Atypical Clinical and Diagnostic Features in Ménétrier's Disease in a Child

Ménétrier's disease is one of the rarest protein-losing gastropathies in childhood. It is characterized clinically by non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms and edema, biochemically by hypoalbuminemia, and pathologically by enlarged gastric folds. In adults, this disease can be devastating with significant morbidity and mortality. In childhood, it is a self-limiting, transient and benign illness. Its treatment is largely supportive with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) while oral intake is encouraged. Acute onset of vomiting in healthy school age children can be initially explained by acute viral gastroenteritis. However, persistent vomiting associated with hematemesis and severe abdominal pain should warrant further work-up. This case report illustrates a self-limiting and rare cause of protein-losing enteropathy called Ménétrier's disease that presented with several variant clinical features not typically described in association with this entity

Removal of Pb and Cu ions from aqueous solution by Mn3O4-coated activated carbon

Mn3O4-coated activated carbon (Mn3O4/AC) was prepared by supercritical technique and applied for the removal of Pb and Cu ions from aqueous solution. Kinetic and isotherm data of the adsorption by Mn3O4/AC were compared with those of activated carbon (AC) and pure Mn3O4. Adsorption of metals was adequately described by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models. Maximum adsorption capacities of Pb and Cu ions determined by Langmuir model were enhanced 2.2 and 6.1 times for Pb and Cu ions by Mn3O4 coating onto AC, which might be attributed to reduced resistance of intraparticle diffusion and enhanced surface electrostatic interaction and complexation by Mn3O4

Effects of Stathmin 1 Gene Knockout on Behaviors and Dopaminergic Markers in Mice Exposed to Social Defeat Stress

Stathmin (STMN), a microtubule-destabilizing factor, can regulate fear, anxiety, and learning. Social defeat stress (SDS) has detrimental effects on mental health and increases the risk of various psychiatric diseases. This study investigated the effects of STMN1 gene knockout (KO) on behavioral parameters and dopaminergic markers using an SDS mouse model. The STMN1 KO mice showed anxious hyperactivity, impaired object recognition, and decreased levels of neutral and social investigating behaviors at baseline compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The impact of SDS on neutral, social investigating and dominant behaviors differed markedly between the STMN1 WT and KO mice. In addition, different levels of total DARPP-32 and pDARPP-32 Thr75 expression were observed among the control, unsusceptible, and susceptible groups of STMN1 KO mice. Our results show that STMN1 has specific roles in locomotion, object recognition, and social interactions. Moreover, SDS had differential impacts on social interactions and dopaminergic markers between STMN1 WT and KO mice

Integrated watershed management for mitigating streamflow depletion in an urbanized watershed in Korea

A systematic, seven-step approach to integrated watershed planning and management is applied to an urbanized watershed, the Anyangcheon (AY) watershed in Korea which consists of (1) understanding watershed components and processes, (2) identifying and ranking problems to be solved, (3) setting clear and specific goals, (4) developing a list of management options, (5) eliminating infeasible options (6) testing the effectiveness of remaining feasible options, and (7) developing the final options. Watershed characteristics, water quantity and quality simulations with SWAT and PLOAD models, and the developed problem indices of PFD (Potential Flood Damage), PSD (Potential Streamflow Depletion), and PWQD (Potential Water Quality Deterioration) identify that streamflow depletion is more serious than flood risk and water pollution in the study watershed (Steps 1 and 2). Instreamflow requirements, which are the maximum value of the average low flow and the fish flow, are estimated using regional regression and the software PHABSIM (Step 3). Feasible solutions that improve the depleted streams are listed and screened qualitatively against technical, economical, and environmental criteria (Steps 4 and 5). Effectiveness of the remaining 14 feasible alternatives are then analyzed using SWAT (Step 6) and alternative evaluation index (AEI) and their priority ranks are determined against an evaluation criterion that uses the concept of pressure, state, and response (Step 7)

Anti-malarial activity of 6-(8'Z-pentadecenyl)-salicylic acid from Viola websteri in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Petroleum ether extracts of <it>Viola websteri </it>Hemsl (Violaceae) were reported to have anti-plasmodial activity against <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it>, with this activity being largely attributable to 6-(8'Z-pentadecenyl)-salicylic acid (6-SA).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The schizontocidal activity of 6-SA on early <it>Plasmodium berghei </it>infections was evaluated in a four-day test. The possible 'repository' activity of 6-SA was assessed using the method described by Peters. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 6-SA, when given intraperitoneally, was also determined using uninfected ICR mice and the method of Lorke.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, 6-SA was found to have anti-malarial activity <it>in vivo</it>, when tested against <it>P. berghei </it>in mice. 6-SA at 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg·day exhibited a significant blood schizontocidal activity in four-day early infections, repository evaluations and established infections with a significant mean survival time comparable to that of the standard drug, chloroquine (5 mg/kg·day).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>6-SA possesses a moderate anti-malarial activity that could be exploited for malaria therapy.</p

NF-κB activation mechanism of 4-hydroxyhexenal via NIK/IKK and p38 MAPK pathway

Abstract4-Hydroxyhexenal (HHE) is known to affect redox balance during aging, included are vascular dysfunctions. To better understand vascular abnormality through the molecular alterations resulting from HHE accumulation in aging processes, we set out to determine whether up-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by HHE is mediated through nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation in endothelial cells. HHE induced NF-κB activation by inhibitor of κB (IκB) phosphorylation via the IκB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) pathway. HHE increased the activity of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), but not c-jun NH2-terminal kinase, indicating that p38 MAPK and ERK are closely involved in HHE-induced NF-κB transactivation. Pretreatment with ERK inhibitor PD98059, and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, attenuated the induction of p65 translocation, IκB phosphorylation, and NF-κB luciferase activity. These findings strongly suggest that HHE induces NF-κB activation through IKK/NIK pathway and/or p38 MAPK and ERK activation associated with oxidative stress in endothelial cells