Nicotinic acid treatment for Paralepistopsis acromelalga intoxication: assessment using magnetic resonance imaging

Context: Paralepistopsis acromelalga, formerly known as Clitocybe acromelalga, is a rare poisonous mushroom. The mycotoxins in this mushroom cause symptoms resembling those of erythromelalgia; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear. In this report, a patient who received nicotinic acid treatment for P. acromelalga poisoning and radiological evaluation for erythromelalgia has been presented.

Case detail: A 59-year-old woman was hospitalized for redness, swelling, and burning pain in her extremities that rendered difficulty in walking, and a diagnosis of P. acromelalga poisoning was made by detailed interview and mushroom identification. She was treated with intravenous nicotinic acid for 17 days followed by oral nicotinic acid amide for 2 months. She exhibited rapid symptomatic improvement and walked independently after 11 days of initial treatment. Initial MRI of her feet revealed toe-dominated subcutaneous thickening. After nicotinic acid treatment, those radiological findings improved dramatically.

Discussion: The subcutaneous thickening evident on MRI indicated P. acromelalga poisoning-induced erythromelalgia involved subcutaneous inflammatory edema. The typical duration of edema without treatment is more than a month. The improvement on MRI after nicotinic acid treatment indicated that the adequate vasodilation induced by nicotinic acid contributed to resolution of the symptoms. Nicotinic acid was associated with the improvement of the edematous changes caused by the P. acromelalga intoxication.     

Side‐effects of thiamethoxam on the brain andmidgut of the africanized honeybee Apis mellifera (Hymenopptera: Apidae)

The development of agricultural activities coincides with the increased use of pesticides to control pests, which can also be harmful to nontarget insects such as bees. Thus, the goal of this work was assess the toxic effects of thiamethoxam on newly emerged worker bees of Apis mellifera (africanized honeybee—AHB). Initially, we determined that the lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) of thiamethoxam was 4.28 ng a.i./μL of diet. To determine the lethal time 50 (LT₅₀), a survival assay was conducted using diets containing sublethal doses of thiamethoxam equal to 1/10 and 1/100 of the LC_50. The group of bees exposed to 1/10 of the LC₅₀ had a 41.2% reduction of lifespan. When AHB samples were analyzed by morphological technique we found the presence of condensed cells in the mushroom bodies and optical lobes in exposed honeybees. Through Xylidine Ponceau technique, we found cells which stained more intensely in groups exposed to thiamethoxam. The digestive and regenerative cells of the midgut from exposed bees also showed morphological and histochemical alterations, like cytoplasm vacuolization, increased apocrine secretion and increased cell elimination. Thus, intoxication with a sublethal doses of thiamethoxam can cause impairment in the brain and midgut of AHB and contribute to the honeybee lifespan reduction. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 1122–1133, 2014.     

Selenium-Enriched Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Protects against Increase in Gut Permeability ex vivo and Up-Regulates Glutathione Peroxidase 1 and 2 in Hyperthermally-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

Dietary effects of organic Se supplementation in the form of Se-enriched Agaricus bisporus mushroom on ileal mucosal permeability and antioxidant selenoenzymes status in heat induced oxidative stress in rats were evaluated. Acute heat stress (40 °C, 21% relative humidity, 90 min exposure) increased ileum baseline short circuit current (Isc; 2.40-fold) and epithelial conductance (Ge; 2.74-fold). Dietary supplementation with Se-enriched A. bisporus (1 µg Se/g feed) reduced (p < 0.05) ileum Isc and Ge during heat stress to 1.74 and 1.91 fold, respectively, indicating protection from heat stress-induced mucosal permeability increase. The expression of ileum glutathione peroxidase (GPx-) 1 and 2 mRNAs were up-regulated (p < 0.05) by 1.90 and 1.87-fold, respectively, for non-heat stress rats on the Se-enriched diet relative to the control. The interplay between heat stress and dietary Se is complex. For rats on the control diet, heat stress alone increased ileum expression of GPx-1 (2.33-fold) and GPx-2 (2.23-fold) relative to thermoneutral conditions. For rats on the Se-enriched diet, heat stress increased (p < 0.05) GPx-1 expression only. Rats on Se-enriched + α-tocopherol diet exhibited increased expression of both genes (p < 0.05). Thus, dietary Se-enriched A. bisporus protected against increase in ileum permeability and up-regulated GPx-1 and GPx-2 expression, selenoenzymes relevant to mitigating oxidative stress.     

Mechanical and Air Permeability Performance of Novel Biobased Materials from Fungal Hyphae and Cellulose Fibers

Novel biobased materials from fungal hyphae and cellulose fibers have been proposed to address the increasing demand for natural materials in personal protective equipment (PPE). Materials containing commercially available kraft fibers (KF), laboratory-made highly fibrillated hemp fibers (HF) and fungal fibers (FF) obtained from fruiting bodies of lignicolous basidiomycetes growing in nature were prepared using paper production techniques and evaluated for their mechanical and air permeability properties. SEM and microscopy revealed the network structure of materials. The tensile index of materials was in the range of 8–60 Nm/g and air permeability ranged from 32–23,990 mL/min, depending on the composition of materials. HF was the key component for strength; however, the addition of FF to compositions resulted in higher air permeability. Chemical composition analysis (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) revealed the presence of natural polysaccharides, mainly cellulose and chitin, as well as the appropriate elemental distribution of components C, H and N. Biodegradation potential was proven by a 30-day-long composting in substrate, which resulted in an 8–62% drop in the C/N ratio. Conclusions were drawn about the appropriateness of fungal hyphae for use in papermaking-like technologies together with cellulose fibers. Developed materials can be considered as an alternative to synthetic melt and spun-blown materials for PPE.     

秦巴山区714例胡蜂蜇伤流行特征及临床分析

<正>胡蜂蜇伤是夏秋季常见临床急症之一,临床表现复杂,伴随局部及全身多种症状。局部反应多为蜇伤处红肿刺痛,出现水泡、淤血,皮肤进而变色,坏死;常伴有口唇及眼睑肿胀,喉痒水肿,通气不畅,皮肤荨麻疹,过敏性休克等症状,严重者发展为多器官功能障碍综合征(multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,MODS),危及生命~([1,2])。本文旨在分析胡蜂蜇伤流行病学情况及临床特点,为胡蜂蜇伤的诊疗     

秦巴山区麻风病流行趋势、发现方法及控制对策

目的分析秦巴山区麻风病流行特征、流行因素和发现方式,为制定基本消灭麻风病后的防治措施提供科学依据。方法对历年麻风病的发现率、发病率、患病率进行统计,对不同方式发现的麻风病患者的病期、畸残和费用进行统计,用描述流行病学方法进行分析。结果秦巴山区竹山县麻风病疫情分布于17个乡镇,以东南部4个乡镇居多。发病最小年龄4岁,最大年龄74岁,以20-39岁发病较多,占42.28%（52/123）;男性多于女性,男比女为1.73∶1;发病职业主要为农民,占83.74%;主要传染来源为家庭内和邻居亲朋好友,各占44.72%（55/123）;在5种发现方法中,以疫源地接触者检查早期发现患者的比例最高,畸残率和费用最低。结论秦巴山区麻风病流行,是我国麻风病疫情的重灾区,疫情得到了有效控制,但麻风病的危害在短期内仍难以消除。为巩固防治成果,应将麻风病防治工作纳入国家基本公共卫生服务内容,增加农村公共卫生投入,继续加强医务人员培训,提高医务人员发现麻风病的能力;将疫源地接触者检查和线索调查作为达到国家基本消灭麻风病标准后发现患者的主动方式。     

Memory,anticipation, action – working with Troy D. Zars

Abstract

We present here our reflections on the scientific work of the late Troy D. Zars (1967 – 2018), on what it was like to work with him, and what it means to us. A common theme running through his work is that memory systems are not for replaying the past. Rather, they are forward-looking systems, providing whatever guidance past experience has to offer for anticipating the outcome of future actions. And in situations where no such guidance is available trying things out is the best option. Working with Troy was inspiring precisely because of the optimism inherent in this concept and that he himself embodied. Our reflections highlight what this means to us as his former mentors, colleagues, and mentees, respectively, and what it might mean for the future of neurogenetics.     

Metal Concentrations of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Turkey

In the present study, the contents of Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Al, Ca, Mg, and K in Agaricus campestris, Agrocybe cylindracea, Collybia dryophila, Helvella leucopus, Russula delica, Tricholoma auratum, Amanita ovoidea, Melanoleuca excissa, Rhizopogon roseolus, Russula chloroides, Volvoriella gloiocephala, Lyophyllum decastes, Morcella angusticeps, Morchella esculenta and Morcella eximia collected from Isparta, Mugla, and Osmaniye provinces (Turkey) were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after microwave digestion. The intake of heavy metals (Pb, Cd) and other metals (Fe, Cu, Zn) by consumption of 30 g dry weight of mushrooms daily poses no risk at all except in A. cylindracea and H. leucopus (for Cd) for the consumer.     

Effect of Lactarius piperatus fruiting body maturity stage on antioxidant activity measured by several biochemical assays.

The effects of fruiting body maturity on antioxidant activity and antioxidants production of the wild mushroom, Lactarius piperatus, were evaluated. Several biochemical assays were used to screen the antioxidant properties: reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, inhibition of erythrocytes hemolysis mediated by peroxyl radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation using the beta-carotene linoleate model system. The amounts of phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and lycopene present in the immature, mature and degraded fruiting bodies were also determined. The highest antioxidant contents and the lowest EC(50) values for antioxidant activity were obtained in the mature stage with immature spores.