The effects of adrenal androgens on glucose metabolism of genetically diabetic mice (db/db) -differences between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S)-

We investigated the effects of DHEA and DHEA-S on glucose metabolism using diabetic mice db/db in vivo. The DHEA-S-treated mice showed more prominent hepatomegaly and a greater decrease of the serum glucose level than DHEA-treated mice. These preliminary data suggest that DHEA-S has a stronger hypoglycemic effect than DHEA, or even that the hypoglycemic effect may be due to DHEA-S, rather than DHEA. The modes of action of DHEA and DHEA-S in diabetic mice should be evaluated from the perspective that these steroids have distinct effects, that can contribute to clarifying the basic pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus

Senile brain atrophy and hydrocephalus -A case of treatable dementia, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus-

A 76y male suffering from progressive dementia (Hasegawa\u27s dementia scale = 6), urinary incontinence, and gate disturbance received CSF shunting. The clinical findings of MRI, CT-cisternography, and a CSF-tap test were not typical for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH); rather, the MRI showed brain atrophy. The decision to perform shunting surgery was made due to the clinical manifestation of progressive dementia, and fortunately, it was successful. Senile brain atrophy does not rule out hydrocephalus. The indication of CSF shunting for senile iNPH is outlined

Characterization of Acinetobacter clinical isolates

Members of the genus Acinetobacter are typical opportunistic bacterial pathogens that can survive for a long term even on inanimate surfaces. Acinetobacter species have natural and acquired antibiotic resistance mechanisms that provide resistance against a broad range of antimicrobial agents. Between April 2010 and March 2011, 6 clinical Acinetobacter sp. strains were isolated from expectoration or aspiration sputum samples in a local medical treatment-type hospital in Osaka prefecture. The antibiotic susceptibility breakpoint test showed that all the 6 isolates were ciprofloxacin-resistant. Strain AHU-70, which was identified as A.baumannii by 16S rRNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction detection of the blaOXA-51-like gene, showed high levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. Preliminary research in Japan, based on nationwide susceptibility surveillance of ciprofloxacin against A.baumannii isolates showed that approximately 90% of the isolates were ciprofloxacin-susceptible. Given these results, further strain level identification of isolates is required to determine whether resistance to ciprofloxacin is an overall trait of these bacteria in the sampled local area or is restricted to a specific strain within particular hospitals

<Original Paper>Reading "The Window" of Virginia Woolf\u27s To the Lighthouse

The introduction discusses differences of opinions among critics with regard to the three-part structure and value of Virginia Woofs To the Lighthouse, and the problem of its "story". It is often said that the kernel of the book is not a "story"; it is a group of people who have met at a summer house on an island, their relationships to one another including a marriage, the Ramsays\u27 marriage. In the novel I have found a structure much like what Seymour Chatman calls "a plot of revelation", in this case a gradual revelation of the disturbed relationship between husband and wife. The scene between Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay comes to a climax when they stroll in the garden. There is much critical discussion about this scene. This essay presents two different readings of the scene, and attempts to read "The Window", part 1 of To the Lighthouse in detail as "a plot of revelation"

Meningeal pure-bone mimicking parasagittal calvarial osteoma

We report a case of intracranial pure bone developed in the inner leaf of the dura mater. The patient, a 32-year-old woman, had suffered chronic headache over the previous two years. Physical and neurological findings on admission were unremarkable. Computed tomography scan revealed a homogeneous high-density mass without any enhancement and skull radiographs showed a dense calcified mass in the right frontal area. The mass was 3 cm in diameter and 2 cm in thickness. Total resection was performed under a preoperative diagnosis of calcified meningioma. However, histopathological findings revealed the mass to be "pure bone". Intracranial meningeal bone and/or osteoma are rare for a pathogenic origin. The literature on intracranial bone and/or osteoma of dural origin is reviewed