Dual quadratic differentials and entire minimal graphs in Heisenberg space

We define holomorphic quadratic differentials for spacelike surfaces with constant mean curvature in the Lorentzian homogeneous spaces $\mathbb{L}(\kappa,\tau)$ with isometry group of dimension 4, which are dual to the Abresch-Rosenberg differentials in the Riemannian counterparts $\mathbb{E}(\kappa,\tau)$, and obtain some consequences. On the one hand, we give a very short proof of the Bernstein problem in Heisenberg space, and provide a geometric description of the family of entire graphs sharing the same differential in terms of a 2-parameter conformal deformation. On the other hand, we prove that entire minimal graphs in Heisenberg space have negative Gauss curvature.Comment: 19 page

Prevalence of Salmonella in Slaughter Pigs in South Korea

A total of 177(11.9 %) Salmonella was isolated from 1,483 slaughtered pig samples (784 lymph nodes and 699 caecal contents) in Korea. One hundred forty (17.9 %) and 37 (5.3 %) Salmonella were isolated from lymph nodes and caecal contents, respectively. The major serotypes were as follows; S. Typhimurium (28.2 %), S. Derby (17.5 %), S. Schwarzengrund (15.3 %) and S. Mbandaka (11.9 %). None of the 50 S. Typhimurium isolates were detected the ampicillin or chloramphenicol resistance genes in multipex PCR

Primary Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Breast: Radiologic and Pathologic Findings

Some breast neoplasms are classified as primary neuroendocrine carcinomas because they are positive for neuroendocrine markers. Although neuroendocrine carcinomas can originate from various organs of the body, primary neuroendocrine carcinomas of the breast are extremely rare. The diagnosis of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast can only be made if nonmammary sites are confidently excluded or if an in situ component can be found. Here we report a primary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNL) involving the left breast. Breast ultrasonography revealed a lobulated, heterogeneous, low-echoic mass in the left breast, and the lesion ap-peared as a well-defined, highly-enhancing mass on a chest computed tomography scan. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy was performed on the mass, and primary LCNC was confirmed by histopathologic examination

Reversible Lansoprazole-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease Showing Improvement after Drug Cessation

Lansoprazole is an acid proton-pump inhibiting drug that is used for the treatment of duodenal or gastric ulcers, H. pylori infection, gastroesophageal reflux disease or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Although lansoprazole is well known for its gastrointestinal and dermatologic adverse effects, mild pulmonary symptoms are also known to develop from taking this drug. There have been no reports about lansoprazole-induced interstitial lung disease. We report here a case of lansoprazole-induced interstitial lung disease that developed in a 66-year-old man

Effects of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the chicken NK-lysin gene on antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of cancer cells

NK-lysin is an effector protein of the innate immune system and an important component of host protection. We isolated a SNP in the NK-lysin coding sequence among different chicken breeds. This A to G substitution at the position 271 nucleotide in the ORF results in an Asn (N) to Asp (D) amino acid alteration. We synthesized two 30-aa peptides (N29N and N29D) to compare the biological activity of the helix 2-loop-helix 3 region of NK-lysin resulting from the polymorphic gene. Both peptides were found to be cytotoxic in bacteria and tumor cell cultures at micromolar concentrations. The N29N peptide, however, exhibited greater antibacterial and anticancer activity than the N29D peptide. Circular dichroism spectroscopy of the two peptides in negatively charged single unilamellar vesicles showed spectra typical of α-helical peptides. The helical profile of N29D was reduced substantially compared with that of N29N. However, no structural change was observed in neutral vesicles. ζ-Potential measurements of liposomes incubated with increasing peptide concentrations allowed surface charge neutralization with a negatively charged lipid, but not with a zwitterionic lipid. This result suggests that a difference in electrostatic interaction between lipid membranes and the helical peptides results from the polymorphic gene and is subsequently an important factor in cell lytic activity of variant NK-lysin peptides

Reduced systemic vascular resistance is the underlying hemodynamic mechanism in nitrate-stimulated vasovagal syncope during head-up tilt-table test

AbstractBackgroundNitroglycerin (NTG) challenge during head-up tilt-table testing (HUTT) is often utilized to determine the etiology of unexplained vascular syncope. However, conflicting results concerning nitrate-induced hemodynamic changes during HUTT have been reported. The purpose of this study was to assess the determinants of presyncopal symptoms during NTG-stimulated HUTT.MethodsWe evaluated 40 patients with suspected vasovagal syncope. Beat-to-beat changes in blood pressure, heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) during HUTT were measured with thoracic impedance cardiography and a plethysmographic finger arterial pressure monitoring device.ResultsNone of the 40 patients complained of presyncopal symptoms during passive HUTT. However, after the administration of NTG 28 patients showed presyncopal symptoms (NTG+ group) and the remaining 12 patients did not (NTG– group). HR, CI, and the stroke index did not significantly differ between the two groups, whereas mean arterial pressure and SVR were significantly lower in the NTG+ group.ConclusionsPresyncopal symptoms during NTG-stimulated HUTT are SVR mediated, not cardiac output mediated. This study challenges the conventional idea of a decrease in cardiac output mediated by NTG as the overriding cause of presyncopal symptoms during HUTT

Therapeutic genome editing for Charcot-marie-tooth disease type 1a

Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A (CMT1A) is the most common inherited neuropathy without a known therapy, which is caused by a 1.4 Mb duplication on human chromosome 17, which includes the gene encoding the peripheral myelin protein of 22 kDa (PMP22). Overexpressed PMP22 protein from its gene duplication is thought to cause demyelination and subsequently axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Here, we targeted regulatory region of human PMP22 to normalize overexpressed PMP22 level in C22 mice, a mouse model of CMT1A harboring multi copies of human PMP22. Direct local intraneural delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 designed to target TATA-box of PMP22 before the onset of disease, downregulates gene expression of PMP22 and preserves both myelin and axons. Notably, the same approach was effective in partial rescue of demyelination even after the onset of disease. Collectively, our data present a potential therapeutic efficacy of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting of regulatory region of PMP22 to treat CMT1A. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract