Successful treatment with positive airway pressure ventilation for tension pneumopericardium after pericardiocentesis in a neonate: a case report

Background Pneumopericardium in neonates is often associated with respiratory diseases, of which positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is an exacerbating factor. Here, we present a neonate case of pneumopericardium after cardiac surgery which was resolved after applying PPV. Case presentation A 28-day-old neonate with left recurrent nerve palsy after aortic reconstruction for interrupted aortic arch developed pericardial effusion. Pericardiocentesis was performed under general anesthesia, and a drainage tube was left in the pericardium. After extubation, stridor gradually exacerbated, following hemodynamic deterioration. A chest X-ray demonstrated pneumopericardium. Upper airway stenosis due to recurrent nerve palsy developed excessive negative pleural pressure, and air was drawn into pericardium via the insertion site of the drainage tube. After tracheal intubation and applying PPV, the pneumopericardium improved. Conclusion PPV does not always exacerbate pneumopericardium. In a patient with pericardial-atmosphere communication, increased inspiration effort can cause pneumopericardium, and PPV is a therapeutic option to alleviate the pneumopericardium

Links between global magmatism and GIA -Future plan-

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Special session: [S] Future plan of Antarctic research: Towards phase X of the Japanese Antarctic Research Project (2022-2028) and beyond, Tue. 3 Dec. / Entrance Hall (1st floor) at National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR

Oligomerization of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein is Crucial for Interaction with the Cytoplasmic Domain of E1 Envelope Protein

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains two membrane-associated envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, which assemble as a heterodimer in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this study, predictive algorithms and genetic analyses of deletion mutants and glycosylation site variants of the E1 glycoprotein were used to suggest that the glycoprotein can adopt two topologies in the ER membrane: the conventional type I membrane topology and a polytopic topology in which the protein spans the ER membrane twice with an intervening cytoplasmic loop (amino acid residues 288 to 360). We also demonstrate that the E1 glycoprotein is able to associate with the HCV core protein, but only upon oligomerization of the core protein in the presence of tRNA to form capsid-like structures. Yeast two-hybrid and immunoprecipitation analyses reveal that oligomerization of the core protein is promoted by amino acid residues 72 to 91 in the core. Furthermore, the association between the E1 glycoprotein and the assembled core can be recapitulated using a fusion protein containing the putative cytoplasmic loop of the E1 glycoprotein. This fusion protein is also able to compete with the intact E1 glycoprotein for binding to the core. Mutagenesis of the cytoplasmic loop of E1 was used to define a region of four amino acids (residues 312 to 315) that is important for interaction with the assembled HCV core. Taken together, our studies suggest that interaction between the self-oligomerized HCV core and the E1 glycoprotein is mediated through the cytoplasmic loop present in a polytopic form of the E1 glycoprotein

Neuroimaging in autism spectrum disorders : 1H-MRS and NIRS study

Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), we measured chemical metabolites in the left amygdala and the bilateral orbito-frontal cortex (OFC) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in these regions of ASD were significantly decreased compared to those in the control group. In the autistic patients, the NAA concentrations in these regions correlated with their social quotient. These findings suggest the presence of neuronal dysfunction in the amygdala and OFC in ASD. Dysfunction in the amygdala and OFCmay contribute to the pathogenesis of ASD.We performed a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) study to evaluate the mirror neuron system in children with ASD. The concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) were measured with frontal probes using a 34-channel NIRS machine while the subjects imitated emotional facial expressions. The increments in the concentration of oxy-Hb in the pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus in autistic subjects were significantly lower than those in the controls. However, the concentrations of oxy-Hb in this area were significantly elevated in autistic subjects after they were trained to imitate emotional facial expressions. The results suggest that mirror neurons could be activated by repeated imitation in children with ASD

The Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for acute kidney injury 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome which has a broad range of etiologic factors depending on different clinical settings. Because AKI has significant impacts on prognosis in any clinical settings, early detection and intervention are necessary to improve the outcomes of AKI patients. This clinical guideline for AKI was developed by a multidisciplinary approach with nephrology, intensive care medicine, blood purification, and pediatrics. Of note, clinical practice for AKI management which was widely performed in Japan was also evaluated with comprehensive literature search

Lymphocyte-stromal cell interaction induces IL-7 expression by interferon regulatory factors.

The interaction between lymphocytes and stromal cells plays important roles in coordinated development of early lymphocytes. IL-7 is an essential cytokine for early lymphocyte development produced by stromal cells in the thymus and bone marrow. Although IL-7 is induced by interaction of early lymphocytes and stromal cells, its molecular basis is still unknown. To address this question, we employed co-culture system with an IL-7-dependent pre-B cell line, DW34, and a thymic stromal cell line, TSt-4. Co-culture with DW34 cells enhanced the levels of IL-7 transcripts in TSt-4 cells. Interestingly, the co-culture also induced transcripts of IFN-α and IFN-β but not of IFN-γ. In addition, exogenous IFN-β stimulation increased the levels of IL-7 transcripts in TSt-4 cells. Next, to elucidate the molecular mechanism of IL-7 induction, we analyzed the IL-7 promoter activity by reporter assay. The IL-7 promoter showed specific transcriptional activity in TSt-4 cells. An interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) in the IL-7 promoter was essential for the induction of IL-7 transcription by both co-culture and IFN-β stimulation. Finally, overexpression of wild-type and dominant-negative forms of interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) activated and repressed, respectively, the IL-7 promoter in TSt-4 cells. Collectively, these results suggested that IRFs activated by lymphocyte adhesion induce IL-7 transcription through ISRE in stromal cells and that type I IFNs may be involved in the activation of IRFs. Thus, this study implied a physiological function of the IFN/IRF signal during lymphocyte development