Persistent Hypotension Associated with Hypermedullipinemia: A New Syndrome

A new syndrome is described in a patient with advanced renal insufficiency. This consists of severe and persistent hypotension causing weakness but associated with a clear mental status. Also present is evidence for decreased vascular reactivity. The hypotension was not orthostatic. The hypotension was associated with a circulating vasodepressor substance having the characteristics of medullipin I. The medullipin appears to have been derived from the remaining right kidney. Hypotension existed despite the presence of major prohypertensive mechanisms, including an endstage kidney, hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronemia. It is likely that hypotension due to hypermedullipinemia is an entity occurring in the human being.     

Antigenic and allergenic analysis of psyllium seed components.

The outer portions (husk) of psyllium seeds are a concentrated source of natural fiber used in some bulk-fiber laxatives and cereals. They are known to elicit respiratory allergic reactions after inhalation or ingestion among sensitized individuals. Antigenic and allergenic characterization of three psyllium-seed fractions (husk, endosperm, and embryo) was conducted with crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to determine the source of psyllium allergenicity. Homologous CIE demonstrated psyllium endosperm and embryo extracts contained seven and four antigens, respectively. Husk extracts were too gelatinous to react by CIE. However, heterologous CIE profiles of endosperm or embryo extracts, reacted with antihusk antibodies, resulted in antigen-antibody precipitin peaks that matched the heavy staining precipitin lines of homologous reactions for endosperm and embryo, respectively. These results indicated that commercial-grade husk, endosperm, and embryo contained similar antigens. Extracts of all three seed components contained antigens that bound IgE antibodies in the sera of 11 psyllium RAST-positive individuals, as determined by crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis. The few prominent husk protein/peptide bands resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were common in either embryo or endosperm. Immunoblots revealed common IgE reactive bands in all three seed fractions. Microscopic examination of the powdered commercial-grade psyllium (95% pure) revealed it contained endosperm and embryo particles. These immunologic, biochemical, and microscopic findings suggest that other contaminating seed components are primarily responsible for the allergenicity of commercial-grade psyllium-husk powder rather than the husk itself.     

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection Incidence in Hospitalized Renal Transplant Patients in the United States, 1998–2000

The incidence, risk factors, and prognosis for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection have not been reported in a national population of renal transplant recipients. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 15,870 Medicare patients who received renal transplants from January 1, 1998 to July 31, 2000. Cox regression analysis derived adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) for factors associated with a diagnosis of MTB infection (by Medicare Institutional Claims) and the association of MTB infection with survival. There were 66 renal transplant recipients diagnosed with tuberculosis infection after transplant (2.5 cases per 1000 person years at risk, with some falling off of cases over time). The most common diagnosis was pulmonary TB (41 cases). In Cox regression analysis, only systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was independently associated with TB. Mortality after TB was diagnosed was 23% at 1 year, which was significantly higher than in renal transplant recipients without TB (AHR, 4.13, 95% CI, 2.21, 7.71, p < 0.001). Although uncommon, MTB infection is associated with a substantially increased risk of mortality after renal transplantation. High-risk groups, particularly those with SLE prior to transplant, might benefit from intensified screening.     

Statins—Treatment Option for Central Nervous System Autoimmune Disease?

Statins, inhibitors of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, are well-established agents to lower cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular morbidity. Independent of their lipid-lowering properties, statins have been shown to exert pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects in various animal models of human autoimmune disease. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a murine model for multiple sclerosis, statins prevented disease onset and even reversed paralysis when treatment was initiated after experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was fully established. Furthermore, well-tolerated oral statins were recently shown to exert synergistic benefit in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in combination with existing agents for multiple sclerosis therapy. Based primarily on these encouraging results, statins are now being tested in clinical trials as a mono-therapy for multiple sclerosis, as well as in combination with approved disease-modifying therapies.     

Sensitivity-encoded (SENSE) proton echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (PEPSI) in the human brain.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) provides spatially resolved metabolite information that is invaluable for both neuroscience studies and clinical applications. However, lengthy data acquisition times, which are a result of time-consuming phase encoding, represent a major challenge for MRSI. Fast MRSI pulse sequences that use echo-planar readout gradients, such as proton echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (PEPSI), are capable of fast spectral-spatial encoding and thus enable acceleration of image acquisition times. Combining PEPSI with recent advances in parallel MRI utilizing RF coil arrays can further accelerate MRSI data acquisition. Here we investigate the feasibility of ultrafast spectroscopic imaging at high field (3T and 4T) by combining PEPSI with sensitivity-encoded (SENSE) MRI using eight-channel head coil arrays. We show that the acquisition of single-average SENSE-PEPSI data at a short TE (15 ms) can be accelerated to 32 s or less, depending on the field strength, to obtain metabolic images of choline (Cho), creatine (Cre), N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), and J-coupled metabolites (e.g., glutamate (Glu) and inositol (Ino)) with acceptable spectral quality and localization. The experimentally measured reductions in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Cramer-Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) of metabolite resonances were well explained by both the g-factor and reduced measurement times. Thus, this technology is a promising means of reducing the scan times of 3D acquisitions and time-resolved 2D measurements.     

Predictors of punding in Parkinson's disease: results from a questionnaire survey.

Dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) for Parkinson's disease (PD) has recently been linked to the development of a number of nonmotor behavioral control problems. Punding, one of these nonmotor problems, is a term used to describe complex, purposeless stereotyped behaviors such as the repetitive handling or sorting of objects. A self-report questionnaire was adapted to assess punding in the context of dysfunctional hobby-related activities. We report the results of a survey of PD outpatients from a PD research clinic (n = 141) and non-PD controls (n = 103); conducted to identify clinical and psychological factors predictive of punding behaviors. The PD group reported hobbies and activities, which scored significantly higher on the Punding Scale than controls. Higher impulsivity, poorer disease-related quality of life, younger age of disease onset, and concomitant daily medication dosage from dopamine receptor agonists were independently predictive of higher Punding Scale scores in the PD group. These findings are similar to those seen in dopamine dysregulation syndrome, and provide further evidence for the role of impulsivity and age at disease onset in DRT-related nonmotor behavioral problems in PD.     

Gallstones Containing Bacteria are Biofilms: Bacterial Slime Production and Ability to Form Pigment Solids Determines Infection Severity and Bacteremia

Objective Gallstone bacteria provide a reservoir for biliary infections. Slime production facilitates adherence, whereas β-glucuronidase and phospholipase generate colonization surface. These factors facilitate gallstone formation, but their influence on infection severity is unknown. Methods Two hundred ninety-two patients were studied. Gallstones, bile, and blood (as applicable) were cultured. Bacteria were tested for β-glucuronidase/phospholipase production and quantitative slime production. Infection severity was correlated with bacterial factors. Results Bacteria were present in 43% of cases, 13% with bacteremia. Severe infections correlated directly with β-glucuronidase/phospholipase (55% with vs 13% without, P < 0.0001), but inversely with slime production (55 vs 8%, slime <75 or >75, P = 0.008). Low slime production and β-glucuronidase/phospholipase production were additive: Severe infections were present in 76% with both, but 10% with either or none (P < 0.0001). β-Glucuronidase/phospholipase production facilitated bactibilia (86% with vs 62% without, P = 0.03). Slime production was 19 (±8) vs 50 (±10) for bacteria that did or did not cause bacteremia (P = 0.004). No bacteria with slime >75 demonstrated bacteremia. Conclusions Bacteria-laden gallstones are biofilms whose characteristics influence illness severity. Factors creating colonization surface (β-glucuronidase/phospholipase) facilitated bacteremia and severe infections; but abundant slime production, while facilitating colonization, inhibited detachment and cholangiovenous reflux. This shows how properties of the gallstone biofilm determine the severity of the associated illness. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, held May 20–24, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.