Fatal outcome of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a lupus nephropathy patient: A case report

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare underestimated condition, that generally complicates a rise in blood pressure in an acute setting. This entity has been increasingly identified in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus disease. PRES is challenging to diagnose seeing as it presents with nonspecific neurological symptoms, such as head-aches, confusion, seizures, visual changes or a coma, and can mimic neuropsychiatric lupus. Imaging plays a necessary role in confirming this diagnosis, as it is characterized by vasogenic edema of the posterior white matter, in which the distribution is bilateral and symmetrical. Although this syndrome is rare, early diagnosis allows a prompt treatment and therefore a favorable outcome. We present a case report of PRES in a 14-year-old female previously diagnosed with lupus nephropathy, who presented to the emergency department with seizures and uncontrolled hypertension, that was unfortunately not reversible is this patient.     

Umbilical catheter masquerading at echocardiography as a left atrial mass

The case of a newborn who had an umbilical catheter inserted in the intensive care unit is discussed. This catheter was meant to be inserted into the umbilical artery, but was instead inadvertently inserted into the umbilical vein. It crossed a patent foramen ovale into the left atrium. This fact was not known at the time of echocardiographic evaluation. At echocardiography, abnormal echoes within the left atrium were seen. Findings were typical for a catheter within the heart, and the umbilical catheter was subsequently withdrawn. There is a potential for mistaking the echocardiographic findings for a left atrial abnormality and echocardiographers should be alert to this possibility.     

Detection and confirmation of cocaine use by chromatographic analysis for methylecgonine in urine

Methylecgonine is a common metabolite of cocaine in man. We prepared methylecgonine and developed thin-layer chromatographic and gas-chromatographic methods for its detection in urine. Seventy urine specimens from our drug screening laboratory were tested by our method and by EMIT. Both methods were positive for 26 urines, and both were negative for 42 urines. The other two urines were shown to contain cocaine by GC/MS, and no detectable metabolites. We thus demonstrated that detection of methylecgonine and cocaine is as sensitive a test for cocaine use as EMIT.     

A study of sudden natural deaths in medico legal autopsies in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur

The main aim of this study is to determine the causes and the epidemiological aspects of sudden natural deaths. Data were collected from 545 sudden natural autopsies in UMMC, Kuala Lumpur over a five-year period, from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2004. There were 475 males and 70 females. The largest number of sudden natural deaths was in the age group of 41-50 years. 35.8%, 30.5% and 11.7% of the patients were Chinese, Indian and Malay, respectively. A majority of the patients were married (59.8%) and came from the semiskilled-unskilled group (30.6%). The monthly distribution was almost constant. Cardiovascular diseases were the most important cause contributing 64.9% in sudden natural deaths.     

Cerebellar hemangioblastoma: Case report with review of the literature

Originally recognized by Cushing and Bailey, hemangioblastoma is a developmental vascular neoplasm that is predominantly found in the posterior fossa. It is a highly vascularized tumor, with well-differentiated histologic features. Although rare, it remains the most common primary tumor of cerebellum in adults, along with metastases. MRI is the gold standard, allowing a precise characterization of the lesion''s features, and its relationship with the surrounding structures. We report the case of a patient with a cerebellar symptomatology, in whom brain MRI raises the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma, which was then confirmed by histopathologic examination.     

Concomitant overexpression of mir‐182‐5p and mir‐182‐3p raises the possibility of IL‐17–producing Treg formation in breast cancer by targeting CD3d,ITK, FOXO1, and NFATs: A meta‐analysis and experimental study

T cells are polarized toward regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor microenvironment by the shuttling of microRNAs that target T cell–activating signaling pathways. We evaluated the expression of the miR‐182 cluster (miR‐96, 182, and 183) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with breast cancer (BC), and T cell polarization by the expression of FOXO1, NFATs, ITK, TCR/CD3 complex, and IL‐2/IL‐2RA. Twenty‐six microRNAs overexpressed in tumor tissues and sera of these patients were extracted by a meta‐analysis. Then, the expression of the miR‐182 cluster was investigated in PBMCs and sera of these patients and correlated with their targets in PBMCs. Finally, miR‐182 was cloned into Jurkat cells to evaluate its effects on T cell polarization. FOXO1, CD3d, ITK, NFATc3, NFATc4, and IL‐2RA were targeted by miR‐182, due to which their expression decreased in PBMCs of patients. Although IL‐6, IL‐17, and TGF‐β increased after miR‐182 transduction, IL‐2 dramatically decreased. We revealed CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ T cell differentiation in the miR‐182–transduced group. Although miR‐182 has inhibitory effects on T cells by the inhibition of FOXO1, TCR/CD3 complex, NFATs, and IL‐2/IL‐2RA signaling pathways, it increases FOXP3, TGF‐β, and IL‐17 expression to possibly drive T cell deviation toward the transitional state of IL‐17–producing Tregs and Treg formation in the end.     

FDG‐PET/CT is a pivotal imaging modality to diagnose rare intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma: case report and review of literature

Intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) remains a diagnostic challenge, because of non‐specific findings on clinical, laboratory, and imaging studies. We present a case in which 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography was particularly useful to suspect the diagnosis, to detect unexpected locations, to guide contributive biopsy, and to assess the response to treatment. In case of initial negative results, FDG‐PET should be repeated in the course of clinical evolution. In the presence of neurological or hormonal symptoms without brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormality, FDG‐PET brain slices could depict additional pituitary and/or brain hypermetabolisms. We discuss the potential interests of FDG‐PET in IVLBCL by a literature review. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of blood flow velocity through the internal carotid artery based on Doppler ultrasound and numerical simulation

Doppler ultrasound is a usual non-invasive method to estimate the stenosis percentage in large arteries such as carotid by measuring maximum velocity of blood flow. Based on clinical investigations, because of vessel wall motions, Doppler positioning and angle correction, some errors can arise in Doppler results which lead to incorrect diagnosis. The aim of this study was to compare the results of Doppler test and the numerical simulation of blood flow in the same case. For this evaluation, two patients including an 87-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman suffering from stenosis in the internal carotid artery were selected. First, clinical information of each patient such as CT-Angio scan images and Doppler ultrasound results on different locations of the stenosed artery were obtained. Then, the geometries were reconstructed and numerical simulations were carried out using ANSYS software. Results showed that the velocity profile of Doppler test and numerical simulation were in good agreement at the regions of pre-and post-stenosis. However, the value of maximum velocity at the stenotic region had significant differences.