Neurologic Complications of Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes a diverse spectrum of neurologic complications: aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral infarction associated with granulomatous vasculitis, myelitis, and cranial polyneuropathy. These VZV-associated central nervous system (CNS) diseases usually result from reactivation of latent infection in immunosuppressive conditions, such as old age, diabetes mellitus, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and the use of immunosuppressive drugs. However, they also occur in immunocompetent subjects. Since VZV antigen or DNA is often detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of these patients, it is thought that reactivated VZV reaches the central nervous system by direct spread from latently infected sensory ganglia. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid by PCR is important for the diagnosis of VZV-associated CNS diseases particularly in the absence of exanthema/herpes zoster. Clinicians should be aware of the neurologic complications of VZV infection, because early acyclovir therapy is necessary for these disorders

Upregulation of Aquaporin-3 Is Involved in Keratinocyte Proliferation and Epidermal Hyperplasia

Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a water/glycerol-transporting protein expressed in keratinocytes of the epidermis. We previously showed that AQP3-mediated transport of water and glycerol is involved in keratinocyte migration and proliferation, respectively. However, the involvement of AQP3 in epidermal hyperplasia in skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), is unknown. In this study, we found significantly increased AQP3 transcript and protein expression in the epidermis of human AD lesions. The upregulation of AQP3 expression in human keratinocytes by transfection with human AQP3 DNA plasmid was associated with increased cellular glycerol and ATP, as well as increased cell proliferation. Among several cytokines and chemokines produced in the skin, CCL17, which is highly expressed in AD, was found to be a strong inducer of AQP3 expression and enhanced keratinocyte proliferation. In mouse AD models, AQP3 was strongly overexpressed in the epidermis in wild-type mice. Epidermal hyperplasia was reduced in AQP3-deficient mice, with a decreased number of proliferating keratinocytes. These results suggest the involvement of AQP3 in epidermal hyperplasia by a mechanism involving upregulated AQP3 expression and consequent enhancement of keratinocyte proliferation

Clinico-pathological analysis referring hemeoxygenase-1 in acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia patients

AbstractAcute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a very rare pathological entity of lung injury characterized by intra-alveolar fibrin balls.Hemeoxygenase (HO) -1 is a cytoprotective enzyme against oxidative stress and inflammation. It is known to be expressed in the alveolar macrophages in the healthy adults and overexpressed in other various lung cells of the lung injury patients.We experienced two cases of subacute form AFOP for these 10 years and reviewed clinico-pathological characteristics. The average age was 62 years old and both were male. The etiology of both cases was idiopathic. The average PaO2/FIO2 ratio was 274.5 ± 84.1. The average levels of C-reactive protein and surfactant protein - A of the serum were elevated to 19.8 ± 6.3 mg/dL and 67.6 ± 15.8 ng/mL, respectively. Serum sialylated carbohydrate antigen levels were normal in both cases. The characteristic radiographic findings were bilateral consolidations and ground glass opacities. Lung biopsy specimens revealed fibrin balls and alveolitis with abundant cellular HO-1 expression. Steroid response was excellent and the pulmonary involvements absolutely disappeared for about 3 months

Optimizing biodiesel production in marine Chlamydomonas sp. JSC4 through metabolic profiling and an innovative salinity-gradient strategy

BACKGROUND: Biodiesel production from marine microalgae has received much attention as microalgae can be cultivated on non-arable land without the use of potable water, and with the additional benefits of mitigating CO(2) emissions and yielding biomass. However, there is still a lack of effective operational strategies to promote lipid accumulation in marine microalgae, which are suitable for making biodiesel since they are mainly composed of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the regulatory mechanisms involved in lipid biosynthesis in microalgae under environmental stress are not well understood. RESULTS: In this work, the combined effects of salinity and nitrogen depletion stresses on lipid accumulation of a newly isolated marine microalga, Chlamydomonas sp. JSC4, were explored. Metabolic intermediates were profiled over time to observe transient changes during the lipid accumulation triggered by the combination of the two stresses. An innovative cultivation strategy (denoted salinity-gradient operation) was also employed to markedly improve the lipid accumulation and lipid quality of the microalga, which attained an optimal lipid productivity of 223.2 mg L(-1) d(-1) and a lipid content of 59.4% per dry cell weight. This performance is significantly higher than reported in most related studies. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrated the synergistic integration of biological and engineering technologies to develop a simple and effective strategy for the enhancement of oil production in marine microalgae

Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum after trauma

Intra-abdominal free gas is a finding of extra-intestinal gas in the abdominal cavity on radiography or CT, mainly suggesting gastrointestinal perforation and necessitating emergency surgery. Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum is diagnosed when there is no obvious gastrointestinal perforation, but there is presence of free gas in the abdominal cavity with an unidentifiable cause. Herein, we report a case of idiopathic pneumoperitoneum secondary to high-energy trauma following a car rollover accident. A 95-year-old man was transferred to our clinic after a car-to-car rollover accident. He had abrasions on his right upper arm and left abdomen that appeared to be the result of the accident ; however, no other apparent traumatic injuries were noted. There was no pain in the abdomen, and peritoneal irritation symptoms were also not noted. A CT scan showed fine free air. Although idiopathic pneumoperitoneum could not be ruled out, considering the patient’s background and the possibility of traumatic small bowel perforation, emergency surgery was performed. A thorough search of the abdominal cavity was performed ; however, the surgery was completed without an obvious perforation site. Idiopathic pneumoperitoneum should be considered as a differential disease in cases who have free air on abdominal CT but clinically lack obvious inflammatory reaction findings

Enhancement of astaxanthin production in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous by efficient method for the complete deletion of genes

Additional file 1. DNA seuence of primers used in this study

Jmjd5, an H3K36me2 histone demethylase, modulates embryonic cell proliferation through the regulation of Cdkn1a expression.

Covalent modifications of histones play an important role in chromatin architecture and dynamics. In particular, histone lysine methylation is important for transcriptional control during diverse biological processes. The nuclear protein Jmjd5 (also called Kdm8) is a histone lysine demethylase that contains a JmjC domain in the C-terminal region. In this study, we have generated Jmjd5-deficient mice (Jmjd5Δ/Δ) to investigate the in vivo function of Jmjd5. Jmjd5Δ/Δ embryos showed severe growth retardation, resulting in embryonic lethality at the mid-gestation stage. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from Jmjd5 hypomorphic embryos (Jmjd5neo/neo) also showed the growth defect. Quantitative PCR analysis of various cell cycle regulators indicated that only Cdkn1a expression was upregulated in Jmjd5neo/neo MEFs and Jmjd5Δ/Δ embryos. A knockdown assay with Cdkn1a-specific small interfering RNAs revealed that the growth defect of Jmjd5neo/neo MEFs was significantly rescued. In addition, a genetic study using Jmjd5Δ/Δ; Cdkn1aΔ/Δ double-knockout mice showed that the growth retardation of Jmjd5Δ/Δ embryos was partially rescued by Cdkn1a deficiency. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that increased di-methylated lysine 36 of histone H3 (H3K36me2) and reduced recruitment of endogenous Jmjd5 were detected in the transcribed regions of Cdkn1a in Jmjd5neo/neo MEFs. Taken together, these results suggest that Jmjd5 physiologically moderates embryonic cell proliferation through the epigenetic control of Cdkn1a expression.Accepted December 16, 2011

Treatment for recurrence after esophagectomy

Background : With regard to the recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery, the prognosis has improved with the progress of multimodal perioperative treatment. In this study, the recurrence pattern, treatment method, and prognosis of recurrent cases following esophageal cancer surgery were retrospectively examined. Materials and Methods : Three hundred seven patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and others were enrolled in the study. With respect to clinicopathologic factors and recurrence patterns, recurrence risk factors, recurrence period, treatment for recurrence, and prognosis were investigated. Results : Ninety two percent of all recurrent cases were observed within two years after radical esophagectomy. Locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and mixed recurrence were observed in 38 (35%), 56 (51%), and 16 (14%) cases, respectively. Patients with lymph node metastasis showed a significantly longer survival in comparison to those with metastasis to other organs (p = 0.0032). When analyzed using the treatment method, patients who underwent surgery (only surgery or additional postoperative chemotherapy) exhibited better survival in comparison to those who underwent other treatments. Discussion : Detailed and strict follow-up within two years are necessary in cases with deeper than muscular invasion, cases with extensive lymph node metastasis, or cases with lymphatic or vascular invasion