Infective Endocarditis Due to Treponema pallidum: A Case Diagnosed Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Aortic Valve

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum. Syphilitic aortitis might coexist in a dysfunctional aortic valve, but the etiology remains unclear, because microbiological diagnosis is difficult. A 62-year-old man with low-grade fever was diagnosed with aortitis and infective endocarditis, due to Treponema pallidum infection, using polymerase chain reaction analysis. This case suggests that syphilis might cause infective endocarditis.     

Invasion of the intracranial space by a malignant odontogenic mixed tumor: Report of a case

A case of an odontogenic tumor which invaded the intracranial space from the mandible is reported. Judging from the radiographic images it was similar to a malignant tumor. The patient died 17 years after the first visit. According to the final pathological diagnosis, it was malignant odontogenic mixed tumor of low grade which did not belong to any of the WHO classification.     

The use of frame fixation in the management of open distal extensor mechanism avulsion fracture in a dislocated knee

An avulsion fracture of the tibial tubercle is a common injury in traffic accident. If the fracture is closed, then a comparatively good prognosis can be expected through reinforcement of the bone via osteosynthesis and the use of artificial ligaments. In this case, an open wound was observed in the tibial tubercle, and the wound was so polluted that the healing process was significantly delayed. It was therefore difficult to provide simultaneous surgical treatment and so three operations were required to perform the reconstruction of the extensor mechanism. The reconstruction of extensor mechanism and the frame fixation between the patella and tibia was performed. Six months after the injury, the patient was able to walk without aid, had a range of movement from 5°to 130°, and did not show any indications of ADL disorder. Using this method of frame fixation between the patella and tibia proved to be an effective technique for the reconstruction of the open knee extension mechanism injury.     

Anatomy and histology of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus) prostate

Gross anatomy and the light and electron microscopic characteristics of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus, Insectivora) prostate are described. The prostate is a pair of compound tubuloalveolar glands with one main excretory duct for each gland. Each gland is divided into ventral and dorsal lobes. The tubuloalveoli are larger in diameter and the secretory cells are lower in the ventral than in the dorsal lobes. Probable spontaneous release of secretory granules and accumulation of secretory material in secretory lumina are only observed in the ventral lobes. Secretory material is often crystallized in the secretory lumina. The epithelium of excretory ducts consists of mucous-type secretory cells and the boundary between this epithelium and the glandular epithelium is complex. The glandular epithelium consists of secretory and clear cells. This report illustrates that the structure of the prostate of musk shrew is unique among mammals.     

Early seizures after acute ischemic stroke]

In order to determine predictive factors of early seizures (ES) after acute stroke and to estimate prognosis, we retrospectively examined clinical data of 1,743 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke. The subjects were divided into two groups; an ES group (19 patients) and a non-ES group (1,724 patients). Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that the NIH-Stroke Scale score on admission (/10, OR, 1.1: 95% CI 1.04 to 1.13) and positive past history of cerebrovascular disease or brain injury (OR, 3.85: 95% CI 1.49 to 9.95) are significant factors to predict ES. There was no significant difference in the outcome between the two groups. A recurrence of seizures, after follow up for 4 to 40 months, was observed only in one patient with a history of ES.     

Late-onset hemorrhagic infarction in patients with patent foramen ovale: reports of two cases]

We presented here two patients with hemorrhagic infarction occurred during subacute phase of brain embolism. The patients were 71-year-old and 73-year-old men who suffered from brain infarction of the left posterior cerebral artery and right middle cerebral artery territory, respectively. Both of them were diagnosed as having cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale. After transferred to rehabilitation hospitals taking aspirin for a secondary prevention of stroke, they developed hemorrhagic infarction at day 17 and day 19, respectively. Their blood pressure remained within normal range throughout acute and subacute phase. Although most of hemorrhagic infarction occurs within 24 hours of stroke onset, some patients develop symptomatic hemorrhagic infarction even after 10 days. We need to be careful about late-onset hemorrhagic infarction, because many patients are now transferred early to rehabilitation hospitals to facilitate dedicated systematic rehabilitation.     

Zebrafish protocadherin 10 is involved in paraxial mesoderm development and somitogenesis.

Here, we present the first report of the molecular cloning of zebrafish protocadherin 10 (Pcdh10, OL-protocadherin) and describe its functional analyses in the development of segmental plate. Epitope-tagged Pcdh10 expressed in embryos was localized on cell peripheries of adjacent cells. In situ hybridization showed that pcdh10 was expressed in the paraxial mesoderm (PAM) and developing somites, and in the pineal body, the diencephalon, and the vicinity of otocysts. Expression in PAM increased in the last few presumptive somites, reached the maximum level in the latest segmenting somites, and decreased thereafter during somite maturation. These expression patterns suggested that Pcdh10 is involved in development of PAM and somites. This was confirmed by morpholino knockdown and dominant-negative inhibition of Pcdh10 in embryos, which disturbed movements of PAM cells and somite segmentation. Comparative studies showed that pcdh10 expression lasted up to approximately three times longer in maturing somites than that of paraxial protocadherin (pcdh8). They also indicated that the adaxial cells expressed pcdh8 but not pcdh10. We propose that Pcdh10 is involved in the morphogenic movements of PAM cells and somite segmentation and that differential adhesion of Pcdh8 and Pcdh10 plays a role in the morphogenic machinery of somites and adaxial cells.