Infected papillary fibroelastoma attached to the atrial septum.

A 61-year-old woman had intermittent fever of 2 months' duration following a dental extraction. On admission, her body temperature was 39.2 degrees C. A mid-systolic murmur was heard at the apex on ausculation. A 2-dimensional echocardiogram revealed a mobile, heavy stick-like mass with vegetation (5.0 x 1.5 cm) attached to the left atrial septum. Multiple blood cultures grew Streptococcus constellatus. On diagnosis of an infected left atrial myxoma, antibiotics were administered daily and 4 weeks later, the left atrial tumor was resected. The tumor was 5.3cm long, 1.5cm in diameter at the inter-atrial wall and had vegetation on the free edge. On microscopic examination, colonies of Gram-positive cocci were found in the thrombus, on the papillary fibroelastoma. After treatment with antibiotics for a further 4 weeks, the patient was discharged. This is the first report of infected papillary fibroelastoma.     

Pregnane glycosides from the bark of Marsdenia cundurango and their cytotoxic activity

Seven new pregnane glycosides (1–7) and eight known compounds (8–15) were isolated from the bark of Marsdenia cundurango (Asclepiadaceae). The structures of 1–7 were determined by spectroscopic analysis, including two-dimension NMR spectroscopy, chemical transformations, and chromatographic analysis of the hydrolyzed products. The isolated compounds 1–15 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human leukemia cells, A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells, and TIG-3 normal human lung cells, including apoptosis-inducing activity of a representative pregnane glycoside in HL-60 cells.

     

Neuromelanin MRI in a family with mitochondrial parkinsonism harboring a Y955C mutation in POLG1

BackgroundProgressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO) and parkinsonism can be caused by genetic mutations that affect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance. We characterized parkinsonism in a family with dominantly inherited PEO.MethodsWe conducted clinical, histological and genetic analyses on two affected members suffering from PEO and parkinsonism, and reviewed the cases in the literature. To clarify parkinsonism related to multiple mtDNA deletions, we used 3-T neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess signal changes in the substantia nigra (SN) and locus ceruleus (LC) in our patients, and compared the results to those observed in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD) (n = 35).ResultsWe report the first case of a Japanese family harboring a heterozygous p.Y955C mutation in POLG1. The clinical features of parkinsonism related to the Y955C mutation in a total of 16 patients, including our two cases, are indistinguishable from iPD. However, neuromelanin MRI showed a distinct pattern in our cases compared to iPD. The neuromelanin imaging results were consistent with the neuropathological findings reported in cases of POLG1 mutations, in which neurons of the SN were profoundly affected while those in the LC were preserved.ConclusionsOur results suggest that 3-T neuromelanin MRI may be useful for differentiating POLG1 mutation-associated parkinsonism from iPD, and that POLG1 mutations may cause selective neuronal loss in the SN via a mechanism different from that of iPD.     

Associations between respiratory arrhythmia and fundamental frequency of spontaneous crying in preterm and term infants at term‐equivalent age

This study investigated whether lower vagal function in preterm infants is associated with increased fundamental frequency (F₀; frequency of vocal fold vibration) of their spontaneous cries. We assessed respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during quiet sleep as a measure of vagal function, and its relationship with the F₀ of spontaneous cries in healthy preterm and term infants at term‐equivalent age. The results showed that preterm infants have significantly lower RSA, and higher overall F₀ than term infants. Moreover, lower RSA was associated with higher overall F₀ in preterm infants, whereas higher RSA was positively associated with mean and maximum F₀, and a larger F₀ range in term infants. These results suggest that individual differences in vagal function may be associated with the F₀ of spontaneous cries via modulation of vocal fold tension in infants at an early developmental stage. © 2016 The Authors. Developmental Psychobiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58:724–733, 2016.     

Alkali treatment stabilizes fluctuations of urine AQP2 values measured by ELISA

Background

Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in urine is now measured in many water-balance disorders and regarded as a useful biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method has been developed for measurement of large numbers of clinical samples. However, fluctuations in the measured values were sometimes observed depending on storage conditions. Urine AQP2 is present in exosome membranes and we speculated that this structural organization causes the fluctuations.

Methods

Human urine samples from healthy subjects were measured by ELISA. Effects of maneuvers to disrupt the exosome membrane mechanically (freezing and thawing at different temperatures) and chemically (treating with alkali and detergents) prior to ELISA were examined.

Results

Urine samples stored at 4 or ?80 °C did not show significant AQP2 values, whereas those stored at ?25 °C for more that 2 weeks provided the values. Urine samples treated with 0.4 N NaOH and 0.5 % Triton X-305 showed the consistent and comparable values to those stored at ?25 °C.

Conclusion

Pretreatment with alkali (0.4 N NaOH) to disrupt exosome membranes allowed consistent ELISA measurements of urinary AQP2. This simple method is applicable to ELISA of other membrane proteins included in exosomes.

     

Role of Streptococcus intermedius phosphoglucosamine mutase in bacterial growth,cell morphology,and resistance to polymorphonuclear leukocyte killing

ObjectivesStreptococcus intermedius is a member of the anginosus group of streptococci, an oral commensal bacterium found in infected root canals, and the causative agent of deep-seated abscesses. This organism has slow clearance when phagocytosed within neutrophils. Here, we investigated the role of its phosphoglucosamine mutase (GlmM), an enzyme associated with peptidoglycan synthesis, in bacterial growth, cell morphology, and resistance to polymorphonuclear leukocyte killing.MethodsThe glmM-deletion (ΔglmM) mutant and the plasmid-borne complementation (ΔglmM/glmM) strain of S. intermedius were generated. The wild type, the ΔglmM mutant, and the ΔglmM/glmM strain were phagocytosed with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and bacterial viability in PMNs was determined by LIVE/DEAD staining. Additionally, bacterial growth and cell morphology were also compared.ResultsThe survival rate of the ΔglmM mutant was significant lower than that of the wild type. Although the difference in the survival rate of the ΔglmM/glmM strain compared to that of the wild type or the ΔglmM mutant was not significant, the rate appeared to be restored to the middle level. Compared to the wild type and the ΔglmM/glmM strain, the ΔglmM mutant showed reduced growth potential, a significant increase in the number of bacterial chains, and heterogeneous bacteria.ConclusionsGlmM is one of the factors responsible for the stable resistance of S. intermedius to clearance by PMNs.     

Effect of basal forebrain stimulation on extracellular acetylcholine release and blood flow in the olfactory bulb

The olfactory bulb receives cholinergic basal forebrain input, as does the neocortex; however, the in vivo physiological functions regarding the release of extracellular acetylcholine and regulation of regional blood flow in the olfactory bulb are unclear. We used in vivo microdialysis to measure the extracellular acetylcholine levels in the olfactory bulb of urethane-anesthetized rats. Focal chemical stimulation by microinjection of l-glutamate into the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca (HDB) in the basal forebrain, which is the main source of cholinergic input to the olfactory bulb, increased extracellular acetylcholine release in the ipsilateral olfactory bulb. When the regional cerebral blood flow was measured using laser speckle contrast imaging, the focal chemical stimulation of the HDB did not significantly alter the blood flow in the olfactory bulb, while increases were observed in the neocortex. Our results suggest a functional difference between the olfactory bulb and neocortex regarding cerebral blood flow regulation through the release of acetylcholine by cholinergic basal forebrain input.     

The role of alpha adrenoceptors in the vascular and estradiol secretory responses to stimulation of the superior ovarian nerve

Electrical stimulation of the superior ovarian nerve in rats reduces both the plasma flow rate of ovarian venous blood (ovarian blood flow) and the ovarian estradiol secretion rate. Here, we examined the possible roles of alpha-adrenoceptors in these processes. The reduction of the plasma flow rate was blocked by an alpha 1- (prazosin), but not by an alpha 2- (yohimbine) adrenoceptor blocker. In contrast, the reduction of the estradiol secretion rate was blocked by yohimbine but not by prazosin. We conclude that ovarian vascular and estradiol secretory responses to superior ovarian nerve activation are mediated by alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, respectively.