPT patients may be useful. The higher sensitivity of urinary calcium versus 1,25(OH) 2 D suggests screening those with higher urinary calcium may be an appropriate approach.

  14. The role of human papilloma virus and p16 in occult primary of the head and neck: a comprehensive review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Fotopoulos, George; Pavlidis, Nicholas

    2015-02-01

    Cancer of unknown primary of the head and neck is a challenging entity for the oncologist. The role of human papilloma virus/p16 in carcinogenesis and in prognosis is well established in certain HNSCC especially in that of the oropharynx. In the case of occult primary of the head and neck the role of HPV/p16 positivity is not well defined regarding prognosis and localization of the primary. An independent review of PubMed and ScienceDirect database was performed up to May 2014 using combinations of terms such as "occult primary of the head and neck", "CUP of the head and neck" "metastatic cervical squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary", "HPV" and "HPV and head and neck cancer". Literature review shows a strong association between HPV/p16 positivity and primary location in the oropharynx in patients with CUP of the head and neck as well as a better clinical outcome. HPV positivity and p16 overexpression could be used as surrogate markers in the search of the primary site of patients with CUP of the head and neck therefore maybe guiding treatment decisions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Preoperative predictors of occult nodal disease in cT1N0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Review of 2623 cases.

    PubMed

    Zhan, Kevin Y; Morgan, Patrick F; Neskey, David M; Kim, Joanne J; Huang, Andrew T; Garrett-Mayer, Elizabeth; Day, Terry A

    2018-05-14

    Nodal disease predicts survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Currently, no large studies on predictors of occult nodal disease in cT1N0 oral cavity SCC exist. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) review for cT1N0 oral cavity SCC with surgical resection and elective neck dissection (END). The number of patients found with occult nodal disease was 2623 (15.1%). In multivariable regression, female sex and tumor differentiation predict occult nodal disease. Occult nodal disease incidence was 5.9% in well-differentiated tumors, 17.4% in moderately differentiated tumors, and 28.5% in poorly differentiated tumor (P < .001). Women with oral tongue tumors had higher occult nodal disease (19.1%) than men (12%; P = .001). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for occult nodal disease in women were: aOR 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.59; P = .045; moderately differentiated aOR 3.52; 95% CI 2.47-5.01; P < .001; and poorly differentiated aOR 6.25; 95% CI 4.17-9.38; P < .001. Sex and tumor differentiation significantly predict occult nodal disease. END is recommended for all moderately and poorly differentiated cT1N0 oral cavity SCC, regardless of the depth of invasion. One can consider not performing END in well-differentiated tumors. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. [Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Hyperthyroidism Complicated with Occult Thyroid Carcinoma].

    PubMed

    Wu, Xin; Yu, Jian-chun; Kang, Wei-ming; Ma, Zhi-qiang; Ye, Xin

    2015-08-01

    To evaluate the surgical diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma. Data of 51 cases of primary hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma admitted during January 2004 to November 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence of occult thyroid carcinoma was 5.03% in hyperthyroidism,and 47 cases (92.16%) were female. The preoperative diagnosis of all these 51 cases was primary hyperthyroidism and 11 cases were diagnosed thyroid carcinoma at the same time;25 cases were diagnosed thyroid carcinoma by frozen section and the remaining 26 cases were diagnosed by postoperative pathology. Finally,26 cases underwent subtotal thyroidectomy,4 cases underwent total thyroidectomy, and 21 cases underwent total thyroidectomy with lymphadenectomy. The tumor size ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 cm [mean:(0.63 ± 0.35) cm]. The lesions were less than or equal to 0.5 cm in 28 cases (54.9%). The follow-up lasted from 1 to 121 months [mean:(28.6 ± 22.7)months] in 43 patients,and all of them survived. Primary hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma is commonly found in female patients. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Ultrasound is the major examining method. Frozen section can increase the detection rate. The postoperative prognosis of hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma is satisfactory.

  17. The Clinical Significance of Occult Gastrointestinal Primary Tumours in Metastatic Cancer: A Population Retrospective Cohort Study.

    PubMed

    Hannouf, Malek B; Winquist, Eric; Mahmud, Salaheddin M; Brackstone, Muriel; Sarma, Sisira; Rodrigues, George; Rogan, Peter K; Hoch, Jeffrey S; Zaric, Gregory S

    2018-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of occult gastrointestinal (GI) primary tumours in patients with metastatic cancer of uncertain primary origin and evaluate their influence on treatments and overall survival (OS). We used population heath data from Manitoba, Canada to identify all patients initially diagnosed with metastatic cancer between 2002 and 2011. We defined patients to have "occult" primary tumour if the primary was found at least 6 months after initial diagnosis. Otherwise, we considered primary tumours as "obvious." We used propensity-score methods to match each patient with occult GI tumour to four patients with obvious GI tumour on all known clinicopathologic features. We compared treatments and 2-year survival data between the two patient groups and assessed treatment effect on OS using Cox regression adjustment. Eighty-three patients had occult GI primary tumours, accounting for 17.6% of men and 14% of women with metastatic cancer of uncertain primary. A 1:4 matching created a matched group of 332 patients with obvious GI primary tumour. Occult cases compared to the matched group were less likely to receive surgical interventions and targeted biological therapy, and more likely to receive cytotoxic empiric chemotherapeutic agents. Having an occult GI tumour was associated with reduced OS and appeared to be a nonsignificant independent predictor of OS when adjusting for treatment differences. GI tumours are the most common occult primary tumours in men and the second most common in women. Patients with occult GI primary tumours are potentially being undertreated with available GI site-specific and targeted therapies.

  18. Periprosthetic Occult Fractures of the Acetabulum Occur Frequently During Primary THA.

    PubMed

    Hasegawa, Kazuhiro; Kabata, Tamon; Kajino, Yoshitomo; Inoue, Daisuke; Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki

    2017-02-01

    Periprosthetic fractures of the acetabulum occurring during primary THA are rare. Periprosthetic occult fractures are defined as those not identified by the surgeon during the procedure which might be missed on a routine postoperative radiograph. However, it is unclear how frequently these fractures occur and whether their presence affects functional recovery. In this study, using routine CT scans that were obtained as part of another primary hip arthroplasty study protocol, we retrospectively assessed (1) the prevalence of occult fractures of the acetabulum occurring during primary THA, (2) the location of occult fractures of the acetabulum during THA, and (3) risk factors contributing to such occult fractures. Between 2004 and 2013, our institute performed 585 primary THAs (cementless or hybrid) in 494 patients with DICOM pre- and postoperative CT; during the period in question, all patients undergoing THA underwent CT before and after surgery. Preoperative CT images were taken as part of a CT-based three-dimensional templating software and navigation system. Postoperative CT images were taken an average of 1 week after surgery as part of a different protocol to evaluate cup position, restoration of leg length and offset, volume of postoperative hematoma to assess anticoagulation effects after THA, and fractures that were not found on routine postoperative radiographs (which we defined as occult fractures). Patients with a history of prior pelvic osteotomy, trauma, and infection were excluded (88 patients/99 hips); 406 patients (102 males and 304 females; 486 hips) form the basis of this report. The mean age of the patients was 60 ± 11 years, with a mean BMI of 23 ± 4 kg/m 2 . The mean followup of the patients with periprosthetic fracture of the acetabulum was 58 ± 28 months (range, 12-131 months). Potential risk factors for occult acetabular fracture including age, sex, BMI, preoperative diagnosis, additional dome screw fixation, composition and size of each

  19. Histogram Analysis of Apparent Diffusion Coefficients for Occult Tonsil Cancer in Patients with Cervical Nodal Metastasis from an Unknown Primary Site at Presentation.

    PubMed

    Choi, Young Jun; Lee, Jeong Hyun; Kim, Hye Ok; Kim, Dae Yoon; Yoon, Ra Gyoung; Cho, So Hyun; Koh, Myeong Ju; Kim, Namkug; Kim, Sang Yoon; Baek, Jung Hwan

    2016-01-01

    To explore the added value of histogram analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values over magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and fluorine 18 ((18)F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) for the detection of occult palatine tonsil squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients with cervical nodal metastasis from a cancer of an unknown primary site. The institutional review board approved this retrospective study, and the requirement for informed consent was waived. Differences in the bimodal histogram parameters of the ADC values were assessed among occult palatine tonsil SCC (n = 19), overt palatine tonsil SCC (n = 20), and normal palatine tonsils (n = 20). One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze differences among the three groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the best differentiating parameters. The increased sensitivity of histogram analysis over MR imaging and (18)F-FDG PET/CT for the detection of occult palatine tonsil SCC was evaluated as added value. Histogram analysis showed statistically significant differences in the mean, standard deviation, and 50th and 90th percentile ADC values among the three groups (P < .0045). Occult palatine tonsil SCC had a significantly higher standard deviation for the overall curves, mean and standard deviation of the higher curves, and 90th percentile ADC value, compared with normal palatine tonsils (P < .0167). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the standard deviation of the overall curve best delineated occult palatine tonsil SCC from normal palatine tonsils, with a sensitivity of 78.9% (15 of 19 patients) and a specificity of 60% (12 of 20 patients). The added value of ADC histogram analysis was 52.6% over MR imaging alone and 15.8% over combined conventional MR imaging and (18)F-FDG PET/CT. Adding ADC histogram analysis to conventional MR imaging can improve the detection sensitivity for occult

  20. Talactoferrin in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2016-07-30

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IVA Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral

  1. [A retrospective analysis on occult neck lymphatic metastasis in early tongue cancer].

    PubMed

    Gong, Q L; Bian, C; Liu, H

    2016-10-07

    Objective: To investigate the number and level of occult neck lymphatic metastasis for squamous cell carcinoma of tongue in clinical stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ, and the relationship between cell differentiation and occult neck lymphatic metastasis. Methods: A total of 101 cases diagnosed preoperatively as having squamous cell carcinoma of tongue in clinical stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ (cT1/T2N0M0) between January 2005 and April 2015 were analysed retrospectively. Whether presence of occult neck lymphatic metastasis in these cases was studied. Results: Occult neck lymphatic metastases were found in 22 (21.78%) of 101 cases, 10 men and 12 women, with an age range of 22 to 83 years. There was not statistically significant association between tumor size or cell differentiation and occult neck lymphatic metastasis ( P >0.05). The metastasis occurred most commonly in level Ⅱ, followed by levelsⅠ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ. There was no lymph node metastasis in Level Ⅴ. There were total 20 cases with occult neck lymphatic metastasis in at least one of levelⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ(90.9%), One of these case was skipping metastasis in level Ⅲ(4.6%). Conclusion: The early tongue cancer has a high rate of occult lymph metastasis, which occurs commonly in levels Ⅱ, Ⅰ and Ⅲ, but there is not significant association between the metastasis and tumor size or cell differentiation.

  2. Occult Nodal Disease Prevalence and Distribution in Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer Requiring Salvage Laryngectomy.

    PubMed

    Birkeland, Andrew C; Rosko, Andrew J; Issa, Mohamad R; Shuman, Andrew G; Prince, Mark E; Wolf, Gregory T; Bradford, Carol R; McHugh, Jonathan B; Brenner, J Chad; Spector, Matthew E

    2016-03-01

    The indications for neck dissection concurrent with salvage laryngectomy in the clinically N0 setting remain unclear. Our goals were to determine the prevalence of occult nodal disease, analyze nodal disease distribution patterns, and identify predictors of occult nodal disease in a salvage laryngectomy cohort. Case series with planned data collection. Tertiary academic center. Patients with persistent or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) after radiation/chemoradiation failure undergoing salvage laryngectomy with neck dissection. We analyzed a single-institution retrospective case series of patients between 1997 and 2014 and identified those who had clinically N0 (cN0) necks (n = 203). Clinical and pathologic data, including nodal prevalence and distribution, were collected and statistical analyses performed. Overall, cN0 necks had histologically positive occult nodes in 17% (n = 35) of cases. Univariate predictors of occult nodal positivity included recurrent T4 stage (34% T4 vs 12% non-T4; P = .0003) and supraglottic subsite (28% supraglottic vs 10% nonsupraglottic; P = .0006). Histologically positive nodes associated with supraglottic primaries were most frequently positive in ipsilateral levels II and III (17% and 16%). Positive nodes for glottic LSCC were most frequently positive in the ipsilateral and contralateral paratracheal nodes (11% and 9%). Histologically positive occult nodes are identified in 17% of cN0 patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy with neck dissection. Occult nodal disease varies in frequency and distribution based on tumor subsite. Predictors of high (>20%) occult nodal positivity include T4 tumors and supraglottic subsite. In glottic LSCC, the most frequent sites of occult nodal disease are the paratracheal nodal basins. © American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2016.

  3. Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma of the mandible arising de novo.

    PubMed

    Shamim, Thorakkal

    2009-07-01

    Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma is an odontogenic tumour with aggressive behaviour usually noticed in 6th to 7th decades of life. The tumour is characterized by progressive swelling of the jaw, pain and loosening of teeth. Microscopically, the lesion is showing foci of keratinising cells separated by collagenous connective tissue stroma. A case of primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma of mandible arising de novo in a 40-year-old man is reported.

  4. Reflective Occultation Mask for Evaluation of Occulter Designs for Planet Finding

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hagopian, John; Lyon, Richard; Shiri, Shahram; Roman, Patrick

    2011-01-01

    Advanced formation flying occulter designs utilize a large occulter mask flying in formation with an imaging telescope to block and null starlight to allow imaging of faint planets in exosolar systems. A paper describes the utilization of subscale reflective occultation masks to evaluate formation flying occulter designs. The use of a reflective mask allows mounting of the occulter by conventional means and simplifies the test configuration. The innovation alters the test set-up to allow mounting of the mask using standard techniques to eliminate the problems associated with a standard configuration. The modified configuration uses a reflective set-up whereby the star simulator reflects off of a reflective occulting mask and into an evaluation telescope. Since the mask is sized to capture all rays required for the imaging test, it can be mounted directly to a supporting fixture without interfering with the beam. Functionally, the reflective occultation mask reflects light from the star simulator instead of transmitting it, with a highly absorptive carbon nanotube layer simulating the occulter blocking mask. A subscale telescope images the star source and companion dim source that represents a planet. The primary advantage of this is that the occulter can be mounted conventionally instead of using diffractive wires or magnetic levitation.

  5. Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid: A Population-Based Analysis.

    PubMed

    Au, Joshua K; Alonso, Jose; Kuan, Edward C; Arshi, Armin; St John, Maie A

    2017-07-01

    Objectives To analyze the epidemiology and describe the prognostic indicators of patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Study Design and Setting Retrospective cohort study based on a national database. Methods The US National Cancer Institute's SEER registry (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) was reviewed for patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid from 1973 to 2012. Study variables included age, sex, race, tumor size, tumor grade, regional and distant metastases, and treatment modality. Survival measures included overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results A total of 199 cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid were identified. Mean age at diagnosis was 68.1 years; 58.3% were female; and 79.4% were white. Following diagnosis, 46.3% of patients underwent surgery; 55.7%, radiation therapy; and 45.8%, surgery with radiation therapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated OS and DSS of 16% and 21% at 5 years, respectively. Median survival after diagnosis was 9.1 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that predictors of OS and DSS included age ( P < .001, P < .001, respectively), tumor grade ( P < .001, P = .001), and tumor size ( P < .001, P = .001). Surgical management was a predictor of OS but not DSS. Conclusion Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is a rare malignancy with a very poor prognosis. Surgical resection confers an overall survival benefit. Age, tumor grade, and tumor size are predictors of OS and DSS.

  6. Is there a role for neck dissection in T1 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma? The UCLA experience.

    PubMed

    Peng, Kevin A; Chu, Alan C; Lai, Chi; Grogan, Tristan; Elashoff, David; Abemayor, Elliot; St John, Maie A

    2014-01-01

    We sought to examine prognostic and therapeutic implications, including cost-effectiveness, of elective neck dissection in the management of patients with clinically-determined T1N0 oral tongue carcinoma. A retrospective review of patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgical extirpation of primary tumor, with or without elective neck dissection, at UCLA Medical Center from 1990 to 2009 was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess effects of variables on time to first loco-regional recurrence. A healthcare costs analysis of elective neck dissection was performed by querying the SEER-Medicare linked database. Of the 123 patients identified with cT1N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue, 88 underwent elective neck dissection at the time of tumor resection while 35 did not. For all patients, disease-free survival at 3, 5, and 10 years was 93%, 82%, and 79%. Of the 88 patients undergoing elective neck dissection, 20 (23%) demonstrated occult metastatic disease. Male gender, tumor size, perineural invasion, and occult metastatic disease were individually associated with higher rates of loco-regional recurrence. There was no significant difference in loco-regional recurrence between those who underwent elective neck dissection and those who did not (HR=0.76, p=0.52). On cost analysis, neck dissection was not associated with any significant difference in Medicare payments. The high rate of occult metastasis (23%) following elective neck dissection, which did not confer additional healthcare costs, leads to the recommendation of elective neck dissection in patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Primary Endometrial Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ: Report of a rare disease.

    PubMed

    Jetley, Sujata; Jairajpuri, Zeeba S; Hassan, Mohammad J; Madaan, Garima; Jain, Reena

    2015-11-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the endometrium, whether primary or secondary to cervical cancer, is a rare entity. Primary endometrial squamous cell carcinoma in situ is even more uncommon; it usually occurs in postmenopausal women and has a strong association with pyometra. We report a 60-year-old multiparous postmenopausal woman who presented to the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital, New Delhi, India, in May 2014 with a lower abdominal swelling corresponding in size to a pregnancy of 26 gestational weeks and vaginal discharge of one year's duration. A total abdominal hysterectomy with a bilateral salpingooophorectomy was performed, which revealed an enlarged uterus with pyometra. Histopathology showed that the entire endometrial lining had been replaced with malignant squamous cells without invasion of the myometrium. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumour cells were positive for p63 with a high Ki-67 labelling index. No adjuvant therapy was required and the patient was disease-free at a seven-month follow-up.

  8. Primary candidiasis and squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: report of a case.

    PubMed

    Lee, Dong Hoon; Cho, Hyong Ho

    2013-02-01

    Primary candidiasis is rare and often confused with a pre-cancerous lesion, squamous cell carcinoma, or verrucous carcinoma. We report an extremely rare case of squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cord following primary candidiasis. A 62-year-old man presented to our department reporting a 1-month history of hoarseness. He underwent laryngeal microscopic surgery for a presumptive diagnosis of glottic carcinoma. Histopathologic examination revealed candidiasis and scattered moderate dysplasia. He was treated with itraconazole for 4 weeks, and followed up without any recurrence of candidiasis. However, the 42-month follow-up examination revealed a focal whitish lesion on the right true vocal cord, and a repeat biopsy of this area revealed squamous cell carcinoma without evidence of candidiasis. The patient was treated with radiotherapy and remains well with no signs of tumor recurrence or candidiasis.

  9. Squamous cell carcinoma presenting with trigeminal anesthesia: An uncommon presentation of head & neck cancer with unknown primary.

    PubMed

    Shah, Ameer T; Dagher, Walid I; O'Leary, Miriam A; Wein, Richard O

    The differential diagnosis of facial anesthesia is vast. This may be secondary to trauma, neoplasm, both intracranial and extracranial, infection, and neurologic disease. When evaluating a patient with isolated facial anesthesia, the head and neck surgeon often thinks of adenoid cystic carcinoma, which has a propensity for perineural invasion and spread. When one thinks of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with or without unknown primary, the typical presentation involves dysphagia, odynophagia, weight loss, hoarseness, or more commonly, a neck mass. Squamous cell carcinoma presenting as facial anesthesia and perineural spread, with no primary site is quite rare. Case presentations and review of the literature. Trigeminal anesthesia is an uncommon presentation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with unknown primary. We present two interesting cases of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the trigeminal nerve, with no primary site identified. We will also review the literature of head and neck malignancies with perineural spread and the management techniques for the two different cases presented. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Amplification and protein overexpression of cyclin D1: Predictor of occult nodal metastasis in early oral cancer.

    PubMed

    Noorlag, Rob; Boeve, Koos; Witjes, Max J H; Koole, Ronald; Peeters, Ton L M; Schuuring, Ed; Willems, Stefan M; van Es, Robert J J

    2017-02-01

    Accurate nodal staging is pivotal for treatment planning in early (stage I-II) oral cancer. Unfortunately, current imaging modalities lack sensitivity to detect occult nodal metastases. Chromosomal region 11q13, including genes CCND1, Fas-associated death domain (FADD), and CTTN, is often amplified in oral cancer with nodal metastases. However, evidence in predicting occult nodal metastases is limited. In 158 patients with early tongue and floor of mouth (FOM) squamous cell carcinomas, both CCND1 amplification and cyclin D1, FADD, and cortactin protein expression were correlated with occult nodal metastases. CCND1 amplification and cyclin D1 expression correlated with occult nodal metastases. Cyclin D1 expression was validated in an independent multicenter cohort, confirming the correlation with occult nodal metastases in early FOM cancers. Cyclin D1 is a predictive biomarker for occult nodal metastases in early FOM cancers. Prospective research on biopsy material should confirm these results before implementing its use in routine clinical practice. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 326-333, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Are Mammographically Occult Additional Tumors Identified More Than 2 Cm Away From the Primary Breast Cancer on MRI Clinically Significant?

    PubMed

    Goodman, Sarah; Mango, Victoria; Friedlander, Lauren; Desperito, Elise; Wynn, Ralph; Ha, Richard

    2018-06-08

    To evaluate the clinical significance of mammographically occult additional tumors identified more than 2cm away from the primary breast cancer on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An Institutional Review Board approved review of consecutive preoperative breast MRIs performed from 1/1/08 to 12/31/14, yielded 667 patients with breast cancer. These patients underwent further assessment to identify biopsy proven mammographically occult breast tumors located more than 2cm away from the edge of the primary tumor. Additional MRI characteristics of the primary and secondary tumors and pathology were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (v. 24). Of 667 patients with breast cancer, 129 patients had 150 additional ipsilateral mammographically occult tumors that were more than 2cm away from the edge of the primary tumor. One hundred twelve of 129 (86.8%) patients had one additional tumor and 17/129 (13.2%) had two or more additional tumors. In 71/129 (55.0%), additional tumors were located in a different quadrant and in 58/129 (45.0%) additional tumors were in the same quadrant but ≥2cm away. Overall, primary tumor size was significantly larger (mean 1.87± 1.25 cm) than the additional tumors (mean 0.79 ± 0.61cm, p < 0.001). However, in 20/129 (15.5%) the additional tumor was larger and in 26/129 (20.2%) the additional tumor was ≥1cm. The primary tumor was significantly more likely to be invasive (81.4%, 105/129) compared to additional tumors (70%, 105/150, p = 0.03). In 9/129 (7.0%) patients, additional tumors yielded unsuspected invasive cancer orhigher tumor grade. The additional tumor was more likely to be nonmass lesion type (37.3% vs 24% p = 0.02) and focus lesion type (10% vs 0.08%, p < 0.001) compared to primary tumor. Mammographically occult additional tumors identified more than 2cm away from the primary breast tumor on MRI are unlikely to be surgically treated if undiagnosed and may be clinically significant. Copyright

  12. Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-09-11

    Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Neck With Occult Primary; Recurrent Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Tongue Carcinoma

  13. Phase II Randomized Trial of the Combination of Cetuximab and Sorafenib or Single Agent Cetuximab

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-12-28

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IVA Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Tongue Cancer; Untreated Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary

  14. SB-715992 in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-01-13

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVB Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVC Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity

  15. Cisplatin With or Without WEE1 Inhibitor MK-1775 in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-03-22

    Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Neck With Occult Primary; Recurrent Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastatic in the Neck With Occult Primary; Stage IV Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVB Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVC Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVC Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Tongue Carcinoma

  16. Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma: a devil in disguise

    PubMed Central

    Pardhe, Nilesh; Bhagalia, Sanjay; Nayak, Prathibha Anand; Sireesha, Sundaragiri Krishna

    2013-01-01

    Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma (PIOSCC) is a rare central jaw carcinoma derived from odontogenic epithelial remnants. When the tumour arises in an existing cyst, it may be difficult to recognise early PIOSCC and carry out necessary treatment. We report a case diagnosed in a 50-year-old man where timely intervention was delayed and prognosis was affected and the case diagnosed eventually by comprehensive clinical, radiological and histopathological examination. PMID:23749827

  17. Breast abscess as the initial manifestation of primary pure squamous cell carcinoma: a rare presentation and literature review.

    PubMed

    Salemis, Nikolaos S

    2011-01-01

    Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is a very rare tumor accounting for less than 0.4% of all breast cancers. Fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the literature so far. The diagnosis requires strict pathologic criteria to be fulfilled. Due to the rarity of this tumor the optimal treatment and prognosis are both unclear. Breast abscess as the initial presentation of a primary squamous cell breast carcinoma is an extremely rare clinical entity. In this study, we describe a case of a 61-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with typical manifestations of a breast abscess and was diagnosed with a pure primary squamous cell breast carcinoma. Diagnostic evaluation and management of the patient are discussed along with a review of the literature. Despite its rarity, the possibility of a primary pure squamous cell breast carcinoma should always be considered in the differential diagnosis in postmenopausal patients presenting with manifestations of a breast abscess, especially in those who respond poorly to the initial treatment. Physicians should be aware of this rare malignancy in order to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.

  18. Orbital Metastasis: Rare Initial Presentation of an Occult Gall Bladder Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Jain, Tarun Kumar; Parihar, Ashwin Singh; Sood, Ashwani; Basher, Rajender Kumar; Bollampally, Neeraja; Shekhawat, Amit Singh; Mittal, Bhagwant Rai

    2018-03-01

    Orbital metastases are known to arise from primary breast carcinoma followed by prostate, malignant melanoma, and lung carcinoma. We report a case of orbital metastasis as the initial presentation of an occult primary gall bladder carcinoma. The FDG PET/CT helped in localizing the occult distant primary site, which previously escaped detection, and also enabled the evaluation of orbital metastasis.

  19. Fecal occult blood testing beliefs and practices of U.S. primary care physicians: serious deviations from evidence-based recommendations.

    PubMed

    Nadel, Marion R; Berkowitz, Zahava; Klabunde, Carrie N; Smith, Robert A; Coughlin, Steven S; White, Mary C

    2010-08-01

    Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) is an important option for colorectal cancer screening that should be available in order to achieve high population screening coverage. However, results from a national survey of clinical practice in 1999-2000 indicated that many primary care physicians used inadequate methods to implement FOBT screening and follow-up. To determine whether methods to screen for fecal occult blood have improved, including the use of newer more sensitive stool tests. Cross-sectional national survey of primary care physicians. Participants consisted of 1,134 primary care physicians who reported ordering or performing FOBT in the 2006-2007 National Survey of Primary Care Physicians' Recommendations and Practices for Cancer Screening. Self-reported data on details of FOBT implementation and follow-up of positive results. Most physicians report using standard guaiac tests; higher sensitivity guaiac tests and immunochemical tests were reported by only 22.0% and 8.9%, respectively. In-office testing, that is, testing of a single specimen collected during a digital rectal examination in the office, is still widely used although inappropriate for screening: 24.9% of physicians report using only in-office tests and another 52.9% report using both in-office and home tests. Recommendations improved for follow-up after a positive test: fewer physicians recommend repeating the FOBT (17.8%) or using tests other than colonoscopy for the diagnostic work-up (6.6%). Only 44.3% of physicians who use home tests have reminder systems to ensure test completion and return. Many physicians continue to use inappropriate methods to screen for fecal occult blood. Intensified efforts to inform physicians of recommended technique and promote the use of tracking systems are needed.

  20. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the gingiva appearing as a solitary branchial cyst carcinoma: diagnostic role of PET/CT.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xiong-Xin; Zhao, Kui; Zhou, Shui-Hong; Wang, Qin-Ying; Liu, Jian-Hua; Lu, Zhong-Jie

    2014-01-01

    We herein present a case of a left cervical cystic mass, for which the initial pathological diagnosis was branchial cleft cyst carcinoma (following complete mass excision). Thorough postoperative examinations, including with FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), revealed a primary tumor in the retromolar region of the left mandible. A 52-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of a painless, progressively enlarged left-sided neck mass. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy suggested a branchial cleft cyst. Physical examination revealed a 3 × 3-cm smooth, tender mass in the upper-left neck and anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Examination using nasendoscopy and a strobolaryngoscope revealed no abnormalities of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx. MRI of the neck revealed a solitary, round, cystic mass under the left parotid gland. The mass was excised completely. Pathologic results indicated a branchial cleft cyst carcinoma. According to the diagnostic criteria for a branchial cleft cystic carcinoma, PET/CT was performed to detect the occult primary site. PET/CT revealed high FDG uptake in the tooth root of the left mandible. Frozen sections of the mass were indicative of moderate, differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The carcinoma in the retromolar region of the left mandible was locally excised under general anesthesia. A partial left maxillectomy, partial mandibulectomy, and left radical neck dissection were performed. The patient received postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and was disease-free at the 8-month follow-up. True branchial cleft cyst carcinoma is rare: once diagnosed, it should be distinguished from metastatic cystic cervical lymph and occult primary carcinoma. FDG PET/CT is useful in the identification of occult primary tumor.

  1. Mixed primary squamous cell carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and micropapillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland: A case report.

    PubMed

    Dong, Su; Song, Xue-Song; Chen, Guang; Liu, Jia

    2016-08-01

    Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is rare, and mixed squamous cell and follicular carcinoma is even rarer still, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The simultaneous presentation of three primary cancers of the thyroid has not been reported previously. Here we report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid, follicular thyroid carcinoma, and micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. A 62-year-old female patient presented with complaints of pain and a 2-month history of progressively increased swelling in the anterior region of the neck. Fine-needle-aspiration cytology of both lobes indicated the possibility of the presence of a follicular neoplasm. Total thyroidectomy with left-sided modified radical neck dissection was performed. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of thyroid follicular carcinoma with squamous cell carcinoma and micropapillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Thyroid-stimulating hormone suppressive therapy with l-thyroxine was administered. Radioiodine and radiotherapy also were recommended, but the patient did not complete treatment as scheduled. The patient remained alive more than 9 months after operation. The present case report provides an example of the coexistence of multiple distinct malignancies in the thyroid. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Earth rotation derived from occultation records

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sôma, Mitsuru; Tanikawa, Kiyotaka

    2016-04-01

    We determined the values of the Earth's rotation parameter, ΔT = T T - UT, around AD 500 after confirming that the value of the tidal acceleration, dot{n}, of the lunar motion remained unchanged during the period between ancient times and the present. For determining of ΔT, we used contemporaneous occultations of planets by the Moon. In general, occultation records are not useful. However, there are some records that give us a stringent condition for the range of ΔT. Records of the lunar occultations in AD 503 and AD 513 are such examples. In order to assure the usefulness of this occultation data, we used contemporaneous annular and total solar eclipses, which have not been used in the preceding work. This is the first work in which the lunar occultation data have been used as primary data to determine the value of ΔT together with auxiliary contemporaneous annular and total solar eclipses. Our ΔT value is less than a smoothed value (Stephenson 1997) by at least 450 s. The result is consistent with our earlier results obtained from solar eclipses.

  3. Overt Skeletal Metastases in a Patient of Occult (Microscopic) Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma: a Rare Case.

    PubMed

    Jha, Chandan Kumar; Agrawal, Vinita; Mishra, Anjali; Pradhan, P K

    2018-03-01

    Occult follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) presenting as distant metastases is a rare occurrence. However, despite being occult in majority of these cases, primary tumor can be detected on thyroid imaging or during surgery. Here, we present an extremely rare case of an occult FTC with overt skeletal metastases in which primary tumor was discernible only on microscopic examination.

  4. Construction of a pathological risk model of occult lymph node metastases for prognostication by semi-automated image analysis of tumor budding in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Pedersen, Nicklas Juel; Jensen, David Hebbelstrup; Lelkaitis, Giedrius; Kiss, Katalin; Charabi, Birgitte; Specht, Lena; von Buchwald, Christian

    2017-01-01

    It is challenging to identify at diagnosis those patients with early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), who have a poor prognosis and those that have a high risk of harboring occult lymph node metastases. The aim of this study was to develop a standardized and objective digital scoring method to evaluate the predictive value of tumor budding. We developed a semi-automated image-analysis algorithm, Digital Tumor Bud Count (DTBC), to evaluate tumor budding. The algorithm was tested in 222 consecutive patients with early-stage OSCC and major endpoints were overall (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). We subsequently constructed and cross-validated a binary logistic regression model and evaluated its clinical utility by decision curve analysis. A high DTBC was an independent predictor of both poor OS and PFS in a multivariate Cox regression model. The logistic regression model was able to identify patients with occult lymph node metastases with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78–0.89, P <0.001) and a 10-fold cross-validated AUC of 0.79. Compared to other known histopathological risk factors, the DTBC had a higher diagnostic accuracy. The proposed, novel risk model could be used as a guide to identify patients who would benefit from an up-front neck dissection. PMID:28212555

  5. Occult Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

    PubMed Central

    Kirkpatrick, John N.

    1987-01-01

    A syndrome of headache, fatigue, dizziness, paresthesias, chest pain, palpitations and visual disturbances was associated with chronic occult carbon monoxide exposure in 26 patients in a primary care setting. A causal association was supported by finding a source of carbon monoxide in a patient's home, workplace or vehicle; results of screening tests that ruled out other illnesses; an abnormally high carboxyhemoglobin level in 11 of 14 patients tested, and abatement or resolution of symptoms when the source of carbon monoxide was removed. Exposed household pets provided an important clue to the diagnosis in some cases. Recurrent occult carbon monoxide poisoning may be a frequently overlooked cause of persistent or recurrent headache, fatigue, dizziness, paresthesias, abdominal pain, diarrhea and unusual spells. PMID:3825110

  6. Occult carbon monoxide poisoning.

    PubMed

    Kirkpatrick, J N

    1987-01-01

    A syndrome of headache, fatigue, dizziness, paresthesias, chest pain, palpitations and visual disturbances was associated with chronic occult carbon monoxide exposure in 26 patients in a primary care setting. A causal association was supported by finding a source of carbon monoxide in a patient's home, workplace or vehicle; results of screening tests that ruled out other illnesses; an abnormally high carboxyhemoglobin level in 11 of 14 patients tested, and abatement or resolution of symptoms when the source of carbon monoxide was removed. Exposed household pets provided an important clue to the diagnosis in some cases. Recurrent occult carbon monoxide poisoning may be a frequently overlooked cause of persistent or recurrent headache, fatigue, dizziness, paresthesias, abdominal pain, diarrhea and unusual spells.

  7. Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland

    PubMed Central

    Ibrahim, Mohd-Irman-Shah; Jusoh, Yusri-Rahimi; Adam, Nurul-Nadhihah; Mohamad, Irfan

    2018-01-01

    Introduction: Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thyroid gland is one of the rarest types of all reported thyroid malignancies worldwide. It is very aggressive in nature and carries a poor prognosis. The surgical resection with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the most recommended treatment despite its poor reported outcome. Case Report: A 74-year-old woman presented with a rapidly progressive neck swelling, with hoarseness and compressive symptoms. Physical examination revealed a multilobulated firm thyroid mass with unilateral vocal cord palsy. Histopathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of SCC while radiological investigations and panendoscopy findings ruled out the possibility of other primary tumors. A surgical intervention was performed; however, the patient eventually succumbed to death prior to undergoing an oncological treatment. Conclusion: With no standard consensus to guide the management plan, SCC of the thyroid gland presents a great challenge for the managing team to come up with the best treatment option, due to its unfavorable rate of survival. PMID:29387667

  8. Everolimus, Erlotinib Hydrochloride, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer Previously Treated With Radiation Therapy

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2016-03-01

    Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Tongue Cancer

  9. Erlotinib, Docetaxel, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2014-06-05

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Tongue Cancer; Untreated Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary

  10. Lenalidomide and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer or Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-23

    Recurrent Colon Carcinoma; Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Neck With Occult Primary; Recurrent Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Rectal Carcinoma; Recurrent Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastatic in the Neck With Occult Primary; Stage IV Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Colon Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVA Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVA Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVA Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Rectal Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVB Colon Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVB Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVB Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVB Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVB Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Rectal Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVC Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVC Major Salivary Gland Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IVC Nasal Cavity and Paranasal

  11. Primary invasive squamous carcinoma of the vagina

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pride, G.L.; Schultz, A.E.; Chuprevich, T.W.

    1979-02-01

    Forty-three cases of primary vaginal squamous cell cancer were treated at the University of Wisconsin Hospital between 1956 and 1971. These cases comprised of 1.2% of patients admitted to the University Hospital with female genital tract cancer. Evidence is presented to support a modification of the currently accepted FIGO staging system for vaginal carcinoma (Stage II disease). Radiation therapy using both external beam and brachyradium equivalents or interstitial implantation of suitable isotopes was an effective method for the treatment of patients having early and locally advanced invasive vaginal cancer. The 5-year absolute survival rate for the entire series was 37.2%.more » Absolute survival rate by modified FIGO clinical staging was 66% for Stages I and IIA, 31% for Stage IIB, 25% for Stage III, and 0% for Stage IV.« less

  12. Temsirolimus With or Without Cetuximab in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer Who Did Not Respond to Previous Therapy

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-02-23

    Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Neck With Occult Primary; Recurrent Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastatic in the Neck With Occult Primary; Stage IV Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Stage IVA Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVA Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Stage IVB Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVB Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVB Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVC Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma; Stage IVC Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IVC Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma; Stage IVC Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Tongue Carcinoma

  13. Clinical relevance of copy number profiling in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    van Kempen, Pauline M W; Noorlag, Rob; Braunius, Weibel W; Moelans, Cathy B; Rifi, Widad; Savola, Suvi; Koole, Ronald; Grolman, Wilko; van Es, Robert J J; Willems, Stefan M

    2015-01-01

    Current conventional treatment modalities in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are nonselective and have shown to cause serious side effects. Unraveling the molecular profiles of head and neck cancer may enable promising clinical applications that pave the road for personalized cancer treatment. We examined copy number status in 36 common oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in a cohort of 191 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) and 164 oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) using multiplex ligation probe amplification. Copy number status was correlated with human papillomavirus (HPV) status in OPSCC, with occult lymph node status in OSCC and with patient survival. The 11q13 region showed gain or amplifications in 59% of HPV-negative OPSCC, whereas this amplification was almost absent in HPV-positive OPSCC. Additionally, in clinically lymph node-negative OSCC (Stage I–II), gain of the 11q13 region was significantly correlated with occult lymph node metastases with a negative predictive value of 81%. Multivariate survival analysis revealed a significantly decreased disease-free survival in both HPV-negative and HPV-positive OPSCC with a gain of Wnt-induced secreted protein-1. Gain of CCND1 showed to be an independent predictor for worse survival in OSCC. These results show that copy number aberrations, mainly of the 11q13 region, may be important predictors and prognosticators which allow for stratifying patients for personalized treatment of HNSCC. PMID:26194878

  14. Evaluation and management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary.

    PubMed

    Martin, Jeffrey M; Galloway, Thomas J

    2015-07-01

    The diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic management of a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary (SCCUP) has considerably evolved over recent decades and will likely continue to change as a result of the improving ability to identify small primary tumors and better tailor the implementation of multimodality therapy. By application of the general principles of head and neck oncology, physicians and surgeons are often able to achieve satisfactory control of the disease in patients with SCCUP. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Occult pneumomediastinum in blunt chest trauma: clinical significance.

    PubMed

    Rezende-Neto, J B; Hoffmann, J; Al Mahroos, M; Tien, H; Hsee, L C; Spencer Netto, F; Speers, V; Rizoli, S B

    2010-01-01

    Thoracic injuries are potentially responsible for 25% of all trauma deaths. Chest X-ray is commonly used to screen patients with chest injury. However, the use of computed tomography (CT) scan for primary screening is increasing, particularly for blunt trauma. CT scans are more sensitive than chest X-ray in detecting intra-thoracic abnormalities such as pneumothoraces and pneumomediastinums. Pneumomediastinum detected by chest X-ray or "overt pneumomediastinum", raises the concern of possible aerodigestive tract injuries. In contrast, there is scarce information on the clinical significance of pneumomediastinum diagnosed by CT scan only or "occult pneumomediastinum". Therefore we investigated the clinical consequences of occult pneumomediastinum in our blunt trauma population. A 2-year retrospective chart review of all blunt chest trauma patients with initial chest CT scan admitted to a level I trauma centre. Data extracted from the medical records include; demographics, occult, overt, or no pneumomediastinum, the presence of intra-thoracic aerodigestive tract injuries (trachea, bronchus, and/or esophagus), mechanism and severity of injury, endotracheal intubation, chest thoracostomy, operations and radiological reports by an attending radiologist. All patients with intra-thoracic aerodigestive tract injuries from 1994 to 2004 were also investigated. Of 897 patients who met the inclusion criteria 839 (93.5%) had no pneumomediastinum. Five patients (0.6%) had overt pneumomediastinum and 53 patients (5.9%) had occult pneumomediastinum. Patients with occult pneumomediastinum had significantly higher ISS and AIS chest (p<0.0001) than patients with no pneumomediastinum. A chest thoracostomy tube was more common (p<0.0001) in patients with occult pneumomediastinum (47.2%) than patients with no pneumomediastinum (10.4%), as well as occult pneumothorax. None of the patients with occult pneumomediastinum had aerodigestive tract injuries (95%CI 0-0.06). Follow up CT scan of

  16. Down regulation of E-Cadherin (ECAD) - a predictor for occult metastatic disease in sentinel node biopsy of early squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Prognostic factors in predicting occult lymph node metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are necessary to improve the results of the sentinel lymph node procedure in this tumour type. The E-Cadherin glycoprotein is an intercellular adhesion molecule in epithelial cells, which plays an important role in establishing and maintaining intercellular connections. Objectives To determine the value of the molecular marker E-Cadherin in predicting regional metastatic disease. Methods E-Cadherin expression in tumour tissue of 120 patients with HNSCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx were evaluated using the tissue microarray technique. 110 tumours were located in the oral cavity (91.7%; mostly tongue), 10 tumours in the oropharynx (8.3%). Intensity of E-Cadherin expression was quantified by the Intensity Reactivity Score (IRS). These results were correlated with the lymph node status of biopsied sentinel lymph nodes. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine statistical significance. Results pT-stage, gender, tumour side and location did not correlate with lymph node metastasis. Differentiation grade (p = 0.018) and down regulation of E-Cadherin expression significantly correlate with positive lymph node status (p = 0.005) in univariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusion These data suggest that loss of E-cadherin expression is associated with increased lymhogeneous metastasis of HNSCC. E-cadherin immunohistochemistry may be used as a predictor for lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Level of evidence: 2b PMID:21639893

  17. Down regulation of E-Cadherin (ECAD) - a predictor for occult metastatic disease in sentinel node biopsy of early squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

    PubMed

    Huber, Gerhard F; Züllig, Lena; Soltermann, Alex; Roessle, Matthias; Graf, Nicole; Haerle, Stephan K; Studer, Gabriela; Jochum, Wolfram; Moch, Holger; Stoeckli, Sandro J

    2011-06-03

    Prognostic factors in predicting occult lymph node metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are necessary to improve the results of the sentinel lymph node procedure in this tumour type. The E-Cadherin glycoprotein is an intercellular adhesion molecule in epithelial cells, which plays an important role in establishing and maintaining intercellular connections. To determine the value of the molecular marker E-Cadherin in predicting regional metastatic disease. E-Cadherin expression in tumour tissue of 120 patients with HNSCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx were evaluated using the tissue microarray technique. 110 tumours were located in the oral cavity (91.7%; mostly tongue), 10 tumours in the oropharynx (8.3%). Intensity of E-Cadherin expression was quantified by the Intensity Reactivity Score (IRS). These results were correlated with the lymph node status of biopsied sentinel lymph nodes. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine statistical significance. pT-stage, gender, tumour side and location did not correlate with lymph node metastasis. Differentiation grade (p = 0.018) and down regulation of E-Cadherin expression significantly correlate with positive lymph node status (p = 0.005) in univariate and multivariate analysis. These data suggest that loss of E-cadherin expression is associated with increased lymhogeneous metastasis of HNSCC. E-cadherin immunohistochemistry may be used as a predictor for lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx. 2b.

  18. Circulating Tumor DNA in Predicting Outcomes in Patients With Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer or Stage III-IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-01-12

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IVA Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Tongue Cancer; Untreated Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary

  19. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast with unusual basal-HER2 phenotype.

    PubMed

    Shui, Ruohong; Li, Anqi; Yang, Fei; Zhou, Xiaoyan; Yu, Baohua; Xu, Xiaoli; Yang, Wentao

    2014-01-01

    To report three cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast with an unusual "basal-HER2" phenotype. Clinical data were analyzed. Morphological features were observed. Immunohistochemical study for ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67, CK 5/6, CK10/13, CK14, EGFR, P63 and FISH detection of HER2 gene amplification were performed. Three patients were all female with 26, 57 and 66 years old. The tumors were 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm in size respectively. Morphologically, all three tumors were pure squamous cell carcinoma and entirely composed metaplastic squamous cells. Two tumors were moderately differentiated and one was poorly differentiated. All three patients were positive for P63 or CK10/13. All three tumors exhibited basal-HER2 phenotype: negative for ER and PR, positive for HER2 protein and HER2 gene amplification, and positive for at least two basal markers. SCC with basal-HER2 phenotype is an extremely rare subset of breast carcinoma. Since it may have worse prognosis than typical basal-like SCC, recognization of this unusual SCC in routine work may have obvious clinical significance.

  20. Tripartite differentiation (squamous, glandular, and melanocytic) of a primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. An immunocytochemical and ultrastructural study.

    PubMed

    Isimbaldi, G; Sironi, M; Taccagni, G; Declich, P; Dell'Antonio, A; Galli, C

    1993-06-01

    We report a case of primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma (PCNEC) with squamous, glandular, and melanocytic differentiation and associated Bowen disease. The paranuclear globular positivity of low-molecular-weight cytokeratins agrees with the ultrastructural observations of paranuclear fibrous bodies in the small neuroendocrine cells, while the diffuse cytoplasmic positivity corresponds to the sparse intermediate filaments in large cells with squamous differentiation. "Transitional forms" are characterized by both diffuse and globular cytoplasmic positivity for cytokeratins and by the ultrastructural evidence of neuroendocrine and squamous features. Therefore the ultrastructural demonstration of intracytoplasmic tonofibrils and tonofilaments, intercellular glandular lumina, lined by well-formed microvilli, and immature premelanosomes in the neurosecretory cells supports the proposed tripartite differentiation of neuroendocrine cells of this case of PCNEC.

  1. Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma in odontogenic keratocyst: A rare entity

    PubMed Central

    Saxena, Chitrapriya; Aggarwal, Pooja; Wadhwan, Vijay; Bansal, Vishal

    2015-01-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from the wall of an odontogenic cyst (also known as primary intraosseous carcinoma) is a rare tumor which occurs only in jaw bones. This tumor was first described by Loos in 1913 as a central epidermoid carcinoma of the jaw. Primary intraosseous carcinomas (PIOC) may theoretically arise from the lining of an odontogenic cyst or de novo from presumed odontogenic cell rests. According to the new histological classification of tumors of the World Health Organization, odontogenic keratocyst is nowadays considered a specific odontogenic tumor and the PIOC derived from it is considered as a specific entity which is different from other PIOCs derived from the odontogenic cysts. The following report describes a case of such extremely rare entity that is primary intraosseous SCC of the mandible derived from an OKC in a 60-year-old male patient with brief review of literature. PMID:26980976

  2. Factors associated with a primary surgical approach for sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Cracchiolo, Jennifer R; Patel, Krupa; Migliacci, Jocelyn C; Morris, Luc T; Ganly, Ian; Roman, Benjamin R; McBride, Sean M; Tabar, Viviane S; Cohen, Marc A

    2018-03-01

    Primary surgery is the preferred treatment of T1-T4a sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC). Patients with SNSCC in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) were analyzed. Factors that contributed to selecting primary surgical treatment were examined. Overall survival (OS) in surgical patients was analyzed. Four-thousand seven hundred and seventy patients with SNSCC were included. In T1-T4a tumors, lymph node metastases, maxillary sinus location, and treatment at high-volume centers were associated with selecting primary surgery. When primary surgery was utilized, tumor factors and positive margin guided worse OS. Adjuvant therapy improved OS in positive margin resection and advanced T stage cases. Tumor and non-tumor factors are associated with selecting surgery for the treatment of SNSCC. When surgery is selected, tumor factors drive OS. Negative margin resection should be the goal of a primary surgical approach. When a positive margin resection ensues, adjuvant therapy may improve OS. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  3. Predicted occultation of Regulus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waagen, Elizabeth O.

    2014-03-01

    The predicted occultation of Regulus (alpha Leo) by the magnitude-12.4 V asteroid (163) Erigone on 2014 March 20 at approximately 02:06 a.m. EDT (06:06 UT) is discussed. The occultation track includes Bermuda and northwest along a corridor stretching from the mid-Atlantic USA through Ontario, Canada. Unusual things about this occultation include the facts that the track includes major metropolitan areas such as New York City, and the star being occulted is one of the brightest in the Northern sky and is in a constellation pattern that makes it easy to find. The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) website (http://occultations.org/Regulus2014/) has comprehensive information about this predicted occultation and observing and reporting instructions, as well as links to other resources. In addition to witnessing a very rare event (Regulus is the brightest star ever to be predicted to be occulted from the USA), the possibilities for science include these three:! determining the shape of Erigone, detecting a possible companion of Erigone, and detecting the suspected white dwarf companion of Regulus. See the Alert Notice for details.

  4. Deep shadow occulter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cash, Webster (Inventor)

    2010-01-01

    Methods and apparatus are disclosed for occulting light. The occulter shape suppresses diffraction at any given size or angle and is practical to build because it can be made binary to avoid scatter. Binary structures may be fully opaque or fully transmitting at specific points. The diffraction suppression is spectrally broad so that it may be used with incoherent white light. An occulter may also include substantially opaque inner portion and an at least partially transparent outer portion. Such occulters may be used on the ground to create a deep shadow in a short distance, or may be used in space to suppress starlight and reveal exoplanets.

  5. The primary immune response of patients with different stages of squamous-cell bronchial carcinoma.

    PubMed Central

    Jansen, H M; The, T H; de Gast, G C; Esselink, M T; Pastoor, G; Orie, N G

    1978-01-01

    Using the indirect ELISA technique, the IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody response to the primary test immunogen Helix pomatia haemocyanin (HPH) was studied in 30 patients with various clinical stages of primary squamous-cell bronchial carcinoma and compared with values obtained in 15 controls matched for sex, age, smoking habit, and presence of chronic bronchitis. Patients with disseminated disease (stage III) showed a significant decrease in IgG and IgA antibody response (P less than 0.001), but IgM antibodies were relatively high and not different from the controls. Although normal IgG and IgA antibody titres were found at the peak response two weeks after immunisation in patients with localised disease (stage I), these antibody titres showed a significantly more rapid decline after serial investigations at eight and 14 weeks after immunisation compared with the controls (P less than 0.001) despite total removal of the tumour burden at c four weeks after immunisation. In-vitro HPH-induced lymphocyte transformation was considerably decreased in state I patients (P less than 0.01) as well as in stage III patients (P less than 0.001). The results suggest that patients with squamous-cell bronchial carcinoma develop impaired T-cell function, which gives rise to a defective antibody response and in-vitro lymphocyte reactivity to the T-cell dependent primary immunogen HPH. Images PMID:746500

  6. Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma arising in an odontogenic keratocyst previously treated with marsupialization: case report and immunohistochemical study.

    PubMed

    Martínez-Martínez, Marisol; Mosqueda-Taylor, Adalberto; Delgado-Azañero, Wilson; Rumayor-Piña, Alicia; de Almeida, Oslei Paes

    2016-04-01

    A rare case of primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma arising in an odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is presented here, with the clinical and histologic features of the first biopsy showing characteristics of OKC and the second biopsy disclosing a squamous cell carcinoma. Immunoprofile of this case was compared with five cases of classical OKC by using cytokeratins CK5, CK14, and CK19, CD138, p63, Ki-67, p53, and bcl-2. Classic OKCs showed expected positivity, mainly in the basal and/or suprabasal layers with most antibodies, except for p53, which was negative, whereas the present case showed irregular positivity in all layers, indicating that this can be useful for differential diagnosis and suggesting a possible role in malignant transformation into primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, immunohistochemical differences between the first biopsy of the present case and classic OKC suggest that immunohistochemistry can be helpful in cases with areas of subtle initial malignant transformation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Risk factors for development of primary bladder squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Hubbard, R; Swallow, D; Finch, W; Wood, SJ; Biers, SM

    2017-01-01

    INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of risk factors for primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder. MATERIALS A total of 90 cases of primary SCC of the bladder were identified through multicentre analysis. Patient demographics, stage and grade of cancer at presentation, management and outcomes were recorded. The presence of known risk factors (catheter use, neuropathic bladder, smoking history, recurrent urinary tract infection and bladder stones) was also documented. RESULTS Over half of the patients had at least one identifiable risk factor for the development of primary bladder SCC: 13.9% of patients had a history of catheter use (clean intermittent self-catheterisation [CISC] in 11.1%), 10.0% of patients had a neuropathic bladder, 27.8% were smokers or ex-smokers and 20.0% had a documented history of recurrent urinary tract infection. Statistical analysis of the results showed no association between risk factors and grade of tumour at presentation. CONCLUSIONS These data further support the association between primary bladder SCC and several of the well documented risk factors for its development. Chronic use of CISC may confer a greater risk for development of SCC than thought previously. Further evidence of the role of CISC in primary SCC is required to justify routine screening and to determine exactly when surveillance of the bladder should begin for this group of patients. PMID:27869492

  8. PI3K Inhibitor BKM120 and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-05-22

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IVA Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVA Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVB Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVB Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVC Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IVC Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Tongue Cancer

  9. Uranus occults SAO158687. [stellar occultation and planetary parametric observation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, J. L.; Veverka, J.; Millis, R. L.

    1977-01-01

    Experience gained in obtaining atmospheric parameters, oblatenesses, and diameters of Jupiter and Mars from recent stellar occultations by these planets is used to predict what can be learned from the March 1977 occultation of the star SAO158687 by Uranus. The spectra of this star and Uranus are compared to indicate the relative instrument intensities of the two objects, the four passbands where the relative intensities are most nearly equal are listed, and expected photon fluxes from the star are computed on the assumption that it has UBVRI colors appropriate for a K5 main-sequence object. It is shown that low photon noise errors can be achieved by choosing appropriate passbands for observation, and the rms error expected for the Uranus temperature profiles obtained from the occultation light curves is calculated. It is suggested that observers of this occultation should record their data digitally for optimum time resolution.

  10. The Occult Today: Why?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kessler, Gary E.

    1975-01-01

    Author offered some reflections on the "why" of the contemporary interest in the occult. He attempted to convince the reader that, if he or she has been surprised by the recent rise of occultism, sober reflection will dispell some fears and, perhaps, even convince him or her that occultism is not merely superstition. (Author/RK)

  11. Studies in occultation astronomy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Veverka, J.

    1980-01-01

    Major scientific results are summarized for the following studies: (1) observations of the 8 April 1976 occultation of epsilon Geminorum by Mars; (2) studies in occultation techniques; and (3) the March 1974 occultation of Saturn by the Moon. A re-analysis of the 1974 lunar occultation of the Titan indicates that Titan is strongly limb darkened, with D approximately greater than 5800km; there is internal evidence in the data that Titan's atmosphere is inhomogeneous; and that observations are inconsistent with any sample homogeneous model atmosphere which matches the P (lambda) and Beta (lambda) observations of Titan.

  12. Occultation studies of the Solar System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Millis, Robert L.

    1987-01-01

    The planetary occultation program began at Lowell Observatory in 1973 with a worldwide campaign to observe mutual occultations and eclipses of the Galilean Satellites. Then the temperature profile of the Martian atmosphere was measured from data taken during the occultation of epsilon Geminorum, the Rings of Uranus were discovered as they occulted SAO 158687, and the dimensions of Pallas were measured when that minor planet occulted SAO 85009. In 1979 the present grant was initiated, providing funds for portable photometric instrumentation used to observe occultations by asteroids as well as by Uranus and Neptune. Software for predicting occultations of catalog stars by asteroids, planets, and comets was written in 1983. Lowell currently provides most of the available predictions for asteroid occultations. Realizing in 1983 that the lack of a high-quality astrometric telescope dedicated to occultation work was limiting progress, an 18-inch, F/8 lens was acquired and adapted to an existing mounting at Lowell. Although acquisition of the lens and implementation of the new telescope has been accomplished primarily with non-grant funds, the instrument makes a major contribution to occultation research.

  13. New Occultation Systems and the 2005 July 11 Charon Occultation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Young, L. A.; French, R. G.; Gregory, B.; Olkin, C. B.; Ruhland, C.; Shoemaker, K.; Young, E. F.

    2005-08-01

    Charon's density is an important input to models of its formation and internal structure. Estimates range from 1.59 to 1.83 g/cm3 (Olkin et al. 2003. Icarus 164, 254), with Charon's radius as the main source of uncertainty. Reported values of Charon's radius from mutual events range from 593±13 (Buie et al. 1992, Icarus 97, 211) to 621±21 km (Young & Binzel 1994, Icarus 108), while an occultation observed from a single site gives a lower limit on the radius of 601.5 km (Walker 1980 MNRAS 192, 47; Elliot & Young 1991, Icarus 89, 244). On 2005 July 11 UT (following this abstract submission date), Charon is predicted to occult the star C313.2. If successful, this event will be the first Charon occultation observed since 1980, and the first giving multiple chords across Charon's disk. This event is expected to measure Charon's radius to 1 km. Our team is observing from three telescopes in Chile, the 4.0-m Blanco and the 0.9-m telescopes at Cerro Tololo and the 4.2-m SOAR telescope at Cerro Pachon. At SOAR, we will be using the camera from our new PHOT systems (Portable High-speed Occultation Telescopes). The PHOT camera is a Princeton Instrument MicroMAX:512BFT from Roper Scientific, a 512×512 frame-transfer CCD with a readnoise of only 3 electrons at the 100 kHz digitization rate. The camera's exposures are triggered by a custom built, compact, stand-alone GPS-based pulse-train generator. A PHOT camera and pulse-train generator were used to observe the occultation of 2MASS 1275723153 by Pluto on 2005 June 15 UT from Sommers-Bausch Observatory in Boulder Colorado; preliminary analysis shows this was at best a grazing occultation from this site and a successful engineering run for the July 11 Charon occultation. The work was supported, in part, by NSF AST-0321338 (EFY) and NASA NNG-05GF05G (LAY).

  14. A retrospective analysis of preoperative staging modalities for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Kähling, Ch; Langguth, T; Roller, F; Kroll, T; Krombach, G; Knitschke, M; Streckbein, Ph; Howaldt, H P; Wilbrand, J-F

    2016-12-01

    An accurate preoperative assessment of cervical lymph node status is a prerequisite for individually tailored cancer therapies in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. The detection of malignant spread and its treatment crucially influence the prognosis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the different staging modalities used among patients with a diagnosis of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma between 2008 and 2015. An analysis of preoperative staging findings, collected by clinical palpation, ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT), was performed. The results obtained were compared with the results of the final histopathological findings of the neck dissection specimens. A statistical analysis using McNemar's test was performed. The sensitivity of CT for the detection of malignant cervical tumor spread was 74.5%. The ultrasound obtained a sensitivity of 60.8%. Both CT and ultrasound demonstrated significantly enhanced sensitivity compared to the clinical palpation with a sensitivity of 37.1%. No significant difference was observed between CT and ultrasound. A combination of different staging modalities increased the sensitivity significantly compared with ultrasound staging alone. No significant difference in sensitivity was found between the combined use of different staging modalities and CT staging alone. The highest sensitivity, of 80.0%, was obtained by a combination of all three staging modalities: clinical palpation, ultrasound and CT. The present study indicates that CT has an essential role in the preoperative staging of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Its use not only significantly increases the sensitivity of cervical lymph node metastasis detection but also offers a preoperative assessment of local tumor spread and resection borders. An additional non-invasive cervical lymph node examination increases the sensitivity of the tumor staging process and reduces the risk of occult metastasis. Copyright © 2016 European

  15. The Pinhole/Occulter Facility

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tandberg-Hanssen, E. A. (Editor); Hudson, H. S. (Editor); Dabbs, J. R. (Editor); Baity, W. A. (Editor)

    1983-01-01

    Scientific objectives and requirements are discussed for solar X-ray observations, coronagraph observations, studies of coronal particle acceleration, and cosmic X-ray observations. Improved sensitivity and resolution can be provided for these studies using the pinhole/occulter facility which consists of a self-deployed boom of 50 m length separating an occulter plane from a detector plane. The X-ray detectors and coronagraphic optics mounted on the detector plane are analogous to the focal plane instrumentation of an ordinary telescope except that they use the occulter only for providing a shadow pattern. The occulter plane is passive and has no electrical interface with the rest of the facility.

  16. Measurement of stellar occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eberle, Andreas

    2008-09-01

    Whenever an asteroid occults a star, we have the opportunity to study that asteroid in great detail. As frequently shown in the past, amateur astronomers1 have the necessary equipment to measure such events successfully2. Combined with the dense net of amateur observatories and online coordination tools3 for movable stations, they can create fine grids to detect even small bodies. The analysis of these events gives us the possibility to receive high precision astrometry data, to determine the asteroids size and shape (and therefore its albedo), and even to collect information on the star itself.4 While usually a set of several light curves is required to do so, a single recording5 of (10734) Wieck's occultation of HIP 22157 on 2008 Feb 08 was sufficient to retrieve the necessary data6. 1 Observation campaigns are organized by the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA), http://www.iota-es.de/ 2 for results see e.g. euraster.net by E. Frappa, http://www.euraster.net/ 3 Occult Watcher by H. Pavlov, http://www.hristopavlov.net/OccultWatcher/OccultWatcher.html 4 see K. Miyashita's analysis of the observation of the occultation of TYC 1886-01206-1 by Kalliope and Linus, http://www005.upp.so-net.ne.jp/k miyash/occ02/kalliope/doublestar en.html 5 recording obtained by H. Michels, MPC Station Code 240 6 using Limovie by K. Miyashita

  17. Repeated faecal occult blood testing is associated with decreased advanced colorectal cancer risk: A population-based study.

    PubMed

    James, Paul D; Rabeneck, Linda; Yun, Lingsong; Paszat, Lawrence; Baxter, Nancy N; Govindarajan, Anand; Antonova, Lilia; Tinmouth, Jill M

    2017-01-01

    Objective To evaluate the association between repeated faecal occult blood testing and advanced colorectal cancer risk at population level in Canada. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all Ontario residents aged 56-74 diagnosed with colorectal cancer from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2010, identified using health administrative data. The primary outcome was stage IV colorectal cancer, and primary exposure was faecal occult blood testing use within five years prior to colorectal cancer diagnosis. Patients were categorized into four mutually exclusive groups based on their exposure to faecal occult blood testing in the five years prior to colorectal cancer diagnosis: none, pre-diagnostic, repeated, and sporadic. Logistic regression was utilized to adjust for confounders. Results Of 7753 patients (median age 66, interquartile range 61-70, 62% male) identified, 1694 (22%) presented with stage I, 2056 (27%) with stage II, 2428 (31%) with stage III, and 1575 (20%) with stage IV colorectal cancer. There were 4092 (53%) with no record of prior faecal occult blood testing, 1485 (19%) classified as pre-diagnostic, 1693 (22%) as sporadic, and 483 (6%) as repeated faecal occult blood testing. After adjusting for confounders, patients who had repeated faecal occult blood testing were significantly less likely to present with stage IV colorectal cancer at diagnosis (Odds ratio 0.46, 95% Confidence Interval 0.34-0.62) than those with no prior faecal occult blood testing. Conclusions Repeated faecal occult blood testing is associated with a decreased risk of advanced colorectal cancer. Our findings support the use of organized screening programmes that employ repeated faecal occult blood testing to improve colorectal cancer outcomes at population level.

  18. Bowenoid epidermotropic metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ihm, C W; Park, S L; Sung, S Y; Lee, I S

    1996-10-01

    Epidermotropic metastatic squamous cell carcinoma produced full-thickness cellular atypia of bowenoid carcinoma in situ or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 3 (VIN 3), in a 73-year-old woman who had past history of uterine cervical carcinoma. The presence of intravascular tumor cell nests and areas showing smooth continuity of the malignant squamous cell nodules with the adjoining benign epidermis supported the possibility of the epidermotropic metastasis. To our knowledge, metastatic epidermotropic squamous carcinoma clinicopathologically simulating primary Bowen's disease has not been reported.

  19. Spherical Occulter Coronagraph Cubesat

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Davila, Joseph M. (Inventor); Rabin, Douglas M. (Inventor); Reginald, Nelson (Inventor); Gong, Qian (Inventor); Shah, Neerav (Inventor); Chamberlin, Phillip C. (Inventor)

    2018-01-01

    The present invention relates to a space-based instrument which provides continuous coronal electron temperature and velocity images, for a predetermined period of time, thereby improving the understanding of coronal evolution and how the solar wind and Coronal Mass Ejection transients evolve from the low solar atmosphere through the heliosphere for an entire solar rotation. Specifically, the present invention relates to using a 6U spherical occulter coronagraph CubeSat, and a relative navigational system (RNS) that controls the position of the spacecraft relative to the occulting sphere. The present invention innovatively deploys a free-flying spherical occulter, and after deployment, the actively controlled CubeSat will provide an inertial formation flying with the spherical occulter and Sun.

  20. Cassini Radio Occultation by Enceladus Plume

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kliore, A.; Armstrong, J.; Flasar, F.; French, R.; Marouf, E.; Nagy, A.; Rappaport, N.; McGhee, C.; Schinder, P.; Anabtawi, A.; Asmar, S.; Barbinis, E.; Fleischman, D.; Goltz, G.; Aguilar, R.; Rochblatt, D.

    2006-12-01

    A fortuitous Cassini radio occultation by Enceladus plume occurs on September 15, 2006. The occultation track (the spacecraft trajectory in the plane of the sky as viewed from the Earth) has been designed to pass behind the plume (to pass above the south polar region of Enceladus) in a roughly symmetrical geometry centered on a minimum altitude above the surface of about 20 km. The minimum altitude was selected primarily to ensure probing much of the plume with good confidence given the uncertainty in the spacecraft trajectory. Three nearly-pure sinusoidal signals of 0.94, 3.6, and 13 cm-wavelength (Ka-, X-, and S-band, respectively) are simultaneously transmitted from Cassini and are monitored at two 34-m Earth receiving stations of the Deep Space Network (DSN) in Madrid, Spain (DSS-55 and DSS-65). The occultation of the visible plume is extremely fast, lasting less than about two minutes. The actual observation time extends over a much longer time interval, however, to provide a good reference baseline for potential detection of signal perturbations introduced by the tenuous neutral and ionized plume environment. Given the likely very small fraction of optical depth due to neutral particles of sizes larger than about 1 mm, detectable changes in signal intensity is perhaps unlikely. Detection of plume plasma along the radio path as perturbations in the signals frequency/phase is more likely and the magnitude will depend on the electron columnar density probed. The occultation time occurs not far from solar conjunction time (Sun-Earth-probe angle of about 33 degrees), causing phase scintillations due to the solar wind to be the primary limiting noise source. We estimate a delectability limit of about 1 to 3E16 electrons per square meter columnar density assuming about 100 seconds integration time. Potential measurement of the profile of electron columnar density along the occultation track is an exciting prospect at this time.

  1. Level IIB Neck Dissection in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Science or Myth?

    PubMed

    Ghantous, Yasmine; Akrish, Sharon; Abd-Elraziq, Morad; El-Naaj, Imad Abu

    2016-06-01

    Selective neck dissection enables us to reduce the morbidity of neck dissection while maintaining the same oncological results, mainly in clinically negative neck N0. The most common morbidity associated with selective neck dissection is spinal accessory nerve dysfunction and related shoulder disability, which are encountered during dissection of level IIB.The aim of authors' study is to evaluate the incidence of sublevel IIB lymphatic metastasis in clinically N0 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.The study group comprised 48 men (68%) and 22 women (32%). The median number of the lymph nodes removed from level IIB was 6.5. All the investigated necks were clinically classified as N0, of which 14 (20%) turned out to have an occult nodal metastasis, including only 1 patient (1.42%) of level IIB occult metastasis, which originated from the primary tumor located in the tongue and also metastasized to level IIA. The most associated morbidity was shoulder pain and dysfunction, which presented in 60% of the patients.Also, an electronic search was conducted to find relevant studies investigating the prevalence of level IIB metastasis in OSCC. Ten studies were included for full text review, including the current study. The overall incidence of level IIB metastasis is 4% (17 patients); of these 17 patients, only 4 patients had isolated level IIB nodal metastases (2%).To conclude, neck dissecting, including dissecting level IIB, remains the keystone of treating OSCC. Its prognostic and therapeutic value exceeds its associated morbidity; therefore, dissecting level IIB is recommended in treating OSCC in clinically N0 patients.

  2. Bevacizumab, Fluorouracil, and Hydroxyurea Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-02-06

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Stage III Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Stage III Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Verrucous

  3. [Clinical assessment of occult infections in children].

    PubMed

    Sporisević, L; Bajraktarević, A; Begić, Z

    2000-01-01

    Children's occult infections are characterised presenting pathogenic bacteries in blood of children in age 3 to 36 months, but they are good general aspect and orderly immunologic status and they don't have signs of focal infection. Manifestation of occult infections determined: age of child, increasing bodies temperature, testsphysical observance and clinical-biochemistry tests. Prevalence of manifestation occult infections is 3-8%, but they manifest ni a form occult bacteremia, occult pneumonia nad occult urinary infection. Methodic, systematic admission and adequate clinical-biochemical monitoring, we minimise sequeles of occult infections. Risk of serious sequeles at occult infections is importantly decreasing by epidemiological changes that it rises by using vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae is leading ethiological source. Many contraversal opinions are presented in glance of therapeutic strategy at children's occult infection. Future of solutions at many hesitations ni context diagnosis and therapy of occult infections is established in using recent detectional tests /pneumococcus PCR, plasmas tumor reaction, interleukin lâ/ and preventive intervetions activities /conjugated pneumococcus vaccination/.

  4. 21 CFR 864.6550 - Occult blood test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Occult blood test. 864.6550 Section 864.6550 Food... DEVICES HEMATOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY DEVICES Manual Hematology Devices § 864.6550 Occult blood test. (a) Identification. An occult blood test is a device used to detect occult blood in urine or feces. (Occult blood is...

  5. 21 CFR 864.6550 - Occult blood test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Occult blood test. 864.6550 Section 864.6550 Food... DEVICES HEMATOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY DEVICES Manual Hematology Devices § 864.6550 Occult blood test. (a) Identification. An occult blood test is a device used to detect occult blood in urine or feces. (Occult blood is...

  6. 21 CFR 864.6550 - Occult blood test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Occult blood test. 864.6550 Section 864.6550 Food... DEVICES HEMATOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY DEVICES Manual Hematology Devices § 864.6550 Occult blood test. (a) Identification. An occult blood test is a device used to detect occult blood in urine or feces. (Occult blood is...

  7. 21 CFR 864.6550 - Occult blood test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Occult blood test. 864.6550 Section 864.6550 Food... DEVICES HEMATOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY DEVICES Manual Hematology Devices § 864.6550 Occult blood test. (a) Identification. An occult blood test is a device used to detect occult blood in urine or feces. (Occult blood is...

  8. 21 CFR 864.6550 - Occult blood test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Occult blood test. 864.6550 Section 864.6550 Food... DEVICES HEMATOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY DEVICES Manual Hematology Devices § 864.6550 Occult blood test. (a) Identification. An occult blood test is a device used to detect occult blood in urine or feces. (Occult blood is...

  9. [Endoscopic screening for upper gastrointestinal second primary malignancies in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

    PubMed

    Tian, J J; Xu, W; Lyu, Z H; Ma, J K; Cui, P; Sa, N; Cao, H Y

    2018-04-07

    Objective: To evaluate the usefullness of flexible esophagoscopy and chromoendoscopy with Lugol's solution in the detection of synchronous esophageal neoplasm in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). Methods: A retrospective review of 96 cases with HSCC that received surgical treatment from March 2016 to March 2017 was accomplished. In these patients, the site of origin were pyriform sinus ( n =75), posterior pharyngeal wall ( n =11) and postcricoid ( n =10). Esophagoscopy was prospectively performed on all patients before treatment for HSCC. All patients underwent conventional white-light endoscopic examination with Lugol chromoendoscopy and narrow band image. Suspicious areas of narrow band image or Lugol-voiding lesions were observed and biopsied. The treatment strategy of primary HSCC was modified according to the presence of synchronous esophageal squamous cell neoplasms by a multidisciplinary approach. Results: Ninety-six patients were enrolled (age ranging from 37-80 years). All patients did not have previous treatment.Histopathological analysis revealed middle to high-grade dysplasia in 5 cases, Tis cancer in 5 cases, cancer in 16 cases and inflammation or normal findings in the others. Four cases were treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection before hypopharygeal surgery, 3 cases with lower esophageal cancers were treated with gastric pull-up combined with free jejunal flap after total circumferential pharyngolaryngectomy (TCPL) and certical esophagectomy, and 14 cases were treated with TCPL, total esophagectomy and gastric pull-up. Conclusions: Esophagoscopy is a feasible and justified procedure in HSCC cases as it enhances the detection of premalignant lesion or second primary cancer. Routine esophagoscopy for detecting synchronous second primary tumor should be recommended for patients with HSCC. The treatment strategy for primary HSCC is modified according to the presence of synchronous second primary tumor.

  10. Occurrence of occult CSF leaks during standard FESS procedures.

    PubMed

    Bucher, S; Kugler, A; Probst, E; Epprecht, L; Stadler, R S; Holzmann, D; Soyka, M B

    2018-03-18

    To determine the incidence of occult cerebrospinal fluid leaks (CSF) after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of beta2-transferrin in blood-contaminated conditions. Prospective cohort study. An analysis of 57 intraoperative samples using hydrogel 6 beta2-transferrin assay after FESS was undertaken. In case of CSF positive samples and continuing rhinorrhea, reanalysis after more than 1 year was conducted. In-vivo analysis of a primary spontaneous CSF leak sample took place to verify difficulties in detecting beta2-transferrin in blood-contaminated settings. Own titrations were performed to evaluate detection limits of CSF by beta2-transferrin and beta-trace protein assays in these settings. An incidence of 13% for occult CSF leaks after FESS was found. In blood-contaminated conditions, routine beta2-transferrin assays showed low sensitivity. In over 1 year follow-up, all samples were negative for CSF and none of them developed clinical relevant CSF leaks or meningitis. Occult and clinically irrelevant CSF leaks do occur in a significant proportion of patients during and shortly after FESS. Intra- and postoperatively, routine beta2-transferrin assays show low sensitivity. They should not be used in these settings. The clinical course of patients with occult CSF leaks indicated possibility of an uneventful follow-up.

  11. The primary growth of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro is effectively supported by paired cancer-associated fibroblasts alone.

    PubMed

    Wang, Mei; Wu, Chunping; Guo, Yu; Cao, Xiaojuan; Zheng, Wenwei; Fan, Guo-Kang

    2017-05-01

    significant differences in the proliferation capacity of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells cocultured with cancer-associated fibroblasts were detected during subculturing. High level of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 was detected in the culture supernatant of cancer-associated fibroblasts. The tumor-supporting effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts was significantly inhibited by AMD3100. Our findings demonstrate that the paired laryngeal cancer-associated fibroblasts alone are sufficient to support the primary growth of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro and that the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12/chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 axis is one of the major contributors.

  12. Synchronous gallbladder squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, both as primary tumors in one patient.

    PubMed

    Vahedi, Amir; Azimpouran, Mahzad; Ghavidel, Ali; Karbasi, Mahsa; Farhadi, Mehrdad

    2018-01-01

    Synchronous primary carcinomas of gallbladder are extremely rare. In this paper, we report a case of double primary carcinomas in gallbladder CASE REPORT: A 65 year old male was admitted to the hospital for surgical removal of gallbladder, which was diagnosed as cholecystitis in ultrasonography. Macroscopic examination disclosed a single whitish mass in gallbladder neck and another distinct mass in the fundus as wall thickening. Pathologic findings revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the neck and adenocarcinoma in the fundus. This study represents an example of misdiagnosis. Being cautious is mandatory in order to manage the patient properly. Synchronous primary carcinomas of gallbladder are rare. However this diagnosis should be taken into account in patients with cholecystitis features in order to seeking for the best surgical approach. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  13. Malignant mesothelioma with squamous differentiation.

    PubMed

    Tanaka, Hiroyuki; Akiyama, Yutaka; Kitamura, Akiko; Matsumoto, Nobuhiro; Tomita, Masaki; Kataoka, Hiroaki

    2018-06-01

    We report the autopsy findings of a 58-year-old man with malignant mesothelioma in the left pleural cavity. The patient had a history of asbestos exposure, and the chest computed tomography scan on initial admission demonstrated an extrapleural sign, suggesting a nodular lesion in the chest wall. However, no nodular lesions were detectable in either of his lungs. In spite of chemotherapy, he died 4 months after the initial admission. An autopsy revealed markedly thickened pleura in a large section of the left pleural cavity without visible intrapulmonary primary tumour lesions. Histological examination of a biopsy specimen obtained prior to chemotherapy and that of an autopsy specimen showed that the pleural tumour was composed of a mixture of mesothelioma and tumour cells with squamous differentiation mimicking squamous cell carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of mesothelioma with extensive squamous differentiation in the English-language literature. The extensive squamous differentiation reminiscent of squamous cell carcinoma can be a pitfall in the pathological diagnosis of pleural cytology and that of biopsy specimens from patients with mesothelioma. Here, we report autopsy findings of a case of malignant mesothelioma with portions of extensive squamous differentiation, mimicking a squamous cell carcinoma. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  14. Synchronous second primary cancers in patients with squamous esophageal cancer: clinical features and survival outcome.

    PubMed

    Lee, Jin Seo; Ahn, Ji Yong; Choi, Kee Don; Song, Ho June; Kim, Yong Hee; Lee, Gin Hyug; Jung, Hwoon-Yong; Ryu, Jin-Sook; Kim, Sung-Bae; Kim, Jong Hoon; Park, Seung-Il; Cho, Kyung-Ja; Kim, Jin-Ho

    2016-03-01

    Unexpected diagnosis of synchronous second primary cancers (SPC) complicates physicians' decision-making because clinical details of squamous esophageal cancer (EC) patients with SPC have been limited. We evaluated clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients with synchronous SPC detected during the initial staging of squamous EC. We identified a total of 317 consecutive patients diagnosed with squamous EC. Relevant clinical and cancer-specific information were reviewed retrospectively. EC patients with synchronous SPC were identified in 21 patients (6.6%). There were significant differences in median age (70 years vs. 63 years, p = 0.01), serum albumin level (3.3 g/dL vs. 3.9 g/dL, p < 0.01) and body mass index (20.4 kg/m(2) vs. 22.8 kg/m(2), p = 0.01) between EC patients with and without SPC. Head and neck, lung and gastric cancers accounted for 18.2%, 22.7%, and 18.2% of SPC, respectively. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) detected four cases (18.2%) of SPC that were missed on CT. Management plans were altered in 13 of 21 patients (61.9%) with detected SPC. Curative esophagectomy was attempted in 28.6% of EC patients with SPC (vs. 59.1% of patients without SPC; p = 0.006). EC patients with SPC had significantly lower 5-year survival than patients without SPC (10.6% vs. 36.7%, p = 0.008). Synchronous SPC were found in 6.6% of squamous EC patients, and PET-CT contributed substantially to the detection of synchronous SPC. EC patients with SPC had poor survival due to challenges of providing stage-appropriate treatment.

  15. Biopsy of CT-Occult Bone Lesions Using Anatomic Landmarks for CT Guidance.

    PubMed

    Hillen, Travis J; Talbert, Robert J; Friedman, Michael V; Long, Jeremiah R; Jennings, Jack W; Wessell, Daniel E; Baker, Jonathan C

    2017-07-01

    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the histopathologic diagnostic yield, sample size, procedural time, and dose-length product (DLP) for the biopsy of CT-occult lesions found at MRI or PET or both. A retrospective review of our radiology information system for biopsies of CT-occult lesions using CT guidance from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2014, was performed and compared with a selection of CT-guided biopsies of CT-evident bone lesions during the same period. The data were then evaluated for diagnostic yield of histopathologic diagnosis, procedural time, use of sedation medication, DLP, and size of specimens obtained. A total of 30 CT-occult biopsies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-seven of those biopsies had results that were concordant with the patient's primary histopathologic diagnosis, imaging findings, and clinical course. In the CT-evident lesion group, concordant histopathologic abnormalities were identified in 27 of 30 patients. There was a statistically significant increase in number of samples obtained for the CT-evident lesions compared with CT-occult lesions. There was no statistically significant difference in total specimen length, DLP, number of CT scans, procedural time, or use of sedation medication between the CT-occult and CT-evident biopsy groups. Biopsy of CT-occult lesions using anatomic landmarks achieves diagnostic yields similar to those for CT-guided biopsy of CT-evident lesions.

  16. Adjuvant treatment or primary topical monotherapy for ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Viani, Gustavo Arruda; Fendi, Ligia Issa de

    2017-01-01

    In this systematic review, we evaluated studies involving adjuvant and primary topical treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). The findings were: (i) adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) reduces the risk of relapse after surgical excision with mild side effects [level Ib, grade of recommendation (GR) A]. (ii) Primary topical mitomycin (MMC) produces a high rate of complete response, low recurrence rate, and mild side effects (level Ib, GR A). (iii) Primary chemotherapy versus adjuvant chemotherapy produce similar rates of recurrence, with no significant difference (level IIb, GR B). (iv) Adjuvant 5-FU versus MMC showed no significant differences, with mild side effects in both groups and a better toxicity profile for MMC (level III, GR C). (v) Primary topical 5-FU versus MMC versus interferon (IFN) showed similar rates of tumor recurrence, mild side effects for all drugs, and more severe side effects in the 5-FU arm, followed successively by MMC and IFN (level III, GR C).

  17. Facial nerve paralysis secondary to occult malignant neoplasms.

    PubMed

    Boahene, Derek O; Olsen, Kerry D; Driscoll, Colin; Lewis, Jean E; McDonald, Thomas J

    2004-04-01

    This study reviewed patients with unilateral facial paralysis and normal clinical and imaging findings who underwent diagnostic facial nerve exploration. Study design and setting Fifteen patients with facial paralysis and normal findings were seen in the Mayo Clinic Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Eleven patients were misdiagnosed as having Bell palsy or idiopathic paralysis. Progressive facial paralysis with sequential involvement of adjacent facial nerve branches occurred in all 15 patients. Seven patients had a history of regional skin squamous cell carcinoma, 13 patients had surgical exploration to rule out a neoplastic process, and 2 patients had negative exploration. At last follow-up, 5 patients were alive. Patients with facial paralysis and normal clinical and imaging findings should be considered for facial nerve exploration when the patient has a history of pain or regional skin cancer, involvement of other cranial nerves, and prolonged facial paralysis. Occult malignancy of the facial nerve may cause unilateral facial paralysis in patients with normal clinical and imaging findings.

  18. On the reduction of occultation light curves. [stellar occultations by planets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wasserman, L.; Veverka, J.

    1973-01-01

    The two basic methods of reducing occultation light curves - curve fitting and inversion - are reviewed and compared. It is shown that the curve fitting methods have severe problems of nonuniqueness. In addition, in the case of occultation curves dominated by spikes, it is not clear that such solutions are meaningful. The inversion method does not suffer from these drawbacks. Methods of deriving temperature profiles from refractivity profiles are then examined. It is shown that, although the temperature profiles are sensitive to small errors in the refractivity profile, accurate temperatures can be obtained, particularly at the deeper levels of the atmosphere. The ambiguities that arise when the occultation curve straddles the turbopause are briefly discussed.

  19. Occult Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia at emergency department: A single center experience.

    PubMed

    Chang, Eileen Kevyn; Kao, Kai-Liang; Tsai, Mao-Song; Yang, Chia-Jui; Huang, Yu-Tsung; Liu, Chia-Ying; Liao, Chun-Hsing

    2015-12-01

    Patients with undetected bacteremia when discharged from a hospital are considered to have occult bacteremia. Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia (KPB) is endemic to Taiwan. Our purpose was to study the impact of occult KPB. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who were discharged from our emergency department (ED) and subsequently diagnosed with KPB (occult bacteremia), from January 2008 to March 2014. All patients are followed for at least 3 months after the index ED visit. The study group was compared to KPB patients who were directly hospitalized (DH) from ED in 2008. Thirty-day mortality was the primary endpoint. A total of 913 patients were admitted to our ED with KPB, and 88 of these patients (9.6%) had occult KPB. Among them, 43 had second ED visit and 41 were admitted. The overall 30-day mortality was 2.3%. Relative to patients with occult KPB, DH patients had more respiratory tract infections (p < 0.001) but fewer other intra-abdominal infections (p = 0.015). Liver abscess was the major diagnosis for the second ED visit (37.2%). DH patients had significantly greater 30-day mortality than that of overall patients with KPB (19.2% vs.2.3%, p < 0.001). Most patients with occult KPB had favorable outcomes, but about half of them required a second ED visit. Clinicians should aggressively follow patients with occult KPB and should seek to identify the focus of infection in this endemic area. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  20. Decreased expression of cell adhesion genes in cancer stem-like cells isolated from primary oral squamous cell carcinomas.

    PubMed

    Mishra, Amrendra; Sriram, Harshini; Chandarana, Pinal; Tanavde, Vivek; Kumar, Rekha V; Gopinath, Ashok; Govindarajan, Raman; Ramaswamy, S; Sadasivam, Subhashini

    2018-05-01

    The goal of this study was to isolate cancer stem-like cells marked by high expression of CD44, a putative cancer stem cell marker, from primary oral squamous cell carcinomas and identify distinctive gene expression patterns in these cells. From 1 October 2013 to 4 September 2015, 76 stage III-IV primary oral squamous cell carcinoma of the gingivobuccal sulcus were resected. In all, 13 tumours were analysed by immunohistochemistry to visualise CD44-expressing cells. Expression of CD44 within The Cancer Genome Atlas-Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma RNA-sequencing data was also assessed. Seventy resected tumours were dissociated into single cells and stained with antibodies to CD44 as well as CD45 and CD31 (together referred as Lineage/Lin). From 45 of these, CD44 + Lin - and CD44 - Lin - subpopulations were successfully isolated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and good-quality RNA was obtained from 14 such sorted pairs. Libraries from five pairs were sequenced and the results analysed using bioinformatics tools. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to experimentally validate the differential expression of selected candidate genes identified from the transcriptome sequencing in the same 5 and an additional 9 tumours. CD44 was expressed on the surface of poorly differentiated tumour cells, and within the The Cancer Genome Atlas-Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma samples, its messenger RNA levels were higher in tumours compared to normal. Transcriptomics revealed that 102 genes were upregulated and 85 genes were downregulated in CD44 + Lin - compared to CD44 - Lin - cells in at least 3 of the 5 tumours sequenced. The upregulated genes included those involved in immune regulation, while the downregulated genes were enriched for genes involved in cell adhesion. Decreased expression of PCDH18, MGP, SPARCL1 and KRTDAP was confirmed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Lower expression of

  1. Triton stellar occultation candidates - 1992-1994

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mcdonald, S. W.; Elliot, J. T.

    1992-01-01

    A search for Triton stellar occultation candidates for the period 1992-1994 has been completed with CCD strip-scanning observations. The search reached an R magnitude of about 17.4 and found 129 candidates within 1.5 arcsec of Triton's ephemeris during this period. Of these events, around 30 occultations are expected to be visible from the earth, indicating that a number of Triton occultation events should be visible from major observatories. Even the faintest of the present candidate events could produce useful occultation data if observed with a large enough telescope. The present astrometric accuracy is inadequate to identify which of these appulse events will produce occultations on the earth; further astrometry is needed to refine the predictions for positive occultation identification. To aid in selecting candidates for additional astrometric and photometric studies, finder charts and earth-based visibility charts for each event are included.

  2. Progress on the occulter experiment at Princeton

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cady, Eric; Balasubramanian, Kunjithapatham; Carr, Michael; Dickie, Matthew; Echternach, Pierre; Groff, Tyler; Kasdin, Jeremy; Laftchiev, Christian; McElwain, Michael; Sirbu, Dan; Vanderbei, Robert; White, Victor

    2009-08-01

    An occulter is used in conjunction with a separate telescope to suppress the light of a distant star. To demonstrate the performance of this system, we are building an occulter experiment in the laboratory at Princeton. This experiment will use an etched silicon mask as the occulter, with some modifications to try to improve the performance. The occulter is illuminated by a diverging laser beam to reduce the aberrations from the optics before the occulter. We present the progress of this experiment and expectations for future work.

  3. Erlotinib and Cetuximab With or Without Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Kidney, Colorectal, Head and Neck, Pancreatic, or Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2014-06-10

    Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer; Recurrent Rectal Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Stage III Colon Cancer; Stage III Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Stage III Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Pancreatic Cancer; Stage III Rectal Cancer; Stage III Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx

  4. Several Well-observed Asteroidal Occultations in 2010

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Timerson, Brad; Durech, J.; Abramson, H.; Brooks, J.; Caton, D.; Clark, D.; Conard, S.; Cooke, B.; Dunham, D. W.; Dunham, J.; Edberg, S.; Ellington, C.; Faircloth, J.; Herchak, S.; Iverson, E.; Jones, R.; Lucas, G.; Lyzenga, G.; Maley, P.; Martinez, L.; Menke, J.; Mroz, G.; Nolan, P.; Peterson, R.; Preston, S.; Rattley, G.; Ray, J.; Scheck, A.; Stamm, J.; Stanton, R.; Suggs, R.; Tatum, R.; Thomas, W.

    2011-10-01

    During 2010 IOTA observers in North America reported about 190 positive observations for 106 asteroid occultation events. For several asteroids, this included observations with multiple chords. For two events, an inversion model was available. An occultation by 16 Psyche on 2010 August 21 yielded a best-fit ellipse of 235.4 x 230.4 km. On 2010 December 24, an occultation by 93 Minerva produced a best-fit ellipse of 179.4 x 133.4 km. An occultation by 96 Aegle on 2010 October 29 yielded a best-fit ellipse of 124.9 x 88.0 km. An occultation by 105 Artemis on 2010 June 24 showed a best-fit ellipse of 125.0 x 92.0 km. An occultation by 375 Ursula on 2010 December 4 produced a best-fit ellipse of 125.0 km x 135.0 km. Of note are two events not summarized in this article. On 2010 August 31, an occultation by 695 Bella yielded a new double star. That event will be summarized in the JDSO. Finally, on 2010 April 6, an occultation of zeta Ophiuchi by 824 Anastasia was observed by 65 observers at 69 locations. Unfortunately a large shift in the path yielded only 4 chords. Results of that event, and all the events mentioned here, can be found on the North American Asteroidal Occultation Results web page.

  5. Collision tumor of primary laryngeal mucosal melanoma and invasive squamous cell carcinoma with IL-17A and CD70 gene over-expression.

    PubMed

    Sirikanjanapong, Sasis; Lanson, Biana; Amin, Milan; Martiniuk, Frank; Kamino, Hideko; Wang, Beverly Y

    2010-12-01

    The most common primary malignancy of the larynx is the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The primary malignant melanoma is quite rare in this location. Less than 60 cases of laryngeal melanomas have been reported to date. To our knowledge, collision primary malignant melanoma and invasive squamous cell carcinoma in the vocal cords has not been reported. We report a 53-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with a collision tumor of laryngeal melanoma and invasive SCC. Multiple Th17 pathway related genes including CTLA-4, IL-17A-F, PLZF, FoxP3, RorγT, CD27, and CD70 were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (Rt-PCR) in this case. Both IL-17A and CD70 genes were detected in this case of collision tumor. The results may define useful biomarkers for early diagnosis of mucosal melanoma and open an immunotherapeutic field for clinical management with the potential benefit from the immunomodulators that enhance both genes.

  6. Stellar Occultation Studies of the Solar System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, James L.

    1998-01-01

    Earth-based observations of stellar occultations provide extremely high spatial resolution for bodies in the outer solar system, about 10,000 times better than that of traditional imaging observations. Stellar occultation data can be used to establish the structure of atmospheres and rings of solar system bodies at high spatial resolution. Airborne occultation observations are particularly effective, since the controlled mobility of the observing platform allows the observer to fly within the optimum part of the occultation shadow for most events that are visible from Earth. Airborne observations are carried out above any clouds and are nearly free of scintillation noise from the Earth's atmosphere. KAO occultation observations resulted in the first detection of gravity waves in the Martian atmosphere, discovery of the Uranian rings, the first detection of Pluto's atmosphere, the first Earth-based investigations of Triton's atmosphere, and the discovery of narrow jets from Chiron's nucleus. The first SOFIA occultation opportunity will be an investigation of Pluto's atmospheric structure in November, 2002, and will resolve a problem that has lingered since the KAO discovery observation fourteen years earlier. We plan to continue our successful airborne occultation program with the greatly enhanced capability provided by SOFIA. We propose here to replace our KAO occultation photometer with one having twice the throughput, half the noise, a somewhat wider wavelength range, four times the field of view, and ten times the frame rate to optimize its performance and to capitalize on the larger collecting area offered by SOFIA. It will also allow for simultaneous visible and IR occultation observations, greatly enriching the results that we can obtain from occultations. We call this new imaging occultation photometer HOPI (High-speed Occultation Photometer and Imager). HOPI will provide a signal-to-noise ratio two to four times that of our present photometer for a given

  7. Risk factors of occult malignancy in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism.

    PubMed

    Robin, Philippe; Le Roux, Pierre-Yves; Tromeur, Cécile; Planquette, Benjamin; Prévot-Bitot, Nathalie; Lavigne, Christian; Pastre, Jean; Merah, Adel; Couturaud, Francis; Le Gal, Grégoire; Salaun, Pierre-Yves

    2017-11-01

    Venous thromboembolism (VTE) can occur as the first manifestation of an underlying occult malignancy. It remains unclear whether or not a better selection of high risk patients might lead to more efficient occult cancer screening strategies. Our aim was to assess the predictors of occult malignancy diagnosis in patients with unprovoked VTE. Univariate analyses were performed to assess the effect of candidate predictors on occult cancer detection in patients enrolled in a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled study (MVTEP study) whose primary aim was to compare a limited screening strategy with a strategy combining limited screening and FDG PET/CT in patients with unprovoked VTE. This trial is completed and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00964275. Between March 3, 2009, and August 18, 2012, 399 patients were included. Five patients withdrew consent and refused the use of their data, and no VTE was confirmed in 2 patients who were excluded from this analysis. A total of 25 (6.4%) out of the 392 analysed patients received a new diagnosis of malignancyduring the 2-years follow-up. Age≥50years (p=0.01), male gender (p=0.04), leukocytes count (p=0.01), and platelets count (p=0.03) were associated with occult cancer detection. Patients with leukocytosis or thrombocytosis had a risk of cancer way above 10%. Previous VTE and smoker status (combining previous and current smokers) were not associated with occult cancer diagnosis (p>0.05). Demographic characteristics (age and sex), and laboratory tests (high platelets and leukocytes counts) may be associated with cancer detection in patients withunprovoked VTE. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Predicted occultations by Uranus - 1981-1984

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Klemola, A. R.; Mink, D. J.; Elliot, J. L.

    1981-01-01

    Predictions are presented for 11 occultations by and appulses to Uranus and its ring system for ten stars from 1981 through 1984. The brightest stars are occulted on April 26, 1981 (BD - 19 deg 4222) and on April 22, 1982 (Hyd - 20 deg 51699). The ring system occults the same star twice during March 1983 (Hyd - 21 deg 64352).

  9. Radio occultation experiments with INAF-IRA radiotelescopes.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pluchino, S.; Schillirò, F.; Salerno, E.; Pupillo, G.

    The Radio Occultation research program performed at the Medicina and Noto Radioastronomical Stations of the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) - Istituto di Radioastronomia (IRA) includes observations of spacecraft by satellite and satellite by satellite events. The Lunar Radio Occultation (LRO) part of the program consists in collecting data of the lunar Total Electron Content (TEC), at different limb longitudes and at different time, in order to study long term variation of the Moon's ionosphere. The LRO program started at Medicina in September 2006 with the observation of the European probe SMART-1 during its impact on the lunar soil. It proceeded in 2007 with the observation of the lunar occultations of Saturn and Venus, and with the observation of Mars in 2008. On this occasion the probes Cassini, Venus Express, Mars Express, Mars Reconaissance Orbiter and Mars Odissey were respectively occulted by the moon. On Dec 1st 2008 a Venus lunar occultation occurred. On that occasion we performed the first Italian-VLBI (I-VLBI) tracking experiment by detecting the carrier signals coming from the Venus Express (VEX) spacecraft with both the IRA radiotelescopes together with the Matera antenna of the Italian Space Agency. The second part of the radio occultation program includes the observation of satellite by satellite occultation events, as well as mutual occultations of Jupiter satellites. These events are referred to as mutual phenomena (PHEMU). These observations are aimed to measure the radio flux variation during the occultation and to derive surface spatial characteristics such as Io's hot spots. In this work preliminary results of the Radio Occultation program will be presented.

  10. Radiologically occult medulloblastoma with hydrocephalus: case report.

    PubMed

    Honma, Hirokuni; Ogiwara, Hideki

    2017-09-01

    There have been no reports of occult medulloblastoma nor noncommunicating hydrocephalus due to radiologically occult brain tumors. Herein, we report radiologically occult medulloblastoma with noncommunicating hydrocephalus. A 3-year-old boy presented with macrocephaly, visual field constriction, and papilledema. Neuroimagings showed enlargement of the ventricles without any mass lesions. The CT cisternography did not show influx of the contrast into the ventricles, which suggested local cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulatory disturbance at the outlet of the fourth ventricle. Due to possible obstructive nature of hydrocephalus, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was performed. Three months after the ETV, he presented with repeated vomiting. Neuroimagings showed a 3-cm fourth ventricular mass with progressive hydrocephalus. Surgical resection was performed, which revealed the pathology was medulloblastoma. We report the case of radiologically occult medulloblastoma which was demonstrated radiologically in the follow-up period of ETV for noncommunicating hydrocephalus of uncertain etiology. This is the first description of a radiologically occult medulloblastoma and also the first description of an occult brain tumor with noncommunicating hydrocephalus. The occult brain tumor may be included in the etiology of hydrocephalus.

  11. Squamous Cell Cancer of The Lung with Synchronous Renal Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Ateş, İhsan; Yazıcı, Ozan; Ateş, Hale; Yazılıtaş, Doğan; Özcan, Ayşe Naz; Ağaçkıran, Yetkin; Zengin, Nurullah

    2016-01-01

    Coexistence of two or more primary cancers is a relatively rare case. Not with standing that the coexistence of multiple primary cancers is often discussed in the literature, there is a small number of publications concerning the coexistence of squamous cell lung carcinoma and renal cancer. In this case report, detection of both squamous cell lung carcinoma and primary renal cancer in one male patient is going to be discussed. PMID:29404140

  12. [Progress in research of occult hepatitis B virus infection].

    PubMed

    Huang, X Y; Shi, Q F; Huang, T

    2017-05-10

    Occult hepatitis B virus infection is a worldwide public health problem, which seriously affects the clinical diagnosis of hepatitis B and threatens the safety of blood transfusion. The concept of occult hepatitis B virus infection, the pathogenesis of occult hepatitis B virus infection, the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in different groups, including healthy population and different patients, and the possibility of transmission were summarized. The prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection was found in healthy population and different patients, and there is possibility of occult hepatitis B virus infection to be transmitted through blood transfusion. The paper provides a comprehensive introduction of the pathogenesis and prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection. More attention should be paid to occult hepatitis B virus infection.

  13. New perspectives in occult hepatitis C virus infection

    PubMed Central

    Carreño, Vicente; Bartolomé, Javier; Castillo, Inmaculada; Quiroga, Juan Antonio

    2012-01-01

    Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, defined as the presence of HCV RNA in liver and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the absence of detectable viral RNA in serum by standard assays, can be found in anti-HCV positive patients with normal serum levels of liver enzymes and in anti-HCV negative patients with persistently elevated liver enzymes of unknown etiology. Occult HCV infection is distributed worldwide and all HCV genotypes seem to be involved in this infection. Occult hepatitis C has been found not only in anti-HCV positive subjects with normal values of liver enzymes or in chronic hepatitis of unknown origin but also in several groups at risk for HCV infection such as hemodialysis patients or family members of patients with occult HCV. This occult infection has been reported also in healthy populations without evidence of liver disease. Occult HCV infection seems to be less aggressive than chronic hepatitis C although patients affected by occult HCV may develop liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, anti-HCV negative patients with occult HCV may benefit from antiviral therapy with pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin. The persistence of very low levels of HCV RNA in serum and in PBMCs, along with the maintenance of specific T-cell responses against HCV-antigens observed during a long-term follow-up of patients with occult hepatitis C, indicate that occult HCV is a persistent infection that is not spontaneously eradicated. This is an updated report on diagnosis, epidemiology and clinical implications of occult HCV with special emphasis on anti-HCV negative cases. PMID:22736911

  14. Stellar occultation studies of the solar system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, J. L.

    1979-01-01

    The paper covers the principles, observational procedures, and results relating to occultations of stars by solar system bodies other than the moon. Physical processes involved in occultations are presented including (1) extinction by ring material, (2) differential refraction by a planetary atmosphere, (3) extinction by a planetary atmosphere, and (4) Fresnel diffraction by sharp edges. It is noted that from a sufficient number of immersion and emersion timings of a stellar occultation, the radius and ellipticity of the occulting body can be accurately determined. From an occultation by a planet having an atmosphere, temperature, pressure, and number density profiles can be obtained along with information about the composition of the atmosphere and the extinction.

  15. Method of Modeling and Simulation of Shaped External Occulters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lyon, Richard G. (Inventor); Clampin, Mark (Inventor); Petrone, Peter, III (Inventor)

    2016-01-01

    The present invention relates to modeling an external occulter including: providing at least one processor executing program code to implement a simulation system, the program code including: providing an external occulter having a plurality of petals, the occulter being coupled to a telescope; and propagating light from the occulter to a telescope aperture of the telescope by scalar Fresnel propagation, by: obtaining an incident field strength at a predetermined wavelength at an occulter surface; obtaining a field propagation from the occulter to the telescope aperture using a Fresnel integral; modeling a celestial object at differing field angles by shifting a location of a shadow cast by the occulter on the telescope aperture; calculating an intensity of the occulter shadow on the telescope aperture; and applying a telescope aperture mask to a field of the occulter shadow, and propagating the light to a focal plane of the telescope via FFT techniques.

  16. The BRAFT1799A mutation is not associated with occult contralateral carcinoma in patients with unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

    PubMed

    Wan, Han-Feng; Zhang, Bin; Yan, Dan-Gui; Xu, Zhen-Gang

    2015-01-01

    The phenomenon of occult carcinoma maybe observed in patients with clinically unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Although many studies have reported that the BRAFT1799A mutation is associated with aggressive PTMC, the relationship between BRAFT1799A mutation and occult carcinoma is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors, including BRAFT1799A mutation, for occult contralateral carcinoma in clinically unilateral PTMC accompanied by benign nodules in the contralateral lobe. From January 2011 to December 2013,we prospectively enrolled 89 consecutive PTMC patients with clinically unilateral carcinoma accompanied by benign nodules in the contralateral lobe who received a total thyroidectomy and cervical lymph node dissection. BRAFT1799A mutation was tested by pyrosequencing on postoperative paraffin specimens. The frequency and predictive factors for occult contralateral carcinoma were analyzed with respect to the following variables: age, gender, family history, tumor size, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, extrathyroidal extension, central lymph node metastasis, multifocality of primary tumor, or BRAFT1799A mutation. A total of 36 patients (40.4%) had occult PTMC in the contralateral lobe. The median diameter of the occult tumors was 0.33±0.21 cm. The BRAFT1799A mutation was found in 38 cases (42.7%). According to the univariate analysis, there were no significant differences between the presence of occult contralateral carcinoma and age, gender, family history, tumor size, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis, extrathyroidal extension, central lymph node metastasis, multifocality of primary tumor, or BRAFT1799A mutation. Using current methods, it is difficult to preoperatively identify patients with PTMC, and further research is needed to determine predictive factors for the presence of occult contralateral carcinoma in patients with unilateral PTMC.

  17. Occult Participation: Its Impact on Adolescent Development.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tennant-Clark, Cynthia M.; And Others

    1989-01-01

    Investigated relationship between occult participation, substance abuse, and level of self-esteem among 25 clinical (alcohol or drug treatment) and 25 nonclinical adolescents. Results indicated that adolescent substance abuse and occult participation were significantly related. Found significant differences between high versus low occult groups…

  18. The Northrop Grumman External Occulter Testbed: Preliminary Results

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lo, Amy; Glassman, T.; Lillie, C.

    2007-05-01

    We have built a subscale testbed to demonstrate and validate the performance of the New Worlds Observer (NWO), a terrestrial planet finder external-occulter mission concept. The external occulter concept allows observations of nearby exo-Earths using two spacecraft: one carrying an occulter that is tens of meters in diameter and the other carrying a generic space telescope. The occulter is completely opaque, resembling a flower, with petals having a hypergaussian profile that enable 10-10 intensity suppression of stars that potentially harbor terrestrial planets. The baseline flight NWO system has a 30 meter occulter flying 30,000 km in front of a 4 meter class telescope. Testing the flight configuration on the ground is not feasible, so we have matched the Fresnel number of the flight configuration ( 10) using a subscale occulter. Our testbed consists of an 80 meter length evacuated tube, with a high precision occulter in the center of the tube. The occulter is 4 cm in diameter, manufactured with ¼ micron metrological accuracy and less than 2 micron tip truncation. This mimics a 30 meter occulter with millimeter figure accuracy and less than centimeter tip truncation. Our testbed is an evolving experiment, and we report here the first, preliminary, results using a single wavelength laser (532 nm) as the source.

  19. Triton stellar occultation candidates: 1995-1999

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mcdonald, S. W.; Elliot, J. L.

    1995-01-01

    We have completed a search for candidates for stellar occultations by Triton over the years 1995-1999. CCd strip scan images provided star positions in the relevant sky area to a depth of about 17.5 R magnitude. Over this time period, we find that Triton passes within 1.0 arcsec of 75 stars. Appulses with geocentric minimum separations of less than 0.35 arcsec will result in stellar occultations, but further astrometry and photometry is necessary to refine individual predictions for identification of actual occultations. Finder charts are included to aid in further studies and prediction refinement. The two most promising potential occultations, Tr176 and Tr180, occur in 1997.

  20. Exploring the Solar System with Stellar Occultations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, J. L.; Dunham, E. W.

    1984-01-01

    By recording the light intensity as a function of time when a planet occults a relatively bright star, the thermal structure of the upper atmosphere of the planet can be probed. The main feature of stellar occultation observations is their high spatial resolution, typically several thousand times better than the resolution achievable with ground-based imaging. Five stellar occultations have been observed. The main results of these observations are summarized. Stellar occultations have been observed on Uranus, Mars, Pallas, Neptune and the Jovian Ring.

  1. Defining occult injuries of the distal forearm and wrist in children.

    PubMed

    Elvey, Michael; Patel, S; Avisar, Erez; White, W J; Sorene, E

    2016-06-01

    The nonspecific terms "wrist sprain" and "suspected occult bony injury" are frequently documented as diagnoses in occult paediatric wrist injuries. To date, however, no one has accurately defined their true underlying pathology. The primary objective of this study was to identify the true pathoanatomy of occult acute paediatric wrist injuries. Our secondary objective was to compare our findings with existing adult data in order to determine any population differences that might be clinically relevant. We performed a single-centre retrospective case series evaluating MRI findings in acute paediatric wrist injuries presenting to the hand injury unit between 2011 and 2014. All patients underwent standardised radiographs of the wrist and, where clinically indicated, of the scaphoid. Where no bony anomaly was identified, MRI scanning was offered. Cohen's kappa coefficient was used to calculate the agreement between clinical and MRI diagnosis. 57 patients met the final inclusion criteria. Occult fractures and bony contusions comprised the majority of the pathologies, at 36.5 and 35.0 %, respectively. There were no cases of isolated soft-tissue injury. MRI effected management change in 35.1 % of cases. Paediatric wrists demonstrated differences in injury pattern and distribution when compared to an adult population. This study defines for the first time the true pathology of occult paediatric wrist injuries. The current definition of a wrist sprain was not applicable to a single case and therefore appears to be inappropriate for use in the paediatric population. A precise knowledge of the likely pathology facilitates accurate information delivery whilst reducing parental uncertainty and treatment variation.

  2. Isolated perifacial lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma with clinically node-negative neck.

    PubMed

    Agarwal, Sangeet Kumar; Arora, Sowrabh Kumar; Kumar, Gopal; Sarin, Deepak

    2016-10-01

    The incidence of occult perifacial nodal disease in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma is not well reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of isolated perifacial lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with a clinically node-negative neck. The study will shed light on current controversies and will provide valuable clinical and pathological information in the practice of routine comprehensive removal of these lymph node pads in selective neck dissection in the node-negative neck. Prospective analysis. This study was started in August 2011 when intraoperatively we routinely separated the lymph node levels from the main specimen for evaluation of the metastatic rate to different lymph node levels in 231 patients of oral squamous cell cancer with a clinically node-negative neck. The current study demonstrated that 19 (8.22%) out of 231 patients showed ipsilateral isolated perifacial lymph node involvement. The incidence of isolated perifacial nodes did not differ significantly between the oral tongue (7.14%) and buccal mucosa (7.75%). Incidence was statistically significant in cases with lower age group (<45 years), advanced T stage, and higher depth of tumor invasion. Isolated perifacial node metastasis is high in oral squamous cell carcinoma with a clinically node-negative neck. The incidence of isolated perifacial involvement is high in cases of buccal mucosal and tongue cancers. A meticulous dissection of the perifacial nodes seems prudent when treating the neck in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. 4 Laryngoscope, 126:2252-2256, 2016. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

  3. Occult Metastases in Pelvic Lymphadenectomy Specimens From Patients With Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder.

    PubMed

    Gordetsky, Jennifer; Gibson, Briana; Stevens, Todd M; Ellenburg, J Luke; Grizzle, William; Rais-Bahrami, Soroush

    2016-08-01

    To identify occult metastases within lymph nodes (LNs) reported as negative by routine histologic evaluation. In patients with high-grade, muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder, pelvic lymphadenectomy during radical cystectomy demonstrates a survival advantage, increasing with the number of LNs removed, even if negative for metastatic disease. This finding may potentially be explained by the presence of occult metastases. Radical cystectomy specimens with high-grade UC invading the perivesical tissue and negative LNs (pT3N0) between 2000 and 2014 were reviewed. Five levels were cut for each LN block. Two sections were cut per level: 1 stained for hematoxylin and eosin and 1 for AE1/AE3. Micrometastases were defined as tumor deposits >0.2 mm but <2 mm. Isolated tumor cells were defined as ≤0.2 mm. Medical records and survival data were reviewed. We identified 21 cases, consisting of 370 lymph nodes. Six of 21 patients (29%) had occult metastases, including 5 occult metastatic UC and 1 occult metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. There were 10 positive LNs; 2 macrometastases, 2 micrometastases, and 6 with ITCs. Two of 6 patients (33%) had lymphovascular invasion identified in the primary tumor. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in overall survival between the group of patients who remained N0 versus those upstaged due to discovery of occult metastases (P-value = .42). In patients with pT3 UC undergoing cystectomy, we demonstrated the presence of occult metastases in 29% of patients. The high percentage of occult metastases present in these cases possibly explains the proven survival advantage of removing "negative" LNs. This finding might also have implications in the histologic evaluation of LNs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Erlotinib Hydrochloride and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, or Colorectal Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2015-09-28

    Adenocarcinoma of the Colon; Adenocarcinoma of the Rectum; Advanced Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Carcinoma of the Appendix; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor; Metastatic Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor; Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Recurrent Anal Cancer; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Esophageal Cancer; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer; Recurrent Gallbladder Cancer; Recurrent Gastric Cancer; Recurrent Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer; Recurrent Rectal Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Small Intestine Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma; Small Intestine Leiomyosarcoma; Small Intestine Lymphoma; Stage IV Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IV Anal Cancer; Stage IV Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Stage IV Colon Cancer; Stage IV Esophageal Cancer; Stage IV Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IV Gastric Cancer

  5. Availability of sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Maruyama, Hiroshi; Tanaka, Ryota; Fujisawa, Yasuhiro; Nakamura, Yasuhiro; Ito, Shusaku; Fujimoto, Manabu

    2017-04-01

    Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second common cutaneous cancer, especially in the elderly. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is generally performed in breast cancers and cutaneous melanomas to detect occult nodal metastases. The benefit of sentinel lymph node biopsy in improving cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma prognosis is doubtful. One hundred and sixty-nine patients who underwent treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma between 2004 and 2015, and who were followed up for at least 6 months or developed metastases within the follow-up period were included. Forty-nine patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, whereas 120 patients did not, including 13 who exhibited clinical lymph node metastases before treatment. Of these 49 patients, nine (18.4%) presented with sentinel lymph node metastasis, which occurred after treatment in three (6.1%) of them (false-negative). Among the 107 patients who did not undergo lymph node biopsy, 12 (11.2%) developed post-treatment metastases. The metastasis-free and disease-specific survival rates were not significantly different in those who did or did not undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy. Patients with clinical lymph node metastases had a higher risk compared with those without. Patients with T2-T4 tumors had a higher risk compared with those with T1 tumors. When selecting for those with T2 tumors or greater, the same lack of relationship was observed. In conclusion, in this small retrospective cohort, in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, there were no significant differences in metastasis-free and disease-specific survival rates between those who did or did not undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy, regardless of T staging. © 2016 Japanese Dermatological Association.

  6. Occult hemorrhage in children with severe ITP.

    PubMed

    Flores, Adolfo; Buchanan, George R

    2016-03-01

    Little is known about the frequency and significance of clinically unapparent or occult hemorrhage in ITP. Therefore, we prospectively explored the sites and frequency of occult bleeding in children with severe ITP at diagnosis or upon symptomatic relapse in a prospective, single-institution cohort study of patients ≤ 18 years of age and a platelet count ≤ 10,000/mm(3) . Data collected included bleeding severity assessment, urinalysis, fecal occult blood testing, and non-contrast brain MRI. Stool and urine samples were tested within 7 days of diagnosis or symptomatic relapse. Three months after diagnosis or relapse a noncontrast brain MRI evaluated hemosiderin deposits resulting from prior localized hemorrhage. Fifty-two ITP patients were enrolled with a mean platelet count of 4,000/mm(3) . A significant occurrence of occult hemorrhage was identified in the urine (27%) compared with clinically overt hematuria (0.91%, P < 0.0005). CNS microbleeding in the superficial cortex of the left frontal lobe was identified in one child with occult bleeding in the urinary tract. There was no relationship between occult hemorrhage and bleeding manifestations on physical examination. Occult hemorrhage was not a harbinger of subsequent bleeding. Our findings suggest that occult hemorrhage occurs with greater frequency than overt bleeding in children with severe ITP. CNS microbleeding is a potential risk in this patient population. Assessment of brain microbleeds and microscopic hematuria in this patient population require additional study. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. Menstrual cycle characteristics of young females with occult primary ovarian insufficiency at initial diagnosis and one-year follow-up with serum amh level and antral follicle count

    PubMed Central

    Guzel, Yilmaz; Aba, Yilda Arzu; Yakin, Kayhan

    2017-01-01

    Occult primary ovarian insufficiency (also known as incipient ovarian failure or diminished ovarian reserve) is defined as serum AMH level ≤1.1ng/mL in women under age 30. Limited data is available regarding the prevalence of occult POI, the preceding menstrual characteristics and its natural course in otherwise healthy young females. We aimed in this prospective observational study to determine the prevalence of occult POI in young females (< age 30) screened with serum AMH measurement; and analyze the patterns of change in their menstruation at initial assessment and one-year follow-up in relation to the changes in ovarian reserve quantitatively assessed with AMH and AFC. 963 young female college students under age 30 voluntarily participated in this study. 43 of them (4.4%) were diagnosed with occult POI as their AMH levels were ≤ 1.1ng/mL. Thirty-eight (83.4%) of them have regular cycles and denied any menstrual irregularity in the last 12 months. This rate was not statistically different from 7.3% of those with AMH>1.1ng/mL who reported at least one abnormal menstrual cycle in the last year (p = 0.36). Cycle length was significantly shorter in females with AMH ≤ 1.1ng/mL compared to those with AMH>1.1ng/mL (25.1±3.2 vs. 31.2±2.8 respectively, p<0.001). Karyotype, FMR-1 mutation analyses and auto-antibody screening returned normal in all. At one-year follow-up AMH, AFC and mean cycle length were further reduced compared to their values at initial assessment. Now, a greater proportion of the participants with occult POI were menstruating regularly at every 21 days compared to the initial evaluation one year ago (39.5% vs. 13.9% respectively, p = 0.013). Twenty-five underwent oocyte cryopreservation. These findings underscore the importance of screening young females with AMH for possible occult POI. It also emphasizes that young females with critically diminished ovarian reserve may continue to menstruate regularly without any characteristic menstrual

  8. Menstrual cycle characteristics of young females with occult primary ovarian insufficiency at initial diagnosis and one-year follow-up with serum amh level and antral follicle count.

    PubMed

    Guzel, Yilmaz; Aba, Yilda Arzu; Yakin, Kayhan; Oktem, Ozgur

    2017-01-01

    Occult primary ovarian insufficiency (also known as incipient ovarian failure or diminished ovarian reserve) is defined as serum AMH level ≤1.1ng/mL in women under age 30. Limited data is available regarding the prevalence of occult POI, the preceding menstrual characteristics and its natural course in otherwise healthy young females. We aimed in this prospective observational study to determine the prevalence of occult POI in young females (< age 30) screened with serum AMH measurement; and analyze the patterns of change in their menstruation at initial assessment and one-year follow-up in relation to the changes in ovarian reserve quantitatively assessed with AMH and AFC. 963 young female college students under age 30 voluntarily participated in this study. 43 of them (4.4%) were diagnosed with occult POI as their AMH levels were ≤ 1.1ng/mL. Thirty-eight (83.4%) of them have regular cycles and denied any menstrual irregularity in the last 12 months. This rate was not statistically different from 7.3% of those with AMH>1.1ng/mL who reported at least one abnormal menstrual cycle in the last year (p = 0.36). Cycle length was significantly shorter in females with AMH ≤ 1.1ng/mL compared to those with AMH>1.1ng/mL (25.1±3.2 vs. 31.2±2.8 respectively, p<0.001). Karyotype, FMR-1 mutation analyses and auto-antibody screening returned normal in all. At one-year follow-up AMH, AFC and mean cycle length were further reduced compared to their values at initial assessment. Now, a greater proportion of the participants with occult POI were menstruating regularly at every 21 days compared to the initial evaluation one year ago (39.5% vs. 13.9% respectively, p = 0.013). Twenty-five underwent oocyte cryopreservation. These findings underscore the importance of screening young females with AMH for possible occult POI. It also emphasizes that young females with critically diminished ovarian reserve may continue to menstruate regularly without any characteristic menstrual

  9. Optical performance of the New Worlds Occulter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arenberg, Jonathan W.; Lo, Amy S.; Glassman, Tiffany M.; Cash, Webster

    2007-04-01

    The New Worlds Observer (NWO) is a multiple spacecraft mission that is capable of detecting and characterizing extra-solar planets and planetary systems. NWO consists of an external occulter and a generic space telescope, flying in tandem. The external occulter has specific requirements on its shape and size, while the telescope needs no special modification beyond that required to do high-quality astrophysical observations. The occulter is a petal-shaped, opaque screen that creates a high-suppression shadow large enough to accommodate the telescope. This article reports on the optical performance of the novel New Worlds occulter design. It also introduces two new aspects of its optical performance which enhance the detectability of extra-solar planets. We also include a brief discussion of the buildability and the tolerances of the occulter. It is also shown that an occulter design can be found for any set of science requirements. We show that NWO is a viable mission concept for the study of extra-solar planets. To cite this article: J.W. Arenberg et al., C. R. Physique 8 (2007).

  10. Experiment D005: Star occultation navigation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Silva, R. M.; Jorris, T. R.; Vallerie, E. M., III

    1971-01-01

    The usefulness of star occultation measurements for space navigation and the determination of a horizon density profile which could be used to update atmospheric models for horizon-based measurement systems were studied. The time of occultation of a known star by a celestial body, as seen by an orbiting observer, determines a cylinder of position, the axis of which is the line through the star and the body center, and the radius of which is equal to the occulting-body radius. The dimming percentage, with respect to the altitude of this grazing ray from the star to the observer, is a percentage altitude for occultation. That is, the star can be assumed to be occulted when it reaches a predetermined percentage of its unattenuated value. The procedure used was to measure this attenuation with respect to time to determine the usefulness of the measurements for autonomous space navigation. In this experiment, the crewmembers had to accomplish star acquisition, identification, calibration, and tracking. Instrumentation was required only for measurement of the relative intensity of the star as it set into the atmosphere.

  11. Evaluation for Occult Fractures in Injured Children

    PubMed Central

    French, Benjamin; Song, Lihai; Feudtner, Chris

    2015-01-01

    OBJECTIVES: To examine variation across US hospitals in evaluation for occult fractures in (1) children <2 years old diagnosed with physical abuse and (2) infants <1 year old with injuries associated with a high likelihood of abuse and to identify factors associated with such variation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study in children <2 years old with a diagnosis of physical abuse and in infants <1 year old with non-motor vehicle crash–related traumatic brain injury or femur fractures discharged from 366 hospitals in the Premier database from 2009 to 2013. We examined across-hospital variation and identified child- and hospital-level factors associated with evaluation for occult fractures. RESULTS: Evaluations for occult fractures were performed in 48% of the 2502 children with an abuse diagnosis, in 51% of the 1574 infants with traumatic brain injury, and in 53% of the 859 infants with femur fractures. Hospitals varied substantially with regard to their rates of evaluation for occult fractures in all 3 groups. Occult fracture evaluations were more likely to be performed at teaching hospitals than at nonteaching hospitals (all P < .001). The hospital-level annual volume of young, injured children was associated with the probability of occult fracture evaluation, such that hospitals treating more young, injured patients were more likely to evaluate for occult fractures (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial variation in evaluation for occult fractures among young children with a diagnosis of abuse or injuries associated with a high likelihood of abuse highlights opportunities for quality improvement in this vulnerable population. PMID:26169425

  12. Evaluation for Occult Fractures in Injured Children.

    PubMed

    Wood, Joanne N; French, Benjamin; Song, Lihai; Feudtner, Chris

    2015-08-01

    To examine variation across US hospitals in evaluation for occult fractures in (1) children <2 years old diagnosed with physical abuse and (2) infants <1 year old with injuries associated with a high likelihood of abuse and to identify factors associated with such variation. We performed a retrospective study in children <2 years old with a diagnosis of physical abuse and in infants <1 year old with non-motor vehicle crash-related traumatic brain injury or femur fractures discharged from 366 hospitals in the Premier database from 2009 to 2013. We examined across-hospital variation and identified child- and hospital-level factors associated with evaluation for occult fractures. Evaluations for occult fractures were performed in 48% of the 2502 children with an abuse diagnosis, in 51% of the 1574 infants with traumatic brain injury, and in 53% of the 859 infants with femur fractures. Hospitals varied substantially with regard to their rates of evaluation for occult fractures in all 3 groups. Occult fracture evaluations were more likely to be performed at teaching hospitals than at nonteaching hospitals (all P < .001). The hospital-level annual volume of young, injured children was associated with the probability of occult fracture evaluation, such that hospitals treating more young, injured patients were more likely to evaluate for occult fractures (all P < .001). Substantial variation in evaluation for occult fractures among young children with a diagnosis of abuse or injuries associated with a high likelihood of abuse highlights opportunities for quality improvement in this vulnerable population. Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  13. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection

    PubMed Central

    Samal, Jasmine; Kandpal, Manish

    2012-01-01

    Summary: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a complex clinical entity frequently associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The persistence of HBV genomes in the absence of detectable surface antigenemia is termed occult HBV infection. Mutations in the surface gene rendering HBsAg undetectable by commercial assays and inhibition of HBV by suppression of viral replication and viral proteins represent two fundamentally different mechanisms that lead to occult HBV infections. The molecular mechanisms underlying occult HBV infections, including recently identified mechanisms associated with the suppression of HBV replication and inhibition of HBV proteins, are reviewed in detail. The availability of highly sensitive molecular methods has led to increased detection of occult HBV infections in various clinical settings. The clinical relevance of occult HBV infection and the utility of appropriate diagnostic methods to detect occult HBV infection are discussed. The need for specific guidelines on the diagnosis and management of occult HBV infection is being increasingly recognized; the aspects of mechanistic studies that warrant further investigation are discussed in the final section. PMID:22232374

  14. ASTEROID SIZING BY RADIOGALAXY OCCULTATION AT 5 GHZ

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lehtinen, K.; Muinonen, K.; Poutanen, M.

    Stellar occultations by asteroids observed at visual wavelengths have been an important tool for studying the size and shape of asteroids and for revising the orbital parameters of asteroids. At radio frequencies, a shadow of an asteroid on the Earth is dominated by diffraction effects. Here, we show, for the first time, that a single observation of an occultation of a compact radio source at a frequency of 5 GHz can be used to derive the effective size of the occulting object and to derive the distance between the observer and the center of the occultation path on the Earth.more » The derived diameter of the occulting object, asteroid (115) Thyra, is 75 ± 6 km. The observed occultation profile shows features that cannot be explained by diffraction of a single asteroid.« less

  15. Axillary metastasis as first symptom of occult breast cancer: a case report.

    PubMed

    Frattaroli, Fabrizio Maria; Carrara, Alessandro; Conte, Anna Maria; Pappalardo, Giuseppe

    2002-01-01

    Axillary lymph node metastasis from an occult breast carcinoma is a rare occurrence. We report this condition in a 59-year-old woman who presented with a swelling in the right axilla. No breast mass was clinically evident. Mammography, ultrasonography and multiple random fine-needle breast biopsies yielded no pathological findings. No extramammary primary lesions were present. Axillary sampling was performed and histological examination revealed the presence of metastatic adenocarcinoma in three of the 12 dissected lymph nodes. Estrogen receptors were positive and immunohistochemistry pointed to a breast origin. All these data were suggestive of occult breast cancer. The patient refused any further treatment but accepted clinical and radiological follow-up. Eight years later mammography revealed in the same breast a 10-mm nodule containing microcalcifications, which was not evident at physical examination. The patient underwent a lumpectomy. Intraoperative histology was positive for breast carcinoma and complete axillary clearance was performed. Histological examination revealed a lobular invasive breast carcinoma and the presence of micrometastasis in one of the 23 removed lymph nodes. The patient was given radiotherapy to the breast and axilla and tamoxifen. At present, one year after the appearance of the primary tumor, she is free of disease. Based on this case report we suggest an eclectic approach in the management of patients with axillary metastasis from occult breast cancer, depending on the clinical, pathological and biological findings.

  16. Image Analysis of the 2012 Pluto (Near) Occultation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-09-01

    Image Analysis of the 2012 Pluto (Near) Occultation Keith T. Knox Air Force Research Laboratory ABSTRACT Imagery was gathered at the AMOS...observatory on the 3.6-meter telescope for the expected occultation of a star by the dwarf planet, Pluto , on 29 June 2012. The imagery was taken at...5 Hz for 40 minutes before and after the expected time of occultation. The initial analysis of the photometry indicated that Pluto did not occult

  17. Photodynamic Therapy Using HPPH in Treating Patients Undergoing Surgery for Primary or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-28

    Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Thyroid Cancer; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage I Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage I Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Stage I Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage I Follicular Thyroid Cancer; Stage I Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage I Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Stage I Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Stage I Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage I Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage I Papillary Thyroid Cancer; Stage I Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage I Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage I Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage I Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage I Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage I Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage I Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage I Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage II Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the

  18. Progress on an external occulter testbed at flight Fresnel numbers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Yunjong; Sirbu, Dan; Galvin, Michael; Kasdin, N. Jeremy; Vanderbei, Robert J.

    2016-01-01

    An external occulter is a spacecraft flown along the line-of-sight of a space telescope to suppress starlight and enable high-contrast direct imaging of exoplanets. Laboratory verification of occulter designs is necessary to validate the optical models used to design and predict occulter performance. At Princeton, we have designed and built a testbed that allows verification of scaled occulter designs whose suppressed shadow is mathematically identical to that of space occulters. The occulter testbed uses 78 m optical propagation distance to realize the flight Fresnel numbers. We will use an etched silicon mask as the occulter. The occulter is illuminated by a diverging laser beam to reduce the aberrations from the optics before the occulter. Here, we present first light result of a sample design operating at a flight Fresnel number and the mechanical design of the testbed. We compare the experimental results with simulations that predict the ultimate contrast performance.

  19. Association of preS/S Mutations with Occult Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection in South Korea: Transmission Potential of Distinct Occult HBV Variants

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Hong; Kim, Bum-Joon

    2015-01-01

    Occult hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is characterized by HBV DNA positivity but HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negativity. Occult HBV infection is associated with a risk of HBV transmission through blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and liver transplantation. Furthermore, occult HBV infection contributes to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We recently reported the characteristic molecular features of mutations in the preS/S regions among Korean individuals with occult infections caused by HBV genotype C2; the variants of preS and S related to severe liver diseases among chronically infected patients were also responsible for the majority of HBV occult infections. We also reported that HBsAg variants from occult-infected Korean individuals exhibit lower HBsAg secretion capacity but not reduced HBV DNA levels. In addition, these variants exhibit increased ROS-inducing capacity compared with the wild-type strain, linking HBV occult infections to liver cell damage. Taken together, our previous reports suggest the transmission potential of distinct HBV occult infection-related variants in South Korea. PMID:26084041

  20. Association of preS/S Mutations with Occult Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection in South Korea: Transmission Potential of Distinct Occult HBV Variants.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hong; Kim, Bum-Joon

    2015-06-15

    Occult hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) is characterized by HBV DNA positivity but HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negativity. Occult HBV infection is associated with a risk of HBV transmission through blood transfusion, hemodialysis, and liver transplantation. Furthermore, occult HBV infection contributes to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We recently reported the characteristic molecular features of mutations in the preS/S regions among Korean individuals with occult infections caused by HBV genotype C2; the variants of preS and S related to severe liver diseases among chronically infected patients were also responsible for the majority of HBV occult infections. We also reported that HBsAg variants from occult-infected Korean individuals exhibit lower HBsAg secretion capacity but not reduced HBV DNA levels. In addition, these variants exhibit increased ROS-inducing capacity compared with the wild-type strain, linking HBV occult infections to liver cell damage. Taken together, our previous reports suggest the transmission potential of distinct HBV occult infection-related variants in South Korea.

  1. Head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to cervical sublevel IIb lymph nodes occurred from primary sites involving the auricle and adjacent neck.

    PubMed

    Maher, Nigel Gordon; Hoffman, Gary Russell

    2014-03-01

    Neck dissections that include sublevel IIb increase the risk of postoperative shoulder dysfunction. The purpose of this investigation was to document the incidence of level IIb metastatic lymphatic spread in a group of patients undergoing neck dissection as part of the surgical management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. A retrospective review of the pathology records taken from 1 surgeon from June 2006 through June 2013 was carried out. The predictor variable was the primary tumor site. The outcome variable was the metastatic nodal involvement according to neck level and sublevel. Secondary variables included T stage, pathologist, tumor depth, and the presence of perineural, perilymphatic, and perivascular invasion. Data analyses were by descriptive statistics. Thirty-six patients with a total of 40 neck dissections met the inclusion criteria. The average primary site tumor depth was 14.7 mm, and there were 16 cases of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Sublevel IIb was involved in 7.5% of cases, all of which occurred from lateralized primary sites of the head and neck. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma arising from the auricle and neck sites adjacent to sublevel IIb may have increased risk of metastatic involvement of sublevel IIb nodes. Further studies with larger numbers are required to determine the risk of metastasis to sublevel IIb from midline sites of the face. Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. TYC 5780-308-1 Discovery of Stellar Duplicity During Asteroidal Occultation by (834) Burnhamia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Timerson, Brad; George, T.; Blank, Ted; Maley, Paul; Messner, Steve; Moore, John

    2018-04-01

    An occultation of TYC 5780-308-1 by the asteroid (834) Burnhamia on August 23, 2017 (UT) showed this star to be a double star. Both components of the double star were occulted as recorded by four observers. The separation of the two components is 0.0143 ± 0.0004 arcseconds at a position angle of 73.8 ± 2.7 degrees. The magnitude of the primary component is estimated to be 9.8 +/- 0.03 (Tycho2 VT). The magnitude of the secondary component is estimated to be 9.92 +/- 0.03 (Tycho2 VT).

  3. [Glandular squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder].

    PubMed

    Kovylina, M V; Pushkar', D Iu; Zaĭrat'iants, O V; Rasner, P I

    2006-01-01

    The paper gives a clinical observation of a 52 year-old male with a rare histological urinary bladder tumor primary grandular-squamous-cell carcinoma (pT3N IM0). The tumor is represented by two components large acinic-cell adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma with keratinization, which smoothly pass one into another; the tumor has grown through all layers of the urinary bladder wall but it has failed to grow into the peritoneum. A microscopic study has indicated that the urachus is intact. Metastases were found in 3 of 8 lymph nodes: one showed high-grade adenocarcinoma and two others displayed average-grade squamous-cell carcinoma.

  4. Probing Titan's atmosphere with a stellar occultation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hubbard, W. B.

    1991-01-01

    The 3 July, 1989 occultation of 28 Sgr by Titan is discussed. The star was readily detectable throughout the occultation, reaching a minimum normalized flux of about 0.05. The occultation probed Titan's atmosphere in a region not studied by the Voyager spacecraft. The region is important for the aerobraking of Titan entry probes, and direct information about its properties is important for the Cassini mission. Occultation data (normalized stellar flux vs universal time) is shown in chart form for NASA supported stations, along with data from a collaborating group at the Wise observatory in Israel. Strong scintillation data of the star is noticeable in the data records, and provides information on waves/turbulence in Titan's high atmosphere.

  5. Radiation therapy for primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina: Stanford University experience

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Spirtos, N.M.; Doshi, B.P.; Kapp, D.S.

    1989-10-01

    A retrospective analysis of 38 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina seen at Stanford University Medical Center from 1958 to 1984 was undertaken. Patients were analyzed with regard to symptoms, stage, treatment techniques, survival, patterns of failure, and complications. Eighteen patients were classified as FIGO Stage I, 5 as Stage II, 10 as Stage III, and 5 as Stage IV. The 5-year disease-free survival was 94% in Stage I, 80% in Stage II, 50% in Stage III, and 0% in Stage IV. Five patients (13%) had eight major complications secondary to treatment. Only 2 of 23 patientsmore » with Stage I or Stage II disease developed a recurrence. There was a significant correlation between dose and response in patients treated with radiotherapy.« less

  6. Io hot spots - Infrared photometry of satellite occultations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Goguen, J. D.; Matson, D. L.; Sinton, W. M.; Howell, R. R.; Dyck, H. M.

    1988-01-01

    Io's active hot spots, which are presently mapped on the basis of IR photometry of this moon's occultation by other Gallilean satellites, are obtained with greatest spatial resolution near the sub-earth point. A model is developed for the occultation lightcurves, and its fitting to the data defines the apparent path of the occulting satellite relative to Io; the mean error in apparent relative position of occulting satellites is of the order of 178 km. A heretofore unknown, 20-km diameter hot spot is noted on Io's leading hemisphere.

  7. Strong scintillations during atmospheric occultations Theoretical intensity spectra. [radio scattering during spacecraft occultations by planetary atmospheres

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hinson, D. P.

    1986-01-01

    Each of the two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977 has completed a reconnaissance of the Jovian and Saturnian systems. In connection with occultation experiments, strong scintillations were observed. Further theoretical work is required before these scintillations can be interpreted. The present study is, therefore, concerned with the derivation of a theory for strong scattering during atmospheric occultation experiments, taking into account as fundamental quantity of interest the spatial spectrum (or spectral density) of intensity fluctuations. Attention is given to a theory for intensity spectra, and numerical calculations. The new formula derived for Phi-i accounts for strong scattering of electromagnetic waves during atmospheric occultations.

  8. OCCULT-ORSER complete conversational user-language translator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ramapriyan, H. K.; Young, K.

    1981-01-01

    Translator program (OCCULT) assists non-computer-oriented users in setting up and submitting jobs for complex ORSER system. ORSER is collection of image processing programs for analyzing remotely sensed data. OCCULT is designed for those who would like to use ORSER but cannot justify acquiring and maintaining necessary proficiency in Remote Job Entry Language, Job Control Language, and control-card formats. OCCULT is written in FORTRAN IV and OS Assembler for interactive execution.

  9. Sizes, Shapes, and Satellites of Asteroids from Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waring Dunham, David; Herald, David Russell; Preston, Steve; Timerson, Bradley; Maley, Paul; Frappa, Eric; Hayamizu, Tsutomu; Talbot, John; Poro, Atila

    2015-08-01

    For 40 years, the sizes and shapes of dozens of asteroids have been determined from observations of asteroidal occultations. Some of the first evidence for satellites of asteroids was obtained from the early efforts; now, the orbits and sizes of some satellites discovered by other means have been refined from occultation observations. Also, several close binary stars have been discovered, and the angular diameters of some stars have been measured from analysis of these observations. The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) coordinates this activity worldwide, from predicting and publicizing the events, to accurately timing the occultations from as many stations as possible, and publishing and archiving the observations.The release of the Hipparcos and Tycho catalogs in 1997, from ESA’s Hipparcos space mission, revolutionized asteroidal occultation work, increasing the routine accuracy of the predictions and the annual number of observations by an order of magnitude. IOTA developed an efficient procedure for predicting the occultations using a combination of new star catalogs, based on Hipparcos and new star catalogs, generated mainly at the U. S. Naval Observatory (USNO), and new observations of asteroids relative to the improved astrometric nets mainly from USNO’s Flagstaff Astrometric Scanning Transit Telescope and JPL’s Table Mountain Observatory. In addition, many IOTA observers now use inexpensive low-light-level video cameras and specially built GPS video time inserters to accurately time the events. This automation has also allowed some observers to deploy multiple remote video stations across occultation paths. Then, one observer can record several “chords” across the asteroid. The cameras are sensitive enough that easily-hidden telescopes, many of which can be packed in standard air travel suitcases, can be used for many of the predicted occultations. IOTA’s network of regional coordinators collect and reduce the observations

  10. Influence of misalignments on the performance of externally occulted solar coronagraphs. Application to PROBA-3/ASPIICS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shestov, S. V.; Zhukov, A. N.

    2018-05-01

    Context. The ASPIICS instrument is a novel externally occulted coronagraph that will be launched on board the PROBA-3 mission of the European Space Agency. The external occulter will be placed on one satellite 150 m ahead of the second satellite that will carry an optical instrument. During 6 h out of 19.38 h of orbit, the satellites will fly in a precise (accuracy around a few millimeters) formation, constituting a giant externally occulted coronagraph. The large distance between the external occulter and the primary objective will allow observations of the white-light solar corona starting from extremely low heights 1.1R⊙. Aims: We intend to analyze influence of shifts of the satellites and misalignments of optical elements on the ASPIICS performance in terms of diffracted light. Based on the quantitative influence of misalignments on diffracted light, we provide a recipe for choosing the size of the internal occulter (IO) to achieve a trade-off between the minimal height of observations and sustainability to possible misalignments. Methods: We considered different types of misalignments and analyzed their influence from optical and computational points of view. We implemented a numerical model of the diffracted light and its propagation through the optical system and computed intensities of diffracted light throughout the instrument. Our numerical approach is based on a model from the literature that considered the axisymmetrical case. Here we extend the model to include nonsymmetrical cases and possible misalignments. Results: The numerical computations fully confirm the main properties of the diffracted light that we obtained from semi-analytical consideration. We obtain that relative influences of various misalignments are significantly different. We show that the internal occulter with RIO = 1.694 mm = 1.1R⊙ is large enough to compensate possible misalignments expected to occur in PROBA-3/ASPIICS. Besides that we show that apodizing the edge of the

  11. The occult submucous cleft palate.

    PubMed

    Kaplan, E N

    1975-10-01

    We have studied 41 patients with classic submucous cleft and 32 cases with occult submucous cleft. Both groups have the same anatomic abnormality that leads to velar dysfunction-the insertion of the palate muscles onto the hard palate rather than onto the midline soft palate raphe. However, the occult submucous cleft palate does not have the classic triad of bifid uvula, hard palate bony notch, and furrow in the midline of the soft palate. Characteristic facial features, cephalmetric x-rays, and cine voice studies can help make a presumptive diagnosis of occult submucous cleft palate. Surgical management includes a diagnostic palate exploration to identify muscle configuration followed by levator muscle sling reconstruction, palate pushback, and pharyngeal flap. Excellent speech results are obtained except with patients having palate paresis.

  12. Combined human papillomavirus typing and TP53 mutation analysis in distinguishing second primary tumors from lung metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Daher, Tamas; Tur, Mehmet Kemal; Brobeil, Alexander; Etschmann, Benjamin; Witte, Biruta; Engenhart-Cabillic, Rita; Krombach, Gabriele; Blau, Wolfgang; Grimminger, Friedrich; Seeger, Werner; Klussmann, Jens Peter; Bräuninger, Andreas; Gattenlöhner, Stefan

    2018-06-01

    In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the occurrence of concurrent lung malignancies poses a significant diagnostic challenge because metastatic HNSCC is difficult to discern from second primary lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, this differentiation is crucial because the recommended treatments for metastatic HNSCC and second primary lung SCC differ profoundly. We analyzed the origin of lung tumors in 32 patients with HNSCC using human papillomavirus (HPV) typing and targeted next generation sequencing of all coding exons of tumor protein 53 (TP53). Lung tumors were clearly identified as HNSCC metastases or second primary tumors in 29 patients, thus revealing that 16 patients had received incorrect diagnoses based on clinical and morphological data alone. The HPV typing and mutation analysis of all TP53 coding exons is a valuable diagnostic tool in patients with HNSCC and concurrent lung SCC, which can help to ensure that patients receive the most suitable treatment. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Review of sentinel node procedure in cN0 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Guidelines from the French evaluation cooperative subgroup of GETTEC.

    PubMed

    Garrel, R; Poissonnet, G; Temam, S; Dolivet, G; Fakhry, N; de Raucourt, D

    2017-04-01

    The reliability of the sentinel lymph node (SN) technique has been established for more than ten years in T1-T2 oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma. Although most authors stress the necessity of rigorous implementation, there are no agreed guidelines. Moreover, other indications have been described, in other anatomical areas of the upper aerodigestive tract and in case of previous surgery or radiotherapy. SN expert teams, under the GETTEC head and neck tumor study group, conducted a review of the key points for implementation in head and neck cancers through guidelines and a review of classical and extended indications. Reliability depends on respecting key points of preoperative landmarking by lymphoscintigraphy, and intraoperative SN sampling and histological analysis. The SN technique is the best means of diagnosing occult lymph node involvement, whatever the primary tumor location, T stage or patient history. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  14. Study of the technique of stellar occultation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hays, P. B.; Graves, M. E.; Roble, R. G.; Shah, A. N.

    1973-01-01

    The results are reported of a study of the stellar occultation technique for measuring the composition of the atmosphere. The intensity of starlight was monitored during the occultation using the Wisconsin stellar ultraviolet photometers aboard the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO-A2). A schematic diagram of an occultation is shown where the change in intensity at a given wavelength is illustrated. The vertical projection of the attenuation region is typically 60 km deep for molecular oxygen and 30 km deep for ozone. Intensity profiles obtained during various occultations were analyzed by first determining the tangential columm density of the absorbing gases, and then Abel inverting the column densities to obtain the number density profile. Errors are associated with each step in the inversion scheme and have been considered as an integral part of this study.

  15. Risk Factors for Predicting Occult Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Clinical Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Staged by Integrated Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

    PubMed

    Kaseda, Kaoru; Asakura, Keisuke; Kazama, Akio; Ozawa, Yukihiko

    2016-12-01

    Lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are often staged using integrated 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). However, this modality has limited ability to detect micrometastases. We aimed to define risk factors for occult lymph node metastasis in patients with clinical stage I NSCLC diagnosed by preoperative integrated FDG-PET/CT. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 246 patients diagnosed with clinical stage I NSCLC based on integrated FDG-PET/CT between April 2007 and May 2015. All patients were treated by complete surgical resection. The prevalence of occult lymph node metastasis in patients with clinical stage I NSCLC was analysed according to clinicopathological factors. Risk factors for occult lymph node metastasis were defined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Occult lymph node metastasis was detected in 31 patients (12.6 %). Univariate analysis revealed CEA (P = 0.04), SUV max of the primary tumour (P = 0.031), adenocarcinoma (P = 0.023), tumour size (P = 0.002) and pleural invasion (P = 0.046) as significant predictors of occult lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis selected SUV max of the primary tumour (P = 0.049), adenocarcinoma (P = 0.003) and tumour size (P = 0.019) as independent predictors of occult lymph node metastasis. The SUV max of the primary tumour, adenocarcinoma and tumour size were risk factors for occult lymph node metastasis in patients with NSCLC diagnosed as clinical stage I by preoperative integrated FDG-PET/CT. These findings would be helpful in selecting candidates for mediastinoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.

  16. Testing for Occult Heartworm Infection

    PubMed Central

    Stogdale, L.

    1984-01-01

    Heartworm infection in dogs is endemic in southern Ontario but occurs only sporadically throughout the remainder of Canada. The disease may either be associated with microfilariae in the patient's blood, a patent infection, or it may be occult. This paper describes a case of occult dirofilariasis in a dog, with emphasis on the diagnosis. A patent infection could be missed if the clinician tests an insufficient amount of blood. He should perform multiple concentration tests using either the modified Knott's technique or a filtration method. Occult infections occur in prepatent or unisexual infections, when the worms become sterile following therapy, or when the host produces antibodies that result in the destruction of the microfilariae. The recent release of a kit which detects the presence of antibodies to the adult heartworms now enables veterinarians to make an accurate diagnosis in the vast majority of dogs. PMID:17422386

  17. Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT): MedlinePlus Lab Test Information

    MedlinePlus

    ... medlineplus.gov/labtests/fecaloccultbloodtestfobt.html Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) To use the sharing features on this ... enable JavaScript. What is a Fecal Occult Blood Test? A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) looks at ...

  18. A Digital Video System for Observing and Recording Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barry, M. A. Tony; Gault, Dave; Pavlov, Hristo; Hanna, William; McEwan, Alistair; Filipović, Miroslav D.

    2015-09-01

    Stellar occultations by asteroids and outer solar system bodies can offer ground based observers with modest telescopes and camera equipment the opportunity to probe the shape, size, atmosphere, and attendant moons or rings of these distant objects. The essential requirements of the camera and recording equipment are: good quantum efficiency and low noise; minimal dead time between images; good horological faithfulness of the image timestamps; robustness of the recording to unexpected failure; and low cost. We describe an occultation observing and recording system which attempts to fulfil these requirements and compare the system with other reported camera and recorder systems. Five systems have been built, deployed, and tested over the past three years, and we report on three representative occultation observations: one being a 9 ± 1.5 s occultation of the trans-Neptunian object 28978 Ixion (m v =15.2) at 3 seconds per frame; one being a 1.51 ± 0.017 s occultation of Deimos, the 12 km diameter satellite of Mars, at 30 frames per second; and one being a 11.04 ± 0.4 s occultation, recorded at 7.5 frames per second, of the main belt asteroid 361 Havnia, representing a low magnitude drop (Δm v = ~0.4) occultation.

  19. Ultrasound for diagnosing radiographically occult scaphoid fracture.

    PubMed

    Kwee, Robert M; Kwee, Thomas C

    2018-04-04

    To systematically review the literature on the performance of ultrasound in diagnosing radiographically occult scaphoid fracture. A systematic search was performed in the MEDLINE and Embase databases. Original studies investigating the performance of ultrasound in diagnosing radiographically occult scaphoid fracture in more than 10 patients were eligible for inclusion. Studies that included both radiographically apparent and occult scaphoid fractures (at initial radiography) were only included if independent data on radiographically occult fractures were reported. Methodological quality of the studies included was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) tool. Accuracy data were extracted. Sensitivity and specificity were pooled with a bivariate random-effects model. The inclusion criteria were met by 7 studies; total sample size comprised 314 patients. All studies, except 1, included cortical disruption of the scaphoid in their diagnostic criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in diagnosing radiographically occult scaphoid fracture ranged from 77.8% to 100% and from 71.4% to 100% respectively, with pooled estimates of 85.6% (95% CI: 73.9%, 92.6%) and 83.3% % (95% CI: 72.0%, 90.6%) respectively. Exclusion of two studies with a high risk of bias in any QUADAS-2 domain did not affect the pooled results. Ultrasound can diagnose radiographically occult scaphoid fracture with a fairly high degree of accuracy. Because of its relatively low costs and fairly high sensitivity, ultrasound seems more cost-effective than empiric cast immobilization and may be used when CT and MRI are not readily available.

  20. Chiron stellar occultation candidates: 1993-1996

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bus, S. J.; Wasserman, L. H.; Elliot, J. L.

    1994-01-01

    A photographic search was conducted for stars that may be occulted by the unusual solar system object (2060) Chiron during the period from fall 1993 through summer 1996. 44 candidates were identified to a limiting V magnitude of 16, and for which the minimum appulse separation with Chiron is predicted to be less than 2.5 arcsec. The successful observation of a stellar occultation by Chiron would give a direct measure of its diameter (currently estimated to be between 60 and 300 km), and would help considerably in constraining Chiron's surface properties and volatile makeup. If at the time of the occultation, Chiron exhibits a significant coma, there is also the potential for measuring the optical-depth profile of the dust in its inner coma.

  1. Nondimensional Representations for Occulter Design and Performance Evaluation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cady, Eric

    2011-01-01

    An occulter is a spacecraft with a precisely-shaped optical edges which ies in formation with a telescope, blocking light from a star while leaving light from nearby planets una ected. Using linear optimization, occulters can be designed for use with telescopes over a wide range of telescope aperture sizes, science bands, and starlight suppression levels. It can be shown that this optimization depends primarily on a small number of independent nondimensional parameters, which correspond to Fresnel numbers and physical scales and enter the optimization only as constraints. We show how these can be used to span the parameter space of possible optimized occulters; this data set can then be mined to determine occulter sizes for various mission scenarios and sets of engineering constraints.

  2. Sizes, Shapes, and Satellites of Asteroids from Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dunham, David W.; Herald, David; Preston, Steve; Timerson, Brad; Maley, Paul; Frappa, Eric; Hayamizu, Tsutomu; Talbot, John; Poro, Atila

    2016-01-01

    For 40 years, the sizes and shapes of many dozens of asteroids have been determined from observations of asteroidal occultations, and over a thousand high-precision positions of the asteroids relative to stars have been measured. Some of the first evidence for satellites of asteroids was obtained from the early efforts; now, the orbits and sizes of some satellites discovered by other means have been refined from occultation observations. Also, several close binary stars have been discovered, and the angular diameters of some stars have been measured from analysis of these observations. The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) coordinates this activity worldwide, from predicting and publicizing the events, to accurately timing the occultations from as many stations as possible, and publishing and archiving the observations.

  3. Mutations Associated With Occult Hepatitis B in HIV-Positive South Africans

    PubMed Central

    Powell, Eleanor A.; Gededzha, Maemu P.; Rentz, Michael; Rakgole, Nare J.; Selabe, Selokela G.; Seleise, Tebogo A.; Mphahlele, M. Jeffrey; Blackard, Jason T.

    2015-01-01

    Occult hepatitis B is characterized by the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) but the presence of HBV DNA. Because diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) typically includes HBsAg detection, occult HBV remains largely undiagnosed. Occult HBV is associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, reactivation to chronic HBV during immune suppression, and transmission during blood transfusion and liver transplant. The mechanisms leading to occult HBV infection are unclear, although viral mutations are likely a significant factor. In this study, sera from 394 HIV-positive South Africans were tested for HBV DNA and HBsAg. For patients with detectable HBV DNA, the overlapping surface and polymerase open reading frames (ORFs) were sequenced. Occult-associated mutations—those mutations found exclusively in individuals with occult HBV infection but not in individuals with chronic HBV infection from the same cohort or GenBank references—were identified. Ninety patients (22.8%) had detectable HBV DNA. Of these, 37 had detectable HBsAg, while 53 lacked detectable surface antigen. The surface and polymerase ORFs were cloned successfully for 19 patients with chronic HBV and 30 patients with occult HBV. In total, 235 occult-associated mutations were identified. Ten occult-associated mutations were identified in more than one patient. Additionally, 15 amino acid positions had two distinct occult-associated mutations at the same residue. Occult-associated mutations were common and present in all regions of the surface and polymerase ORFs. Further study is underway to determine the effects of these mutations on viral replication and surface antigen expression in vitro. PMID:25164924

  4. Mutations associated with occult hepatitis B in HIV-positive South Africans.

    PubMed

    Powell, Eleanor A; Gededzha, Maemu P; Rentz, Michael; Rakgole, Nare J; Selabe, Selokela G; Seleise, Tebogo A; Mphahlele, M Jeffrey; Blackard, Jason T

    2015-03-01

    Occult hepatitis B is characterized by the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) but the presence of HBV DNA. Because diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) typically includes HBsAg detection, occult HBV remains largely undiagnosed. Occult HBV is associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, reactivation to chronic HBV during immune suppression, and transmission during blood transfusion and liver transplant. The mechanisms leading to occult HBV infection are unclear, although viral mutations are likely a significant factor. In this study, sera from 394 HIV-positive South Africans were tested for HBV DNA and HBsAg. For patients with detectable HBV DNA, the overlapping surface and polymerase open reading frames (ORFs) were sequenced. Occult-associated mutations-those mutations found exclusively in individuals with occult HBV infection but not in individuals with chronic HBV infection from the same cohort or GenBank references-were identified. Ninety patients (22.8%) had detectable HBV DNA. Of these, 37 had detectable HBsAg, while 53 lacked detectable surface antigen. The surface and polymerase ORFs were cloned successfully for 19 patients with chronic HBV and 30 patients with occult HBV. In total, 235 occult-associated mutations were identified. Ten occult-associated mutations were identified in more than one patient. Additionally, 15 amino acid positions had two distinct occult-associated mutations at the same residue. Occult-associated mutations were common and present in all regions of the surface and polymerase ORFs. Further study is underway to determine the effects of these mutations on viral replication and surface antigen expression in vitro. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Design of an occulter testbed at flight Fresnel numbers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sirbu, Dan; Kasdin, N. Jeremy; Kim, Yunjong; Vanderbei, Robert J.

    2015-01-01

    An external occulter is a spacecraft flown along the line-of-sight of a space telescope to suppress starlight and enable high-contrast direct imaging of exoplanets. Laboratory verification of occulter designs is necessary to validate the optical models used to design and predict occulter performance. At Princeton, we are designing and building a testbed that allows verification of scaled occulter designs whose suppressed shadow is mathematically identical to that of space occulters. Here, we present a sample design operating at a flight Fresnel number and is thus representative of a realistic space mission. We present calculations of experimental limits arising from the finite size and propagation distance available in the testbed, limitations due to manufacturing feature size, and non-ideal input beam. We demonstrate how the testbed is designed to be feature-size limited, and provide an estimation of the expected performance.

  6. Diagnostic strategy for occult hepatitis B virus infection

    PubMed Central

    Ocana, Sara; Casas, Maria Luisa; Buhigas, Ingrid; Lledo, Jose Luis

    2011-01-01

    In 2008, the European Association for the study of the liver (EASL) defined occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) as the “presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the liver (with detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the serum) of individuals testing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative by currently available assays”. Several aspects of occult HBV infection are still poorly understood, including the definition itself and a standardized approach for laboratory-based detection, which is the purpose of this review. The clinical significance of OBI has not yet been established; however, in terms of public health, the clinical importance arises from the risk of HBV transmission. Consequently, it is important to detect high-risk groups for occult HBV infection to prevent transmission. The main issue is, perhaps, to identify the target population for screening OBI. Viremia is very low or undetectable in occult HBV infection, even when the most sensitive methods are used, and the detection of the viral DNA reservoir in hepatocytes would provide the best evaluation of occult HBV prevalence in a defined set of patients. However, this diagnostic approach is obviously unsuitable: blood detection of occult hepatitis B requires assays of the highest sensitivity and specificity with a lower limit of detection < 10 IU/mL for HBV DNA and < 0.1 ng/mL for HBsAg. PMID:21472120

  7. Portable high speed photometry systems for observing occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elliot, J. L.; Dunham, E. W.

    1986-09-01

    Ring orbit studies for Uranus have been particularly fruitful because of the ability, through occultations, to obtain data of high spatial resolution at the rate of 1 to 2 times per year. The occultation program at M.I.T. involves: (1) identifying the scientific questions that can be answered by occultation events, (2) predicting the zone of visibility for the useful events, (3) maintaining and improving a set of portable high-speed photometric systems, (4) obtaining the observations, and (5) reducing the data and interpreting the results. Two stellar occultations by Uranus occurred in May 1985, and were observed with a network of large telescopes that encompassed the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Portable quartz-oscillator time standards were used at all observatories, and were calibrated before and after each event. Observations obtained form Cerro Tololo and McDonald Observatories of the 4 May and 24 May 1985 occultations by the Uranian rings clearly show a companion to the delta ring on both the immersion and emersion traces. The occultation by Ceres that occurred on 12 November 1984 was observed. Preliminary results give a mean diameter of 933 + or - 10 km, which implies a geometric albedo, Pv = 0.07 + or - 0.01 and a density 2.7 + or - 0.3 gm cu/cm. Hence Ceres is likely composed of silicate material throughout.

  8. First results from stellar occultations in the "GAIA era"

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benedetti-Rossi, G.; Vieira-Martins, R.; Sicardy, B.

    2017-09-01

    Stellar occultation is a powerful technique to study distant solar system bodies. It allows high angular resolution of the occulting body from the analysis of a light curve acquired with high temporal resolution with uncertainties comparable as probes. In the "GAIA era", stellar occultations is now able to obtain even more impressive results such as the presence of atmosphere, rings and topographic features.

  9. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma thyroid from functionally cured cancer cervix

    PubMed Central

    Vamsy, Mohana; Dattatreya, Palanki Satya; Sarma, Lella Yugandhar; Dayal, Monal; Janardhan, Nandigam; Rao, Vatturi Venkata Satya Prabhakar

    2013-01-01

    The authors report a very unusual occurrence of a metastatic squamous carcinoma to thyroid gland from a treated squamous cell carcinoma cervix 12 years before with no recurrence at the primary site. The case also has an additional complexity of rapid progression of the metastatic thyroid carcinoma to wide spread dissemination to lungs and bones while on concurrent chemo radio therapy confirming the aggressiveness of the entity. PMID:24163519

  10. Association of maximum standardized uptake value with occult mediastinal lymph node metastases in cN0 non-small cell lung cancer.

    PubMed

    Lin, Jun-Tao; Yang, Xue-Ning; Zhong, Wen-Zhao; Liao, Ri-Qiang; Dong, Song; Nie, Qiang; Weng, Si-Xian; Fang, Xiao-Jing; Zheng, Jun-Yi; Wu, Yi-Long

    2016-11-01

    The management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) relies on the tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and the treatment regimen differs based on the N status. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has emerged as a powerful imaging tool for the detection of various cancers with a relatively low false-negative rate. We explored predictors to identify false-negative N2 disease in PET-CT. A total of 284 consecutive cN0 patients with peripheral NSCLC who underwent PET-CT scans followed by curative intent resections were enrolled as a training set to identify predictors of occult N2 metastases by multivariable analysis. The accuracy and cut-off values for the predictors were calculated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Clinical and pathological data were analysed retrospectively. An additional 151 patients were collected as a test set to validate the results, including the occult N2 rate and accuracy. In total, 8.5% (24/284) PET-CT-diagnosed N0 NSCLC cases had pathologically diagnosed N2 metastases. The SUV max of the primary tumour was a unique independent risk factor for occult N2 NSCLC [P = 0.003, 95% confidence interval = 0.81-0.96, odds ratio (OR) = 0.88]. Occult N2 metastases occurred more frequently in the subcarinal (16/24) and right lower paratracheal lymph nodes (12/24). Accordingly, we divided the patients into two groups by SUV max : the occult N2 rates in the SUV max of <2.6 and SUV max of ≥2.6 groups were 1.0% (1/100) and 12.5% (23/184), respectively (P = 0.001). In the test set, the occult N2 incidence rate was 9.3% (14/151), with the highest rates occurring in the subcarinal (9/14) and right lower paratracheal lymph nodes (6/14). In the two groups defined by SUV max , the occult N2 rates were 4% (2/50) and 11.9% (12/101), respectively. The SUV max of the primary tumour was an independent risk factor for occult N2 metastases in NSCLC patients diagnosed as clinical N0 by PET-CT. SUV max of ≥2.6 of the primary tumour

  11. Solar Occultation Retrieval Algorithm Development

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lumpe, Jerry D.

    2004-01-01

    This effort addresses the comparison and validation of currently operational solar occultation retrieval algorithms, and the development of generalized algorithms for future application to multiple platforms. initial development of generalized forward model algorithms capable of simulating transmission data from of the POAM II/III and SAGE II/III instruments. Work in the 2" quarter will focus on: completion of forward model algorithms, including accurate spectral characteristics for all instruments, and comparison of simulated transmission data with actual level 1 instrument data for specific occultation events.

  12. An evaluation of bone scans as screening procedures for occult metastases in primary breast cancer.

    PubMed Central

    Baker, R R; Holmes, E R; Alderson, P O; Khouri, N F; Wagner, H N

    1977-01-01

    Preoperative bone scans were obtained in 104 patients with operable breast cancer. Areas of increased radioactivity detected by the bone scan were correlated with appropriate radiographs. One of 64 patients (1.5%) with clinical Stage I and Stage II breast cancer had a metastatic lesion detected by the preoperative bone scan. In contrast, 10 of 41 patients (24%) with Stage III breast cancer had occult metastatic lesions detected by the preoperative bone scan. The majority of patients with abnormal bone scans and no radiographic evidence of a benign lesion to explain the cause of the increased radioactivity proved to have metastatic breast cancer on follow-examination. Even though 20% of patients with operable breast cancer will eventually develop bone metastases, our results indicate that preoperative bone scans are not an effective means of predicting which patients with Stage I and Stage II disease will develop metastatic breast cancer. Because of the considerably increased frequency of detection of occult metastases in patients with Stage III breast cancer, bone scans should be obtained routinely in the preoperative assessment of these patients. Images Figs. 1a and b. Figs. 2a and b. Figs. 3a-d. PMID:889378

  13. Occult Intertrochanteric Fracture Mimicking the Fracture of Greater Trochanter.

    PubMed

    Chung, Phil Hyun; Kang, Suk; Kim, Jong Pil; Kim, Young Sung; Lee, Ho Min; Back, In Hwa; Eom, Kyeong Soo

    2016-06-01

    Occult intertrochanteric fractures are misdiagnosed as isolated greater trochanteric fractures in some cases. We investigated the utility of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and outcome management of occult intertrochanteric fractures. This study involved 23 cases of greater trochanteric fractures as diagnosed using plain radiographs from January 2004 to July 2013. Until January 2008, 9 cases were examined with 3D-CT only, while 14 cases were screened with both 3D-CT and MRI scans. We analyzed diagnostic accuracy and treatment results following 3D-CT and MRI scanning. Nine cases that underwent 3D-CT only were diagnosed with isolated greater trochanteric fractures without occult intertrochanteric fractures. Of these, a patient with displacement received surgical treatment. Of the 14 patients screened using both CT and MRI, 13 were diagnosed with occult intertrochanteric fractures. Of these, 11 were treated with surgical intervention and 2 with conservative management. Three-dimensional CT has very low diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing occult intertrochanteric fractures. For this reason, MRI is recommended to confirm a suspected occult intertrochanteric fracture and to determine the most appropriate mode of treatment.

  14. Introducing Cytology-Based Theranostics in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Pilot Program.

    PubMed

    Patrikidou, Anna; Valeri, Rosalia Maria; Kitikidou, Kyriaki; Destouni, Charikleia; Vahtsevanos, Konstantinos

    2016-04-01

    We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of brush cytology in the biomarker expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinomas within the concept of theranostics, and to correlate this biomarker profile with patient measurable outcomes. Markers representative of prognostic gene expression changes in oral squamous cell carcinoma was selected. These markers were also selected to involve pathways for which commercially available or investigational agents exist for clinical application. A set of 7 markers were analysed by immunocytochemistry on the archival primary tumour material of 99 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. We confirmed the feasibility of the technique for the expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Furthermore, our results affirm the prognostic significance of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family and the angiogenic pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma, confirming their interest for targeted therapy. Brush cytology appears feasible and applicable for the expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma within the concept of theranostics, according to sample availability.

  15. First light of an external occulter testbed at flight Fresnel numbers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Yunjong; Sirbu, Dan; Hu, Mia; Kasdin, Jeremy; Vanderbei, Robert J.; Harness, Anthony; Shaklan, Stuart

    2017-01-01

    Many approaches have been suggested over the last couple of decades for imaging Earth-like planets. One of the main candidates for creating high-contrast for future Earth-like planets detection is an external occulter. The external occulter is a spacecraft flown along the line-of-sight of a space telescope to suppress starlight and enable high-contrast direct imaging of exoplanets. The occulter is typically tens of meters in diameter and the separation from the telescope is of the order of tens of thousands of kilometers. Optical testing of a full-scale external occulter on the ground is impossible because of the long separations. Therefore, laboratory verification of occulter designs is necessary to validate the optical models used to design and predict occulter performance. At Princeton, we have designed and built a testbed that allows verification of scaled occulter designs whose suppressed shadow is mathematically identical to that of space occulters. The goal of this experiment is to demonstrate a pupil plane suppression of better than 1e-9 with a corresponding image plane contrast of better than 1e-11. The occulter testbed uses a 77.2 m optical propagation distance to realize the flight Fresnel number of 14.5. The scaled mask is placed at 27.2 m from the artificial source and the camera is located 50.0 m from the scaled mask. We will use an etched silicon mask, manufactured by the Microdevices Lab(MDL) of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL), as the occulter. Based on conversations with MDL, we expect that 0.5 μm feature size is an achievable resolution in the mask manufacturing process and is therefore likely the indicator of the best possible performance. The occulter is illuminated by a diverging laser beam to reduce the aberrations from the optics before the occulter. Here, we present first light result of a sample design operating at a flight Fresnel number and the experimental setup of the testbed. We compare the experimental results with simulations

  16. Possible occultation by Pluto from US East Coast

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waagen, Elizabeth O.

    2012-06-01

    We have been asked to help disseminate the news of a possible occultation by Pluto visible to observers on the US East coast. Although the AAVSO does not ordinarily issue announcements of upcoming occultations, in this case the object is Pluto and the NASA New Horizons mission (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html) will be visiting Pluto in 2015. The information below has been supplied by Dr. Leslie Young (Southwest Research Institute), who is coordinating this observing campaign on Pluto. Dr. Young is also Deputy Project Scientist for the New Horizons mission. ALERT: Possible Pluto occultation Wednesday night (2012/06/14 03:28 UT) from US East coast. CONTACT: Leslie Young (layoung@boulder.swri.edu; work: 303-546-6057; skype: drpluto). Also see our planning pages in progress at http://wiki.boulder.swri.edu/mediawiki/index.php/2012-06-14_Pluto_occultation. Pluto's thin, nitrogen atmosphere is in vapor-pressure equilibrium with the surface ice, and changes seasonally. We've seen it double since 1988, and now we measure its pressure once or twice a year. The technique we use is stellar occultation, when a star passes behind Pluto's atmosphere. The atmosphere defocuses the starlight. By the timing of the fading of the star, we measure the pressure and temperature in Pluto's atmosphere at ~10 km resolution. MORE INFORMATION: See http://wiki.boulder.swri.edu/mediawiki/index.php/2012-06-14_Pluto_occultation.

  17. Occultation Lightcurves for Selected Pluto Volatile Transport Models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Young, L. A.

    2004-11-01

    The stellar occultations by Pluto in 1988 and 2002 are demonstrably sensitive to changes in Pluto's atmosphere near one microbar (Elliot and Young 1992, AJ 103, 991; Elliot et al. 2003, Nature 424, 165; Sicardy 2003, Nature 424, 168). However, Pluto volatile-transport models focus on the changes in the atmospheric pressure at the surface (e.g., Hansen and Paige 1996, Icarus 20, 247; Stansberry and Yelle 1999, Icarus 141, 299). What's lacking is a connection between predictions about the surface properties and either temperature and pressure profiles measurable from stellar occultations, or the occultation light curve morphology itself. Radiative-conductive models can illuminate this connection. I will illustrate how Pluto's changing surface pressure, temperature, and heliocentric distance may affect occultation light curves for a selection of existing volatile transport models. Changes in the light curve include the presence or absence of an observable ``kink'' (or departure from an isothermal light curve), the appearance of non-zero minimum flux levels, and the detectability of the solid surface. These light curves can serve as examples of what we may anticipate during the upcoming Pluto occultation season, as Pluto crosses the galactic plane.

  18. Erlotinib in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors and Liver or Kidney Dysfunction

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-01-15

    Adult Anaplastic Astrocytoma; Adult Anaplastic Ependymoma; Adult Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma; Adult Brain Stem Glioma; Adult Diffuse Astrocytoma; Adult Ependymoblastoma; Adult Giant Cell Glioblastoma; Adult Glioblastoma; Adult Gliosarcoma; Adult Mixed Glioma; Adult Myxopapillary Ependymoma; Adult Oligodendroglioma; Adult Pilocytic Astrocytoma; Adult Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Adult Subependymoma; Advanced Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Advanced Malignant Mesothelioma; Male Breast Cancer; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Adult Brain Tumor; Recurrent Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Recurrent Anal Cancer; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Bladder Cancer; Recurrent Breast Cancer; Recurrent Cervical Cancer; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Esophageal Cancer; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer; Recurrent Prostate Cancer; Recurrent Rectal Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage II Esophageal Cancer; Stage II Pancreatic Cancer; Stage III Esophageal Cancer

  19. Structure of scintillations in Neptune's occultation shadow

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hubbard, W. B.; Lellouch, Emmanuel; Sicardy, Bruno; Brahic, Andre; Vilas, Faith

    1988-01-01

    An exceptionally high-quality data set from a Neptune occultation is used here to derive a number of new results about the statistical properties of the fluctuations of the intensity distribution in various parts of Neptune's occultation shadow. An approximate numerical ray-tracing model which successfully accounts for many of the qualitative aspects of the observed intensity fluctuation distribution is introduced. Strong refractive scintillation is simulated by including the effects of 'turbulence' with projected atmospheric properties allowed to vary in both the direction perpendicular and parallel to the limb, and an explicit two-dimensional picture of a typical intensity distribution throughout an occulting planet's shadow is presented. The results confirm the existence of highly anisotropic turbulence.

  20. Less aggressive disease in patients with primary squamous cell carcinomas of the thyroid gland and coexisting lymphocytic thyroiditis.

    PubMed

    Asik, Mehmet; Binnetoglu, Emine; Sen, Hacer; Gunes, Fahri; Muratli, Asli; Kankaya, Duygu; Uysal, Fatma; Sahin, Mustafa; Ukinc, Kubilay

    2015-01-01

    Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thyroid gland is extremely rare. Infrequently, primary SCC of the thyroid gland is accompanied by other thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Recently, studies have demonstrated that differentiated thyroid cancer with coexisting HT has a better prognosis. However, the prognosis of patients with primary SCC of the thyroid gland and coexistent HT has not been clearly identified. We compared the clinical characteristics and disease stages of patients with primary SCC with and without lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT). We reviewed reports of primary SCC of the thyroid gland published in the English literature. We identified 46 papers that included 17 cases of primary SCC of the thyroid gland with LT and 77 cases of primary SCC of the thyroid gland without LT. Lymph node metastasis and local invasion rates did not differ between these two groups. Distant metastases were absent in patients with LT, and were observed in 13 (16.9%) patients without LT. A greater proportion of patients without LT had advanced stage disease (stage IV A-B-C) than patients with LT (p < 0.05). Patients with primary SCC of the thyroid gland and coexisting LT had lower tumour-node-metastasis stage and frequency of distant metastasis than those without LT. Lymphocytic infiltration in patients with SCC appears to limit tumour growth and distant metastases.

  1. Revisiting the 1988 Pluto Occultation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bosh, Amanda S.; Dunham, Edward W.; Young, Leslie A.; Slivan, Steve; Barba née Cordella, Linda L.; Millis, Robert L.; Wasserman, Lawrence H.; Nye, Ralph

    2015-11-01

    In 1988, Pluto's atmosphere was surmised to exist because of the surface ices that had been detected through spectroscopy, but it had not yet been directly detected in a definitive manner. The key to making such a detection was the stellar occultation method, used so successfully for the discovery of the Uranian rings in 1977 (Elliot et al. 1989; Millis et al. 1993) and before that for studies of the atmospheres of other planets.On 9 June 1988, Pluto occulted a star, with its shadow falling over the South Pacific Ocean region. One team of observers recorded this event from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, while other teams captured the event from various locations in Australia and New Zealand. Preceding this event, extensive astrometric observations of Pluto and the star were collected in order to refine the prediction.We will recount the investigations that led up to this important Pluto occultation, discuss the unexpected atmospheric results, and compare the 1988 event to the recent 2015 event whose shadow followed a similar track through New Zealand and Australia.

  2. Occult Intertrochanteric Fracture Mimicking the Fracture of Greater Trochanter

    PubMed Central

    Chung, Phil Hyun; Kang, Suk; Kim, Jong Pil; Kim, Young Sung; Back, In Hwa; Eom, Kyeong Soo

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Occult intertrochanteric fractures are misdiagnosed as isolated greater trochanteric fractures in some cases. We investigated the utility of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and outcome management of occult intertrochanteric fractures. Materials and Methods This study involved 23 cases of greater trochanteric fractures as diagnosed using plain radiographs from January 2004 to July 2013. Until January 2008, 9 cases were examined with 3D-CT only, while 14 cases were screened with both 3D-CT and MRI scans. We analyzed diagnostic accuracy and treatment results following 3D-CT and MRI scanning. Results Nine cases that underwent 3D-CT only were diagnosed with isolated greater trochanteric fractures without occult intertrochanteric fractures. Of these, a patient with displacement received surgical treatment. Of the 14 patients screened using both CT and MRI, 13 were diagnosed with occult intertrochanteric fractures. Of these, 11 were treated with surgical intervention and 2 with conservative management. Conclusion Three-dimensional CT has very low diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing occult intertrochanteric fractures. For this reason, MRI is recommended to confirm a suspected occult intertrochanteric fracture and to determine the most appropriate mode of treatment. PMID:27536653

  3. 18F FPPRGD2 PET/CT or PET/MRI in Predicting Early Response in Patients With Cancer Receiving Anti-Angiogenesis Therapy

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-03-12

    Adult Giant Cell Glioblastoma; Adult Glioblastoma; Adult Gliosarcoma; Male Breast Cancer; Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Adult Brain Tumor; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Breast Cancer; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Cancer; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer; Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Oropharyngeal Cancer; Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer; Recurrent Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer; Recurrent Rectal Cancer; Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IIIA Breast Cancer; Stage IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IIIB Breast Cancer; Stage IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IIIC Breast Cancer; Stage IV Breast Cancer; Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer; Stage IV Renal Cell Cancer; Stage IVA Colon Cancer; Stage IVA Rectal Cancer; Stage IVA Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVB Colon Cancer; Stage IVB Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IVC Salivary Gland Cancer; Tongue Cancer; Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

  4. The Treatment of the Occult in General Encyclopedias.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sonnenfeld, Gary F.

    This paper is a content analysis of three general encyclopedias, "Encyclopedia Americana" (EA), "Encyclopaedia Brittanica" (EB), and "World Book Encyclopedia" (WBC), which quantifies the treatment of the occult. Entries are selected from each by starting with the article "Occultism" and tracing all…

  5. Stellar Occultation Probe of Triton's Atmosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, James L.

    1998-01-01

    The goals of this research were (i) to better characterize Triton's atmospheric structure by probing a region not well investigated by Voyager and (ii) to begin acquiring baseline data for an investigation of the time evolution of the atmosphere which will set limits on the thermal conductivity of the surface and the total mass of N2 in the atmosphere. Our approach was to use observations (with the Kuiper Airborne Observatory) of a stellar occultation by Triton that was predicted to occur on 1993 July 10. As described in the attached reprint, we achieved these objectives through observation of this occultation and a subsequent one with the KAO in 1995. We found new results about Triton's atmospheric structure from the analysis of the two occultations observed with the KAO and ground-based data. These stellar occultation observations made both in the visible and infrared, have good spatial coverage of Triton including the first Triton central-flash observations, and are the first data to probe the 20-100 km altitude level on Triton. The small-planet light curve model of Elliot and Young (AJ 103, 991-1015) was generalized to include stellar flux refracted by the far limb, and then fitted to the data. Values of the pressure, derived from separate immersion and emersion chords, show no significant trends with latitude indicating that Triton's atmosphere is spherically symmetric at approximately 50 km altitude to within the error of the measurements. However, asymmetry observed in the central flash indicates the atmosphere is not homogeneous at the lowest levels probed (approximately 20 km altitude). From the average of the 1995 occultation data, the equivalent-isothermal temperature of the atmosphere is 47 +/- 1 K and the atmospheric pressure at 1400 km radius (approximately 50 km altitude) is 1.4 +/- 0.1 microbar. Both of these are not consistent with a model based on Voyager UVS and RSS observations in 1989 (Strobel et al, Icarus 120, 266-289). The atmospheric

  6. All about Occultation.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Riddle, Bob

    2001-01-01

    Describes occultation events involving the moon, when the moon blocks the view of planets or stars. Describes other events such as a partial solar eclipse, a penumbral lunar eclipse, meteor showers, and moon phases. Provides a list of internet resources related to these events. (DLH)

  7. Occult spondyloarthritis in inflammatory bowel disease.

    PubMed

    Bandinelli, Francesca; Manetti, Mirko; Ibba-Manneschi, Lidia

    2016-02-01

    Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a frequent extra-intestinal manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), although its real diffusion is commonly considered underestimated. Abnormalities in the microbioma and genetic predisposition have been implicated in the link between bowel and joint inflammation. Otherwise, up to date, pathogenetic mechanisms are still largely unknown and the exact influence of the bowel activity on rheumatic manifestations is not clearly explained. Due to evidence-based results of clinical studies, the interest on clinically asymptomatic SpA in IBD patients increased in the last few years. Actually, occult enthesitis and sacroiliitis are discovered in high percentages of IBD patients by different imaging techniques, mainly enthesis ultrasound (US) and sacroiliac joint X-ray examinations. Several diagnostic approaches and biomarkers have been proposed in an attempt to correctly classify and diagnose clinically occult joint manifestations and to define clusters of risk for patient screening, although definitive results are still lacking. The correct recognition of occult SpA in IBD requires an integrated multidisciplinary approach in order to identify common diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The use of inexpensive and rapid imaging techniques, such as US and X-ray, should be routinely included in daily clinical practice and trials to correctly evaluate occult SpA, thus preventing future disability and worsening of quality of life in IBD patients.

  8. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of three cases of squamous cell carcinoma presenting as a thyroid mass: cytological findings and differential diagnosis.

    PubMed

    Rosa, M; Toronczyk, K

    2012-02-01

    Primary squamous cell carcinomas of the thyroid gland are extremely rare, comprising about 1% of thyroid malignancies. Although squamous cell carcinomas are readily identified as such on aspiration cytology in the majority of cases, the differentiation of primary versus metastatic tumour might not always be easy. Herein, we report three cases of squamous cell carcinomas involving the thyroid gland. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed in three patients with a thyroid mass using standard guidelines. Smears were stained with Diff-Quik and Papanicolaou stains. Two patients were male and one was female, aged 59, 45 and 35 years, respectively. In all three patients a thyroid mass was present. FNAC smears in all cases showed cytological features of squamous cell carcinoma including keratinization and necrosis. After clinical and cytological correlation, one case appeared to be primary, one case metastatic, and in the third case no additional clinical information or biopsy follow-up was available for further characterization. Because primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is a rare finding, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma should always be excluded first. Metastatic disease usually presents in the setting of widespread malignancy, therefore a dedicated clinical and radiological investigation is necessary in these cases. In both clinical scenarios the patient's prognosis is poor. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  9. All-Sky Earth Occultation Observations with the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson-Hodge, C. A.; Beklen, E.; Bhat, P. N.; Briggs, M.; Camero-Arranz, A.; Case, G.; Jenke, P.; Chaplin, V.; Cherry, M.; Connaughton, V.; hide

    2009-01-01

    Using the Gamma Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on-board Fermi, we are monitoring the hard X-ray/ soft gamma ray sky using the Earth occultation technique. Each time a source in our catalog is occulted by (or exits occultation by) the Earth, we measure its flux using the change in count rates due to the occultation. Currently we are using CTIME data with 8 energy channels spanning 8 keV to 1 MeV for the GBM NaI detectors and spanning 150 keV to 40 MeV for the GBM BGO detectors. Our preliminary catalog consists of galactic X-ray binaries, the Crab Nebula, and active galactic nuclei. In addition, to Earth occultations, we have observed numerous occultations with Fermi's solar panels.

  10. Oral Rigosertib for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-06-22

    Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Skin Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  11. All-Sky Earth Occultation Observations with the Fermi Gamma Ray Burst Monitor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson-Hodge, C. A.; Beklen, E.; Bhat, P. N.; Briggs, M.; Camero-Arranz, A.; Case, G.; Chaplin, V.; Cherry, M.; Connaughton, V.; Finger, M.; hide

    2010-01-01

    Using the Gamma Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on-board Fermi, we are monitoring the hard X-ray/soft gamma ray sky using the Earth occultation technique. Each time a source in our catalog is occulted by (or exits occultation by) the Earth, we measure its flux using the change in count rates due to the occultation. Currently we are using CTIME data with 8 energy channels spanning 8 keV to 1 MeV for the GBM NaI detectors and spanning 150 keV to 40 MeV for the GBM BGO detectors. Our preliminary catalog consists of galactic X-ray binaries, the Crab Nebula, and active galactic nuclei. New sources are added to our catalog as they become active or upon request. In addition to Earth occultations, we have observed numerous occultations with Fermi's solar panels. We will present early results. Regularly updated results will be found on our website http://gammaray.nsstc.nasa.gov/gbm/science/occultation.

  12. The Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network: A System for Coordinated TNO Occultation Observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Buie, Marc W.; Keller, John M.

    2016-03-01

    We describe a new system and method for collecting coordinated occultation observations of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). Occultations by objects in the outer solar system are more difficult to predict due to their large distance and limited span of the astrometric data used to determine their orbits and positions. This project brings together the research and educational community into a unique citizen-science partnership to overcome the difficulties of observing these distant objects. The goal of the project is to get sizes and shapes for TNOs with diameters larger than 100 km. As a result of the system design it will also serve as a probe for binary systems with spatial separations as small as contact systems. Traditional occultation efforts strive to get a prediction sufficiently good to place mobile ground stations in the shadow track. Our system takes a new approach of setting up a large number of fixed observing stations and letting the shadows come to the network. The nominal spacing of the stations is 50 km so that we ensure two chords at our limiting size. The spread of the network is roughly 2000 km along a roughly north-south line in the western United States. The network contains 56 stations that are committed to the project and we get additional ad hoc support from International Occultation Timing Association members. At our minimum size, two stations will record an event while the other stations will be probing the inner regions for secondary events. Larger objects will get more chords and will allow determination of shape profiles. The stations are almost exclusively sited and associated with schools, usually at the 9-12 grade level. We present a full description of the system we have developed for the continued exploration of the Kuiper Belt.

  13. Expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha in early-stage and in metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ribeiro, Maisa; Teixeira, Sarah R; Azevedo, Monarko N; Fraga, Ailton C; Gontijo, Antônio Pm; Vêncio, Eneida F

    2017-04-01

    To investigate hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha expression in distinct oral squamous cell carcinoma subtypes and topographies and correlate with clinicopathological data. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 93 cases of OSCC. Clinical and histopathological data were reviewed from medical records. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha status was distinct according to tumor location, subtype and topography affect. In superficial oral squamous cell carcinomas, most tumor cells overexpressed hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha, whereas hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha was restricted to the intratumoral region in conventional squamous cell carcinomas. All basaloid squamous cell carcinomas exhibited downregulation of hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha. Interestingly, metastatic lymph nodes (91.7%, p = 0.001) and the intratumoral regions of corresponding primary tumors (58.3%, p = 0.142) showed hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha-positive tumor cells. Overall survival was poor in patients with metastatic lymph nodes. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha has distinct expression patterns in different oral squamous cell carcinoma subtypes and topographies, suggesting that low oxygen tension promotes the growth pattern of superficial and conventional squamous cell carcinoma, but not basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. Indeed, a hypoxic environment may facilitate regional metastasis, making it a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker in primary tumors.

  14. The stellar occultation by the dwarf planet Haumea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Santos-Sanz, Pablo; Ortiz, Jose Luis; Sicardy, Bruno; Rossi, Gustavo; Berard, Diane; Morales, Nicolas; Duffard, Rene; Braga-Ribas, Felipe; Hopp, Ulrich; Ries, Christoph; Nascimbeni, Valerio; Marzari, Francesco; Granata, Valentina; Pál, András; Kiss, Csaba; Pribulla, Theodor; Milan Komzík, Richard; Hornoch, Kamil; Pravec, Petr; Bacci, Paolo; Maestripieri, Martina; Nerli, Luca; Mazzei, Leonardo; Bachini, Mauro; Martinelli, Fabio; Succi, Giacomo; Ciabattari, Fabrizio; Mikuz, Herman; Carbognani, Albino; Gaehrken, Bernd; Mottola, Stefano; Hellmich, Stephan; Rommel, Flavia; Fernández-Valenzuela, Estela; Campo Bagatin, Adriano; Haumea occultation international Collaboration: https://cloud.iaa.csic.es/public.php?service=files&t=d9276f8ab1a316cef13bee28bef75add

    2017-10-01

    The dwarf planet Haumea is a very peculiar Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO) with unique and exotic characteristics. It is currently classified as one of the five dwarf planets of the solar system, and it is the only one for which size, shape, albedo, density and other basic properties were not accurately known. To solve that we predicted an occultation of the star GaiaDR1 1233009038221203584 by Haumea and organized observations within the expected shadow path. Medium/large telescopes were needed to record the occultation with enough signal to noise ratio because the occulted star is of similar brightness as Haumea (R~17.7 mag). We will report results derived from this successful stellar occultation by Haumea on 2017 January 21st. The occultation was positive from 12 telescopes at 10 observing stations in Europe: the Asiago Observatory 1.8m telescope (Italy), the Mount Agliale Observatory 0.5m telescope (Italy), the Lajatico Astronomical Centre 0.5m telescope (Italy), the S.Marcello Pistoiese Observatory 0.6m telescope (Italy), the Crni Vrh Observatory 0.6m telescope (Slovenia), the Ondrejov Observatory 0.65m telescope (Czech Republic), the Bavarian Public Observatory 0.81m telescope (Germany), the Konkoly Observatory 1m and 0.6m telescopes (Hungary), the Skalnate Pleso Observatory 1.3m telescope (Slovakia), and the Wendelstein Observatory 2m and 0.4m telescopes (Germany). This is the occultation by a TNO with the largest number of chords ever recorded.Part of this work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 687378.

  15. Occult diaphragmatic injuries caused by stab wounds.

    PubMed

    Leppäniemi, Ari; Haapiainen, Reijo

    2003-10-01

    Missed diaphragmatic perforation caused by penetrating trauma can lead to subsequent strangulation of a hollow viscus, which has prompted the use of invasive diagnostic procedures to exclude occult diaphragmatic injuries in asymptomatic, high-risk patients. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of occult diaphragmatic injuries caused by stab wounds of the lower chest and upper abdomen, and to examine the natural history and consequences of missed diaphragmatic injuries. On the basis of patient data from two previous randomized studies from our institution, a retrospective analysis was performed on 97 patients treated for anterior stab wounds located between the nipple line, the umbilical level, and the posterior axillary lines not having indications for immediate surgical exploration. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of their initial randomized management (open or laparoscopic exploration vs. expectant observation). In the exploration group (n = 47), four diaphragmatic injuries (9%) were detected (three left-sided and one right-sided). Excluding patients with associated injuries requiring surgical repair, the incidence of occult diaphragmatic injuries was 3 of 43 (7%). In the observation group (n = 50), there were two patients (4%) with delayed presentation of missed left-sided diaphragmatic injury 2 and 23 months later, respectively. Both injuries resulted from stab wounds of the left flank and presented with herniation of the stomach or small bowel and colon. The overall incidence of occult diaphragmatic injuries in left-sided thoracoabdominal stab wounds was 4 of 24 (17%), and was much lower after stab wounds of left epigastrium (0%), right lower chest (0%), and right epigastrium (4%). In asymptomatic patients with anterior or flank stab wounds of the lower chest or upper abdominal area, the risk of an occult diaphragmatic injury is approximately 7% which, if undetected, is associated with a high risk of subsequent

  16. Occult Cushing's syndrome in type-2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Catargi, Bogdan; Rigalleau, Vincent; Poussin, Agathe; Ronci-Chaix, Nathalie; Bex, Veronique; Vergnot, Vincent; Gin, Henri; Roger, Patrick; Tabarin, Antoine

    2003-12-01

    Subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS) caused by adrenal incidentalomas is frequently associated with overweight and insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome X may therefore be a clue to the presence of CS. However, the incidence of CS in this situation remains unknown. We have conducted a prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of occult CS in overweight, type-2 diabetic patients devoided of specific clinical symptoms of CS. Two hundred overweight, type-2 diabetic patients, consecutively referred for poor metabolic control (HbA(1C) > 8%), were studied as inpatients. A first screening step was performed with the 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST) using a revised criterion for cortisol suppression (60 nmol/liter) to maximize the sensitivity of the procedure. A second confirmatory step of biochemical investigations (midnight plasma cortisol concentration, plasma cortisol circadian rhythm, morning plasma ACTH concentration, 24-h urinary free cortisol, and 4-mg i.v. DST) was performed in patients with impaired 1-mg DST. A third step of imaging studies was performed according to the results of second-step investigations. Fifty-two patients had impaired 1-mg DST. Among these, 47 were further evaluated. Thirty were considered as false positives of the 1-mg DST, whereas 17 displayed at least one additional biological abnormality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Definitive occult CS was identified in four patients (2% of the whole series) with Cushing's disease (n = 3) and surgically proven adrenal adenoma (n = 1). Definitive diagnosis remains to be established in seven additional patients (3.5%) with mild occult CS associated with unsuppressed plasma ACTH concentrations and a unilateral adrenal tumor of 10-29 mm in size showing prevalent uptake at radiocholesterol scintigraphy. In conclusion, a relatively high prevalence of occult CS was found in our study. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of the cure of occult CS on obesity

  17. Cassini First Diametric Radio Occultation of Saturn's Rings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marouf, E.; French, R.; Rappaport, N.; Kliore, A.; Flasar, M.; Nagy, A.; Ambrosini, R.; McGhee, C.; Schinder, P.; Anabtawi, A.; Barbinis, E.; Goltz, G.; Thomson, F.; Wong, K.

    2005-05-01

    We present preliminary results expected from the first planned Cassini radio occultation observation of Saturn's rings, to be conducted on May 3rd, 2005. The path of Cassini as seen from Earth (the occultation track) has been designed to cross the rings from the west to the east ansa almost diametrically, allowing for occultation of all major ring features at two widely separated longitudes (about 180 deg apart). The duration of the geometric occultation is about 1.5 hours on each side. During the occultation, Cassini transmits through the rings three coherent monochromatic radio signals of wavelength 0.94, 3.6, and 13 cm (Ka-, X-, and S-band respectively), a capability unique to Cassini. The perturbed signals received at the Earth are recorded at the NASA DSN complexes at Goldstone and Canberra. Both direct and forward-scattered components of the signal may be identified in spectrograms of the received signals. The time history of the extinction of the direct signal is expected to yield high-spatial-resolution optical depth and phase shift profiles of ring structure. The timing of the occultation was optimized to allow probing the rings when the ring-opening-angle B (the angle between the line-of-sight and the ring plane) is relatively large (B = 23 deg), hence maximizing chances of measuring for the first time the structure of the relatively optically thick Ring B. In a similar experiment by Voyager in 1980, excessive signal attenuation along the long path within the nearly closed rings (B = 5.9 deg) limited the utility of the observations in relatively thick ring regions, in particular the main Ring B. For the Cassini optimized occultation geometry, a large B, slow radial velocity along the occultation track, and much improved phase stability of the reference ultrastable oscillator (USO) on board Cassini combine to promise achievable radial resolution approaching 100 m over a good fraction of the rings. Measurement of the amplitude and phase of the diffracted

  18. Close Double Stars from Occultation Video Recordings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waring Dunham, David; George, Anthony; Loader, Brian; Herald, David Russell

    2015-08-01

    Astronomers around the world, both amateur and professional, have been recording lunar and asteroidal occultations of close double stars during the past several years using inexpensive but quite sensitive video cameras that are now available. Several new double stars have been discovered, and the parameters of many close systems have been determined. Besides rather good measurements of the relative magnitudes of the components, the actual separations and position angles can be measured if observations of the same event are made from two or more separate stations. These observations collected by the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) are published in the Journal of Double Star Observations. Recently, IOTA has encouraged the observation of occultations of stars in the Kepler 2 program, which is interested in data about close duplicity that affects their analyses for exoplanet transits.

  19. Wave optics-based LEO-LEO radio occultation retrieval

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benzon, Hans-Henrik; Høeg, Per

    2016-06-01

    This paper describes the theory for performing retrieval of radio occultations that use probing frequencies in the XK and KM band. Normally, radio occultations use frequencies in the L band, and GPS satellites are used as the transmitting source, and the occultation signals are received by a GPS receiver on board a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. The technique is based on the Doppler shift imposed, by the atmosphere, on the signal emitted from the GPS satellite. Two LEO satellites are assumed in the occultations discussed in this paper, and the retrieval is also dependent on the decrease in the signal amplitude caused by atmospheric absorption. The radio wave transmitter is placed on one of these satellites, while the receiver is placed on the other LEO satellite. One of the drawbacks of normal GPS-based radio occultations is that external information is needed to calculate some of the atmospheric products such as the correct water vapor content in the atmosphere. These limitations can be overcome when a proper selected range of high-frequency waves are used to probe the atmosphere. Probing frequencies close to the absorption line of water vapor have been included, thus allowing the retrieval of the water vapor content. Selecting the correct probing frequencies would make it possible to retrieve other information such as the content of ozone. The retrieval is performed through a number of processing steps which are based on the Full Spectrum Inversion (FSI) technique. The retrieval chain is therefore a wave optics-based retrieval chain, and it is therefore possible to process measurements that include multipath. In this paper simulated LEO to LEO radio occultations based on five different frequencies are used. The five frequencies are placed in the XK or KM frequency band. This new wave optics-based retrieval chain is used on a number of examples, and the retrieved atmospheric parameters are compared to the parameters from a global European Centre for Medium

  20. In vitro FTIR microspectroscopy analysis of primary oral squamous carcinoma cells treated with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil: a new spectroscopic approach for studying the drug-cell interaction.

    PubMed

    Giorgini, Elisabetta; Sabbatini, Simona; Rocchetti, Romina; Notarstefano, Valentina; Rubini, Corrado; Conti, Carla; Orilisi, Giulia; Mitri, Elisa; Bedolla, Diana E; Vaccari, Lisa

    2018-06-22

    In the present study, human primary oral squamous carcinoma cells treated with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil were analyzed, for the first time, by in vitro FTIR Microspectroscopy (FTIRM), to improve the knowledge on the biochemical pathways activated by these two chemotherapy drugs. To date, most of the studies regarding FTIRM cellular analysis have been executed on fixed cells from immortalized cell lines. FTIRM analysis performed on primary tumor cells under controlled hydrated conditions provides more reliable information on the biochemical processes occurring in in vivo tumor cells. This spectroscopic analysis allows to get on the same sample and at the same time an overview of the composition and structure of the most remarkable cellular components. In vitro FTIRM analysis of primary oral squamous carcinoma cells evidenced a time-dependent drug-specific cellular response, also including apoptosis triggering. Furthermore, the univariate and multivariate analyses of IR data evidenced meaningful spectroscopic differences ascribable to alterations affecting cellular proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. These findings suggest for the two drugs different pathways and extents of cellular damage, not provided by conventional cell-based assays (MTT assay and image-based cytometry).

  1. Distribution of the GNSS-LEO occultation events over Egypt

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ghoniem, Ibrahim; Mousa, Ashraf El-Kutb; El-Fiky, Gamal

    2017-06-01

    The space-based GNSS RO technique is a promising tool for monitoring the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere (Mousa et al., 2006). The current paper presents the distribution of the occultation events over Egypt using the operating LEO satellites and GNSS by its two operating systems. By the present research, Egypt could raise NWP Models efficiency by improving meteorological data quality. Twenty operating LEO missions (e.g. Argentinean SAC-C, European MetOp-A, German TerraSAR-X, Indian OceanSat-2, etc.) sent by different countries all over the world were used to derive the occultation events position through Egypt borders by receiving signal from the American global positioning system (GPS) and the Russian global navigation satellite system (GLONASS). Approximately 20,000 km Altitude satellites are transmitting enormous number of rays by the day to approximately 800 km satellites passing by the Earth atmosphere. Our mission is to derive all of these rays position (start and end) by calculating satellites position by the time, determine the rays in the occultation case and derive the atmosphere tangent point position for all occultating rays on the Earth surface (Occultation Events).

  2. Radio Occultation Measurements of Pluto's Atmosphere with New Horizons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hinson, D. P.; Linscott, I.; Tyler, G. L.; Bird, M. K.; Paetzold, M.; Strobel, D. F.; Summers, M. E.; Woods, W. W.; Stern, A.; Weaver, H. A., Jr.; Olkin, C.; Young, L. A.; Ennico Smith, K.; Gladstone, R.; Greathouse, T.; Kammer, J.; Parker, A. H.; Parker, J. W.; Retherford, K. D.; Schindhelm, E.; Singer, K. N.; Steffl, A.; Tsang, C.; Versteeg, M.

    2015-12-01

    The reconnaissance of the Pluto System by New Horizons included radio occultations at both Pluto and Charon. This talk will present the latest results from the Pluto occultation. The REX instrument onboard New Horizons received and recorded uplink signals from two 70-m antennas and two 34-m antennas of the NASA Deep Space Network - each transmitting 20 kW at 4.2-cm wavelength - during a diametric occultation by Pluto. At the time this was written only a short segment of data at occultation entry (193°E, 17°S) was available for analysis. The REX measurements extend unequivocally to the surface, providing the first direct measure of the surface pressure and the temperature structure in Pluto's lower atmosphere. Preliminary analysis yields a surface pressure of about 10 microbars, smaller than expected. Data from occultation exit (16°E, 15°N) are scheduled to arrive on the ground in late August 2015. Those observations will yield an improved estimate of the surface pressure, a second temperature profile, and a measure of the diameter of Pluto with a precision of a few hundred meters.

  3. Diagnostic accuracy of oblique chest radiograph for occult pneumothorax: comparison with ultrasonography.

    PubMed

    Matsumoto, Shokei; Sekine, Kazuhiko; Funabiki, Tomohiro; Orita, Tomohiko; Shimizu, Masayuki; Hayashida, Kei; Kazamaki, Taku; Suzuki, Tatsuya; Kishikawa, Masanobu; Yamazaki, Motoyasu; Kitano, Mitsuhide

    2016-01-01

    An occult pneumothorax is a pneumothorax that is not seen on a supine chest X-ray but is detected by computed tomography scanning. However, critical patients are difficult to transport to the computed tomography suite. We previously reported a method to detect occult pneumothorax using oblique chest radiography (OXR). Several authors have also reported that ultrasonography is an effective technique for detecting occult pneumothorax. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of OXR in the diagnosis of the occult pneumothorax and to compare OXR with ultrasonography. All consecutive blunt chest trauma patients with clinically suspected pneumothorax on arrival at the emergency department were prospectively included at our tertiary-care center. The patients underwent OXR and ultrasonography, and underwent computed tomography scans as the gold standard. Occult pneumothorax size on computed tomography was classified as minuscule, anterior, or anterolateral. One hundred and fifty-nine patients were enrolled. Of the 70 occult pneumothoraces found in the 318 thoraces, 19 were minuscule, 32 were anterior, and 19 were anterolateral. The sensitivity and specificity of OXR for detecting occult pneumothorax was 61.4 % and 99.2 %, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of lung ultrasonography was 62.9 % and 98.8 %, respectively. Among 27 occult pneumothoraces that could not be detected by OXR, 16 were minuscule and 21 could be conservatively managed without thoracostomy. OXR appears to be as good method as lung ultrasonography in the detection of large occult pneumothorax. In trauma patients who are difficult to transfer to computed tomography scan, OXR may be effective at detecting occult pneumothorax with a risk of progression.

  4. [Inveterate squamous cell carcinoma of the upper eyelid: a case report].

    PubMed

    Rinaldi, S; Marcasciano, M; Pacitti, F; Toscani, M; Tarallo, M; Fino, P; Scuderi, G L

    2013-01-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumor of epithelium that shows squamous cell differentiation. It is the second most common cancer of the skin and usually occurs in areas exposed to the sun but it can rarely arise within the conjunctival epithelium with a deep component. We describe a woman with a history of chronic blepharoconjunctivitis unresponsive to topical medications. Examination disclosed a hyperaemic translucent patch with blurred margins of the upper palpebral conjunctiva. Tarsoconjunctival biopsy revealed intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma. Management consisted of complete tumor excision with removal of the entire posterior lamella of the left upper eyelid and reconstruction. Histopathologic analysis confirmed primary squamous cell carcinoma arising from conjunctival epithelium, involving the underlying tarsus. Patients with unexplained chronic unilateral blepharoconjunctivitis or papillary hypertrophy of the palpebral conjunctiva should be considered for biopsy to rule out neoplasia, even when there is no sign of an evident mass.

  5. Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Solid Tumors and HIV Infection

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-12-19

    HIV Infection; Recurrent Anal Cancer; Recurrent Breast Cancer; Recurrent Esophageal Cancer; Recurrent Gastric Cancer; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Salivary Gland Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Stage IV Anal Cancer; Stage IV Breast Cancer; Stage IV Esophageal Cancer; Stage IV Gastric Cancer; Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Stage IV Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IV Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

  6. Pluto-Charon Stellar Occultation Candidates: 1990-1995

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dunham, E. W.; McDonald, S. W.; Elliot, J. L.

    1991-01-01

    We have carried out a search to identify stars that might be occulted by Pluto or Charon during the period 1990-1995 and part of 1996. This search was made with an unfiltered CCD camera operated in the strip scanning mode, and it reaches an R magnitude of approximately 17.5-about 1.5 mag fainter than previous searches. Circumstances for each of the 162 potential occultations are given, including an approximate R magnitude of the star, which allows estimation of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for observation of each occultation. The faintest stars in our list would yield an S/N of about 20 for a 1 S integration when observed with a CCD detector on an 8 m telescope under a dark sky. Our astrometric precision (+/- 0.2 arcsec, with larger systematic errors possible for individual cases) is insufficient to serve as a final prediction for these potential occultations, but is sufficient to identify stars deserving of further, more accurate, astrometric observations. Statistically, we expect about 32 of these events to be observable somewhere on Earth. The number of events actually observed will be substantially smaller because of clouds and the sparse distribution of large telescopes. Finder charts for each of the 91 stars involved are presented.

  7. Pluto-Charon stellar occultation candidates - 1990-1995

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dunham, E. W.; Mcdonald, S. W.; Elliot, J. L.

    1991-01-01

    A search to identify stars that might be occulted by Pluto or Charon during the period 1990-1995 and part of 1996 is studied. This search was made with an unfiltered CCD camera operated in the strip scanning mode, and it reaches an R magnitude of approximately 17.5 - about 1.5 mag fainter than previous searches. Circumstances for each of the 162 potential occultations are given, including an approximate R magnitude of the star, which allows estimation of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for observation of each occultation. The faintest stars in the list would yield an S/N of about 20 for a 1 s integration when observed with a CCD detector on an 8 m telescope under a dark sky. The astrometric precision (+/- 0.2 arcsec, with larger systematic errors possible for individual cases) is insufficient to serve as a final prediction for these potential occultations, but is sufficient to identify stars deserving of further, more accurate, astrometric observations. Statistically, about 32 of these events to be observable somewhere on earth are expected. The number of events actually observed will be substantially smaller because of clouds and the sparse distribution of large telescopes. Finder charts for each of the 91 stars involved are presented.

  8. CT detection of occult pneumothorax in head trauma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tocino, I.M.; Miller, M.H.; Frederick, P.R.

    1984-11-01

    A prospective evaluation for occult pneumothorax was performed in 25 consecutive patients with serious head trauma by combining a limited chest CT examination with the emergency head CT examination. Of 21 pneuomothoraces present in 15 patients, 11 (52%) were found only by chest CT and were not identified clinically or by supine chest radiograph. Because of pending therapeutic measures, chest tubes were placed in nine of the 11 occult pneumothoraces, regardless of the volume. Chest CT proved itself as the most sensitive method for detection of occult pneumothorax, permitting early chest tube placement to prevent transition to a tension pneumothoraxmore » during subsequent mechanical ventilation or emergency surgery under general anesthesia.« less

  9. Bone scanning in the detection of occult fractures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Batillas, J.; Vasilas, A.; Pizzi, W.F.

    1981-07-01

    The potential role of bone scanning in the early detection of occult fractures following acute trauma was investigated. Technetium 99m pyrophosphate bone scans were obtained in patients with major clinical findings and negative or equivocal roentgenograms following trauma. Bone scanning facilitated the prompt diagnosis of occult fractures in the hip, knee, wrist, ribs and costochondral junctions, sternum, vertebrae, sacrum, and coccyx. Several illustrative cases are presented. Roentgenographic confirmation occurred following a delay of days to weeks and, in some instances, the roentgenographic findings were subtle and could be easily overlooked. This study demonstrates bone scanning to be invaluable and definitivemore » in the prompt detection of occult fractures.« less

  10. Exploring the Solar System using stellar occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sicardy, Bruno

    2018-04-01

    Stellar occultations by solar system objects allow kilometric accuracy, permit the detection of tenuous atmospheres (at nbar level), and the discovery of rings. The main limitation was the prediction accuracy, typically 40 mas, corresponding to about 1,000 km projected at the body. This lead to large time dedicated to astrometry, tedious logistical issues, and more often than not, mere miss of the event. The Gaia catalog, with sub-mas accuracy, hugely improves both the star positions, resulting in achievable accuracies of about 1 mas for the shadow track on Earth. This permits much more carefully planned campaigns, with success rate approaching 100%, weather permitting. Scientific perspectives are presented, e.g. central flashes caused by Plutos atmosphere revealing hazes and winds near its surface, grazing occultations showing topographic features, occultations by Chariklos rings unveiling dynamical features such as proper mode ``breathing''.

  11. Review: Occult hepatitis C virus infection: still remains a controversy.

    PubMed

    Vidimliski, Pavlina Dzekova; Nikolov, Igor; Geshkovska, Nadica Matevska; Dimovski, Aleksandar; Rostaing, Lionel; Sikole, Aleksandar

    2014-09-01

    Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by the presence of HCV RNA in the liver cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients whose serum samples test negative for HCV RNA, with or without presence of HCV antibodies. The present study reviews the existing literature on the persistence of occult hepatitis C virus infection, with description of the clinical characteristics and methods for identification of occult hepatitis C. Occult hepatitis C virus infection was detected in patients with abnormal results of liver function tests of unknown origin, with HCV antibodies and HCV RNA negativity in serum, and also in patients with spontaneous or treatment-induced recovery from hepatitis C. The viral replication in the liver cells and/or peripheral blood mononuclear cells was present in all clinical presentations of occult hepatitis C. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells represent an extra-hepatic site of HCV replication. The reason why HCV RNA was not detectable in the serum of patients with occult hepatitis C, could be the low number of circulating viral particles not detectable by the diagnostic tests with low sensitivity. It is uncertain whether occult hepatitis C is a different clinical entity or just a form of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Data accumulated over the last decade demonstrated that an effective approach to the diagnosis of HCV infection would be the implementation of more sensitive HCV RNA diagnostic assays, and also, examination of the presence of viral particles in the cells of the immune system. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  12. Predictions of stellar occultations by TNOs/Centaurs using Gaia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Desmars, Josselin; Camargo, Julio; Berard, Diane; Sicardy, Bruno; Leiva, Rodrigo; Vieira-Martins, Roberto; Braga-Ribas, Felipe; Assafin, Marcelo; Rossi, Gustavo; Chariklo occultations Team, Rio Group, Lucky Star Occultation Team, Granada Occultation Team

    2017-10-01

    Stellar occultations are the unique technique from the ground to access physical parameters of the distant solar system objects, such as the measure of the size and the shape at kilometric level, the detection of tenuous atmospheres (few nanobars), and the investigation of close vicinity (satellites, rings, jets).Predictions of stellar occultations require accurate positions of the star and the object.The Gaia DR1 catalog now allows to get stellar position to the milliarcsecond (mas) level. The main uncertainty in the prediction remains in the position of the object (tens to hundreds of mas).Now, we take advantage of the NIMA method for the orbit determination that uses the most recent observations reduced by the Gaia DR1 catalog and the astrometric positions derived from previous positive occultations.Up to now, we have detected nearly 50 positive occultations for about 20 objects that provide astrometric positions of the object at the time of the occultation. The uncertainty of these positions only depends on the uncertainty on the position of the occulted stars, which is a few mas with the Gaia DR1 catalog. The main limitation is now on the proper motion of the star which is only given for bright stars in the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution. This limitation will be solved with the publicationof the Gaia DR2 expected on April 2018 giving proper motions and parallaxes for the Gaia stars. Until this date, we use hybrid stellar catalogs (UCAC5, HSOY) that provide proper motions derived from Gaia DR1 and another stellar catalog.Recently, the Gaia team presented a release of three preliminary Gaia DR2 stellar positions involved in the occultations by Chariklo (22 June and 23 July 2017) and by Triton (5 October 2017).Taking the case of Chariklo as an illustration, we will present a comparison between the proper motions of DR2 and the other catalogs and we will show how the Gaia DR2 will lead to a mas level precision in the orbit and in the prediction of stellar

  13. Detection of Occult Invasion in Melanoma In Situ.

    PubMed

    Bax, Michael J; Johnson, Timothy M; Harms, Paul W; Schwartz, Jennifer L; Zhao, Lili; Fullen, Douglas R; Chan, May P

    2016-11-01

    It is unclear why some patients with in situ melanoma develop metastases. Few reports demonstrate occult invasion with immunohistochemistry staining, which were discordant with reports interpreting such staining as false-positive. To investigate the occurrence of occult invasive disease within in situ melanoma by using methods to circumvent potential limitations in prior study designs. Unequivocal in situ melanoma without associated nevi or regression was identified using a consecutive sample of 33 cases plus 1 index case in an academic medical center. After cutting deeper into the most representative tissue block, 3 sequential slides were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E), melanoma antigen (melan-A), and again with H-E. Melan-A-stained slides showing definitive invasion were double-stained with Sry-related HMg-Box gene 10 (SOX10) to confirm the melanocytic nature of the cells of interest. The study evaluated the possibilities of occult invasion detected by immunohistochemistry, sectioning deeper into the tissue block, or both. Slides were independently scored by 3 dermatopathologists with interrater reliability assessed. The study was conducted from January 1, 2012, to July 31, 2014. Assessment of the occurrence of occult invasion, diagnosis of invasion by immunohistochemistry alone vs cutting deeper into the tissue block, and occurrence of false-positive results using immunohistochemistry alone. Occult invasive melanoma was detected in 11 of 33 consecutive cases (33%) of previously diagnosed unequivocal in situ melanoma. Six of 11 melanomas (55%) were diagnosable only by immunohistochemistry. The remaining 5 tumors (45%) were diagnosable by both melan-A and H-E staining, likely as a result of simply cutting deeper into the tissue block. Four cases (12%) showed a few melan-A-positive cells in the dermis, which was insufficient for a diagnosis of invasive melanoma and most consistent on a cytomorphologic basis with occult nevi. Although rare, in situ melanoma

  14. Final binary star results from the ESO VLT Lunar occultations program

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Richichi, A.; Fors, O.; Cusano, F.

    2014-03-01

    We report on 13 subarcsecond binaries, detected by means of lunar occultations in the near-infrared at the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT). They are all first-time detections except for the visual binary HD 158122, which we resolved for the first time in the near-infrared. The primaries have magnitudes in the range K = 4.5-10.0, and companions in the range K = 6.8-11.1. The magnitude differences have a median value of 2.4, with the largest being 4.6. The projected separations are in the range of 4-168 mas, with a median of 13 mas. We discuss and compare our results with themore » available literature. With this paper, we conclude the mining for binary star detections in the 1226 occultations recorded at the VLT with the ISAAC instrument. We expect that the majority of these binaries may be unresolvable by adaptive optics on current telescopes, and they might be challenging for long-baseline interferometry. However, they constitute an interesting sample for future larger telescopes and for astrometric missions such as GAIA.« less

  15. A search for stellar occultations by Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and their satellites: 1990-1999

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mink, Douglas J.

    1991-01-01

    A search for occultations of stars by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto between 1990 and 1999 was carried out by combining ephemeris information and star positions using very accurate occultation modeling software. Stars from both the Space Telescope Guide Catalog and photographic plates taken by Arnold Klemola at Lick Observatory were compared with planet positions from the JPL DE-130 ephemeris, with local modifications for Pluto and Charon. Some 666 possible occultations by the Uranian ring, 143 possible occultations by Neptune, and 40 possible occultations by Pluto and/or Charon were found among stars with visual magnitudes as faint as 16. Before the star positions could be obtained, the occultation prediction software was used to aid many observers in observing the occultation of 28 Sagitarii by Saturn in July 1989. As a test on other outer solar system objects, 17 possible occultations were found in a search of the Guide Star Catalog for occultations by 2060 Chiron, and interesting object between Saturn and Uranus which shows both cometary and asteroidal properties.

  16. A search for stellar occultations by Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and their satellites: 1990-1999

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mink, Douglas J.

    1991-03-01

    A search for occultations of stars by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto between 1990 and 1999 was carried out by combining ephemeris information and star positions using very accurate occultation modeling software. Stars from both the Space Telescope Guide Catalog and photographic plates taken by Arnold Klemola at Lick Observatory were compared with planet positions from the JPL DE-130 ephemeris, with local modifications for Pluto and Charon. Some 666 possible occultations by the Uranian ring, 143 possible occultations by Neptune, and 40 possible occultations by Pluto and/or Charon were found among stars with visual magnitudes as faint as 16. Before the star positions could be obtained, the occultation prediction software was used to aid many observers in observing the occultation of 28 Sagitarii by Saturn in July 1989. As a test on other outer solar system objects, 17 possible occultations were found in a search of the Guide Star Catalog for occultations by 2060 Chiron, and interesting object between Saturn and Uranus which shows both cometary and asteroidal properties.

  17. The prognostic implication of the expression of EGFR, p53, cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and p16 in primary locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma cases: a tissue microarray study.

    PubMed

    Solomon, Monica Charlotte; Vidyasagar, M S; Fernandes, Donald; Guddattu, Vasudev; Mathew, Mary; Shergill, Ankur Kaur; Carnelio, Sunitha; Chandrashekar, Chetana

    2016-12-01

    Oral squamous cell carcinomas comprise a heterogeneous tumor cell population with varied molecular characteristics, which makes prognostication of these tumors a complex and challenging issue. Thus, molecular profiling of these tumors is advantageous for an accurate prognostication and treatment planning. This is a retrospective study on a cohort of primary locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinomas (n = 178) of an Indian rural population. The expression of EGFR, p53, cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and p16 in a cohort of primary locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinomas was evaluated. A potential biomarker that can predict the tumor response to treatment was identified. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor blocks of (n = 178) of histopathologically diagnosed cases of locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinomas were selected. Tissue microarray blocks were constructed with 2 cores of 2 mm diameter from each tumor block. Four-micron-thick sections were cut from these tissue microarray blocks. These tissue microarray sections were immunohistochemically stained for EGFR, p53, Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and p16. In this cohort, EGFR was the most frequently expressed 150/178 (84%) biomarker of the cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant association (p = 0.038) between expression of p53 and a poor prognosis. A Poisson regression analysis showed that tumors that expressed p53 had a two times greater chance of recurrence (unadjusted IRR-95% CI 2.08 (1.03, 4.5), adjusted IRR-2.29 (1.08, 4.8) compared with the tumors that did not express this biomarker. Molecular profiling of oral squamous cell carcinomas will enable us to categorize our patients into more realistic risk groups. With biologically guided tumor characterization, personalized treatment protocols can be designed for individual patients, which will improve the quality of life of these patients.

  18. Exploring small bodies in the outer solar system with stellar occultations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, Jim L.; Dunham, Edward W.; Olkin, C. B.

    1995-01-01

    Stellar occultation observations probe the atmospheric structure and extinction of outer solar system bodies with a spatial resolution of a few kilometers, and an airborne platform allows the observation of occultations by small bodies that are not visible from fixed telescopes. Results from occultations by Triton, Pluto, and Chiron observed with KAO are discussed, and future directions for this program are presented.

  19. Diffraction-based analysis of tunnel size for a scaled external occulter testbed

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sirbu, Dan; Kasdin, N. Jeremy; Vanderbei, Robert J.

    2016-07-01

    For performance verification of an external occulter mask (also called a starshade), scaled testbeds have been developed to measure the suppression of the occulter shadow in the pupil plane and contrast in the image plane. For occulter experiments the scaling is typically performed by maintaining an equivalent Fresnel number. The original Princeton occulter testbed was oversized with respect to both input beam and shadow propagation to limit any diffraction effects due to finite testbed enclosure edges; however, to operate at realistic space-mission equivalent Fresnel numbers an extended testbed is currently under construction. With the longer propagation distances involved, diffraction effects due to the edge of the tunnel must now be considered in the experiment design. Here, we present a diffraction-based model of two separate tunnel effects. First, we consider the effect of tunnel-edge induced diffraction ringing upstream from the occulter mask. Second, we consider the diffraction effect due to clipping of the output shadow by the tunnel downstream from the occulter mask. These calculations are performed for a representative point design relevant to the new Princeton occulter experiment, but we also present an analytical relation that can be used for other propagation distances.

  20. The occultation of Kappa Geminorum by Eros. [stellar occultation observed for asteroid size and shape

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Oleary, B.; Marsden, B. G.; Dragon, R.; Hauser, E.; Mcgrath, M.; Backus, P.; Robkoff, H.

    1976-01-01

    The paper discusses predictions and observations of the occultation of Kappa Gem by (433) Eros on January 24, 1975. Several positive and negative observations made in western New England are described. Local circumstances for the occultation are reconstructed, and the size and shape of Eros are determined analytically as well as graphically. The calculations yield two extremes for the cross section: a circle 23 km in diameter or a somewhat irregular figure 20 km by 6 or 7 km. Arguments based on the expected albedo of the asteroid suggest that the circle should be warped into an ellipse 21 by 13 km or that the irregular figure might be one component of a dumbbell-like profile.

  1. High Resolution Asteroid Profile by Multi Chord Occultation Observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Degenhardt, Scott

    2009-05-01

    For millennia man has observed celestial objects occulting other bodies and distant stars. We have used these celestial synchronicities to measure the properties of objects. On January 1, 1801 Italian astronomer Giusappe Piazzi discovered the first asteroid that would soon be named Ceres. To date 190,000 of these objects have been catalogued, but only a fraction of these have accurate measurements of their true size and shape. The International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) currently facilitates the prediction and reduction of asteroidal occultations. By measuring the shadow cast on the earth by an asteroid during a stellar occultation one can directly measure the physical size, shape, and position in space of this body to accuracies orders of magnitudes better than the best ground based adaptive optics telescope and can provide verification to 3D inverted reflective lightcurve prediction models. Recent novel methods developed by IOTA involving an individual making multiple observations through unattended remote observing stations have made way for numerous chords of occultation measurement through a single body yielding high resolution profiles of asteroid bodies. Methodology of how observing stations are deployed will be demonstrated, results of some of these observations are presented as comparisons to their inverted lightcurve are shown.

  2. Cervical lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary: outcomes and patterns of failure.

    PubMed

    Mistry, R C; Qureshi, S S; Talole, S D; Deshmukh, S

    2008-01-01

    Management of cervical lymph nodes metastases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from primary of unknown origin (PUO) is contentious and there is insignificant data from India on this subject. To present experience of management of these patients treated with curative intent at a single institution. Retrospective study of patients treated between 1989-1994 in a tertiary referral cancer centre. Eighty-nine patients were evaluated in the study period and their survival compared with patients with common sites of primary in the head and neck with comparable node stage. Kaplan-Meier method. The clinical stage of the neck nodes at presentation was N1 in 11%, N2a in 28.5%, N2b in 22.5%, N3 in 35% and Nx in 3.4% patients. All patients underwent surgery and 70 patients received more than 40Gy postoperative radiotherapy. Twenty-nine (32.6%) patients had relapse of which 19 (21%) were in the neck. Postoperative radiotherapy did not influence the neck relapse (p=0.72). Primary was detected in 13 patients (14.6%) on subsequent follow up. The overall five and eight-years survival was 55% and 51% respectively. The overall five-year survival was better compared to patients with known primary with comparable node stage. Patients with cervical lymph nodes metastases of SCC from PUO have reasonable survival and low rate of development of subsequent primary when treated with surgery and radiotherapy. The overall survival is comparable to that of patients with known primary and hence an attempt at cure should always be made.

  3. Earth Occultation Monitoring with the Fermi Gamma Ray Burst Monitor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson-Hodge, Colleen A.

    2014-01-01

    Using the Gamma Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on-board Fermi, we are monitoring the hard X-ray/soft gamma ray sky using the Earth occultation technique (EOT). Each time a source in our catalog is occulted by (or exits occultation by) the Earth, we measure its flux using the change in count rates due to the occultation. Currently we are using CTIME data with 8 energy channels spanning 8 keV to 1 MeV for the GBM NaI detectors for daily monitoring. Light curves, updated daily, are available on our website http://heastro.phys.lsu.edu/gbm. Our software is also capable of performing the Earth occultation monitoring using up to 128 energy bands, or any combination of those bands, using our 128-channel, 4-s CSPEC data. The GBM BGO detectors, sensitive from about 200 keV to 40 keV, can also be used with this technique. In our standard application of the EOT, we use a catalog of sources to drive the measurements. To ensure that our catalog is complete, our team has developed an Earth occultation imaging method. In this talk, I will describe both techniques and the current data products available. I will highlight recent and important results from the GBM EOT, including the current status of our observations of hard X-ray variations in the Crab Nebula.

  4. Cassini Radio Occultations of Saturn's Rings: Scattered Signal and Particle Sizes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thomson, F.; Wong, K.; Marouf, E.; French, R.; Rappaport, N.; McGhee, C.; Anabtawi, A.; Asmar, S.; Barbinis, E.; Fleischman, D.; Goltz, G.; Johnston, D.; Rochblatt, D.

    2005-08-01

    Eight Cassini radio occultations of Saturn's rings were conducted from May 3 to September 5, 2005. During any given occultation, Cassini transmits Ka-, X-, and S-band sinusoidal signals (0.94, 3.6, and 13 cm-wavelength) through the rings. Spectral analysis of the perturbed signals received at stations of the Deep Space Network (DSN) reveals two distinct signal components. The first is the direct signal, a narrowband component representing the incident sinusoid emerging from the rings reduced in amplitude and changed in phase. The second is the scattered signal, a broadband component, representing near-forward scattering by ring particles. After reconstruction to remove diffraction effects, time history of the direct signal yields profiles of ring structure at resolution approaching ˜50 m. Of primary concern here is the broadband component. For the first time ever, clearly detectable scattered signals were observed at all three (Ka/X/S) bands. A single X/S radio occultation by Voyager 1 in 1980 detected scattered signal at X-band only, primarily because of the small ring opening angle B=5.9o at the time, compared with 19.1 ≤ B ≤ 23.6o for Cassini. Time histories of the observed spectra (spectrograms) and their dependence on wavelength provide important information about physical ring properties, including abundance of meter-size particles, particle crowding, clustering, spatial anisotropy, vertical ring profile and thickness. Cassini occultation orbits were optimized to map scattering by individual ring features into nearly non-overlapping spectral bands, allowing unambiguous identification of the contribution of ring features to the computed spectrograms. We present Ka/X/S spectrograms over the full extent of the ring system and relate their behavior to observed ring structure. The spectrograms imply presence of meters-size particles throughout the ring system. Preliminary results regarding the particle size distribution and vertical ring profile of selected

  5. Squamous cell carcinoma of the breast as a clinical diagnostic challenge

    PubMed Central

    Jakubowska, Katarzyna; Kańczuga-Koda, Luiza; Kisielewski, Wojciech; Koda, Mariusz; Famulski, Waldemar

    2018-01-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) of the breast should be differentiated between the primary skin keratinizing squamous carcinoma and squamous metaplastic cancer. In the current study, the cases of two patients who were diagnosed with SqCC originated from skin and the breast were discussed. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy confirmed the presence of atypical squamous cells. In both cases, the microscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed a malignant neoplasm differentiated into SqCC characterized by keratinizing cancer cells with abundant eosiphilic cytoplasm with large, hyperchromatic vesicular nuclei. Immunohistochemical studies showed negative for progesterone and estrogen receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Moreover, negative expression of cytokeratin 7 and 20 was confirmed. The diagnosis of the both tumors was established based on the detailed analysis of clinical, macroscopical and microscopical information. SqCC localized in the breast is a great diagnostic challenge in pathomorphology and more attention should be paid for analysis of such lesions in daily practice. PMID:29556390

  6. Analysis of a Triple Star System Occulted By Saturn’s Rings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bratcher, Allison; Colwell, J. E.; Bolin, B.

    2012-10-01

    On January 4, 2012, the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph aboard the Cassini Spacecraft observed Saturn’s rings as they occulted the triple star system, Iota Orionis. Remarkably, the brightest star was occulted by the moon Prometheus, and we provide the timing information of first and last contact for navigation purposes and a chord across the moon. The large separation of the individual stars projected in the ring plane makes it possible to measure the profiles of narrow features in the rings as they were occulted by each of the three stars. This occultation thus provides a unique opportunity to measure short-scale longitudinal variations in narrow ringlets with stellar occultation data that usually provide only a single longitudinal sample. Iota Orionis has a low elevation angle (B=1.4 degrees) above the plane of the rings, enhancing the sensitivity of the occultation (by a factor of 1/sin(B)=41) to the optically thin regions of the rings such as the C Ring and the Cassini Division as well as faint ringlets in the Encke gap. We distinguished the three signals by creating a model triple star signal using data from another occultation. We were able to identify several faint, narrow ringlets, including two in the Encke gap, occulted by two of the three stars and more prominent ringlets, such as the Huygens ringlet, in all three stellar light curves. We present the equivalent widths of these ringlets in the data from this triple star system and limits on ring variability over the azimuthal separation of the stars that ranges from 6000 km at the inner C ring to 200 km at the outer A ring.

  7. Observation and Interpretation of Lunar Occultations. Ph.D. Thesis; [Uranus and beta Capricorni

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Radick, R. R.

    1978-01-01

    The importance of timings and high resolution astrometry in occultation observations is discussed as well as the occultation process itself. The design and operation of the telescope, photodetector, and data acquisition systems are described. Methods are presented for data analysis and model fitting. Observations of beta Capricorni and Uranus occultations are examined. General conclusions concerning occultation observations are explored and future activities at Prairie Observatory are discussed.

  8. The Atmosphere of Titan from Cassini Radio Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schinder, Paul J.; Flasar, F. M.; Marouf, E. A.; French, R. G.; McGhee, C. A.; Kliore, A. J.; Rappaport, N.; Nagy, A. F.; Anabtawi, A.; Asmar, S.; Barbinis, E.; Fleischman, D. U.; Goltz, G. L.

    2006-09-01

    The first two radio occultations of Cassini by Titan occurred on March 19 and May 20, 2006. On March 19, the ingress occultation occurred at a latitude of 31 S, and egress at 53 S. On May 20, ingress was at 33 S, and egress at 34 S. We present the temperature-pressure profiles for the atmosphere of Titan for these 4 locations.

  9. Occult chemical deposition to a Maritime forest

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Vong, R.J.; Kowalski, A.S.

    1996-12-31

    Studies of chemical fluxes from the atmosphere to vegetated surfaces have suggested that, along with conventional wet and dry processes, an additional chemical input occurs when wind-blown cloud droplets are directly intercepted by vegetation. This cloud water deposition process has been sometimes termed {open_quote}occult deposition{close_quote} because the water fluxes cannot ordinarily be observed using rain gauges. Such occult deposition of cloud water has rarely been measured directly, in part because of the complexity of the governing turbulent transfer process. However, reviews by the National Acidic Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP SoS/T-2,6) have suggested that the chemical flux to be forest declinemore » in the eastern USA. This paper presents direct field measurements occult chemical fluxes to a silver fir forest located in complex terrain on the Olympic Peninsula near the coast of Washington State, USA.« less

  10. Occult thyroid carcinoma in our experience -- should we reconsider total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid pathology?

    PubMed

    Alecu, L; Bărbulescu, M; Ursuţ, B; Enciu, O; Slavu, I; Braga, V

    2014-01-01

    The reported incidence rate of occult thyroid carcinoma in patients operated for benign thyroid pathology has been much higher than expected in the last years,especially for multinodular goitre, which raises the question about which should the proper surgical management for these cases be. To assess the incidence rate of OTC in a single medium volume surgical center and to establish the correct indication for initial surgical management, as well as to identify the benign thyroid pathology most frequently associated with OTC. We also reviewed the relevant scientific literature on this topic. We conducted a retrospective study in the General Surgery Clinic of "Prof. dr. Agrippa Ionescu" Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, on a series of 145 patients who underwent surgical interventions for preoperatively diagnosed benign thyroid pathology over a ten year period, between 1st January 2002 - 31st December 2012. All cases of known thyroid cancer were excluded. Incidence rate of occult thyroid carcinoma in our series was 6.9 % (10 out of 145 patients), 80 % of them being diagnosed with multinodular goitre and two cases (20 %) with Hashimoto's lymphocytic thyroiditis. 6.8 % of all patients with multinodular goitre were found to present occult carcinoma,but this association was without statistical significance(p 0.05). Incidence rate of occult cancer among patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis was proved to be as high as 28.6%,statistically significant (p=0.020). The mean size of postoperatively diagnosed occult microcarcinoma was 7 mm, ranging between 3 mm and 14 mm, 90% of them being smaller than 1cm. Histologically, papillary microcarcinoma was found in all cases. The mean age of the patients diagnosed with occult microcarcinoma was 47.8 years with majority of the female gender. The most frequent operation performed was total thyroidectomy (70.8%). Overall morbidity in our series was 6.9% with a 0.7 % mortality rate (1 case). In our opinion, primary total thyroidectomy

  11. Is CDX2 immunostaining useful for delineating anorectal from penile/vulvar squamous cancer in the setting of squamous cell carcinoma with clinically unknown primary site presenting with histologically confirmed inguinal lymph node metastasis?

    PubMed

    Gunia, Sven; Koch, Stefan; May, Matthias

    2013-02-01

    Penile, vulvar and anal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) share histomorphological overlap and are prone to lymphatic dissemination into inguinal nodes. Anal SCCs might derive from the anorectal zone (ARZ), anal transitional zone, squamous zone or from perianal skin. These anatomically distinct zones differ in terms of their embryological development. We sought to investigate the role of caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2), a homeobox gene implicated in the development and anterior/posterior pattern specification from duodenum to rectum including the ARZ, in terms of narrowing the possible sites of origin to be considered in the setting of SCC with unknown primary presenting with histologically confirmed inguinal lymph node metastasis. By immunohistochemistry (IHC) employing a panel of antibodies directed against CK5/6, CK7, CK20, p63, p16, CEA and CDX2, we compared 89 penile, 11 vulvar and eight anal SCCs with respect to their staining profiles. Moreover, anal SCCs were subjected to in situ hybridisation (ISH) for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes. By IHC, CDX2 expression was observed in 2/8 anal SCCs (25%) while being absent from all penile and vulvar SCCs examined. High-risk HPV subtypes were detected by ISH in all anal SCCs examined, which were uniformly p16-positive by IHC. CDX2 might be valuable in terms of narrowing the possible sites of origin to be considered in the setting of SCC with unknown primary presenting with inguinal lymph node metastasis. However, despite its favourable specificity, the diagnostic benefit achieved by this observation is limited by the low sensitivity.

  12. Altimetry Using GPS-Reflection/Occultation Interferometry

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cardellach, Estel; DeLaTorre, Manuel; Hajj, George A.; Ao, Chi

    2008-01-01

    A Global Positioning System (GPS)- reflection/occultation interferometry was examined as a means of altimetry of water and ice surfaces in polar regions. In GPS-reflection/occultation interferometry, a GPS receiver aboard a satellite in a low orbit around the Earth is used to determine the temporally varying carrier- phase delay between (1) one component of a signal from a GPS transmitter propagating directly through the atmosphere just as the GPS transmitter falls below the horizon and (2) another component of the same signal, propagating along a slightly different path, reflected at glancing incidence upon the water or ice surface.

  13. A comparison of oncological outcomes between transoral surgical and non-surgical treatment protocols in the management of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Kao, S S; Micklem, J; Ofo, E; Edwards, S; Dhatrak, D; Foreman, A; Krishnan, S; Hodge, J-C

    2018-04-01

    The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in the Western world is increasing, with the human papillomavirus epidemic implicated in this observed trend. The optimal treatment modality is yet undetermined regarding oncological outcomes. This study comprised 98 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, treated with either primary transoral surgery with adjuvant therapy or primary chemoradiotherapy with curative intent, between 2008 and 2012. Clinicopathological characteristics including tumour-node-metastasis stage, human papillomavirus status, treatment modality, recurrence and overall survival were collated. Five per cent of primary surgical patients had locoregional recurrences compared with 25 per cent of primary chemoradiotherapy patients. A lower rate of locoregional recurrence was observed in the human papillomavirus positive group. This paper reports higher rates of overall survival and local control for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with primary surgery compared with primary chemoradiotherapy. This reflects overall lower tumour stage and higher human papillomavirus status in this group.

  14. Partially Transparent Petaled Mask/Occulter for Visible-Range Spectrum

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shiri, Ron Shahram; Wasylkiwskyj, Wasyl

    2013-01-01

    The presence of the Poisson Spot, also known as the spot of Arago, has been known since the 18th century. This spot is the consequence of constructive interference of light diffracted by the edge of the obstacle where the central position can be determined by symmetry of the object. More recently, many NASA missions require the suppression of this spot in the visible range. For instance, the exoplanetary missions involving space telescopes require telescopes to image the planetary bodies orbiting central stars. For this purpose, the starlight needs to be suppressed by several orders of magnitude in order to image the reflected light from the orbiting planet. For the Earth-like planets, this suppression needs to be at least ten orders of magnitude. One of the common methods of suppression involves sharp binary petaled occulters envisioned to be placed many thousands of miles away from the telescope blocking the starlight. The suppression of the Poisson Spot by binary sharp petal tips can be problematic when the thickness of the tips becomes smaller than the wavelength of the incident beam. First they are difficult to manufacture and also it invalidates the laws of physical optics. The proposed partially transparent petaled masks/occulters compensate for this sharpness with transparency along the surface of the petals. Depending on the geometry of the problem, this transparency can be customized such that only a small region of the petal is transparent and the remaining of the surface is opaque. This feature allows easy fabrication of this type of occultation device either as a mask or occulter. A partially transparent petaled mask/ occulter has been designed for the visible spectrum range. The mask/occulter can suppress the intensity along the optical axis up to ten orders of magnitude. The design process can tailor the mask shape, number of petals, and transparency level to the near-field and farfield diffraction region. The mask/occulter can be used in space

  15. Recent achievements on ASPIICS, an externally occulted coronagraph for PROBA-3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Renotte, Etienne; Buckley, Steve; Cernica, Ileana; Denis, François; Desselle, Richard; De Vos, Lieve; Fineschi, Silvano; Fleury-Frenette, Karl; Galano, Damien; Galy, Camille; Gillis, Jean-Marie; Graas, Estelle; Graczyk, Rafal; Horodyska, Petra; Kranitis, Nektarios; Kurowski, Michal; Ladno, Michal; Liebecq, Sylvie; Loreggia, Davide; Mechmech, Idriss; Melich, Radek; Mollet, Dominique; Mosdorf, Michał; Mroczkowski, Mateusz; O'Neill, Kevin; Patočka, Karel; Paschalis, Antonis; Peresty, Radek; Radzik, Bartlomiej; Rataj, Miroslaw; Salvador, Lucas; Servaye, Jean-Sébastien; Stockman, Yvan; Thizy, Cédric; Walczak, Tomasz; Zarzycka, Alicja; Zhukov, Andrei

    2016-07-01

    This paper presents the current status of ASPIICS, a solar coronagraph that is the primary payload of ESA's formation flying in-orbit demonstration mission PROBA-3. The "sonic region" of the Sun corona remains extremely difficult to observe with spatial resolution and sensitivity sufficient to understand the fine scale phenomena that govern the quiescent solar corona, as well as phenomena that lead to coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which influence space weather. Improvement on this front requires eclipse-like conditions over long observation times. The space-borne coronagraphs flown so far provided a continuous coverage of the external parts of the corona but their over-occulting system did not permit to analyse the part of the white-light corona where the main coronal mass is concentrated. The PROBA-3 Coronagraph System, also known as ASPIICS (Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona of the Sun) is designed as a classical externally occulted Lyot coronagraph but it takes advantage of the opportunity to place the external occulter on a companion spacecraft, about 150m apart, to perform high resolution imaging of the inner corona of the Sun as close as ~1.1 solar radii. The images will be tiled and compressed on board in an FPGA before being down-linked to ground for scientific analyses. ASPIICS is built by a large European consortium including about 20 partners from 7 countries under the auspices of the European Space Agency. This paper is reviewing the recent development status of the ASPIICS instrument as it is approaching CDR.

  16. Promoter hypermethylation in Indian primary oral squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Kaur, Jatinder; Demokan, Semra; Tripathi, Satyendra Chandra; Macha, Muzafar Ahmad; Begum, Shahnaz; Califano, Joseph A.; Ralhan, Ranju

    2010-01-01

    We evaluated promoter hypermethylation of a panel of tumor suppressor genes as a means to detect epigenetic alterations in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) of Indian-origin and compare with North-American head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Quantitative-methylation-specific PCR was used to investigate the promoter methylation status of DCC, EDNRB, p16INK4a and KIF1A in 92 OSCC, and compared to 48 paired normal tissues and 30 saliva and sera samples from healthy control subjects. Aberrant methylation of at-least one of these genes was detected in 74/92 (80.4%) OSCC; 72.8% at EDNRB, 71.7% at KIF1A, 47.8% at p16INK4a and 58.7% at DCC; and in 5 of 48 (10.4%) normal oral tissues. None of the saliva and sera samples from controls exhibited DNA methylation in these four target genes. Thirty-two of 72 node positive cases harbored p16INK4a and DCC hypermethylation (p = 0.005). Thus, promoter hypermethylation in genes analyzed herein is a common event in Indian OSCC and may represent promising markers for the molecular staging of OSCC patients. We found higher frequency of p16INK4a methylation (47.8%) in this Indian cohort in comparison with a North-American cohort (37.5%). In conclusion, aberrant methylation of EDNRB, KIF1A, DCC and p16INK4a genes is a common event in Indian OSCC, suggesting that epigenetic alterations of these genes warrant validation in larger studies for their potential use as biomarkers. PMID:20473870

  17. Fibroblastic osteosarcoma with epithelioid and squamous differentiation in a dog.

    PubMed

    Jenkins, Tiffany L; Agnew, Dalen; Rissi, Daniel R

    2018-04-01

    A fibroblastic osteosarcoma with epithelioid and squamous differentiation in the distal femur of a 9-y-old spayed female Greyhound dog is described. Grossly, the tumor consisted of a pale-white, firm-to-hard mass that replaced the medullary and cortical areas of the distal end of the right femur. Histologically, the mass was composed predominantly of spindle cells admixed with areas of mineralized and non-mineralized osteoid matrix that were surrounded by stellate osteoblasts and scattered multinucleate giant cells, consistent with the diagnosis of a fibroblastic osteosarcoma. In addition, well-demarcated clusters of neoplastic epithelioid cells and foci of squamous differentiation with keratin pearls were present throughout the neoplasm. The spindle cells, epithelioid cells, and areas of squamous differentiation expressed cytoplasmic immunostaining for osteocalcin and osteonectin. The spindle cells and epithelioid cells were also immunopositive for vimentin. Epithelioid cells also expressed occasional cytoplasmic immunostaining for pancytokeratin (PCK) Lu-5, and areas of squamous differentiation were immunoreactive for PCK Lu-5 and high molecular weight CK; these areas were inconsistently immunoreactive for CK 5-6 and immunonegative for low molecular weight CK. Foci of squamous differentiation were not located within blood or lymphatic vessels, given that no immunoreactivity for factor VIII-related antigen was observed around these areas. A thorough autopsy and an evaluation of the medical history excluded a primary carcinoma or other neoplasm elsewhere in the dog. The findings were consistent with a diagnosis of fibroblastic osteosarcoma with epithelioid and squamous differentiation.

  18. Radio Occultation Measurements of Pluto’s Atmosphere with New Horizons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hinson, David P.; Linscott, Ivan; Tyler, Len; Bird, Mike; Paetzold, Martin; Strobel, Darrell; Summers, Mike; Woods, Will; Stern, Alan; Weaver, Hal; Olkin, Cathy; Young, Leslie; Ennico, Kimberly; Gladstone, Randy; Greathouse, Tommy; Kammer, Josh; Parker, Alex; Parker, Joel; Retherford, Kurt; Schindhelm, Eric; Singer, Kelsi; Steffl, Andrew; Tsang, Con; Versteeg, Maarten

    2015-11-01

    The reconnaissance of the Pluto System by New Horizons included radio occultations at both Pluto and Charon. This talk will present the latest results from the Pluto occultation. The REX instrument onboard New Horizons received and recorded uplink signals from two 70-m antennas and two 34-m antennas of the NASA Deep Space Network - each transmitting 20 kW at 4.2-cm wavelength - during a diametric occultation by Pluto. At the time this was written only a short segment of data at occultation entry (193°E, 17°S) was available for analysis. The REX measurements extend unequivocally to the surface, providing the first direct measure of the surface pressure and the temperature structure in Pluto’s lower atmosphere. Data from occultation exit (16°E, 15°N) are scheduled to arrive on the ground in late August 2015. Those observations will yield an improved estimate of the surface pressure, a second temperature profile, and a measure of the diameter of Pluto with a precision of a few hundred meters. This work is supported by the NASA New Horizons Mission.

  19. Recent progress on external occulter technology for imaging exosolar planets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kasdin, N. J.; Vanderbei, R. J.; Sirbu, D.; Samuels, J.; Shaklan, S.; Lisman, D.; Thomson, M.; Cady, E.; Martin, S.

    Imaging planets orbiting nearby stars requires a system for suppressing the host starlight by at least ten orders of magnitude. One such approach uses an external occulter, a satellite flying far from the telescope and employing a large screen, or starshade, to suppress the incoming starlight. This trades the added complexity of building the precisely shaped starshade and flying it in formation against simplifications in the telescope since extremely precise wavefront control is no longer necessary. Much progress has been made recently in designing, testing and manufacturing starshade technology. In this paper we describe the design of starshades and report on recent accomplishments in manufacturing and measuring a prototype occulter petal as part of NASA's first Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions (TDEM) program. We demonstrate that the as-built petal is consistent with a full-size occulter achieving better than 10-10 contrast. We also discuss laboratory testing at the Princeton Occulter Testbed. These experiments use sub-scale, long-distance beam propagation to verify the diffraction analysis associated with occulter starlight suppression. We demonstrate roughly 10-10 suppression in the laboratory and discuss the important challenges and limitations.

  20. Stellar occultation spikes as probes of atmospheric structure and composition. [for Jupiter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, J. L.; Veverka, J.

    1976-01-01

    The characteristics of spikes observed in occultation light curves of Beta Scorpii by Jupiter are discussed in terms of the gravity-gradient model. The occultation of Beta Sco by Jupiter on May 13, 1971, is reviewed, and the gravity-gradient model is defined as an isothermal atmosphere of constant composition in which the refractivity is a function only of the radial coordinate from the center of refraction, which is assumed to lie parallel to the local gravity gradient. The derivation of the occultation light curve in terms of the atmosphere, the angular diameter of the occulted star, and the occultation geometry is outlined. It is shown that analysis of the light-curve spikes can yield the He/H2 concentration ratio in a well-mixed atmosphere, information on fine-scale atmospheric structure, high-resolution images of the occulted star, and information on ray crossing. Observational limits are placed on the magnitude of horizontal refractivity gradients, and it is concluded that the spikes are the result of local atmospheric density variations: atmospheric layers, density waves, or turbulence.

  1. Preliminary evaluation of the diffraction behind the PROBA 3/ASPIICS optimized occulter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baccani, Cristian; Landini, Federico; Romoli, Marco; Taccola, Matteo; Schweitzer, Hagen; Fineschi, Silvano; Bemporad, Alessandro; Loreggia, Davide; Capobianco, Gerardo; Pancrazzi, Maurizio; Focardi, Mauro; Noce, Vladimiro; Thizy, Cédric; Servaye, Jean-Sébastien; Renotte, Etienne

    2016-07-01

    PROBA-3 is a technological mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), devoted to the in-orbit demon- stration of formation flying (FF) techniques and technologies. ASPIICS is an externally occulted coronagraph approved by ESA as payload in the framework of the PROBA-3 mission and is currently in its C/D phase. FF offers a solution to investigate the solar corona close the solar limb using a two-component space system: the external occulter on one spacecraft and the optical instrument on the other, separated by a large distance and kept in strict alignment. ASPIICS is characterized by an inter-satellite distance of ˜144 m and an external occulter diameter of 1.42 m. The stray light due to the diffraction by the external occulter edge is always the most critical offender to a coronagraph performance: the designer work is focused on reducing the stray light and carefully evaluating the residuals. In order to match this goal, external occulters are usually characterized by an optimized shape along the optical axis. Part of the stray light evaluation process is based on the diffraction calculation with the optimized occulter and with the whole solar disk as a source. We used the field tracing software VirtualLabTM Fusion by Wyrowski Photonics [1] to simulate the diffraction. As a first approach and in order to evaluate the software, we simulated linear occulters, through as portions of the flight occulter, in order to make a direct comparison with the Phase-A measurements [2].

  2. Detection of the E7 transform gene of human papilloma virus type 16 in human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Wang, J; Li, J; Huang, H; Fu, Y

    1998-12-01

    To determine, with the use of polymerase chain reaction, the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 in 30 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 30 healthy control patients. DNA was extracted from freshly frozen tumor tissues of 30 patients with primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and from the oral mucosa of 30 controls. A pair of specific primers of the E7 early gene of HPV 16 were designed. PCR products were run by 1.5% agarose gel and the results of electrophoresis were photographed. HPV 16 was detected in 36.7% (11/30) of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and 11.1% (4/30) of controls. HPV 16 has a significant association with oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the role HPV 16 plays in the tumorigenesis of oral cancer and its clinical significance remain to be investigated.

  3. Using GPS radio occultation data in the study of tropical cyclogenesis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Didlake, A. C., Jr.; Kuo, Y. B.; Metcalfe, T.

    2005-12-01

    Numerous studies have examined atmospheric conditions and patterns in tropical cyclogenesis. Although much has been accomplished, a complete understanding of tropical cyclogenesis is hindered by the lack of data in the regions where formation occurs. The GPS (Global Positioning System) radio occultation technique can provide valuable data in key areas. In GPS radio occultation, GPS satellites emit radio signals through the atmosphere that are received by another satellite in a low Earth orbit. Various atmospheric properties are calculated based on the alteration of the signal. This study assessed the value of GPS radio occultation data in the study of tropical cyclogenesis by examining storms of the 2002 Western North Pacific typhoon season. The signature of precursor disturbances to tropical cyclogenesis was determined by analyzing composites of data from the NCEP Aviation (AVN) analysis over four days. Similar composites of GPS radio occultation data were produced. The AVN analysis showed strong signals of precursor disturbances in the low-level wind fields and atmospheric refractivity. The GPS radio occultation data detected similarly increased refractivity values in corresponding regions, but had sizeable measurement differences with the AVN analysis. These differences were attributed to AVN analysis error due to the lack of input observational data and the high accuracy of GPS radio occultation measurements. Further comparisons showed that with the limited quantity of data currently available, GPS radio occultation by itself was not sufficient to detect precursor disturbances. It can best be used in data assimilation to improve the analysis and forecasts of tropical storms.

  4. Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Improves Target Coverage and Parotid Gland Sparing When Delivering Total Mucosal Irradiation in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck of Unknown Primary Site

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bhide, Shreerang; Clark, Catherine; Harrington, Kevin

    2007-10-01

    Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with occult primary site represents a controversial clinical problem. Conventional total mucosal irradiation (TMI) maximizes local control, but at the expense of xerostomia. IMRT has been shown to spare salivary tissue in head and cancer patients. This study has been performed to investigate the potential of IMRT to perform nodal and TMI and also allow parotid gland sparing in this patient group. Conventional radiotherapy (CRT) and IMRT plans were produced for six patients to treat the ipsilateral (involved) post-operative neck (PTV1) and the un-operated contralateral neck and mucosal axis (PTV2). Plans were produced withmore » and without the inclusion of nasopharynx in the PTV2. The potential to improve target coverage and spare the parotid glands was investigated for the IMRT plans. There was no significant difference in the mean doses to the PTV1 using CRT and IMRT (59.7 and 60.0 respectively, p = 0.5). The maximum doses to PTV1 and PTV2 were lower for the IMRT technique as compared to CRT (P = 0.008 and P < 0.0001), respectively, and the minimum doses to PTV1 and PTV2 were significantly higher for IMRT as compared to CRT (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001), respectively, illustrating better dose homogeneity with IMRT. The mean dose to the parotid gland contralateral to PTV1 was significantly lower for IMRT (23.21 {+-} 0.7) as compared to CRT (50.5 {+-} 5.8) (P < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in parotid dose between plans with and without the inclusion of the nasopharynx. IMRT offers improved dose homogeneity in PTV1 and PTV2 and allows for parotid sparing.« less

  5. Constraints on Pluto's Hazes from 2-Color Occultation Lightcurves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hartig, Kara; Barry, T.; Carriazo, C. Y.; Cole, A.; Gault, D.; Giles, B.; Giles, D.; Hill, K. M.; Howell, R. R.; Hudson, G.; Loader, B.; Mackie, J. A.; Olkin, C. B.; Rannou, P.; Regester, J.; Resnick, A.; Rodgers, T.; Sicardy, B.; Skrutskie, M. F.; Verbiscer, A. J.; Wasserman, L. H.; Watson, C. R.; Young, E. F.; Young, L. A.; Buie, M. W.; Nelson, M.

    2015-11-01

    The controversial question of aerosols in Pluto's atmosphere first arose in 1988, when features in a Pluto occultation lightcurve were alternately attributed to haze opacity (Elliot et al. 1989) or a thermal inversion (Eshleman 1989). A stellar occultation by Pluto in 2002 was observed from several telescopes on Mauna Kea in wavelengths ranging from R- to K-bands (Elliot et al. 2003). This event provided compelling evidence for haze on Pluto, since the mid-event baseline levels were systematically higher at longer wavelengths (as expected if there were an opacity source that scattered more effectively at shorter wavelengths). However, subsequent occultations in 2007 and 2011 showed no significant differences between visible and IR lightcurves (Young et al. 2011).The question of haze on Pluto was definitively answered by direct imaging of forward-scattering aerosols by the New Horizons spacecraft on 14-JUL-2015. We report on results of a bright stellar occultation which we observed on 29-JUN-2015 in B- and H-bands from both grazing and central sites. As in 2007 and 2011, we see no evidence for wavelength-dependent extinction. We will present an analysis of haze parameters (particle sizes, number density profiles, and fractal aggregations), constraining models of haze distribution to those consistent with and to those ruled out by the occultation lightcurves and the New Horizons imaging.References:Elliot, J.L., et al., "Pluto's Atmosphere." Icarus 77, 148-170 (1989)Eshleman, V.R., "Pluto's Atmosphere: Models based on refraction, inversion, and vapor pressure equilibrium." Icarus 80 439-443 (1989)Elliot, J.L., et al., "The recent expansion of Pluto's atmosphere." Nature 424 165-168 (2003)Young, E.F., et al., "Search for Pluto's aerosols: simultaneous IR and visible stellar occultation observations." EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011, held 2-7 October 2011 in Nantes, France (2011)

  6. Stellar Occultation Studies of Pluto, Triton, Charon, and Chiron

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, James L.

    2002-01-01

    Bodies inhabiting the outer solar system are of interest because, due to the colder conditions, they exhibit unique physical processes. Also, some of the lessons learned from them can be applied to understanding what occurred in the outer solar system during its formation and early evolution. The thin atmospheres of Pluto and Triton have structure that is not yet understood, and they have been predicted to undergo cataclysmic seasonal changes. Charon may have an atmosphere - we don't know. Chiron exhibits cometary activity so far from the sun (much further than most comets), so that H2O sublimation cannot be the driving mechanism. Probing these bodies from Earth with a spatial resolution of a few kilometers can be accomplished only with the stellar occultation technique. In this program we find and predict stellar occultation events by small outer-solar system bodies and then attempt observations of the ones that can potentially answer interesting questions. We also develop new methods of data analysis for occultations and secure other observations that are necessary for interpretation of the occultation data.

  7. Wave optics of the central spot in planetary occultations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hubbard, W. B.

    1977-01-01

    The detection of a bright central spot during the occultation of epsilon Geminorum by Mars demonstrates that an exponentially-stratified planetary atmosphere can act as a lens providing very high resolution of distant objects (e.g., quasars, white dwarfs, and pulsars). The diffraction nature of the central occultation spot is investigated, with special reference to Mars and Venus. In practice, however, central occultations by these planets are seldom observable from the earth's surface, and spacecraft would have to be used to obtain a suitable orientation for observers. Further difficulties may be encountered in image deconvolution needed for extended objects, in location of the image of a true point source, and in compensation for peculiarities of planets and their atmospheres.

  8. An occultation satellite system for determining pressure levels in the atmosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ungar, S. G.; Lusignan, B. B.

    1972-01-01

    An operational two-satellite microwave occultation system will establish a pressure reference level to be used in fixing the temperature-pressure profile generated by the SIRS infrared sensor as a function of altitude. In the final error analysis, simulated data for the SIRS sensor were used to test the performance of the occultation system. The results of this analysis indicate that the occultation system is capable of measuring the altitude of the 300-mb level to within 24 mrms, given a maximum error of 2 K in the input temperature profile. The effects of water vapor can be corrected by suitable climatological profiles, and improvements in the accuracy of the SIRS instrument should yield additional improvements in the performance of the occultation system.

  9. The Occult: Diabolica to Alchemists

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Delaney, Oliver J.

    1971-01-01

    The 91 items in this bibliography deal with works of occult science. The material is subdivided into biographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, noteworthy histories, indices, annuals, and a few miscellany works with treatises. (95 references) (Author)

  10. Survival outcomes following salvage surgery for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: systematic review.

    PubMed

    Kao, S S; Ooi, E H

    2018-04-01

    Recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma causes great morbidity and mortality. This systematic review analyses survival outcomes following salvage surgery for recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A comprehensive search of various electronic databases was conducted. Studies included patients with recurrent or residual oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with salvage surgery. Primary outcomes were survival rates following salvage surgery. Secondary outcomes included time to recurrence, staging at time of recurrence, post-operative complications, and factors associated with mortality and recurrence. Methodological appraisal and data extraction were conducted as per Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Eighteen articles were included. The two- and five-year survival rates of the patients were 52 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. Improvements in treatment modalities for recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were associated with improvements in two-year overall survival rates, with minimal change to five-year overall survival rates. Various factors were identified as being associated with long-term overall survival, thus assisting clinicians in patient counselling and selection for salvage surgery.

  11. Ficlatuzumab With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Cetuximab-Resistant, Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-02-02

    Head and Neck Basaloid Carcinoma; Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Origin; Stage IV Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IV Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IV Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVA Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVA Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVB Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVB Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Lip and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IVC Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Nasopharyngeal Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Stage IVC Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7; Head and Neck Cancer; Oropharyngeal Cancer; HNSCC

  12. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary: Outcomes of a pre-defined institutional treatment policy in a region with a high prevalence of skin cancer.

    PubMed

    Huo, Michael; Panizza, Benedict; Bernard, Anne; Porceddu, Sandro V

    2018-02-01

    To determine the rate of subsequent primary site failure in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary (UKP HNSCC) in a region with a high prevalence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, according to a pre-determined institutional policy. Secondary aims included regional and distant control, and overall survival. Patients presenting between April 2005 and June 2016 to the Princess Alexandra Hospital Head and Neck Multidisciplinary Meeting with UKP HNSCC from either presumed mucosal or cutaneous sites treated with curative intent were eligible. Patients with presumed mucosal origin were treated with radiation therapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy, while patients with presumed cutaneous SCC were treated with surgery and post-operative RT with or without chemotherapy. A total of 63 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median follow up duration was 3.9 years (IQR 2.07-5.14). There were no subsequent primary site failures. The rate of nodal failure among presumed mucosal patients was 11.5%, and 8.1% among presumed cutaneous patients. The rate of distant metastatic failure was 11.1% among all patients. The estimated 5 year overall survival was 71.2% (95% CI 59.2-85.7%). Treatment according to our pre-defined institutional policy for UKP HNSCC in a region with a high prevalence of cutaneous SCC appears to be safe and effective with low rates of mucosal primary emergence and nodal failure. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. MRI with DWI for the Detection of Posttreatment Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Why Morphologic MRI Criteria Matter.

    PubMed

    Ailianou, A; Mundada, P; De Perrot, T; Pusztaszieri, M; Poletti, P-A; Becker, M

    2018-04-01

    Although diffusion-weighted imaging combined with morphologic MRI (DWIMRI) is used to detect posttreatment recurrent and second primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the diagnostic criteria used so far have not been clarified. We hypothesized that precise MRI criteria based on signal intensity patterns on T2 and contrast-enhanced T1 complement DWI and therefore improve the diagnostic performance of DWIMRI. We analyzed 1.5T MRI examinations of 100 consecutive patients treated with radiation therapy with or without additional surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MRI examinations included morphologic sequences and DWI ( b =0 and b =1000 s/mm 2 ). Histology and follow-up served as the standard of reference. Two experienced readers, blinded to clinical/histologic/follow-up data, evaluated images according to clearly defined criteria for the diagnosis of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma/second primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma occurring after treatment, post-radiation therapy inflammatory edema, and late fibrosis. DWI analysis included qualitative (visual) and quantitative evaluation with an ADC threshold. Recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma/second primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma occurring after treatment was present in 36 patients, whereas 64 patients had post-radiation therapy lesions only. The Cohen κ for differentiating tumor from post-radiation therapy lesions with MRI and qualitative DWIMRI was 0.822 and 0.881, respectively. Mean ADCmean in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma/second primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma occurring after treatment (1.097 ± 0.295 × 10 -3 mm 2 /s) was significantly lower ( P < .05) than in post-radiation therapy inflammatory edema (1.754 ± 0.343 × 10 -3 mm 2 /s); however, it was similar to that in late fibrosis (0.987 ± 0.264 × 10 -3 mm 2 /s, P > .05). Although ADCs were similar in tumors and late fibrosis, morphologic MRI criteria

  14. Breast conservation in the setting of contemporary multimodality treatment provides excellent outcomes for patients with occult primary breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Rueth, Natasha M; Black, Dalliah M; Limmer, Angela R; Gabriel, Emmanuel; Huo, Lei; Fornage, Bruno D; Dogan, Basak E; Chavez-MacGregor, Mariana; Yi, Min; Hunt, Kelly K; Strom, Eric A

    2015-01-01

    To evaluate recurrence and survival for patients with occult (T0N+) breast cancer who underwent contemporary treatment, assessing outcomes for breast conservation and mastectomy. We performed a single-institution review of women with occult breast cancer presenting with axillary metastasis without identifiable breast tumor or distant metastasis. We excluded patients with tumors in the axillary tail or mastectomy specimen, patients with additional nonbreast cancer diagnoses, and patients with a history of breast cancer. Breast conservation was defined as axillary node dissection with radiation therapy, without breast surgery. We evaluated patient, tumor, treatment, and outcome variables. Patients were assessed for local, regional, and distant recurrences. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Thirty-six patients met criteria for occult breast cancer. Most of these patients (77.8 %) had N1 disease. Fifty percent of cancers (n = 18) were estrogen receptor-positive; 12 (33.3 %) were triple-negative. All patients were evaluated with mammography. Thirty-five patients had breast ultrasound (97.2 %) and 33 (91.7 %) had an MRI. Thirty-four patients (94.4 %) were treated with chemotherapy and 33 (91.7 %) with radiotherapy. Twenty-seven patients (75.0 %) were treated with breast conservation. The median follow-up was 64 months. There were no local or regional failures. One distant recurrence occurred >5 years after diagnosis, resulting in a 5-years overall survival rate of 100 %. There were no significant survival differences between patients receiving breast conservation versus mastectomy (p = 0.7). Breast conservation-performed with contemporary imaging and multimodality treatment-provides excellent local control and survival for women with T0N+ breast cancer and can be safely offered instead of mastectomy.

  15. Seroprevalence of occult hepatitis B among Egyptian paediatric hepatitis C cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Raouf, H E; Yassin, A S; Megahed, S A; Ashour, M S; Mansour, T M

    2015-02-01

    Occult hepatitis B infection is characterized by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Egypt is among the highest in the world. In this study, we aim at analysing the rates of occult HBV infections among HCV paediatric cancer patients in Egypt. The prevalence of occult HBV was assessed in two groups of paediatric cancer patients (HCV positive and HCV negative), in addition to a third group of paediatric noncancer patients, which was used as a general control. All groups were negative for HBsAg and positive for HCV antibody. HBV DNA was detected by nested PCR and real-time PCR. HCV was detected by real-time PCR. Sequencing was carried out in order to determine HBV genotypes to all HBV patients as well as to detect any mutation that might be responsible for the occult phenotype. Occult hepatitis B infection was observed in neither the non-HCV paediatric cancer patients nor the paediatric noncancer patients but was found in 31% of the HCV-positive paediatric cancer patients. All the detected HBV patients belonged to HBV genotype D, and mutations were found in the surface genome of HBV leading to occult HBV. Occult HBV infection seems to be relatively frequent in HCV-positive paediatric cancer patients, indicating that HBsAg negativity is not sufficient to completely exclude HBV infection. These findings emphasize the importance of considering occult HBV infection in HCV-positive paediatric cancer patients especially in endemic areas as Egypt. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  16. Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Previously Vaccinated Injection Drug User.

    PubMed

    Powell, Eleanor A; Razeghi, Sanam; Zucker, Stephen; Blackard, Jason T

    2016-02-01

    Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) is defined by the presence of HBV DNA in patient sera in the absence of HBsAg. Occult HBV has been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, reactivation during immune suppression, and transmission to others. While the hepatitis B vaccine is very effective at preventing chronic HBV infection, recent studies indicate it is less effective at preventing occult HBV following infant vaccination. No studies, however, have examined the efficacy of adult HBV vaccination at preventing occult HBV. Here, we present the first report of occult HBV following adult vaccination. A 21-year old Caucasian female presented with tricuspid valve endocarditis secondary to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. She reported active use of intravenous drugs. Her liver enzymes were elevated (ALT = 1873 IU/mL; AST = 4518 IU/mL), and she was found to have HCV and occult HBV. HBV viral loads ranged from 4608 - 8364 copies IU/mL during hospitalization. The patient's HBV was sequenced and found to be genotype D3 without any known diagnostic escape mutations. Immune complexes that may have prevented HBsAg detection were not observed. HBV vaccination in infancy is effective at preventing chronic HBV infection but is less effective at preventing occult HBV infection. Similar studies examining the efficacy of adult HBV vaccination in preventing occult HBV have not been performed. This case highlights the importance of carefully determining the HBV status of high-risk individuals, as vaccination history and the presence of anti-HBs may not be adequate to rule out HBV infection, even in the absence of HBsAg.

  17. Occult cancer detection in patients with hemostatic disorder and venous thromboembolism.

    PubMed

    Husseinzadeh, Holleh; Carrier, Marc

    2018-03-01

    There are physiologic ties between Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and circulating tumor cells. VWF appears to play a role in tumor biology, but it is unclear whether cancer behavior differs in Von Willebrand Disease. In patients presenting with venous thromboembolism (VTE), occult cancer is frequently considered as an underlying cause. The prevalence of occult cancer after provoked VTE is low (3%); therefore, cancer screening in these patients is not routinely recommended. In those with unprovoked VTE, occult cancer is more prevalent, estimated between 4 and 10%. Due to this elevated risk, occult cancer screening is recommended in this population. Multiple studies have investigated whether a "limited" approach (including history and physical exam, basic labs, and chest X-ray) versus "extensive" approach (addition of advanced imaging, such as computer tomography) is more effective. Current data fails to demonstrate extensive screening strategies diagnose more occult cancer, miss fewer cancers during follow up, or improve cancer-related mortality. Furthermore, many patients may be needlessly exposed to unnecessary diagnostic procedures with their associated complications and costs, as well as significant anxiety. Therefore, the decision to perform additional testing should be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional studies are needed to identify subgroups of patients with unprovoked VTE at highest risk for occult cancer. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Astrometry of Single-Chord Occultations: Application to the 1993 Triton Event

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Olkin, Catherine B.; Elliot, J. L.; Bus, Schelte J.; McDonald, Stephen W.; Dahn, Conrad C.

    1996-01-01

    This paper outlines a method for reducing astrometric data to derive the closest approach time and distance to the center of an occultation shadow for a single observer. The method applies to CCD frames, strip scans or photographic plates and uses a set of field stars of unknown positions to define a common coordinate system for all frames. The motion of the occulting body is used to establish the transformation between this common coordinate system and the celestial coordinate system of the body's ephemeris. This method is demonstrated by application to the Tr6O occultation by Triton on 1993 July 10 UT. Over an interval of four nights that included the occultation time, 80 frames of Triton and Tr6O were taken near the meridian with the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) 61-inch astrometric reflector. Application of the method presented here to these data yields a closest approach distance of 359 +/- 133 km (corresponding to 0.017 +/- 0.006 arcsec) for the occultation chord obtained with the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO). Comparison of the astrometric closest approach time with the KAO light-curve midtime shows a difference of 2.2 +/- 4.1 s. Relative photometry of Triton and Tr6O, needed for photometric calibration of the occultation light curve, is also presented.

  19. [Occultism, parapsychology and the esoteric from the perspective of psychopathology].

    PubMed

    Scharfetter, C

    1998-10-01

    The concepts and main themes of occultism, parapsychology and esoterics are set in comparison to religion, spirituality, mysticism. The cultural relativity of these concepts is emphasised. Occultism means dealing with phenomena, processes, and/or powers which are not accessible to "normal perception". The manipulation of such powers is effected via (white, black, grey) magic. Parapsychology, in its popular sense, deals with occult phenomena, whereas scientific parapsychology investigates them empirically. Esoterics is a complex of beliefs within a hermetic tradition about occult processes and about desting after death. Transpersonal psychology deals with these issues while calling them "spiritual". Effects of paranormal experiences and actions on the side of the actor as well as the adept are discussed: personality types, interpersonal effects, crises and psychoses (mediumistic psychoses). The concept of dissociation of subpersonalities (subselves) appears to be a viable perspective to explain these phenomena. In mediumistic psychoses, the splitting of non-ego parts of the psyche leads to a manifestation of schizophrenic symptoms. Dangers for mental health are an ego inflation by self-attribution of "superhuman" power. A personality disposition for parapsychological perception and/or action may be seen in schizotypia and similar near-psychotic "personalities up the border". Adepts of occultism may present with a "false self" in the sense of Winnicott.

  20. 7-Hydroxystaurosporine and Irinotecan Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Solid Tumors or Triple Negative Breast Cancer (Currently Accruing Only Triple-negative Breast Cancer Patients Since 6/8/2007)

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-09-27

    Advanced Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Carcinoma of the Appendix; Estrogen Receptor-negative Breast Cancer; Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor; HER2-negative Breast Cancer; Metastatic Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor; Ovarian Sarcoma; Ovarian Stromal Cancer; Progesterone Receptor-negative Breast Cancer; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Adult Primary Liver Cancer; Recurrent Anal Cancer; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Borderline Ovarian Surface Epithelial-stromal Tumor; Recurrent Breast Cancer; Recurrent Cervical Cancer; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma; Recurrent Esophageal Cancer; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer; Recurrent Gallbladder Cancer; Recurrent Gastric Cancer; Recurrent Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Recurrent Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor; Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer; Recurrent Prostate Cancer; Recurrent Rectal Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Small Intestine Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral

  1. McDonald's and the Occult.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Singer, Barry

    1979-01-01

    Discusses "occult" and "paranormal" literature which is often mistaken for nonfiction. Suggests that most publishers are unwilling to publish scientific perspectives on the paranormal because such writings would be unmarketable. Journal availability: see SO 507 190. (KC)

  2. Metastatic tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma masquerading as a pancreatic cystic tumor and diagnosed by EUS-guided FNA.

    PubMed

    Glass, Ryan; Andrawes, Sherif A; Hamele-Bena, Diane; Tong, Guo-Xia

    2017-11-01

    Metastatic carcinoma to the pancreas is uncommon and head and neck squamous carcinoma metastatic to the pancreas is extremely rare. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the pancreas presents a unique diagnostic challenge: in addition to mimicking the rare primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas based on cytologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical features, it may be mistaken for a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas because of its high predilection for cystic degeneration in metastatic sites. Herein, we report a case of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma with a cystic pancreatic metastasis diagnosed by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA). This represents a third reported case of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the pancreas from the head and neck region. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of EUS-FNA during evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesion. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  3. Changes in Pluto's Atmosphere Revealed by Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sicardy, Bruno; Widemann, Thomas; Lellouch, Emmanuel; Veillet, Christian; Colas, Francois; Roques, Francoise; Beisker, Wolfgang; Kretlow, Mike; Cuillandre, Jean-Charles; Hainaut, Olivier

    After the discovery and study of Pluto's tenuous atmosphere in 1985 and 1988 with stellar occultations 14 years were necessary before two other occultations by the planet could be observed on 20 July 2002 and 21 August 2002 from Northern Chile with a portable telescope and from CFHT in Hawaii respectively. These occultations reveal drastric changes in Pluto's nitrogen atmosphere whose pressure increased by a factor two or more since 1988. In spite of an increasing distance to the Sun (and a correlated decrease of solar energy input at Pluto) this increase can be explained by the fact that Pluto's south pole went from permanent darkness to permanent illumination between 1988 and 2002. This might cause the sublimation of the south polar cap and the increase of pressure which could go on till 2015 according to current nitrogen cycle models. Furthermore we detect temperature contrasts between the polar and the equatorial regions probed on Pluto possibly caused by different diurnally averaged insolations at those locations. Finally spikes observed in the light curves reveal a dynamical activity in Pluto's atmosphere.

  4. High spatial resolution multi-color observations of Neptune during occultation by the moon

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Veverka, J.

    1976-01-01

    Preparations for the observation of Mars occultation using the 36 inch telescope on a C-141 airborne observatory were described, including technical improvements made to existing equipment. The abstracts of the following four publications supported by the grant were presented: (1) atmosphere composition from refractivity measurements made during occultations, (2) how big is lapetus?, (3) the diameter of Titan, (4) design and operating characteristics of voltage to frequency converters suited for occultation work. The planned observation of the April 8, 1976 occultation of the epsilon Gem star from the C-141 airborne observatory was described.

  5. Prevalence of occult inflammatory bowel disease in ankylosing spondylitis.

    PubMed Central

    Costello, P B; Alea, J A; Kennedy, A C; McCluskey, R T; Green, F A

    1980-01-01

    Fifty-five patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 16 control patients matched for sex and age were examined for evidence of occult inflammatory bowel disease. In all patients evaluation included history and physical examination, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, and rectal biopsy. The results of this study suggest that there is no increased prevalence of occult inflammatory bowel disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. PMID:7436576

  6. Prevalence of occult inflammatory bowel disease in ankylosing spondylitis.

    PubMed

    Costello, P B; Alea, J A; Kennedy, A C; McCluskey, R T; Green, F A

    1980-10-01

    Fifty-five patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 16 control patients matched for sex and age were examined for evidence of occult inflammatory bowel disease. In all patients evaluation included history and physical examination, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, and rectal biopsy. The results of this study suggest that there is no increased prevalence of occult inflammatory bowel disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

  7. Probing Pluto's Atmosphere Using Ground-Based Stellar Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sicardy, Bruno; Rio de Janeiro Occultation Team, Granada Team, International Occultation and Timing Association, Royal Astronomical Society New Zealand Occultation Section, Lucky Star associated Teams

    2016-10-01

    Over the last three decades, some twenty stellar occultations by Pluto have been monitored from Earth. They occur when the dwarf planet blocks the light from a star for a few minutes as it moves on the sky. Such events led to the hint of a Pluto's atmosphere in 1985, that was fully confirmed during another occultation in 1988, but it was only in 2002 that a new occultation could be recorded. From then on, the dwarf planet started to move in front of the galactic center, which amplified by a large factor the number of events observable per year.Pluto occultations are essentially refractive events during which the stellar rays are bent by the tenuous atmosphere, causing a gradual dimming of the star. This provides the density, pressure and temperature profiles of the atmosphere from a few kilometers above the surface up to about 250 km altitude, corresponding respectively to pressure levels of about 10 and 0.1 μbar. Moreover, the extremely fine spatial resolution (a few km) obtained through this technique allows the detection of atmospheric gravity waves, and permits in principle the detection of hazes, if present.Several aspects make Pluto stellar occultations quite special: first, they are the only way to probe Pluto's atmosphere in detail, as the dwarf planet is far too small on the sky and the atmosphere is far too tenuous to be directly imaged from Earth. Second, they are an excellent example of participative science, as many amateurs have been able to record those events worldwide with valuable scientific returns, in collaboration with professional astronomers. Third, they reveal Pluto's climatic changes on decade-scales and constrain the various seasonal models currently explored.Finally, those observations are fully complementary to space exploration, in particular with the New Horizons (NH) mission. I will show how ground-based occultations helped to better calibrate some NH profiles, and conversely, how NH results provide some key boundary conditions

  8. Breast implant capsule-associated squamous cell carcinoma: a report of 2 cases.

    PubMed

    Olsen, Daniel L; Keeney, Gary L; Chen, Beiyun; Visscher, Daniel W; Carter, Jodi M

    2017-09-01

    The use of prosthetic implants for breast augmentation has become commonplace. Although implants do not increase the risk of conventional mammary carcinoma, they are rarely associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma. We report 2 cases of breast implant capsule-associated squamous cell carcinoma with poor clinical outcomes. Both patients (56-year-old woman and 81-year-old woman) had long-standing implants (>25 years) and presented with acute unilateral breast enlargement. In both cases, squamous cell carcinoma arose in (focally dysplastic) squamous epithelium-lined breast implant capsules and widely invaded surrounding breast parenchyma or chest wall. Neither patient had evidence of a primary mammary carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma at any other anatomic site. Within 1 year, one patient developed extensive, treatment-refractory, locoregional soft tissue metastasis, and the second patient developed hepatic and soft tissue metastases and died of disease. There are 2 prior reported cases of implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma in the plastic surgery literature; one provides no pathologic staging or outcome information, and the second case was a capsule-confined squamous cell carcinoma. Together, all 4 cases share notable commonalities: the patients had long-standing breast implants and presented with acute unilateral breast pain and enlargement secondary to tumors arising on the posterior aspect of squamous epithelialized implant capsules. Because of both its rarity and its unusual clinical presentation, implant capsule-associated squamous cell carcinoma may be underrecognized. The aggressive behavior of the tumors in this series underscores the importance of excluding malignancy in patients with long-standing breast implants who present with acute unilateral breast pain and enlargement. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Lunar occultation of Saturn. IV - Astrometric results from observations of the satellites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dunham, D. W.; Elliot, J. L.

    1978-01-01

    The method of determining local lunar limb slopes, and the consequent time scale needed for diameter studies, from accurate occultation timings at two nearby telescopes is described. Results for photoelectric observations made at Mauna Kea Observatory during the occultation of Saturn's satellites on March 30, 1974, are discussed. Analysis of all observations of occultations of Saturn's satellites during 1974 indicates possible errors in the ephemerides of Saturn and its satellites.

  10. Pluto's Atmospheric Figure from the P131.1 Stellar Occultation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Person, M. J.; Elliot, J. L.; Clancy, K. B.; Kern, S. D.; Salyk, C. V.; Tholen, D. J.; Pasachoff, J. M.; Babcock, B. A.; Souza, S. P.; Ticehurst, D. R.; Hall, D.; Roberts, L. C., Jr.; Bosh, A. S.; Buie, M. W.; Dunham, E. W.; Olkin, C. B.; Taylor, B.; Levine, S. E.; Eikenberry, S. S.; Moon, D.-S.; Osip, D. J.

    2003-05-01

    The stellar occultation by Pluto of the 15th magnitude star designated P131.1 (McDonald and Elliot, AJ, 119, 1999) on 2002 August 21 (UT) provided the first significant chance to compare Pluto's atmospheric structure to that determined from the 1988 occultation of P8 (Millis, et al., Icarus, 105, 282). The P131.1 occultation was observed from several stations in Hawaii and the western United States (Elliot et al., Nature, in press, 2003). Numerous occultation chords were obtained enabling us to examine Pluto's atmospheric figure. The light curves from the observations were analyzed together in the occultation coordinate system of Elliot et al., (AJ, 106, 2544). The Mauna Kea and Lick datasets straddle the center of Pluto's figure, providing strong constraints on model fits to cross sections of the atmospheric shape. In 1988, Millis (et al., Icarus, 105, 282) did not report any deviation from sphericity in Pluto's atmospheric figure. From the 2002 data, Pluto;s isobars at the radii probed by the occultation ( 1250 km) appear to be distorted from a circular cross-section. Least-squares fits to this cross-section by elliptical models reveal ellipticities in the range 0.05-0.08 although the shape may be more complex than ellipsoidal. The orientation of the distortion appears uncorrelated with Pluto;s rotational axis. Taken at face value, this ellipticity could imply wind speeds of up to twice the sonic speed ( 200 m/s), which would be difficult to explain. Similar distortions have been reported for Triton's atmosphere (Elliot, J. L., et al., Icarus 148, 347). This work has been supported in part by Research Corporation, the Air Force Research Laboratory, NSF, and NASA.

  11. The diameter of Juno from its occultation of AG + 0 deg 1022

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Millis, R. L.; Wasserman, L. H.; Bowell, E.; Franz, O. G.; White, N. M.; Lockwood, G. W.; Nye, R.; Bertram, R.; Klemola, A.; Dunham, E.; hide

    1981-01-01

    The occultation on Dec. 11, 1979, of AG + 0 deg 1022 by Juno was observed photoelectrically from 15 sites distributed across the occultation track. The observations are well represented by a mean elliptical limb profile having semimajor and semiminor axes of 145.2 + or 0.8 and 122.8 + or - 1.9 km, respectively. The corresponding effective diameter of Juno is 267 + or - 5 km, where the uncertainty has been conservatively increased to reflect the presence of limb irregularities clearly seen in the observations. Published radiometric and polarimetric diameters for Juno are 6% to 7% smaller than the occultation result. No secondary occultations attributable to possible satellites of Juno were recorded at any of 23 photoelectrically equipped observing sites.

  12. Ground Support Network for Operational Radio Occultation Missions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zandbergen, R.; Enderle, W.; Marquardt, C.; Wollenweber, F.

    2012-04-01

    The EUMETSAT/ESA Metop/EPS GRAS radio occultation mission stands out for its operational nature. From the beginning, EUMETSAT has decided to rely on an operational system for provision of the auxiliary GPS products that are needed in the occultation processing. This system is the GRAS Ground Support Network (GSN), operated in the Navigation Facility of ESOC in Darmstadt, which was first presented at EGU in 2008. The GRAS GSN is driven primarily by timeliness, availability and accuracy requirements. The performance of the GSN, measured on a monthly basis, has not only consistently met these requirements since the start of its operations, but has also been improved through several system enhancements. Currently, an additional service is being delivered on an experimental basis, consisting of a near-real time Navigation Bit Stream product, which will allow the processing of open-loop data, further increasing the scientific return of the GRAS instrument, or any other radio occultation mission using this data. This paper will present the GRAS GSN in its current configuration, and demonstrate its excellent performance in terms of accuracy, availability and timeliness. The application of the bit stream data will be shown. Some future evolution perspectives of the GRAS GSN will also be addressed. It will be demonstrated that the GRAS GSN has the potential of serving also other present and future radio occultation missions.

  13. Impact of fecal occult blood on obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: Observational study

    PubMed Central

    Kobayashi, Yuka; Watabe, Hirotsugu; Yamada, Atsuo; Suzuki, Hirobumi; Hirata, Yoshihiro; Yamaji, Yutaka; Yoshida, Haruhiko; Koike, Kazuhiko

    2015-01-01

    AIM: To elucidate the association between small bowel diseases (SBDs) and positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). METHODS: Between February 2008 and August 2013, 202 patients with OGIB who performed both capsule endoscopy (CE) and FOBT were enrolled (mean age; 63.6 ± 14.0 years, 118 males, 96 previous overt bleeding, 106 with occult bleeding). All patients underwent immunochemical FOBTs twice prior to CE. Three experienced endoscopists independently reviewed CE videos. All reviews and consensus meeting were conducted without any information on FOBT results. The prevalence of SBDs was compared between patients with positive and negative FOBT. RESULTS: CE revealed SBDs in 72 patients (36%). FOBT was positive in 100 patients (50%) and negative in 102 (50%). The prevalence of SBDs was significantly higher in patients with positive FOBT than those with negative FOBT (46% vs 25%, P = 0.002). In particular, among patients with occult OGIB, the prevalence of SBDs was higher in positive FOBT group than negative FOBT group (45% vs 18%, P = 0.002). On the other hand, among patients with previous overt OGIB, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of SBDs between positive and negative FOBT group (47% vs 33%, P = 0.18). In disease specific analysis among patients with occult OGIB, the prevalence of ulcer and tumor were higher in positive FOBT group than negative FOBT group. In multivariate analysis, only positive FOBT was a predictive factors of SBDs in patients with OGIB (OR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.4-4.6, P = 0.003). Furthermore, the trend was evident among patients with occult OGIB who underwent FOBT on the same day or a day before CE. The prevalence of SBDs in positive vs negative FOBT group were 54% vs 13% in patients with occult OGIB who underwent FOBT on the same day or the day before CE (P = 0.001), while there was no significant difference between positive and negative FOBT group in those who underwent

  14. Impact of fecal occult blood on obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: observational study.

    PubMed

    Kobayashi, Yuka; Watabe, Hirotsugu; Yamada, Atsuo; Suzuki, Hirobumi; Hirata, Yoshihiro; Yamaji, Yutaka; Yoshida, Haruhiko; Koike, Kazuhiko

    2015-01-07

    To elucidate the association between small bowel diseases (SBDs) and positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Between February 2008 and August 2013, 202 patients with OGIB who performed both capsule endoscopy (CE) and FOBT were enrolled (mean age; 63.6 ± 14.0 years, 118 males, 96 previous overt bleeding, 106 with occult bleeding). All patients underwent immunochemical FOBTs twice prior to CE. Three experienced endoscopists independently reviewed CE videos. All reviews and consensus meeting were conducted without any information on FOBT results. The prevalence of SBDs was compared between patients with positive and negative FOBT. CE revealed SBDs in 72 patients (36%). FOBT was positive in 100 patients (50%) and negative in 102 (50%). The prevalence of SBDs was significantly higher in patients with positive FOBT than those with negative FOBT (46% vs 25%, P = 0.002). In particular, among patients with occult OGIB, the prevalence of SBDs was higher in positive FOBT group than negative FOBT group (45% vs 18%, P = 0.002). On the other hand, among patients with previous overt OGIB, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of SBDs between positive and negative FOBT group (47% vs 33%, P = 0.18). In disease specific analysis among patients with occult OGIB, the prevalence of ulcer and tumor were higher in positive FOBT group than negative FOBT group. In multivariate analysis, only positive FOBT was a predictive factors of SBDs in patients with OGIB (OR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.4-4.6, P = 0.003). Furthermore, the trend was evident among patients with occult OGIB who underwent FOBT on the same day or a day before CE. The prevalence of SBDs in positive vs negative FOBT group were 54% vs 13% in patients with occult OGIB who underwent FOBT on the same day or the day before CE (P = 0.001), while there was no significant difference between positive and negative FOBT group in those who underwent FOBT two or more days

  15. Scaled model guidelines for solar coronagraphs' external occulters with an optimized shape.

    PubMed

    Landini, Federico; Baccani, Cristian; Schweitzer, Hagen; Asoubar, Daniel; Romoli, Marco; Taccola, Matteo; Focardi, Mauro; Pancrazzi, Maurizio; Fineschi, Silvano

    2017-12-01

    One of the major challenges faced by externally occulted solar coronagraphs is the suppression of the light diffracted by the occulter edge. It is a contribution to the stray light that overwhelms the coronal signal on the focal plane and must be reduced by modifying the geometrical shape of the occulter. There is a rich literature, mostly experimental, on the appropriate choice of the most suitable shape. The problem arises when huge coronagraphs, such as those in formation flight, shall be tested in a laboratory. A recent contribution [Opt. Lett.41, 757 (2016)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.41.000757] provides the guidelines for scaling the geometry and replicate in the laboratory the flight diffraction pattern as produced by the whole solar disk and a flight occulter but leaves the conclusion on the occulter scale law somehow unjustified. This paper provides the numerical support for validating that conclusion and presents the first-ever simulation of the diffraction behind an occulter with an optimized shape along the optical axis with the solar disk as a source. This paper, together with Opt. Lett.41, 757 (2016)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.41.000757, aims at constituting a complete guide for scaling the coronagraphs' geometry.

  16. Characterization of the occult nature of injury for frequently occurring motor vehicle crash injuries.

    PubMed

    Schoell, Samantha L; Doud, Andrea N; Weaver, Ashley A; Talton, Jennifer W; Barnard, Ryan T; Winslow, James E; Stitzel, Joel D

    2017-01-01

    Occult injuries are not easily detected and can be potentially life-threatening. The purpose of this study was to quantify the perceived occultness of the most frequent motor vehicle crash injuries according to emergency medical services (EMS) professionals. An electronic survey was distributed to 1,125 EMS professionals who were asked to quantify the likelihood that first responders would miss symptoms related to a particular injury on a 5-point Likert scale. The Occult Score for each injury was computed from the average of all the survey responses and normalized to be a continuous metric ranging from 0 to 1 where 0 is a non-occult (highly apparent on initial presentation) injury and 1 is an occult (unapparent on initial presentation) injury. Overall, 110,671 survey responses were collected. The Occult Score ranged from 0 to 1 with a mean, median, and standard deviation of 0.443, 0.450, and 0.233, respectively. When comparing the Occult Score of an injury to its corresponding AIS severity, there was no relationship between the metrics. When stratifying by body region, injury type, and AIS severity, it was evident that AIS 2-4 abdominal injuries with lacerations, hemorrhage, or contusions were perceived as the most occult injuries. Timely triage is key to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with occult injuries. The Occult Score developed in this study to describe the predictability of an injury in a motor vehicle crash will be used as part of a larger effort, including incorporation into an advanced automatic crash notification (AACN) algorithm to detect crash conditions associated with a patient's need for prompt treatment at a trauma center. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Enabling Narrow(est) IWA Coronagraphy with STIS BAR5 and BAR10 Occulters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schneider, Glenn; Gaspar, Andras; Debes, John; Gull, Theodore; Hines, Dean; Apai, Daniel; Rieke, George

    2017-09-01

    The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph's (STIS) BAR5 coronagraphic occulter was designed to provide high-contrast, visible-light, imaging in close (> 0.15") angular proximity to bright point-sources. We explored and verified the functionality and utility of the BAR5 occulter. We also investigated, and herein report on, the use of the BAR10 rounded corners as narrow-angle occulters and compare IWA vs. contrast performance for the BAR5, BAR10, and Wedge occulters. With that, we provide recommendations for the most efficacious BAR5 and BAR10 use on-orbit in support of GO science.

  18. Safety and benefit of curative surgical resection for esophageal squamous cell cancer associated with multiple primary cancers.

    PubMed

    Otowa, Y; Nakamura, T; Takiguchi, G; Yamamoto, M; Kanaji, S; Imanishi, T; Oshikiri, T; Suzuki, S; Tanaka, K; Kakeji, Y

    2016-03-01

    Enhancements in surgical techniques have led to improved outcomes for esophageal cancer. Recent findings have showed that esophageal cancer is frequently associated with multiple primary cancers, and surgical resection is usually complicated in such cases. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of surgery for patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer associated with multiple primary cancers. The clinical outcomes of surgical resection for esophageal cancer were compared among 79 patients with antecedent and/or synchronous cancers (Multiple cancer group) and 194 patients without antecedent and/or synchronous cancers (Single cancer group). The most common site of multiple primary cancers was the pharynx (36 patients; 29.7%), followed by the stomach (24 patients; 19.8%). The reconstruction method was more complicated in the Multiple cancer group as a result of the prolonged surgery time and increased blood loss. However, postoperative morbidity and overall survival (OS) did not differ between the two groups. After esophagectomy, metachronous cancers were observed in 26 patients, with 30 regions in total, and 93.1% were found to be curable. Sex was the only independent risk factors for developing metachronous cancer after esophagectomy. The presence of antecedent and synchronous cancers complicates the surgical resection of esophageal cancer; however, no differences were found in the OS and postoperative morbidity between the two groups. Therefore, surgical intervention should be selected as a first-line treatment. Because second primary cancers are often observed in esophageal cancer, we recommend a close follow-up using esophagogastroduodenoscopy and contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Occult HBV infection in HIV-infected adults and evaluation of pooled NAT for HBV.

    PubMed

    Dinesha, T R; Boobalan, J; Sivamalar, S; Subashini, D; Solomon, S S; Murugavel, K G; Balakrishnan, P; Smith, D M; Saravanan, S

    2018-06-01

    The study aimed to determine the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection among HIV-infected persons and to evaluate the use of a pooling strategy to detect occult HBV infection in the setting of HIV infection. Five hundred and two HIV-positive individuals were tested for HBV, occult HBV and hepatitis C and D with serologic and nucleic acid testing (NAT). We also evaluated a pooled NAT strategy for screening occult HBV infection among the HIV-positive individuals. The prevalence of HBV infection among HIV-positive individuals was 32 (6.4%), and occult HBV prevalence was 10%. The pooling HBV NAT had a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 100%, compared to HBV DNA NAT of individual samples. In conclusion, this study found a high prevalence of occult HBV infection among our HIV-infected population. We also demonstrated that pooled HBV NAT is highly specific, moderately sensitive and cost-effective. As conventional HBV viral load assays are expensive in resource-limited settings such as India, pooled HBV DNA NAT might be a good way for detecting occult HBV infection and will reduce HBV-associated complications. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  20. David Levy's Guide to Eclipses, Transits, and Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Levy, David H.

    2010-08-01

    Introduction; Part I. The Magic and History of Eclipses: 1. Shakespeare, King Lear, and the Great Eclipse of 1605; 2. Three centuries later: Einstein, relativity, and the solar eclipse of 1919; 3. What causes solar and lunar eclipses; Part II. Observing Solar Eclipses: 4. Safety considerations; 5. What to expect during a partial eclipse; 6. Annular eclipses and what to see in them; 7. Total eclipse of the Sun: introduction to the magic; 8. The onset: temperature drop, Baily's Beads, Diamond Ring; 9. Totality: Corona, Prominences, Chromosphere, and surrounding area; 10. Photographing and imaging a solar eclipse; Part III. Observing Lunar Eclipses: 11. Don't forget the penumbral eclipses!; 12. Partial lunar eclipses; 13. Total lunar eclipses; 14. Photographing and imaging lunar eclipses; Part IV. Occultations: 15. When the Moon occults a star; Part V. Transits: 16. When planets cross the Sun; Part VI. My Favorite Eclipses: 17. A personal canon of eclipses, occultations, and transits I have seen; Appendices; Index.

  1. Occult traumatic hemothorax: when can sleeping dogs lie?

    PubMed

    Bilello, John F; Davis, James W; Lemaster, Deborah M

    2005-12-01

    Size of traumatic occult hemothorax on admission requiring drainage has not been defined. Computed axial tomography (CAT) may guide drainage criteria. A retrospective review of patients with hemothoraces on CAT was performed. Extrapolating previously described methods of pleural fluid measurement, hemothoraces were quantified using the fluid stripe in the dependent pleural "gutter." Data included patient age, injury severity, and intervention (thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy). Seventy-eight patients with 99 occult hemothoraces met the criteria for study inclusion: 52 hemothoraces qualified as "minimal" and 47 as "moderate/large." Eight patients (15%) in the minimal group and 31 patients (66%) in the moderate/large group underwent intervention (P < .001). There was no difference in patient age, injury severity, ventilator requirement, or presence of pulmonary contusion. CAT in stable blunt-trauma patients can predict which patients with occult hemothorax are likely to undergo intervention. Patients with hemothorax > or = 1.5 cm on CAT were 4 times more likely to undergo drainage intervention compared with those having hemothorax < 1.5 cm.

  2. Validation of ionospheric electron density profiles inferred from GPS occultation observations of the GPS/MET experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kawakami, Todd Mori

    In April of 1995, the launch of the GPS Meteorology Experiment (GPS/MET) onboard the Orbview-1 satellite, formerly known as Microlab-1, provided the first technology demonstration of active limb sounding of the Earth's atmosphere with a low Earth orbiting spacecraft utilizing the signals transmitted by the satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Though the experiment's primary mission was to probe the troposphere and stratosphere, GPS/MET was also capable of making radio occultation observations of the ionosphere. The application of the GPS occultation technique to the upper atmosphere created a unique opportunity to conduct ionospheric research with an unprecedented global distribution of observations. For operational support requirements, the Abel transform could be employed to invert the horizontal TEC profiles computed from the L1 and L2 phase measurements observed by GPS/MET into electron density profiles versus altitude in near real time. The usefulness of the method depends on how effectively the TEC limb profiles can be transformed into vertical electron density profiles. An assessment of GPS/MET's ability to determine electron density profiles needs to be examined to validate the significance of the GPS occultation method as a new and complementary ionospheric research tool to enhance the observational databases and improve space weather modeling and forecasting. To that end, simulations of the occultation observations and their inversions have been conducted to test the Abel transform algorithm and to provide qualitative information about the type and range of errors that might be experienced during the processing of real data. Comparisons of the electron density profiles inferred from real GPS/MET observations are then compared with coincident in situ measurements from the satellites of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and ground-based remote sensing from digisonde and incoherent scatter radar facilities. The principal focus of

  3. Sensing Water Vapon via Spacecraft Radio Occultation Observations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kursinski, E. Robert; Hajj, George A.

    2000-01-01

    The radio occultation technique has been used to characterize planetary atmospheres since the 1960's spanning atmospheric pressures from 16 microbars to several bars. In 1988, the use of GPS signals to make occultation observations of Earth's atmosphere was realized by Tom Yunck and Gunnar Lindal at JPL. In the GPS to low-Earth-orbiter limb- viewing occultation geometry, Fresnel diffraction yield a unique combination of high vertical resolution of 100 m to 1 km at long wavelengths (approx. 20 cm) insensitive to particulate scattering which allows routine limb sounding from the lower mesosphere through the troposphere. A single orbiting GPS/GLONASS receiver can observe - 1000 to 1400 daily occultations providing as many daily, high vertical resolution soundings as the present global radiosonde network, but with far more evenly distributed, global coverage. The occultations yield profiles of refractivity as a function of height. In the cold, dry conditions of the upper troposphere and above (T less than 240 K), profiles of density, pressure (geopotential), and temperature can be derived. Given additional temperature information, water vapor can be derived in the midddle and lower troposphere with a unique combination of vertical resolution, global distribution and insensitivity to clouds and precipitation to an accuracy of approx. 0.2 g/kg. At low latitudes, moisture profiles will be accurate to 1-5% within the convective boundary layer and better than 20% below 6 to 7 km. Accuracies of climatological averages should be approx. 0. 1 g/kg limited by the biases in the temperature estimates. To use refractivity to constrain water vapor, knowledge of temperature is required. The simplest approach is to use the temperature field from an analysis such as the 6 hour ECMWF global analysis interpolated to the locations of each occultation. A better approach is to combine the temperature and moisture fields from such an analysis with the occultation refractivity in a weighting

  4. Laboratory Verification of Occulter Contrast Performance and Formation Flight

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sirbu, Dan

    2014-01-01

    Direct imaging of an exo-Earth is a difficult technical challenge. First, the intensity ratio between the parent star and its dim, rocky planetary companion is expected to be ten billion times. Additionally, for a planetary companion in the habitable zone the angular separation to the star is very small, such that only nearby stars are feasible targets. An external occulter is a spacecraft that is flown in formation with the observing space telescope and blocks starlight prior to the entrance pupil. Its shape must be specially designed to control for diffraction and be tolerant of errors such as misalignment, manufacturing, and deformations. In this dissertation, we present laboratory results pertaining to the optical verification of the contrast performance of a scaled occulter and implementation of an algorithm for the alignment of the telescope in the shadow of the occulter. The experimental testbed is scaled from space dimensions to the laboratory by maintaining constant Fresnel numbers while preserving an identical diffraction integral. We present monochromatic results in the image plane showing contrast better than 10 orders of magnitude, consistent with the level required for imaging an Exo-earth, and obtained using an optimized occulter shape. We compare these results to a baseline case using a circular occulter and to the theoretical predictions. Additionally, we address the principal technical challenge in the formation flight problem through demonstration of an alignment algorithm that is based on out-of-band leaked light. Such leaked light can be used a map to estimate the location of the telescope in the shadow and perform fine alignment during science observations.

  5. Calculated occultation profiles of Io and the hot spots

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mcewen, A. S.; Soderblom, L. A.; Matson, D. L.; Johnson, T. V.; Lunine, J. I.

    1986-01-01

    Occultations of Io by other Galilean satellites in 1985 provide a means to locate volcanic hot spots and to model their temperatures. The expected time variations in the integral reflected and emitted radiation of the occultations are computed as a function of wavelength (visual to 8.7 microns). The best current ephemerides were used to calculate the geometry of each event as viewed from earth. Visual reflectances were modeled from global mosaics of Io. Thermal emission from the hot spots was calculated from Voyager 1 IRIS observations and, for regions unobserved by IRIS, from a model based on the distribution of low-albedo features. The occultations may help determine (1) the location and temperature distribution of Loki; (2) the source(s) of excess emission in the region from long 50 deg to 200 deg and (3) the distribution of small, high-temperature sources.

  6. Optimization of the occulter for the Solar Orbiter/METIS coronagraph

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Landini, Federico; Vivès, Sébastien; Romoli, Marco; Guillon, Christophe; Pancrazzi, Maurizio; Escolle, Clement; Focardi, Mauro; Antonucci, Ester; Fineschi, Silvano; Naletto, Giampiero; Nicolini, Gianalfredo; Nicolosi, Piergiorgio; Spadaro, Daniele

    2012-09-01

    METIS (Multi Element Telescope for Imaging and Spectroscopy investigation), selected to fly aboard the Solar Orbiter ESA/NASA mission, is conceived to perform imaging (in visible, UV and EUV) and spectroscopy (in EUV) of the solar corona, by means of an integrated instrument suite located on a single optical bench and sharing the same aperture on the satellite heat shield. As every coronagraph, METIS is highly demanding in terms of stray light suppression. Coronagraphs history teaches that a particular attention must be dedicated to the occulter optimization. The METIS occulting system is of particular interest due to its innovative concept. In order to meet the strict thermal requirements of Solar Orbiter, METIS optical design has been optimized by moving the entrance pupil at the level of the external occulter on the S/C thermal shield, thus reducing the size of the external aperture. The scheme is based on an inverted external-occulter (IEO). The IEO consists of a circular aperture on the Solar Orbiter thermal shield. A spherical mirror rejects back the disk-light through the IEO. A breadboard of the occulting assembly (BOA) has been manufactured in order to perform stray light tests in front of two solar simulators (in Marseille, France and in Torino, Italy). A first measurement campaign has been carried on at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille. In this paper we describe the BOA design, the laboratory set-up and the preliminary results.

  7. Forthcoming Occultations of Astrometric Radio Sources by Planets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    L'vov, Victor; Malkin, Zinovy; Tsekmeister, Svetlana

    2010-01-01

    Astrometric observations of radio source occultations by solar system bodies may be of large interest for testing gravity theories, dynamical astronomy, and planetary physics. In this paper, we present an updated list of the occultations of astrometric radio sources by planets expected in the coming years. Such events, like solar eclipses, generally speaking can only be observed in a limited region. A map of the shadow path is provided for the events that will occurr in regions with several VLBI stations and hence will be the most interesting for radio astronomy experiments.

  8. Radioimmune localization of occult carcinoma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Duda, R.B.; Zimmer, A.M.; Rosen, S.T.

    1990-07-01

    Patients with a rising serum carcinoembryonic antigen level and no clinical or roentgenographic evidence of recurrent or metastatic cancer present a treatment dilemma. Eleven such patients, 10 with a previously treated colorectal carcinoma and 1 with a previously treated breast carcinoma, received an injection of the anticarcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody ZCE-025 labeled with the radioisotope indium 111. Nuclear scintigraphy was performed on days 3 and 5 through 7 to detect potential sites of tumor recurrence. The monoclonal antibody scan accurately predicted the presence or absence of occult malignancy in 7 (64%) patients. Second-look laparotomy confirmed the monoclonal antibody scan resultsmore » in the patients with colorectal cancer, and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed metastatic breast cancer. This study demonstrates that In-ZCE-025 can localize occult carcinoma and may assist the surgeon in facilitating the operative exploration. In-ZCE-025 assisted in the initiation of adjuvant therapy for the patient with breast cancer.« less

  9. Stray light rejection in giant externally-occulted solar coronagraphs: experimental developments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Venet, M.; Bazin, C.; Koutchmy, S.; Lamy, P.

    2017-11-01

    The advent of giant, formation-flight, externally-occulted solar coronagraphs such as ASPIICS (Association de Satellites Pour l'Imagerie et l'Interférométrie de la Couronne Solaire [1,2,3,4]) selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for its third PROBA (Project for On-Board Autonomy) mission of formation flying demonstration (presently in phase B) and Hi-RISE proposed in the framework of ESA Cosmic Vision program, presents formidable challenges for the study and calibration of instrumental stray light. With distances between the external occulter (EO) and the optical pupil (OP) exceeding hundred meters and occulter sizes larger than a meter, it becomes impossible to perform tests at the real scale. The requirement to limit the over-occultation to less than 1.05 Rsun, orders of magnitude to what has been achieved so far in past coronagraphs, further adds to the challenge. We are approaching the problem experimentally using reduced scale simulators and present below a progress report of our work.

  10. Characterization of the occult nature of frequently occurring pediatric motor vehicle crash injuries.

    PubMed

    Doud, Andrea N; Schoell, Samantha L; Talton, Jennifer W; Barnard, Ryan T; Petty, John K; Stitzel, Joel D; Weaver, Ashley A

    2018-04-01

    Occult injuries are those likely to be missed on initial assessment by first responders and, though initially asymptomatic, they may present suddenly and lead to rapid patient decompensation. No scoring systems to quantify the occultness of pediatric injuries have been established. Such a scoring system will be useful in the creation of an Advanced Automotive Crash Notification (AACN) system that assists first responders in making triage decisions following a motor vehicle crash (MVC). The most frequent MVC injuries were determined for 0-4, 5-9, 10-14 and 15-18 year olds. For each age-specific injury, experts with pediatric trauma expertise were asked to rate the likelihood that the injury may be missed by first responders. An occult score (ranging from 0-1) was calculated by averaging and normalizing the responses of the experts polled. Evaluation of all injuries across all age groups demonstrated greater occult scores for the younger age groups compared to older age groups (mean occult score 0-4yo: 0.61 ± 0.23, 5-9yo: 0.53 ± 0.25, 10-14yo: 0.48 ± 0.23, and 15-18yo: 0.42 ± 0.22, p < 0.01). Body-region specific occult scores revealed that experts judged abdominal, spine and thoracic injuries to be more occult than injuries to other body regions. The occult scores suggested that injuries are more difficult to detect in younger age groups, likely given their inability to express symptoms. An AACN algorithm that can predict the presence of clinically undetectable injuries at the scene can improve triage of children with these injuries to higher levels of care. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. [Occult hepatitis B virus infection in normal population, Xiamen].

    PubMed

    He, Shuizhen; Su, Chenghao; Shen, Litong; Niu, Jianjun

    2015-02-01

    To investigate the prevalence of occult HBV infection in the normal population in Xiamen. 4 437 registered permanent residents, aged 1-59 years old, were selected in Xiamen using stratified random sampling method from September to October in 2006. Serum samples were obtained, the basic characteristics, inoculation of HBV vaccine, and liver disease were surveyed. The serum samples were tested five HBV seroimmunological markers. The HBsAg-negative specimens were subjected to HBV-DNA detection by nested PCR targeting for multiple gene segments. The amplified products were sequenced and the sequence was used for determination of HBV genotype and mutation analysis of amino acids located in HBsAg "a" epitope. Subjects with serum detectable HBV-DNA and negative result of HBsAg were considered as occult HBV infection. Among the 4 437 subjects, 482 individuals were observed HBsAg positive and 3 944 were observed negative. Of the 3 955 HBsAg- negative specimens, 27 occult HBV infections were determined with the positive rate of 0.68% (27/3 955). There were 16 samples with genotype B and 11 with genotype C. 3 types of amino acid (AA) mutation (M133T, T140I, G145R) that influence "a" epitope conformation were observed in 9 subjects with occult HBV infection. S region was successfully sequenced in 312 of the 482 HBsAg positive samples. In subjects with occult HBV infection, the infection rate of genotype C HBV (40.74%, 11/27), inoculation rate of HBV vaccine (62.96%, 17/27), positive rate of HBsAb (51.85%, 14/27), and mutation rate of critical amino acid of "a" epitope (33.33%, 9/27) were higher than HBsAg positive individuals (22.76% (71/312), 13.78% (43/312),0.32% (1/312),0.99% (31/312), respectively), and all the difference were significant (χ(2) = 4.29, 41.26, 156.00, 13.07, respectively, and P value = 0.038, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). While the average age in subjects with occult HBV infection (18.3 ± 16.2) were lower than that in HBsAg positive infection (34

  12. Stellar occultation candidates from the guide star catalog. I - Saturn, 1991-1999

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bosh, A. S.; Mcdonald, S. W.

    1992-01-01

    A list of 203 potential occultations by Saturn and its ring of stars from the HST Guide Star Catalog (GSC) during the years 1991-1999 is presented. This list features many fainter candidates than do current occultation candidate lists for Saturn; these fainter stars can also provide a high signal-to-noise ratio if observed with a large telescope or in the IR where Saturn and its rings have absorption bands. The occultation circumstances are listed, as well as star information found in the GSC.

  13. Treatment outcomes of patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar trigone.

    PubMed

    Rizvi, Zain H; Alonso, Jose E; Kuan, Edward C; St John, Maie A

    2018-05-14

    Squamous cell carcinoma of the retromolar trigone (RMT SCC) is a relatively uncommon primary site for oral cavity malignancy. However, given its proximity to the mandible and buccal mucosa, RMT SCC typically exhibits early invasion and generally presents at an advanced stage. Large-sample studies are needed to assess the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of this tumor. Our aim was to describe the determinants of survival in patients with RMT SCC. Retrospective cohort study. Retrospective, population-based cohort study of patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results tumor registry who were diagnosed with RMT SCC from 1973 to 2012. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). A total of 4,022 cases of RMT SCC were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 65 years. Thirty-nine percent of cases presented with stage IV disease. The median OS by stages I to IV were 73.7, 52.4, 27.5, and 23.4 months, respectively (P < .05). Overall, 34.3% of patients underwent surgery, 23.5% received radiation therapy, and 34.1% had both surgical and radiation therapy. On multivariate analysis, advanced age, greater tumor size, and advanced stage were associated with worse OS and DSS (P < .05), surgery predicted improved OS and DSS (P < .05), and radiation therapy predicted improved OS only (P < .05). RMT SCC is an aggressive malignancy that portends a poor prognosis, though early-stage tumors (stages I and II) have significantly improved survival. Any surgical intervention independently predicted higher survival outcomes. There may be a role of dual modality approaches, particularly for larger tumors. 4. Laryngoscope, 2018. © 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

  14. Advanced Electrocardiography Can Identify Occult Cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Spiljak, M.; Petric, A. Domanjko; Wilberg, M.; Olsen, L. H.; Stepancic, A.; Schlegel, T. T.; Starc, V.

    2011-01-01

    Recently, multiple advanced resting electrocardiographic (A-ECG) techniques have improved the diagnostic value of short-duration ECG in detection of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans. This study investigated whether 12-lead A-ECG recordings could accurately identify the occult phase of DCM in dogs. Short-duration (3-5 min) high-fidelity 12-lead ECG recordings were obtained from 31 privately-owned, clinically healthy Doberman Pinschers (5.4 +/- 1.7 years, 11/20 males/females). Dogs were divided into 2 groups: 1) 19 healthy dogs with normal echocardiographic M-mode measurements: left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd . 47mm) and in systole (LVIDs . 38mm) and normal 24-hour ECG recordings (<50 ventricular premature complexes, VPCs); and 2) 12 dogs with occult DCM: 11/12 dogs had increased M-mode measurements (LVIDd . 49mm and/or LVIDs . 40mm) and 5/11 dogs had also >100 VPCs/24h; 1/12 dogs had only abnormal 24-hour ECG recordings (>100 VPCs/24h). ECG recordings were evaluated via custom software programs to calculate multiple parameters of high-frequency (HF) QRS ECG, heart rate variability, QT variability, waveform complexity and 3-D ECG. Student's t-tests determined 19 ECG parameters that were significantly different (P < 0.05) between groups. Principal component factor analysis identified a 5-factor model with 81.4% explained variance. QRS dipolar and non-dipolar voltages, Cornell voltage criteria and QRS waveform residuum were increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas mean HF QRS amplitude was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in dogs with occult DCM. For the 5 selected parameters the prediction of occult DCM was performed using a binary logistic regression model with Chi-square tested significance (P < 0.01). ROC analyses showed that the five selected ECG parameters could identify occult ECG with sensitivity 89% and specificity 83%. Results suggest that 12-lead A-ECG might improve diagnostic value of short-duration ECG in earlier detection

  15. Magnitudes of selected stellar occultation candidates for Pluto and other planets, with new predictions for Mars and Jupiter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sybert, C. B.; Bosh, A. S.; Sauter, L. M.; Elliot, J. L.; Wasserman, L. H.

    1992-01-01

    Occultation predictions for the planets Mars and Jupiter are presented along with BVRI magnitudes of 45 occultation candidates for Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto. Observers can use these magnitudes to plan observations of occultation events. The optical depth of the Jovian ring can be probed by a nearly central occultation on 1992 July 8. Mars occults an unusually red star in early 1993, and the occultations for Pluto involving the brightest candidates would possibly occur in the spring of 1992 and the fall of 1993.

  16. Evaluation and Improved Use of Fecal Occult Blood Test in the Constipated Child.

    PubMed

    Kilway, Denise M

    2016-01-01

    This quality improvement project examined the use of fecal occult blood test in the constipated child in a pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic. A retrospective chart review was completed on 100 children seen for an initial visit with the gastroenterology provider. The number of fecal occult blood tests performed and the child's coinciding symptoms were tallied and compared with the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition recommendations. An educational intervention was held with the pediatric gastroenterology providers consisting of a PowerPoint presentation summarizing aims of the quality improvement project and reviewing recommendations for use of fecal occult blood test in the constipated child. Pre- and post-intervention chart review data sets were compared. Results showed a 19.6% decrease in the use of fecal occult blood tests performed during the post-intervention timeframe. However, when used in conjunction with North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition recommendations, the appropriateness of fecal occult blood test use increased by 71.4% in the post-intervention patients. Reviewing the recommendations with gastroenterology providers assisted in optimizing the meaningful use of fecal occult blood test, improving quality and safety of care for children seen in the pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic.

  17. Atypical squamous cells in the urine revealing endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with squamous cell differentiation: a case report.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yinong; Otis, Christopher N; Florence, Roxanne R

    2015-01-01

    Urine cytology is mainly used to detect urothelial carcinoma (UC), especially for high-grade lesions including urothelial carcinoma in situ. Benign squamous cells are often seen in the urine specimens of women, they are either exfoliated from the trigone area of the bladder, the urethra, or the cervicovaginal region. However, abnormal squamous cells in the urine raise concerns of abnormalities of the urinary tract and cervicovaginal area which range from squamous metaplasia of the urothelium, a cervicovaginal squamous intraepithelial lesion, condyloma acuminatum of the bladder, UC with squamous differentiation, and squamous cell carcinoma. We present here a unique case of atypical squamous cells (ASCs) in the urine subsequently leading to the diagnosis of endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with squamous differentiation. The presence of ASCs in voided urine is a rare finding that may indicate an underlying malignancy. Careful evaluation of squamous cells in the urine is an important part of our daily cytopathology practice. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Occultation Predictions Using CCD Strip-Scanning Astrometry

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dunham, Edward W.; Ford, C. H.; Stone, R. P. S.; McDonald, S. W.; Olkin, C. B.; Elliot, J. L.; Witteborn, Fred C. (Technical Monitor)

    1994-01-01

    We are developing the method of CCD strip-scanning astrometry for the purpose of deriving reliable advance predictions for occultations involving small objects in the outer solar system. We are using a camera system based on a Ford/Loral 2Kx2K CCD with the Crossley telescope at Lick Observatory for this work. The columns of die CCD are aligned East-West, the telescope drive is stopped, and the CCD is clocked at the same rate that the stars drift across it. In this way we obtain arbitrary length strip images 20 arcmin wide with 0.58" pixels. Since planets move mainly in RA, it is possible to obtain images of the planet and star to be occulted on the same strip well before the occultation occurs. The strip-to-strip precision (i.e. reproducibility) of positions is limited by atmospheric image motion to about 0.1" rms per strip. However, for objects that are nearby in R.A., the image motion is highly correlated and their relative positions are good to 0.02" rms per strip. We will show that the effects of atmospheric image motion on a given strip can be removed if a sufficient number of strips of a given area have been obtained. Thus, it is possible to reach an rms precision of 0.02" per strip, corresponding to about 0.3 of Pluto or Triton's angular radius. The ultimate accuracy of a prediction based on strip-scanning astrometry is currently limited by the accuracy of the positions of the stars in the astrometric network used and by systematic errors most likely due to the optical system. We will show the results of . the prediction of some recent occultations as examples of the current capabilities and limitations of this technique.

  19. Overexpression of TRIM44 is related to invasive potential and malignant outcomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Kawaguchi, Tsutomu; Komatsu, Shuhei; Ichikawa, Daisuke; Hirajima, Shoji; Nishimura, Yukihisa; Konishi, Hirotaka; Shiozaki, Atsushi; Fujiwara, Hitoshi; Okamoto, Kazuma; Tsuda, Hitoshi; Otsuji, Eigo

    2017-06-01

    Recent studies have shown that some members of the tripartite motif-containing protein family function as important regulators for carcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated whether tripartite motif-containing protein 44 acts as a cancer-promoting gene through its overexpression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We analyzed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines to evaluate malignant potential and also analyzed 68 primary tumors to evaluate clinical relevance of tripartite motif-containing protein 44 protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. Expression of the tripartite motif-containing protein 44 protein was detected in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (8/14 cell lines; 57%) and primary tumor samples of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (39/68 cases; 57%). Knockdown of tripartite motif-containing protein 44 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells using several specific small interfering RNAs inhibited cell migration and invasion, but not cell proliferation. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the overexpression of the tripartite motif-containing protein 44 protein in the tumor infiltrated region was associated with the status of lymph node metastasis ( p = 0.049), and the overall survival rates were significantly worse among patients with tripartite motif-containing protein 44-overexpressing tumors than those with non-expressing tumors ( p = 0.029). Moreover, multivariate Cox regression model identified that overexpression of the tripartite motif-containing protein 44 protein was an independent worse prognostic factor (hazard ratio = 2.815; p = 0.041), as well as lymphatic invasion (hazard ratio = 2.735; p = 0.037). These results suggest that tripartite motif-containing protein 44 protein could play a crucial role in tumor invasion through its overexpression and highlight its usefulness as a predictor and potential therapeutic target in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

  20. Ectopic production of beta-HCG by a maxillary squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Scholl, P D; Jurco, S; Austin, J R

    1997-12-01

    Paraneoplastic syndromes of the head and neck are rare. Hypercalcemia and leukocytosis have been described. The literature was reviewed, and a case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the maxilla producing beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) is presented. A 47-year-old white man with a T4N1M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the left maxilla was treated with a maxillectomy and neck dissection for an N1 positive neck. After completing his planned radiotherapy, he developed distant metastases, which included an axillary node that stained positive for human beta-HCG. Retrospective review of the primary specimen showed beta-HCG positivity in an anaplastic component of the tumor along with vascular invasion. The first case in the literature of a paraneoplastic syndrome with beta-HCG production in association with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxilla is presented. This case history fits the aggressive nature of beta HCG producing tumors elsewhere in the body.

  1. Turbulence in planetary occultations. IV - Power spectra of phase and intensity fluctuations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Haugstad, B. S.

    1979-01-01

    Power spectra of phase and intensity scintillations during occultation by turbulent planetary atmospheres are significantly affected by the inhomogeneous background upon which the turbulence is superimposed. Such coupling is particularly pronounced in the intensity, where there is also a marked difference in spectral shape between a central and grazing occultation. While the former has its structural features smoothed by coupling to the inhomogeneous background, such features are enhanced in the latter. Indeed, the latter power spectrum peaks around the characteristic frequency that is determined by the size of the free-space Fresnel zone and the ray velocity in the atmosphere; at higher frequencies strong fringes develop in the power spectrum. A confrontation between the theoretical scintillation spectra computed here and those calculated from the Mariner 5 Venus mission by Woo et al. (1974) is inconclusive, mainly because of insufficient statistical resolution. Phase and/or intensity power spectra computed from occultation data may be used to deduce characteristics of the turbulence and to distinguish turbulence from other perturbations in the refractive index. Such determinations are facilitated if observations are made at two or more frequencies (radio occultation) or in two or more colors (stellar occultation).

  2. An occult aldosterone-producing adenoma initially presenting as hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state.

    PubMed

    Kuo, Feng-Chih; Hung, Yi-Jen; Hsieh, Chang-Hsun; Hsiao, Fone-Ching

    2012-09-01

    Aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), one of the most common causes of primary hyperaldosteronism, is clinically characterized by hypertension, increased sodium retention, increased potassium excretion and altered glucose metabolism. APA can also manifest in the form of hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS), which is a life-threatening acute diabetic complication. Infection and inadequate fluid replacement are the common precipitating and predisposing factors for the occurrence of HHS. Here, we report a case of occult APA with the initial presentation of HHS, in which an unusually rapid correction of diabetes was observed after correct diagnosis and surgical resection of the APA. To our knowledge, this is the first case with such manifestations and outcome.

  3. Density Waves in Saturn's Rings from Cassini Radio Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    French, R. G.; Rappaport, N. J.; Marouf, E. A.; McGhee, C. A.

    2005-12-01

    The Cassini Radio Science Team conducted a set of optimized diametric occultations by Saturn and its rings from May to September 2005, providing 11 separate probes of Saturn's ionosphere and atmosphere, and 12 optical depth profiles of the complete ring system. Each event was observed by the stations of the Deep Space Net (DSN) at three radio frequencies (S, X, Ka bands, with corresponding wavelengths of ? = 13, 3.6, and 0.9 cm). Very accurate pointing by the spacecraft and ground antennas resulted in stable baseline signal levels, and the relatively large ring opening angle (B=19-25°) permitted us to probe even quite dense ring regions with excellent SNR. The RSS occultation technique enables us to recover very fine detailed radial structure by correcting for diffraction effects. Multiple occultation chords, covering a variety of ring longitudes and ring opening angles, reveal the structure of the rings in remarkable detail, including density and bending waves, satellite wakes, and subtle variations at the 100-m radius scale. Janus and Epimetheus are responsible for a particularly rich set of density waves, and their coorbital interactions result in a complex interplay of time-variable ring structure over the 8-year libration period of the two satellites. We compare the first-order 2:1, 4:3, 5:4, and 6:5 coorbital density waves from multiple occultation chords to linear density wave models based on a dynamical model of the orbital exchange between the moons. From the observed dispersion relation of the wave crests, we infer the surface mass density and eccentricity gradient of particle streamlines, and match the detailed shapes of the wave crests using a non-linear analysis. Second-order coorbital features are also evident, and there are even hints of third-order density waves in the high SNR radio occultation data.

  4. On Combining Thermal-Infrared and Radio-Occultation Data of Saturn's Atmosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Flasar, F. M.; Schinder, P. J.; Conrath, B. J.

    2008-01-01

    Radio-occultation and thermal-infrared measurements are complementary investigations for sounding planetary atmospheres. The vertical resolution afforded by radio occultations is typically approximately 1 km or better, whereas that from infrared sounding is often comparable to a scale height. On the other hand, an instrument like CIRS can easily generate global maps of temperature and composition, whereas occultation soundings are usually distributed more sparsely. The starting point for radio-occultation inversions is determining the residual Doppler-shifted frequency, that is the shift in frequency from what it would be in the absence of the atmosphere. Hence the positions and relative velocities of the spacecraft, target atmosphere, and DSN receiving station must be known to high accuracy. It is not surprising that the inversions can be susceptible to sources of systematic errors. Stratospheric temperature profiles on Titan retrieved from Cassini radio occultations were found to be very susceptible to errors in the reconstructed spacecraft velocities (approximately equal to 1 mm/s). Here the ability to adjust the spacecraft ephemeris so that the profiles matched those retrieved from CIRS limb sounding proved to be critical in mitigating this error. A similar procedure can be used for Saturn, although the sensitivity of its retrieved profiles to this type of error seems to be smaller. One issue that has appeared in inverting the Cassini occultations by Saturn is the uncertainty in its equatorial bulge, that is, the shape in its iso-density surfaces at low latitudes. Typically one approximates that surface as a geopotential surface by assuming a barotropic atmosphere. However, the recent controversy in the equatorial winds, i.e., whether they changed between the Voyager (1981) era and later (after 1996) epochs of Cassini and some Hubble observations, has made it difficult to know the exact shape of the surface, and it leads to uncertainties in the retrieved

  5. James Webb Space Telescope Observations of Stellar Occultations by Solar System Bodies and Rings

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Santos-Sanz, P.; French, R. G.; Pinilla-Alonso, N.; Stansberry, J.; Lin, Z-Y.; Zhang, Z-W.; Vilenius, E.; Mueller, Th.; Ortiz, J. L.; Braga-Ribas, F.; hide

    2016-01-01

    In this paper, we investigate the opportunities provided by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for significant scientific advances in the study of Solar System bodies and rings using stellar occultations. The strengths and weaknesses of the stellar occultation technique are evaluated in light of JWST's unique capabilities. We identify several possible JWST occultation events by minor bodies and rings and evaluate their potential scientific value. These predictions depend critically on accurate a priori knowledge of the orbit of JWST near the Sun–Earth Lagrange point 2 (L2). We also explore the possibility of serendipitous stellar occultations by very small minor bodies as a byproduct of other JWST observing programs. Finally, to optimize the potential scientific return of stellar occultation observations, we identify several characteristics of JWST's orbit and instrumentation that should be taken into account during JWST's development.

  6. Occult cancer-related first venous thromboembolism is associated with an increased risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

    PubMed

    Gran, O V; Braekkan, S K; Paulsen, B; Skille, H; Rosendaal, F R; Hansen, J-B

    2017-07-01

    Essentials Recurrence risk after an occult cancer-related incident venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unknown. We compared the risk of VTE recurrence in occult-, overt- and non-cancer related first VTE. Patients with occult-cancer related first VTE had the highest risk of VTE recurrence. The high recurrence risk in occult cancer is likely due to the advanced cancers. Background Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with a high recurrence rate, the absolute recurrence rates for cancer-related VTE, particularly occult cancer, are not well known. Objectives To investigate the risk of VTE recurrence in patients with occult and overt cancer-related VTE. Methods Incident VTE events among participants of the first to sixth Tromsø surveys occurring in the period 1994-2012 were included. Occult cancer was defined as cancer diagnosed within a year following a VTE, and overt cancer was defined as cancer diagnosed within the 2 years before a VTE. Results Among 733 patients with incident VTE, 110 had overt cancer and 40 had occult cancer. There were 95 recurrent VTE events during a median of 3.2 years of follow-up. The 1-year cumulative incidence of VTE recurrence was 38.6% in subjects with occult cancer, 15.5% in subjects with overt cancer, and 3.8% in non-cancer subjects. The 1-year risk of recurrence was 12-fold (hazard ratio [HR] 12.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.9-26.3) higher in subjects with occult cancer and four-fold (HR 4.3, 95% CI 2.0-9.2) higher in subjects with overt cancer than in non-cancer subjects. The occult cancers associated with VTE recurrence were typically located at prothrombotic sites (i.e. lung and gastrointestinal) and presented at advanced stages. The majority (69%) of recurrences in subjects with occult cancer occurred before or shortly after cancer diagnosis, and were therefore not treatment-related. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the increased risk of recurrence in patients with occult cancer is mainly attributable to the

  7. Unsuccesfull occultation observation of stars by asteroids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gaina, Alex; Maley, Paul D.

    2010-12-01

    A report is given about an attempt to observe occultations of stars HIP 7268 and TYC1868-02234-01 by asteroids Tisiphone and Thisbe on 3 november 2010 in Chisinau, The Republic of Moldova, which was placed very close to the central line of the occultations in spite of. The main cause of the insucces was weather. Few days before a cyclon developed above the Black Sea, while above the Western Europe, including Greece the sky was covered during many days. Some critics are made concerning the preparation of astronomical facilities in the Republic of Moldova for succesfull observations. The meteo conditions in Lozova-Ciuciuleni were better, but bad, than in other parts of the Republic of Moldova.

  8. Recurring sets of recurring starspot occultations on exoplanet host Qatar-2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Močnik, T.; Southworth, J.; Hellier, C.

    2017-10-01

    We announce the detection of recurring sets of recurring starspot occultation events in the short-cadence K2 light curve of Qatar-2, a K dwarf star transited every 1.34 d by a hot Jupiter. In total, we detect 34 individual starspot occultation events, caused by five different starspots, occulted in up to five consecutive transits or after a full stellar rotation. The longest recurring set of recurring starspot occultations spans over three stellar rotations, setting a lower limit for the longest starspot lifetime of 58 d. Starspot analysis provided a robust stellar rotational period measurement of 18.0 ± 0.2 d and indicates that the system is aligned, having a sky-projected obliquity of 0° ± 8°. A pronounced rotational modulation in the light curve has a period of 18.2 ± 1.6 d, in agreement with the rotational period derived from the starspot occultations. We tentatively detect an ellipsoidal modulation in the phase curve, with a semi-amplitude of 18 ppm, but cannot exclude the possibility that this is the result of red noise or imperfect removal of the rotational modulation. We detect no transit-timing and transit-duration variations with upper limits of 15 s and 1 min, respectively. We also reject any additional transiting planets with transit depths above 280 ppm in the orbital period region 0.5-30 d.

  9. Feasibility of Juno radio occultations of the Io plasma torus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Phipps, P. H.; Withers, P.

    2016-12-01

    Jupiter's magnetosphere is driven by internally produced plasma. The innermost Galilean satellite, Io, isthe dominant source of this plasma. Volcanoes on Io's surface create an atmosphere of sulfur and oxygenwhich escapes into Jupiter's magnetosphere and becomes ionized. This ionized material is trapped byJupiter's magnetic field and creates a torus of plasma centered at Io's orbital radius, called the Io plasmatorus. This torus is divided into three regions distinct in both density and composition. Densities in thistorus can be probed by spacecraft via radio occultations. A radio occultation occurs when plasma comesbetween a spacecraft and a receiver during a time when the spacecraft is sending a radio signal. The Junospacecraft, which arrived in orbit around Jupiter in July 2016, is in an orbit which will be ideal forperforming radio occultations of the Io plasma torus. We test the feasibility of using thetelecommunications system on the Juno spacecraft to perform a radio occultation. Io plasma torusdensities derived from Voyager 1 data are used in creating a model torus. Using the Ka and X-band radiofrequencies we derive vertical profiles for the total electron content of the modeled Io plasma torus. AMarkov Chain Monte Carlo fit is performed on the derived profiles to extract, for each of the torusregions, the scale height and peak total electron content. The scale height can be used to derive atemperature for the torus while the peak total electron content can be used to derive the peak electrondensity. We show that Juno radio occultation measurements of the Io plasma torus are feasible andscientifically valuable.

  10. A method to detect occult pneumothorax with chest radiography.

    PubMed

    Matsumoto, Shokei; Kishikawa, Masanobu; Hayakawa, Koichi; Narumi, Atsushi; Matsunami, Katsutoshi; Kitano, Mitsuhide

    2011-04-01

    Small pneumothoraces are often not visible on supine screening chest radiographs because they develop anteriorly to the lung. These pneumothoraces are termed occult. Occult pneumothoraces account for an astonishingly high 52% to 63% of all traumatic pneumothoraces. A 19-year-old obese woman was involved in a head-on car accident. The admission anteroposterior chest radiographs were unremarkable. Because of the presence of right chest tenderness and an abrasion, we suspected the presence of a pneumothorax. Thus, we decided to take a supine oblique chest radiograph of the right side of the thorax, which clearly revealed a visceral pleural line, consistent with a diagnosis of traumatic pneumothorax. A pneumothorax may be present when a supine chest radiograph reveals either an apparent deepening of the costophrenic angle (the "deep sulcus sign") or the presence of 2 diaphragm-lung interfaces (the "double diaphragm sign"). However, in practice, supine chest radiographs have poor sensitivity for occult pneumothoraces. Oblique chest radiograph is a useful and fast screening tool that should be considered for cases of blunt chest trauma, especially when transport of critically ill patients to the computed tomographic suite is dangerous or when imminent transfer to another hospital is being arranged and early diagnosis of an occult pneumothorax is essential. Copyright © 2010 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Overview of SPICAV occultation results for the UV channel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Montmessin, Franck; Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Belyaev, Denis; Marcq, Emmanuel; Korablev, Oleg; Vandaele, Ann-Carine; Fedorova, Anna

    The SPICAV instrument onboard the Venus Express spacecraft is a multi-channel suite cov-ering the far ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. In this presentation, we will focus on the results obtained by the UV channel during stellar occultations observations. Stellar occultation tech-nique possesses well-known advantages: self-calibration, low sensitivity to instrument aging, simple laws of radiative transfer. In addition, occultation with stars permit to cover a broad range of latitudes at any given season and they provide optimal geometrical registration. Since Venus Express orbit insertion, several hundreds of occultations have been performed by SPI-CAV, yielding profiles of atmospheric constituents between 80 and 140 km. In the SPICAV UV range, CO2 possesses a broad signature shortward of 200 nm which allows one to retrieve CO2 concentration and subsequently to deduce atmospheric pressure and temperature profiles in the upper mesosphere and in the thermosphere. The Venusian thermosphere shows excessive variability, with the equivalent of more than three scale heights change in density in less than a few days. No other spectral signature besides that of CO2 and haze particles was expected to appear in SPICAV ultraviolet spectra at this altitude range but a consistent search was undertaken, revealing the presence of aan ozone at 100 km (¡108 cm-3) and of sulfur dioxide above 90 km at a concentration of 0.1 to 1 ppm.

  12. Developing an Optical Lunar Occultation Measurement Reduction System for Observations at Kaau Observatory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Malawi, Abdulrahman A.

    2013-06-01

    We present here a detailed explanation of the reduction method that we use to determine the angular diameters of the stars occulted by the dark limb of the moon. This is a main part of the lunar occultation observation program running at King Abdul Aziz University observatory since late 1993. The process is based on the least square model fitting method of analyzing occultation data, first introduced by Nather et al. (Astron. J. 75:963, 1970).

  13. Occult hepatitis B virus infection in hematopoietic stem cell donors in a hepatitis B virus endemic area.

    PubMed

    Hui, Chee-kin; Sun, Jian; Au, Wing-yan; Lie, Albert K W; Yueng, Yui-hung; Zhang, Hai-ying; Lee, Nikki P; Hou, Jin-ling; Liang, Raymond; Lau, George K K

    2005-06-01

    The acquisition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection following organ transplantation from donors with occult HBV infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of occult HBV in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation donors. We performed a retrospective study on 124 consecutive hepatitis B surface antigen negative HSC donors. Their serum samples were analyzed by PCR for the pre-S/S, pre-core/core and X regions of the virus. Samples reactive by at least two PCR assays were considered HBV-DNA positive. Nineteen of the 124 HSC donors (15.3%) had occult HBV infection. Sixteen of these 19 donors with occult HBV infection (84.2%) tested positive for hepatitis B core antibody while 78 of 105 subjects (74.3%) without occult HBV infection were also positive (P=0.56). Fourteen of the 19 donors (73.7%) with occult HBV infection tested positive for hepatitis B surface antibody while 67 of the 105 subjects without occult HBV infection were also positive (P=0.45). The prevalence of occult HBV infection among HSC donors in Hong Kong is high. Anti-HBc and anti-HBs status had no significant correlation with the presence of occult HBV infection.

  14. Primary frontal sinus squamous cell carcinoma in three dogs treated with piroxicam combined with carboplatin or toceranib.

    PubMed

    de Vos, J; Ramos Vega, S; Noorman, E; de Vos, P

    2012-09-01

    In human medicine, primary frontal sinus squamous cell carcinoma (pFS-SCC) is not frequently reported. In veterinary medicine, frontal sinus SCC is exclusively described as an extension of nasal cavity SCC. To our knowledge, this is the first publication concerning canine pFS-SCC, diagnosed using histology or cytology and medical imaging, in three dogs. The tumours extended into the orbit or brain cavity, without nasal involvement. Treatment was initiated with piroxicam-carboplatin. Prolongation of carboplatin delivery with a low dose intensity was performed on dogs with a favourable initial response. Dog 1 achieved a complete remission (CR), but was euthanized 344 days after start of therapy. Dog 2, still alive 3 years after start of therapy and in CR, received 14 carboplatin deliveries. In dog 3, after changing the treatment protocol into piroxicam-toceranib, a significant tumour reduction occurred, but the dog was euthanized after 195 days because of a relapse. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  15. Asymptomatic Hepadnaviral Persistence and Its Consequences in the Woodchuck Model of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection

    PubMed Central

    Mulrooney-Cousins, Patricia M.; Michalak, Tomasz I.

    2015-01-01

    Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) is molecularly and pathogenically closely related to hepatitis B virus (HBV). Both viruses display tropism towards hepatocytes and cells of the immune system and cause similar liver pathology, where acute hepatitis can progress to chronic hepatitis and to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two forms of occult hepadnaviral persistence were identified in the woodchuck-WHV model: secondary occult infection (SOI) and primary occult infection (POI). SOI occurs after resolution of a serologically apparent infection with hepatitis or after subclinical serologically evident virus exposure. POI is caused by small amounts of virus and progresses without serological infection markers, but the virus genome and its replication are detectable in the immune system and with time in the liver. SOI can be accompanied by minimal hepatitis, while the hallmark of POI is normal liver morphology. Nonetheless, HCC develops in about 20% of animals with SOI or POI within 3 to 5 years. The virus persists throughout the lifespan in both SOI and POI at serum levels rarely greater than 100 copies/mL, causes hepatitis and HCC when concentrated and administered to virus-naïve woodchucks. SOI is accompanied by virus-specific T and B cell immune responses, while only virus-specific T cells are detected in POI. SOI coincides with protection against reinfection, while POI does not and hepatitis develops after challenge with liver pathogenic doses >1000 virions. Both SOI and POI are associated with virus DNA integration into the liver and the immune system genomes. Overall, SOI and POI are two distinct forms of silent hepadnaviral persistence that share common characteristics. Here, we review findings from the woodchuck model and discuss the relevant observations made in human occult HBV infection (OBI). PMID:26623268

  16. Asymptomatic Hepadnaviral Persistence and Its Consequences in the Woodchuck Model of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

    PubMed

    Mulrooney-Cousins, Patricia M; Michalak, Tomasz I

    2015-09-28

    Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) is molecularly and pathogenically closely related to hepatitis B virus (HBV). Both viruses display tropism towards hepatocytes and cells of the immune system and cause similar liver pathology, where acute hepatitis can progress to chronic hepatitis and to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two forms of occult hepadnaviral persistence were identified in the woodchuck-WHV model: secondary occult infection (SOI) and primary occult infection (POI). SOI occurs after resolution of a serologically apparent infection with hepatitis or after subclinical serologically evident virus exposure. POI is caused by small amounts of virus and progresses without serological infection markers, but the virus genome and its replication are detectable in the immune system and with time in the liver. SOI can be accompanied by minimal hepatitis, while the hallmark of POI is normal liver morphology. Nonetheless, HCC develops in about 20% of animals with SOI or POI within 3 to 5 years. The virus persists throughout the lifespan in both SOI and POI at serum levels rarely greater than 100 copies/mL, causes hepatitis and HCC when concentrated and administered to virus-naïve woodchucks. SOI is accompanied by virus-specific T and B cell immune responses, while only virus-specific T cells are detected in POI. SOI coincides with protection against reinfection, while POI does not and hepatitis develops after challenge with liver pathogenic doses >1000 virions. Both SOI and POI are associated with virus DNA integration into the liver and the immune system genomes. Overall, SOI and POI are two distinct forms of silent hepadnaviral persistence that share common characteristics. Here, we review findings from the woodchuck model and discuss the relevant observations made in human occult HBV infection (OBI).

  17. The optimization of the inverted occulter of the solar orbiter/METIS coronagraph/spectrometer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Landini, F.; Vives, S.; Romoli, M.; Guillon, C.; Pancrazzi, M.; Escolle, C.; Focardi, M.; Fineschi, S.; Antonucci, E.; Nicolini, G.; Naletto, G.; Nicolosi, P.; Spadaro, D.

    2017-11-01

    The coronagraph/spectrometer METIS (Multi Element Telescope for Imaging and Spectroscopy), selected to fly aboard the Solar Orbiter ESA/NASA mission, is conceived to perform imaging (in visible, UV and EUV) and spectroscopy (in EUV) of the solar corona. It is an integrated instrument suite located on a single optical bench and sharing a unique aperture on the satellite heat shield. As every coronagraph, METIS is highly demanding in terms of stray light suppression. In order to meet the strict thermal requirements of Solar Orbiter, METIS optical design has been optimized by moving the entrance pupil at the level of the external occulter on the S/C thermal shield, thus reducing the size of the external aperture. The scheme is based on an inverted external-occulter (IEO). The IEO consists of a circular aperture on the Solar Orbiter thermal shield. A spherical mirror rejects back the disk-light through the IEO. The experience built on all the previous space coronagraphs forces designers to dedicate a particular attention to the occulter optimization. Two breadboards were manufactured to perform occulter optimization measurements: BOA (Breadboard of the Occulting Assembly) and ANACONDA (AN Alternative COnfiguration for the Occulting Native Design Assembly). A preliminary measurement campaign has been carried on at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille. In this paper we describe BOA and ANACONDA designs, the laboratory set-up and the preliminary results.

  18. Alvespimycin Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Solid Tumors

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-04-09

    Male Breast Cancer; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Breast Cancer; Recurrent Colon Cancer; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Gastric Cancer; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Melanoma; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Recurrent Prostate Cancer; Recurrent Renal Cell Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Stage III Colon Cancer; Stage III Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Gastric Cancer; Stage III Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Stage III Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Stage III Melanoma; Stage III Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage III Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage III Ovarian Epithelial Cancer; Stage III Renal Cell Cancer; Stage III Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip

  19. Effect of Occult Metastases on Survival in Node-Negative Breast Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Weaver, Donald L.; Ashikaga, Takamaru; Krag, David N.; Skelly, Joan M.; Anderson, Stewart J.; Harlow, Seth P.; Julian, Thomas B.; Mamounas, Eleftherios P.; Wolmark, Norman

    2011-01-01

    BACKGROUND Retrospective and observational analyses suggest that occult lymph-node metastases are an important prognostic factor for disease recurrence or survival among patients with breast cancer. Prospective data on clinical outcomes from randomized trials according to sentinel-node involvement have been lacking. METHODS We randomly assigned women with breast cancer to sentinel-lymph-node biopsy plus axillary dissection or sentinel-lymph-node biopsy alone. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of sentinel lymph nodes obtained from patients with pathologically negative sentinel lymph nodes were centrally evaluated for occult metastases deeper in the blocks. Both routine staining and immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin were used at two widely spaced additional tissue levels. Treating physicians were unaware of the findings, which were not used for clinical treatment decisions. The initial evaluation at participating sites was designed to detect all macrometastases larger than 2 mm in the greatest dimension. RESULTS Occult metastases were detected in 15.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.7 to 17.1) of 3887 patients. Log-rank tests indicated a significant difference between patients in whom occult metastases were detected and those in whom no occult metastases were detected with respect to overall survival (P = 0.03), disease-free survival (P = 0.02), and distant-disease–free interval (P = 0.04). The corresponding adjusted hazard ratios for death, any outcome event, and distant disease were 1.40 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.86), 1.31 (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.60), and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.66), respectively. Five-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival among patients in whom occult metastases were detected and those without detectable metastases were 94.6% and 95.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Occult metastases were an independent prognostic variable in patients with sentinel nodes that were negative on initial examination; however, the magnitude of the difference in

  20. [Stellar Occultation Studies of Small Bodies in the Outer Solar System: Accomplishments, Status, and Plans

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliott, James

    2005-01-01

    Bodies residing in the outer solar system exhibit unique physical processes, and some of the lessons learned from them can be applied to understanding what occurred in the outer solar system during its formation and early evolution. Pluto, the largest known Kuiper Belt object (KBO), and its near twin Triton--an ex-KBO that has been captured by Neptune--have nitrogen atmospheres that are in vapor-pressure equilibrium with surface ice. These atmospheres are most sensitively probed from Earth by the technique of Stellar occultations, which can provide the temperature and pressure profiles of these atmospheres at a spatial resolution of a few kilometers. Recent results from occultations show that the surface pressure of Triton's atmosphere has been increasing and that the shape of the atmosphere deviates from its expected spherical figure. With the occultation technique we can also learn the sizes of smaller bodies that have formed in the outer solar system: Charon, the Centaurs, and KBOs. Our proposed program involves identifying occultation candidates, predicting occultations, observing occultations, analysis of the data, and synthesis of the occultation results with other data. The main goals for our proposed work are to (i) further observe occultations by Triton with the objectives of understanding its pressure changes, distortion, and enigmatic thermal structure (ii) determine whether the abrupt drop in Pluto's stellar occultation light curve is caused by a sharp thermal gradient near its surface or by atmospheric haze, (iii) further observations to characterize the potential collapse of Pluto's atmosphere as it recedes from the sun (information that should be of interest to the Pluto-Kuiper Express), ( iv ) determine Charon's radius more accurately than can be done with the mutual events to derive a better estimate of Charon's density, and ( v ) directly determine the size (and albedo) of Centaurs with the goal of more accurately estimating the sizes of KBOS.

  1. SOX2 and PI3K Cooperate to Induce and Stabilize a Squamous-Committed Stem Cell Injury State during Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Pathogenesis

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Bo Ram; Van de Laar, Emily; Tarumi, Shintaro; Hasenoeder, Stefan; Wang, Dennis; Virtanen, Carl; Bandarchi, Bizhan; Pham, Nhu An; Lee, Sharon; Keshavjee, Shaf; Tsao, Ming-Sound; Moghal, Nadeem

    2016-01-01

    Although cancers are considered stem cell diseases, mechanisms involving stem cell alterations are poorly understood. Squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) is the second most common lung cancer, and its pathogenesis appears to hinge on changes in the stem cell behavior of basal cells in the bronchial airways. Basal cells are normally quiescent and differentiate into mucociliary epithelia. Smoking triggers a hyperproliferative response resulting in progressive premalignant epithelial changes ranging from squamous metaplasia to dysplasia. These changes can regress naturally, even with chronic smoking. However, for unknown reasons, dysplasias have higher progression rates than earlier stages. We used primary human tracheobronchial basal cells to investigate how copy number gains in SOX2 and PIK3CA at 3q26-28, which co-occur in dysplasia and are observed in 94% of SQCCs, may promote progression. We find that SOX2 cooperates with PI3K signaling, which is activated by smoking, to initiate the squamous injury response in basal cells. This response involves SOX9 repression, and, accordingly, SOX2 and PI3K signaling levels are high during dysplasia, while SOX9 is not expressed. By contrast, during regeneration of mucociliary epithelia, PI3K signaling is low and basal cells transiently enter a SOX2LoSOX9Hi state, with SOX9 promoting proliferation and preventing squamous differentiation. Transient reduction in SOX2 is necessary for ciliogenesis, although SOX2 expression later rises and drives mucinous differentiation, as SOX9 levels decline. Frequent coamplification of SOX2 and PIK3CA in dysplasia may, thus, promote progression by locking basal cells in a SOX2HiSOX9Lo state with active PI3K signaling, which sustains the squamous injury response while precluding normal mucociliary differentiation. Surprisingly, we find that, although later in invasive carcinoma SOX9 is generally expressed at low levels, its expression is higher in a subset of SQCCs with less squamous identity and

  2. Occult fractures of the knee: tomographic evaluation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Apple, J.S.; Martinez, S.; Allen, N.B.

    1983-08-01

    Seven adults with painful effusions of the knee were examined for occult fractures using pluridirectional tomograph in the coronal and lateral planes. Six patients (ages 50 to 82 years) were osteopenic and gave histories ranging from none to mild trauma; one 26-year-old man was not osteopenic and had severe trauma. In all cases, routine radiographs were interpreted as negative, but tomography demonstrated a fracture. Five fractures were subchondral. Bone scans in 2 patients were positive. The authors conclude that osteopenic patients with a painful effusion of the knee should be considered to have an occult fracture. While bone scans maymore » be helpful, tomography is recommended as the procedure of choice to define the location and extent of the fracture.« less

  3. Predictive Power of Distal Radial Metaphyseal Tenderness for Diagnosing Occult Fracture.

    PubMed

    Glickel, Steven Z; Hinojosa, Lauren; Eden, Claire M; Balutis, Elaine; Barron, O Alton; Catalano, Louis W

    2017-10-01

    To correlate the physical examination finding of distal radial metaphyseal tenderness with plain radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging after acute wrist injury to diagnose occult distal radius fractures. We hypothesized that persistent distal radial metaphyseal tenderness 2 weeks after acute injuries is predictive of an occult fracture. Twenty-nine adult patients presented, after acute trauma, with distal radial metaphyseal tenderness and initial plain radiographs and/or fluoroscopic images that did not show a distal radius fracture. Patients were reevaluated clinically and radiographically at approximately 2 weeks after initial presentation. Patients with persistent distal radial tenderness and negative radiographs underwent magnetic resonance imaging to definitively diagnose an occult distal radius fracture. We calculated the sensitivity and positive predictive value for persistent distal radial metaphyseal tenderness using a 95% confidence interval and standard formulas. Both radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were used as our endpoint diagnosis for a distal radius fracture. We diagnosed 28 occult distal radius fractures, 8 by follow-up radiograph and 20 by magnetic resonance imaging. The positive predictive value for patients who completed the protocol was 96%. One patient who did not have an occult distal radius fracture had a fracture of the ulnar styloid. Tenderness of the distal radial metaphysis after wrist injury is strongly suggestive of a distal radius fracture despite both normal plain radiographs and fluoroscopic images. Diagnostic III. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Occult HCV Infection: The Current State of Knowledge

    PubMed Central

    Rezaee-Zavareh, Mohammad Saeid; Hadi, Reza; Karimi-Sari, Hamidreza; Hossein Khosravi, Mohammad; Ajudani, Reza; Dolatimehr, Fardin; Ramezani-Binabaj, Mahdi; Miri, Seyyed Mohammad; Alavian, Seyed Moayed

    2015-01-01

    Context Occult HCV infection (OCI) is defined as the presence of HCV-RNA in hepatocytes and the absence of HCV in the serum according to usual tests. We aimed to define OCI and provide information about the currently available diagnostic methods. Then we focus on specific groups that are at high risk of OCI and finally investigate immune responses to OCI and the available treatment approaches. Evidence Acquisition PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched with combination of following keywords: “occult”, “hepatitis C virus” and “occult HCV infection”. The definition of OCI, diagnostic methods, specific groups that are at high risk and available treatment approaches were extract from literature. An analysis of available articles on OCI also was done based on Scopus search results. Results OCI has been reported in several high-risk groups, especially in hemodialysis patients and subjects with cryptogenic liver disease. Furthermore, some studies have proposed a specific immune response for OCI in comparison with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Conclusions With a clinical history of approximately 11 years, occult HCV infection can be considered an occult type of CHC. Evidences suggest that considering OCI in these high-risk groups seems to be necessary. We suggest that alternative diagnostic tests should be applied and that there is a need for the participation of all countries to determine the epidemiology of this type of HCV infection. Additionally, evaluating OCI in blood transfusion centers and in patients who receive large amounts of blood and clotting factors, such as patients with hemophilia, should be performed in future projects. PMID:26734487

  5. Dusty Dwarfs Galaxies Occulting A Bright Background Spiral

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holwerda, Benne

    2017-08-01

    The role of dust in shaping the spectral energy distributions of low mass disk galaxies remains poorly understood. Recent results from the Herschel Space Observatory imply that dwarf galaxies contain large amounts of cool (T 20K) dust, coupled with very modest optical extinctions. These seemingly contradictory conclusions may be resolved if dwarfs harbor a variety of dust geometries, e.g., dust at larger galactocentric radii or in quiescent dark clumps. We propose HST observations of six truly occulting dwarf galaxies drawn from the Galaxy Zoo catalog of silhouetted galaxy pairs. Confirmed, true occulting dwarfs are rare as most low-mass disks in overlap are either close satellites or do not have a confirmed redshift. Dwarf occulters are the key to determining the spatial extent of dust, the small scale structure introduced by turbulence, and the prevailing dust attenuation law. The recent spectroscopic confirmation of bona-fide low mass occulting dwarfs offers an opportunity to map dust in these with HST. What is the role of dust in the SED of these dwarf disk galaxies? With shorter feedback scales, how does star-formation affect their morphology and dust composition, as revealed from their attenuation curve? The resolution of HST allows us to map the dust disks down to the fine scale structure of molecular clouds and multi-wavelength imaging maps the attenuation curve and hence dust composition in these disks. We therefore ask for 2 orbits on each of 6 dwarf galaxies in F275W, F475W, F606W, F814W and F125W to map dust from UV to NIR to constrain the attenuation curve.

  6. Estimation and evaluation of COSMIC radio occultation excess phase using undifferenced measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xia, Pengfei; Ye, Shirong; Jiang, Kecai; Chen, Dezhong

    2017-05-01

    In the GPS radio occultation technique, the atmospheric excess phase (AEP) can be used to derive the refractivity, which is an important quantity in numerical weather prediction. The AEP is conventionally estimated based on GPS double-difference or single-difference techniques. These two techniques, however, rely on the reference data in the data processing, increasing the complexity of computation. In this study, an undifferenced (ND) processing strategy is proposed to estimate the AEP. To begin with, we use PANDA (Positioning and Navigation Data Analyst) software to perform the precise orbit determination (POD) for the purpose of acquiring the position and velocity of the mass centre of the COSMIC (The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate) satellites and the corresponding receiver clock offset. The bending angles, refractivity and dry temperature profiles are derived from the estimated AEP using Radio Occultation Processing Package (ROPP) software. The ND method is validated by the COSMIC products in typical rising and setting occultation events. Results indicate that rms (root mean square) errors of relative refractivity differences between undifferenced and atmospheric profiles (atmPrf) provided by UCAR/CDAAC (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research/COSMIC Data Analysis and Archive Centre) are better than 4 and 3 % in rising and setting occultation events respectively. In addition, we also compare the relative refractivity bias between ND-derived methods and atmPrf profiles of globally distributed 200 COSMIC occultation events on 12 December 2013. The statistical results indicate that the average rms relative refractivity deviation between ND-derived and COSMIC profiles is better than 2 % in the rising occultation event and better than 1.7 % in the setting occultation event. Moreover, the observed COSMIC refractivity profiles from ND processing strategy are further validated using European Centre for Medium

  7. Prevalence of occult hepatitis C infection in chronic hemodialysis and kidney transplant patients.

    PubMed

    Baid-Agrawal, Seema; Schindler, Ralf; Reinke, Petra; Staedtler, Adrienne; Rimpler, Sunda; Malik, Barbara; Frei, Ulrich; Berg, Thomas

    2014-05-01

    Detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and/or hepatocytes in absence of HCV RNA in serum, designated as 'occult HCV infection', has been a matter of controversy in recent years. We investigated for the first time the prevalence of occult HCV infection in large cohorts of chronic hemodialysis (CHD) and kidney transplant (KTx) patients. We enrolled 417 CHD patients, 417 KTx recipients and 2 control groups - 25 anti-HCV (antibody against HCV)-positive and HCV RNA-positive patients with chronic hepatitis C, and 40 anti-HCV-, HCV RNA-, and HBsAg-negative healthy subjects. HCV RNA was tested in serum and PBMC using a sensitive commercial assay. In CHD patients, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 3.6% (15/417) and of positive serum HCV RNA 2.4% (10/417). HCV RNA was detected in PBMC in 1/407 (0.25%) HCV serum RNA-negative patients ("occult HCV infection"). In KTx recipients, prevalence of anti-HCV was 4.8% (20/417) and of positive serum HCV RNA 4.6% (19/417). Occult HCV infection was found in 2/398 (0.5%) serum HCV RNA-negative patients. On a mean longitudinal follow-up of 30months of the 3 patients with occult HCV infection, there was no clinical or virological evidence of HCV infection. The prevalence of occult HCV infection was very low in our CHD and KTx patients, and it did not appear to be clinically relevant. Further studies in geographic populations with high HCV endemicity are required to clarify the significance of occult HCV infection in these patient groups. Copyright © 2014 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. The relationship between histological differentiation and disease recurrence of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Padma, Ramasamy; Kalaivani, Amitkumar; Sundaresan, Sivapatham; Sathish, Paulraj

    2017-01-01

    Background: Although advance techniques were available for diagnosis and prognosis of oral cancer, histopathology was used as major method in clinical routine. Of all oral subsites, buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma is aggressive in nature with poor survival. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation of tumor histopathological grade with disease recurrence of buccal squamous cell mucosa carcinoma. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in regional cancer research institute, Tamil Nadu. Demographic, histopathological and participant's follow-up details were collected from medical records. Results: Of 198 participants, high frequently encountered with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (n = 98, 49.5%). The clinical characteristics of lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.031), perineural invasion (P = 0.019), tumor stage (P = 0.004), tumor depth (P = 0.048), lymph node (P = 0.02) and metastasis (P = 0.043) had significant association with histopathological grade. In addition, the treatment strategies (P = 0.014) also showed significance at P < 0.05. Further, multivariate revealed cell differentiation (P = 0.048), tumor size (P = 0.037) and depth (P = 0.021) as independent hazard risk of the development of disease using recurrence-free survival of participants at P < 0.05. Of 198 participants, 24 (12.1%) recurrences reported during 34-month follow-up period and the overall estimated recurrence-free survival was 52%. The high frequency of recurrence, 12 (50%), was identified with moderately differentiated tumor cells. However, poorly differentiated tumor showed significantly lower survival (28%) than moderate (54%) and well differentiated (81%) by Kaplan–Meier analysis using log-rank test (P = 0.004, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The present study concludes high frequency of recurrence observed in moderately differentiated and also revealed lower survival in poorly differentiated tumor. Hence, further treatment plans

  9. A prospective evaluation of occult disorders in obstructed defecation using the 'iceberg diagram'.

    PubMed

    Pescatori, M; Spyrou, M; Pulvirenti d'Urso, A

    2006-11-01

    Surgical treatment of constipation and obstructed defecation (OD) carries frequent recurrences, as OD is an 'iceberg syndrome' characterized by 'underwater rocks' or occult diseases which may affect the outcome of surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate occult disorders in order to alert the clinician of these and minimize failures. One hundred consecutive constipated patients with OD symptoms, 81 female patients, median age 52 years, underwent perineal examination, proctoscopy, anorectal manometry, and anal/vaginal ultrasound. Anorectal physiology and imaging tests were also carried out when indicated, as well as psychological and urogynaecological consultation. Symptoms were graded using a modified 1-20 constipation score. Both evident (e.g. rectocele) and occult (e.g. anismus) diseases were prospectively evaluated using a novel 'iceberg diagram'. The type of treatment, whether conservative or surgical, was also recorded. Fifty-four (54%) patients had both mucosal prolapse and rectocele. All patients had at least two occult OD-related diseases, 66 patients had at least three: anxiety-depression, anismus and rectal hyposensation were the most frequent (66%, 44% and 33% respectively). The median constipation score was 11 (range 2-20), the median number of 'occult disorders' was 5 (range 2-8). Conservative treatment was carried out in most patients. Surgery was carried out in 14 (14%) patients. The novel 'iceberg diagram' allowed the adequate evaluation of OD-related occult diseases and better selection of patients for treatment. Most were managed conservatively, and only a minority were treated by surgery.

  10. A prospective evaluation of occult disorders in obstructed defecation using the 'iceberg diagram'.

    PubMed

    Pescatori, M; Spyrou, M; Pulvirenti d'Urso, A

    2007-06-01

    Surgical treatment of constipation and obstructed defecation (OD) carries frequent recurrences, as OD is an 'iceberg syndrome' characterized by 'underwater rocks' or occult diseases which may affect the outcome of surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate occult disorders, in order to alert the clinician of these and minimize failures. One hundred consecutive constipated patients with OD symptoms, 81 women, median age 52 years, underwent perineal examination, proctoscopy, anorectal manometry and anal/vaginal ultrasound (US). Anorectal physiology and imaging tests were also carried out when indicated, as well as psychological and urogynaecological consultations. Symptoms were graded using a modified 1-20 constipation score. Both evident (e.g. rectocele) and occult (e.g. anismus) diseases were prospectively evaluated using a novel 'iceberg diagram'. The type of treatment, whether conservative or surgical, was also recorded. Fifty-four (54%) patients had both mucosal prolapse and rectocele. All patients had at least two occult OD-related diseases, 66 patients had at least three of them: anxiety-depression, anismus and rectal hyposensation were the most frequent (66%, 44% and 33%, respectively). The median constipation score was 11 (range 2-20), the median number of 'occult disorders' was 5 (range 2-8). Conservative treatment was carried out in most cases. Surgery was carried out in 14 (14%) patients. The novel 'iceberg diagram' allowed the adequate evaluation of OD-related occult diseases and better selection of patients for treatment. Most were managed conservatively, and only a minority were treated by surgery.

  11. Occult head injury is common in children with concern for physical abuse.

    PubMed

    Boehnke, Mitchell; Mirsky, David; Stence, Nicholas; Stanley, Rachel M; Lindberg, Daniel M

    2018-04-13

    Studies evaluating small patient cohorts have found a high, but variable, rate of occult head injury in children <2 years old with concern for physical abuse. The American College of Radiology (ACR) recommends clinicians have a low threshold to obtain neuroimaging in these patients. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of occult head injury in a large patient cohort with suspected physical abuse using similar selection criteria from previous studies. Additionally, we evaluated proposed risk factors for associations with occult head injury. This was a retrospective, secondary analysis of data collected by an observational study of 20 U.S. child abuse teams that evaluated children who underwent subspecialty evaluation for concern of abuse. We evaluated children <2 years old and excluded those with abnormal mental status, bulging fontanelle, seizure, respiratory arrest, underlying neurological condition, focal neurological deficit or scalp injury. One thousand one hundred forty-three subjects met inclusion criteria and 62.5% (714) underwent neuroimaging with either head computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. We found an occult head injury prevalence of 19.7% (141). Subjects with emesis (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-6.8), macrocephaly (OR 8.5, 95% CI 3.7-20.2), and loss of consciousness (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.2-22.9) had higher odds of occult head injury. Our results show a high prevalence of occult head injury in patients <2 years old with suspected physical abuse. Our data support the ACR recommendation that clinicians should have a low threshold to perform neuroimaging in patients <2 years of age.

  12. Using the EXIST Active Shields for Earth Occultation Observations of X-Ray Sources

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, Colleen A.; Fishman, Gerald; Hong, Jae-Sub; Gridlay, Jonathan; Krawczynski, Henric

    2005-01-01

    The EXIST active shields, now being planned for the main detectors of the coded aperture telescope, will have approximately 15 times the area of the BATSE detectors; and they will have a good geometry on the spacecraft for viewing both the leading and training Earth's limb for occultation observations. These occultation observations will complement the imaging observations of EXIST and can extend them to higher energies. Earth occultatio observations of the hard X-ray sky with BATSE on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory developed and demonstrated the capabilities of large, flat, uncollimated detectors for this method. With BATSE, a catalog of 179 X-ray sources was monitored twice every spacecraft orbit for 9 years at energies above about 25 keV, resulting in 83 definite detections and 36 possible detections with 5-sigma detection sensitivities of 3.5-20 mcrab (20-430 keV) depending on the sky location. This catalog included four transients discovered with this technique and many variable objects (galactic and extragalactic). This poster will describe the Earth occultation technique, summarize the BATSE occultation observations, and compare the basic observational parameters of the occultation detector elements of BATSE and EXIST.

  13. Probing the Martian Atmosphere with MAVEN/IUVS Stellar Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gröller, H.; Yelle, R. V.; Koskinen, T.; Montmessin, F.; Lacombe, G.; Schneider, N. M.; Deighan, J.; Stewart, I. F.; Jain, S.; Chaffin, M.; Crismani, M. M. J.; Stiepen, A.; Lefèvre, F.; McClintock, B.; Clarke, J. T.; Holsclaw, G.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Bougher, S. W.; Jakosky, B. M.

    2015-12-01

    We present the first results of FUV and MUV stellar occultations taken with the Imaging UltraViolet Spectrometer (IUVS) onboard MAVEN. The FUV and MUV channels of the IUVS together cover the spectral range from 115 to 330 nm. The first two campaigns were executed during March 24 and March 26, 2015, and during May 17 and May 18, 2015, respectively. So far 13 occultations could be used to retrieve CO2 and O2 number densities in the altitude range between 100 and 150 km from the first occultation campaign. From the second occultation campaign number densities for CO2, O3, and aerosols were obtained between 20 and 100 km altitude. Temperature profiles for the same altitude ranges were calculated by applying the constraint of hydrostatic equilibrium to the CO2 densities. With a cadence of 2.6 s, including a 2.0 s integration time, the altitude resolution of the density and temperature profiles is between 1.5 and 4.5 km, depending on the geometry of the particular occultation. The retrieved density profiles of CO2 and O2 agree with previous measurements obtained by the Mars Express SPICAM instrument and by Viking 1 and 2. The corresponding O2 mixing ratios range from 1 to 5 x 10-3, also in agreement with previous observations. The temperatures that we retrieved agree with the models in the Mars Climate Database (MCD) between 10-2 and 10-4 Pa. At lower pressures, however, the measured temperatures are on average 70 K to 100 K cooler than the temperatures predicted by the MCD. This is because the model temperatures increase steadily with altitude above the mesopause whereas the observed temperatures decrease at pressures less than 3.5 x 10-5 Pa, reaching a minimum near 7 x 10-6 Pa. The large differences between the MCD and our results indicate that global models of thermal structure around the mesopause need to be revised.

  14. Observations with the GISMOS Airborne Radio Occultation System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Muradyan, Paytsar; Haase, Jennifer; Garrison, James; Lulich, Tyler; Xie, Feiqin

    2010-05-01

    The spatial sample density of temperature and moisture profiles derived from the current spaceborne GPS radio occultation (RO) constellation is limited by the number of occultation satellites in operation. With the current RO satellite configuration, only one RO profile per day is typically available in a 160,000 square kilometer area in the mid-latitude and tropics and slightly more in high latitudes. The airborne RO technique, which has the GPS receiver onboard an airplane, offers flexibility and much denser sampling for targeted observation within 400 km of the aircraft, and provides comparable high vertical resolution to that of the spaceborne case. With an airborne system, targeted measurements can be planned in an optimal geometry to study the accuracy of RO measurements in the lower troposphere where strong vertical gradients in moisture might lead to disruption of signal tracking. These dense measurements can also be used to test assimilation techniques of refractivity and lower tropospheric moisture derived from RO data. In February 2008, the GNSS Instrument System for Multistatic and Occultation Sensing (GISMOS), developed at Purdue University, was successfully deployed on the NSF HIAPER aircraft for series of research flights in the Gulf of Mexico coastal region to validate the airborne observing system. During this campaign, occultation observations were collected in conjunction with supplemental radiosonde and dropsonde soundings. RO signals were recorded using side-looking GPS antennas and dual frequency GPS receivers. However, these conventional phase-locked-loop GPS receivers cannot always track the signal in the lower troposphere, where there are rapid phase accelerations caused by highly variable moisture structures. To extend the observations deeper into the atmosphere, the raw signal from occulting satellites is recorded at 10MHz sampling interval by a GPS recording system (GRS). Open-loop (OL) tracking, which replaces the traditional GPS

  15. The role of lymphoscintigraphy, sentinel mode biopsy and positron emission tomography in the staging of the neck in early oral squamous cell carcinoma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hyde, Nicholas Charles

    This thesis explores the limitations of current imaging modalities in the evaluation of the clinically node negative (N0) neck in early oral squamous cell carcinoma and evaluates the utility of two new interventions. It will become evident that the use of clinical parameters and conventional imaging to detect clinically occult cervical lymph node metastases is an imprecise science. The presence of metastases in the neck is the single most important determinant of survival. Hitherto the lack of timely intervention in this regard may have been contributory in amplifying their effect upon survival. There is an obvious requirement for a more accurate technique to stage the neck in this patient group. Therefore the application of lymphoscintigraphy in combination with sentinel node biopsy (SNB), and positron emission tomography (PET) have been investigated. It appears that PET, whilst having a number of useful roles in the generic head and neck oncology patient, has little to contribute in the diagnosis of occult neck disease. In contra-distinction lymphoscintigraphy and SNB are not only feasible in the diagnosis of occult metastases, but also enhance our knowledge of lymphatic drainage from the oral cavity. This has, in some circumstances, led to the modification of initially prescribed treatment plans. Such is the current pace of technological advance that over the course of this research an entirely new imaging modality has emerged - PET/CT. Whilst it has not been possible to apply this retrospectively to the original patient population early experience of this novel technique in head and neck malignancy is explored and reported. The results of these initial applications are encouraging.

  16. The incidence of occult malignancy following uterine morcellation: A ten-year single institution experience retrospective cohort study.

    PubMed

    Mori, Kristina M; Abaid, Lisa N; Mendivil, Alberto A; Brown, John V; Beck, Tiffany L; Micha, John P; Epstein, Howard D; Goldstein, Bram H

    2018-05-01

    When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially reported on the parlous incidence (0.28%) of occult malignancy identified following uterine power morcellation, investigations thereafter documented their particular experience with this surgical procedure. Nevertheless, the precise risk of identifying a sarcoma following uterine morcellation remains indeterminate, primarily due to varying study patient risk factors, diagnostic criteria and operative approach. We retrospectively evaluated subjects who underwent an endoscopic hysterectomy and uterine power morcellation for the treatment of a presumptive, benign indication from January 2006 until December 2015. The primary outcome was the incidence of an occult malignancy. Secondarily, we were interested in characterizing the patients' specific clinical (age, menopausal status, body mass index (BMI)) risk factors within the context of a confirmed malignant or pre-malignant pathology. We identified 281 patients who underwent endoscopic surgery that incorporated uterine morcellation. During the study period, one subject was ultimately diagnosed with a uterine leiomyosarcoma; the overall incidence of occult malignancy was 0.36%. There were also 3 cases of uterine premalignant disease on final pathology (2 patients had complex hyperplasia with or without atypia and 1 subject was diagnosed with a smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (an incidence of 1.1%)). We were unable to establish any relationship between patient age, uterine weight, menopausal status or BMI and the incidence of a malignant or pre-malignant pathology (P > 0.05). The rate of occult malignancy in the present investigation was similar to previously documented studies and that which has been reported by the FDA. Additional study of methods in which to enhance preoperative work-up and mitigate the surgical risk for tumor cell dissemination is warranted. Copyright © 2018 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights

  17. Parapsychology on the couch: the psychology of occult belief in Germany, c. 1870-1939.

    PubMed

    Wolffram, Heather

    2006-01-01

    This article considers the attempts of academic psychologists and critical occultists in Germany during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to construct a psychology of occult belief. While they claimed that the purpose of this new subdiscipline was to help evaluate the work of occult researchers, the emergence of a psychology of occult belief in Germany served primarily to pathologize parapsychology and its practitioners. Not to be outdone, however, parapsychologists argued that their adversaries suffered from a morbid inability to accept the reality of the paranormal. Unable to resolve through experimental means the dispute over who should be allowed to mold the public's understanding of the occult, both sides resorted to defaming their opponent. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Comparing different Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) occultation observations using modeling of water vapor jets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Portyankina, Ganna; Esposito, Larry W.; Hansen, Candice; Aye, Klaus-Michael

    2016-10-01

    Motivation: On March 11, 2016 the Cassini UVIS observed its 6th star occultation by Enceladus' plume. This observation was aimed to determine variability in the total gas flux from the Enceladus' southern polar region. The analysis of the received data suggests that the total gas flux is moderately increased comparing to the average gas flux observed by UVIS from 2005 to 2011 [1]. However, UVIS detected variability in individual jets. In particular, Baghdad 1 is more collimated in 2016 than in 2005, meaning its gas escapes at higher velocity.Model and fits: We use 3D DSMC model for water vapor jets to compare different UVIS occultation observations from 2005 to 2016. The model traces test articles from jets' sources [2] into space and results in coordinates and velocities for a set of test particles. We convert particle positions into the particle number density and integrate along UVIS line of sight (LoS) for each time step of the UVIS observation using precise observational geometry derived from SPICE [3]. We integrate all jets that are crossed by the LoS and perform constrained least-squares fit of resulting modeled opacities to the observed data to solved for relative strengths of jets. The geometry of each occultation is specific, for example, during solar occultation in 2010 UVIS LoS was almost parallel to tiger stripes, which made it possible to distinguish jets venting from different tiger stripes. In 2011 Eps Orionis occultation LoS was perpendicular to tiger stripes and thus many of the jets were geometrically overlapping. Solar occultation provided us with the largest inventory of active jets - our model fit detects at least 43 non-zero jet contributions. Stellar occultations generally have lower temporal resolution and observe only a sub-set of these jets: 2011 Eps Orionis needs minimum 25 non-zero jets to fit UVIS data. We will discuss different occultations and models fits, including the most recent Epsilon Orionis occultation of 2016.[1] Hansen et al

  19. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Outer satellites occultation predictions (Gomes-Junior+, 2016)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gomes-Junior, A. R.; Assafin, M.; Beauvalet, L.; Desmars, J.; Vieira-Martins, R.; Camargo, J. I. B.; Morgado, B. E.; Braga-Ribas, F.

    2016-07-01

    Tables contain the day of the year and UTC central instant of the prediction; right ascension and declination of the occulted star - at the central instant of the occultation (corrected by proper motions); C/A: apparent geocentric distance between the satellite and the star (a.k.a. the distance between the shadow and the center of the Earth) at the moment of the geocentric closest approach, in arcseconds; P/A: the satellite position angle with respect to the occulted star at C/A, in degrees (zero at north of the star, increasing clockwise); v: relative velocity of event in km/s: positive = prograde, negative = retrograde; D: Geocentric distance to the occulting object in AU; R*: normalized UCAC4 magnitude in the R-band to a common shadow of 20km/s by the relationship R*=RUCAC4+2.5xlog(velocity/(20km/s)), the value 20km/s is typical of events around the opposition; long: east longitude of subplanet point in degrees, positive towards east, at the instant of the geocentric closest approach; LST: UT + long: local solar time at subplanet point, hh:mm; pmra and pmdec: proper motions in right ascension and declination, respectively (mas/year). For more detailed information about the definition and use of these stellar occultation geometric elements see Assafin et al. (2010, Cat. J/A+A/515/A32). (2 data files).

  20. Synchronous metastatic adenoid cystic and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervical lymph nodes 31 years after ablation of the primary palatal tumour.

    PubMed

    Doumas, Stergios; Barrett, Andrew W; Carrillo, Mauricio; Tighe, John V

    2013-10-01

    The coexistence of different types of malignancy in cervical lymph nodes has been reported previously. We report the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of concurrent metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in cervical lymph nodes. A primary SCC developed three decades after treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate, and the synchronous metastases became clinically apparent the following year. The aetiology of the SCC may have been related to radiotherapy or smoking. Whether the adenoid cystic carcinoma would have remained dormant, or was reactivated after perturbation of host defence mechanisms, is not known. Copyright © 2012 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Shape and Size of Patroclus and Menoetius from a Stellar Occultation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Buie, Marc W.; Olkin, Catherine B.; Merline, William J.; Timerson, Brad; Herald, Dave; Owen, William M.; Abramson, Harry B.; Abramson, Katherine J.; Breit, Derek C.; Caton, D. B.; Conard, Steve J.; Croom, Mark A.; Dunford, R. W.; Dunford, J. A.; Dunham, David W.; Ellington, Chad K.; Liu, Yanzhe; Maley, Paul D.; Olsen, Aart M.; Royer, Ronald; Scheck, Andrew E.; Sherrod, Clay; Sherrod, Lowell; Swift, Theodore J.; Taylor, Lawrence W.; Venable, Roger

    2014-11-01

    We will present results of a stellar occultation by the Jupiter Trojan asteroid, Patroclus and its nearly equal size moon, Menoetius. The occultation was observed widely across the United States on 2013 Oct 21 UT. Eleven sites out of 36 successfully recorded an occultation. Seven chords across Patroclus yielded a elliptical limb fit of 124.6 km by 98.2 km. There were six chords across Menoetius that yielded an elliptical limb fit of 117.2 km by 93.0 km. There were three sites that got chords on both objects. At the time of the occultation we measured a separation of 0.247 arcsec and a position angle for Menoetius of 265.7 deg measured eastward from J2000 North. More surprisingly, there were two sites that should have seen an occultation by Menoetius but instead never saw the star disappear. These two non-detections indicate the presence of a large void on the southern limb of the satellite. The observations are consistent with a large impact basin centered on the rotation pole. The depth of the projected crater profile is roughly 15 km, measured from the elliptical limb profile. The inferred diameter of the crater would be about 85 km. Combining this occultation data with previous lightcurve data, the axial ratios (ignoring the mass void) of both objects is 1.26:1.19:1 indicative of a mostly oblate ellipsoid with a slight asymmetry in its equatorial projection. These results are consistent with a fully tidally evolved system with the mass void or putative crater in a position consistent with principal axis rotation that is itself consistent with the largely oblate shape. Note: the location for IOTA listed in the affiliations is not correct (but was required to be entered) as there is no location for this global virtual organization. This research is funded, in part, by NSF AST-1212159.

  2. Risk of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes in Occult and Manifest Cancers.

    PubMed

    Andersen, Klaus Kaae; Olsen, Tom Skyhøj

    2018-06-04

    Manifest cancer is associated with increased risk of stroke. The risk of stroke in people with occult cancer in comparison to the risk in the background population without cancer has not been investigated. Smoking is a risk factor for both cancer and stroke, but the role of smoking for the risk of stroke in cancer has not been investigated. We identified all incident cases of cancer in Denmark 2003 to 2012 (n=264.376) from the Danish Cancer Registry. Each person with cancer was matched by age, sex, and income with 10 randomly selected persons without cancer at index date (n=2.571.260). Linking data to the Danish Stroke Registry, we studied risk of ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke the year before (occult cancer) and after cancer diagnosis was established in the Danish Stroke Registry (manifest cancer) and stratified into the 15 most common cancer types related (lung, colon, bladder, rectum, pancreas, kidney, stomach, and head and neck cancer) and unrelated (non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast, prostate, melanoma, central nervous system, ovary and endometrial) to smoking. Risk of ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke was increased for both occult (relative risk, 1.75/2.00) and manifest cancers (relative risk, 1.30/1.41). For occult cancer, risk of ischemic stroke was increased for all of the smoking-related cancers, but among cancers unrelated to smoking, only lymphoma, central nervous system, and endometrial cancer were associated with increased risk of stroke; breast, prostate, melanoma, and ovarian cancers were not. For occult cancer, risk of hemorrhagic stroke was generally increased for smoking-related cancers while not for cancers unrelated to smoking. For manifest cancer, risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke was generally increased for cancers related to smoking while not for cancers unrelated to smoking. Cancer, occult and manifest, is associated with increased risks for stroke. The increased risk is linked mainly to cancers related to smoking. © 2018 American Heart

  3. Incidental Detection of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma on 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT.

    PubMed

    Lawhn-Heath, Courtney; Flavell, Robert R; Glastonbury, Christine; Hope, Thomas A; Behr, Spencer C

    2017-04-01

    We present a case of an incidentally detected squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx on Ga-PSMA-11 PET. A 71-year-old man's condition was diagnosed as prostate carcinoma after a year of rising serum prostate-specific antigen. The staging Ga-PSMA PET/CT demonstrated focal radiotracer uptake in the prostate corresponding to his known primary prostate cancer. However, a PSMA-avid 3.4-cm mass was incidentally found in the right tongue base that was biopsied, confirming squamous cell carcinoma.

  4. Squamous cell carcinoma - invasive (image)

    MedlinePlus

    This irregular red nodule is an invasive squamous cell carcinoma (a form of skin cancer). Initial appearance, shown here, may be very similar to a noncancerous growth called a keratoacanthoma. Squamous cell cancers ...

  5. Electron densities in the ionosphere of Mars: A comparison of MARSIS and radio occultation measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vogt, Marissa F.; Withers, Paul; Fallows, Kathryn; Flynn, Casey L.; Andrews, David J.; Duru, Firdevs; Morgan, David D.

    2016-10-01

    Radio occultation electron densities measurements from the Mariner 9 and Viking spacecraft, which orbited Mars in the 1970s, have recently become available in a digital format. These data are highly complementary to the radio occultation electron density profiles from Mars Global Surveyor, which were restricted in solar zenith angle and altitude. We have compiled data from the Mariner 9, Viking, and Mars Global Surveyor radio occultation experiments for comparison to electron density measurements made by Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), the topside radar sounder on Mars Express, and MARSIS-based empirical density models. We find that the electron densities measured by radio occultation are in generally good agreement with the MARSIS data and model, especially near the altitude of the peak electron density but that the MARSIS data and model display a larger plasma scale height than the radio occultation profiles at altitudes between the peak density and 200 km. Consequently, the MARSIS-measured and model electron densities are consistently larger than radio occultation densities at altitudes 200-300 km. Finally, we have analyzed transitions in the topside ionosphere, at the boundary between the photochemically controlled and transport-controlled regions, and identified the average transition altitude, or altitude at which a change in scale height occurs. The average transition altitude is 200 km in the Mariner 9 and Viking radio occultation profiles and in profiles of the median MARSIS radar sounding electron densities.

  6. Naturally Occurring Mutations in Large Surface Genes Related to Occult Infection of Hepatitis B Virus Genotype C

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Hong; Lee, Seoung-Ae; Kim, Dong-Won; Lee, Sueng-Hyun; Kim, Bum-Joon

    2013-01-01

    Molecular mechanisms related to occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, particularly those based on genotype C infection, have rarely been determined thus far in the ongoing efforts to determine infection mechanisms. Therefore, we aim to elucidate the mutation patterns in the surface open reading frame (S ORF) underlying occult infections of HBV genotype C in the present study. Nested PCRs were applied to 624 HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negative Korean subjects. Cloning and sequencing of the S ORF gene was applied to 41 occult cases and 40 control chronic carriers. Forty-one (6.6%) of the 624 Korean adults with HBsAg-negative serostatus were found to be positive for DNA according to nested PCR tests. Mutation frequencies in the three regions labeled here as preS1, preS2, and S were significantly higher in the occult subjects compared to the carriers in all cases. A total of two types of deletions, preS1 deletions in the start codon and preS2 deletions as well as nine types of point mutations were significantly implicated in the occult infection cases. Mutations within the “a” determinant region in HBsAg were found more frequently in the occult subjects than in the carriers. Mutations leading to premature termination of S ORF were found in 16 occult subjects (39.0%) but only in one subject from among the carriers (2.5%). In conclusion, our data suggest that preS deletions, the premature termination of S ORF, and “a” determinant mutations are associated with occult infections of HBV genotype C among a HBsAg-negative population. The novel mutation patterns related to occult infection introduced in the present study can help to broaden our understanding of HBV occult infections. PMID:23349904

  7. Management of Patients With Adenocarcinoma or Squamous Cancer of the Esophagus.

    PubMed

    Ilson, David H; van Hillegersberg, Richard

    2018-01-01

    Esophageal cancer is characterized by early and frequent metastasis. Surgery is the primary treatment for early-stage disease, whereas patients with patients with locally advanced disease receive perioperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Squamous cancers can be treated with primary chemoradiotherapy without surgery, depending on their response to therapy and patient tolerance for subsequent surgery. Chemotherapy with a fluorinated pyrimidine and a platinum agent, followed by later treatment with taxanes and irinotecan, provides some benefit. Agents that inhibit the erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2 or HER2), or vascular endothelial growth factor, including trastuzumab, ramucirumab, and apatinib, increase response and survival times. Esophageal adenocarcinomas have mutations in tumor protein p53 and mutations that activate receptor-associated tyrosine kinase, vascular endothelial growth factor, and cell cycle pathways, whereas esophageal squamous tumors have a distinct set of mutations. Esophageal cancers develop systems to evade anti-tumor immune responses, but studies are needed to determine how immune checkpoint modification contributes to esophageal tumor development. Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Circulating Tumor Cells Predict Occult Metastatic Disease and Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer.

    PubMed

    Court, Colin M; Ankeny, Jacob S; Sho, Shonan; Winograd, Paul; Hou, Shuang; Song, Min; Wainberg, Zev A; Girgis, Mark D; Graeber, Thomas G; Agopian, Vatche G; Tseng, Hsian-Rong; Tomlinson, James S

    2018-04-01

    Occult metastatic tumors, below imaging thresholds, are a limitation of staging systems that rely on cross-sectional imaging alone and are a cause of the routine understaging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). We investigated circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as a preoperative predictor of occult metastatic disease and as a prognostic biomarker for PDAC patients. A total of 126 patients (100 with cancer, 26 with benign disease) were enrolled in our study and CTCs were identified and enumerated from 4 mL of venous blood using the microfluidic NanoVelcro assay. CTC enumeration was correlated with clinicopathologic variables and outcomes following both surgical and systemic therapies. CTCs were identified in 78% of PDAC patients and CTC counts correlated with increasing stage (ρ = 0.42, p < 0.001). Of the 53 patients taken for potentially curative surgery, 13 (24.5%) had occult metastatic disease intraoperatively. Patients with occult disease had significantly more CTCs than patients with local disease only (median 7 vs. 1 CTC, p < 0.0001). At a cut-off of three or more CTCs/4 mL, CTCs correctly identified patients with occult metastatic disease preoperatively (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76-0.98, p < 0.0001). CTCs were a univariate predictor of recurrence-free survival following surgery [hazard ratio (HR) 2.36, 95% CI 1.17-4.78, p = 0.017], as well as an independent predictor of overall survival on multivariate analysis (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.01-1.88, p = 0.040). CTCs show promise as a prognostic biomarker for PDAC patients at all stages of disease being treated both medically and surgically. Furthermore, CTCs demonstrate potential as a preoperative biomarker for identifying patients at high risk of occult metastatic disease.

  9. A case of peritoneal metastasis during treatment for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Wakasaki, Takahiro; Omori, Hirofumi; Sueyoshi, Shintaro; Rikimaru, Fumihide; Toh, Satoshi; Taguchi, Kenichi; Higaki, Yuichiro; Morita, Masaru; Masuda, Muneyuki

    2016-10-18

    Advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas frequently develop distant metastases to limited organs, including the lungs, bone, mediastinal lymph nodes, brain, and liver. Peritoneal carcinomatosis as an initial distant metastasis from hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is quite rare. A 75-year-old man diagnosed with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and his clinical stage was determined as T2N2cM0. Notably, the right retropharyngeal lymph node surrounded more than half of the right internal carotid artery. Concomitant conformal radiation therapy was administered for the primary hypopharyngeal lesion, and the whole neck and tumor response was evaluated at this point according to our algorithm-based chemoradioselection protocol. As the tumor responses at both the primary and lymph nodes were poor, with the right retropharyngeal lymph node in particular demonstrating mild enlargement, we performed a radical surgery: pharyngolaryngectomy, bilateral neck dissection, and reconstruction of the cervical esophagus with a free jejunal flap. Then, postoperative CRT was performed. During these therapies, the patient developed a fever and mild abdominal pain, which was associated with an increased C-reactive protein level. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography from the neck to the pelvis demonstrated mild peritoneal hypertrophy and ascites with no evidence of recurrent and/or metastatic tumor formation. We initially diagnosed acute abdomen symptoms as postoperative ileus. However, cytological examination of the refractory ascites resulted in a diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Owing to rapid disease progress, the patient died 1.5 months after abdominal symptom onset. The present case is the second reported case of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis as an incipient distant metastasis. Therefore, peritoneal carcinomatosis should be considered a differential diagnosis when acute abdomen is noted during treatment for head and

  10. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for cervical node squamous cell carcinoma metastases from unknown head-and-neck primary site: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center outcomes and patterns of failure.

    PubMed

    Frank, Steven J; Rosenthal, David I; Petsuksiri, Janjira; Ang, K Kian; Morrison, William H; Weber, Randal S; Glisson, Bonnie S; Chao, K S Clifford; Schwartz, David L; Chronowski, Gregory M; El-Naggar, Adel K; Garden, Adam S

    2010-11-15

    Conventional therapy for cervical node squamous cell carcinoma metastases from an unknown primary can cause considerable toxicity owing to the volume of tissues to be irradiated. In the present study, hypothesizing that using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) would provide effective treatment with minimal toxicity, we reviewed the outcomes and patterns of failure for head-and-neck unknown primary cancer at a single tertiary cancer center. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 52 patients who had undergone IMRT for an unknown primary at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1998 and 2005. The patient and treatment characteristics were extracted and the survival rates calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Of the 52 patients, 5 presented with Stage N1, 11 with Stage N2a, 23 with Stage N2b, 6 with Stage N2c, 4 with Stage N3, and 3 with Stage Nx disease. A total of 26 patients had undergone neck dissection, 13 before and 13 after IMRT; 14 patients had undergone excisional biopsy and presented for IMRT without evidence of disease. Finally, 14 patients had received systemic chemotherapy. All patients underwent IMRT to targets on both sides of the neck and pharyngeal axis. The median follow-up time for the surviving patients was 3.7 years. The 5-year actuarial rate of primary mucosal tumor control and regional control was 98% and 94%, respectively. Only 3 patients developed distant metastasis with locoregional control. The 5-year actuarial disease-free and overall survival rate was 88% and 89%, respectively. The most severe toxicity was Grade 3 dysphagia/esophageal stricture, experienced by 2 patients. The results of our study have shown that IMRT can produce excellent outcomes for patients who present with cervical node squamous cell carcinoma metastases from an unknown head-and-neck primary tumor. Severe late complications were uncommon. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Cervical Node Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastases From Unknown Head-and-Neck Primary Site: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Outcomes and Patterns of Failure

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Frank, Steven J., E-mail: sjfrank@mdanderson.or; Rosenthal, David I.; Petsuksiri, Janjira

    2010-11-15

    Purpose: Conventional therapy for cervical node squamous cell carcinoma metastases from an unknown primary can cause considerable toxicity owing to the volume of tissues to be irradiated. In the present study, hypothesizing that using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) would provide effective treatment with minimal toxicity, we reviewed the outcomes and patterns of failure for head-and-neck unknown primary cancer at a single tertiary cancer center. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 52 patients who had undergone IMRT for an unknown primary at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1998 and 2005. The patient and treatment characteristics were extracted and themore » survival rates calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Of the 52 patients, 5 presented with Stage N1, 11 with Stage N2a, 23 with Stage N2b, 6 with Stage N2c, 4 with Stage N3, and 3 with Stage Nx disease. A total of 26 patients had undergone neck dissection, 13 before and 13 after IMRT; 14 patients had undergone excisional biopsy and presented for IMRT without evidence of disease. Finally, 14 patients had received systemic chemotherapy. All patients underwent IMRT to targets on both sides of the neck and pharyngeal axis. The median follow-up time for the surviving patients was 3.7 years. The 5-year actuarial rate of primary mucosal tumor control and regional control was 98% and 94%, respectively. Only 3 patients developed distant metastasis with locoregional control. The 5-year actuarial disease-free and overall survival rate was 88% and 89%, respectively. The most severe toxicity was Grade 3 dysphagia/esophageal stricture, experienced by 2 patients. Conclusion: The results of our study have shown that IMRT can produce excellent outcomes for patients who present with cervical node squamous cell carcinoma metastases from an unknown head-and-neck primary tumor. Severe late complications were uncommon.« less

  12. Heparin as a pharmacologic intervention to induce positive scintiscan in occult gastrointestinal bleeding

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chaudhuri, T.K.; Brantly, M.

    1984-04-01

    The value of using heparin as a pharmacologic intervention to induce a positive scintiscan was studied in a patient with chronic occult gastrointestinal bleeding. When all standard diagnostic tests (upper and lower gastrointestinal series, upper and lower endoscopy, and conventional noninterventional Tc-99m RBC imaging) fail to detect and localize gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient who has definite clinical evidence (guaiac positive stool and dropping hemoglobin, hematocrit) of chronic occult gastrointestinal oozing, heparin may be used (with proper precaution) as a last resort to aid in the scintigraphic detection and localization of chronic occult gastrointestinal bleeding.

  13. Asteroid astrometry with Gaia: stellar occultations and beyond

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tanga, Paolo; Spoto, Federica; Hestroffer, Daniel; Altmann, Martin; Bouquillon, Sebastien; Desmars, Josselin

    2017-10-01

    The first data release of star astrometry by Gaia (Sept. 2016) has given an anticipation of the mission capabilities. By providing positions with uncertainties at the level of few milli-arcsec (mas) a new frame to calibrate ground-based observations has immediately become available, thus disclosing a new possibility of exploitation for archive data. We will discuss, in particular, the new role of stellar occulations.Successful observations of occultations have been used in the past to provide accurate shape and size of the targets and to calibrate other size determination methods. Now, a new possibility of exploitation exists, as occultation astrometry provides the possibility of measuring precise asteroid position, at the level of Gaia accuracy. This approach will have an increasing impact, also thanks to the much improved prediction accuracy that Gaia is going to provide, for smaller asteroids and fainter target stars.The scientific goals of improving asteroid astrometry are multiple. For instance, reaching sensitivity to Yarkovsky drift in the Main Belt might become possible, by occultation astrometry performed on smaller asteroids, thanks to future Gaia predictions.The second data release (April 2018) will also contain astrometry of asteroids observed directly by Gaia. The properties of this new data set, that will permit direct orbit improvement, will be illustrated.

  14. Titan's Upper Atmosphere from Cassini/UVIS Solar Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Capalbo, Fernando J.; Bénilan, Yves; Yelle, Roger V.; Koskinen, Tommi T.

    2015-12-01

    Titan’s atmosphere is composed mainly of molecular nitrogen, methane being the principal trace gas. From the analysis of 8 solar occultations measured by the Extreme Ultraviolet channel of the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) on board Cassini, we derived vertical profiles of N2 in the range 1100-1600 km and vertical profiles of CH4 in the range 850-1300 km. The correction of instrument effects and observational effects applied to the data are described. We present CH4 mole fractions, and average temperatures for the upper atmosphere obtained from the N2 profiles. The occultations correspond to different times and locations, and an analysis of variability of density and temperature is presented. The temperatures were analyzed as a function of geographical and temporal variables, without finding a clear correlation with any of them, although a trend of decreasing temperature toward the north pole was observed. The globally averaged temperature obtained is (150 ± 1) K. We compared our results from solar occultations with those derived from other UVIS observations, as well as studies performed with other instruments. The observational data we present confirm the atmospheric variability previously observed, add new information to the global picture of Titan’s upper atmosphere composition, variability, and dynamics, and provide new constraints to photochemical models.

  15. Altered regional and circuit resting-state activity in patients with occult spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

    PubMed

    Mu, Xuetao; Wang, Zhiqun; Nie, Binbin; Duan, Shaofeng; Ma, Qiaozhi; Dai, Guanghui; Wu, Chunnan; Dong, Yuru; Shan, Baoci; Ma, Lin

    2017-10-07

    Very few studies have been made to investigate functional activity changes in occult spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP). The purpose of this study was to analyze whole-brain resting state regional brain activity and functional connectivity (FC) changes in patients with SDCP. We examined 12 occult SDCP and 14 healthy control subjects using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The data were analyzed using Resting-State fMRI Data Analysis Toolkit (REST) software. The regional homogeneity (ReHo), amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF), and whole brain FC of the motor cortex and thalamus were analyzed and compared between the occult SDCP and control groups. Compared with the control group, the occult SDCP group showed decreased ReHo regions, including the bilateral frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, the cerebellum, right cingulate gyrus, and right lenticular nucleus, whereas an increased ReHo value was observed in the left precuneus, calcarine, fusiform gyrus, and right precuneus. Compared with the control group, no significant differences in ALFF were noted in the occult SDCP group. With the motor cortex as the region of interest, the occult SDCP group showed decreased connectivity regions in the bilateral fusiform and lingual gyrus, but increased connectivity regions in the contralateral precentral and postcentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, and the ipsilateral postcentral gyrus. With the thalamus being regarded as the region of interest, the occult SDCP group showed decreased connectivity regions in the bilateral basal ganglia, cingulate, and prefrontal cortex, but increased connectivity regions in the bilateral precentral gyrus, the contralateral cerebellum, and inferior temporal gyrus. Resting-state regional brain activities and FC changes in the patients with occult SDCP exhibited a special distribution pattern, which is consistent with the pathology of the disease. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  16. Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in haemodialysis patients from central Greece

    PubMed Central

    Mina, Paraskevi; Georgiadou, Sarah P; Rizos, Christos; Dalekos, George N; Rigopoulou, Eirini I

    2010-01-01

    AIM: To assess the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA and the prevalence of occult HBV infection in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients from Central Greece. METHODS: Sera from 366 ESRF patients attending five out of six dialysis units from Central Greece were investigated for HBV-DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Only serum samples with repeatedly detectable HBV-DNA were considered positive. IgG antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were tested by a third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) were tested by two commercially available ELISAs. RESULTS: HBV-DNA was detected in 15/366 patients (4.1%) and HBsAg in 20/366 (5.5%). The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 0.9% (3/346 HBsAg-negative patients). Occult HBV was not associated with a specific marker of HBV infection or anti-HCV or anti-HEV reactivity. There was no significant difference in HBV-DNA titres, demographic and biochemical features, between patients with occult HBV infection and those with HBsAg-positive chronic HBV infection. CONCLUSION: In central Greece, 4% of ESRF patients had detectable HBV-DNA, though in this setting, the prevalence of occult HBV seems to be very low (0.9%). PMID:20066742

  17. Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in haemodialysis patients from central Greece.

    PubMed

    Mina, Paraskevi; Georgiadou, Sarah P; Rizos, Christos; Dalekos, George N; Rigopoulou, Eirini I

    2010-01-14

    To assess the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA and the prevalence of occult HBV infection in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients from Central Greece. Sera from 366 ESRF patients attending five out of six dialysis units from Central Greece were investigated for HBV-DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Only serum samples with repeatedly detectable HBV-DNA were considered positive. IgG antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were tested by a third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) were tested by two commercially available ELISAs. HBV-DNA was detected in 15/366 patients (4.1%) and HBsAg in 20/366 (5.5%). The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 0.9% (3/346 HBsAg-negative patients). Occult HBV was not associated with a specific marker of HBV infection or anti-HCV or anti-HEV reactivity. There was no significant difference in HBV-DNA titres, demographic and biochemical features, between patients with occult HBV infection and those with HBsAg-positive chronic HBV infection. In central Greece, 4% of ESRF patients had detectable HBV-DNA, though in this setting, the prevalence of occult HBV seems to be very low (0.9%).

  18. [MRI findings and pathological features of occult breast cancer].

    PubMed

    Zhang, J J; Yang, X T; Du, X S; Zhang, J X; Hou, L N; Niu, J L

    2018-01-23

    Objective: To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and clinicopathological features of primary lesions in patients with occult breast cancer (OBC). Methods: The imaging reports from the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System in 2013 were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the morphology and the time signal intensity curve (TIC) of breast lesions in patients with OBC. The clinical and pathological characteristics of these patients were also included. Results: A total of 34 patients were enrolled. Among these patients, 24 patients underwent modified radical mastectomy and 18 of them had primary breast carcinoma in pathological sections. MRI detected 17 cases of primary lesions, including six masse lesions with a diameter of 0.6-1.2 cm (average 0.9 cm), and 11 non-mass lesions with four linear distributions, three segmental distributions, three focal distributions, and one regions distribution. Five patients had TIC typeⅠprimary lesions, ten had TIC type Ⅱ primary lesions, and two had TIC type Ⅲ primary lesions. Among all 34 cases, 23 of them had complete results of immunohistochemistry: 11 estrogen receptor (ER) positive lesions (47.8%), tenprogesterone receptor (PR) positive lesions (43.5%), seven human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) positive lesions (30.4%), and 20high expression(>14%) of Ki-67 (87.0%). The proportion of type luminal A was 4.3%, type luminal B was 43.5%, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) was 30.4%, and HER-2 over expression accounted for 21.7%. Conclusions: The primary lesions of OBC usually manifested as small mass lesions, or focal, linear or segmental distribution of non-mass lesions. The positive rate of ER and PR was low, but the positive rate of HER-2 and the proliferation index of Ki-67 was high. Type luminal B is the most common molecular subtype.

  19. Do X-ray-occult fractures play a role in chronic pain following a whiplash injury?

    PubMed

    Hertzum-Larsen, Rasmus; Petersen, Henrik; Kasch, Helge; Bendix, Tom

    2014-08-01

    Whiplash trauma in motor vehicle accidents (MVA) may involve various painful soft tissue damages, but weeks/months later a minority of victims still suffers from various long-lasting and disabling symptoms, whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). The etiology is currently unknown, but X-ray-occult fractures may be one cause in some cases. The purpose of this prospective study was to examine the association between occult fractures, as seen on bone single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), with neck-, head- and arm pain. An inception cohort of 107 patients presenting with acute whiplash symptoms following an MVA was invited to have a cervical SPECT shortly post injury and again 6 months later. Associations between occult fractures and pain levels at baseline, 6 and 12 months of follow-up were analyzed. Eighty-eight patients had baseline SPECT performed at median 15 days (range 3-28) post injury, but only 49 patients accepted to have the follow-up SPECT at 6 months. Abnormal SPECT, defined as minimum one area of focal uptake, was seen in 32 patients at baseline, reflecting an occult fracture. Occult fractures were not associated with pain levels, neither at baseline nor at follow-up. Occult fractures do not seem to play a role for development of chronic pain after whiplash.

  20. Occult infection related hepatitis B surface antigen variants showing lowered secretion capacity

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Hong; Lee, Seoung-Ae; Won, You-Sub; Lee, HyunJoo; Kim, Bum-Joon

    2015-01-01

    AIM: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatitis B virus (HBV) occult infection of genotype C. METHODS: A total of 10 types of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) variants from a Korean occult cohort were used. After a complete HBV genome plasmid mutated such that it does not express HBsAg and plasmid encoding, each HBsAg variant was transiently co-transfected into HuH-7 cells. The secretion capacity and intracellular expression of the HBV virions and HBsAgs in their respective variants were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays and commercial HBsAg enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. RESULTS: All variants exhibited lower levels of HBsAg secretion into the medium compared with the wild type. In particular, in eight of the ten variants, very low levels of HBsAg secretion that were similar to the negative control were detected. In contrast, most variants (9/10) exhibited normal virion secretion capacities comparable with, or even higher than, the wild type. This provided new insight into the intrinsic nature of occult HBV infection, which leads to HBsAg sero-negativeness but has horizontal infectivity. Furthermore, most variants generated higher reactive oxidative species production than the wild type. This finding provides potential links between occult HBV infection and liver disease progression. CONCLUSION: The presently obtained data indicate that deficiency in the secretion capacity of HBsAg variants may have a pivotal function in the occult infections of HBV genotype C. PMID:25684944

  1. Somatic alterations of the serine/threonine kinase LKB1 gene in squamous cell (SCC) and large cell (LCC) lung carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Strazisar, Mojca; Mlakar, Vid; Rott, Tomaz; Glavac, Damjan

    2009-05-01

    Somatic LKB1 serine/threonine kinase alterations are rare in sporadic cancers, with the exception lung adenocarcinoma, but no mutations in squamous cell or large cell primary carcinoma were discovered. We screened the LKB1 gene in 129 primary nonsmall cell lung carcinomas, adjacent healthy lung tissue, and control blood samples. Forty-five percent of nonsmall cell lung tumors harbored either intron or exon alterations. We identified R86G, F354L, Y272Y and three polymorphisms: 290+36G/T, 386+156G/T, and 862+145C/T (novel). R86G (novel) and F354L mutations were found in six squamous cell carcinomas and three large cell cancer carcinomas, but not in the adjacent healthy tissue or controls samples. The F354L mutation was found in advanced squamous cell carcinomas with elevated COX-2 expression, rare P53, and no K-RAS mutation. Results indicate that the LKB1 gene is changed in a certain proportion of nonsmall cell lung tumors, predominately in advanced squamous lung carcinoma. Inactivation of the gene takes place via the C-terminal domain and could be related to mechanisms influencing tumor initiation, differentiation, and metastasis.

  2. ASPIICS/PROBA-3 formation flying solar coronagraph: Stray light analysis and optimization of the occulter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Landini, F.; Mazzoli, A.; Venet, M.; Vivès, S.; Romoli, M.; Lamy, P.; Massone, G.

    2017-11-01

    The "Association de Satellites Pour l'Imagerie et l'Interferometrie de la Couronne Solaire", ASPIICS, selected by ESA for the PROBA-3 mission, heralds the next generation of coronagraph for solar research, exploiting formation flying to gain access to the inner corona under eclipse-like conditions for long periods of time. A detailed description of the ASPIICS instrument and of its scientific objectives can be found in [1]. ASPIICS is distributed on the two PROBA 3 spacecrafts (S/C) separated by 150 m. The coronagraph optical assembly is hosted by the "coronagraph S/C" protected from direct solar disk light by the occulting disk on the "occulter S/C". The most critical issue in the design of a solar coronagraph is the reduction of the stray light due to the diffraction and scattering of the solar disk light by the occulter, the aperture and the optics. In the present article, we deal with two of these issues: - The analysis of the stray light inside the telescope. - The optimization of the external occulter edge, in order to eliminate the Poisson spot behind the occulter and to lower the stray light level going through the entrance pupil of the telescope. This work was performed in the framework of the ESA STARTIGER program which took place at the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) during a 6-month period from September 2009 to March 2010. In general, it is a very complicated task to combine the above two stray light issues together in the simulation and design phase as it requires to consider the propagation inside the telescope of the light diffracted by the external occulter. Actually, the present literature only reports diffraction calculations performed for simple occulting systems (i.e., two disks and serrated disk). A more pragmatic approach, also driven by the tight schedule of the STARTIGER program, is to separate the two contributions, and perform two different stray light analyses. This paper is dedicated to the description of both analyses

  3. First Ionospheric Results From the MAVEN Radio Occultation Science Experiment (ROSE)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Withers, Paul; Felici, M.; Mendillo, M.; Moore, L.; Narvaez, C.; Vogt, M. F.; Jakosky, B. M.

    2018-05-01

    Radio occultation observations of the ionosphere of Mars can span the full vertical extent of the ionosphere, in contrast to in situ measurements that rarely sample the main region of the ionosphere. However, most existing radio occultation electron density profiles from Mars were acquired without clear context for the solar forcing or magnetospheric conditions, which presents challenges for the interpretation of these profiles. Here we present 48 ionospheric electron density profiles acquired by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN) Radio Occultation Science Experiment (ROSE) from 5 July 2016 to 27 June 2017 at solar zenith angles of 54° to 101°. Latitude coverage is excellent, and comprehensive context for the interpretation of these profiles is provided by other MAVEN instruments. The profiles show a 9-km increase in ionospheric peak altitude in January 2017 that is associated with a lower atmospheric dust storm, variations in electron densities in the M1 layer that cannot be explained by variations in the solar soft X-ray flux, and topside electron densities that are larger in strongly magnetized regions than in weakly magnetized regions. MAVEN Radio Occultation Science Experiment electron density profiles are publicly available on the NASA Planetary Data System.

  4. Rate of regional nodal metastases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the immunosuppressed patient.

    PubMed

    McLaughlin, Eamon J; Miller, Lauren; Shin, Thuzar M; Sobanko, Joseph F; Cannady, Steven B; Miller, Christopher J; Newman, Jason G

    Immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have an increased risk of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) with metastatic potential. This study sought to determine the rate of regional lymph node involvement in a large cohort of solid organ transplant patients with cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. A retrospective chart review was performed on solid organ transplant patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma treated at a tertiary academic medical center from 2005 to 2015. 130 solid organ transplant patients underwent resection of 383 head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The average age of the patient was 63. Seven patients (5%) developed regional lymph node metastases (3 parotid, 4 cervical lymph nodes). The mean time from primary tumor resection to diagnosis of regional lymphatic disease was 6.7months. Six of these patients underwent definitive surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiation; one patient underwent definitive chemoradiation. 6 of the 7 patients died of disease progression with a mean survival of 15months. The average follow up time was 3years (minimum 6months). Solid organ transplant recipients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck develop regional lymph node metastasis at a rate of 5%. Regional lymph node metastasis in this population has a poor prognosis and requires aggressive management and surveillance. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Identification of occult tumors by whole-specimen mapping in solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Park, Seog Yun; Jung, Yuh-S; Ryu, Chang Hwan; Lee, Chang Yoon; Lee, You Jin; Lee, Eun Kyung; Kim, Seok-Ki; Kim, Tae Sung; Kim, Tae Hyun; Jang, Jeyun; Park, Daeyoon; Dong, Seung Myung; Kang, Jae-Goo; Lee, Jin Soo; Ryu, Junsun

    2015-08-01

    We undertook this study to estimate an accurate incidence and spread patterns of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in patients with a preoperative diagnosis of solitary PTC by using whole-specimen mapping of all specimens after a total thyroidectomy. Enrolled prospectively in this whole-thyroid mapping study are 82 consecutive patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy under a preoperative diagnosis of solitary PTC. All thyroidectomy specimens were serially sectioned in 2 mm thickness and whole-thyroid mapping was carried out for additional foci of occult PTC. The frequencies of occult lesions detected in the whole and contralateral lobe were determined, and clinicopathologic factors associated with multifocality were assessed. Whole-thyroid mapping revealed 66 occult PTC lesions missed by preoperative ultrasound in 37 (45.1%) of the 82 patients. The great majority (92.5%) of the occult PTC was smaller than 3 mm in size and 25 patients (30.5%) had contralateral lesions. We found that the male sex was an independent predictor of multifocality (odds ratio (OR), 3.00; 95% CI, 1.11-8.14), adjusting for preoperative findings. Analysis with pathologic parameters showed that the male sex (OR, 5.03; 95% CI, 1.68-15.08) and extrathyroidal extensions (OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.03-8.95) were associated with multifocal PTC. However, none of the clinicopathologic factors evaluated predicted contralateral PTC. Our study demonstrates the diagnostic limitations of ultrasound for the detection of multifocal PTC and the need to consider the possibility of occult lesions in the management of solitary PTC, especially in male patients. © 2015 Society for Endocrinology.

  6. The Regulus occultation light curve and the real atmosphere of Venus

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Veverka, J.; Wasserman, L.

    1974-01-01

    An inversion of the light curve observed during the July 7, 1959, occultation of Regulus by Venus leads to the conclusion that the light curve cannot be reconciled with models of the Venus atmosphere based on spacecraft observations. The event occurred in daylight and, under the subsequently difficult observation conditions, it seems likely that the Regulus occultation light curve is marred by a systematic errors in spite of the competence of the observers involved.

  7. Winds and the occultation experiment. [for Venus and Mars atmospheric parameters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gross, S. H.

    1974-01-01

    A spacecraft orbiting about another planet, such as Mars or Venus, may be used to obtain data about the pressure, density, and temperature fields over the planet from multiple occultations if the orbit precesses or retrogresses. Under certain conditions successive occultations will provide mean dynamic information such as wind speeds over the time and spacing intervals. It is shown that data concerning winds may be found by comparing refractivity information rather than pressure or temperature.

  8. Outcomes after primary chemoradiotherapy for N3 (>6 cm) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after an FDG-PET--guided neck management policy.

    PubMed

    Adams, Gerard; Porceddu, Sandro V; Pryor, David I; Panizza, Benedict; Foote, Matthew; Rowan, Ann; Burmeister, Bryan

    2014-08-01

    The purpose of this study was to assess whether a positron emission tomography (PET)-directed policy remains appropriate for managing neck nodes (N3; >6 cm) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). All patients with N3 (>6 cm) HNSCC treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) at our institution between 2005 and 2012 were included in the analysis. Patients underwent PET assessment before and 12 weeks after CRT. Neck dissections were performed for PET-avid residual nodal abnormalities after complete response at the primary site. Rate of isolated nodal failure (INF) was the primary outcome. Median follow-up from diagnosis for 33 patients was 30 months (range, 6-76 months). INF occurred in 2 patients (6%) with neck dissections performed in 4 cases (12%). First failure was predominantly distant metastatic (10; 30%). The rate of INF remains low when following a PET-directed neck management policy after definitive CRT for N3 (>6 cm) HNSCC. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. External occulter laboratory demonstrator for the forthcoming formation flying coronagraphs.

    PubMed

    Landini, Federico; Vives, Sébastien; Venet, Mélanie; Romoli, Marco; Guillon, Christophe; Fineschi, Silvano

    2011-12-20

    The design and optimization of the external occulter geometry is one of the most discussed topics among solar coronagraph designers. To improve the performance of future coronagraphs and to stretch their inner fields of view toward the solar limb, the new concept of coronagraphs in formation flight has been introduced in the scientific debate. Solar coronagraphs in formation flight require several mechanical and technological constraints to be met, mainly due to the large dimension of the occulter and to the spacecraft's reciprocal alignment. The occulter edge requires special attention to minimize diffraction while being compatible with the handling and integrating of large delicate space components. Moreover, it is practically impossible to set up a full-scale model for laboratory tests. This article describes the design and laboratory tests on a demonstrator for a coronagraph to be operated in formation flight. The demonstrator is based on the principle of the linear edge, thus the presented results cannot be directly extrapolated to the case of the flying circular occulter. Nevertheless, we are able to confirm the results of other authors investigating on smaller coronagraphs and provide further information on the geometry and tolerances of the optimization system. The described work is one of the results of the ESA STARTIGER program on formation flying coronagraphs ["The STARTIGER's demonstrators: toward a new generation of formation flying solar coronagraphs," in 2010 International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO) (2010), paper 39].

  10. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulates the production of squamous cell carcinoma antigen in normal squamous cells.

    PubMed

    Numa, F; Takeda, O; Nakata, M; Nawata, S; Tsunaga, N; Hirabayashi, K; Suminami, Y; Kato, H; Hamanaka, S

    1996-01-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen, a tumor marker of squamous cell carcinoma, is also increased in several nonmalignant skin lesions, e.g. pemphigus. The aim of the present investigation was to determine if tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), one of the important environmental factors, stimulated the production of SCC antigen in the normal squamous cells. The exposure of normal human epidermal keratinocytes to TNF-alpha (100 IU/ml) for 72 h greatly increased the SCC antigen production. The stimulatory effect of TNF-alpha (1,000 IU/ml) on the production of SCC antigen was also observed in the normal squamous epithelium tissue. These results would be helpful for understanding the increase of SCC antigen in several nonmalignant skin disorders.

  11. Is a Preoperative Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for Second Primary Cancer Detection in Head and Neck Cancer Necessary? Ten-year Registry Data.

    PubMed

    Heo, Gyeong Mi; Kim, Mi Hee; Kim, Jin Hwan; Rho, Young Soo; Shin, Woon Geon

    2016-07-25

    In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, second primary gastrointestinal tumors are not uncommon. However, it is unclear whether a screening endoscopy is needed for detecting gastrointestinal neoplasm in patients with head and neck cancer. Therefore, we analyzed the prevalence and independent risk factors for second primary gastrointestinal neoplasm in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. A consecutive series of 328 patients with primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy were included using our registry. An age- and sex-matched group of 328 control subjects was enrolled. We assessed risk factors of synchronous gastrointestinal cancer. The prevalence of esophageal cancer with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.5% vs. 0.0%, p=0.011). An age of 54 years or more (OR, 1.033; 95% CI, 1.008-1.059; p=0.009) and male gender (OR, 4.974; 95% CI, 1.648-15.013; p=0.004) were risk factors for concomitant colorectal cancer or adenomas in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Preoperative colonoscopy can be recommended for detecting synchronous second primary colorectal lesions in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with male sex regardless of age, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy is necessary in all head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients for detecting esophageal cancer.

  12. Detection of occult abscesses with /sup 111/In-labeled leukocytes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Martin, W.R.; Gurevich, N.; Goris, M.L.

    1979-07-01

    Clinicians are frequently faced with the problem of a patient in whom they suspect an occult abscess. In such a situation, there may be no clinical signs to localize the site of the abscess and often extensive investigations do not provide additional useful information. This report illustrates the efficacy of autologous leukocytes labeled with /sup 111/In oxine in detecting the site and extent of occult abscesses in two patients. The technique of in vitro lebeling of leukocytes is simple and has been mastered by all of our nuclear medicine technologists.

  13. Prediction of stellar occultations by distant solar system bodies in the Gaia era

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Desmars, Josselin; Camargo, Julio; Sicardy, Bruno; Braga-Ribas, Felipe; Vieira-Martins, Roberto; Assafin, Marcelo; Bérard, Diane; Benedetti-Rossi, Gustavo

    2018-04-01

    Stellar occultations are a unique technique to access physical characteristics of distant solar system objects from the ground. They allow the measure of the size and the shape at kilometric level, the detection of tenuous atmospheres (few nanobars), and the investigation of close vicinity (satellites, rings) of Transneptunian objects and Centaurs. This technique is made successful thanks to accurate predictions of occultations. Accuracy of the predictions depends on the uncertainty in the position of the occulted star and the object's orbit. The Gaia stellar catalogue (Gaia Collaboration (2017)) now allows to get accurate astrometric stellar positions (to the mas level). The main uncertainty remains on the orbit. In this context, we now take advantage of the NIMA method (Desmars et al.(2015)) for the orbit determination and of the Gaia DR1 catalogue for the astrometry. In this document, we show how the orbit determination is improved by reducing current and some past observations with Gaia DR1. Moreover, we also use more than 45 past positive occultations observed in the 2009-2017 period to derive very accurate astrometric positions only depending on the position of the occulted stars (about few mas with Gaia DR1). We use the case of (10199) Chariklo as an illustration. The main limitation lies in the imprecision of the proper motions which is going to be solved by the Gaia DR2 release.

  14. Successful radioimmunotherapy for micro and occult metastases in a SCID mouse model

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yokoyama, K.; Koshida, K.; Kinuya, S.

    1996-05-01

    It is often addressed that the most appropriate candidate, theoretically, for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is not bulky tumor burden but for micro or occult metastatic foci, The major obstacles in the verification for veracious efficacy of RIT had been clinically and preclinically the difficulty in obtaining such a model. We have developed the model of testicular tumor (primary site) with visible small metastases to the lymph nodes (LNs) and non-visible (occult) lesions to distant organs in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. And thus, the suppression of minute tumor depositions after RIT was evaluated. One week after hemilateral intratesticular injection of 2more » million of HELA Hep 2 cells that expressed placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), the group of the mice were treated with a single dose of I-131 labeled HPMS-1, anti-PLAP MoAb or with saline control. The I-131 labeled HPMS-1 (5.6 MBq / 150 {mu}g) was intravenously administered and at 2 weeks after, the testis, retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal LNs and other gans were removed. For the control group, the testicular tumor and LNs metastases were found in 100% and 86% of the mice. The metastases in the liver and lung were not observed by histological examination but in all mouse samples, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assay could identify the human {beta}-globin gene derived from HeLa cells, indicating the presence of definitive metastases. For the treated group, the average testicular tumor weight was significantly reduced by the factor of 2.4 (132 mg vs 311 mg, p<0.01). The LNs metastases were even more distinctively suppressed by the factor of 45.7 (13 mg vs 599 mg, p,0.05). Remarkably, the PCR products from the occult metastases were almost completely controlled; 97% suppression found for the liver and 81% for the lung. Thus, we conclude that using I-131 as a label, RIT is justified to used for targeting and killing minute tumor foci.« less

  15. Cytology and direct HPV testing on Fine-Needle aspirates from cervical lymph node metastases of patients with Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma or occult primary.

    PubMed

    Rollo, Francesca; Dona', Maria Gabriella; Pellini, Raul; Pichi, Barbara; Marandino, Ferdinando; Covello, Renato; Benevolo, Maria

    2018-06-06

    Cervical lymph node Fine Needle Aspirates (FNAs) may represent the only specimens available for an initial characterization of patients with lymphadenopathy. Morphology and HPV-DNA presence were evaluated in FNAs collected from patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC) or cancer of unknown primary (CUP). FNA HPV results were compared with those of the respective formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary cancer. Liquid-based cytology was performed on FNAs collected in PreservCyt. HPV-DNA was analyzed by the INNO-LiPA HPV genotyping Extra II on both cytological and FFPE samples. The CINtec ® Histology Kit was used to assess p16 expression in cancer tissues. Forty-seven FNAs were collected from OPSCC and 16 from CUP patients. Cancer cells were found in 35/47 cases (74.5%), while 11 (23.4%) showed only necrosis, and 1 (2.1%) was negative for malignancy. HPV-DNA was detected in 30/47 FNAs (63.8%), mostly harboring HPV16 (90.0%). An excellent agreement was observed between the FNA and corresponding FFPE HPV status (raw agreement: 97.5%; Cohen K: 0.94). The HPV test result on the necrotic FNAs completely matched that of the respective primary cancer. FNA HPV testing correctly identified 26/27 HPV-driven OPSCCs (96.3%). HPV was detected in 9/16 FNAs (56.2%) from CUP patients. HPV status of metastatic cervical lymph node FNAs reflects that of the corresponding primary OPSCCs even when cell integrity in the FNA is not preserved and only necrotic debris are present. In patients with initial CUP, HPV-positivity on the FNA may guide the diagnostic workup and therapeutic management, since it suggests an oropharyngeal origin. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  16. CCR7 and CXCR4 Expression in Primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Nodal Metastases – a Clinical and Immunohistochemical Study

    PubMed Central

    Al-Jokhadar, Maya; Al-Mandily, Ahmad; Zaid, Khaled; Maalouf, Elie Azar

    2017-01-01

    Background: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are common head and neck malignancies demonstrating lymph node LN involvement. Recently chemokine receptor overxpression has been reported in many cancers. Of particular interest, CCR7 appears to be a strong mediator of LN metastases, while CXCR4 may mediate distant metastases. Any relations between their expression in primary HNSCCs and metastatic lymph nodes need to be clarified. Aims: To investigate CCR7 andCXCR4 expression in primary HNSCCs of all tumor sizes, clinical stages and histological grades, as well as involved lymph nodes, then make comparisons, also with control normal oral epithelium. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of primary HNSCCs, 77 others of metastasi-positive lymph nodes, and 10 of control normal oral epithelial tissues. Sections were conventionally stained with H&E and immunohistochemically with monoclonal anti-CCR7 and monoclonal anti-CXCR4 antibodies. Positive cells were counted under microscopic assessment in four fields (X40) per case. Results: There was no variation among primary HNSCC tumors staining positive for CCR7 and CXCR4 with tumor size of for CCR7 with lymph node involvement. However, a difference was noted between primary HNSCC tumors stained by CXCR4 with a single as compared to more numerous node involvement. CXCR4 appear to vary with the clinical stagebut no links were noted with histological grades. Staining for primary HNSCC tumors and metastatic lymph nodes correlated. PMID:28547946

  17. Occult pneumothorax in trauma patients: should this be sought in the focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination?

    PubMed

    Tam, Michael M K

    2005-01-01

    At present, CT scan is the gold standard for detecting occult traumatic pneumothorax not apparent on supine chest X-ray radiograph. Recently there were suggestions to expand focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) to include thoracic ultrasound for detecting pneumothorax. The aim of the present study is to determine the incidence of occult pneumothorax (as shown by CT) in the subgroup of trauma patients undergoing FAST. Review of all trauma patients with FAST done from 1 June 2001 to 31 October 2002. Incidence of occult pneumothorax as diagnosed by CT was determined. Patients were not counted as having true occult pneumothorax if they had chest drains inserted before arrival or imaging studies. Selected clinical findings were tested for association with occult pneumothorax. In total, 143 patients underwent FAST, of whom 137 (95.8%) had chest X-ray examination performed. Of the 137 patients 59 required CT abdomen and/or thorax. Occult pneumothorax was found in three patients (2.1%). A history of thorax and/or abdominal injury plus one or more of: (i) mechanisms potentially causing major trauma; (ii) abnormal chest examination; and (iii) chest X-ray radiograph abnormality in the absence of pneumothorax, was significantly associated with the presence of occult pneumothorax (P = 0.03, Fisher's exact test; sensitivity: 100%; specificity: 71%; likelihood ratio: 3.42). The incidence of occult pneumothorax in the subgroup of trauma patients undergoing FAST is low. It implies that routine screening for its presence by adding thoracic ultrasound to FAST is unnecessary. Identifying those at risk of occult pneumothorax for further investigation appeared feasible.

  18. Radiosensitive orbital metastasis as presentation of occult colonic adenocarcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ludmir, Ethan B; McCall, Shannon J; Czito, Brian G; Palta, Manisha

    2014-09-19

    An 82-year-old man presented with progressive right frontal headaches. The patient's history was significant for benign polyps on surveillance colonoscopy 2 years prior, without high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma. MRI revealed an enhancing lesion arising within the superomedial aspect of the right orbit. Lesion biopsy demonstrated histological appearance and immunophenotype suggestive of colonic adenocarcinoma. Staging positron emission tomography/CT showed visceral metastases and diffuse activity in the posterior rectosigmoid, consistent with metastatic colon cancer. Treatment of the orbital lesion with external beam radiotherapy to 30 Gy resulted in significant palliation of the patient's headaches. The patient expired 2 months following treatment completion due to disease progression. Orbital metastasis as the initial presentation of an occult colorectal primary lesion is exceedingly rare, and occurred in this patient despite surveillance colonoscopy. Radiotherapy remains an efficacious modality for treatment of orbital metastases. 2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

  19. Local and Regional Spread of Primary Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Desai, Shilpa J; Pruzan, Noelle L; Geske, Michael J; Jeng, Bennie H; Bloomer, Michele M; Vagefi, M Reza

    2016-04-06

    Two cases of biopsy-proven conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that developed local and regional spread are described. The cases involved a 65-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man who were initially treated at outside institutions for SCC of the conjunctiva. The patients did not have a history of immune compromise. The female patient presented with direct extension into the lacrimal gland but deferred recommended exenteration. Despite eventual exenteration, she developed metastasis to a neck node 6 months later, which was treated with radiotherapy. The male patient presented with local recurrence and a parotid node metastasis treated with exenteration, parotidectomy, selective neck dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy. Review of the outside pathology of both cases revealed positive tumor margins at the time of original resection. Local control of conjunctival SCC is of critical importance to reduce the risk of orbital extension and regional spread.

  20. Results from the 2010 Feb 14 and July 4 Pluto Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Young, Leslie; Sicardy, B.; Widemann, T.; Brucker, M. J.; Buie, M. W.; Fraser, B.; Van Heerden, H.; Howell, R. R.; Lonergan, K.; Olkin, C. B.; Reitsema, H. J.; Richter, A.; Sepersky, T.; Wasserman, L. H.; Young, E. F.

    2010-10-01

    The Portable High-speed Occultation Telescope (PHOT) group observed two occultations by Pluto in 2010. The first, of a I=9.3 magnitudue star on 2010 Feb 14, was organized by the Meudon occultation group, with the PHOT group as collaborators. For this bright but low-elevation event, we deployed to three sites in Europe: Obs. Haute Provence, France (0.8-m; L. Young, H. Reitsema), Leopold Figl, Austria (1.5-m; E. Young), and Apline Astrovillage, Lu, Switzerland (0.36-m; C. Olkin, L. Wasserman). We obtained a lightcurve at Lu under clear conditions, which will be combined with two other lightcurves from the Meudon group, from Sisteron and Pic du Midi, France. We observed the second Pluto occultation, of a I=13.2 star on 2010 July 4 UT, from four sites in South Africa: with our portable telescope near Upington (0.36-m; M. Buie, L. Wasserman), the Boyden telescope in Bloemfontein (1.5-m; L. Young, M. Brucker), the Innes telescope in Johannesburg (0.67-m; T. Sepersky, B. Fraser), and the telescope at Aloe Ridge north of Johannesburg (0.62-m; R. Howell, K. Lonergan, A. Richter). Upington was cloudy, Boyden had heavy scattered clouds, and Innes suffered from haze and telescope mechanical problems. A lightcurve was obtained from Aloe Ridge under clear conditions. Data was also obtained by Karl-Ludwig Bath & Thomas Sauer at Hakos, Namibia and by Berto Monard of ASSA near Pretoria, South Africa. The length of the Aloe Ridge chord suggests it is nearly central. These observations give us four contiguous years in which we observed one or more Pluto occultations, providing constraints on the seasonal evolution of Pluto's atmosphere. Thanks are due to Marcelo Assafin and Jim Elliot for sharing predictions prior to the July event. This work was supported, in part, by NASA PAST NNX08A062G.

  1. Ultrasonography in diagnosing clinically occult groin hernia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Kwee, Robert M; Kwee, Thomas C

    2018-05-14

    To provide an updated systematic review on the performance of ultrasonography (US) in diagnosing clinically occult groin hernia. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE and Embase. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed. Accuracy data of US in detecting clinically occult groin hernia were extracted. Positive predictive value (PPV) was pooled with a random effects model. For studies investigating the performance of US in hernia type classification (inguinal vs femoral), correctly classified proportion was assessed. Sixteen studies were included. In the two studies without verification bias, sensitivities were 29.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 15.1-47.5%] and 90.9% (95% CI, 70.8-98.9%); specificities were 90.0% (95% CI, 80.5-95.9%) and 90.6% (95% CI, 83.0-95.6%). Verification bias or a variation of it (i.e. study limited to only subjects with definitive proof of disease status) was present in all other studies. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) were not pooled. PPV ranged from 58.8 to 100%. Pooled PPV, based on data from ten studies with low risk of bias and no applicability concerns with respect to patient selection, was 85.6% (95% CI, 76.5-92.7%). Proportion of correctly classified hernias, based on data from four studies, ranged between 94.4% and 99.1%. Sensitivity, specificity and NPV of US in detecting clinically occult groin hernia cannot reliably be determined based on current evidence. Further studies are necessary. Accuracy may strongly depend on the examiner's skills. PPV is high. Inguinal and femoral hernias can reliably be differentiated by US. • Sensitivity, specificity and NPV of ultrasound in detecting clinically occult groin hernia cannot reliably be determined based on current evidence. • Accuracy may strongly depend on the examiner's skills. • PPV of US in detection of clinically occult groin hernia is high [pooled PPV of 85.6% (95% confidence interval, 76.5-92.7%)]. • US has very high

  2. Occult Pelvic Lymph Node Involvement in Bladder Cancer: Implications for Definitive Radiation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Goldsmith, Benjamin; Baumann, Brian C.; He, Jiwei

    2014-03-01

    Purpose: To inform radiation treatment planning for clinically staged, node-negative bladder cancer patients by identifying clinical factors associated with the presence and location of occult pathologic pelvic lymph nodes. Methods and Materials: The records of patients with clinically staged T1-T4N0 urothelial carcinoma of the bladder undergoing radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy at a single institution were reviewed. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between preoperative clinical variables and occult pathologic pelvic or common iliac lymph nodes. Percentages of patient with involved lymph node regions entirely encompassed within whole bladder (perivesicular nodal region), small pelvic (perivesicular, obturator, internal iliac, andmore » external iliac nodal regions), and extended pelvic clinical target volume (CTV) (small pelvic CTV plus common iliac regions) were calculated. Results: Among 315 eligible patients, 81 (26%) were found to have involved pelvic lymph nodes at the time of surgery, with 38 (12%) having involved common iliac lymph nodes. Risk of occult pathologically involved lymph nodes did not vary with clinical T stage. On multivariate analysis, the presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on preoperative biopsy was significantly associated with occult pelvic nodal involvement (odds ratio 3.740, 95% confidence interval 1.865-7.499, P<.001) and marginally associated with occult common iliac nodal involvement (odds ratio 2.307, 95% confidence interval 0.978-5.441, P=.056). The percentages of patients with involved lymph node regions entirely encompassed by whole bladder, small pelvic, and extended pelvic CTVs varied with clinical risk factors, ranging from 85.4%, 95.1%, and 100% in non-muscle-invasive patients to 44.7%, 71.1%, and 94.8% in patients with muscle-invasive disease and biopsy LVI. Conclusions: Occult pelvic lymph node rates are substantial for all clinical subgroups, especially patients with LVI on biopsy

  3. Small cell type neuroendocrine carcinoma colliding with squamous cell carcinoma at esophagus

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Luoluo; Sun, Xun; Zou, Yabin; Meng, Xiangwei

    2014-01-01

    Collision tumor is an extremely rare tumor which defined as the concrescence of two distinct primaries neoplasms. We report here a case of collision tumor at lower third esophagus composed of small cell type neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), which is an very rare, highly aggressive and poorly prognostic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC). In our case, pathologically, the small cell carcinoma display the characteristic of small, round, ovoid or spindle-shaped tumor cells with scant cytoplasm, which colliding with a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated positive activities for CD56, synaptophysin, 34βE12, CK 5/6, ki-67 (70%-80%), but negative for CD99, chromogranin A, and TTF-1. Accurate diagnosis was made base on these findings. PMID:24817981

  4. Finding Terrestrial Planets Using External Occulters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Heap, Sara

    2007-01-01

    In order to identify a detected exoplanet as an Earth-like (habitable) planet, we must obtain its spectrum to verify that its atmosphere shows evidence of water vapor. We argue that a regular, optical telescope combined with a large occulter to block light from the star offers the most promising, cost-effective way to detect and characterize exoplanets.

  5. Technical Note: A Time-Dependent I(sub 0) Correction for Solar Occultation Instruments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burton, Sharon P.; Thomason, Larry W.; Zawodny, Joseph M.

    2009-01-01

    Solar occultation has proven to be a reliable technique for the measurement of atmospheric constituents in the stratosphere. NASA's Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiments (SAGE, SAGE II, and SAGE III) together have provided over 25 years of quality solar occultation data, a data record which has been an important resource for the scientific exploration of atmospheric composition and climate change. Herein, we describe an improvement to the processing of SAGE data that corrects for a previously uncorrected short-term timedependence in the calibration function. The variability relates to the apparent rotation of the scanning track with respect to the face of the sun due to the motion of the satellite. Correcting for this effect results in a decrease in the measurement noise in the Level 1 line-of-sight optical depth measurements of approximately 40% in the middle and upper stratospheric SAGE II and III where it has been applied. The technique is potentially useful for any scanning solar occultation instrument, and suggests further improvement for future occultation measurements if a full disk imaging system can be included.

  6. Software and hardware complex for observation of star occultations by asteroids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karbovsky, V.; Kleshchonok, V.; Buromsky, M.

    2017-12-01

    The preparation to the program for observation of star occultations by asteroids on the AZT-2 telescope was started in 2016. A new method for registration of occultation with a CCD camera in the synchronous transfer mode was proposed and developed. The special program was written to control the CCD camera and record images during such observations. The speed of image transfer can vary within wide limits, which makes it possible to carry out observations in a wide range of stellar magnitudes. The telescope AZT-2 is used, which has the largest mirror diameter in Kiev (D = 0.7 m. F = 10.5 m). A 3-fold optical reducer was produced, which providing a field of view with a CCD camera Apogee Alta U47 10 arcminutes and the equivalent focal length of the telescope 3.2 meters. The results of test observations are presented. The program is implemented jointly by the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Astronomical Observatory of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Regular observations of star occultation by asteroids are planned with the help of this complex. % Z https://occultations.org Kleshchonok,V.V.,Buromsky,M. I. 2005, Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies, 21, 5, 405 Kleshchonok, V.V., Buromskii, N. I., Khat’ko,I.V.2008, Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies, 24, 2, 114

  7. Occult Hepatitis B Virus Among the Patients With Abnormal Alanine Transaminase

    PubMed Central

    Makvandi, Manoochehr; Neisi, Niloofar; Khalafkhany, Davod; Makvandi, Kamyar; Hajiani, Eskandar; Shayesteh, Ali Akbar; Masjedi Zadeh, Abdolrahim; Sina, Amir Hosein; Hamidifard, Mojtaba; Rasti, Mojtaba; Aryan, Ehsan; Ahmadi, Kambiz; Yad Yad, Mohammad Jafar

    2014-01-01

    Background: The occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the sera or in the liver biopsy and the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by serological test. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the occult HBV infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and determine HBV genotyping among the patients with abnormal alanine transaminase (ALT) in Ahvaz city, Iran. Patients and Methods: The sera of 120 patients, 54 (45%) females and 66 (55%) males, with abnormal ALT 40-152 IU were collected. All the patients were negative for HBsAg for more than one year. The patients` sera were tested by PCR using primers specified for the S region of HBV. Then the positive PCR products were sequenced to determine HBV genotyping and phylogenic tree. Results: Of these 120 subjects, 12 (10%) patients including 6 (5%) males and 6 (5%) females were found positive for HBV DNA by PCR, which indicated the presence of occult HBV infection among these patients. The sequencing results revealed that genotype D was predominant with sub-genotyping D1 among OBI patients. Conclusions: Occult hepatitis B infection is remarkably prevalent in Ahvaz, Iran, and should be considered as a potential risk factor for the transmission of Hepatitis B Virus throughout the community by the carriers. PMID:25485052

  8. Outcome of Concurrent Occult Hemothorax and Pneumothorax in Trauma Patients Who Required Assisted Ventilation

    PubMed Central

    Mahmood, Ismail; Tawfeek, Zainab; El-Menyar, Ayman; Zarour, Ahmad; Afifi, Ibrahim; Kumar, Suresh; Latifi, Rifat; Al-Thani, Hassan

    2015-01-01

    Background. The management and outcomes of occult hemopneumothorax in blunt trauma patients who required mechanical ventilation are not well studied. We aimed to study patients with occult hemopneumothorax on mechanical ventilation who could be carefully managed without tube thoracostomy. Methods. Chest trauma patients with occult hemopneumothorax who were on mechanical ventilation were prospectively evaluated. The presence of hemopneumothorax was confirmed by CT scanning. Hospital length of stay, complications, and outcome were recorded. Results. A total of 56 chest trauma patients with occult hemopneumothorax who were on ventilatory support were included with a mean age of 36 ± 13 years. Hemopneumothorax was managed conservatively in 72% cases and 28% underwent tube thoracostomy as indicated. 29% of patients developed pneumonia, 16% had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and 7% died. Thickness of hemothorax, duration of mechanical ventilation, and development of ARDS were significantly associated with tube thoracostomy in comparison to no-chest tube group. Conclusions. The majority of occult hemopneumothorax can be carefully managed without tube thoracostomy in patients who required positive pressure ventilation. Tube thoracotomy could be restricted to those who had evidence of increase in the size of the hemothorax or pneumothorax on follow-up chest radiographs or developed respiratory compromise. PMID:25785199

  9. High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in pregnant and non-pregnant women.

    PubMed

    Xavier-Júnior, José Cândido C; Dufloth, Rozany M; do Vale, Diama B; Tavares, Thalita A; Zeferino, Luiz C

    2014-04-01

    To evaluate if the prevalence of cervical smear results varies between pregnant and non-pregnant women stratified by age group. Observational analytical study with a total sample of 1,336,180 pregnant and non-pregnant women, aged between 20 and 34 years, who underwent cervical cancer screening in the Primary Health Care of the national health system in the area of Campinas in Brazil during the period of 2005-2009. The source is the information system for cervical cancer screening. Data collected on abnormal cervical smears were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test and the magnitude of the association between pregnancy and high-grade squamous epithelial lesions was analyzed by odds ratio (OR) and estimated values with confidence intervals (CI) of 95%. 15,190 pregnant women and 395,961 non-pregnant women were analyzed and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Regardless of age, no statistical differences were observed for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion prevalence (OR 0.90; CI 0.66-1.23). Taking into account the five-year age groups, however, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was less prevalent in pregnant women aged 20-24 (OR 0.71; 0.54-0.95) and 25-29 years (OR 0.56; 0.35-0.89); also, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance was more prevalent in non-pregnant women aged 25-29 years (OR 0.72; 0.54-0.97). The study showed that the cytological prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was similar in pregnant and non-pregnant women, regardless of age. The results indicate that there are no reasons for specific approaches to cervical cancer screening for pregnant women. The examination should be carried out only on pregnant women who have not been tested according to current recommendations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Unsuspected Active Ulcerative Colitis in a Patient With Dermatomyositis: A Rare Association Detected on 18F-FDG PET/CT During the Search for an Occult Malignancy.

    PubMed

    Rayamajhi, Sampanna Jung; Gorla, Arun Kumar Reddy; Basher, Rajender Kumar; Sood, Ashwani; Mittal, Bhagwant Rai

    2017-01-01

    Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy with the characteristic features of skin rash and myopathy. We here present a known case of dermatomyositis evaluated with 18 F-FDG PET/CT for the presence of any occult malignancy. The scan was negative for the presence of any malignancy. However, it revealed multiple intensely FDG avid colonic strictures that were later proven on colonoscopic biopsy to be ulcerative colitis. Also, a well-known association of bilateral sacroilitis was simultaneously demonstrated on the scan. The present case demonstrates that 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging can serve as a one-stop shop imaging modality in dermatomyositis by facilitating detection of occult primary if any and by providing insight into other rare systemic associations.

  11. Radioimmunoguided surgery in primary colon cancer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nieroda, C.A.; Mojzisik, C.; Sardi, A.

    1990-01-01

    Radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS), the intraoperative use of a hand-held gamma detecting probe (GDP) to identify tissue containing radiolabeled monoclonal antibody (MAb), was performed upon 30 patients with primary colon carcinoma. Each patient received an intravenous injection of MAb B72.3 (1.0 to 0.25 mg) radiolabeled with {sup 125}I (5.0 to 1.0 mCi) 8 to 34 days before exploration. The GDP was used to measure radioactivity in colon tissue, tumor bed, nodal drainage areas, and areas of suspected metastases. Antibody localized to histologically documented tumor in 23 of 30 patients (77%). Tumor margins were more clearly defined in 20 of 30 patientsmore » (67%). GDP counts led to major alterations in surgical resection in five patients (17%) and changes in adjuvant therapy in four (14%). GDP counts identified occult liver metastases in two patients (7%) and correctly indicated the benign nature of liver masses in three (10%). In four patients (13%), occult nodal metastases were identified. RIGS can precisely delineate tumor margins, define the extent of nodal involvement, and localize occult tumor, providing a method of immediate intraoperative staging that may lessen recurrences and produce higher survival rates.« less

  12. The Structure of Titan's Atmosphere from Cassini Radio Occultations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schinder, Paul J.; Flasar, F. Michael; Marouf, Essam A.; French, Richard G.; McGhee, Colleen A.; Kliore, Arvydas J.; Rappaport, Nicole J.; Barbinis, Elias; Fleischman, Don; Anabtawi, Aseel

    2011-01-01

    We present results from the two radio occultations of the Cassini spacecraft by Titan in 2006, which probed mid-southern latitudes. Three of the ingress and egress soundings occurred within a narrow latitude range, 31.34 deg S near the surface, and the fourth at 52.8 deg S. Temperature - altitude profiles for all four occultation soundings are presented, and compared with the results of the Voyager 1 radio occultation (Lindal et al., 1983), the HASI instrument on the Huygens descent probe (Fulchignoni et al., 2005), and Cassini CIRS results (Flasar et al., 2005; Achterberg et al., 2008b). Sources of error in the retrieved temperature - altitude profiles are also discussed, and a major contribution is from spacecraft velocity errors in the reconstructed ephemeris. These can be reduced by using CIRS data at 300 km to make along-track adjustments of the spacecraft timing. The occultation soundings indicate that the temperatures just above the surface at 31-34 deg S are about 93 K, while that at 53 deg S is about 1 K colder. At the tropopause, the temperatures at the lower latitudes are all about 70 K, while the 53 deg S profile is again 1 K colder. The temperature lapse rate in the lowest 2 km for the two ingress (dawn) profiles at 31 and 33 deg S lie along a dry adiabat except within approximately 200m of the surface, where a small stable inversion occurs. This could be explained by turbulent mixing with low viscosity near the surface. The egress profile near 34 deg S shows a more complex structure in the lowest 2 km, while the egress profile at 53 deg S is more stable.

  13. The complete set of Cassini's UVIS occultation observations of Enceladus plume: model fits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Portyankina, G.; Esposito, L. W.; Hansen, C. J.

    2017-12-01

    Since the discovery in 2005, plume of Enceladus was observed by most of the instruments onboard Cassini spacecraft. Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) have observed Enceladus plume and collimated jets embedded in it in occultational geometry on 6 different occasions. We have constructed a 3D direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) model for Enceladus jets and apply it to the analysis of the full set of UVIS occultation observations conducted during Cassini's mission from 2005 to 2017. The Monte Carlo model tracks test particles from their source at the surface into space. The initial positions of all test particles for a single jet are fixed to one of 100 jets sources identified by Porco et al. (2014). The initial three-dimensional velocity of each particle contains two components: a velocity Vz which is perpendicular to the surface, and a thermal velocity which is isotropic in the upward hemisphere. The direction and speed of the thermal velocity of each particle is chosen randomly but the ensemble moves isotropically at a speed which satisfies a Boltzmann distribution for a given temperature Tth. A range for reasonable Vz is then determined by requiring that modeled jet widths match the observed ones. Each model run results in a set of coordinates and velocities of a given set of test particles. These are converted to the test particle number densities and then integrated along LoS for each time step of the occultation observation. The geometry of the observation is calculated using SPICE. The overarching result of the simulation run is a test particle number density along LoS for each time point during the occultation observation for each of the jets separately. To fit the model to the data, we integrate all jets that are crossed by the LoS at each point during an observation. The relative strength of the jets must be determined to fit the observed UVIS curves. The results of the fits are sets of active jets for each occultation. Each UVIS occultation

  14. Not all occult papillary carcinomas are minimal

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Allo, M.D.; Christianson, W.; Koivunen, D.

    1988-12-01

    Occult papillary carcinomas are characterized as small papillary tumors of less than 1.5 cm in maximum diameter, with or without bulky metastatic deposits in cervical nodes. The primary lesion is usually not palpable, and although the clinical behavior usually follows a benign course, tumors with unfavorable histologic features (invasiveness, multifocality) or extrathyroidal disease or a combination of both may not do so. In this report six cases are presented to illustrate this entity. No patient had a history of irradiation to the head or neck. All had primary lesions smaller than 1.5 cm. None had a palpable nodule or abnormalmore » thyroid scan results, and the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was based on cervical lymph node or lung biopsy specimens, which revealed papillary thyroid cancer. All of the patients underwent total or near-total thyroidectomies and were found to have small, invasive papillary lesions with additional metastases to cervical nodes noted at the time of thyroidectomy. Adjunctive treatment consisted of a 5 mCi iodine-131 scan, ablative iodine-131 therapy, and suppression with L-thyroxine. Although distant metastasis to lung or other organs is uncommon and the mortality rate is low (as in larger papillary cancers), these invasive lesions--despite their small size--have a high propensity for recurrence and should be considered to behave more like encapsulated papillary tumors with extrathyroidal extension than like their small, unencapsulated intrathyroidal counterparts.« less

  15. Breast and splenic metastases of squamous cell carcinoma from the uterine cervix: a case report.

    PubMed

    Aitelhaj, Meryem; Khoyaali, Siham L; Boukir, Anouar; Elkabous, Mustapha; Abahssain, Halima; Mrabti, Hind; El Khannoussi, Basma; Errihani, Hassan

    2014-11-04

    Metastases to the breast from extramammary malignancies are infrequent, the most common primary sites are malignant melanoma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancer of the lung, stomach, prostate and ovary. The cervical origin is exceptional. Splenic metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is also rare. To the best of our knowledge, only three cases of isolated splenic metastasis have been reported in the literature. We describe the case of a 55-year-old North African woman who presented with a nodule in her left breast eight months after treatment for stage IIB squamous cell uterine cervical carcinoma. The excisional biopsy with histological study demonstrated a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A computed tomography scan revealed a splenic secondary location. We report here a case of two unusual metastatic sites of uterine cervical carcinoma, the breast and spleen. It is the first case of this association without widespread disease.

  16. Results of two multichord stellar occultations by dwarf planet (1) Ceres

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gomes-Júnior, A. R.; Giacchini, B. L.; Braga-Ribas, F.; Assafin, M.; Vieira-Martins, R.; Camargo, J. I. B.; Sicardy, B.; Timerson, B.; George, T.; Broughton, J.; Blank, T.; Benedetti-Rossi, G.; Brooks, J.; Dantowitz, R. F.; Dunham, D. W.; Dunham, J. B.; Ellington, C. K.; Emilio, M.; Herpich, F. R.; Jacques, C.; Maley, P. D.; Mehret, L.; Mello, A. J. T.; Milone, A. C.; Pimentel, E.; Schoenell, W.; Weber, N. S.

    2015-08-01

    We report the results of two multichord stellar occultations by the dwarf planet (1) Ceres that were observed from Brazil on 2010 August 17, and from the USA on 2013 October 25. Four positive detections were obtained for the 2010 occultation, and nine for the 2013 occultation. Elliptical models were adjusted to the observed chords to obtain Ceres' size and shape. Two limb-fitting solutions were studied for each event. The first one is a nominal solution with an indeterminate polar aspect angle. The second one was constrained by the pole coordinates as given by Drummond et al. Assuming a Maclaurin spheroid, we determine an equatorial diameter of 972 ± 6 km and an apparent oblateness of 0.08 ± 0.03 as our best solution. These results are compared to all available size and shape determinations for Ceres made so far, and shall be confirmed by the NASA's Dawn space mission.

  17. Clinical management of occult hemothorax: a prospective study of 81 patients.

    PubMed

    Mahmood, Ismail; Abdelrahman, Husham; Al-Hassani, Ammar; Nabir, Syed; Sebastian, Mark; Maull, Kimball

    2011-06-01

    Intrapleural blood detected by computed tomography scan, but not evident on plain chest radiograph, defines occult hemothorax. This study determined the role for tube thoracostomy. Hemothorax was quantified on computed tomography by measuring the deepest lamellar fluid stripe at the most dependent portion. Data were collected prospectively on demographics, injury mechanism/severity, chest injuries, mechanical ventilation, hospital length of stay, complications, and outcome. Indications for tube thoracostomy were recorded. Tube thoracostomy was avoided in 67 patients (83%). Indications for chest tube placement included progression of hemothorax (8), desaturation (4), and delayed hemothorax (2). Patients with intrapleural fluid thickness greater than 1.5 cm were 4 times more likely to require tube thoracostomy. Occult hemothorax can be managed successfully without tube thoracostomy in most cases. Mechanical ventilation is not an indication for chest tube placement. Accompanying occult pneumothorax may be expected in 50% of cases, but did not affect clinical management. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. IRTF observations of the occultation of 28 Sgr by Saturn

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Harrington, Joseph; Cooke, Maren L.; Forrest, William J.; Pipher, Judith L.; Dunham, Edward W.; Elliot, J. L.

    1993-01-01

    NASA's Mauna Kea IR Telescope Facility obtained an IR-imaging time series for the July 3, 1989 occultation of 28 Sgr by Saturn and its rings; the stellar signal is present in these images throughout the ring occultation event. These data are noted to vary systematically with respect to the Voyager data over large radius scales, perhaps due to stellar signal diffraction through the rings. The stellar diameter, which is projected to be about 20 km, placed most bending- and density-wave trains below measurable resolution. Masses and mean optical depths are presented for individual ring sections.

  19. Cassini UVIS solar occultations by Saturn's F ring and the detection of collision-produced micron-sized dust

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Becker, Tracy M.; Colwell, Joshua E.; Esposito, Larry W.; Attree, Nicholas O.; Murray, Carl D.

    2018-05-01

    We present an analysis of eleven solar occultations by Saturn's F ring observed by the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) on the Cassini spacecraft. In four of the solar occultations we detect an unambiguous signal from diffracted sunlight that adds to the direct solar signal just before or after the occultations occur. The strongest detection was a 10% increase over the direct signal that was enabled by the accidental misalignment of the instrument's pointing. We compare the UVIS data with images of the F ring obtained by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) and find that in each instance of an unambiguous diffraction signature in the UVIS data, the ISS data shows that there was a recent disturbance in that region of the F ring. Similarly, the ISS images show a quiescent region of the F ring for all solar occultations in which no diffraction signature was detected. We therefore conclude that collisions in the F ring produce a population of small ring particles that can produce a detectable diffraction signal immediately interior or exterior to the F ring. The clearest example of this connection comes from the strong detection of diffracted light in the 2007 solar occultation, when the portion of the F ring that occulted the Sun had suffered a large collisional event, likely with S/2004 S 6, several months prior. This collision was observed in a series of ISS images (Murray et al., 2008). Our spectral analysis of the data shows no significant spectral features in the F ring, indicating that the particles must be at least 0.2 μm in radius. We apply a forward model of the solar occultations, accounting for the effects of diffracted light and the attenuated direct solar signal, to model the observed solar occultation light curves. These models constrain the optical depth, radial width, and particle size distribution of the F ring. We find that when the diffraction signature is present, we can best reproduce the occultation data using a particle population

  20. Highly efficient destruction of squamous carcinoma cells of the head and neck by photochemical internalization of Ranpirnase.

    PubMed

    Liebers, Nora; Holland-Letz, Tim; Welschof, Mona; Høgset, Anders; Jäger, Dirk; Arndt, Michaela A E; Krauss, Jürgen

    2017-11-01

    Photochemical Internalization is a novel drug delivery technology for cancer treatment based on the principle of Photodynamic Treatment. Using a photosensitizer that locates in endocytic vesicles membranes of tumor cells, Photochemical internalization enables cytosolic release of endocytosed antitumor agents in a site-specific manner. The purpose of the present in-vitro study was to explore whether Photochemical Internalization is able to enhance the efficacy of Ranpirnase, a cytotoxic amphibian ribonuclease, for eradication of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cell viability was measured in 8 primary human cell lines of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after treatment with Ranpirnase and Photochemical Internalization. For Photochemical Internalization the photosensitizer disulfonated tetraphenyl porphine was incubated with tumor cells followed by exposure to blue light (435 nm). Our study demonstrates significant enhancement of antitumor activity of Ranpirnase by Photochemical Internalization. Treatment responses were heterogeneous between the primary cancer cell lines. Combining Photochemical Internalization with Ranpirnase resulted in 4.6 to 1,940-fold increased cytotoxicity when compared with the ribonuclease alone (P < 0.05). Cytotoxicity of Ranpirnase can be markedly enhanced by Photochemical Internalization in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

  1. [Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection and its phylogenetic features among mother-teenager pairs].

    PubMed

    Dong, Xiao-lian; Yao, Qing-qing; Wang, Xue-cai; Xu, Hai-tao; Wang, Xiao-li; Chen, Sheng-yu; Tang, Zhi-feng; Zheng, Ying-Jie

    2013-03-01

    Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) was investigated in a paired mother-teenager population and HBV S gene variation including overt and occult HBV, was determined. A follow-up study based on an initial survey of 135 mother-teenager pairs was carried out through collection of questionnaires and blood samples HBsAg were detected by ELISA method, viral load by PCR amplification and HBV S gene by phylogenetic analysis. 102 pairs of subjects were followed-up. Blood samples from 94 mothers and 101 children were collected. OBI prevalence in mothers was 10.0% (6/60), significantly higher than 2.0% (2/101) in teenagers. Medians of viral load were 399.9 IU/ml and 247.6 IU/ml in overt and occult HBV strains, but without significant difference. 1 occult HBV strain belonged to genotype B with serotype adw while the other 7 were genotype C with serotype adr. 15 of the overt HBV strains belonged to genotype B with serotype adw and the other 8 were genotype C with serotype adr. Proportions of genotype-C strains were significantly higher in occult HBV strains than in overt HBV strains. OBI was seen in teenage-mother population.

  2. [Results of conservative treatment in patients with occult pneumothorax].

    PubMed

    Llaquet Bayo, Heura; Montmany Vioque, Sandra; Rebasa, Pere; Navarro Soto, Salvador

    2016-04-01

    An occult pneumothorax is found in 2-15% trauma patients. Observation (without tube thoracostomy) in these patients presents still some controversies in the clinical practice. The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and the adverse effects when observation is performed. A retrospective observational study was undertaken in our center (university hospital level II). Data was obtained from a database with prospective registration. A total of 1087 trauma patients admitted in the intensive care unit from 2006 to 2013 were included. In this period, 126 patients with occult pneumothorax were identified, 73 patients (58%) underwent immediate tube thoracostomy and 53 patients (42%) were observed. Nine patients (12%) failed observation and required tube thoracostomy for pneumothorax progression or hemothorax. No patient developed a tension pneumothorax or experienced another adverse event related to the absence of tube thoracostomy. Of the observed patients 16 were under positive pressure ventilation, in this group 3 patients (19%) failed observation. There were no differences in mortality, hospital length of stay or intensive care length of stay between the observed and non-observed group. Observation is a safe treatment in occult pneumothorax, even in pressure positive ventilated patients. Copyright © 2014 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  3. Elective neck dissection for primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma involving the tongue should include sublevel IIb.

    PubMed

    Maher, Nigel Gordon; Hoffman, Gary Russell

    2014-11-01

    The surgical clearance of sublevel IIb lymph nodes, facilitated by neck dissection, increases the risk of postoperative shoulder dysfunction. Our study purpose was to determine the value of including sublevel IIb in elective neck dissections for primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). A retrospective cohort study based on a review of the pathology records accumulated by 1 head and neck surgeon was conducted for 71 patients with clinically node-negative, primary OCSCC treated from 2006 to June 2013. The predictor variables were the oral cavity subsite and tumor clinicopathologic characteristics (ie, perineural, perivascular, and perilymphatic invasion, tumor depth, and T stage). The primary outcome variable was the presence of sublevel IIb metastasis. The secondary outcome variables were the survival and tumor recurrence rates and metastases to any cervical level. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the categorical and continuous variables. A comparison of categorical variables was performed using Fisher's exact test; for continuous variables, t tests or the Mann-Whitney U test were used for 2 groups and analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis tests (with Bonferroni's correction) were used for more than 2 groups, depending on the distribution. Disease-specific survival (DSS) analyses were plotted for the predictor variables and patients with sublevel IIb metastasis. Competing risks models were created using the Fine and Gray method (SAS macro %PSHREG) to provide estimates of the crude and adjusted subhazard ratios for DSS for all variables. A total of 71 patients were included in the present study, of whom 69% were male. The greatest proportion of oral cavity subsites was from the tongue and floor of mouth. The overall frequency of sublevel IIb lymphatic metastases at neck dissection was 5.6% of the patient cohort. Sublevel IIb metastases occurred from the primary sites involving the tongue (n = 3) and retromolar trigone (n = 1). The incidence of

  4. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum: An update and implications for treatment

    PubMed Central

    Guerra, Glen R; Kong, Cherng H; Warrier, Satish K; Lynch, Andrew C; Heriot, Alexander G; Ngan, Samuel Y

    2016-01-01

    AIM: To provide an update on the aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, staging and management of rectal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE was performed with the reference list of selected articles reviewed to ensure all relevant publications were captured. The search strategy was limited to the English language, spanning from 1946 to 2015. A qualitative analysis was undertaken examining patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, staging, treatment and outcome. The quantitaive analysis was limited to data extracted on treatment and outcomes including radiological, clinical and pathological complete response where available. The narrative and quantitative review were synthesised in concert. RESULTS: The search identified 487 articles in total with 79 included in the qualitative review. The quantitative analysis involved 63 articles, consisting of 43 case reports and 20 case series with a total of 142 individual cases. The underlying pathogenesis of rectal SCC while unclear, continues to be defined, with increasing evidence of a metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence and a possible role for human papilloma virus in this progression. The presentation is similar to rectal adenocarcinoma, with a diagnosis confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. Many presumed rectal SCC’s are in fact an extension of an anal SCC, and cytokeratin markers are a useful adjunct in this distinction. Staging is most accurately reflected by the tumour-node-metastasis classification for rectal adenocarcinoma. It involves examining locoregional disease by way of magnetic resonance imaging and/or endorectal ultrasound, with systemic spread excluded by way of computed tomography. Positron emission tomography is integral in the workup to exclude an external site of primary SCC with metastasis to the rectum. While the

  5. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum: An update and implications for treatment.

    PubMed

    Guerra, Glen R; Kong, Cherng H; Warrier, Satish K; Lynch, Andrew C; Heriot, Alexander G; Ngan, Samuel Y

    2016-03-27

    To provide an update on the aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, staging and management of rectal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A systematic review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE was performed with the reference list of selected articles reviewed to ensure all relevant publications were captured. The search strategy was limited to the English language, spanning from 1946 to 2015. A qualitative analysis was undertaken examining patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, staging, treatment and outcome. The quantitaive analysis was limited to data extracted on treatment and outcomes including radiological, clinical and pathological complete response where available. The narrative and quantitative review were synthesised in concert. The search identified 487 articles in total with 79 included in the qualitative review. The quantitative analysis involved 63 articles, consisting of 43 case reports and 20 case series with a total of 142 individual cases. The underlying pathogenesis of rectal SCC while unclear, continues to be defined, with increasing evidence of a metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence and a possible role for human papilloma virus in this progression. The presentation is similar to rectal adenocarcinoma, with a diagnosis confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. Many presumed rectal SCC's are in fact an extension of an anal SCC, and cytokeratin markers are a useful adjunct in this distinction. Staging is most accurately reflected by the tumour-node-metastasis classification for rectal adenocarcinoma. It involves examining locoregional disease by way of magnetic resonance imaging and/or endorectal ultrasound, with systemic spread excluded by way of computed tomography. Positron emission tomography is integral in the workup to exclude an external site of primary SCC with metastasis to the rectum. While the optimal treatment remains as

  6. A 2017 stellar occultation by Orcus/Vanth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sickafoose, Amanda A.; Bosh, Amanda S.; Levine, Stephen; Zuluaga, Carlos A.; Genade, Anja; Schindler, Karsten; Lister, Tim; Person, Michael J.

    2017-10-01

    (90482) Orcus is a large trans-Neptunian object (TNO) of diameter ~900 km, located in the 3:2 orbital resonance with Neptune. This plutino has a satellite, Vanth, approximately 280 km in diameter. Vanth orbits roughly 9000 km from Orcus in a ~9.5-day period. This system is particularly interesting, as Orcus falls between the small, spectrally-bland TNOs and the large TNOs having spectra rich in volatile features, while Vanth might have resulted from either collision or capture.A stellar occultation by Orcus was predicted to occur on 07 March 2017. Observations were made from five sites: the 0.6-m Astronomical Telescope of the University of Stuttgart (ATUS) at Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO), California; Las Cumbres Observatory’s 1-m telescope (ELP) at McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas; NASA’s 3-m InfraRed Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii; the 4.1-m Southern Astrophysical Research telescope (SOAR) on Cerro Pachón, Chile; and the 0.6-m Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy telescope (SARA-CT) at Cerro Tololo, Chile. High-speed, visible-wavelength images were taken at all sites, in addition to simultaneous K-band images at the IRTF. A solid-body occultation was observed at both ELP and the IRTF. Offset midtimes and incompatible light ratios suggest that two different stars were occulted by two different bodies, likely Orcus and Vanth. See Bosh et al. this conference for details of the astrometry for the event. Here, we present results from the observations, including light curves, size and albedo estimates, and upper limits on a possible atmosphere.

  7. [Prediction of occult carcinoma in contralateral nodules based on the ultrasonic features of unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma].

    PubMed

    Yang, L M; Li, Q; Zhao, B W; Lyu, J G; Xu, H S; Xu, L L; Li, S Y; Gao, L; Zhu, J

    2017-04-07

    Objective: To investigate the occurrence of occult carcinoma in contralateral lobes based on the ultrasonic features of unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods: The study included 202 consecutives cases of unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma with benign nodules in the contralateral lobe identified by preoperative ultrasound or fine-needle aspiration from June 2014 to December 2015. All patients received total thyroidectomies, and with postoperative pathological examination they were divided into two groups, one including 60 cases with positive occult cancer and another one consisting of 142 cases with negative occult cancer. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the sonographic features of unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma relevant to the occurrence of occult carcinoma in the contralateral nodules. Results: Univariate analysis indicated occult carcinoma in the contralateral lobes was associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(χ(2)=3.955, P =0.047), unclear border (χ(2)=4.375, P =0.036)and multifocality in the ipsilateral(χ(2)=7.375, P =0.007), but not with tumors maximum size, location, A/T, shape, internal structure, internal echo, acoustic halo, calcification, capsular invasion and blood flow signal in the lobe with carcinoma on another side. Multivariate analysis showed unclear border ( OR =2.727, P =0.010) and multifocality in the ipsilateral( OR =2.807, P =0.005)of carcinoma were independent predictive factor for contralateral occult PTC. Conclusions: Unclear border and multifocality of PTC in the ipsilateral were closely relevant to the occurrence of occult carcinoma in the contralateral nodules.

  8. Scalp squamous cell carcinoma in xeroderma pigmentosum.

    PubMed

    Awan, Basim A; Alzanbagi, Hanadi; Samargandi, Osama A; Ammar, Hossam

    2014-02-01

    Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder that appears in early childhood. Squamous cell carcinoma is not uncommon in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum and mostly involving the face, head, neck, and scalp. However, squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp may exhibit an aggressive course. Here, we present a huge squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp in a three-years-old child with xeroderma pigmentosum. In addition, we illustrate the challenges of a child with xeroderma pigmentosum who grows up in a sunny environment where the possibility of early onset of squamous cell carcinoma is extremely high in any suspected skin lesion. In xeroderma pigmentosum patients, squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp can present early and tends to be unusually aggressive. In sunny areas, proper education to the patient and their parents about ultra-violet light protection and early recognition of any suspicious lesion could be life-saving.

  9. Cetuximab & Nivolumab in Patients With Recurrent/Metastatic Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-13

    Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus; Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Squamous Cell Cancer; Head and Neck Carcinoma

  10. Prediction of occult hepatitis B virus infection in liver transplant donors through hepatitis B virus blood markers.

    PubMed

    Tandoi, Francesco; Caviglia, Gian Paolo; Pittaluga, Fabrizia; Abate, Maria Lorena; Smedile, Antonina; Romagnoli, Renato; Salizzoni, Mauro

    2014-11-01

    Occult hepatitis B virus infection is defined as detectable HBV-DNA in liver of HBsAg-negative individuals, with or without detectable serum HBV-DNA. In deceased liver donors, results of tissue analysis cannot be obtained prior to allocation for liver transplantation. we investigated prevalence and predictability of occult hepatitis B using blood markers of viral exposure/infection in deceased liver donors. In 50 consecutive HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive and 20 age-matched HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-negative donors, a nested-PCR assay was employed in liver biopsies for diagnosis of occult hepatitis B according to Taormina criteria. All donors were characterized for plasma HBV-DNA and serum anti-HBs/anti-HBe. In liver tissue, occult hepatitis B was present in 30/50 anti-HBc-positive (60%) and in 0/20 anti-HBc-negative donors (p<0.0001). All anti-HBc-positive donors with detectable HBV-DNA in plasma (n=5) or anti-HBs>1,000 mIU/mL (n=5) eventually showed occult infection, i.e, 10/30 occult hepatitis B-positive donors which could have been identified prior to transplantation. In the remaining 40 anti-HBc-positive donors, probability of occult infection was 62% for anti-HBe-positive and/or anti-HBs ≥ 58 mIU/mL; 29% for anti-HBe-negative and anti-HBs<58 mIU/mL. In deceased donors, combining anti-HBc with other blood markers of hepatitis B exposure/infection allows to predict occult hepatitis B with certainty and speed in one third of cases. These findings might help refine the allocation of livers from anti-HBc-positive donors. Copyright © 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Benign squamous papillomatosis: case report.

    PubMed Central

    Manoharan, V; Sommerville, J M

    1987-01-01

    Squamous papillae in the vestibule are common. They were once considered to be normal variants of female anatomy, but reports of the viral aetiology of such lesions are emerging. When they are symptomatic, squamous papillae can lead to problems in sexual relationships between healthy partners. Here we report a case that responded well to treatment. Images PMID:3428897

  12. Functional analysis of 'a' determinant mutations associated with occult HBV in HIV-positive South Africans.

    PubMed

    Powell, Eleanor A; Boyce, Ceejay L; Gededzha, Maemu P; Selabe, Selokela G; Mphahlele, M Jeffrey; Blackard, Jason T

    2016-07-01

    Occult hepatitis B is defined by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Occult HBV is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, reactivation during immune suppression, and virus transmission. Viral mutations contribute significantly to the occult HBV phenotype. Mutations in the 'a' determinant of HBsAg are of particular interest, as these mutations are associated with immune escape, vaccine escape and diagnostic failure. We examined the effects of selected occult HBV-associated mutations identified in a population of HIV-positive South Africans on HBsAg production in vitro. Mutations were inserted into two different chronic HBV backbones and transfected into a hepatocyte-derived cell line. HBsAg levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the detectability of mutant HBsAg was determined using an HA-tagged HBsAg expression system. Of the seven mutations analysed, four (S132P, C138Y, N146D and C147Y) resulted in decreased HBsAg expression in one viral background but not in the second viral background. One mutation (N146D) led to a decrease in HBsAg detected as compared to HA-tag, indicating that this mutation compromises the ability of the ELISA to detect HBsAg. The contribution of occult-associated mutations to the HBsAg-negative phenotype of occult HBV cannot be determined adequately by testing the effect of the mutation in a single viral background, and rigorous analysis of these mutations is required.

  13. Occult hepatitis B virus infection of hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study in a hepatitis B virus-endemic region.

    PubMed

    Kim, So Mi; Kim, Hyun Woo; Lee, Ji Eun; Lee, Eun Kyoung; Shin, Hyun Deok; Song, Il Han

    2015-01-01

    Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the liver tissue and/or serum of subjects seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Occult HBV infection of hemodialysis (HD) patients is informative in terms of virus transmission, reactivation after kidney transplantation, and the progression of liver disease. However, there is little detailed information about occult HBV infection in the context of virus endemicity. We tried to investigate the seroprevalence and clinical features of occult HBV infection in HD patients in HBV-endemic regions. We enrolled a total of 159 HD patients and 121 apparently healthy subjects at Dankook University Hospital and Jeju National University Hospital in Korea. HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum levels of HBV DNA were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The seroprevalence of occult HBV infection was 1.3% in HD patients and 2.5% in the healthy controls. This difference was not significant. The HBV load in all subjects with occult infection was <116 copies/mL, and all were positive for IgG anti-HBc, regardless of the presence of anti-HBs. None of the occult HBV-infected subjects were co-infected with HCV. One of the 2 HD patients with occult HBV infection had no history of blood transfusion. In this HBV-endemic region, the seroprevalence of occult HBV infection in HD patients with a very low viral load was not significantly different from that in apparently healthy subjects. © 2014 International Society for Hemodialysis.

  14. Occultation and Triangulation Camera (OcTriCam) Cubesat

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Batchelor, D. A.

    2018-02-01

    A camera at Earth-Moon L2 would provide a 240,000 km triangulation baseline to augment near-Earth object observations with Earth-based telescopes such as Pan-STARRS, and planetary occultation research to refine ephemerides and probe ring systems.

  15. Breast and splenic metastases of squamous cell carcinoma from the uterine cervix: a case report

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Introduction Metastases to the breast from extramammary malignancies are infrequent, the most common primary sites are malignant melanoma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancer of the lung, stomach, prostate and ovary. The cervical origin is exceptional. Splenic metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is also rare. To the best of our knowledge, only three cases of isolated splenic metastasis have been reported in the literature. Case presentation We describe the case of a 55-year-old North African woman who presented with a nodule in her left breast eight months after treatment for stage IIB squamous cell uterine cervical carcinoma. The excisional biopsy with histological study demonstrated a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A computed tomography scan revealed a splenic secondary location. Conclusions We report here a case of two unusual metastatic sites of uterine cervical carcinoma, the breast and spleen. It is the first case of this association without widespread disease. PMID:25366471

  16. Magnetic field orientations in Saturn's upper ionosphere inferred from Voyager radio occultations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hinson, D. P.

    1984-01-01

    The radio scintillations observed during occultations of Voyagers 1 and 2 by Saturn are analyzed to determine the morphology of plasma irregularities and hence the magnetic field orientation in Saturn's upper atmosphere. The measurement techniques, the weak scattering theory, and the method used to relate the observed radio scintillations to physical properties of the ionospheric irregularities are briefly described. Results on the spatial characteristics of the irregularities are presented, and the magnetic field orientation in Saturn's ionosphere is inferred. Although the occultation measurements generally confirm the accuracy of the Saturnian magnetic field model of Connerney et al. (1982), it is found that a small adjustment of the coefficients in that model's zonal harmonic expansion would remove the discrepancy between the model predictions and the measurements. A strategy for obtaining improved measurements of Saturn's magnetic field from radio occultation observations of scintillations and Faraday rotation using an orbiting spacecraft is briefly discussed.

  17. Treatment for occult hepatocellular carcinoma: does it offer survival advantages over symptom-driven treatment?

    PubMed

    Kim, Kwang Min; Kim, Jiyu; Sinn, Dong Hyun; Kim, Hye Seung; Kim, Kyunga; Kang, Wonseok; Gwak, Geum-Youn; Paik, Yong-Han; Choi, Moon Seok; Lee, Joon Hyeok; Koh, Kwang Cheol; Paik, Seung Woon

    2018-04-03

    In order to claim a benefit of screen-based diagnosis for asymptomatic individuals, treatment of occult disease needs to offer survival advantages compared to the treatment of symptomatic disease, yet information on this issue is scarce with regard to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening. A total of 3353 treatment-naïve, consecutive, newly diagnosed HCC patients [age: 57.9 ± 10.3, male: 2,689 (80.2%), hepatitis B virus: 2555 (76.2%)], diagnosed between 2010 and 2013 were analyzed. Data on the mode of detection was prospectively collected at the time of HCC diagnosis and was used to group patients into occult or symptomatic cases. Overall, 643 (19.2%) patients were symptomatic cases. The proportion of patients undergoing resection, radiofrequency ablation or transplantation were lower in symptomatic cases than occult cases (20.8 vs. 56.2%, p < .001). Survival was better in occult cases than symptomatic cases (71.2 vs. 30.4% at three-years, p < .001), with a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio of 1.40 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.24-1.58). When stratified by tumor stage, a survival benefit was not observed for patients diagnosed at modified International Union Against Cancer (mUICC) stage I, but presenting symptoms were diverse and nonspecific. In a statistical model adjusting for potential lead-time bias, the association between overall survival and the mode of detection was markedly attenuated and was no longer significant when the treatment modality was included in the model (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.82-1.07). Treatment of occult disease offered a survival benefit to patients over symptomatic cases. These data support screening practices for asymptomatic individuals to diagnose occult HCC.

  18. The Thermal Structure of Triton's Atmosphere: Results from the 1993 and 1995 Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Olkin, C. B.; Elliot, J. L.; Hammel, H. B.; Cooray, A. R.; McDonald, S. W.; Foust, J. A.; Bosh, A. S.; Buie, M. W.; Millis, R. L.; Wasserman, L. H.; Dunham, E. W.; Young, L. A.; Howell, R. R.; Hubbard, W. B.; Hill, R.; Marcialis, R. L.; McDonald, J. S.; Rank, D. M.; Holbrook, J. C.; Reitsema, H. J.

    1997-09-01

    This paper presents new results about Triton's atmospheric structure from the analysis of all ground-based stellar occultation data recorded to date, including one single-chord occultation recorded on 1993 July 10 and nine occultation lightcurves from the double-star event on 1995 August 14. These stellar occultation observations made both in the visible and in the infrared have good spatial coverage of Triton, including the first Triton central-flash observations, and are the first data to probe the altitude level 20-100 km on Triton. The small-planet lightcurve model of J. L. Elliot and L. A. Young (1992,Astron. J.103,991-1015) was generalized to include stellar flux refracted by the far limb, and then fitted to the data. Values of the pressure, derived from separate immersion and emersion chords, show no significant trends with latitude, indicating that Triton's atmosphere is spherically symmetric at ∼50-km altitude to within the error of the measurements; however, asymmetry observed in the central flash indicates the atmosphere is not homogeneous at the lowest levels probed (∼20-km altitude). From the average of the 1995 occultation data, the equivalent-isothermal temperature of the atmosphere is 47 ± 1 K and the atmospheric pressure at 1400-km radius (∼50-km altitude) is 1.4 ± 0.1 μbar. Both of these are not consistent with a model based on Voyager UVS and RSS observations in 1989 (D. F. Strobel, X. Zhu, M. E. Summers, and M. H. Stevens, 1996,Icarus120,266-289). The atmospheric temperature from the occultation is 5 K colder than that predicted by the model and the observed pressure is a factor of 1.8 greater than the model. In our opinion, the disagreement in temperature and pressure is probably due to modeling problems at the microbar level, since measurements at this level have not previously been made. Alternatively, the difference could be due to seasonal change in Triton's atmospheric structure.

  19. Scalp Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Xeroderma Pigmentosum

    PubMed Central

    Awan, Basim A.; Alzanbagi, Hanadi; Samargandi, Osama A.; Ammar, Hossam

    2014-01-01

    Context: Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder that appears in early childhood. Squamous cell carcinoma is not uncommon in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum and mostly involving the face, head, neck, and scalp. However, squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp may exhibit an aggressive course. Case Report: Here, we present a huge squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp in a three-years-old child with xeroderma pigmentosum. In addition, we illustrate the challenges of a child with xeroderma pigmentosum who grows up in a sunny environment where the possibility of early onset of squamous cell carcinoma is extremely high in any suspected skin lesion. Conclusion: In xeroderma pigmentosum patients, squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp can present early and tends to be unusually aggressive. In sunny areas, proper education to the patient and their parents about ultra-violet light protection and early recognition of any suspicious lesion could be life-saving. PMID:24695441

  20. Theoretical performance of serrated external occulters for solar coronagraphy. Application to ASPIICS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rougeot, R.; Aime, C.

    2018-04-01

    Context. This study is made in the context of the future solar coronagraph ASPIICS of the ESA formation-flying mission Proba-3. Aims: In the context of solar coronagraphy, we provide a comparative study of the theoretical performance of serrated (or toothed) external occulters by varying the number and size of the teeth, which we compare to the sharp-edged and apodized disks. The tooth height is small (a few centimeters), to avoid hindering the observation of the solar corona near the limb. We first analyze the diffraction pattern produced by such occulters. In a second step, we compute the umbra profile by integration over the Sun. Methods: We explored a few methods to compute the diffraction pattern. Two of them were implemented. The first is based on 2D fast Fourier transformation (FFT) routines and a multiplication by the Fresnel filter of the form exp(-iπλzu2). Simple rules were derived and discussed to set the sampling conditions. The Maggi-Rubinowicz representation is then proposed as an alternative method, and is proven to be very efficient for this study. Results: Serrated occulters tend to create a two-level intensity pattern, the inner being the darker, which perfectly matches a previously reported geometrical prediction. The diffraction in this central region is lower by two to four orders of magnitude when compared to the sharp-edged disk. The achieved umbra level at the center ranges from 10-4 to below 10-7, depending on the geometry of the teeth. Conclusions: Our study shows that serrated occulters can achieve a high rejection and can almost reach the performance of the apodized disk when very many teeth are used. We prove that shaped occulters must be preferred to simple disks in solar and stellar coronagraphy.

  1. Unsuspected Active Ulcerative Colitis in a Patient With Dermatomyositis: A Rare Association Detected on 18F-FDG PET/CT During the Search for an Occult Malignancy

    PubMed Central

    Rayamajhi, Sampanna Jung; Gorla, Arun Kumar Reddy; Basher, Rajender Kumar; Sood, Ashwani; Mittal, Bhagwant Rai

    2017-01-01

    Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy with the characteristic features of skin rash and myopathy. We here present a known case of dermatomyositis evaluated with 18F-FDG PET/CT for the presence of any occult malignancy. The scan was negative for the presence of any malignancy. However, it revealed multiple intensely FDG avid colonic strictures that were later proven on colonoscopic biopsy to be ulcerative colitis. Also, a well-known association of bilateral sacroilitis was simultaneously demonstrated on the scan. The present case demonstrates that 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging can serve as a one-stop shop imaging modality in dermatomyositis by facilitating detection of occult primary if any and by providing insight into other rare systemic associations. PMID:28533643

  2. Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Head and Neck Cancer or Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-01-11

    Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer; Insular Thyroid Cancer; Metastatic Parathyroid Cancer; Recurrent Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Recurrent Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer With Occult Primary; Recurrent Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Recurrent Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Recurrent Parathyroid Cancer; Recurrent Salivary Gland Cancer; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip and Oral Cavity; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oropharynx; Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Recurrent Thyroid Cancer; Recurrent Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Follicular Thyroid Cancer; Stage III Papillary Thyroid Cancer; Stage III Salivary Gland Cancer; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage III Verrucous Carcinoma of the Larynx; Stage IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Lymphoepithelioma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung Cancer; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx; Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasopharynx; Stage IVA Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity; Stage IVA Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Lip; Stage IVA Esthesioneuroblastoma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVA Follicular Thyroid Cancer; Stage IVA Inverted Papilloma of the Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity; Stage IVA Lymphoepithelioma of the Oropharynx; Stage IVA Midline Lethal Granuloma of the Paranasal Sinus

  3. Salvage treatment for recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Röösli, Christof; Studer, Gabriela; Stoeckli, Sandro J

    2010-08-01

    This study evaluates the oncological outcome of patients with recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) after primary radiation therapy +/- chemotherapy, primary surgical therapy, and surgical therapy followed by radiation therapy +/- chemotherapy. A total of 156 patients (36%) of a cohort of 427 treated for OPSCC between 1990 and 2006 developed recurrent disease. Fifty-one patients (12%) qualified for salvage treatment. Study endpoints were 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). The 5-year OS and DSS rates after salvage treatment were 29% and 40%; after initial primary radiation therapy, 25% and 40%; after initial surgery followed by radiation therapy, 40% and 40%; and after initial surgery alone, 20% and 40%. Patients with an advanced OPSCC have a considerable risk for recurrence. Despite poor ultimate outcome, salvage treatment should be attempted in patients with resectable disease, good performance status, and absence of distant metastases. 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010.

  4. An Occultation by Saturn's Rings on 1991 October 2-3 October 2-3 Observed with the Hubble Space Telescope

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elliot, J. L.; Bosh, A. S.; Cooke, M. L.; Bless, R. C.; Nelson, M. J.; Percival, J. W.; Taylor, M. J.; Dolan, J. F.; Robinson, E. L.; Van Citters, G. W.

    1993-01-01

    An occultation of the star GSC 6323-01396 (V = 11.9) by Saturn's rings was observed with the High-Speed Photometer on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on 1991 October 2-3. This occultation occurred when Saturn was near a stationary point, so the apparent motion of Saturn relative to the star was dominated by the HST orbital motion (8 km/s). Data were recorded simultaneously at effective wavelengths of 3200 and 7500 A, with an integration time of 0.15 s. Fifteen segments of occultation data, totaling 6.8 h, were recorded in 13 successive orbits during the 20.0 h interval from UTC 1991 October 2, 19:35 until UTC 1991 October 3, 15:35. Occultations by 43 different features throughout the classical rings were unambiguously identified in the light curve, with a second occultation by 24 of them occurring due to spacecraft orbital parallax during this extremely slow event. Occultation times for features currently presumed circular were measured and employed in a geometrical model for the rings. This model, relating the observed occultation times to feature radii and longitudes, is presented here and is used in a least-squares fit for the pole direction and radius scale of Saturn's ring system.

  5. Cervical cytology of atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion: significance of age, human papillomavirus DNA detection and previous abnormal cytology on follow-up outcomes.

    PubMed

    Sung, Chang Ohk; Oh, Young Lyun; Song, Sang Yong

    2011-11-01

    Despite the usefulness of Pap tests for cancer screening, outcomes can be difficult to predict when atypical squamous cells (ASCs) are identified. According to the 2001 Bethesda system, ASCs can be subdivided into two groups: ASCs of undetermined significance (ASC-US); and ASCs, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (ASC-H). ASC-H interpretations are uncommon, and studies involving this type of lesion are based on small numbers of cases. Cross-sectional, retrospective study of 392 ASC-H cases. The follow-up outcomes of ASC-H cases that were diagnosed during routine primary screening between 2002 and 2008 were investigated, and relationships between clinicopathological parameters were assessed, particularly positive test for high-risk HPV (HPV) DNA, patient age at diagnosis and previous abnormal cytology. Of the 392 cases, high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (HSIL) was detected in 111 (28.3%) cases, squamous cell carcinoma was detected in 15 (3.8%) cases, low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion was detected in 37 (9.4%) cases, reactive change was detected in 178 (45.4%) cases, atrophy was detected in 47 (12.0%) cases, and adenocarcinoma was detected in four (1.0%) cases. The prevalence of HSIL or greater was 27.8% for women aged ≥ 40 years, and 52.3% for women aged <40 years (p<0.001). HPV positivity in ASC-H smears was significantly associated with HSIL or greater, irrespective of age (<40 years, p=0.003; ≥ 40 years, p<0.001). ASC-H with previous abnormal cytology greater than ASC-US showed a significantly higher detection rate for HSIL or greater at follow-up (p<0.001). Patient age, positive HPV DNA test and previous abnormal cytology are useful predictors of underlying HSIL or greater in women with ASC-H. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. [Relationship between salivary occult blood and level of volatile sulphur compounds in oral cavity].

    PubMed

    An, Yue-bang; He, Lu; Meng, Huan-xin; Liu, Ting-ting; Liu, Jian

    2010-07-01

    To observe the change of the salivary occult blood after periodontal mechanical therapy, and to assess the correlations between salivary occult blood and the level of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) in oral cavity, periodontal clinical parameters, respectively. Fifty patients with gingivititis, mild or moderate periodontitis were included. The level of VSC were measured by Halimeter(®) and salivary occult blood was tested by Perioscreen(®) before periodontal examination. Then full mouth plaque index (PLI), probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI) were charted. Attachment loss (AL) of the Ramfjörd teeth were recorded lastly. Intensive periodontal mechanical therapy was conducted including oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing (SRP). Four weeks after SRP, the same examinations were repeated. Salivary occult blood was significantly correlated with BI (r = 0.294) and PLI (r = 0.308) before periodontal therapy (P < 0.01), and also significantly correlated with VSC level (r = 0.386), PLI (r = 0.456), BI (r = 0.352), AL (r = 0.325) after therapy (P < 0.05). The improvement of VSC level [211.0 (111.0 - 389.5) × 10⁻⁹ vs 100.0 (46.3 - 165.3) × 10⁻⁹], the clinical periodontal parameters including PLI [(1.3 ± 1.0) vs (0.4 ± 0.6)], PD [(3.7 ± 1.5) mm vs (2.7 ± 0.9) mm], BI [(1.8 ± 1.2) vs (0.4 ± 0.7)] and AL [(1.0 ± 1.1) mm vs (0.1 ± 0.5) mm after the treatment was statistically significant (P < 0.001). However, standing on the viewpoint of salivary occult blood changes from positive before therapy to negative after therapy, only 80% (40/50) individuals were totally cured. VSC level in oral cavity and periodontal clinical parameters significantly decreased (P < 0.001) following the trends from strong positive, weak positive, to negative results of salivary occult blood test. Salivary occult blood was correlated with VSC level in oral cavity of periodontal treated patients. It may be an objective parameter to evaluate the gingival inflammation

  7. Impact of D-Dimer for Prediction of Incident Occult Cancer in Patients with Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism.

    PubMed

    Han, Donghee; ó Hartaigh, Bríain; Lee, Ji Hyun; Cho, In-Jeong; Shim, Chi Young; Chang, Hyuk-Jae; Hong, Geu-Ru; Ha, Jong-Won; Chung, Namsik

    2016-01-01

    Unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) is related to a higher incidence of occult cancer. D-dimer is clinically used for screening VTE, and has often been shown to be present in patients with malignancy. We explored the predictive value of D-dimer for detecting occult cancer in patients with unprovoked VTE. We retrospectively examined data from 824 patients diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism. Of these, 169 (20.5%) patients diagnosed with unprovoked VTE were selected to participate in this study. D-dimer was categorized into three groups as: <2,000, 2,000-4,000, and >4,000 ng/ml. Cox regression analysis was employed to estimate the odds of occult cancer and metastatic state of cancer according to D-dimer categories. During a median 5.3 (interquartile range: 3.4-6.7) years of follow-up, 24 (14%) patients with unprovoked VTE were diagnosed with cancer. Of these patients, 16 (67%) were identified as having been diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Log transformed D-dimer levels were significantly higher in those with occult cancer as compared with patients without diagnosis of occult cancer (3.5±0.5 vs. 3.2±0.5, P-value = 0.009, respectively). D-dimer levels >4,000 ng/ml was independently associated with occult cancer (HR: 4.12, 95% CI: 1.54-11.04, P-value = 0.005) when compared with D-dimer levels <2,000 ng/ml, even after adjusting for age, gender, and type of VTE (e.g., deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism). D-dimer levels >4000 ng/ml were also associated with a higher likelihood of metastatic cancer (HR: 9.55, 95% CI: 2.46-37.17, P-value <0.001). Elevated D-dimer concentrations >4000 ng/ml are independently associated with the likelihood of occult cancer among patients with unprovoked VTE.

  8. TITAN’S UPPER ATMOSPHERE FROM CASSINI/UVIS SOLAR OCCULTATIONS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Capalbo, Fernando J.; Bénilan, Yves; Yelle, Roger V.

    2015-12-01

    Titan’s atmosphere is composed mainly of molecular nitrogen, methane being the principal trace gas. From the analysis of 8 solar occultations measured by the Extreme Ultraviolet channel of the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) on board Cassini, we derived vertical profiles of N{sub 2} in the range 1100–1600 km and vertical profiles of CH{sub 4} in the range 850–1300 km. The correction of instrument effects and observational effects applied to the data are described. We present CH{sub 4} mole fractions, and average temperatures for the upper atmosphere obtained from the N{sub 2} profiles. The occultations correspond to different times and locations,more » and an analysis of variability of density and temperature is presented. The temperatures were analyzed as a function of geographical and temporal variables, without finding a clear correlation with any of them, although a trend of decreasing temperature toward the north pole was observed. The globally averaged temperature obtained is (150 ± 1) K. We compared our results from solar occultations with those derived from other UVIS observations, as well as studies performed with other instruments. The observational data we present confirm the atmospheric variability previously observed, add new information to the global picture of Titan’s upper atmosphere composition, variability, and dynamics, and provide new constraints to photochemical models.« less

  9. Patient factors associated with non-attendance at colonoscopy after a positive screening faecal occult blood test.

    PubMed

    Plumb, Andrew A; Ghanouni, Alex; Rainbow, Sandra; Djedovic, Natasha; Marshall, Sarah; Stein, Judith; Taylor, Stuart A; Halligan, Steve; Lyratzopoulos, Georgios; von Wagner, Christian

    2017-03-01

    Background Screening participants with abnormal faecal occult blood test results who do not attend further testing are at high risk of colorectal cancer, yet little is known about their reasons for non-attendance. Methods We conducted a medical record review of 170 patients from two English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme centres who had abnormal guaiac faecal occult blood test screening tests between November 2011 and April 2013 but did not undergo colonoscopy. Using information from patient records, we coded and categorized reasons for non-attendance. Results Of the 170 patients, 82 were eligible for review, of whom 66 had at least one recorded reason for lack of colonoscopy follow-up. Reasons fell into seven main categories: (i) other commitments, (ii) unwillingness to have the test, (iii) a feeling that the faecal occult blood test result was a false positive, (iv) another health issue taking priority, (v) failing to complete bowel preparation, (vi) practical barriers (e.g. lack of transport), and (vii) having had or planning colonoscopy elsewhere. The most common single reasons were unwillingness to have a colonoscopy and being away. Conclusions We identify a range of apparent reasons for colonoscopy non-attendance after a positive faecal occult blood test screening. Education regarding the interpretation of guaiac faecal occult blood test findings, offer of alternative confirmatory test options, and flexibility in the timing or location of subsequent testing might decrease non-attendance of diagnostic testing following positive faecal occult blood test.

  10. Orbit dynamics and geographical coverage capabilities of satellite-based solar occultation experiments for global monitoring of stratospheric constituents

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brooks, D. R.

    1980-01-01

    Orbit dynamics of the solar occultation technique for satellite measurements of the Earth's atmosphere are described. A one-year mission is simulated and the orbit and mission design implications are discussed in detail. Geographical coverage capabilities are examined parametrically for a range of orbit conditions. The hypothetical mission is used to produce a simulated one-year data base of solar occultation measurements; each occultation event is assumed to produce a single number, or 'measurement' and some statistical properties of the data set are examined. A simple model is fitted to the data to demonstrate a procedure for examining global distributions of atmospheric constitutents with the solar occultation technique.

  11. An overview of occult hepatitis B virus infection

    PubMed Central

    Said, Zeinab Nabil Ahmed

    2011-01-01

    Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI), alternatively defined as occult hepatitis B (OHB), is a challenging clinical entity. It is recognized by two main characteristics: absence of HBsAg, and low viral replication. The previous two decades have witnessed a remarkable progress in our understanding of OBI and its clinical implications. Appropriate diagnostic techniques must be adopted. Sensitive HBV DNA amplification assay is the gold standard assay for detection of OBI. Viral as well as host factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of OBI. However, published data reporting the infectivity of OBI by transfusion are limited. Several aspects including OBI transmission, infectivity and its relation to the development of chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma have to be resolved. The aim of the present review is to highlight recent data on OBI with a focus on its virological diagnosis and clinical outcome. PMID:21528070

  12. The impact of the number of occult metastatic lymph nodes on postoperative relapse of resectable esophageal cancer.

    PubMed

    Morimoto, J; Tanaka, H; Ohira, M; Kubo, N; Muguruma, K; Sakurai, K; Yamashita, Y; Maeda, K; Sawada, T; Hirakawa, K

    2014-01-01

    Clinical stage II/III esophageal cancer (EC), as defined by the Japanese Classification, relapses at a moderately high rate even after curative resection. The number of lymph node metastases is known to be associated with tumor relapse. Recently, the prognostic significance of occult metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs), as well as that of overt MLNs, has been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the total number of MLNs including occult MLNs on postoperative relapse in clinical stage II/III EC. One hundred and five patients with clinical stage II/III EC who underwent esophagectomy accompanied by radical lymphadenectomy at the Department of Surgical Oncology in Osaka City University Hospital between January 2000 and October 2008 were included in this study. Occult MLNs, metastases not detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining, were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using antipancytokeratin antibody AE1/AE3. The clinicopathological features of occult MLNs were compared between the relapse and no relapse groups. A total of 6558 lymph nodes (1357 from two-field dissection and 5201 from three-field dissection) were examined by IHC staining; 362 overt MLNs and 143 occult MLNs were detected. The number of occult MLNs increased in proportion to the International Union Against Cancer pathological (p)N-status and pStage. When the number of occult MLNs was added to the number of pNs, the number of total MLNs was associated with postoperative relapse. With respect to tumor, node, metastasis stage, 6 of 22 patients (27%) who were pathological node-negative converted to node-positive by considering total MLNs. The number of N3 patients with relapse increased markedly with restaging by total MLNs. The number of total MLNs, but not overt MLNs, was an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis. These results suggest that occult MLNs were often found, and they were associated with postoperative relapse of resectable esophageal cancer. The total

  13. Application of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in occult breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Haisong; Li, Ling; Zhang, Mengmeng; Zhang, Shiyong; Xu, Shu; Ma, Xiaoxia

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Rationale: Although rare, occult breast cancer (OBC) originates from breast tissue. Its primary lesions cannot be identified by clinical examination or imaging; therefore, the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis remain controversial. Patient concerns: This study comprised 5 female OBC patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University for painless axillary lumps. Diagnoses: 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) indicated metastasis in the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. No clear breast primary lesions were identified; other organs were also excluded as the primary site. Pathological biopsy confirmed axillary lymph node metastasis of adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor to identify the source revealed that estrogen receptors (ERs) and progesterone receptors (PgRs) were positive in 2 cases, ER was positive and PR was negative in 1 case, and both were negative in 2 cases. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 was negative in all cases. All patients were diagnosed with OBC. Interventions: All patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). One patient did not undergo follow-up therapy. The other 4 underwent total mastectomy plus axillary lymph node dissection followed by radiotherapy. Two patients also underwent endocrine therapy. Outcomes: Patients were followed up for 9.0 to 72.0 months. Four achieved pathological complete response. One patient experienced metastasis to the ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes 2.0 years later, which was cleared after additional treatment. The other patients were tumor free. Lessons: Here, we are reporting 5 cases of OBC treated with NAC that were evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT scans. This study suggests that NAC might lead to a positive outcome. PMID:28984771

  14. Atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: cytohistologic correlation study with diagnostic pitfalls.

    PubMed

    Mokhtar, Ghadeer A; Delatour, Nicolas L D Roustan; Assiri, Ali H; Gilliatt, M Angela; Senterman, Mary; Islam, Shahidul

    2008-01-01

    In the current study, we explore the diagnostic parameters and pitfalls in the follow-up of 123 cases of Pap smears diagnosed as high-grade atypical squamous cells (ASC-H) at our institution. A computer database search was performed from the archives of the Ottawa Hospital Cytopathology Service for cases diagnosed with ASC-H between January 2003 and July 2005. Follow-up of the 123 cases of ASC-H showed high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in 73 patients (59.4%), low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in 11 (8.9%), immature squamous metaplasia in 23 (18.7%), reactive squamous cell changes in 12 (9.8%), benign glandular lesions (endocervical atypia, degenerated glandular cells) in 2 (1.6%) and atrophy in 2 (1.6%). In our study, 83 patients were younger than 40 years (67.4%), with biopsy-proven HSIL found in 54 patients (65.1%). The remaining 40 patients (32.6%) were older than 40 years of age, and follow-up biopsies showed HSIL in 19 patients (47.5%). In our study, 59.4% of the cases that were diagnosed cytologically as ASC-H were found to have HSIL on subsequent biopsies. This correlation was stronger in patients below the age of 40 years (65.1% vs. 47.5%). The cytopathologic feature most strongly associated with HSIL was the presence of coarse nuclear chromatin (84%).

  15. Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) optical filter characterization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Harvey, Gale A.

    1989-01-01

    The Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) is a solar occultation experiment that will fly on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite to measure mixing ratio profiles of O3, H2O, NO2, NO, CH4, HCl, and HF. The inversion of the HALOE data will be critically dependent on a detailed knowledge of eight optical filters. A filter characterization program was undertaken to measure in-band transmissions, out-of-band transmissions, in-band transmission shifts with temperature, reflectivities, and age stability. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometers were used to perform measurements over the spectral interval 400/cm to 6300/cm (25 micrometers to 1.6 micrometers). Very high precision (0.1 percent T) in-band measurements and very high resolution (0.0001 percent T) out-of-band measurements have been made. The measurements revealed several conventional leaks at 0.01 percent transmission and greatly enhanced (1,000) leaks to the 2-element filters when placed in a Fabry-Perot cavity. Filter throughput changes by 5 percent for a 25 C change in filter temperature.

  16. An integration time adaptive control method for atmospheric composition detection of occultation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ding, Lin; Hou, Shuai; Yu, Fei; Liu, Cheng; Li, Chao; Zhe, Lin

    2018-01-01

    When sun is used as the light source for atmospheric composition detection, it is necessary to image sun for accurate identification and stable tracking. In the course of 180 second of the occultation, the magnitude of sun light intensity through the atmosphere changes greatly. It is nearly 1100 times illumination change between the maximum atmospheric and the minimum atmospheric. And the process of light change is so severe that 2.9 times per second of light change can be reached. Therefore, it is difficult to control the integration time of sun image camera. In this paper, a novel adaptive integration time control method for occultation is presented. In this method, with the distribution of gray value in the image as the reference variable, and the concepts of speed integral PID control, the integration time adaptive control problem of high frequency imaging. The large dynamic range integration time automatic control in the occultation can be achieved.

  17. How Are Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancers Diagnosed?

    MedlinePlus

    ... and Staging Tests for Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers Most skin cancers are brought to a doctor’s ... Skin Cancers? More In Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer About Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Causes, ...

  18. Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients in Isfahan, Iran.

    PubMed

    Kalantari, Hamid; Ferdowsi, Faezeh; Yaran, Majid

    2016-01-01

    The absence of a detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with or without hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) or hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) in the presence of hepatitis B virus-DNA (HBV-DNA) is defined as occult HBV infection. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of occult HBV infection in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) in Isfahan, Iran. This cross sectional study was done on 400 patients without acute or chronic HBV infection with end-stage renal disease undergoing regular HD. Blood samples were collected prior to the HD session, and serological markers of viral hepatitis B included HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were measured using standard third generation commercially available enzyme immunoassays kit, then samples of positive anti-HBc and negative anti-HBs were tested for HBV DNA using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques. Data were analyzed by SPSS using t -test and Chi-square test. The mean age of patients was 51.6 ± 11.2 years. Anti-HBc positive was observed in 32 (8%) of 400 studied patients with negative HBsAg. Of 32 patients with anti-HBc positive, 15 were males and 17 were females with mean age of 49.7 ± 12.6 years. Among 32 patients with anti-HBc positive, 10 patients were negative for anti-HBs. All of 10 patients were negative for HBV DNA. The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 0%. The prevalence of occult HBV infection in HBsAg negative patients undergoing HD was 0% and look to be among the lowest worldwide. So, occult HBV infection is not a significant health problem in HD patients in this region.

  19. Stellar Occultations by TNOs and Centaurs: first results in the “Gaia era”

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rossi, Gustavo; Vieira-Martins, Roberto; Sicardy, Bruno; Ortiz, Jose Luis; Rio Group, Lucky Star Occultation Team, Granada Occultation Team

    2017-10-01

    After the first release of the GAIA catalog (in September/2016), stellar positions are now known with unprecedented accuracy, reaching values of the order of milliarcseconds. This improvement reflected into a stunning accuracy on the astrometry of moving objects, such as TNOs. Unfortunately, Gaia stars proper motions will be only available on the second data release (DR2) next year, so there is still a need to use hybrid stellar catalogs for occultation predictions until then. Despite that, stellar occultations predictions are now much more accurate, and the biggest uncertainties comes mainly from the object ephemerides. This issue will be overcome by large surveys such as the LSST, which will provide positions for the known TNOs and it is expected to increase the number of known TNOs by nearly 40,000, with an unprecedent amount of acquired information.This huge amount of data also poses a new era in stellar occultations: predictions will be very accurate and the participation of professional astronomers, laboratories, and the amateur community will be crucial to observe the predicted events; observation campaigns will need to be selected according to a specific scientific purpose such as the probability to detect rings or archs around a body, the presence of atmosphere or even the detection of topographic features; the development of softwares capable of reducing the data more efficiently and an easier method to coordinate observation campaigns are needed.Here we present some impressive results obtained from predictions and observed occultations in 2017 (among them we have Pluto, Chariklo and Haumea), the problems we are starting to face in the beginning of the “Gaia era” and the future challenges of stellar occultation.

  20. Prognostic implications of occult nodal tumour cells in stage I and II colon cancer: The correlation between micrometastasis and disease recurrence.

    PubMed

    Sloothaak, D A M; van der Linden, R L A; van de Velde, C J H; Bemelman, W A; Lips, D J; van der Linden, J C; Doornewaard, H; Tanis, P J; Bosscha, K; van der Zaag, E S; Buskens, C J

    2017-08-01

    Occult nodal tumour cells should be categorised as micrometastasis (MMs) and isolated tumour cells (ITCs). A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that MMs, but not ITCs, are prognostic for disease recurrence in patients with stage I/II colon cancer. The objective of this retrospective multicenter study was to correlate MMs and ITCs to characteristics of the primary tumour, and to determine their prognostic value in patients with stage I/II colon cancer. One hundred ninety two patients were included in the study with a median follow up of 46 month (IQR 33-81 months). MMs were found in eight patients (4.2%), ITCs in 37 (19.3%) and occult tumour cells were absent in 147 patients (76.6%). Between these groups, tumour differentiation and venous or lymphatic invasion was equally distributed. Advanced stage (pT3/pT4) was found in 66.0% of patients without occult tumour cells (97/147), 72.9% of patients with ITCs (27/37), and 100% in patients with MMs (8/8), although this was a non-significant trend. Patients with MMs showed a significantly reduced 3 year-disease free survival compared to patients with ITCs or patients without occult tumour cells (75.0% versus 88.0% and 94.8%, respectively, p = 0.005). When adjusted for T-stage, MMs independently predicted recurrence of cancer (OR 7.6 95% CI 1.5-37.4, p = 0.012). In this study, the incidence of MMs and ITCs in patients with stage I/II colon cancer was 4.2% and 19.3%, respectively. MMs were associated with an reduced 3 year disease free survival rate, but ITCs were not. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.

  1. An atmosphere on Ganymede from its occultation of SAO 186800 on 7 June 1972.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Carlson, R. W.; Bhattacharyya, J. C.; Smith, B. A.; Johnson, T. V.; Hidayat, B.; Smith, S. A.; Taylor, G. E.; O'Leary, B.; Brinkmann, R. T.

    1973-01-01

    The observational data obtained during the occultation are of sufficient quality to determine the occultation radius and to support the inference that Ganymede does possess at least a modest atmosphere. Assuming a circular cross section, the diameter of Ganymede was found to be 5271 km. Effects of the atmosphere on the accuracy of the value obtained for the Ganymede diameter are discussed.

  2. First results from the ionospheric radio occultations of Saturn by the Cassini spacecraft

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nagy, Andrew F.; Kliore, Arvydas J.; Marouf, Essam; French, Richard; Flasar, Michael; Rappaport, Nicole J.; Anabtawi, Aseel; Asmar, Sami W.; Johnston, Douglas; Barbinis, Elias; Goltz, Gene; Fleischman, Don

    2006-06-01

    The first set of near-equatorial occultations of the Saturn ionosphere was obtained by the Cassini spacecraft between May and September of 2005. The occultations occurred at near-equatorial latitudes, between 10°N and 10°S, at solar zenith angles from about 84° to 96°. The entry observations correspond to dusk conditions and the exit ones to dawn. An initial look at the data indicates that the average peak densities are lower and the peak altitude higher at dawn than at dusk, possibly the result of ionospheric decay during the night hours. There are also significant differences between individual dawn and dusk occultations; the initial thought is that this variation must be connected to changes in the water inflow into the upper atmosphere and/or variations in the particle impact ionization rates.

  3. Stellar occultation of polarized light from circumstellar electrons. I - Flat envelopes viewed edge on

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brown, John C.; Fox, Geoffrey K.

    1989-01-01

    The depolarizing and occultation effects of a finite spherical light source on the polarization of light Thomson-scattered from a flat circumstellar envelope seen edge-on are analyzed. The analysis shows that neglect of the finite size of the light source leads to a gross overestimate of the polarization for a given disk geometry. By including occultation and depolarization, it is found that B-star envelopes are necessarily highly flattened disk-type structures. For a disk viewed edge-on, the effect of occultation reduces the polarization more than the inclusion of the depolarization factor alone. Analysis of a one-dimensional plume leads to a powerful technique that permits the electron density distribution to be explicitly obtained from the polarimetric data.

  4. Helios-1 Faraday rotation experiment - Results and interpretations of the solar occultations in 1975

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Volland, H.; Bird, M. K.; Levy, G. S.; Stelzried, C. T.; Seidel, B. L.

    1977-01-01

    The first of two solar occultations of the satellite Helios-1 in 1975 occurred in April when the satellite's ray path approached the west limb of the sun to a minimum distance of 1.63 solar radii. The second occultation took place in late August/early September when Helios-1 was totally eclipsed by the photosphere. Measurements of the polarization angle of the linearly polarized telemetry signal were performed with automatic tracking polarimeters at the 64 m Goldstone Tracking Station in California and also at the 100 m radio telescope in Effelsberg, West Germany. The coronal Faraday rotation as a function of the solar offset for both occultations is shown in graphs. The theoretical significance of the observations is investigated.

  5. Relationship between occult hepatitis B virus infection and chronic kidney disease in a Chinese population-based cohort.

    PubMed

    Kong, Xiang-Lei; Ma, Xiao-Jing; Su, Hong; Xu, Dong-Mei

    2016-03-01

    Previous studies have revealed inconsistent results regarding the association between occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, we conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the association between occult HBV infection and CKD. A total of 4329 adults, aged 46.2 ± 13.7 years, without CKD at baseline were enrolled while undergoing physical examinations. Occult HBV infection was defined as seropositivity for antibody to HBV core antigen. CKD was defined as decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR < 60 ml·min -1 ·1.73 m -2 ) or presence of proteinuria ≥1+, assessed using a repeated dipstick method. eGFR was computed using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 8.1% (352/4329). During 5 years of follow-up, 165 patients (3.8%) developed CKD. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that occult HBV infection was positively associated with decreased eGFR, with an odds ratio ( OR ) of 2.15 (95% confidence interval ( CI ): 1.05-4.11). In contrast, occult HBV infection was not associated with either proteinuria or CKD ( P  > 0.05). After adjustment for potential confounders in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis, age, hypertension, diabetes, and the highest quartile of uric acid were associated with CKD, with OR s of 1.04 (95% CI : 1.02-1.05), 2.1 (95% CI : 1.46-3.01), 2.02 (95% CI : 1.36-2.99), and 1.86 (95% CI : 1.17-2.95), respectively. However, occult HBV infection was not associated with CKD, with an OR of 1.12 (95% CI : 0.65-1.95). This study did not find an association between occult HBV infection and CKD. However, high-risk patients infected with HBV should still be targeted for monitoring for the development of CKD.

  6. Toward a Next Generation Solar Coronagraph: Diffracted Light Simulation and Test Results for a Cone Occulter with Tapered Surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Heesu; Bong, Su-Chan; Cho, Kyung-Suk; Choi, Seonghwan; Park, Jongyeob; Kim, Jihun; Baek, Ji-Hye; Nah, Jakyoung; Sun, Mingzhe; Gong, Qian

    2018-04-01

    In a solar coronagraph, the most important component is an occulter to block the direct light from the disk of the sun Because the intensity of the solar outer corona is 10-6 to 10-10 times of that of the solar disk (\\ir), it is necessary to minimize scattering at the optical elements and diffraction at the occulter. Using a Fourier optic simulation and a stray light test, we investigated the performance of a compact coronagraph that uses an external truncated-cone occulter without an internal occulter and Lyot stop. In the simulation, the diffracted light was minimized to the order of 7.6×10-10 \\ir when the cone angle θc was about 0.39°. The performance of the cone occulter was then tested by experiment. The level of the diffracted light reached the order of 6×10-9 \\ir at θc=0.40°. This is sufficient to observe the outer corona without additional optical elements such as a Lyot stop or inner occulter. We also found the manufacturing tolerance of the cone angle to be 0.05°, the lateral alignment tolerance was 45 \\um, and the angular alignment tolerance was 0.043°. Our results suggest that the physical size of coronagraphs can be shortened significantly by using a cone occulter.

  7. Occult abnormal pregnancies after first post-embryo transfer serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels of 1.0-5.0 mIU/mL.

    PubMed

    Maslow, Bat-Sheva L; Bartolucci, Alison; Sueldo, Carolina; Engmann, Lawrence; Benadiva, Claudio; Nulsen, John C

    2016-04-01

    To assess the occult pregnancy rate after "negative" first post-embryo transfer (ET) serum β-hCG results. Two-part retrospective cohort study and nested case series. University-based fertility center. A total of 1,571 negative first post-ET serum β-hCG results were included in the study; 1,326 results (primary cohort, June 2009-December 2013) were initially reported as <5 mIU/mL and 245 results (secondary cohort, January 2014-March 2015) were reported as discrete values from 1.0 to 5.0 mIU/mL. None. Rates of occult pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, and complications after negative first post-ET serum β-hCG results. A total of 88.8% (1,178/1,326) of the negative first post-ET results reported as <5 were actually <1.0 mIU/mL. Occult pregnancy was incidentally identified in 1.2% (12/1,041) of subjects with follow-up. Six had ectopic pregnancies, and seven experienced serious complications; 11 (91.7%) of the 12 occult pregnancies had a first post-ET serum β-hCG level of 1.0-5.0 mIU/mL and 1 (8.3%) <1.0 mIU/mL. All pregnancies with serious complications had initial β-hCG levels of 1.0-5.0 mIU/mL. Of the 245 results reported as discreet values, occult pregnancies were diagnosed in 5.5% (9/163) of subjects with follow-up. One had an ectopic pregnancy, which was treated with methotrexate. There were no serious complications in the secondary cohort. The majority of negative first post-ET serum β-hCG levels are <1.0 mIU/mL. Results from 1.0 to 5.0 mIU/mL may fail to exclude abnormal pregnancy and are associated with poor outcomes compared with β-hCG levels <1.0 mIU/mL. Serial serum β-hCG may be warranted in this population. Copyright © 2016 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. [Breast metastasis of a squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. A case report].

    PubMed

    Yordanov, Y; Dimitrova, P

    2015-01-01

    The breast is an extremely rare target organ for metastasis of extramammary neoplasms. The occurence varies between 1.7% to 6.6% in autopsies; between 1.2% and 2% in clinical cases; and around 2.7% in sputum series. In accordance with the primary tumor localization, it is more common to find metastases of lymphoma, melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, tumors of the lung and ovarian tumors. Breast metastasis of the uterine cervix is a very seldomly found. According to the published literature so far there have been around 30 documented cases with such pathology. This study presents the case of a 48-year-old female with a squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, which was histologically verified in 2010. Three years after the initial tumor diagnosis, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patient was found to have a cystic tumor formation in one of her breasts. The formation was painful to pressure. Quadrantectomy with an open bisopsy was performed to the patient. Histological and immunohistochemical diagnosis rejected primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast. The differential diagnosis of metastatic lesions in the breast is problematic and requires careful clinical history, immunohistochemical study and multidisciplinary approach in the management. Mammary metastases are a bad predictor and they serve as an indicator of generalized dissemination of the primary tumor process.

  9. Occult tinea pedis in an Israeli population and predisposing factors for the acquisition of the disease.

    PubMed

    Sakka, Nicole; Shemer, Avner; Barzilai, Aviv; Farhi, Renata; Daniel, Ralph

    2015-02-01

    Tinea pedis is a commonly encountered dermatophytic infection with a clinical prevalence of 15-25%. Limited studies have evaluated the prevalence of occult tinea pedis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of occult tinea pedis in asymptomatic subjects with feet that appeared healthy and to identify possible related risk factors. A prospective study of 221 asymptomatic subjects with apparently normal feet was conducted. All subjects completed a questionnaire covering anamnestic details (personal and family histories of tinea pedis, preferred footwear) and were examined for foot odor and the clinical presence of tinea pedis and onychomycosis. Samples were taken from the foot for direct microscopic examination and culture. Among the 221 patients, 31 (14.0%) were positive for occult tinea pedis. Positive cultures from both the anterior and posterior aspects of the foot were obtained in 22 patients. The most common pathogen isolated was Trichophyton rubrum. Strong correlations emerged between occult tinea pedis and characteristics such as male gender, foot odor, previous personal and family histories of tinea pedis, and clinical and mycological evidence of onychomycosis. No significant associations were found between occult tinea pedis and age or preferred footwear. The prevalence of occult tinea pedis is similar to that of clinical tinea pedis. This may imply that patients with subclinical infection carry a risk for transmitting disease similar to that of clinical carriers. This is of great importance in the prevention and management of the disease as high-risk asymptomatic carriers can be identified. © 2014 The International Society of Dermatology.

  10. Functional analysis of ‘a’ determinant mutations associated with occult HBV in HIV-positive South Africans

    PubMed Central

    Powell, Eleanor A.; Boyce, Ceejay L.; Gededzha, Maemu P.; Selabe, Selokela G.; Mphahlele, M. Jeffrey

    2016-01-01

    Occult hepatitis B is defined by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Occult HBV is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, reactivation during immune suppression, and virus transmission. Viral mutations contribute significantly to the occult HBV phenotype. Mutations in the ‘a’ determinant of HBsAg are of particular interest, as these mutations are associated with immune escape, vaccine escape and diagnostic failure. We examined the effects of selected occult HBV-associated mutations identified in a population of HIV-positive South Africans on HBsAg production in vitro. Mutations were inserted into two different chronic HBV backbones and transfected into a hepatocyte-derived cell line. HBsAg levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the detectability of mutant HBsAg was determined using an HA-tagged HBsAg expression system. Of the seven mutations analysed, four (S132P, C138Y, N146D and C147Y) resulted in decreased HBsAg expression in one viral background but not in the second viral background. One mutation (N146D) led to a decrease in HBsAg detected as compared to HA-tag, indicating that this mutation compromises the ability of the ELISA to detect HBsAg. The contribution of occult-associated mutations to the HBsAg-negative phenotype of occult HBV cannot be determined adequately by testing the effect of the mutation in a single viral background, and rigorous analysis of these mutations is required. PMID:27031988

  11. Trefoil Factor 3 as a Novel Biomarker to Distinguish Between Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Xiao-Nan; Wang, Shu-Jing; Pandey, Vijay; Chen, Ping; Li, Qing; Wu, Zheng-Sheng; Wu, Qiang; Lobie, Peter E.

    2015-01-01

    Abstract In carcinoma, such as of the lung, the histological subtype is important to select an appropriate therapeutic strategy for patients. However, carcinomas with poor differentiation cannot always be distinguished on the basis of morphology alone nor on clinical findings. Hence, delineation of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the 2 most common epithelial-origin carcinomas, is pivotal for selection of optimum therapy. Herein, we explored the potential utility of trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) as a biomarker for primary lung adenocarcinoma and extrapulmonary adenocarcinomas derived from different organs. We observed that 90.9% of lung adenocarcinomas were TFF3-positive, whereas no expression of TFF3 was observed in squamous cell carcinomas. The subtype of lung carcinoma was confirmed by four established biomarkers, cytokeratin 7 and thyroid transcription factor 1 for adenocarcinoma and P63 and cytokeratin 5/6 for squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, expression of TFF3 mRNA was observed by quantitative PCR in all of 11 human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines and highly correlated with markers of the adenocarcinomatous lineage. In contrast, little or no expression of TFF3 was observed in 4 lung squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. By use of forced expression, or siRNA-mediated depletion of TFF3, we determined that TFF3 appeared to maintain rather than promote glandular differentiation of lung carcinoma cells. In addition, TFF3 expression was also determined in adenocarcinomas from colorectum, stomach, cervix, esophagus, and larynx. Among all these extrapulmonary carcinomas, 93.7% of adenocarcinomas exhibited TFF3 positivity, whereas only 2.9% of squamous cell carcinomas were TFF3-positive. Totally, 92.9% of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary adenocarcinomas exhibited TFF3 positivity, whereas only 1.5% of squamous cell carcinomas were TFF3-positive. In conclusion, TFF3 is preferentially expressed in adenocarcinoma and may function as an

  12. Facial paralysis due to an occult parotid abscess.

    PubMed

    Orhan, Kadir Serkan; Demirel, Tayfun; Kocasoy-Orhan, Elif; Yenigül, Kubilay

    2008-01-01

    Facial paralysis associated with benign diseases of the parotid gland is very rare. It has been reported in approximately 16 cases of acute suppurative parotitis or parotid abscess. We presented a 45-year-old woman who developed facial paralysis secondary to an occult parotid abscess. Initially, there was no facial paralysis and the signs and symptoms were suggestive of acute parotitis, for which medical treatment was initiated. Three days later, left-sided facial palsy of HB (House-Brackmann) grade 5 developed. Ultrasonography revealed a pretragal, hypoechoic mass, 10x8 mm in size, causing inflammation in the surrounding tissue. Fine needle aspiration biopsy obtained from the mass revealed polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes. No malignant cells were observed. The lesion was diagnosed as an occult parotid abscess. After a week, the mass disappeared and facial paralysis improved to HB grade 4. At the end of the first month, facial paralysis improved to HB grade 1. At three months, facial nerve function was nearly normal.

  13. Potential targets for lung squamous cell carcinoma

    Cancer.gov

    Researchers have identified potential therapeutic targets in lung squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of lung cancer. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network study comprehensively characterized the lung squamous cell carcinoma gen

  14. Chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell cancer.

    PubMed

    Sasaki, Yusuke; Kato, Ken

    2016-09-01

    Chemoradiotherapy has been clinically indicated for patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who refuse surgical resection and in locally advanced unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy prolongs survival than radiation therapy alone when given as definitive treatment. Therefore, chemoradiotherapy is recognized as the standard non-invasive treatment for patients with localized esophageal cancer who opt for non-surgical treatment. JCOG9906 showed promising outcomes for stage II/III ESCC patients. But there are some problems about chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Late toxicities are sometimes lethal for patients who achieved complete response even after years. Salvage treatment for residual or recurrent disease is unestablished. Modified Radiation Therapy Oncology Group regimen at the dose of 50.4 Gy reduced late toxicities without reducing efficacy. Optimal timings and procedure of salvage surgery and endoscopic therapy is evaluated in JCOG0909. Strategy including salvage therapy after chemoradiotherapy should be considered at the time of starting the treatment. Targeted therapy has not shown adding effect for chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma yet. New agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, are expected to show synergistic effect with chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Further investigation is needed. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  15. Prevalence of occult HBV among hemodialysis patients in two districts in the northern part of the West Bank, Palestine.

    PubMed

    Dumaidi, Kamal; Al-Jawabreh, Amer

    2014-10-01

    Occult hepatitis B infection is the case with undetectable HBsAg, but positive for HBV DNA in liver tissue and/or serum. Occult hepatitis B infection among hemodialysis patients in Palestine has been understudied. In this study, 148 hemodialysis patients from 2 northern districts in Palestine, Jenin (89) and Tulkarem (59), were investigated for occult hepatitis B, HBV, HCV infections with related risk factors. ELISA and PCR were used for the detection of anti-HBc and viral DNA, respectively. The overall prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection among the study group was 12.5% (16/128). Occult hepatitis B infection is more prevalent among males with most cases (15/16) from Jenin District. About one-third (42/132) of the hemodialysis patients were anti-HBc positive. Approximately 27% of the hemodialysis patients were infected with HCV. Around 20% (28/140) were positive for HBV DNA, but only 8.2% (12/146) of the hemodialysis patients were positive for HBsAg. The comparison between hemodialysis patients with occult hepatitis B infection and those without occult hepatitis B infection for selected risk factors and parameters as liver Enzyme, age, sex, HCV infection, blood transfusion, kidney transplant, anti-HBc, and vaccination showed no statistical significance between both categories. Duration of hemodialysis significantly affected the rate of HCV infection. HCV is significantly higher in hemodialysis patients with both Diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection among hemodialysis patients is high; requiring stringent control policies. HBsAg assay is insufficient test for accurate diagnosis of HBV infection among hemodialysis patients. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. Preliminary Global Topographic Model of Mars Based on MOLA Altimetry, Earth-Based Radar, and Viking, Mariner and MGS Occultations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smith, David E.; Zuber, Maria T.; Neumann, Gregory A.

    1999-01-01

    The recent altimetry data acquired by MOLA over the northern hemisphere of Mars have been combined with the Earth-based radar data obtained between 1971 and 1982, and occultation measurements of the Viking 1 and 2 Orbiters, Mariner 9, and MGS to derive a global model of the shape and topography of Mars. This preliminary model has a horizontal resolution of about 300 km. Vertical accuracy is on average a few hundred meters in the region of the data. Datasets: The altimetry and radar datasets were individually binned in 1.25 degree grids and merged with the occultation data. The Viking and Mariner occultation data in the northern hemisphere were excluded from the combined dataset where MOLA altimetry were available. The laser altimetry provided extensive and almost complete coverage of the northern hemisphere north of latitude 30 while the radar provided longitudinal coverage at several latitude bands between 23N and 23S. South of this region the only data were occultations. The majority of the occultations were obtained from Mariner 9, and the rest from Viking 1 & 2, and MGS. Earlier studies had shown that the Viking and Mariner occultations were on average only accurate to 500 meters. The recent MGS occultations are accurate to a few tens of meters. However, the highest southern latitude reached by the MGS occultations is only about 64S and data near the target region for the Mars 98 lander is limited to a few Viking and Mariner observations of relatively poor quality. In addition to the above datasets the locations of the Viking 1, Viking 2, and Pathfinder landers, obtained from the radio tracking of their signals, were included.

  17. Recurring Occultations of RW Aurigae by Coagulated Dust in the Tidally Disrupted Circumstellar Disk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodriguez, Joseph E.; Reed, Phillip A.; Siverd, Robert J.; Pepper, Joshua; Stassun, Keivan G.; Gaudi, B. Scott; Weintraub, David A.; Beatty, Thomas G.; Lund, Michael B.; Stevens, Daniel J.

    2016-02-01

    We present photometric observations of RW Aurigae, a Classical T Tauri system, that reveal two remarkable dimming events. These events are similar to that which we observed in 2010-2011, which was the first such deep dimming observed in RW Aur in a century’s worth of photometric monitoring. We suggested the 2010-2011 dimming was the result of an occultation of the star by its tidally disrupted circumstellar disk. In 2012-2013, the RW Aur system dimmed by ˜0.7 mag for ˜40 days and in 2014/2015 the system dimmed by ˜2 mag for >250 days. The ingress/egress duration measurements of the more recent events agree well with those from the 2010-2011 event, providing strong evidence that the new dimmings are kinematically associated with the same occulting source as the 2010-2011 event. Therefore, we suggest that both the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 dimming events, measured using data from the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope and the Kutztown University Observatory, are also occultations of RW Aur A by the tidally disrupted circumstellar material. Recent hydrodynamical simulations of the eccentric fly-by of RW Aur B suggest the occulting body to be a bridge of material connecting RW Aur A and B. These simulations also suggest the possibility of additional occultations which are supported by the observations presented in this work. The color evolution of the dimmings suggest that the tidally stripped disk material includes dust grains ranging in size from small grains at the leading edge, typical of star-forming regions, to large grains, ices or pebbles producing gray or nearly gray extinction deeper within the occulting material. It is not known whether this material represents arrested planet building prior to the tidal disruption event, or perhaps accelerated planet building as a result of the disruption event, but in any case the evidence suggests the presence of advanced planet building material in the space between the two stars of the RW Aur system.

  18. A 2016 Ganymede stellar occultation event

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    D'Aversa, Emiliano; Oliva, Fabrizio; Sindoni, Giuseppe; Hinse, Tobias Cornelius; Plainaki, Christina; Aoki, Shohei; Person, Michael J.; Carlson, Robert W.; Orton, Glenn S.

    2017-04-01

    On 2016 April,13th the Jovian satellite Ganymede occulted a 7th magnitude star. The predicted occultation track crossed the Northern Pacific Ocean, Japan, and South Korea. Hence, it was a very favorable event due to the star brightness and to the visibility from the large aperture telescopes at Hawaii. While no other similar event is expected for the next 10 years, only two occultation events are reported in literature in the past, from Earth in 1972 [1] and from Voyager [2], in large disagreement in respect to the atmosphere detection. However, evidence of an exosphere around Ganymede was inferred by [3], through H Lyman alpha emission detected by Galileo UVS, and by [4], through HST/GHRS detection of far-UV atomic O airglow emissions, signature of dissociated molecular oxygen ([5],[6]). Later, the HST/STIS observations by [7] provided further evidence for exospheric neutral hydrogen. Since Ganymede is known to have an intrinsic magnetic field ([8]) reconnecting with the Jovian magnetic field and (partially) shielding the surface equatorial latitudes from the electron impact, the UV emissions have been so far attributed to auroral processes ([6]). Nevertheless, the physical mechanisms governing these processes are not known with certainty (e.g. whether the emissions morphology is determined by the spatial distribution of magnetospheric electrons or by an uneven O2 exosphere or both, see e.g.[9]). We took advantage of this event in order to search for a signature of Ganymede's exosphere in the occultation light curve, by using facilities on Mauna Kea at Hawaii (NASA-IRTF observatory) and at Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory (SOAO) in South Korea. At IRTF, both MORIS [10] and SpeX [11] instruments have been used, fed by the same optical entrance through a dichroic beam splitter at 0.95 micron. MORIS acquired a high-rate sequence of images about 0.25 sec apart in the visible range, while SpeX acquired a sequence of spectra at a bit lower rate, covering the 0

  19. The prevalence of occult endometrial cancer in women undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications.

    PubMed

    Parsons, Lavanya H Palavalli; Pedersen, Rebecca; Richardson, Debra L; Kho, Kimberly A

    2018-04-01

    To estimate the frequency of occult endometrial cancer in women undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications. We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing hysterectomies for benign indications at our institution from 2006 to 2014. A departmental database was used to identify all hysterectomies performed, and institutional tumor registry was used to identify cases of endometrial carcinoma. Occult carcinomas were defined as cases with no suspicion preoperatively and histopathologic diagnosis of endometrial cancer postoperatively. A total of 6981 hysterectomies were performed for benign indications. Among these, thirteen patients (0.19%) were found to have occult endometrial cancer, with an overall rate of 1 in 537 patients (95% confidence interval 1:314-1:1008). Twelve patients had stage IA and one had stage IB disease. Median age of women found to have endometrial cancer was 50 years (range 35-72 years). The median BMI was 29.8 kg/m 2 (range 21.3-50.4 kg/m 2 ). The most common indications for hysterectomy were abnormal bleeding (47%), postmenopausal bleeding (15%), adnexal mass (15%), prolapse (15%), and endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (8%). Of the postmenopausal women that had bleeding, all patients underwent evaluation of the endometrium, however 75% of samples did not have adequate amount of endometrium to be evaluated and 25% were found to have hyperplasia. This is one of the largest single institution cohorts to examine occult malignancy. Unexpected endometrial carcinomas were found to occur in 0.19% or 1:537 (95% confidence interval 1:314-1:1008) hysterectomies for benign indications in our population. PRéCIS: Occult endometrial carcinomas are found to occur in 1:537 (0.19%) hysterectomies for benign indications. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Occult hepatitis B virus coinfection in HIV-positive African migrants to the UK: a point prevalence study.

    PubMed

    Chadwick, D; Doyle, T; Ellis, S; Price, D; Abbas, I; Valappil, M; Geretti, A M

    2014-03-01

    Occult (surface antigen-negative/DNA-positive) hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is common in areas of the world where HBV is endemic. The main objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of occult HBV infection in HIV-infected African migrants to the UK and to determine factors associated with occult coinfection. This anonymized point-prevalence study identified Africans attending three HIV clinics, focussing on patients naïve to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Stored blood samples were tested for HBV DNA. Prevalence was calculated in the entire cohort, as well as in subpopulations. Risk factors for occult HBV coinfection were identified using logistic regression analysis. Among 335 HIV-positive African migrants, the prevalence of occult HBV coinfection was 4.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.8-7.4%] overall, and 6.5% (95% CI 3.9-10.6%) and 0.8% (95% CI 0.2-4.6%) in ART-naïve and ART-experienced patients, respectively. Among ART-naïve anti-HBV core (anti-HBc)-positive patients, the prevalence was 16.4% (95% CI 8.3-25.6%). The strongest predictor of occult coinfection was anti-HBc positivity [odds ratio (OR) 7.4; 95% CI 2.0-27.6]. Median HBV DNA and ALT levels were 54 IU/mL [interquartile range (IQR) 33-513 IU/mL] and 22 U/L (IQR 13-27 U/L), respectively. Occult HBV coinfection remains under-diagnosed in African HIV-infected patients in the UK. Given the range of HBV DNA levels observed, further studies are warranted to determine its clinical significance and to guide screening strategies and ART selection in these patients. © 2013 British HIV Association.

  1. Serendipitous occultations by kilometer size Kuiper Belt with MIOSOTYS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Doressoundiram, A.; Liu, C.-Y.; Maquet, L.; Roques, F.

    2017-09-01

    MIOSOTYS (Multi-object Instrument for Occultations in the SOlar system and TransitorY Systems) is a multi-fiber positioner coupled with a fast photometry camera. This is a visitor instrument mounted on the 193 cm telescope at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence, France and on the 123 cm telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory, Spain. Our immediate goal is to characterize the spatial distribution and extension of the Kuiper Belt, and the physical size distribution of TNOs. We present the observation campaigns during 2010-2013, objectives and observing strategy. We report the detection of potential candidates for occultation events of TNOs. We will discuss more specifically the method used to process the data and the modelling of diffraction patterns. We, finally present the results obtained concerning the distribution of sub-kilometer TNOs in the Kuiper Belt.

  2. Astrometry of the Orcus/Vanth occultation on UT 7 March 2017

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bosh, Amanda S.; Zuluaga, Carlos; Levine, Stephen; Sickafoose, Amanda A.; Genade, Anja; Schindler, Karsten; Lister, Tim; Person, Michael J.

    2017-10-01

    On UT 7 March 2017, Orcus was predicted to occult a star with m=14.3. Observations were made at five observatories: the 0.6-m Astronomical Telescope of the University of Stuttgart (ATUS) at Sierra Remote Observatories (SRO), California; Las Cumbres Observatory’s 1-m telescope (ELP) at McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas; NASA’s 3-m InfraRed Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii; the 4.1-m Southern Astrophysical Research telescope (SOAR) on Cerro Pachón, Chile; and the 0.6-m Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy telescope (SARA-CT) at Cerro Tololo, Chile. While observations at all sites were successful, only two—ELP and IRTF—observed solid-body occultation signatures. We will discuss the various predictions for this event and the reasons for the differences among them, including an offset of 130 mas for the star position from the position in the Gaia catalog. The sum of the positive and negative detections place constraints on the geometry of the Orcus/Vanth system, and we present our astrometric results for the geometric solution for this occultation. The implications of the light curve analyses are presented by Sickafoose et al., this conference.

  3. Structure of the Atmosphere of Saturn at Low Latitudes: Results from the First Six Cassini Radio Occultation Experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schinder, P. J.; Flasar, F. M.; Kliore, A. J.; Rappaport, N. J.; Asmar, S.; Anabtawi, A.; Barbinis, E.; Fleischman, D. U.; Goltz, G. L.; Johnston, D. V.; Rochblatt, D.; French, R. G.; McGhee, C. A.; Marouf, E. A.

    2005-08-01

    On May 3, 2005 occurred the first of a series of seven occultations of Cassini by Saturn which have taken or will take place during the spring and summer of 2005. These near diametric occultations cover a latitude range of between 8 N and 10 S planetocentric latitude, and will give us a detailed look at the structure of the low latitude neutral atmosphere of Saturn down to ˜ 1.6 \\ bar. These occultations are the first to be done at three wavelengths (S, X, and Ka bands) simultaneously. Preliminary results of the occultations that have occurred to date show abundant small scale structure in the temperature-pressure profiles, and a recurring temperature inversion starting at about 100 mbar and extending to roughly 200 mbar.

  4. Radiation therapy in the management of head-and-neck cancer of unknown primary origin: how does the addition of concurrent chemotherapy affect the therapeutic ratio?

    PubMed

    Chen, Allen M; Farwell, D Gregory; Lau, Derick H; Li, Bao-Qing; Luu, Quang; Donald, Paul J

    2011-10-01

    To determine how the addition of cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy to radiation therapy influences outcomes among a cohort of patients treated for head-and-neck cancer of unknown primary origin. The medical records of 60 consecutive patients treated by radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis of occult primary origin were reviewed. Thirty-two patients (53%) were treated by concurrent chemoradiation, and 28 patients (47%) were treated by radiation therapy alone. Forty-five patients (75%) received radiation therapy after surgical resection, and 15 patients (25%) received primary radiation therapy. Thirty-five patients (58%) were treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy. The 2-year estimates of overall survival, local-regional control, and progression-free survival were 89%, 89%, and 79%, respectively, among patients treated by chemoradiation, compared to 90%, 92%, and 83%, respectively, among patients treated by radiation therapy alone (p > 0.05, for all). Exploratory analysis failed to identify any subset of patients who benefited from the addition of concurrent chemotherapy to radiation therapy. The use of concurrent chemotherapy was associated with a significantly increased incidence of Grade 3+ acute and late toxicity (p < 0.001, for both). Concurrent chemoradiation is associated with significant toxicity without a clear advantage to overall survival, local-regional control, and progression-free survival in the treatment of head-and-neck cancer of unknown primary origin. Although selection bias cannot be ignored, prospective data are needed to further address this question. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Radiation Therapy in the Management of Head-and-Neck Cancer of Unknown Primary Origin: How Does the Addition of Concurrent Chemotherapy Affect the Therapeutic Ratio?

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chen, Allen M., E-mail: allen.chen@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu; Farwell, D. Gregory; Lau, Derick H.

    2011-10-01

    Purpose: To determine how the addition of cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy to radiation therapy influences outcomes among a cohort of patients treated for head-and-neck cancer of unknown primary origin. Methods and Materials: The medical records of 60 consecutive patients treated by radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis of occult primary origin were reviewed. Thirty-two patients (53%) were treated by concurrent chemoradiation, and 28 patients (47%) were treated by radiation therapy alone. Forty-five patients (75%) received radiation therapy after surgical resection, and 15 patients (25%) received primary radiation therapy. Thirty-five patientsmore » (58%) were treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Results: The 2-year estimates of overall survival, local-regional control, and progression-free survival were 89%, 89%, and 79%, respectively, among patients treated by chemoradiation, compared to 90%, 92%, and 83%, respectively, among patients treated by radiation therapy alone (p > 0.05, for all). Exploratory analysis failed to identify any subset of patients who benefited from the addition of concurrent chemotherapy to radiation therapy. The use of concurrent chemotherapy was associated with a significantly increased incidence of Grade 3+ acute and late toxicity (p < 0.001, for both). Conclusions: Concurrent chemoradiation is associated with significant toxicity without a clear advantage to overall survival, local-regional control, and progression-free survival in the treatment of head-and-neck cancer of unknown primary origin. Although selection bias cannot be ignored, prospective data are needed to further address this question.« less

  6. Impact of D-Dimer for Prediction of Incident Occult Cancer in Patients with Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism

    PubMed Central

    Han, Donghee; ó Hartaigh, Bríain; Lee, Ji Hyun; Cho, In-Jeong; Shim, Chi Young; Chang, Hyuk-Jae; Hong, Geu-Ru; Ha, Jong-Won; Chung, Namsik

    2016-01-01

    Background Unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) is related to a higher incidence of occult cancer. D-dimer is clinically used for screening VTE, and has often been shown to be present in patients with malignancy. We explored the predictive value of D-dimer for detecting occult cancer in patients with unprovoked VTE. Methods We retrospectively examined data from 824 patients diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism. Of these, 169 (20.5%) patients diagnosed with unprovoked VTE were selected to participate in this study. D-dimer was categorized into three groups as: <2,000, 2,000–4,000, and >4,000 ng/ml. Cox regression analysis was employed to estimate the odds of occult cancer and metastatic state of cancer according to D-dimer categories. Results During a median 5.3 (interquartile range: 3.4–6.7) years of follow-up, 24 (14%) patients with unprovoked VTE were diagnosed with cancer. Of these patients, 16 (67%) were identified as having been diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Log transformed D-dimer levels were significantly higher in those with occult cancer as compared with patients without diagnosis of occult cancer (3.5±0.5 vs. 3.2±0.5, P-value = 0.009, respectively). D-dimer levels >4,000 ng/ml was independently associated with occult cancer (HR: 4.12, 95% CI: 1.54–11.04, P-value = 0.005) when compared with D-dimer levels <2,000 ng/ml, even after adjusting for age, gender, and type of VTE (e.g., deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism). D-dimer levels >4000 ng/ml were also associated with a higher likelihood of metastatic cancer (HR: 9.55, 95% CI: 2.46–37.17, P-value <0.001). Conclusion Elevated D-dimer concentrations >4000 ng/ml are independently associated with the likelihood of occult cancer among patients with unprovoked VTE. PMID:27073982

  7. The diameter of Pallas from its occultation of SAO 85009

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wasserman, L. H.; Millis, R. L.; Franz, O. G.; Bowell, E.; Giclas, H. L.; Martin, L. J.; Elliot, J. L.; Dunham, E.; Mink, D.; White, N. M.

    1979-01-01

    The May 29, 1978, occultation of SAO 85009 by Pallas was observed photoelectrically at seven widely spaced sites. The observations are well represented by an elliptical apparent limb profile having semimajor and semiminor axes of 279.5 + or - 2.9 and 262.7 + or - 4.5 km, respectively. Combining these results with published information on the light curve and rotational pole position, Pallas's mean diameter is found to be 538 + or - 12 km, which yields a mean density for Pallas of 2.8 + or - 0.5 g/cu cm and a visual geometric albedo of 0.103 + or - 0.005. The diameter of Pallas as determined from this occultation is significantly smaller than the values derived by radiometric, polarimetric, and double-image techniques.

  8. Plasma D-dimer levels and ischaemic lesions in multiple vascular regions can predict occult cancer in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

    PubMed

    Gon, Y; Sakaguchi, M; Takasugi, J; Kawano, T; Kanki, H; Watanabe, A; Oyama, N; Terasaki, Y; Sasaki, T; Mochizuki, H

    2017-03-01

    Cancer patients with cryptogenic stroke often have high plasma D-dimer levels and lesions in multiple vascular regions. Hence, if patients with cryptogenic stroke display such characteristics, occult cancer could be predicted. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of cryptogenic stroke as the first manifestation of occult cancer and to determine whether plasma D-dimer levels and lesions in multiple vascular regions can predict occult cancer in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Between January 2006 and October 2015, data on 1225 patients with acute ischaemic stroke were extracted from the stroke database of Osaka University Hospital. Among them, 184 patients were classified as having cryptogenic stroke, and 120 patients without a diagnosis of cancer at stroke onset were identified. Clinical variables were analyzed between cryptogenic stroke patients with and without occult cancer. Among 120 cryptogenic stroke patients without a diagnosis of cancer, 12 patients had occult cancer. The body mass index, hemoglobin levels and albumin levels were lower; plasma D-dimer and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were higher; and lesions in multiple vascular regions were more common in patients with than in those without occult cancer. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma D-dimer levels (odds ratio, 3.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-8.33; P = 0.002) and lesions in multiple vascular regions (odds ratio, 7.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-39.45; P = 0.01) independently predicted occult cancer. High plasma D-dimer levels and lesions in multiple vascular regions can be used to predict occult cancer in patients with cryptogenic stroke. © 2016 EAN.

  9. The Perceived Credibility of Scientific Claims, Paranormal Phenomena, and Miracles among Primary Teacher Students: A Comparative Study.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Keranto, Tapio

    2001-01-01

    Presents data collected concerning scientific, religious, and magic-occult connections from Finnish, Estonian, and Michigan primary teacher students to answer questions such as Do we find any differences between the credibility estimates?, Are there any differences between primary teacher students raised in different societies and educated in…

  10. Squamous metaplasia of the rete ovarii in a Zebu cow

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Stratified keratinizing squamous epithelium in the ovary has been associated with the diagnosis of ovarian teratoma in cows. Recently, the diagnosis of “epidermoid cyst” has been proposed. A case of squamous metaplasia of the rete ovarii in a Zebu cow is described in this report. Case presentation A crossbreed Zebu cow had both ovaries enlarged with multiple cysts. Most cysts were lined by well differentiated keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium and filled with keratinized lamellar material. Some cysts were lined by an epithelial layer that ranged from single cuboidal, double cuboidal epithelium, stratified non keratinized epithelium, and areas of keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium. Single or double layered cuboidal epithelia of the cysts expressed low molecular weight cytokeratin 7, whose expression was absent in the keratinizing stratified squamous epithelia of same cysts. Conversely, high molecular weight cytokeratins 1, 5, 10, and 14 were strongly expressed by the keratinizing stratified epithelium. Conclusion Squamous metaplasia of the rete ovarii was diagnosed. Squamous metaplasia of the rete ovarii, may account for some of the previously described squamous lesions in the ovary, which may have been misinterpreted as teratoma or epidermoid cysts. PMID:23217175

  11. Differential Impact of Close Surgical Margin on Local Recurrence According to Primary Tumor Size in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Jang, Jeon Yeob; Choi, Nayeon; Ko, Young-Hyeh; Chung, Man Ki; Son, Young-Ik; Baek, Chung-Hwan; Baek, Kwan-Hyuck; Jeong, Han-Sin

    2017-06-01

    The extent of surgical safety margin (gross tumor border to resection margin) in oral cancer surgery remains unclear, and no study has determined the differential impact of close surgical margin and microscopic extension according to primary tumor size in oral cancers. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 325 patients with surgically treated oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas to determine the effect of a close surgical margin (<5 mm) (cSM 5 ) on local recurrence. In addition, the depth of microscopic tumor infiltration was determined in 90 available surgical specimens. The cSM 5 was not related to the risk of local tumor recurrence in early-stage oral cancer, while it significantly increased the rate of local tumor recurrence in resectable advanced-stage oral cancers (hazard ratio 3.157, 95 % confidence interval 1.050-9.407, p = 0.041). Addition of postoperative adjuvant radiation to early-stage tumors with cSM 5 did not further reduce the local recurrence rate compared to surgery alone. The depth of microscopic tumor extension from the gross tumor border was significantly associated with primary tumor thickness (ρ = 0.390, p < 0.001) and tumor sizes (ρ = 0.308, p = 0.003), which was a median (range) of 0.84 (0.14-2.32) mm in T1, 1.06 (0.20-4.34) mm in T2, and 1.77 (0.13-4.70) mm in T3-4. The cSM 5 was a significant risk factor for local recurrence only in advanced oral cancers, but not in early-stage tumors, where microscopic tumor extension was not beyond 3 mm in T1 tumors. Thus, the extent of surgical safety margin can be redefined according to the primary tumor size.

  12. Ionospheric Signatures in Radio Occultation Data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mannucci, Anthony J.; Ao, Chi; Iijima, Byron A.; Kursinkski, E. Robert

    2012-01-01

    We can extend robustly the radio occultation data record by 6 years (+60%) by developing a singlefrequency processing method for GPS/MET data. We will produce a calibrated data set with profile-byprofile data characterization to determine robust upper bounds on ionospheric bias. Part of an effort to produce a calibrated RO data set addressing other key error sources such as upper boundary initialization. Planned: AIRS-GPS water vapor cross validation (water vapor climatology and trends).

  13. Continuation maintenance therapy with S-1 in chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Seiichiro; Karayama, Masato; Inui, Naoki; Fujisawa, Tomoyuki; Enomoto, Noriyuki; Nakamura, Yutaro; Kuroishi, Shigeki; Matsuda, Hiroyuki; Yokomura, Koshi; Koshimizu, Naoki; Toyoshima, Mikio; Imokawa, Shiro; Asada, Kazuhiro; Masuda, Masafumi; Yamada, Takashi; Watanabe, Hiroshi; Suda, Takafumi

    2016-08-01

    Objectives Maintenance therapy is a standard therapeutic strategy in non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer. However, there is no consensus regarding the benefit of maintenance therapy for patients with squamous cell lung cancer. We assessed maintenance therapy with S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine agent, following induction therapy with carboplatin and S-1 in patients with squamous cell lung cancer. Methods In this phase II trial, chemotherapy-naïve patients with squamous cell lung cancer were enrolled to induction therapy with four cycles of carboplatin (at an area under the curve of 5 on day 1) and S-1 (80 mg/m(2)/day on days 1-14) in a 28-day cycle. Patients who achieved disease control after induction therapy received maintenance therapy with S-1 in a 21-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival after administration of maintenance therapy. Results Fifty-one patients were enrolled in the study. The median progression-free survival from the start of maintenance therapy was 3.0 months (95 % confidence interval, 2.5-3.5). The most common toxicities associated with maintenance therapy were anemia, thrombocytopenia, and fatigue, but they were not severe. Conclusion S-1 maintenance therapy might be a feasible treatment option in patients with squamous cell lung cancer.

  14. Highly differentiated keratinizing squamous cell cancer of the cervix: a rare, locally aggressive tumor not associated with human papillomavirus or squamous intraepithelial lesions.

    PubMed

    Morrison, C; Catania, F; Wakely, P; Nuovo, G J

    2001-10-01

    The purpose of this study is to report an unusual variant of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, not associated with either human papillomavirus infection or antecedent squamous intraepithelial lesions. Five women had a diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer discovered at hysterectomy performed for prolapse (two cases), leiomyoma (one case), or a vaginal fistula (two cases). The women ranged in age from 47 to 78 years (mean 59 years). Four of the five had a history of normal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears; the other had a Pap smear diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). All had large cervical tumors (two with parametrial involvement and one with vaginal involvement) that showed extensive keratin formation, an inverted pattern of growth, and, except for one case, minimal cytologic atypia. There was extensive hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis adjacent to each tumor; none had evidence of squamous intraepithelial lesion. Human papillomavirus testing by polymerase chain reaction in situ hybridization and reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction in situ was negative in each case, compared with a detection rate of 107 of 108 (99%) for squamous intraepithelial lesion-associated cervical squamous cell and adenocarcinomas. Two of the women died of extensive local recurrence; two other women were recently diagnosed. We conclude that highly differentiated keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is a rare entity not associated with human papillomavirus infection or squamous intraepithelial lesion and thus difficult to detect on routine cervical cancer screening.

  15. Alice Solar Occultation

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2015-07-17

    This figure shows how the Alice instrument count rate changed over time during the sunset and sunrise observations. The count rate is largest when the line of sight to the sun is outside of the atmosphere at the start and end times. Molecular nitrogen (N2) starts absorbing sunlight in the upper reaches of Pluto's atmosphere, decreasing as the spacecraft approaches the planet's shadow. As the occultation progresses, atmospheric methane and hydrocarbons can also absorb the sunlight and further decrease the count rate. When the spacecraft is totally in Pluto's shadow the count rate goes to zero. As the spacecraft emerges from Pluto's shadow into sunrise, the process is reversed. By plotting the observed count rate in the reverse time direction, it is seen that the atmospheres on opposite sides of Pluto are nearly identical. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19716

  16. Rare Co-existence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Infiltration of Renal Vein and Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis

    PubMed Central

    Vanikar, A.V.; Patel, R.D.; Nigam, L. K.; Trivedi, H. L.

    2015-01-01

    Primary renal squamous cell carcinoma is a very rare malignancy of the upper urinary tract. Most patients have history of chronic urolithiasis, analgesics abuse, radiotherapy or infection. Co-existence of SCC with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is exceedingly rare with only few reports in the literature. We report a case of a 60-year-old male presented with right flank pain and mild tenderness of abdomen. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed gross hydronephrosis with parenchymal thinning and irregular thick enhancing wall of pelvicalyceal system with multiple calculi in right kidney. Right renal vein appeared distended, filled with hypo dense material. Right nephrectomy was performed and sent for pathological examination. Histological evaluation revealed keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma with infiltration of renal vein and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. PMID:26816904

  17. A stellar occultation by (486958) 2014 MU69: results from the 2017 July 17 portable telescope campaign

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zangari, Amanda Marie; Buie, Marc W.; Stern, S. Alan; Terrell, Dirk; Porter, Simon Bernard; Verbiscer, Anne J.; Soto, Alejandro; Tamblyn, Peter; Benecchi, Susan; Parker, Alex; Wasserman, Lawrence H.; Young, Eliot F.; Skrutskie, Michael F.; New Horizons MU69 Occultation Observing Team

    2017-10-01

    On 2017 July 17, (486958) 2014 MU69 passed in front of a star as seen from the area north of Comodoro Rivadavia, in Chubut Province, Argentina. Despite challenging wind conditions, twenty two portable telescopes recorded data of the g'= 12.60 mag star in a 45-minute block centered on the predicted midtime of roughly 03:50 UT. Each telescope was spaced approximately 4 km apart in a “picket fence” pattern to target an object as small as 10 km. The picket fence spanned roughly 100 km. Five telescopes observed a solid body occultation.Occultation data provide a unique one-dimensional probe of the 2014 MU69 system that is impossible to achieve from direct imaging. These data will allow for fits of the size and shape of 2014 MU69, and from its derived size, the albedo . The occultation data will also aid in navigation of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft toward its January 1, 2019 encounter with 2014 MU69.We will detail the July 17 occultation campaign and present analyses of the light curves from each portable station, including occultation timing and constraints on dust and and other objects in the system derived from the occultation baseline data.This work would not have been possible without the financial support of the New Horizons mission and NASA, astrometric support of the Gaia mission and HST, and logistical support from Argentina, CONAE and specifically Comodoro Rivadavia as well as assistance from the US Embassy in Buenos Aires.

  18. Number of negative lymph nodes as a prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Ma, Mingquan; Tang, Peng; Jiang, Hongjing; Gong, Lei; Duan, Xiaofeng; Shang, Xiaobin; Yu, Zhentao

    2017-10-01

    The aim of this study is to investigate the number of negative lymph nodes (NLNs) as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 381 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who had underwent surgical resection as the primary treatment was enrolled into this retrospective study. The impact of number of NLNs on patient's overall survival was assessed and compared with the factors among the current tumor-nodes-metastasis (TNM) staging system. The number of NLNs was closely related to the overall survival, and the 5-year survival rate was 45.4% for number of NLNs of >20 (142 cases) and 26.4% for NLNs ≤ 20 (239 cases) (P = 0.001). In multivariate survival analysis, the number of NLNs remained an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.002) as did the other current TNM factors. For subgroup analysis, the predictive value of number of NLNs was significant in patients with T3 or T4 disease (P = 0.001) and patients with N1 and N2-3 disease (P = 0.025, 0.043), but not in patients with T1 or T2 disease or patients with N0 disease. The number of NLNs, which represents the extent of lymphadenectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, could impact the overall survival of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, especially among those with nodal-positive disease and advanced T-stage tumor. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  19. Digital solar edge tracker for the Halogen Occultation Experiment

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mauldin, L. E., III; Moore, A. S.; Stump, C. W.; Mayo, L. S.

    1987-01-01

    The optical and electronic design of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (Haloe) elevation sun sensor is described. The Haloe instrument is a gas-correlation radiometer now being developed at NASA Langley for the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. The system uses a Galilean telescope to form a solar image on a linear silicon photodiode array. The array is a self-scanned monolithic CCD. The addresses of both solar edges imaged on the array are used by the control/pointing system to scan the Haloe science instantaneous field of view (IFOV) across the vertical solar diameter during instrument calibration and then to maintain the science IFOV 4 arcmin below the top edge during the science data occultation event. Vertical resolution of 16 arcsec and a radiometric dynamic range of 100 are achieved at the 700-nm operating wavelength. The design provides for loss of individual photodiode elements without loss of angular tracking capability.

  20. Advancing Technology for Starlight Suppression via an External Occulter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kasdin, N. J.; Spergel, D. N.; Vanderbei, R. J.; Lisman, D.; Shaklan, S.; Thomson, M.; Walkemeyer, P.; Bach, V.; Oakes, E.; Cady, E.; hide

    2011-01-01

    External occulters provide the starlight suppression needed for detecting and characterizing exoplanets with a much simpler telescope and instrument than is required for the equivalent performing coronagraph. In this paper we describe progress on our Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions project to design, manufacture, and measure a prototype occulter petal. We focus on the key requirement of manufacturing a precision petal while controlling its shape within precise tolerances. The required tolerances are established by modeling the effect that various mechanical and thermal errors have on scatter in the telescope image plane and by suballocating the allowable contrast degradation between these error sources. We discuss the deployable starshade design, representative error budget, thermal analysis, and prototype manufacturing. We also present our meteorology system and methodology for verifying that the petal shape meets the contrast requirement. Finally, we summarize the progress to date building the prototype petal.

  1. Study of mutual occultation phenomena of the Galilean satellites at radio wavelengths

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pluchino, S.; Salerno, E.; Pupillo, G.; Schillirò, F.; Kraus, A.; Mack, K.-H.

    2010-01-01

    We present preliminary results for our study of mutual phenomena of the Galilean satellites performed at radio wavelengths with the Medicina and Noto antennas of the Istituto di Radioastronomia - INAF, and with the Effelsberg 100-m radio telescope of the Max-Planck-Institute for Radioastronomy, Bonn. Measurements of the radio flux density variation during the mutual occultations of Io by Europa and Ganymede were carried out during the PHEMU09 campaign at 22 GHz and 43 GHz. Flux density variations observed at radio wavelengths are consistent with the typical optical patterns measured when partial occultations occur.

  2. Improved Dosimetric and Clinical Outcomes With Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Head-and-Neck Cancer of Unknown Primary Origin

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chen, Allen M., E-mail: allen.chen@ucdmc.ucdavis.ed; Li Baoqing; Farwell, D. Gregory

    2011-03-01

    Purpose: To compare differences in dosimetric, clinical, and quality-of-life endpoints among a cohort of patients treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and conventional radiotherapy (CRT) for head-and-neck cancer of unknown primary origin. Methods and Materials: The medical records of 51 patients treated by radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis of occult primary origin were reviewed. Twenty-four patients (47%) were treated using CRT, and 27 (53%) were treated using IMRT. The proportions of patients receiving concurrent chemotherapy were 54% and 63%, respectively. Results: The 2-year estimates of overall survival, local-regional control,more » and disease-specific survival for the entire patient population were 86%, 89%, and84%, respectively. There were no significant differences in any of these endpoints with respect to radiation therapy technique (p > 0.05 for all). Dosimetric analysis revealed that the use of IMRT resulted in significant improvements with respect to mean dose and V30 to the contralateral (spared) parotid gland. In addition, mean doses to the ipsilateral inner and middle ear structures were significantly reduced with IMRT (p < 0.05 for all). The incidence of severe xerostomia in the late setting was 58% and 11% among patients treated by CRT and IMRT, respectively (p < 0.001). The percentages of patients who were G-tube dependent at 6 months after treatment were 42% and 11%, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: IMRT results in significant improvements in the therapeutic ratio among patients treated by radiation therapy for head-and-neck cancer of unknown primary origin.« less

  3. Detection of squamous carcinoma cells using gold nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dai, Wei-Yun; Lee, Sze-tsen; Hsu, Yih-Chih

    2015-03-01

    The goal of this study is to use gold nanoparticle as a diagnostic agent to detect human squamous carcinoma cells. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized and the gold nanoparticle size was 34.3 ± 6.2 nm. Based on the over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) biomarkers in squamous carcinoma cells, we hypothesized that EGFR could be a feasible biomarker with a target moiety for detection. We further modified polyclonal antibodies of EGFR on the surface of gold nanoparticles. We found selected squamous carcinoma cells can be selectively detected using EGFR antibody-modified gold nanoparticles via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Cell death was also examined to determine the survival status of squamous carcinoma cells with respect to gold nanoparticle treatment and EGFR polyclonal antibody modification.

  4. Occult central venous stenosis leading to airway obstruction after subtotal parathyroidectomy.

    PubMed

    Meiklejohn, Duncan A; Chan, Dylan K; Lalakea, M Lauren

    2016-07-01

    Subtotal parathyroidectomy may be indicated in patients with chronic renal failure and tertiary hyperparathyroidism, a population at increased risk for central venous stenosis (CVS) due to repeated vascular access. Here we report a case of complete upper airway obstruction precipitated by subtotal parathyroidectomy with ligation of anterior jugular vein collaterals in a patient with occult CVS. This case demonstrates a previously unreported risk of anterior neck surgery in patients with chronic renal failure. We present a review of the literature and discuss elements of the history and physical examination suggestive of occult CVS, with additional workup proposed for appropriate cases. Recommendations are discussed for perioperative and postoperative care in patients at increased risk for CVS.

  5. Counseling the Occult-Involved Student: Guidelines and Suggestions.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Carmichael, Karla D.

    1993-01-01

    Contends that counselors working with public school students needs to be aware of the four main levels of involvement in the occult (fun-and-games, dabblers, serious involvement, and criminal involvement). Each of the four levels is described, warning signs are identified, and the counselor's role is explained as one of support and prevention. (NB)

  6. Prospective screening for occult cardiomyopathy in dogs by measurement of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, B-type natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin-I concentrations.

    PubMed

    Oyama, Mark A; Sisson, D David; Solter, Phil F

    2007-01-01

    To evaluate the use of measuring plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) to detect dogs with occult dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). 118 client-owned dogs. Dogs were prospectively examined by use of ECG; echocardiography; and evaluation of concentrations of ANP, BNP, and cTnI. Occult DCM was diagnosed by evaluation of echocardiographic left ventricular dimensions and detection of ventricular arrhythmias on ECG. Sensitivity and specificity of assays for measurement of plasma concentrations of ANP, BNP, and cTnI to detect dogs with occult DCM were determined. Occult DCM was diagnosed in 21 dogs. A concentration of > 6.21 pg/mL for BNP had a sensitivity of 95.2% and specificity of 61.9% for identifying dogs with occult DCM. In contrast, concentrations of ANP and cTnI had relatively low predictive values. Blood-based screening for occult DCM in dogs can be accomplished by use of a BNP assay. Additional studies should be performed to optimize this method of screening dogs to detect occult DCM.

  7. Progress in Turbulence Detection via GNSS Occultation Data

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cornman, L. B.; Goodrich, R. K.; Axelrad, P.; Barlow, E.

    2012-01-01

    The increased availability of radio occultation (RO) data offers the ability to detect and study turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. An analysis of how RO data can be used to determine the strength and location of turbulent regions is presented. This includes the derivation of a model for the power spectrum of the log-amplitude and phase fluctuations of the permittivity (or index of refraction) field. The bulk of the paper is then concerned with the estimation of the model parameters. Parameter estimators are introduced and some of their statistical properties are studied. These estimators are then applied to simulated log-amplitude RO signals. This includes the analysis of global statistics derived from a large number of realizations, as well as case studies that illustrate various specific aspects of the problem. Improvements to the basic estimation methods are discussed, and their beneficial properties are illustrated. The estimation techniques are then applied to real occultation data. Only two cases are presented, but they illustrate some of the salient features inherent in real data.

  8. Pathogenesis of occult chronic hepatitis B virus infection

    PubMed Central

    de la Fuente, Rocio Aller; Gutiérrez, María L; Garcia-Samaniego, Javier; Fernández-Rodriguez, Conrado; Lledó, Jose Luis; Castellano, Gregorio

    2011-01-01

    Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized by hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) presenting HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc positive serological patterns. Occult HBV status is associated in some cases with mutant viruses undetectable by HBsAg assays; but more frequently it is due to a strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression. OBI is an entity with world-wide diffusion. The failure to detect HBsAg, despite the persistence of the viral DNA, is due in most cases to the strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression that characterizes this “occult” HBV infection; although the mechanisms responsible for suppression of HBV are not well understood. The majority of OBI cases are secondary to overt HBV infection and represent a residual low viremia level suppressed by a strong immune response together with histological derangements which occurred during acute or chronic HBV infection. Much evidence suggests that it can favour the progression of liver fibrosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. PMID:21472118

  9. Screening for colon cancer: A test for occult blood.

    PubMed

    Khakimov, N; Khasanova, G; Ershova, K; Gibadullina, L; Vetkina, T; Lobisheva, G; Chumakova, A

    2015-01-01

    The relevance of the problem of colorectal cancer (CRC) is evident because of extremely high morbidity and mortality rates, associated with this disease. CRC is mostly diagnosed only at very advanced stages. The reduction of mortality can be achieved by the popularization of screening-methods for early identification of CRC and adenomatous polyps of the colon, which are proved to be precancerous condition. Fecal occult blood test is a well-known method of screening for CRC. The advantages of this method when compared, for example, with colonoscopy are its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.Two techniques are usually used for detection of occult blood in the stool: Hemoccult (Guaiac) test and immunochemical test for hemoglobin. There is no consensus among researchers regarding the validity of these tests for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. For example, J.S. Mandel (1996) notes 60% sensitivity of Guaiac-test for the detection of the early forms of colorectal cancer, while O.I. Kit (2014) suggets that it is not higher than 30%. There are also various opinions about specificity of these two tests. To review the literature on the validity of the fecal occult blood tests for the diagnosis of CRC. We looked for articles (electronic versions) available for free in the full-text versions, published from June 1, 1990 to December 31, 2014 in Russian or English. The following databases were used for search: E-LIBRARY; Cochrane; MEDLINE; EMBASE; Google search. Only original research papers were analyzed. Literature reviews or systematic reviews were not taken for analyses. 1) use of Guaiac and/or immunochemical fecal occult blood test as screening-tests for the detection of colorectal cancer and/or colon polyps (1 cm or more in diameter) in people older than 45 years; 2) comparing of results with the results of colonoscopy (colonoscopy is counted by majority of the authors as a "gold standard" for the diagnosis of CRC and adenomatous polyps). Initial keyword search returned

  10. Primary epidermoid carcinoma of the breast presenting as a breast abscess and sepsis.

    PubMed

    Damin, Andrea Pires; Nascimento, Fernanda Costa; Andreola, João Batista; Cerutti, Talita Haubert; Roehe, Adriana; Damin, Daniel Carvalho

    2011-12-01

    Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is an extremely rare form of cancer, accounting for approximately 0.04% of all malignant breast tumors. To date, only a limited number of cases of SCC of the breast have been reported, and most of them presented like the usual breast carcinomas. A 39-year-old woman presented with a large breast abscess and signs of sepsis. After surgical debridement of the lesion, histopathological examination of the abscess capsule revealed the presence of SCC of the breast. The definitive treatment for the tumor consisted of modified radical mastectomy with resection of the residual lesion in the right breast. This unusual case illustrates how an apparently benign disorder such as a breast abscess might be related to a clinically occult malignancy. A review of the literature on SCC of the breast is presented.

  11. Identification of Prognostic Biomarkers for Progression of Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-10-09

    Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous; Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Lung Neoplasms; Cancer of Lung; Cancer of the Lung; Lung Cancer; Neoplasms, Lung; Neoplasms, Pulmonary; Pulmonary Cancer; Pulmonary Neoplasms

  12. Immunocompromised patients with metastatic cutaneous nodal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Poor outcome unrelated to the index lesion.

    PubMed

    Lam, Johnson K S; Sundaresan, Puma; Gebski, Val; Veness, Michael J

    2018-05-01

    Immunocompromised patients with metastatic cutaneous nodal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have worse outcomes compared to the immunocompetent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), nodal pathology, and outcome between these 2 groups. Analysis of a prospective database was performed. A 2:1 pooled analysis selected 46 immunocompetent patients matched with 23 immunocompromised patients. Overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. No significant difference was found in the primary tumor characteristics between the 2 groups. In the immunocompromised group, RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.70; P = .01) and OS (HR 2.32; P = .04) were significantly worse. Extracapsular spread was present in 100% of the immunocompromised patients. No significant difference was identified in the primary cutaneous SCC between the immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Immunosuppression predicted worse outcome. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Significant expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma detected by SPT24 monoclonal antibody and CSA-II system.

    PubMed

    Kashima, Kenji; Hashimoto, Hisashi; Nishida, Haruto; Arakane, Motoki; Yada, Naomi; Daa, Tsutomu; Yokoyama, Shigeo

    2014-01-01

    In contrast to the usefulness of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) in distinguishing primary adenocarcinoma of the lung from metastatic lesions, TTF-1 expression in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma is reported to be at low level and not a suitable immunohistochemical marker. We hypothesized that the highly sensitive detection system, CSA-II, can visualize even faint expression of TTF-1 in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, 2 commercially available clones of TTF-1 monoclonal antibody, 8G7G3/1 and SPT24, were used for staining 38 cases of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma, in combination with the CSA-II and the conventional detection system, EnVision. The combined use of the 8G7G3/1 clone with EnVision and CSA-II showed a positive reaction in only 1 and 4 cases, respectively. The use of SPT24 clone showed positive staining in 5 cases with EnVision and in 20 of 38 cases (52.6%) with the CSA-II. Interestingly, positive staining by the SPT24-CSA-II technique of samples from tissue blocks preserved for <2 years was 73.6% compared with only 31.5% in those preserved for >2 years. In addition, a 6-month preservation of the cut sections resulted in stain fading and decreased positivity (50%), compared with freshly cut sections. We conclude that the use of the SPT24 monoclonal antibody with the CSA-II system can detect even weak expression of TTF-1 in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma. This staining technique can potentially allow the discrimination of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the lung from metastatic lesions, especially in freshly prepared paraffin sections.

  14. Occult hepatitis B virus infection in HIV positive patients at a tertiary healthcare unit in eastern India

    PubMed Central

    Saha, Debraj; Pal, Ananya; Sarkar, Neelakshi; Das, Dipanwita; Blackard, Jason T.; Guha, Subhasish Kamal; Saha, Bibhuti

    2017-01-01

    Occult HBV infection (OBI), defined by the presence of HBV DNA in absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), is a significant concern in the HIV-infected population. Of 441 HIV+/HBsAg- patients analyzed, the overall prevalence of OBI was 6.3% (28/441). OBI was identified in 21 anti-HBc positives (17.8%), as well as among those who lacked any HBV-specific serological markers (2.2%). Comparison with HIV/HBV co-infection revealed that the levels of CD4, ALT, and HBV DNA were significantly lower during occult infection. Discrete differences were also observed with respect to quasispecies divergence. Additionally, subgenotype D1 was most frequent in occult infection, while D2 was widespread during chronic infection. The majority (~90%) of occult D1 sequences had the sQ129R mutation in the surface gene. This study highlights several distinct features of OBI in India and underscores the need for additional HBV DNA screening in HIV-positive individuals. PMID:28591184

  15. Occult hepatitis B virus infection in HIV positive patients at a tertiary healthcare unit in eastern India.

    PubMed

    Saha, Debraj; Pal, Ananya; Sarkar, Neelakshi; Das, Dipanwita; Blackard, Jason T; Guha, Subhasish Kamal; Saha, Bibhuti; Chakravarty, Runu

    2017-01-01

    Occult HBV infection (OBI), defined by the presence of HBV DNA in absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), is a significant concern in the HIV-infected population. Of 441 HIV+/HBsAg- patients analyzed, the overall prevalence of OBI was 6.3% (28/441). OBI was identified in 21 anti-HBc positives (17.8%), as well as among those who lacked any HBV-specific serological markers (2.2%). Comparison with HIV/HBV co-infection revealed that the levels of CD4, ALT, and HBV DNA were significantly lower during occult infection. Discrete differences were also observed with respect to quasispecies divergence. Additionally, subgenotype D1 was most frequent in occult infection, while D2 was widespread during chronic infection. The majority (~90%) of occult D1 sequences had the sQ129R mutation in the surface gene. This study highlights several distinct features of OBI in India and underscores the need for additional HBV DNA screening in HIV-positive individuals.

  16. Sizes of the Smallest Particles at Saturn Ring Edges from Diffraction in UVIS Stellar Occultations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eckert, S.; Colwell, J. E.; Becker, T. M.; Esposito, L. W.

    2017-12-01

    Cassini's Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) has observed more than 150 ring stellar occultations since its arrival at Saturn in 2004. We use stellar occultation data from the UVIS High Speed Photometer (HSP) to identify diffraction signals at ring edges caused by small particles diffracting light into the detector and consequently increasing the signal above that of the unocculted star. The shape of a diffraction signal is indicative of the particle size distribution at the ring edge, which may be a dynamically perturbed region. Becker et al. (2015 Icarus doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.11.001) analyzed diffraction signals at the outer edge of the A Ring and the edges of the Encke Gap. We apply the Becker et al. (2015) model to the outer edge of the B Ring as well as the edges of ringlets within the C Ring and Cassini Division. In addition, we analyze diffraction signatures at the A Ring outer edge in 2 new occultations. The best-fit model signals to these occultations are consistent with the findings of Becker et al. (2015) who found an average minimum particle size amin =4.5 mm and average power law slope q=3.2. At the B Ring outer edge, we detect a diffraction signal in 10 of 28 occultations in which the diffraction signal would be observable according to our criteria for star brightness and observation geometry. We find a mean amin =11 mm and a mean q=3.0. At both edges of the so-called "Strange" ringlet (R6) we find a mean amin = 20 mm and mean q values of 3.0 and 2.8 at the inner and outer edges, respectively. In contrast, we do not observe any clear diffraction signals at either edge of the wider Huygens ringlet. This could imply an absence of cm-scale or smaller particles and indicates that collisions here may be less vigorous than at the other ring edges analyzed in this study. We detect diffraction in a small fraction ( 10%) of occultations at 3 ringlets within the Cassini Division: the Herschel ringlet, the Laplace ringlet, and the Barnard ringlet. We

  17. Vaginal prolapse repair with or without a midurethral sling in women with genital prolapse and occult stress urinary incontinence: a randomized trial.

    PubMed

    van der Ploeg, J Marinus; Oude Rengerink, Katrien; van der Steen, Annemarie; van Leeuwen, Jules H Schagen; van der Vaart, C Huub; Roovers, Jan-Paul W R

    2016-07-01

    We compared pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair with and without midurethral sling (MUS) in women with occult stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This was a randomized trial conducted by a consortium of 13 teaching hospitals assessing a parallel cohort of continent women with symptomatic stage II or greater POP. Women with occult SUI were randomly assigned to vaginal prolapse repair with or without MUS. Women without occult SUI received POP surgery. Main outcomes were the absence of SUI at the 12-month follow-up based on the Urogenital Distress Inventory and the need for additional treatment for SUI. We evaluated 231 women, of whom 91 randomized as follows: 43 to POP surgery with and 47 without MUS. A greater number of women in the MUS group reported absence of SUI [86 % vs. 48 %; relative risk (RR) 1.79; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.29-2.48]. No women in the MUS group received additional treatment for postoperative SUI; six (13 %) in the control group had a secondary MUS. Women with occult SUI reported more urinary symptoms after POP surgery and more often underwent treatment for postoperative SUI than women without occult SUI. Women with occult SUI had a higher risk of reporting SUI after POP surgery compared with women without occult SUI. Adding a MUS to POP surgery reduced the risk of postoperative SUI and the need for its treatment in women with occult SUI. Of women with occult SUI undergoing POP-only surgery, 13 % needed additional MUS. We found no differences in global impression of improvement and quality of life.

  18. Follow-up of women with cervical cytological abnormalities showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: a nationwide cohort study.

    PubMed

    Sundström, Karin; Lu, Donghao; Elfström, K Miriam; Wang, Jiangrong; Andrae, Bengt; Dillner, Joakim; Sparén, Pär

    2017-01-01

    Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in abnormal cervical cytology among young women in cervical cancer screening is an increasing health burden, and comparative effectiveness studies of different management options for such diagnoses are needed. The objective of the study was to compare the incidence of invasive cervical cancer, following different management options pursued after an atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance/low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion index smear. In this nationwide cohort study, we included all women aged 22-50 years and resident in Sweden 1989-2011 and with at least 1 cervical smear registered during the study period (n = 2,466,671). Follow-up of a first atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance/low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cytological diagnosis within 25 months was classified as repeat cytology, colposcopy/biopsy, or without further assessment. Incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals of subsequent cervical cancer within 6.5 years following atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance/low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion were estimated using Poisson regression by age group and management strategy. Women managed with repeat cytology within 6 months after atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cytology had a similar risk of cervical cancer compared with colposcopy/biopsy (incidence rate ratio, 1.1, 95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.5, and incidence rate ratio, 2.0, 95% confidence interval, 0.6-6.5, respectively) among women aged 22-27 years. For women aged 28 years and older, women managed with repeat cytology had a higher risk for cervical cancer than women managed with colposcopy/biopsy. Our findings suggest that women with a first cytological diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance/low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion up to

  19. Human papillomavirus-mediated carcinogenesis and HPV-associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Part 2: Human papillomavirus associated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the mouth and oropharynx can be acquired by a variety of sexual and social forms of transmission. HPV-16 genotype is present in many oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomata. It has an essential aetiologic role in the development of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a subset of subjects who are typically younger, are more engaged with high-risk sexual behaviour, have higher HPV-16 serum antibody titer, use less tobacco and have better survival rates than in subjects with HPV-cytonegative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. In this subset of subjects the HPV-cytopositive carcinomatous cells have a distinct molecular profile. In contrast to HPV-cytopositive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, the causal association between HPV-16 and other high-risk HPV genotypes and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa is weak, and the nature of the association is unclear. It is likely that routine administration of HPV vaccination against high-risk HPV genotypes before the start of sexual activity will bring about a reduction in the incidence of HPV-mediated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This article focuses on aspects of HPV infection of the mouth and the oropharynx with emphasis on the link between HPV and squamous cell carcinoma, and on the limitations of the available diagnostic tests in identifying a cause-and-effect relationship of HPV with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx. PMID:20633288

  20. Observations of the Occultation of Mars by the Moon on July 6, 2014

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ricra, J. L.; Pajuelo, M. V.; Berrocal, D. R.; Torre, S. E.

    2015-10-01

    We present the results of the observation of the occultation of Mars by the Moon on July 6, 2014. Observations were made from the AFARI Astronomical Observatory, in the town of Tarma, Peru. A Celestron 8 telescope with a camera WATEC 120N (GPS time inserted) were used. Time measurements for the first and second contact were obtained by analyzing the variation of the flux of Mars using the software LiMovie and two different methods of calculation. The measurements obtained were reported to the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA).