Biphasic Hyalinizing Psammomatous Renal Cell Carcinoma: Another Provisional Entity Emerging From the Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Pandora's Box

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (especially type 2) is a Pandora's box with many newly described renal cell carcinomas emerging from it as a result of enhanced molecular techniques. Biphasic hyalinizing psammomatous renal cell carcinoma (BHPRCC) is the latest addition, which was first described a few months ago. Here, we report a case of BHPRCC to supplement the very limited literature available about this entity, and to highlight the characteristic morphology as well as the recurring molecular alterations in the neurofibromatosis 2 gene.

Tubulosquamous Polyp of the Vagina: Misplaced Skene’s Glands Analogous to the Male Prostate

Tubulosquamous polyp (TSP) of the vagina is a rare and benign lesion, best considered along the spectrum of lesions derived from Skene’s glands, the female counterpart of male prostatic glands. It is likely underdiagnosed and represents a challenging diagnosis if one is unfamiliar with this entity. We present an illustrative case of TSP occurring as an upper vaginal wall nodule of a 75-year-old woman, with characteristic morphology and broad immunophenotype. It should be suspected in postmenopausal women with a polyp that demonstrates biphasic squamous and glandular components, which show a prostatic immunophenotype.

New mid-cervical vertebral morphotype of Spinosauridae from the Kem Kem Group of Morocco

An unusual mid-cervical vertebra belonging to a large spinosaurid from the Cenomanian Kem Kem Group of Morocco is described. It is compared to the characteristic morphology of each reconstructed cervical position in Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, based on a recent composite reconstruction that incorporates most previously referred material from this unit. Rather than conforming to any of the previously identified cervical positions in its morphology, the specimen displays a unique combination of mid-cervical characters, with the relatively compact centrum suggesting a position as C4, and the form of the neural arch laminae suggesting a position as C5 or C6. Furthermore, it displays two characters that are previously unknown in spinosaurid mid-cervicals from the Kem Kem Group: a rounded hypapophyseal tuberosity that is not continuous with a ventral keel, and a moderately developed, dorsally oriented epipophysis that does not overhang the postzygapophysis posteriorly. The diagnostic value of positionally variable cervical vertebral characters in spinosaurid systematics is discussed. Although limited, the new data could lend support to the controversial hypothesis that two spinosaurid taxa are represented in the Kem Kem Group.

First record of intact equisetalean strobili from the Wealden (Lower Cretaceous) of the Isle of Wight, southern England

Two excellently preserved small strobili were obtained from a Wealden plant debris bed in the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) Wessex Formation, south-east of Chilton Chine, on the Isle of Wight, southern England. The strobili are preserved as compressions and show the characteristic morphology of sporangiophore heads of Equisetales. Based on the morphology of the strobili, attribution to a certain species is not warranted. Therefore, the strobili have been left unassigned in the fossil-genus Equisetostachys which is commonly used for isolated strobili of fossil sphenophytes. From their size, shape and constitution, the strobili are interpreted as immature; the absence of preserved sporangia and spores is consequently not unexpected. Affiliation with Equisetum burchardtii might be an option. The strobili represent the first record of any equisetalean or sphenophyte remains from the Wessex Sub-basin of the English Wealden and are thus of considerable importance. The find is especially significant because previously known specimens from the Weald Sub-basin and the German Wealden are confined to subterranean rhizomes, adventitious roots, tubers and bases of aerial shoots, commonly preserved in situ, together with only fragmentary remains of sporangiophore heads from disarticulated strobili. These strobili finds are thus the first intact equisetalean reproductive structures from the Wealden of either England or Germany.

Dolomite surface modification with titanium and silicon precursors and its morphostructural and thermal characterisation

The aim of the paper is to modify the surface of dolomite with titania (TiO2) and silica (SiO2) precursors, in order to use it as a potential reinforcement material in a polymeric matrix or for environmental applications (photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants based on TiO2). The dolomite surface modification was performed by 2 methods. The first method consisted in modifying the direct dolomite surface with SiO2 and TiO2. The second method consisted in the initial treatment of dolomite with TEOS, in order to form silanol bonds, followed by the addition of SiO2 and TiO2 precursors. The obtained powders were characterized by FTIR, SEM-EDS and DSC-TG. The FTIR spectra prove the formation of the silica network while the samples modified with PDMS exhibit the characteristic peaks of methyl groups from PDMS. In EDS, the presence of the characteristic elements of dolomite (calcium, magnesium, oxygen and carbon) can be observed. When analyzing the modified dolomite powders the presence of titanium and silicon can be observed. The characteristic morphology of the dolomite is preserved in all the samples but, the surface of the larger particles is decorated with smaller particles proving the functionalization of the dolomite, according to the two routes. The thermal analysis is characteristic for dolomite-based materials, the main difference between the samples appearing as a consequence of the burning of the organic part of PDMS, which occur between 400 and 600°C.

Resurrection of the sea pen genus Ptilella Gray, 1870 and description of Ptilella grayi n. sp. from the NE Atlantic (Octocorallia: Pennatulacea)

The order Pennatulacea covers a group of specialized and morphologically distinct octocorals found in all oceans from intertidal areas to more than 6000 m in depth. Sea pens constitute an important structural component in marine soft-bottom communities by increasing the complexity of these environments. Despite being both morphologically distinctive and ecologically important, the taxonomy and systematics of sea pens is still poorly understood. Recent molecular studies have shown the existence of convergent morphological features, making the current familial distribution of genera unstable. The genus Pennatula Linnaeus, 1758 was one of the first described octocoral genera. It is the type genus of its family, Pennatulidae. Colonies of this genus have a characteristic morphology. Recent sampling efforts in the northeastern Atlantic have provided a number of colonies initially attributable to the genus Pennatula. Both morphological and molecular (mtMutS, Cox1 and 28S genes) study of this material supports the polyphyletic nature of this genus and the need to resurrect the genus Ptilella Gray, 1870 to accommodate these and other species. A new species, Ptilella grayi n. sp., is described and illustrated. The species Pennatula bayeri is proposed to be a junior synonym of Pennatula bellissima (here also considered in the genus Ptilella).