Concomitant homozygosity for the prothrombin gene variant with mild deficiency of antithrombin III in a patient with multiple hepatic infarctions: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Hereditary causes of visceral thrombosis or thrombosis should be sought among young patients. We present a case of a young man presenting with multiple hepatic infarctions resulting in portal hypertension due to homozygosity of the prothrombin gene mutation not previously described in literature.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 42-year-old Caucasian man with a previous history of idiopathic deep vein thrombosis 11 years earlier presented with vague abdominal pains and mildly abnormal liver function tests. An ultrasound and computed tomography scan showed evidence of hepatic infarction and portal hypertension (splenic varices). A thrombophilia screen confirmed a homozygous mutation for the prothrombin gene mutation, with mildly reduced levels of anti-thrombin III (AT III). Subsequent testing of his father and brother revealed heterozygosity for the same gene mutation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Hepatic infarction is unusual due to the rich dual arterial and venous blood supply to the liver. In the absence of an arterial or haemodynamic insult causing hepatic infarction, a thrombophilia should be considered. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a hepatic infarction due to homozygosity of the prothrombin gene mutation. It is unclear whether homozygotes have a higher risk of thrombosis than heterozygotes. In someone presenting with a first thrombosis with this mutation, the case for life-long anticoagulation is unclear, but it may be necessary to prevent a second and more severe second thrombotic event, as occurred in this case.</p

MAP1B Regulates Axonal Development by Modulating Rho-GTPase Rac1 Activity

This article shows a novel function for the MAP1B protein, related to the control of actin dynamics through interaction with Tiam1

Diversidade alfa de líquenes em conglomerados de arenito no Reserva Provincial Los Colorados, La Rioja – Argentina

The Provincial Reserve Los Colorados is located in the Independencia Department, province of La Rioja. Geologically, it is a formation of the Upper Triassic, which presents conglomerates of red sandstones forming an atypical landscape due to wind and fluvial erosion. Characterized by its aridity and warm continental climate, the typical vegetation corresponds to the phytogeographic province of Monte. Our objective was to determine the composition of the community of saxicolous lichens in the Reserve Los Colorados. For that, we carried out three transects of 100 m along which we established 3 quadrants of 20 x 20 cm. Each quadrant was divided into 100 grids of 2 cm x 2 cm. Samples were collected for the taxonomical identification in the High Complex Laboratory (LAC) of the National University of Chilecito (UNdeC) with routine techniques. The frequency of lichens is represented in percentages per family: Acarosporaceae (55,7%), Peltulaceae (19,7%), Physciaceae (15,9%), Parmeliaceae (4,6%), Candelariaceae (3,5%) and Teloschistaceae (0,6%). Of these, 6 genera, 10 species and 6 morphospecies were identified. Acarosporaceae: Acarospora aff. schleicheri and A. xanthophana, plus six morphospecies. Candelariaceae: Candelariella vitellina. Peltulaceae: Peltula lobulata. Physciaceae: Physcia undulata, P. lopezii, P. crispa and P. tribacia. Parmeliaceae: Xanthoparmelia ferraroiana. Teloschistaceae: Rusavskia elegans. Peltula lobulata is mentioned for the first time for Argentina and three species are new for the province: Acarospora aff. schleicheri, Physcia crispa and P. lopezii. The distribution range in the province of La Rioja is extended for the following species: Acarospora xanthophane, Candelariella vitellina, Physcia tribacia, P. undulata, Xanthoparmelia ferraroiana y Rusavskia elegans.La Reserva Provincial de Los Colorados está localizada en el Departamento Independencia, provincia de La Rioja. Geológicamente, es una formación del triásico superior, que presenta conglomerados de areniscas de color rojo conformando un paisaje atípico por la erosión eólica y fluvial. Se caracteriza por su aridez y clima cálido continental; la vegetación típica corresponde a la provincia fitogeográfica del Monte. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar la composición de la comunidad de líquenes saxícolas en La Reserva Los Colorados. Para ello, se realizaron tres transectas de 100 m, a lo largo de las cuales se establecieron 3 cuadrantes de 20 x 20 cm. Cada cuadrante se dividió en 100 cuadrículas de 2 cm x 2 cm. Se colectaron muestras para la identificación taxonómica en el Laboratorio de Alta Complejidad (LAC) de la Universidad Nacional de Chilecito (UNdeC) con técnicas de rutina. Se representa la frecuencia de líquenes en porcentajes por familia: Acarosporaceae (55,7%), Peltulaceae (19,7%), Physciaceae (15,9%), Parmeliaceae (4,6%), Candelariaceae (3,5%) y Teloschistaceae (0,6%). De éstas se identificaron 6 géneros, 10 especies y 6 morfoespecies. Acarosporaceae: Acarospora aff. schleicheri y A. xanthophana, además de seis morfoespecies, Candelariaceae: Candelariella vitellina, Peltulaceae: Peltula lobulata, Physciaceae: Physcia undulata, P. lopezii, P. crispa y P. tribacia, Parmeliaceae: Xanthoparmelia ferraroiana, Teloschistaceae: Rusavskia elegans. Peltula lobulata se menciona por primera vez para Argentina y se encontraron tres nuevas citas para la provincia: Acarospora aff. schleicheri, Physcia crispa y P. lopezii. Se amplía el área de distribución en la provincia de La Rioja de las especies: Acarospora xanthophana, Candelariella vitellina, Physcia tribacia, P. undulata, Xanthoparmelia ferraroiana y Rusavskia elegans.A Reserva Provincial Los Colorados está localizada no Departamento de Independência, província de La Rioja. Geologicamente, é uma formação do Triássico Superior, que apresenta conglomerados de arenitos vermelhos formando uma paisagem atípica devido à erosão eólica e fluvial. Caracteriza-se pela sua aridez e clima continental quente; A vegetação típica corresponde à província fitogeográfica do Monte. Nosso objetivo foi determinar a composição da comunidade de líquenes saxícolas em La Reserva Los Colorados. Para isso foram feitos três transectos de 100 m, ao longo dos quais foram estabelecidos 3 quadrantes de 20 x 20 cm. Cada quadrante foi dividido em 100 grades de 2 cm x 2 cm. As amostras foram coletadas para identificação taxonômica no Laboratório de Alta Complexidade (LAC) da Universidade Nacional de Chilecito (UNdeC) com técnicas de rotina. A frequência de líquenes é representada em percentuais por família: Acarosporaceae (55,7%), Peltulaceae (19,7%), Physciaceae (15,9%), Parmeliaceae (4,6%), Candelariaceae (3,5%) e Teloschistaceae (0,6%). Destes, foram identificados 6 gêneros, 10 espécies e 6 morfoespécies. Acarosporaceae: Acarospora aff. schleicheri e A. xanthophana, além de seis morfoespécies, Candelariaceae: Candelariella vitellina, Peltulaceae: Peltula lobulata, Physciaceae: Physcia undulata, P. lopezii, P. crispa e P. tribacia, Parmeliaceae: Xanthoparmelia ferraroiana, Teloschistaceae: Rusavskia elegans. Peltula lobulata é mencionada pela primeira vez para Argentina e três novos registros foram encontrados para a província: Acarospora aff. schleicheri, Physcia crispa e P. lopezii. Amplia-se a área de distribuição na província de La Rioja das espécies: Acarospora xanthophana, Candelariella vitellina, Physcia tribacia, P. undulata, Xanthoparmelia ferraroiana e Rusavskia elegans

Identification, Localization, and Quantification of Neuronal Cell Membrane Receptors with Plasmonic Probes: Role of Protein Kinase D1 in Their Distribution

Detecting, imaging, and being able to localize the distribution of several cell membrane receptors on a single neuron are very important topics in neuroscience research. In the present work, the distribution of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1a (mGluR1a) density on neuron cells on subcellular length scales is determined by evaluating the role played by protein kinase D1 (PKD1) in the trafficking of membrane proteins, comparing the distribution of mGluR1a in experiments performed in endogenous PKD1 expression with those in the presence of kinase-inactive protein kinase D1 (PKD1-kd). The localization, distribution, and density of cell surface mGluR1a were evaluated using 90 nm diameter Au nanoparticle (NP) probes specifically functionalized with a high-affinity and multivalent labeling function, which allows not only imaging NPs where this receptor is present but also quantifying by optical means the NP density. This is so because the NP generates a density (ρ)-dependent SERS response that facilitated a spatial mapping of the mGluR1a density distribution on subcellular length scales (dendrites and axons) in an optical microscope. The measured ρ values were found to be significantly higher on dendrites than on axons for endogenous PKD1, while an increase of ρ on axons was observed when PKD1 is altered. The spatial distribution of the NP immunolabels through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the results obtained by fluorescence bright-field analysis and dark-field spectroscopy and provided additional structural details. In addition, it is shown using electrodynamic simulations that SERS spectroscopy could be a very sensitive tool for the spatial mapping of cell membrane receptors on subcellular length scales, as SERS signals are almost linearly dependent on NP density and therefore give indirect information on the distribution of cell membrane proteins. This result is important since the calibration of the ρ-dependent near-field enhancement of the Au immunolabels through correlation of SERS and SEM paves the way toward quantitative immunolabeling studies of cell membrane proteins involved in neuron polarity. From the molecular biology point of view, this study shows that in cultured hippocampal pyramidal cells mGluR1a is predominantly transported to dendrites and excluded from axons. Expression of kinase-inactive protein kinase D1 (PKD1-kd) dramatically and selectively alters the intracellular trafficking and membrane delivery of mGluR1a-containing vesicles

Aprotinin versus desmopressin for patients undergoing operations with cardiopulmonary bypass A double-blind placebo-controlled study

Background. Aprotinin reduces blood loss in operations done with cardio-pulmonary bypass, whereas the use of desmopressin remains controversial. We compared aprotinin, desmopressin, and placebo in a double-blind, randomized trial to evaluate bleeding and transfusion requirements.Methods and results. One hundred forty-nine patients (48 received aprotinin, 50 desmopressin, 51 placebo) were included. Blood loss and transfusion requirements were recorded and levels of Factor VIII coagulant activity, von Willebrand's factor, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, and D-dimer were measured. Overall blood loss was 195 ± 146 ml/m2 in the aprotinin group, 400 ± 192 ml/m2 in the desmopressin group, and 489 ± 361 ml/m2 in the placebo group (95% confidence intervals: difference between desmopressin and aprotinin 98 to 312 ml/m2, p < 0.001; difference between placebo and aprotinin 190 to 398 ml/m2, p < 0.001). Twenty-six percent of patients treated with aprotinin, 66% of those treated with desmopressin, and 56% of those treated with placebo were given transfusion (95% confidence intervals: difference between aprotinin versus placebo plus desmopressin 51% to 71%, p < 0.001). Fibrinolytic activation throughout cardiopulmonary bypass was markedly higher with placebo or desmopressin administration. D-dimer level correlated with overall blood loss in patients receiving desmopressin or placebo, but not in those receiving aprotinin.Conclusion. Aprotinin administration reduces blood loss and transfusion requirements in cardiopulmonary bypass. This benefit may be explained by a lower activation of fibrinolysis