Asymptomatic Giant Left Atrium: Do Atrial Size Changes After Successful Valve Replacement? 7-Years Follow-up Case Report

Background: Giant left atrium (GLA) associated with mitral valve surgery reported to have a mortality ranging from 8% to 32%. Most of the patients are symptomatic with that of shortness of breath, dysphagia, palpitations, chest pain, and thromboembolic events. Asymptomatic giant enlargement of the left atrium is rare. Either we must do or not do a reduction arterioplasty at the time of the mitral valve surgery is a controversy in the literature.Case Report: The patient had mitral valve replacement with a with a 31 mm carbomedics mechanical valve prosthesis 7 years past during her last visit. No reduction arterioplasty was done with a valve operation. Her 7-years close follow-up was uneventful. In the last visit, echocardiography and spiral chest computerized tomography scanning were requested. In both of the requested images giant left trial enlargement was seen, but the patient was without symptoms regarding her giant left atrium.Conclusions: In this case report, it seems that if we want left atrial size decline, it is necessary to have reduction arterioplasty during mitral valve surgery. However, it does not mean a definite therapeutic efficacy, especially when considering future symptoms

The importance of localizing pulmonary veins in atrial septal defect closure!

An 8-year-old girl was admitted for a simple closure of echocardiographically diagnosed Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). During the operation the right pulmonary veins orifices were not detected in the left atrium and attempt to localize them led to the discovery of three additional anomalies, namely Interrupted Inferior Vena Cava (IIVC), Scimitar syndrome, and systemic arterial supply of the lung. Postoperatively these finding were confirmed by CT angiography. This case report emphasizes the need for adequate preoperative diagnosis and presents a very rare constellation of four congenital anomalies that to the best of our knowledge is not reported before

Ligation of human Fc receptor like-2 (FCRL2) by monoclonal antibodies downregulates B cell receptor mediated signaling

B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling and its regulation through negative and positive regulators are critical for balancing B cell response and function. Human Fc receptor like-2 (FCRL2), a member of the newly identified FCRL family, could influence B cell signaling due to possession of both immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation and inhibitory motifs (ITAM and ITIM). Since the natural ligand of FCRL2 has not been identified yet, we generated FCRL2-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and employed them to investigate the influence of FCRL2 stimulation on BCR signaling in a FCRL2-expressing B cell line. Two anti-FCRL2 mAb-producing hybridoma clones (5A7-E7 and 3D8-G8) were selected. None of the mAbs displayed any cross-reactivity with the other members of the FCRL family including recombinant FCRL1, 3, 4 and 5, as tested by FACS and ELISA techniques. Engagement of the FCRL2 by these mAbs resulted in significant inhibition of BCR signaling mediators such as calcium mobilization and phosphorylation of the MAP kinases Erk, p38 and Jnk MAP. These findings indicate that the FCRL2 ITIM motifs are functional and the anti-FCRL2 mAbs may mimic the natural ligand of FCRL2 by induction of inhibitory signals in B cells.Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of Iran (grant number S87P/3/414). MS was also supported by EFIS-IL fellowship grant.Accepte

Pilot Study: Alteration of Deleted in Liver Cancer1 and Phosphorylated Focal Adhesion Kinase Y397 Cytoplasmic Expression and the Prognostic Value in Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

Background: Deletion in liver cancer gene (DLC1) and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK) have recently been reported as metastasis-related genes. However, the roles and prognostic values of their expression in epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOCs) remain unclear. Methods: The expression and prognostic value of DLC1 and p-FAK Y397 in EOC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and multivariate analysis. Results: Low expression of DLC1 and high expression of p-FAK Y397 were found in the 76 cases of EOC. The expression of DLC1 and p-FAK Y397 were negatively correlated. Multivariate analysis showed that the combination of them was an independent prognostic marker of EOC (P = 0.0319). Conclusions: DLC1 and pFAK Y397 had an association with the clinicopathologic characteristics of EOC. Expression of neither of these genes was a prognostic factor alone, but the combination revealed a significant prognostic value in the 60 cases of advanced stage EOC

Matricaria chamomilla CH12 decreases handling stress in Nelore calves

Matricaria chamomilla CH12 is a phytotherapeutic or homeopathic product, which has been used to reduce stress. Here, we examined its effect on preventing handling stress in bovines. Sixty Nelore calves were randomly distributed into two equal groups. One group was administered Matricaria chamomilla CH12 in diet and the other the 'control' was not. Animals in both groups were maintained unstressed for 30 days to adjust to the feeding system and pasture, and were then stressed by constraint on the 31th, 38th, 45th and 60th experimental days. Blood samples were taken on these days after animals had been immobilization in a trunk contention for 5 min. Stress was followed by analyzing serum cortisol levels. These peaked on the 45th day and then decreased, but not to baseline, on the 60th day. On the 45th day cortisol levels were significantly lower in animals fed Matricaria chamomilla CH12, suggesting that this product reduces stress. These effects may be a consequence of its inhibiting cortisol production and its calming and anxiolytic effects

The Suppression of Adjuvant-induced Inflammation and the Inhibition of the Serum and Tissue IL-17, TNF-α and IL-1β levels by Thymol and Carvacrol

Background and Aim: Thymol and carvacrol are two important components of thyme that have multiple medicinal uses. This study investigates the in vivo effects of these natural products on adjuvant-induced inflammation and secretion of interleukin (IL)-17 and key inflammatory cytokines in rats. Materials and Methods: We injected complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) into the hind paws of rats in order to induce inflammation. Each of the CFA-treated rat groups received gavages of thymol, carvacrol, or vehicle (CFA-only group). Rats’ paws and ankle edema were measured and then we were able to determine an inflammatory score based on the results. After 72 h of inflammation induction, sera were collected and subsequently inflamed tissue extracts were prepared for cytokine assay by ELISA. Results: Both components significantly decreased paw edema in rats (p<0.01). Thymol decreased ankle edema to 61.6% of edema in CFA-only rats (p<0.001). We observed a decreased inflammatory score in the thymol and carvacrol-treated rats. The evaluation of the tissue and serum inflammatory cytokine levels showed that both components decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels (p<0.05). Thymol and carvacrol reduced interleukin (IL)-1β serum and tissue levels, respectively. These components reduced tissue levels of IL-17 from 148.4±13.4pg/ml in CFA-only rats to 90.1±18.9pg/ml (thymol) and 82.3±9.2pg/ml (carvacrol). Both components decreased serum IL-17 levels in rats (p<0.05). In comparison, the anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin, reduced the inflammatory score and decreased tissue TNF-α and IL-1β levels but did not affect IL-17 production. Conclusion: Carvacrol and thymol could relieve inflammation symptoms possibly by downregulating serum and tissue IL-17 expression in addition to key pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFα and IL-1β