Central venous catheter-related infection due to Agrobacterium radiobacter: a report of 2 cases

We report 2 cases of Agrobacterium radiobacter bacteremia in immunocompromised patients. Removal of the central venous catheter and administration of antimicrobial therapy led to favorable outcomes in both patients. Infections due to A. radiobacter are rare and usually occur in patients with predisposing factors.     

Two unusual acetogenins from the roots of Annona salzmanii

Two new acetogenins, parisin (1) and salzmanolin (2), were isolated from a MeOH extract of the roots of Annona salzmanii. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including LSI-MS/MS, on both the natural compounds and their acetonide derivatives (1a and 2a). Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant activity against the KB and Vero cell lines.     

Acaricidal activity of Uvaria versicolor and Uvaria Klaineana (Annonaceae)

Three Uvaria species, namely U. klaineana, U. mocoli and U. versicolor were tested in vitro against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, the European house dust mite. The most active extracts were the Uvaria versicolor stems crude methanol and hexane extracts with EC(50) values of 0.095 g/m(2 )and 0.12 g/m(2), respectively. The bioassay-guided fractionation of the hexane extract led to the isolation of benzyl benzoate (1). which exhibited an EC(50) value of 0.045 g/m(2). A new fl avanone, versuvanone (2). and the known oxoaporphine liriodenine (3). were also isolated from this species and showed EC(50) values > 1.5 g/m(2). A weak acaricidal activity (0.85 g/m(2)) was observed for the dichloromethane extract of Uvaria klaineana, due to the presence of benzyl benzoate. Uvaria mocoli was inactive. The structures of compounds were elucidated using 2D-NMR techniques.     

Nuclear targeting defect of SMN lacking the C-terminus in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy

Deletion of the murine survival of motor neuron gene (SMN) exon 7, the most frequent mutation found in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients, directed to neurons but not to skeletal muscle, enabled generation of a mouse model of SMA providing evidence that motor neurons are the primary target of the gene defect. Moreover, the mutated SMN protein (SMNDeltaC15) is dramatically reduced in the motor neuron nuclei and causes a lack of gems associated with large aggregates of coilin, a coiled-body-specific protein. These results identify the lack of the nuclear targeting of SMN as the biochemical defect in SMA.     

Mycotic aneurysm of the splenic artery. A rare complication of surgically treated infectious endocarditis and its causative cardiac lesion]

The authors report the case of a 59 year old woman with mitral valve streptococcal endocarditis complicating rheumatic valvular disease with several metastatic septic complications. In addition to ocular and cerebral localisations, the patient developed a very rare mycotic aneurysm of the splenic artery. Mitral valve replacement was necessary because of severe mitral regurgitation with major dilatation of the left heart chambers. This surgery was performed under high dose heparin therapy. Large aneurysms of the splenic artery carry a high risk of rupture. This splenic artery aneurysm was treated in the same operative session as the valvular disease by a sternolaparotomy: the aneurysm was operated first of all, and then valvular replacement was performed. Three years later, the patient is well and cured of the endocarditis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the third report of mycotic aneurysm of the splenic artery and the first case combined with surgery of the infectious valvular disease and the gastro-intestinal artery aneurysm.     

Cat-scratch disease presenting as a breast mass

The case of a 14-y-old girl who presented with a mass in her left breast after having contact with a guinea pig is presented. The diagnosis of cat-scratch disease was made by detection of Bartonella henselae DNA by PCR analysis of abscess aspirate.