Peripheral arterial embolism caused by a floating thrombus in the right coronary sinus of Valsalva

Although transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the cornerstone of noninvasive cardiac imaging in the detection of cardiac source of emboli, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides additional information for the identification of most causes. We report a case with a floating thrombus in the right coronary sinus of Valsalva, with complicated peripheral arterial embolism and renal infarct. Due to the high velocity of the blood flow, the formation of thrombus in the coronary sinus is extremely rare. This may, however, be a cause of embolism and a TEE examination should be included to detect potential cardiac source of embolism.     

Effects of green tea catechin on prostaglandin synthesis of renal glomerular and renal dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of green tea catechin on prostaglandin synthesis of renal glomerular and renal dysfunction in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 100 +/- 10 g were randomly assigned to one normal group and three groups with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The diabetic groups were classified to a catechin-free diet (DM group), a 0.25% catechin diet (DM-0.25C group) and a 0.5% catechin diet (DM-0.5C group) according to the levels of catechin supplement in their diet. The animals were maintained on an experimental diet for 4 weeks. At this point, they were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. They were killed on the sixth day. The catechin supplementation groups (DM-0.25C, DM-0.SC groups) showed a decrease in thromboxane A2 synthesis but an increase in prostacyclin synthesis, compared to the DM group. The ratio of prostacyclin/thromboxane A2 was 53.3% and 38.1% lower in the DM and DM-0.25C groups, respectively, than in the normal group. The ratio in the DM-0.5C group did not differ from that in the normal group. The glomerular filtration rate in catechin feeding groups (DM-0.25C and DM-0.5C groups) was maintained at the normal level. The urinary beta2-microglobulin content in the DM-0.5C group was significantly lower than that in the normal group. On the sixth day after induction of diabetes, the urinary microalbumin content in the DM, DM-0.25C and DM-0.5C groups had increased 5.40, 4.02, 3.87 times, respectively, compared with the normal group. In conclusion, kidney function appears to be improved by green tea catechin supplementation due to its antithrombotic action, which in turn controls the arachidonic acid cascade system.     

Expression of Interferon Inducible Genes Following Hantaan Virus Infection as a Mechanism of Resistance in A549 Cells

Hantaan virus (HTN) is a causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Little is known of its pathogenesis or the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to HTN infection. In the present study, DNA microarray technology was used to monitor changes in mRNA levels after HTN infection, to elucidate resistance mechanisms to viral infection by understanding virus–host interactions. We found that several interferon (IFN)-inducible genes were up-regulated in host cells infected with HTN. According to previous available data, IFNs have been reported to be inhibitory, but their mode of action has not been yet clear. In this study, the 2,5-oligoadenylated synthetase (OAS) and M_x1 genes, not a double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase R (PKR), of the IFN response pathways are associated with antiviral activity during HTN infection. Furthermore, A549 cells treated with IFN- were protected against HTN infection. Taken together, these results confirmed that IFN plays a role in cellular defenses against HTN infection at an early stage of the infection and revealed the resistance mechanism for HTN infection.     

Relationship between the Tensile Properties and Damping Capacity of Fe-22%Mn-12%Cr-4%Co-3%Ni-2%Si Alloys by Fatigue Stress

The relationship between the tensile properties and damping capacity of fatigue-damaged Fe-22%Mn-12%Cr-4%Co-3%Ni-2%Si alloy under various magnitudes of fatigue stress was investigated. Analytical results show that α′- and ε-martensite were formed due to fatigue stress. The formed α′- and ε-martensite followed a specific orientation and surface relief and intersected with each other. TEM observation and pattern analysis reveal that both α′- and ε-martensites formed on the austenite. As a result of X-ray diffraction, with an increase in fatigue stress, the volume fractions of α′- and ε-martensite were increased, and the increasing rate of the volume fraction of α′-martensite was higher than that of the ε-martensite. As the fatigue stress increased, the tensile strength and damping capacity increased, but the elongation decreased. Besides, as the strength increased and the elongation decreased, the damping capacity decreased. This result is inconsistent with the general tendency for metals but similar to that of alloys undergoing deformation-induced martensite transformation.     

Concise synthesis of Obovatol: Chemoselective ortho-bromination of phenol and survey of Cu-catalyzed diaryl ether couplings

Concise total synthesis of obovatol (1) was achieved from the commercially available eugenol (5) via linear 4 steps in 40% overall yield. The key features of the synthesis involve the chemoselective orthobromination of phenol in the presence of isolated double bond and the efficient Cu-catalyzed Ullmann coupling of two aromatic moieties for the diaryl ether skeleton.     

Internalization and trafficking mechanisms of coxsackievirus B3 in HeLa cells

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is nonenveloped and has a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome. CVB3 induces myocarditis and ultimately dilated cardiomyopathy. Although there are mounting evidences of an interaction between CVB3 particles and the cellular receptors, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and decay-accelerating factor (DAF), very little is known about the mechanisms of internalization and trafficking. In the present study, we used the CVB3 H3 strain, which is CAR-dependent but DAF-independent Woodruff variant and found that during entry, CVB3 particles were colocalized in clathrin, after interacting primarily with CAR, which was not recycled to the plasma membrane. We also found that CVB3 internalization was dependent on the function of dynamin, a large GTPase that has an essential role in endocytosis. Heat-shock cognate protein, Hsc70, which acts as a chaperone in the release of coat proteins from clathrin-coated vesicles (CCV), played a role in CVB3 trafficking processes. Moreover, endosomal acidification was crucial for CVB3 endocytosis. Finally, CVB3 was colocalized in early endosome autoantigen 1 (EEA1) molecules, which are involved in endosome-endosome tethering and fusion. In conclusion, these data together indicate that CVB3 uses clathrin-mediated endocytosis and is transcytosed to early endosomes.     

Prevalence of Heterophyes nocens and Pygydiopsis summa infections among residents of the western and southern coastal islands of the Republic of Korea

To determine the distribution and prevalence of heterophyid fluke infections on coastal islands of the Republic of Korea, fecal specimens were collected from 4,179 people residing on 45 islands in the West (Yellow) and South Seas and examined using the formalin-ether and Kato-Katz techniques. Eggs of Heterophyes nocens were found in 459 (11.0%) residents of 42 islands, with an average number of eggs per gram (epg) of feces of 79.6. Eggs of Pygidiopsis summa were found in 49 (1.2%) on 12 islands, with an average epg of 253.0. The egg-positive rate for H. nocens was the highest on Chungdo (32.6%), followed by Imchado (27.3%); P. summa was most prevalent on Imchado (15.2%). The majority (78.9% [362 of 549] of those infected with H. nocens and 81.6% [40 of 49] of those infected with P. summa) of those infected were adults more than 40 years old. Adult flukes of these species were recovered from residents of Imchado by treatment with praziquantel and purgation. Our results indicate that H. nocens and P. summa are indigenous to the southern and western coastal islands of the Republic of Korea.     

Vestibular neuritis selectively involving posterior canal and utricle

Journal of Neurology -     

Technical feasibility,safety, and clinical outcome of stenting of unprotected left main coronary artery bifurcation narrowing

This study was performed to evaluate the acute and long-term results of stenting for unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) bifurcation lesions. Sixty-three consecutive patients with an unprotected LMCA bifurcation lesion and normal left ventricular function were included. Stenting was performed with (n = 32) or without debulking atherectomy (n = 31) at the operator's discretion. Slotted-tube stents, coil stents, or bifurcation stents were used. The procedural success rate was 100%. In-hospital events including stent thrombosis, Q-wave myocardial infarction, and emergency bypass surgery did not occur in any patients. The angiographic follow-up rate was 86% (43 of the 50 eligible patients), and the restenosis rate was 28% (parent vessel only 14%, side branch only 9%, and both 5%). Restenosis at the parent vessel occurred less frequently in the debulking group than in the nondebulking group (5% vs 33%, respectively, p = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, the debulking procedure was an independent predictive factor of restenosis for the parent vessel (odds ratio 0.10, 95% confidence intervals 0.01 to 0.91, p = 0.04). Clinical follow-up was obtained in all patients at 19.9 +/- 13.7 months. There were 2 deaths (noncardiac origin), but no myocardial infarction during follow-up. Target lesion revascularization was required in 6 patients. The event-free survival rate (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization) was 86% at the end of the follow-up period. In conclusion, stenting for an unprotected LMCA bifurcation lesion may be performed with a high procedural success rate and a favorable clinical outcome in selected patients with normal left ventricular function, suggesting that stenting would be an effective alternative to surgery in these patients.