A case of metaplastic meningioma with extensive xanthomatous change

We report a case of metaplastic meningioma with extensive xanthomatous change occurring in a 61‐year‐old woman. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well‐demarcated, dura‐based mass measuring 7 cm in maximal diameter in the right occipital to parietal area. Under a clinical diagnosis of meningioma, right parietal craniotomy was performed. Histologically, the tumor showed extensive xanthomatous change together with the common features of meningothelial meningioma. Tumor cells showed diffuse xanthomatous change in various quantities, and xanthomatous tumor cells frequently showed a gradual transition to the non‐xanthomatous counterpart. The xanthomatous tumor cells showed immunopositivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin, fatty acid synthase and several histiocytic markers (CD68, Ki‐M1p, MAC387, lysozyme, alpha 1‐antitrypsin and alpha 1‐antichymotrypsin). In addition, there was patchy infiltration of foamy macrophages. Since these histiocytes did not show immunopositivity for EMA, these cells were distinguished from the xanthomatous tumor cells. These two types of xanthomatous changes comprised approximately two‐thirds of the whole tumor tissue. Any atypical features such as necrosis, frequent mitotic figures or brain parenchymal invasion were not observed. We diagnosed this case as xanthomatous meningioma, WHO grade I.     

Anti‐inflammatory effect of enzymatic hydrolysate of corn gluten in an experimental model of colitis

Objectives Intestinal bacteria are thought to be involved in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory bowel diseases. Prebiotics (non‐digestable dietary carbohydrate) have beneficial properties that alter the intestinal flora and contain glutamine‐rich protein. Glutamine significantly decreases indices of inflammation. In this study, an enzymatic hydrolysate of corn gluten (EHCG) was administered by gavage to Sprague‐Dawley rats fed an elemental diet to determine whether EHCG can ameliorate experi‐ mental colitis. Methods Colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid after 10 days' daily oral administration of EHCG at 100 and 300 mg/kg. Macroscopic damage was assessed using a scoring system. The mucosa homogenate was sonicated and myeloperoxidase activity and histamine levels measured. Key findings Treatment with EHCG significantly decreased the severity of injury and reduced myeloperoxidase activity and histamine levels in the distal colon mucosa. Conclusions EHCG may have therapeutic benefit as a supplement in enteral nutrition for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.     

Sonographic evaluation of the anterior liver surface in chronic liver diseases using a 7.5-MHz annular-array transducer: correlation with laparoscopic and histopathologic findings

PURPOSE: We studied the sonographic appearance of the anterior liver surface using an ultrasound scanner equipped with a 7.5-MHz annular-array transducer to determine the accuracy of this imaging modality in monitoring the course of chronic liver diseases. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated patterns of the liver surface in the sonograms of 77 consecutive patients with chronic liver diseases who had undergone sonographic examination with a 7.5-MHz annular-array transducer and a 3.75-MHz convex-array transducer over a 2-year period and compared these findings with those of laparoscopy (using previously described categories) and histopathology. RESULTS: Histopathologically confirmed disease prevalences for inactive chronic hepatitis, active chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and others were 10% (8/77), 56% (43/77), 29% (22/77), and 5% (4/77), respectively. The sonographic appearance of the liver surface with the 3.75-MHz transducer was classified as either a regular or an irregular pattern. The regular pattern corresponded to 69% (34/50) of the cases in laparoscopic category 200 or 300 and the irregular pattern with 85% (23/27) of the cases in category 400 or 500. The sonographic appearance of the liver surface with the 7.5-MHz transducer was classified as regular, unevenly irregular, diffusely irregular, or nodular. These 4 patterns detected 75% (24/32), 78% (14/18), 52% (12/23), and 75% (3/4) of the cases of laparoscopic categories 200, 300, 400, and 500, respectively. In a comparison of the sonographic patterns of the liver surface with the differential histopathologic findings, the regular sonographic pattern corresponded to 88% (7/8) of the cases of inactive chronic hepatitis, the unevenly irregular pattern with 35% (15/43) of the cases of active chronic hepatitis, and the diffusely irregular and nodular patterns (considered as 1 group) with 68% (15/22) of the cases of liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that sonographic evaluation of the liver surface with a 7.5-MHz annular-array transducer using this classification provides detailed information on the evolution of chronic liver diseases that correlates with the laparoscopic and histopathologic findings and thus is a useful noninvasive method for monitoring the disease course to cirrhosis.     

Linezolid versus vancomycin for nosocomial pneumonia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the elderly: A retrospective cohort analysis: Effectiveness of linezolid in the elderly

Objectives

Several reports have compared the efficacy of linezolid (LZD) in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections with that of vancomycin (VCM); however, these two antibiotics for the treatment of nosocomial MRSA pneumonia in elderly patients has not been well evaluated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LZD compared with VCM for the treatment of elderly patients with nosocomial MRSA pneumonia in a retrospective chart review of a cohort.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β opens mitochondrial permeability transition pore through mitochondrial hexokinase II dissociation

Accumulating evidence has revealed pivotal roles of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) inactivation on cardiac protection. Because the precise mechanisms of cardiac protection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by GSK3β-inactivation remain elusive, we investigated the relationship between GSK3β-mediated mitochondrial hexokinase II (mitoHK-II; a downstream target of GSK3β) dissociation and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. In Langendorff-perfused hearts, GSK3β inactivation by SB216763 improved the left ventricular-developed pressure and retained mitoHK-II binding after I/R. In permeabilized myocytes, GSK3β depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential with accelerated mitochondrial calcein release (suggesting GSK3β-mediated mPTP opening) and decreased mitoHK-II bindings. GSK3β-mediated mPTP opening depended on mitoHK-II binding, i.e., it was accelerated by dissociation of mitoHK-II (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) and attenuated by enhancement of mitoHK-II binding (dextran). However, inactivation of mitoHK-II by glucose-depletion or glucose-6-phosphate inhibited the GSK3β-mediated mPTP opening. We conclude that GSK3β-mediated mPTP opening may be involved in I/R injury and regulated by mitoHK-II binding and activity.