Incidentally discovered distant cutaneous metastasis of sacral chordoma: a case with variation in S100 protein expression (compared to the primary tumor) and review of the literature.

Chordomas represent rare malignant primary bone tumors most often occurring in the sacral area. These tumors uncommonly involve the skin and often follow a progressive course with multiple recurrences, metastases and eventual death. Reports of cutaneous metastases from chordoma are very rare.

The diagnostic value of cell block as an adjunct to liquid-based cytology of bronchial washing specimens in the diagnosis and subclassification of pulmonary neoplasms.

Background: To the authors' knowledge, the diagnostic value of cell block (CB) as an adjunct to ThinPrep liquid-based cytology (LBC) of bronchial washing specimens in the detection and subclassification of pulmonary neoplasms has not been well evaluated. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of CB in this setting.

Methods: A total of 74 bronchial washing specimens and concurrently prepared CBs with a diagnosis of malignant or suspicious/atypical obtained from bronchoscopy procedures performed during 2009 were reviewed along with 28 randomly selected negative cases.

Prolonged stability of antimicrobial activity in peritoneal dialysis solutions.

Objective: To evaluate the stability of the antimicrobial chemical and bioactivity of gentamicin, vancomycin, and gentamicin and vancomycin in combination, and the stability of the bioactivity of ceftazidime, admixed in standard peritoneal dialysis solutions and then maintained over a 14-day period at room temperature or under refrigeration.

Setting: Peritoneal dialysis center and microbiology laboratory at a military, teaching medical center.

Measurements: Standard peritoneal dialysate bags admixed with gentamicin, vancomycin, gentamicin and vancomycin in combination, or ceftazidime were stored at either 4 degrees C or 20 degrees C for 14 days.