Diagnosis of cerebral cryptococcoma using a computerized analysis of 1H NMR spectra in an animal model

Viable cryptococci load in biopsy material from an animal model of cerebral cryptococcoma were correlated with 1H NMR spectra and metabolite profiles. A statistical classification strategy was applied to distinguish among high-resolution 1H NMR spectra acquired from cryptococcomas, glioblastomas, and normal brain tissue. The overall classification accuracy was 100% when a genetic-algorithm-based optimal region selection preceded the development of linear discriminant analysis-based classifiers. The method remained robust despite differences in the microbial load of the cryptococcoma group when harvested at different time points. These results indicate the feasibility of the method for diagnosis without isolation of the pathogenic microorganism and its potential for in vivo diagnosis based on computerized analysis of magnetic resonance spectra.     

Bilateral serous macular detachment as a presenting feature of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral serous maculopathy as an initial sign of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children. METHODS/RESULTS: A 13-year-old girl, who presented with symptoms of visual blurring, was found to have a bilateral serous maculopathy. Haematological abnormalities (thrombocytopenia with a mild lymphocytosis) prompted further investigation. A bone marrow aspirate revealed the presence of leukemic blasts and a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was made. Her maculopathy completely resolved following systemic chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Prompt recognition of disease led to early systemic treatment and restoration of visual function.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of a new sphingosine derivative and cembrenoid diterpene (lobohedleolide) isolated from marine soft corals of Sinularia crassa TIXIER-DURIVAULT and Lobophytum species of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The aim of this study is to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of a new sphingosine derivative (1) and cembrenoid diterpene (lobohedleolide) (2) isolated from the soft corals of Sinularia crassa and Lobophytum species respectively, collected on the coasts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenin-induced rat hind paw edema model for acute inflammation and cotton pellet granuloma model for chronic inflammation. Indomethacin was used as a standard drug in this study. Both the sphingosine derivative (1) and the cembrenoid diterpene (2) produced the maximum effect at a dose of 10 mg/kg and this is comparable to that of indomethacin (2 mg/kg, p<0.001). The observed anti-inflammatory activity is almost identical in both the types of experimental inflammation.     

The relationship of ghrelin to biochemical and anthropometric markers of adult growth hormone deficiency

INTRODUCTION: Ghrelin is the natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) and potently stimulates GH release in humans. Ghrelin is found in the hypothalamus, but most circulating ghrelin is derived from the stomach. Ghrelin stimulates food intake but circulating levels are low in obesity. We hypothesized that GH deficiency (GHD) might be associated with increased circulating ghrelin concentrations as a result of low GH levels. We therefore measured circulating ghrelin concentrations, leptin and body composition in subjects with GHD and healthy controls. METHODS: Subjects with GHD (n = 18) were compared to healthy control subjects (n = 18), matched for body mass index (BMI). They underwent assessment of body composition [waist circumference, BMI and percentage body fat (using bioimpedance)]. Plasma ghrelin, leptin, insulin, GH and IGF-1 were measured in the fasting state. Plasma ghrelin was measured using a specific radioimmunassay, and the other hormones using commercially available assays. RESULTS: The groups were well-matched for BMI (GHD vs. control; 32.9 +/- 10.8 vs. 31.3 +/- 11.7, P = ns) and waist circumference (GHD vs. control; 102.9 +/- 20.0 vs. 99.8 +/- 25.2, P = ns), but percentage body fat (GHD vs. control; 37.0 +/- 9.1 vs. 29.4 +/- 13.0, P = 0.06) tended to be higher in the GHD group. As expected, IGF-1 was lower in GHD (GHD vs. control; 12.5 +/- 6.8 vs. 19.2 +/- 5.8 nmol/l, P = 0.003). Ghrelin [GHD vs. controls; geometric mean (95% CI); 828.8 (95% CI 639.9-1074.2) vs. 487.9 (95% CI 297.2-800.2) pmol/l] and leptin [GHD vs. controls; 13.2 (95% CI 6.6-26.5) vs. 7.9 (95% CI 3.7-16.9) ng/ml] were similar in the two groups. Plasma ghrelin correlated inversely with waist circumference and waist hip ratio in GHD subjects (r = -0.6, P = 0.02) but not with IGF-1 or GH concentrations. There was no significant correlation in the control subjects. CONCLUSION: Circulating ghrelin concentrations are influenced by body fat distribution, but not by levels of either GH or IGF-1. However, given that obesity is associated with reduced ghrelin concentrations and that GHD is commonly associated with increased body fat, it is possible that these two opposing influences on circulating ghrelin levels result in normal concentrations in subjects with GHD.     

Drug-induced torsades de pointes and implications for drug development

Torsades de pointes is a potentially lethal arrhythmia that occasionally appears as an adverse effect of pharmacotherapy. Recently developed understanding of the underlying electrophysiology allows better estimation of the drug-induced risks and explains the failures of older approaches through the surface ECG. This article expresses a consensus reached by an independent academic task force on the physiologic understanding of drug-induced repolarization changes, their preclinical and clinical evaluation, and the risk-to-benefit interpretation of drug-induced torsades de pointes. The consensus of the task force includes suggestions on how to evaluate the risk of torsades within drug development programs. Individual sections of the text discuss the techniques and limitations of methods directed at drug-related ion channel phenomena, investigations aimed at action potentials changes, preclinical studies of phenomena seen only in the whole (or nearly whole) heart, and interpretation of human ECGs obtained in clinical studies. The final section of the text discusses drug-induced torsades within the larger evaluation of drug-related risks and benefits.     

Bidirectional regulation of neutrophil migration by mitogen-activated protein kinases

To kill invading bacteria, neutrophils must interpret spatial cues, migrate and reach target sites. Although the initiation of chemotactic migration has been extensively studied, little is known about its termination. Here we found that two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) had opposing roles in neutrophil trafficking. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase Erk potentiated activity of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase GRK2 and inhibited neutrophil migration, whereas the MAPK p38 acted as a noncanonical GRK that phosphorylated the formyl peptide receptor FPR1 and facilitated neutrophil migration by blocking GRK2 function. Therefore, the dynamic balance between Erk and p38 controlled neutrophil 'stop' and 'go' activity, which ensured that neutrophils reached their final destination as the first line of host defense.