A direct neurokinin B projection from the arcuate nucleus regulates magnocellular vasopressin cells of the supraoptic nucleus

Central administration of neurokinin B (NKB) agonists stimulates immediate early gene expression in the hypothalamus and increases secretion of vasopressin from the posterior pituitary through a mechanism that depends on the activation of neurokinin receptor 3 receptors (NK3R). Here we report that, in the rat, immunoreactivity for NK3R is expressed in magnocellular vasopressin and oxytocin neurones in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, and that NKB immunoreactivity is expressed in fibres in close juxtaposition with vasopressin neurones at both of these sites. Retrograde tracing in the rat showed that some NKB-expressing neurones in the arcuate nucleus project to the SON, and in mice, using an anterograde tracing approach, we found that kisspeptin-expressing neurones of the arcuate nucleus, which are known to co-express NKB, project to the SON and PVN. Finally, we show that i.c.v. injection of the NK3R agonist senktide potently increases the electrical activity of vasopressin neurones in the SON in vivo with no significant effect detected on oxytocin neurons. The results suggest that NKBcontaining neurones in the arcuate nucleus regulate the secretion of vasopressin from magnocellular neurones in rodents, and we discuss the possible significance of this.This work was supported by the Newton International Fellowship program awarded to RPR (Ref. NF130516), co-funded by the Royal Society and the British Academy, and the British Society for Neuroendocrinology (Project Support Grant), and supported in part by funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 245009 (Neurofast).http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-28262017-04-30hb2016Zoology and Entomolog

Neurosyphilis manifesting with unilateral visual loss and hyponatremia: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Syphilis is called the chameleon of the diseases due to its variety of its clinical presentations, potentially affecting every organ of the body. Incidence of this ancient disease is once again on the increase worldwide.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We here report an unusual case of neurosyphilis manifesting with unilateral visual loss and hyponatremia. The patient also had primary syphilitic lesions and was concomitantly diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. Treatment with ceftriaxone and prednisolone, completely resolved the hyponatremia and visual acuity was partially restored.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Awareness of syphilis as a differential diagnosis is important as previously unreported presentations of neurosyphilis can arise, especially in HIV infected patients.</p

Shattered thyroid gland in a young boy after a blunt neck trauma

Blunt thyroid injury in motor vehicle accident in paediatric patient is relatively rare. The symptoms are often barely anterior neck swelling which gradually increases in size and may or may not compromise the airway, and it can be fatal if missed to be identified. We described the case of a 15-year-old boy who involved in an accident and sustained a shattered thyroid gland despite no open wound in the neck. The management issues were outlined