Dynamic Temporal Change of Cerebral Microbleeds: Long-Term Follow-Up MRI Study

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (MBs) are understood as an important radiologic marker of intracerebral hemorrhage. We sought to investigate the temporal changes of MBs and clinical factors associated with the changes using long-term follow-up MRI. Methods/Principal Findings: From October 2002 to July 2006, we prospectively enrolled patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack, and followed-up their brain MRIs with an interval.12 mo. We compared demographic factors, vascular risk factors, laboratory findings, and radiologic factors according to the presence or changes of MBs. A total of 224 patients successfully completed the follow-up examinations (mean, 27 months). Newly developed MBs were noted in 10 patients (6.8%) among those without MBs at baseline (n = 148), and in those with MBs at baseline (n = 76), the MB count had decreased in 11 patients (14.5%), and increased in 41 patients (53.9%). The estimated annual rate of change of MB numbers was 0.80 lesions per year in all patients, a value which became greater in those patients who exhibited MBs at baseline (MBs$5, 5.43 lesions per year). Strokes due to small vessel occlusion and intracerebral hemorrhage, as well as white matter lesions were independently associated with an increased MB count, whereas the highest quartile of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was associated with a decreased MB count. Conclusion: During the follow-up period, most of MBs showed dynamic temporal change. Symptomatic or asymptomati

Prevalence and Genetic Structures of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 6D, South Korea

To determine prevalence and genetic structures of new serotype 6D strains of pneumococci, we examined isolates from diverse clinical specimens in South Korea during 1991–2008. Fourteen serotype 6D strains accounted for 10.4% of serogroup 6 pneumococci from blood, sputum, nasopharynx, and throat samples. Serotype 6D strains consisted of 3 sequence types

Long-term clinical course of a patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III) is a rare genetic disorder caused by lysosomal storage of heparan sulfate. MPS IIIB results from a deficiency in the enzyme alpha-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAGLU). Affected patients begin showing behavioral changes, progressive profound mental retardation, and severe disability from the age of 2 to 6 years. We report a patient with MPS IIIB with a long-term follow-up duration. He showed normal development until 3 years. Subsequently, he presented behavioral changes, sleep disturbance, and progressive motor dysfunction. He had been hospitalized owing to recurrent pneumonia and epilepsy with severe cognitive dysfunction. The patient had compound heterozygous c.1444C>T (p.R482W) and c.1675G>T (p.D559Y) variants of NAGLU. Considering that individuals with MPS IIIB have less prominent facial features and skeletal changes, evaluation of long-term clinical course is important for diagnosis. Although no effective therapies for MPS IIIB have been developed yet, early and accurate diagnosis can provide important information for family planning in families at risk of the disorder

Potential Usefulness of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The secretion of extracellular membrane vesicles (EMVs) is a common phenomenon that occurs in archaea, bacteria, and mammalian cells. The EMVs of bacteria play important roles in their virulence, biogenesis mechanisms, and host cell interactions. Bacterial EMVs have recently become the focus of attention because of their potential as highly effective vaccines that cause few side effects. Here, we isolated the EMVs of Streptococcus pneumoniae and examined their potential as new vaccine candidates. Although the S. pneumoniae bacteria were highly pathogenic in a mouse model, the EMVs purified from these bacteria showed low pathological activity both in cell culture and in mice. When mice were injected intraperitoneally with S. pneumoniae EMVs and then challenged, they were protected from both the homologous strain and another pathogenic serotype of S. pneumoniae. We also identified a number of proteins that may have immunogenic activity and may be responsible for the immune responses by the hosts. These results suggest that S. pneumoniae EMVs or their individual immunogenic antigens may be useful as new vaccine agents

Potential Cause of Decrease in Bloom Events of the Harmful DinoflagellateCochlodinium polykrikoidesin Southern Korean Coastal Waters in 2016

Blooms of the ichthyotoxic dinoflagellateCochlodinium polykrikoidesare responsible for massive fish mortality events in Korean coastal waters (KCW). They have been consistently present in southern KCW over the last two decades, but they were not observed in 2016, unlike in the previous years. Despite extensive studies, the cause of this absence of this dinoflagellate bloom remains largely unknown. Thus, we compared physico-chemical and biological data from along the Tongyeong coast between 2016 and the previous four years (2012-2015). The averages of water temperature and salinity in August, 2016 were significantly (p< 0.001) different from those in the previous years. The amount of Changjiang River discharge, which can affect the environmental conditions in the southern Korean coastal area via ocean currents, was larger than in the previous years, resulting in a reduction in the salinity level in August when blooms ofC. polykrikoidesusually occurred. Moreover, compared to previous years, in 2016, there was a weak expansion ofC. polykrikoidesblooms in the Goheung-Oenarodo area whereC. polykrikoidesblooms were annually initiated in KCW. Lastly, the strong winds from the typhoon Lionrock may also have contributed to the early termination of this dinoflagellate bloom. Together with these findings, the combination of these environmental conditions in 2016, unlike in previous years, may have inhibited the formation ofC. polykrikoidesblooms along the Tongyeong coast

Long-term evaluation of palm oil mill effluent (POME) steam reforming over lanthanum-based perovskite oxides

To replace the obsolete ponding system, palm oil mill effluent (POME) steam reforming (SR) over net-acidic LaNiO3 and net-basic LaCoO3 were proposed as the POME primary treatments, with promising H2-rich syngas production. Herein, the long-term evaluation of POME SR was scrutinized with both catalysts under the optimal conditions (600 °C, 0.09 mL POME/min, 0.3 g catalyst, & 74–105 μm catalyst particle size) to examine the catalyst microstructure changes, transient process stability, and final effluent evaluation. Extensive characterization proved the (i) adsorption of POME vapour on catalysts before SR, (ii) deposition of carbon and minerals on spent SR catalysts, and (iii) dominance of coking deactivation over sintering deactivation at 600 °C. Despite its longer run, spent LaCoO3 (50.54 wt%) had similar carbon deposition with spent LaNiO3 (50.44 wt%), concurring with its excellent coke resistance. Spent LaCoO3 (6.12 wt%; large protruding crystals) suffered a harsher mineral deposition than spent LaNiO3 (3.71 wt%; thin film coating), confirming that lower reactivity increased residence time of reactants. Transient syngas evolution of both SR catalysts was relatively steady up to 4 h but perturbed by coking deactivation thereafter. La2O2CO3 acted as an intermediate species that hastened the coke removal via reverse Boudouard reaction upon its decarbonation. La2O2CO3 decarbonation occurred continuously in LaCoO3 system but intermittently in LaNiO3 system. LaNiO3 system only lasted for 13 h as its compact ash blocked the gas flow. LaCoO3 system lasted longer (17 h) with its porous ash, but it eventually failed because KCl crystallites blocked its active sites. Relatively, LaCoO3 system offered greater net H2 production (72.78%) and POME treatment volume (30.77%) than LaNiO3 system. SR could attain appreciable POME degradation (>97% COD, BOD5, TSS, & colour intensity). Withal, SR-treated POME should be polished to further reduce its incompliant COD and BOD5

A study of the relationship between clinical phenotypes and plasma iduronate-2-sulfatase enzyme activities in Hunter syndrome patients

PurposeMucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II or Hunter syndrome) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) deficiency. MPS II causes a wide phenotypic spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. IDS activity, which is measured in leukocyte pellets or fibroblasts, was reported to be related to clinical phenotype by Sukegawa-Hayasaka et al. Measurement of residual plasma IDS activity using a fluorometric assay is simpler than conventional measurements using skin fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This is the first study to describe the relationship between plasma IDS activity and clinical phenotype of MPS II.MethodsWe hypothesized that residual plasma IDS activity is related to clinical phenotype. We classified 43 Hunter syndrome patients as having attenuated or severe disease types based on clinical characteristics, especially intellectual and cognitive status. There were 27 patients with the severe type and 16 with the attenuated type. Plasma IDS activity was measured by a fluorometric enzyme assay using 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-iduronate 2-sulphate.ResultsPlasma IDS activity in patients with the severe type was significantly lower than that in patients with the attenuated type (P=0.006). The optimal cut-off value of plasma IDS activity for distinguishing the severe type from the attenuated type was 0.63 nmol·4 hr-1·mL-1. This value had 88.2% sensitivity, 65.4% specificity, and an area under receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve of 0.768 (ROC curve analysis; P=0.003).ConclusionThese results show that the mild phenotype may be related to residual lysosomal enzyme activity

Detection of genetic mutations associated with macrolide resistance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Purpose : The aim of this study was to identify mutations associated with macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and to establish a cultural method to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were collected from 62 children diagnosed with MP pneumonia by a serologic method or polymerase chain reaction. The 23S rRNA and L4 ribosomal protein genes of MP were amplified and sequenced. To identify mutations in these 2 genes, their nucleotide sequences were compared to those of the reference strain M129. MP cultivation was carried out for 32 (28 frozen and 5 refrigerated) NPAs and M129 strain using Chanock’s glucose broth and agar plate in a 5% CO2 incubator at 37?#608;and examined at 2-3 day intervals for 6 weeks. Results : Among the 62 specimens, 17 had M144V mutations in ribosomal protein L4. The A2064G mutation was observed in 1 specimen&#59; its 23S rRNA gene was successfully sequenced. Culture for MP was successful from the M129 strain and 2 of the 5 NPAs that were refrigerated for no longer than 3 days. However, MP did not grow from the 28 NPAs that were kept frozen at -80?#608;since 2003. Conclusion : We found the M144V mutation of L4 protein to be common and that of domain V of 23S rRNA gene was relatively rare among MP. Studies on the prevalence of macrolide-resistant MP and the relationship between the mutations of 23S rRNA gene and ribosomal protein L4 will aid in understanding the mechanism of macrolide resistance in MP

Inflammatory and Remodeling Events in Asthma with Chronic Exposure to House Dust Mites: A Murine Model

Although animal models with ovalbumin have been used to study chronic asthma, there are difficulties in inducing recurrence as well as in maintaining chronic inflammation in this system. Using a murine model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced bronchial asthma, we examined the airway remodeling process in response to the chronic exposure to HDM. During the seventh and twelfth weeks of study, HDM were inhaled through the nose for three consecutive days and airway responsiveness was measured. Twenty-four hours later, bronchoalveolar lavage and histological examination were performed. The degree of overproduction of mucus, subepithelial fibrosis, and the thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle in the experimental group was clearly increased compared to the control group. In addition, HDM-exposed mice demonstrated severe airway hyperreactivity to methacholine. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the number of total cells and eosinophils was increased; during the twelfth week, the number of neutrophils increased in the experimental group. With regard to changes in cytokines, the concentrations of IL-4, IL-13, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were increased in the experimental group. The data suggest that eosinophils, IL-4, IL-13, and TGF-β might play an important role in the airway remodeling process and that neutrophils may be involved with increased exposure time

Korean Patients with Superwarfarin Intoxication and Their Outcome

This observational study aimed at evaluating recent superwarfarin intoxication of Korean patients. Ten patients were diagnosed as or highly suspicious for superwarfarin intoxication. Case report forms described by attending hematologists of the patients were collected and analyzed. Bleeding symptoms were varied among the patients. Patients uniformly showed prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated thromboplastin time (aPTT) with decreased activity of vitamin K dependent coagulation factors. Positive serum brodifacoum test results in 4 of 5 requested patients contributed to confirmatory diagnosis. Psychiatric interview revealed an attempted ingestion in one patient. High dose vitamin K1 therapy promptly corrected prolonged PT and aPTT, but hasty discontinuation caused repeated bleeding diathesis in 6 patients. Route of intoxication was unknown or not definite among 8 of 10 patients. Three patients had a possibility of environmental exposure considering their occupations: there might be intoxication by transdermal absorption or inhalation. Therefore, high dose and prolonged use of vitamin K1 therapy is necessary for effective detoxification. Further detailed investigation on environmental exposure and efforts to improve availability of the blood level test in clinic are requested