Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease: report of 5 cases and literature review]

Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign disease predominantly occurring in young women which etiology remains unknown and revealed by cervical lymphadenitis and/or prolonged fever. It has rarely been reported in children. Among the 5 cases reported, 1 child had a systemic localization. The diagnosis is based on the histological examination of a lymph node biopsy. The disease course was spontaneously favourable in 2 cases; a corticotherapy was needed in 3 children. A pathogen agent was found in 2 patients. Kikuchi's disease can reveal or evolve into autoimmune disease particularly lupus, thus a long clinical and biological follow-up is necessary.     

Electrochemical polymerization of 3-phenylthiophene

Poly (3-phenylthiophene) (P3PhT) films have been electrochemically synthesized by direct oxidation of 3-phenylthiophene in the electrolyte of pure boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The oxidation potential of the monomer was measured to be 1.29 V (vs. SCE), and about 0.15 V lower than that measured in a neutral medium of acetonitrile. Free-standing P3PhT film with tensile strength of 32–40 MPa has been obtained for the first time. The morphology and the structure of the polymer film have been studied by scanning electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopies. Raman spectral results demonstrated that the doping level of the P3PhT film increased with film thickness during electrochemical growth process.     

Time dependent neural network models for detecting changes of state in complex processes: Applications in earth sciences and astronomy

A computational intelligence approach is used to explore the problem of detecting internal state changes in time dependent processes; described by heterogeneous, multivariate time series with imprecise data and missing values. Such processes are approximated by collections of time dependent non-linear autoregressive models represented by a special kind of neuro-fuzzy neural network. Grid and high throughput computing model mining procedures based on neuro-fuzzy networks and genetic algorithms, generate: (i) collections of models composed of sets of time lag terms from the time series, and (ii) prediction functions represented by neuro-fuzzy networks. The composition of the models and their prediction capabilities, allows the identification of changes in the internal structure of the process. These changes are associated with the alternation of steady and transient states, zones with abnormal behavior, instability, and other situations. This approach is general, and its sensitivity for detecting subtle changes of state is revealed by simulation experiments. Its potential in the study of complex processes in earth sciences and astrophysics is illustrated with applications using paleoclimate and solar data.     

Toxic effects of Fusarium mycotoxin butenolide on rat myocardium and primary culture of cardiac myocytes.

Mycotoxin toxicosis has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of Keshan disease (KD), an endemic cardiomyopathy prevailing in some regions of China. Butenolide (4-acetamido-4-hydroxy-2-butenoic acid gamma-lactone, CAS No. 16275-44-8), a mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species such as Fusarium tricinctum and Fusarium graminearum, is frequently detected from the cereals in the endemic areas of KD. The present study is undertaken to investigate whether this mycotoxin can induce myocardial damage. Exposure of primary culture of cardiac myocytes to butenolide resulted in significant cytotoxicity, manifested by changes in cell morphology and decreases in cell viability. Consistent with the in vitro findings, distinct myocardial toxicity in vivo was observed after administration of rats by gavage with butenolide (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) for 2 months, and the myocardial injuries were characterized by focal necrosis of myocardium and fragmentation of myofiber. Butenolide also induced significant oxidative damage to the myocardium in vitro evidenced by a concentration-dependent lipid peroxidation in the myocardial homogenates, whereas antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) provided significant protections against this oxidative effect. Taken together, these results clearly reveal that butenolide possesses the potential to induce myocardial toxicity. The present findings may reinforce the hypothesis that toxicosis by mycotoxins is one of the etiological factors for KD.     

Microsomal glutathione transferase 1 is not S-nitrosylated in rat liver microsomes or in endotoxin challenged rats.

In vitro activation of purified rat microsomal glutathione transferase 1 (MGST1) by S-nitrosylation has been recently reported. This study was designated to explore its in vivo relevance. Unexpectedly, we failed to detect S-nitrosylated MGST1 in rat liver microsomes treated with S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO); neither did we observe MGST1 S-nitrosylation in endotoxin challenged rats. However, by using matrix-assisted laser dissociation/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), we identified several other proteins which are susceptible to S-nitrosylation in liver microsomes, including retinol dehydrogenase type I (RODH I), aldolase B, cytochrome P4502C11, and peroxiredoxin 1. Our results suggest that MGST1 S-nitrosylation is unlikely to be involved in the protection mechanism against nitrosative stress caused by endotoxin challenge. Further studies on the novel S-nitrosylable microsomal proteins are also warranted.     

组织工程心肌补片对黑山羊陈旧性心肌梗死心功能和建立侧支循环的影响

目的探讨自体骨髓间充质干细胞(m arrow m esenchym a l stem ce lls,M SC s)-小肠黏膜下层(sm a llin testina l subm ucosa,S IS)构建的组织工程心肌补片,移植于陈旧性心肌梗死区后对心功能及缺血区建立侧支循环的影响。方法将已建立急性心肌梗死模型后6周的黑山羊16只,随机分为实验组和对照组,实验组抽取自体骨髓,经体外分离M SC s,进行培养、传代,以第3代细胞行5-B rdU标记并与S IS支架材料复合培养5 d,制备M SC s-S IS组织工程心肌补片。将其缝合至陈旧性心肌梗死区;对照组仅行假手术处理。于植入后6周,采用超声心动图观察两组动物心功能变化,数字减影血管造影选择性左冠状动脉造影观察缺血心肌侧支循环的建立。结果术后6周实验组及对照组:心博出量、左心室射血分数分别为42.81±4.91、37.06±4.75 m l和59.20%±5.41%和44.56%±4.23%,组间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);左心室舒张末期容积、左室收缩末期容积分别为72.55±8.13、83.31±8.61 m l和29.75±5.98、46.25±6.68 m l,组间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);左心室舒张功能各项指标分别为:E峰最大速度分别为54.85±6.35 cm/s和43.14±4.81cm/s(P<0.01);A峰最大速度分别为52.33±6.65 cm/s和56.91±6.34 cm/s(P>0.05)。超声心动图显示对照组左室腔扩张明显,室壁运动明显减弱,梗死区呈瘤样扩张,局部室壁反常运动;实验组左室腔明显小于对照组,室壁运动较对照组强,心尖梗死区扩张不明显。选择性左冠状动脉造影见实验组左冠状动脉前降支远端与回旋支间明显侧支循环建立。结论M SC s-S IS构建的组织工程心肌补片移植于黑山羊陈旧性心肌梗死区后侧支循环建立,心功能有明显改善作用。