Examination of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in Parkinson’s disease focusing on correlations with motor symptoms

GeroScience - The neuroprotective effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) have been shown in numerous in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease (PD)...     

Comparison between conventional systems and a newer system of combined cultures for isolation of influenza viruses

Summary The sensitivity of conventional systems was compared with the sensitivity of the newer system of combined cultures for the isolation of influenza viruses. Both systems were comparable. It was found, that certain isolates were obtained only by conventional systems, and conversly, others by combined cultures only. These results showed that the joint usage of both the conventional and newer systems resulted in a significantly higher isolation rate.     

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Rumex japonicus HOUTT. Aerial parts

We evaluated total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, reducing power and antibacterial activity of ethanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of aerial parts of Rumex japonicus HOUTT. The ethyl acetate extract had the highest amount of phenolic compounds. It also exhibited the highest reducing power and antioxidant activity when assayed by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), beta-carotene bleaching and superoxide radical methods. The ethyl acetate extract possessed the strongest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus and E. coli. GC-MS analysis indicated that ethyl acetate extract contained a variety of phenolic compounds. HPLC analysis showed that pyrogallol was the predominant phenolic compound in this extract. Thus, our study verified that the ethyl acetate extract has strong antioxidant and antibacterial activities which are correlated with its high level of phenolic compounds, particularly pyrogallol and pyrocatechin. This extract of R. japonicus aerial parts can be utilized as an effective and safe source of antioxidants.     

Extubating the Neurocritical Care Patient: A Spontaneous Breathing Trial Algorithmic Approach

Background

Delaying extubation in neurologically impaired patients otherwise ready for extubation is a source for significant morbidity, mortality, and costs. There is no consensus to suggest one spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) over another in predicting extubation success. We studied an algorithm using zero pressure support and zero positive end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) SBT followed by 5-cm H₂O pressure support and 5-cm H₂O positive end-expiratory pressure (i.e., 5/5) SBT in those who failed ZEEP SBT.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of intubated patients in a neurosciences intensive care unit. All eligible patients were initially challenged with ZEEP SBT. If failed, a 5/5 SBT was immediately performed. If passed either the ZEEP SBT or the subsequent 5/5 SBT, patients were liberated from mechanical ventilation.

Results

In total, 108 adult patients were included. The majority of patients were successfully liberated from mechanical ventilation using ZEEP SBT alone (82.4%; p = 0.0007). Fifteen (13.8%) patients failed ZEEP SBT but immediately passed 5/5 SBT (p = 0.0005). One patient (0.93%) required reintubation. We found high sensitivity of this extubation algorithm (100; 95% CI 95.94–100%) but poor specificity (6.67; 95% CI 0.17–31.95%).

Conclusion

This study showed that the majority of patients could be successfully liberated from mechanical ventilation after a ZEEP SBT. In those who failed, a 5/5 SBT increased the successful liberation from mechanical ventilation.

     

A new case confirming and expanding the phenotype spectrum of ADAT3-related intellectual disability syndrome

The present study describes two patients with clinical diagnosis of ID, from a consanguineous family in Israel. Whole exome sequencing identified a homozygous missense mutation in the ADAT3 gene. The clinical features of our patients were compared with several cases described in two recently published studies that documented clinical manifestation of this same mutation. Both affected siblings in our study expressed the previously described clinical features such as intellectual disability, strabismus, FTT/underweight, microcephaly and hypotonia. Interestingly, our patients suffered from additional clinical manifestations that were not detailed in the previous two studies, such as: gait difficulties, instability, teeth abnormalities, neuropathy and contractures of the hand wrist and fingers. We conclude that the ADAT3 gene mutation is responsible for ADAT3-related ID syndrome, which induces the variety clinical manifestations exhibited by our patients. Further studies aimed at identifying and characterizing additional afflicted families worldwide will be required to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of this syndrome.     

A novel biallelic loss‐of‐function mutation in TMCO1 gene confirming and expanding the phenotype spectrum of cerebro‐facio‐thoracic dysplasia

The main clinical features of cerebro‐facio‐thoracic dysplasia (CFTD) syndrome, which were described over four decades ago, include facial dysmorphism, multiple malformations of the vertebrae and ribs, and intellectual disability. Recently, a TMCO1 gene mutation was shown to be responsible for an autosomal recessive CFTD syndrome characterized by craniofacial dysmorphism, skeletal anomalies, and intellectual disability. In the current report, we describe two members of a consanguineous family from an Arab community in Israel who were clinically diagnosed as suffering from craniofacial dysmorphism, skeletal anomalies, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Both affected siblings had behavioral difficulties such as anxiety and emotional instability with impulsive behaviors. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed a homozygous stop‐gain mutation NM_019026.4: c.616C > T; p.(Arg206*) in exon 6 of the TMCO1 gene. Bioinformatics analysis suggested a structural model for the TMCO1 protein and its homologues. The clinical features of our patients were compared with those of the only other five studies available in the literature. We conclude that this mutation in the TMCO1 gene is responsible for the various clinical manifestations of CFTD syndrome exhibited by the patients studied that expand the phenotypic spectrum of the disease to include epilepsy as a characteristic feature of this syndrome.     

Lung biopsy using harmonic scalpel: a randomised single institute study.

OBJECTIVE: Applicability of harmonic scalpel in lung biopsy was investigated in a randomised single institute study. METHODS: Safety of the method, morbidity, drainage duration and in-hospital stays were compared in two randomised groups of patients in which either ultrasonic harmonic scalpel (n:20) or endostapler (n:20) were used for pulmonary biopsies during VATS. RESULTS: An advantage of 16min in average operation time was found in favour of the harmonic scalpel (30.75 vs 46.9min) which was significant. There were no differences in average drainage duration (40.2 vs 30.6h) and pleural fluid volume (258 vs 232ml). Minor complication rates (3 vs 3) were identical and in-hospital stays (7.6 vs 7.2 days) were also similar. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the vibration transmission method was shown not to be inferior to the standard endostapling technique. A safe new method offers an alternative technique for peripherial lung biopsy.