Volumetric Analysis of the African Elephant Ventricular System

This study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the volume of the ventricular system in the brain of three adult male African elephants (Loxodonta africana). The ventricular system of the elephant has a volume of ～240 mL, an order of magnitude larger than that seen in the adult human. Despite this large size, allometric analysis indicates that the volume of the ventricles in the elephant is what one would expect for a mammal with an ～5 kg brain. Interestingly, our comparison with other mammals revealed that primates appear to have small relative ventricular volumes, and that megachiropterans and microchiropterans follow different scaling rules when comparing ventricular volume to brain mass indicating separate phylogenetic histories. The current study provides context for one aspect of the elephant brain in the broader picture of mammalian brain evolution. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effect of sensory training of the posterior thigh on trunk control and upper extremity functions in stroke patients

Neurological Sciences - Some studies show that sensorial rehabilitation is effective on functionality. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of sensory training of the posterior thigh...     

Novel dermoscopic features of pityriasis versicolor–like macules in epidermodysplasia verruciformis

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) manifests early in childhood as pityriasis versicolor (PV)–like macules on sun-exposed sites such as the face. These hypopigmented lesions closely resemble commoner pediatric dermatoses such as PV or pityriasis alba. In this report of two cases, we describe the distinguishing dermoscopic features of PV-like macules in EV. Unfocused dotted vessels in a hypopigmented or erythematous background with whitish scales and pigment diluted vellus hairs on dermoscopy should raise the suspicion of EV in children presenting with PV-like lesions.     

Distinct phenotypes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a cohort study

To characterize the clinical features and outcomes of childhood-onset primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). Patients less than 18 years old who were diagnosed with pSS by paediatric rheumatologists were included, and all patients were applied the 2002 American-European Consensus Group (ACEG) criteria, the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria for pSS, or the 1999 proposed juvenile pSS criteria. The electronic medical records of patients with pSS from 2013 to 2020 were collected and analysed. Thirty-nine patients were included. Of them, 27 (69.2%), 38 (97.4%) and 35 (89.7%) patients fulfilled the AECG criteria, ACR/EULAR criteria and proposed juvenile pSS criteria, respectively. The female:male ratio was 3.9:1. The median ages at first signs or symptoms and at diagnosis were 9.2 (4.7, 14.5) years and 10.9 (6.3, 15.0) years, respectively. The main clinical manifestations were rash or purpura (20, 51.3%), followed by fever (12, 30.8%), glandular enlargement/recurrent parotitis (10, 25.6%), and dry mouth and/or dry eyes (9, 23.1%). Twenty-eight (56.4%) patients had systemic damage, the most common of which was haematological involvement (14, 35.9%), followed by hepatic (13, 33.3%) and renal involvement (8, 20.5%). Thirty-eight (97.4%) patients underwent labial minor salivary gland biopsy, and all exhibited focal lymphocytic sialadenitis. All patients had a global ESSDAI score ≥ 1 at diagnosis, and the median total score at diagnosis was 8 (2, 31). Thirty-six (92.3%) patients were followed up for a median time of 23.6 (7.9, 79.5) months, and three patients developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at follow-up times of 13.3, 38.8 and 63.8 months. The presentation of childhood-onset pSS is atypical, and extraglandular manifestations and systemic involvement are more common than in adult-onset pSS. Labial salivary gland biopsy is vital for patients with probable pSS. Some patients may develop SLE over time.     

Demonstration of false inclusion risks of duo parentage analyses in the Turkish population in light of parentage acceptance criteria

In routine parentage tests, trio analyses (father-mother-child) are preferred. Under certain circumstances, laboratories may have to perform duo analysis (without mother/father). However, duo analyses increase the risk of false inclusions. This paper aimed to evaluate the false inclusion risks of duo analyses in the Turkish population from the point of forensic applications and the Turkish judicial system. Children from 400 previously analysed cases were compared separately with fathers and mothers of other cases by using a computer programme. From the total 345,006 comparisons, in 16 comparisons, no Short Tandem Repeat (STR) mismatch was observed at 15 STR loci between the child and an unrelated parent. In other words, duo tests provided a coincidental second mother or father to 16 children. In almost all of these cases, the probabilities of paternity estimation values are greater than Turkish Judicial System’s parentage acceptance limit, which is 99.73%. According to results, we suggested that trio cases should be performed as much as possible and the parentage acceptance limit, which is 99.73%, should be re-evaluated by a law maker’s commission to prevent false inclusion parentage cases in Turkey.     

Role of hydrogen sulfide in the cardioprotection caused by ischemic preconditioning in the rat heart and cardiac myocytes

Endogenous H(2)S is synthesized mainly by cystathionine gamma-lyase in the heart. The present study investigated the role of H(2)S in cardioprotection induced by ischemic preconditioning. We have examined the effect of endogenous H(2)S and exogenous application of NaHS (H(2)S donor) on cardiac rhythm in the isolated rat heart subjected to low-flow ischemia insults as well as cell viability and function in isolated myocytes exposed to simulated ischemia solution. Preconditioning with NaHS (SP) or ischemia (IP) for three cycles (3 min each cycle separated by 5 min of recovery) significantly decreased the duration and severity of ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in the isolated heart while increasing cell viability and the amplitude of electrically induced calcium transients after ischemia/reperfusion in cardiac myocytes. Both IP and SP also significantly attenuated the decreased H(2)S production during ischemia. Moreover, decreasing endogenous H(2)S production significantly attenuated the protective effect of IP in both the isolated heart and isolated cardiac myocytes. Blockade of protein kinase C with chelerythrine or bisindolylmaleimide I as well as ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel with glibenclamide (a nonselective K(ATP) blocker) and HMR-1098 (1-[[5-[2-(5-Chloro-o-anisamido)ethyl]-2-methoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-3-methylthiourea) (a sarcolemmal K(ATP) channel blocker) reversed the cardioprotection induced by SP or IP. However, blockade of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels with 5-hydroxydecanoic acid had no effect on the cardioprotection of SP, suggesting that, unlike the mechanism involved in IP, mitochondrial K(ATP) channels most probably do not play a major role in the cardioprotection of SP. Our findings suggest that endogenous H(2)S contributes to cardioprotection induced by IP, which effect may involve protein kinase C and sarcolemmal K(ATP) channels.     

Seventh Day Syndrome – acute hepatocyte apoptosis associated with a unique syndrome of graft loss following liver transplantationNote

Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study is to describe a unique 7th day syndrome (7DS), quite different from other causes of post‐transplantation allograft dysfunction in a group of orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) patients who needed retransplantation. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 594 consecutive OLT over an 8‐year period revealed that 10 patients developed allograft dysfunction approximately 7 days following an initially normal graft function. Results: The features included: (a) severe liver failure; (b) sudden peak of extremely high liver enzymes at approximately day 7; (c) serial liver biopsy findings of central lobular hemorrhage with minimal inflammatory cell infiltrate and (d) an explant with no evidence of vascular thrombosis. The biochemical and morphometric pathological data of these patients were compared with data of patitents who had early acute rejection (AR), hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), primary non‐function (PNF), severe sepsis and no dysfunction. Lastly, serial liver core biopsies and explants were tested for evidence of apoptosis, which revealed a significantly higher number of apoptotic hepatocytes in 7DS compared to all control groups. Conclusions: Seventh Day Syndrome is a distinct entity associated with early graft dysfunction characterized by a marked apoptosis of hepatocytes. Fas receptor activation or other pathways of program cell death may be implicated in occurrence of 7DS.     

Right iliac bone pathological fracture mimicking acute appendicitis

Simple bone cyst (SBC) also known as unicameral bone cyst is a benign, radiolucent bone lesion that is seen commonly in childhood. These lesions are usually found incidentally although pain and swelling can be seen. The most common complication is a pathological fracture, and this is often the cause of presentation. Here, we present a 22-year-old male with right lower quadrant pain due to SBC related pathological fracture of right iliac bone which is mimicking acute appendicitis.