Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke during Sleep in Apneic Patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The literature indicates that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of ischemic stroke. However, the causal relationship between OSA and ischemic stroke is not well established. This study examined whether preexisting OSA symptoms affect the onset of acute ischemic stroke. METHODS:We investigated consecutive patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke, using a standardized protocol including the Berlin Questionnaire on symptoms of OSA prior to stroke. The collected stroke data included the time of the stroke onset, risk factors, and etiologic subtypes. The association between preceding OSA symptoms and wake-up stroke (WUS) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS:We identified 260 subjects with acute ischemic strokes with a definite onset time, of which 25.8% were WUS. The presence of preexisting witnessed or self-recognized sleep apnea was the only risk factor for WUS (adjusted odds ratio=2.055, 95% confidence interval=1.035-4.083, p=0.040). CONCLUSIONS:Preexisting symptoms suggestive of OSA were associated with the occurrence of WUS. This suggests that OSA contributes to ischemic stroke not only as a predisposing risk factor but also as a triggering factor. Treating OSA might therefore be beneficial in preventing stroke, particularly that occurring during sleep

Comparative growth, cross stress resistance, transcriptomics of Streptococcus pyogenes cultured under low shear modeled microgravity and normal gravity

AbstractStreptococcus pyogenes is commonly found on pharynx, mouth and rarely on skin, lower gastrointestinal tract. It is a potential pathogen causing tonsillitis, pneumonia, endocarditis. The present study was undertaken to study the effects of low shear modeled microgravity on growth, morphology, antibiotic resistance, cross-stress resistance to various stresses and alteration in gene expression of S. pyogenes. The growth analysis performed using UV–Visible spectroscopy indicated decrease in growth of S. pyogenes under low shear modeled microgravity. Morphological analysis by Bio-transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Bio-scanning electron microscopy (SEM) did not reveal much difference between normal and low shear modeled microgravity grown S. pyogenes. The sensitivity of S. pyogenes to antibiotics ampicillin, penicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, hygromycin, rifampicin indicates that the bacterium is resistant to hygromycin. Further S. pyogenes cultured under low shear modeled microgravity was found to be more sensitive to ampicillin and rifampicin as compared with normal gravity grown S. pyogenes. The bacteria were tested for the acid, osmotic, temperature and oxidative cross stress resistances. The gene expression of S. pyogenes under low shear modeled microgravity analyzed by microarray revealed upregulation of 26 genes and down regulation of 22 genes by a fold change of 1.5

Diversity in Leadership Development : A Case Study of Japanese Young People’s Attitudes Towards Diversity and Uncertainty Avoidance

With fewer workers and fewer resources in a changing global economy and more challenging diverse world, diversity management is even more important and more challenging This study explores the connections between the values of uncertainty avoidance as part of diversity management of young Japanese university students and their views of Japanese society. Results suggest that young Japanese university students who participated in this research may not be as high on uncertainty avoidance as those Japanese who Hofstede and others originally studied. However, in light of their preference for, or pressure to conform to follow rules and leaders, the next step is to examine ways in which young Japanese can develop transformational leadership skills to become leaders and allies to help their organizations, society and cultural groups become more innovative and, in turn, empower others to ultimately transform organizations and society. It is hoped that the results of this study will provide motivation for future research and lead to creation of leadership development programs that focus on diversity management and inclusion.研究ノー

AAD-2004, a potent spin trapping molecule and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 inhibitor, shows safety and efficacy in a mouse model of ALS

While free radicals and inflammation constitute major routes of neuronal injury occurring in neurodegenerative diseases, neither antioxidants nor nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have shown significant efficacy in human clinical trials. To explore the possibility that concurrent blockade of free radicals and PGE2-mediated inflammation might constitute a safe and effective therapeutic approach to certain neurodegenerative diseases, we have developed 2-hydroxy-5-[2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-ethylaminobezoic acid (AAD-2004) as a derivative of aspirin. AAD-2004 completely removed free radicals at 50 nM as a potent spin trapping molecule and inhibited microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) with an IC50 of 230 nM. Oral administration of AAD-2004 blocked free radical formation, PGE2 formation, and microglial activation in the spinal motor neurons of SOD1G93A mice. As a consequence, AAD-2004 reduced autophagosome formation, axonopathy, and motor neuron degeneration, improving motor function and increasing life span. In these assays, AAD-2004 was superior to ibuprofen or riluzole. Gastric bleeding was not induced by AAD-2004 even at a dose 400-fold higher than that required to obtain maximal therapeutic efficacy in SOD1G93A mice. Targeting both mPGES-1 and free radicals may be a promising approach to reduce neurodegeneration in ALS and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases

Improving Exploration And Exploitation Capability Of Harmony Search Algorithm

Harmony Search (HS) is a meta-heuristic algorithm which was first introduced in 2001 and it became a widely used optimization algorithm in various areas in engineering application as well as in water resources planning and management. However, as most meta-heuristic algorithms are, the HS shows a good performance in global search but not as good in local search. This study aims the improvement of both exploration and exploitation capability of the algorithm. The mission has been carried out by changing algorithm operators or parameters in the search process. Several types of Improved Harmony Search (IHS) have been successfully developed resulting better exploiting (local) search. Alternative way is to utilize the superior local search of other models or algorithms. The combined, so called hybrid algorithms can significantly supplement the weak local search aspect of the original HS. A newly developed hybrid algorithm, Smallest Small World Cellular Harmony Search (SSWCHS), is developed and proposed shorter characteristic path length and higher clustering coefficient, resulting good exploration and exploitation efficiency. Application to benchmark functions and design of pipe networks proves the superior performance of the newly developed hybrid algorithm

Case report: Tolosa-Hunt syndrome—expanding the neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder phenotype?

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune astrocytopathy caused by the autoantibody of aquaporin-4 (AQP4). Herein, we report a case of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome presenting with abducens palsy and AQP4 antibodies. This was a rare case of AQP4-immunoglobulin G seropositivity in a patient with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Our findings may expand the clinical phenotype of NMOSD and indicate that clinicians should consider testing for AQP4 antibodies in patients with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome

Association of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations with Metastatic Presentations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

We performed this retrospective study to assess the association of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with metastatic presentations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The data from 125 patients with stage III or IV NSCLC were analyzed. We detected EGFR mutations in 36 NSCLC patients. EGFR mutations were predominant in never-smokers (P < .001), patients with adenocarcinomas (P < .001), and female patients (P < .001). When the metastatic sites were analyzed, pleural metastases were associated with a high incidence of EGFR mutations (P = .028). Particularly, pleural metastases with minimal effusion (PMME) were associated with EGFR mutational status (P = .001). Patients with N3 lesions were less likely to harbor EGFR mutations (P = .033). On multivariate analysis, N3 lesions (P = .017) and PMME (P < .001) remained significant factors for EGFR mutations. EGFR mutations may be associated with different presentations of pleural and N3 nodal metastases

Pseudocyst of the Scalp

Pseudocyst of the scalp is described in the Japanese literature as a skin-colored cystic tumor localized on the forehead, whereas alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp are described in the French literature as asymptomatic nodules on the scalp that lack a pseudocyst-like architecture. The etiology of these diseases is unknown, but the lesions are likely due to follicular occlusion. Here, we report a case of pseudocyst of the scalp in a 72-year-old woman. The patient had a dome-shaped painless tumor on her scalp. Histologic examination showed a pseudocyst-like architecture with no true cystic wall. Here, we report a case of pseudocyst of the scalp and summarize the characteristic features of both pseudocyst of the scalp and alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp