应用亲合层析结合液相色谱串联质谱法发现结核分枝杆菌H37Rv的新的糖蛋白

目的:应用刀豆素A(ConA)亲合层析结合液相色谱串联质谱法(HPLC-MS)发现结核分枝杆菌H37Rv的新的糖蛋白.方法:收集生长2周的结核菌培养液,经过滤浓缩得到培养滤液蛋白(culture filtrate protein, CFP).应用ConA亲合层析法纯化CFP中的糖蛋白,经SDS-PAGE电泳结合考马斯亮蓝染色后,对蛋白条带进行胰蛋白酶消化.应用HPLC-MS检测消化后的糖肽结构并与结核菌H37Rv蛋白质数据库进行比对,寻找新的糖蛋白.结果:CFP经ConA亲合层析纯化后的电泳结果显示有数条蛋白条带出现,经筛选相对分子质量26×103蛋白最可能为糖蛋白.酶切消化该蛋白得到的多肽在HPLC-MS上保留时间26.24 min处显示有多肽色谱峰,其对应的一级MS图提示该多肽总质量为1 467原子质量单位(AMU),二级MS图显示为多个质荷比(m/z)逐级减少为54(一个己糖的分子质量单位为162 AMU)的多肽,提示有己糖丢失.同时,MS分析肽链氨基酸序列并证实蛋白的糖基化存在.与结核菌H37Rv蛋白质数据库比对结果提示,结核菌分泌的26×103蛋白为一新的糖蛋白,即铜-锌超氧化物歧化酶.结论:应用ConA亲合层析结合HPLC-MS发现了一个新的结核分枝杆菌糖蛋白.     

Legal liability for Agent Orange-related illnesses: a reassessment of the 2005 VAVA case and prospects for new litigation

Attempts through the US courts to hold the corporations responsible for the production of dioxin-contaminated herbicides used by the US military in the 1960s and early 1970s liable for their ongoing health consequences have failed. This article scrutinizes the most recent judgement – that of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York handed down in 2005 following a lawsuit brought by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA). It is argued that despite this judgement there is the potential to bring a further legal case, with some prospect of success, on the basis of: (i) debatable legal judgements in the 2005 decision; (ii) new scientific evidence on the health effects of exposure to Agent Orange; and (iii) cases brought in other jurisdictions. The article concludes by noting the underfunding of ongoing remediation efforts, especially for the provision of assistance to affected individuals, and argues that it is desirable to oblige the producers of the herbicides to contribute financially to these efforts.     

筛窦骨瘤鼻内镜微创手术切除（一例报告并文献复习）

目的分析筛窦骨瘤的临床特征,探讨其诊治方法及鼻内镜下微创手术切除的优点。方法报告1例筛窦骨瘤的临床诊治及手术过程,并就筛窦骨瘤的特点与诊治方法进行文献回顾复习分析。结果高分辨率CT及三维重建技术有助于分辨骨瘤的大小、毗邻结构关系及术式选择,术中需防止脑脊液鼻漏、眶壁损伤等并发症的发生。结论筛窦为鼻窦骨瘤的好发部位,局限于筛窦及鼻腔的骨瘤适于鼻内镜下手术切除,具有手术创伤小、术后无面部瘢痕等优点。     

Role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 related myocarditis: Clinical and imaging considerations

There is a growing evidence of cardiovascular complications in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. As evidence accumulated of COVID-19 mediated inflammatory effects on the myocardium, substantial attention has been directed towards cardiovascular imaging modalities that facilitate this diagnosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is the gold standard for the detection of structural and functional myocardial alterations and its role in identifying patients with COVID-19 mediated cardiac injury is growing. Despite its utility in the diagnosis of myocardial injury in this population, CMRI’s impact on patient management is still evolving. This review provides a framework for the use of CMRI in diagnosis and management of COVID-19 patients from the perspective of a cardiologist. We review the role of CMRI in the management of both the acutely and remotely COVID-19 infected patient. We discuss patient selection for this imaging modality; T1, T2, and late gadolinium enhancement imaging techniques; and previously described CMRI findings in other cardiomyopathies with potential implications in COVID-19 recovered patients.     

Atypical imaging presentation of a massive intracavitary cardiac thrombus: A case report and brief review of the literature

Intracavitary cardiac thrombi, uncommonly found in the right chambers, have been shown to form secondary to endocardial and myocardial diseases. The differential diagnosis for an intracavitary cardiac mass is broad, including primary cardiac tumors, cardiac metastases, anatomic variants, vegetations, and thrombi. Here we present a unique case with a large calcified intracavitary cardiac thrombus in a 26-year-old woman with obesity, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and a new diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Initial imaging presentation in this case masqueraded as a tumor, delaying the true diagnosis. A combination of cardiac imaging techniques, including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI were required to correctly diagnose this calcified bland thrombus.     

Marfan syndrome: clinical consequences resulting from a medicolegal autopsy of a case of sudden death due to aortic rupture

To investigate the sudden death of a 31-year-old man, a medicolegal autopsy was performed. Major findings were a dilated aortic root with a longitudinal rupture of the intima and dissection of aorta and right coronary artery and consequent tamponade of the pericardial sac. Moreover, arachnodactyly and other skeletal deformities in combination with the histological finding of a pseudocystic medionecrosis of the aortic wall were noted. By sequencing of the FBN1 gene, a mutation (1622G>A) leading to the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome was found. Genetic counseling was recommended to the relatives who reported that the father of the deceased had died at the same age from aortic rupture. While fortunately the child of the deceased lacked this mutation, it was found in his younger sister. The results of the autopsy thus enabled early diagnosis and beginning of treatment in the sister and thus a considerable statistical increase in lifespan. With this report, we want to show that medicolegal autopsies can also have medical consequences for relatives. We argue that in all sudden and unexpected deaths in young persons up to 35 years an autopsy should be performed, not only to detect unnatural causes of death but also to identify heritable diseases and thus aid the relatives.     

A prolonged case of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Mycobacterium marinum</Emphasis> flexor tenosynovitis: radiographic and histological correlation,and review of the literature

We report on a 30-year-old man with prolonged Mycobacterium marinum flexor tenosynovitis. Due to low clinical suspicion, diagnosis was not made until 8 years after initial presentation. The history and magnetic resonance and tissue examination findings are consistent with mycobacterial tenosynovitis. These findings are presented, together with a review of the literature.     

Hemopericardium resulting from attempted internal jugular vein catheterization: A case report and review of complications of central venous catheterization

An unusual case of hemopericardium and presumed fatal cardiac tamponade complicating attempted right internal jugular vein catheterization by the posterior approach is reported. Reports of complications in a series of internal jugular vein catheterizations using various approaches (posterior, central, anterior, supraclavicular) and subclavian vein catheterizations are reviewed. Internal jugular vein catheterization is not necessarily safer than subclavian vein catheterization: numerous factors determine success rate and complication rate in central venous catheterizations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium marinum</Emphasis>: MR imaging and clinical course of a rare soft tissue infection

Mycobacterium marinum is a rare cause of soft tissue infections. The imposing MR appearance of the soft tissue involvement is in contrast to the chronic painless clinical manifestation.     

Prominent crista terminalis mimicking a right atrial mass: A case report and brief review of the literature

The crista terminalis is a normal anatomical structure, characterized by a smooth muscular ridge along the superior aspect of the right atrium. It is derived from resorption of the right valve of the sinus venosus and it divides the right atrium into smooth posteromedial and trabeculated anterolateral portions. Crista terminalis is not normally detected in the standard views of transthoracic echocardiogram and non-gated CT of the chest. In rare circumstances, the crista terminalis may be prominent and could lead to misdiagnosis as a malignant process, such as in our case. A comprehensive understanding of the crista terminalis anatomy, and its characteristic appearance on transthoracic echocardiogram, CT and PET/CT will minimize the risk of misdiagnosis and will avoid patient anxiety with more extensive examinations. Here, we present a case of a 78-year-old male with newly diagnosed high-grade invasive urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma. Pre-operative transthoracic echocardiogram reported as 2 cm right atrial mass concerning a metastasis lesion. Subsequent evaluation with MRI cardiac morphology confirmed the diagnosis of benign prominent crista terminalis, a normal anatomical structure.     

A fatal case of intoxication from a single use of eutylone: Clinical symptoms and quantitative analysis results

Eutylone is a synthetic cathinone that is becoming an increasingly popular drug in the US and Europe. This report describes a fatal case of eutylone intoxication. A 32-year-old man went into cardiac arrest after several minutes of abnormal behavior. Rectal temperature was 37.0 °C at 5 h after death. Autopsy revealed no remarkable injuries apart from several small abrasions and no signs of rhabdomyolysis. Toxicological examination revealed only aripiprazole in the therapeutic range and eutylone. The eutylone concentration in cardiac blood was 4290 ng/g. This case is valuable because it involved fatal intoxication from a single use of eutylone and quantitative analysis, whereas most previous reports of eutylone intoxication have involved a mixture of drugs with limited quantitative analysis.     

Islets of meningioma in an acoustic schwannoma in a patient with neurofibromatosis-2: pathology and magnetic resonance imaging findings

Mixed tumors of the cerebellopontine angle, composed of meningioma and schwannoma components, are extremely rare; so far, only 12 cases have been reported in the literature. They are thought to be exclusively associated with neurofibromatosis-2. We present a mixed tumor of schwannoma and meningioma in a patient with neurofibromatosis-2 and discuss the pathology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in relation to the literature. Review of the literature shows that a typical MRI pattern has not been established for mixed tumors and it seems unlikely that a meningioma component can be differentiated within a schwannoma preoperatively.     

Multi-slice computed tomography appearance of abscess of cavum septum pellucidum: a case report and review of the literature

Abscesses involving the cavum septum pellucidum are rare and, owing to their location, detection may be difficult with routine conventional computed tomography (CT). Only a few isolated cases have been reported and mostly in children. We report a case of abscess involving the cavum septum pellucidum in an adult and its appearance on multi-slice spiral CT.     

Histological and ultrastructural evaluation of Leeds-Keio ligament 20 years after implant: a case report

We were capable of undertaking a histological and ultrastructural evaluation of an intact Leeds-Keio ligament implanted 20 years ago to assess the neoligamentization process inside this artificial ligament. The histological evaluation disclosed a collagen fibrils orientation very close to the structure of a normal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) where the collagen fibres are multidirectional [Strocchi et al. in J Anat 180(3):515–519, 1992]. On the other hand we found an unimodal distribution of collagen fibrils in the reconstructed ACL. This suggests that even at long-term follow-up stress exerts a variable influence. The multidirectional arrangement of collagen fibres resembles a normal ACL, but the unimodal distribution of fibrils is quite different from those seen in normal tendon and ligaments which tend to have a bimodal peak [Decker et al. in J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol 23:9–21, 1991; Strocchi et al. in J Anat 180(3):515–519, 1992]. Studies based on biopsy suffer from the potential weakness that the specimen may not have been representative of the entire prosthesis. Further long-term studies, possibly with the entire prosthesis and not only a biopsy, would highlight the behaviour and remodelling of this artificial ligament in greater detail and could be important for the development of future generations of artificial ligaments or tissue engineering ACL reconstruction.     

Simultaneous gallium-67 citrate and technetium-99m sestamibi SPET in a case of myocardial lymphoma: comparison with echocardiography before and after chemotherapy

A patient with diffuse large cell lymphoma involving the interventricular septum and the inferior ventricular wall was imaged with a simultaneous dual-isotope single-photon emission tomography (SPET) acquisition technique, using the radiotracers technetium-99m hexakis 2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (sestamibi) and gallium-67 citrate, in conjunction with echocardiography, prior to and following the first course of chemotherapy. Simultaneous acquisition — with the advantage of displaying corresponding sets of SPET slices without any need for position correction - , supplemented by echocardiography, increased the accuracy of evaluation of the extent of disease and response to treatment.     

Utility of cardiac magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of suspected “MINOCA”: a case series and literature review

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary artery (MINOCA) is a common condition in clinical practice with multiple specific causes, such as plaque rupture, plaque erosion, and epicardial coronary vasospasm. There must be an ischemic mechanism responsible for the myocyte injury and an exclusion of nonischemic mechanisms that can mimic myocardial infarction, and then a diagnosis of MINOCA can be made. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) plays an essential role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MINOCA, which cannot only exclude myocarditis, Takotsubo syndrome, and cardiomyopathies, but also provide imaging confirmation of acute myocardial infarction. In this study, we presented 2 typical cases with the clinical presentation of acute myocardial infarction but normal or nonobstructive epicardial coronary arteries. Further CMR examinations showed different patterns of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in these 2 cases, one case with subendocardial LGE of the anterolateral wall and the other one with subepicardial LGE of the lateral wall, which indicated 2 different mechanisms for the myocyte injury. Subsequently, these 2 patients received different treatment regimens and were discharged with improved symptoms. In conclusion, CMR should be a mandatory test in patients with suspected MINOCA, because it can not only make a clear diagnosis, but also play an important role in guiding clinical decision-making.