Eleven male patients had germ cell tumors of the testis (7), mediastinum (3), or retroperitoneum (1) in which non‐germ cell malignancies developed. Such malignant non‐germ cell elements were present in the primary excisions of five patients and were subsequently found in additional resected tissue in 10 of 11 patients. In the patients who had multiple pathology specimens examined, a progression from atypia to predominant non‐germ cell malignancy was often found. The authors believe these malignant elements arose within teratomatous foci, since eight of nine cases had teratoma in the primary tumor, and teratoma was found in subsequently resected tissue in one additional case. Cisplatin therapy frequently “unmasked” the non‐germ cell malignant elements by destroying the more chemosensitive germ cell cancers. The prognosis was worst for five patients who developed progressive embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: two of these patients died of local spread of tumor, whereas a third died of metastatic sarcoma. Only one patient, who had total surgical excision of rhabdomyosarcoma, survived. Other forms of sarcoma that developed within germ cell tumors did not appear to adversely affect the prognosis beyond that of teratoma. It is currently recommended, when feasible, that patients with teratoma and sarcoma undergo total surgical excision. Further treatment with cisplatin regimens, after eradication of the germ cell component, has not been helpful. The role of other forms of chemotherapy remains speculative.
The primary problems associated with using straight soybean oil as a fuel in a compression ignition internal combustion engine are caused by high fuel viscosity. Transesterification of soybean oil with an alcohol provides a significant reduction in viscosity, thereby enhancing the physical properties of the renewable fuel to improve engine performance. The ethyl and methyl esters of soybean oil with commercial diesel fuel additives revealed fuel properties that compared very well with diesel fuel, with the exception of gum formation, which manifested itself in problems with the plugging of fuel filters. Engine performance using soybean ester fuels differed little from engine performance with diesel fuel. A slight power loss combined with an increase in fuel consumption were experienced with the esters, primarily because of the lower heating value of the esters than for diesel fuel. Emissions for the 2 fuels were similar, with nitrous oxide emissions higher for the esters. Measurements of engine wear and fuel‐injection system tests showed no abnormal characteristics for any of the fuels after the 200‐hr tests. Engine deposits were comparable in amount, but slightly different in color and texture, with the methyl ester engine experiencing greater carbon and varnish deposits on the pistons.
Understanding population-level responses to novel selective pressures can elucidate evolutionary consequences of human-altered habitats. Stream impoundments (reservoirs) alter riverine ecosystems worldwide, exposing stream fishes to uncommon selective pressures. Assessing phenotypic trait divergence in reservoir habitats will be a first step in identifying the potential evolutionary and ecological consequences of stream impoundments. We tested for body shape divergence in four stream-adapted fishes found in both habitats within three separate basins. Shape variation among fishes was partitioned into shared (exhibited by all species) and unique (speciesspecific) responses to reservoir habitats. All fishes demonstrated consistent significant shared and unique morphological responses to reservoir habitats. Shared responses were linked to fin positioning, decreased body depths and larger caudal areas; traits likely related to locomotion. Unique responses were linked to head shape, suggesting species-specific responses to abiotic conditions or changes to their trophic ecology in reservoirs. Our results highlight how human-altered habitats can simultaneously drive similar and unique trait divergence in native populations.
From April 1975 through May 1981, 51 patients had teratoma resected from residual disease following cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. All patients had normal serum markers before resection of abdominal (25), lung (12), mediastinal (5), thoracoabdominal (8) or other (1) disease. Teratoma was classified as mature in 29 cases, immature in 15 or immature with nongerm cell elements in 7. Of the 51 patients 31 (61 per cent) remain free of recurrent disease, while 20 either had recurrent carcinoma (10) or teratoma (10) requiring further therapy. Nine patients died, including 1 in whom angiosarcoma developed, which was thought to be secondary to previous radiation therapy. In 4 patients the initial relapse of carcinoma developed beyond 2 years after resection. Univariate factors predicting for relapse include tumor burden, immature teratoma with nongerm cell elements and site (mediastinum), while only immature teratoma with nongerm cell elements and site predicted for survival. Patients with immature teratoma had a comparable relapse-free and over-all survival as those with mature teratoma. Using a multivariate analysis, primary tumor site at the mediastinum was the most significant adverse factor predictive for relapse and survival. This study appears to support the various pre-clinical models that demonstrate multipotential capabilities of teratoma. Complete surgical excision of teratoma remains the most effective treatment with continued close followup recommended for high risk patients (immature teratoma with nongerm cell elements, large tumor burden and primary mediastinal tumors) with resected teratoma.
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