A case of generalized tonic seizures related to acute myocarditis

It is challenging to clinically distinguish between convulsive syncope and true seizure. We describe a 7-year-old girl presenting with generalized tonic seizure caused by acquired complete atrioventricular block related to acute myocarditis. After hospitalization following 6 episodes of new-onset fever with seizure, she had a short episode of abrupt complete atrioventricular block followed by another generalized tonic seizure. The concentrations of cardiac enzymes were elevated, and her echocardiogram showed a decreased left ventricular function. This case underlines the necessity of cardiac investigations in children with convulsive syncope

Design of an Optical Probe to Monitor Vaginal Hemodynamics during Sexual Arousal

An optical probe was developed to measure the change of oxy-hemoglobin (OHb), deoxy- hemoglobin (RHb), and total hemoglobin (THb) along with temperature from the vaginal wall of female rats. Apomorphine (APO, 80 μg/kg) was administered to elicit sexual arousal in female Sprague Dawley rats (SD, 180−200 g). The behavior changes caused by APO administration were checked before monitoring vaginal responses. The changes of oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin concentration and the temperature from the vaginal wall were monitored before, during, and after APO administration. Animals were under anesthesia during the measurement. After APO administration, the concentration of OHb (55 ± 29 μM/DPF), RHb (33 ± 25 μM/DPF), and THb (83 ± 59 μM/DPF) in the vaginal wall increased in a few min, while saline administration did not cause any significant change. In case of the vaginal temperature change, APO decreased the temperature slightly in the vaginal wall while saline administration did not show any temperature change in the vaginal wall. As the outcomes demonstrated, the developed probe can detect hemodynamic and temperature variation in the vaginal wall. The hemodynamic information acquired by the probe can be utilized to establish an objective and accurate standard of female sexual disorders

Synthesis, Film Fabrication, and Optical Properties of Polymers Containing Metal Cation Complex Type D-pi-A Chromophore

Donor-pi-acceptor (D-pi-A) type chromophore-based polymers were newly synthesized. These polymers exhibited absorption peak due to intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in a visible range as well as absorption peak due to carbonyl group in both solution and film state by measuring UV visible spectra. The addition of Eu(3+) ion into the polymers induced red-shift in absorption due to ICT and the color changes from yellow to red in the solution and film were observed by naked eyes. The contents of crosslinking agent influenced the features and solubility of the polymers. In addition, the contents of crosslinking agent and the Eu(3+) ion addition improved film-forming ability.1

LDL

Controlled cell growth and proliferation are essential for tissue homeostasis and development. Wnt and Hippo signaling are well known as positive and negative regulators of cell proliferation, respectively. The regulation of Hippo signaling by the Wnt pathway has been shown, but how and which components of Wnt signaling are involved in the activation of Hippo signaling during nutrient starvation are unknown. Here, we report that a reduction in the level of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) during nutrient starvation induces phosphorylation and cytoplasmic localization of YAP, inhibiting YAP-dependent transcription. Phosphorylation of YAP via loss of LRP6 is mediated by large tumor suppressor kinases 1/2 (LATS1/2) and Merlin. We found that O-GlcNAcylation of LRP6 was reduced, and the overall amount of LRP6 was decreased via endocytosis-mediated lysosomal degradation during nutrient starvation. Merlin binds to LRP6; when LRP6 is less O-GlcNAcylated, Merlin dissociates from it and becomes capable of interacting with LATS1 to induce phosphorylation of YAP. Our data suggest that LRP6 has unexpected roles as a nutrient sensor and Hippo signaling regulato

Optical Properties of Cyclic Amine Type Dyes, and Their Electronic Band Structures with Molecular Microstructure

Three different cyclic amine dyes, 9-(2-chlorophenyl)-9H-carbazole (CPCz; C18H12ClN), 10-(2-chlorophenyl)-10H-phenoxazine (CPPo; C18H12ClNO), and 10-(2-chlorophenyl)-10H-phenothiazine (CPPt; C18H12ClNS), were synthesized to systematically investigate their optical properties and electronic band structures with molecular microstructure. By the insertion of oxygen or sulfur atom into carbazole moiety, the absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed bathochromic shift, and the Stoke's shift was increased. Ionization potential of CPCz was measured as 5.75eV, on the other hand, CPPo and CPPt showed their ionization potentials of 5.37 and 5.39eV, respectively. The minute difference in chemical structure such as insertion of oxygen or sulfur atom caused huge change of optical property and electronic band structure.1