Minocycline markedly reduces acute visceral nociception via inhibiting neuronal ERK phosphorylation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Minocycline prevents the development of neuropathic and inflammatory pain by inhibiting microglial activation and postsynaptic currents. But, how minocycline obviates acute visceral pain is unclear. The present study investigated whether minocycline had an any antinociceptive effect on acetic acid-induced acute abdominal pain after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of saline or minocycline 1 hour before acetic acid injection (1.0%, 250 μl, i.p.).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Minocycline (4, 10, or 40 mg/kg) significantly decreased acetic acid-induced nociception (0-60 minutes post-injection) and the enhancement in the number of c-Fos positive cells in the T5-L2 spinal cord induced by acetic acid injection. Also, the expression of spinal phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) induced by acetic acid was reduced by minocycline pre-administration. Interestingly, intrathecal introduction of PD98059, an ERK upstream kinase inhibitor, markedly blocked the acetic acid-stimulated pain responses.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results demonstrate that minocycline effectively inhibits acetic acid-induced acute abdominal nociception via the inhibition of neuronal p-ERK expression in the spinal cord, and that minocycline may have therapeutic potential in suppressing acute abdominal pain.</p

Evaluation in 3 Months Duration of Neointimal Coverage After Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation by Optical Coherence Tomography The ENDEAVOR OCT Trial

ObjectivesWe performed this study to investigate the vascular response in early period after zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) (Endeavor Sprint, Medtronic CardioVascular, Minneapolis, Minnesota) implantation.BackgroundThe ZES has different characteristics, with biocompatible polymer and rapid drug-elution, compared with the first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES).MethodsThe ENDEAVOR OCT (Evaluation in 3 Months Duration of Neointimal Coverage after Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation by Optical Coherence Tomography) trial is a prospective, single-center study evaluating vascular healing patterns with optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 3 months after stent implantation. A total of 31 ZES in 30 patients underwent serial OCT at immediate post-intervention and 3 months. Neointimal growth and malapposition were analyzed at each stent strut of cross-sectional OCT images with 0.5-mm intervals.ResultsThe incidence of malapposition at post-intervention and 3 months was 6.0% and 0.2%, respectively. However, late acquired malapposition was not detected at 3 months. Of 31 stents, 27 stents (87.1%) were covered completely with neointima, but the remaining 4 stents had 2 (0.8%), 4 (0.9%), 4 (1.2%), and 6 (1.4%) uncovered struts. Overall mean percentage of covered stent struts was 99.9 ± 0.4%. This finding was consistent among groups with acute coronary syndrome and stable angina pectoris (99.9 ± 0.3% vs. 99.9 ± 0.4%, p = 0.92). Intracoronary thrombus was documented in 1 stent (3.2%) among 31 stents.ConclusionsMost of the stent struts were covered with neointima, and late acquired malapposition was not found at 3 months after ZES implantation. Therefore, the current study demonstrated that ZES might have a favorable in vivo vascular response at 3 months after stent implantation. (Evaluation of Zotarolimus Eluting Stent at 3 Months Using Optical Coherence Tomography [ENDEAVOR OCT]; NCT00815139

Spotted Fever Group and Typhus Group Rickettsioses in Humans, South Korea

Multiplex-nested PCR and sequencing analysis indicated rickettsialike agents in serum specimens from febrile patients

Mesenteric Pseudocyst of the Small Bowel in Gastric Cancer Patient: A Case Report

Mesenteric pseudocyst is rare. This term is used to describe the abdominal cystic mass, without the origin of abdominal organ. We presented a case of mesenteric pseudocyst of the small bowel in a 70-year-old man. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy showed a 3.5 cm sized excavated lesion on the posterior wall of angle. Endocopic biopsy confirmed a histologic diagnosis of the poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, which includes the signet ring cell component. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a focal mucosal enhancement in the posterior wall of angle of the stomach, a 2.4 cm sized enhancing mass on the distal small bowel loop, without distant metastases or ascites in rectal shelf, and multiple gallbladder stones. The patient underwent subtotal gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy, segmental resection of the small bowel, and cholecystectomy. The final pathological diagnosis was mesenteric pseudocyst. This is the first case report describing incidentally detected mesenteric pseudocyst of the small bowel in gastric cancer patients

Silane- and triazine-containing hole and exciton blocking material for high-efficiency phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes

One of the important factors for high efficiency phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices is to confine triplet excitons within the emitting layer. We synthesized and characterized a new hole blocking material containing silane and triazine moieties, 2,4-diphenyl-6-(4-triphenylsilanyl-biphenyl-4-yl)-1,3,5-triazine (DTBT). Electrophosphorescent devices fabricated using the material as the hole-blocking layer and N,N-dicarbazolyl-4,4-biphenyl (CBP) doped with fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium [Ir(ppy)3] as the emitting layer showed a maximum external quantum efficiency (ext) of 17.5% with a maximum power efficiency (p) of 47.8 lm W–1, which are much higher than those of devices using bathcuproine (BCP) (ext = 14.5%, p = 40.0 lm W–1) and 4-biphenyloxolate aluminium(III) bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinato)-4-phenylphenolate (BAlq) (ext = 8.1%, p = 14.2 lm W–1) as hole-blocking layers.This work was supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy through the OLED center and Cavendish-KAIST Cooperation Program

A Rare Case of Aortic Valve Myxoma: Easy to Confuse With Papillary Fibroelastoma

Myxoma of the aortic valve is an exceedingly uncommon condition. In this article, we report the case of a 72-year-old man with myxoma arising from the aortic valve. We extirpated the mass and repaired the aortic valve with the patient under cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histological examination confirmed that the mass was a myxoma

Clinical Characteristics of Microscopic Colitis in Korea: Prospective Multicenter Study by KASID

Background/Aims: Microscopic colitis (MC) encompasses collagenous and lymphocytic colitis and is characterized by chronic diarrhea. In cases of MC, colonic mucosae are macroscopically normal, and diagnostic histopathological features are observed only upon microscopic examination. We designed a prospective multicenter study to determine the clinical features, pathological distribution in the colon and prevalence of MC in Korea. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients having watery diarrhea no more than 3 times a day between March 2008 and February 2009. We obtained patient histories and performed colonoscopies with random biopsies at each colon segment. Results: A total of 100 patients with chronic diarrhea were enrolled for a normal colonoscopy and stool exam. MC was observed in 22 patients (22%) (M:F 1.2:1; mean age, 47.5 years). Of those 22 patients, 18 had lymphocytic colitis and 4 had collagenous colitis. The entire colon was affected in only 3 cases (13.6%), the ascending colon in 6 cases (27.2%), the transverse colon in 3 cases (13.6%), and the left colon in 3 cases (13.6%). More than 2 segments were affected in 7 cases (31.8%). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated MCs were observed in 4 cases (18.2%), 3 of which showed improved diarrhea symptoms following discontinuation of the medication. Frequently associated symptoms were abdominal pain and weight loss. Autoimmune diseases were observed in 4 cases (18.2%). Half of the 22 patients with MC improved with conservative care by loperamide or probiotics. Conclusions: In a prospective multicenter study of Korean patients with chronic diarrhea, the frequency of MC was found to be approximately 20%, similar to the percentage observed in Western countries. Therefore, the identification of MC is important for the adequate management of Korean patients with chronic diarrhea. (Gut Liver 20115:181-186