Systemic mastocytosis associated with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in a 4-year-old child

Systemic mastocytosis with associated clonal hematologic non-mast cell lineage disease (SM-AHN) represents a specific subtype of mastocytosis and is extremely rare in children. We describe a 4-year-old child with systemic mastocytosis associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The child had cutaneous mastocytosis and lymphadenopathy without other clinical features of SM, which was diagnosed only by bone marrow examination.     

A pilot study of Foley’s catheter balloon for prevention of intrauterine adhesions following breach of uterine cavity in complex myoma surgery

Purpose

During abdominal myomectomy for removal of multiple fibroids, the uterine cavity may be breached. Repair of the breach is associated with a risk of development of intrauterine adhesions. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of temporary placement of a Foley’s catheter balloon inflated with 30 ml normal saline into uterine cavity at the end of surgery to prevent this complication.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study. When the uterine cavity was breached during open myomectomy, it was repaired with a No. 2-0 vicryl suture. A Foley catheter balloon was inserted into the uterine cavity at the end of the procedure, and the balloon distended with 30 ml of normal saline. The balloon was removed on the fourth post-operative day. Follow-up hysteroscopy was performed after 6 months.

Results

At the time of follow-up hysteroscopy 6 months after the myomectomy, we found no intrauterine adhesions in 16 consecutive women treated with balloon, compared to 3 out of 10 (30 %) historical controls where the balloon was not used.

Conclusion

A Foley catheter balloon inserted into the uterine cavity following breach and repair of the uterine cavity at open myomectomy appears to prevent the formation of intrauterine adhesions.     

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: an uncommon location

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor is an uncommon tumor of odontogenic origin. It is usually located in the anterior region of the maxilla associated with impacted canines. The purpose of this paper was to present a case of adenomatoid odontogenic tumor in a 14-year-old girl with unusual clinical manifestations involving an impacted mandibular lateral incisor as well as its treatment follow-up.     

Molecular changes associated with hippocampal long-lasting depression induced by the serine protease subtilisin-A

The serine protease subtilisin-A (SubA) induces a form of long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampus, and molecular changes associated with SubA-induced LTD (SubA-LTD) were explored by using recordings of evoked postsynaptic potentials and immunoblotting. SubA-LTD was prevented by a selective inhibitor of SubA proteolysis, but the same inhibitor did not affect LTD induced by electrical stimulation or activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors. SubA-LTD was reduced by the protein kinase inhibitors genistein and lavendustin A, although not by inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3, or protein phosphatases. It was also reduced by (RS)-α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine, a broad-spectrum antagonist at metabotropic glutamate receptors. Inhibition of the Rho kinase enzyme Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase reduced SubA-LTD, although inhibitors of the RhoGTPase-activating enzymes farnesyl transferase and geranylgeranyl transferase did not. In addition, a late phase of SubA-LTD was dependent on new protein synthesis. There was a small, non-significant difference in SubA-LTD between wild-type and RhoB(-/-) mice. Marked decreases were seen in the levels of Unc-5H3, a protein that is intimately involved in the development and plasticity of glutamatergic synapses. Smaller changes were noted, at higher concentrations of SubA, in Unc-5H1, vesicle-associated membrane protein-1 (synaptobrevin), and actin, with no changes in the levels of synaptophysin, synaptotagmin, RhoA, or RhoB. None of these changes was associated with LTD induced electrically or by the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine. These results indicate that SubA induces molecular changes that overlap with other forms of LTD, but that the overall molecular profile of SubA-LTD is quite different.     

大高良姜根茎提取物对小鼠的镇痛作用

目的：评价大高良姜（Alpinia galanga）根茎的乙醇提取物对小鼠的镇痛作用并推断其可能的机制。方法：使用3个实验模型分别测定大高良姜根茎提取物对白化病小鼠（体质量25～30g）的镇痛作用。热板实验中,30只小鼠被分为5组,每组6只,分别给予口服3种剂量的大高良姜根茎乙醇提取物、皮下注射吗啡以及口服2%的阿拉伯树胶,记录给药30、60、90和120min后的热板实验反应时间。纳洛酮预处理热板实验中,另外30只小鼠在给予上述药物30min之前皮下注射纳洛酮,给药种类及方式同前,热板实验反应时间记录方式同前。扭体实验中,通过腹腔注射醋酸诱导小鼠产生扭体反应,随后30只小鼠被分为5组,每组6只,分别给予口服3种剂量的大高良姜根茎乙醇提取物、阿司匹林及2%的阿拉伯树胶,每只小鼠观察15min,记录扭体次数。结果：各个时间记录点的数据表明,与对照组相比,3种剂量的大高良姜根茎乙醇提取物均显著延长了热板实验中小鼠的反应时间（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。经纳洛酮预处理后,实验组及阳性对照药吗啡组小鼠的热板实验反应时间较对应的前一实验中未经纳洛酮处理各组小鼠显著延长（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。扭体实验中,与对照组相比,3种剂量的大高良姜根茎乙醇提取物均减少了实验小鼠的扭体次数（P〈0.01）。结论：本实验证实了大高良姜根茎提取物的镇痛作用,验证了其在民族医学中治疗各种原因引起的疼痛的应用。其镇痛作用的机制可能是有效成分作用于中枢或外周神经系统     

ESAT-6 induced COX-2 expression involves coordinated interplay between PI3K and MAPK signaling

Macrophages, as sentinels of robust host immunity, are key regulators of innate immune responses against invading mycobacteria; however, pathogenic mycobacteria survive in the infected host by subverting host innate immunity. Infection dependent expression of early secreted antigenic target protein 6 (ESAT-6) by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is strongly correlated with subversion of innate immune responses against invading mycobacteria. As a part of multifaceted immunity to mycobacterial infection, induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may act as an important influencing factor towards effective host immunity. In the current investigation, we demonstrate that ESAT-6 triggers COX-2 expression both in vitro and in vivo in a TLR2 dependent manner. Signaling perturbation data suggest that signaling dynamics of PI3K and p38 and JNK1/2 MAPK assume critical importance in ESAT-6 triggered expression of COX-2 in macrophages. Interestingly, ESAT-6 triggered PI3K-MAPK signaling axis holds the capacity to regulate coordinated activation of NF-κB and AP-1. Overall, current investigation provides mechanistic insights into ESAT-6 induced COX-2 expression and unravels TLR2 mediated interplay of PI3K and MAPK signaling axis as a rate-determining step during intricate host immune responses. These findings would serve as a paradigm to understand pathogenesis of mycobacterial infection and clearly pave a way towards development of novel therapeutics.     

The minor histocompatibility antigen HA-3 arises from differential proteasome-mediated cleavage of the lymphoid blast crisis (Lbc) oncoprotein

Minor histocompatibility (H) antigens crucially affect the outcome of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). To understand the basis of alloimmune responses against minor H antigens, identification of minor H peptides and their antigenicity-determining mechanisms is essential. Here we report the identification of HA-3 and its encoding gene. The HA-3 peptide, VTEPGTAQY (HA-3T), is encoded by the lymphoid blast crisis (Lbc) oncogene. We thus show for the first time that a leukemia-associated oncogene can give rise to immunogenic T-cell epitopes that may have participated in antihost and antileukemic alloimmune responses. Genotypic analysis of HA-3- individuals revealed the allelic counterpart VMEPGTAQY (HA-3M). Despite the lack of T-cell recognition of HA-3- cells, the Thr-->Met substitution had only a modest effect on peptide binding to HLA-A1 and a minimal impact on recognition by T cells when added exogenously to target cells. This substitution did not influence transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) transport, but, in contrast to the HA-3T peptide, HA-3M is destroyed by proteasome-mediated digestion. Thus, the immunogenicity of minor H antigens can result from proteasome-mediated destruction of the negative allelic peptide.     

Lipohypertrophy in insulin injecting patients with diabetes mellitus: an under-recognized barrier for glycemic control

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries - Lipohypertrophy is the one of the commonest local complications that significantly affects glycemic control in patients of diabetes...     

Combined liver and pancreas transplantation in two children with cystic fibrosis—First experience in Australia and New Zealand

We report the first two pediatric patients with CF who underwent successful combined liver‐pancreas transplantation in Australia and New Zealand for CF liver disease and CF‐related diabetes mellitus.