Diffuse Ependymal Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor Causing Spinal Drop Metastases: A Case Report

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) arise mostly in the supratentorial cerebral cortex. A very rare case of intraventricular DNET with diffuse ependymal involvement, which causes spinal drop metastasis, is presented.     

Determination of plasma dibasic amino acids following trimethylsilyl–trifluoroacyl derivatization using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A rapid analytical method was developed to quantify dibasic amino acids (ornithine, lysine and arginine) after two-step derivatization procedure with good sensitivity and specificity on human plasma. If early diagnosis has not been made, patients with inborn metabolic disorders such as HHH syndrome, Hyperornithinemia and dibasic aminoaciduria rapidly progress to sudden death, physical defect or mental retardation resulting in storage of the toxic material into the brain. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the analytical method for rapid screening and/or correct confirmation diagnosis. The formation of trimethylsilyl derivative of the carboxylic (COO–) functional group was performed by adding MSTFA. Five μL of methyl orange was added to the residue until the color changed into yellow. Consecutively, the trifluoroacyl derivative of the amino (–NH₂) functional group was produced by adding MBTFA. Specific ions was chosen for quantification with following ions; m/z 166 and m/z 212 for ornithine, m/z 180 and m/z 395 for lysine, and m/z 292 and, m/z 519 for arginine. A calibration curve showed a linear relationship for the dibasic amino acids spiked to pooled normal plasma showing R² of 0.9955–0.9979 in the range of 0.1–600 ng investigated. The utility of the method for screening and diagnosis was demonstrated by recovery 80–125 % and reproducibility with RSD (9–17 %) at low, medium and high concentration fortified to pooled plasma. Collectively, the present study suggest that this method could be useful for diagnosis, screening, therapeutic monitoring of metabolic disorders on dietary therapy with excellent sensitivity and rapidity.     

RND-Type Efflux Pumps in Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii: Major Role for AdeABC Overexpression and AdeRS Mutations

Increased expression of chromosomal genes for resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND)-type efflux systems plays a major role in the multidrug resistance (MDR) of Acinetobacter baumannii. However, the relative contributions of the three most prevalent pumps, AdeABC, AdeFGH, and AdeIJK, have not been evaluated in clinical settings. We have screened 14 MDR clinical isolates shown to be distinct on the basis of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for the presence and overexpression of the three Ade efflux systems and analyzed the sequences of the regulators AdeRS, a two-component system, for AdeABC and AdeL, a LysR-type regulator, for AdeFGH. Gene adeB was detected in 13 of 14 isolates, and adeG and the intrinsic adeJ gene were detected in all strains. Significant overexpression of adeB was observed in 10 strains, whereas only 7 had moderately increased levels of expression of AdeFGH, and none overexpressed AdeIJK. Thirteen strains had reduced susceptibility to tigecycline, but there was no correlation between tigecycline MICs and the levels of AdeABC expression, suggesting the presence of other mechanisms for tigecycline resistance. No mutations were found in the highly conserved LysR regulator of the nine strains expressing AdeFGH. In contrast, functional mutations were found in conserved domains of AdeRS in all the strains that overexpressed AdeABC with two mutational hot spots, one in AdeS near histidine 149 suggesting convergent evolution and the other in the DNA binding domain of AdeR compatible with horizontal gene transfer. This report outlines the high incidence of AdeABC efflux pump overexpression in MDR A. baumannii as a result of a variety of single mutations in the corresponding two-component regulatory system.     

Therapeutic effects of strengthening exercise on gait function of cerebral palsy

Purpose. To assess the effectiveness of strengthening exercises of the lower limbs on improvement of muscle strength and gait function.

Method. Those included were diagnosed as spastic diplegic or hemiplegic type of cerebral palsy (CP) and verified as grade 2 or 3 of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 9) or a control group (n = 8). The experimental group completed a 5-week strengthening program and the control group took part in conventional physical therapy. Muscle tone and strength of lower limb, Gross Motor Function Measure, lateral step up, squat to stand, and three dimensional gait analysis were tested at pre-training, post-training, and 6 week follow up.

Results. Maximal hip extensor strength, and number of squat to stand were significantly increased at post-training and 6 weeks follow up in the experimental group compared with the control group. GMFM score D and E significantly improved in the experimental group at post-training. The experimental group demonstrated significant increase of gait speed and stride length and decrease of double support phase at post-training and 6 weeks follow up.

Conclusions. Strengthening exercises could be a useful method to improve gait function of patients with spastic CP.