HETEROLOGOUS EXPRESSION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MANNITOL-1-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE FROM THE BASIODIOMYCETE PHOLIOTA NAMEKO

ABSTRACT The gene encoding mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase, mpd, which has similar function with alcohol dehydrogenase, has been sequenced and characterized from the basiodiomycete Pholiota nameko. The coding region of mpd was composed of 2992 bp and found to encode a polypeptide of 359 amino acids that has similarity with Laccaria bicolor. To evaluate the expression level of mannitol-1-phosphate from P. nameko, mpd cDNA was inserted into pCold shock vector and expressed in host BL21 (DE3) by 24 h induction with 1 mM isopropyl 1-thio-β-Dgalactopyranoside at 15 O C after 2 h growth at 37 O C. The purified protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and western blot

A Case of Vaginal Stillbirth in the Presence of Placenta Previa at 33 Weeks of Gestation

It was demonstrated that second- and third-trimester therapeutic termination of pregnancy (TOP) is feasible in cases with placenta previa. We report a 34-year-old woman with complex fetal malformations associated with placenta previa. An ultrasound examination at 21 weeks of gestation revealed fetal growth restriction (FGR) and complex fetal malformations associated with a placenta previa. After extensive information, the parents opted for careful observation. Thereafter, FGR gradually progressed and we observed arrest of end-diastolic velocity of the umbilical artery. Finally, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) was confirmed at 33 weeks of gestation. Two days after IUFD, the patient experienced labor pain. The placenta and dead fetus weighing 961 g were vaginally delivered, and total bleeding was 270 mL. Although further studies to confirm the dynamic change of the uteroplacental blood flow are necessary to avoid the risk of maternal hemorrhage, vaginal TOP with placenta previa after feticide or IUFD would be feasible

Fetal Congenital Peripheral Bronchial Atresia Diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging : Two Case Reports

Two types of congenital bronchial atresia (proximal and peripheral) have been classified. We report two cases of peripheral bronchial atresia diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Evaluating an enlarged lung mass that is homogeneously hyperechoic on US and hyperintense on T2-weighted MRI can help in determining whether bronchial atresia is present. Proximal type is suggested when a dilated main bronchus is observed as a tubule structure of an involved lung hilum. In our cases, T2-weighted MRI revealed homogeneously hyperintense lung lesion with decreased signal intensity of adjacent lobe, flattening diaphragm, and mediastinal shift. Dilatation of the main bronchus was not observed and the opposite lung was normal in appearance. These findings were explained by secondary compression due to enlargement of the involved lung. The preservation of vascular structure and the retained normal shape, though enlarged, in the affected lobe were observed, which demonstrated undisrupted pulmonary architecture of the lobe. Thus, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation was excluded because pulmonary architecture was relatively preserved. Finally, presumed diagnoses of the peripheral bronchial atresia were made and confirmed by postnatal chest computed tomography

Diffuse Venous Malformation of the Uterus in a Pregnant Woman with Klippel-Trénaunay Syndrome Diagnosed by DCE-MRI

Background. We experienced a rare case of a pregnant woman with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome complicated with diffuse venous malformation of the uterus. This is the first report on the usefulness of dynamic contrast-enhanced-MRI for the diagnosis of diffuse venous malformation of the uterus. Case Presentation. A 23-year-old woman presented with convulsions and talipes equinus position of both lower limbs at 11 weeks of gestation. At 27 weeks, ultrasonography demonstrated tubular echolucent spaces throughout the myometrium. Dynamic MRI at 37 weeks revealed that the myometrial lesion was enhanced slowly and showed homogeneous enhancement even on a 10 min delayed image. Taken together with unilateral foot hypertrophy, varices, and port-wine stain, the patient was diagnosed as having Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome complicated with diffuse venous malformation of the pregnant uterus. The patient underwent elective cesarean section because of severe dystonia. The lower uterine segment was thickened and heavy venous blood flow was observed at the incision. Histological diagnosis of the myometrial biopsy specimen was venous malformation. Conclusions. Both diffuse venous malformation and Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome during pregnancy can involve considerable complications, in particular, massive bleeding during labor. Women who suffer from this syndrome should be advised about the risk of complications of pregnancy

Hereditary Neuropathy with Liability to Pressure Palsy and Vocal Cord Paralysis After Pulmonary Lobectomy: A Case Report.

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP) is a rare peripheral neurological disorder that manifests with increased sensitivity to pressure. In people with this disorder, the peripheral nerves are unusually sensitive to pressure. Minor trauma or compression causing paralysis in the extremities is a hallmark of this disorder. Ensuring there is no pressure on the extremities is recommended as a preventive measure. We describe for the first time, postoperative vocal cord paralysis in a patient with HNPP due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Anesthesiologists and surgeons should be aware of this possible complication in patients with HNPP

Fetal Thoracoamniotic Shunting in a Case of Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations with Hydrops Fetalis

Aim We report a case of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) with hydrops in which the fetus underwent thoracoamniotic shunting. Case Report A 40-year-old (G1P1) woman was diagnosed with a macrocystic CPAM. Thoracoamniotic shunting was performed at 19 weeks of gestation but not well drained and was successfully performed again at 23 weeks. However, the CPAM volume ratio, abdominal circumference, and amniotic fluid index started increasing from 28 weeks and hydrops worsened. The insufficient shunting and the fetal cardiac failure had to be considered. At 32 weeks, a male infant with general edema and massive ascites was born weighing 3,362 g (+4.79 SD) with Apgar scores of 2 and 4. The infant was intubated and high-frequency oscillation and nitric oxide therapies were instituted. The resection of CPAM was performed on day 2. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was instituted on day 16. The infant was discharged and prescribed with home oxygen therapy (HOT) on day 65. The infant was able to leave the HOT at 30 months and is currently 34 months of age in good condition. Conclusion Fetal thoracoamniotic shunting may be life-saving in CPAM complicated by hydrops and that this treatment might be sufficient to cure the child

A Case of Intrathoracic Gastric Duplication Cyst Detected on Prenatal Ultrasound Examination

A 37-year-old (G4P3) woman was referred to our hospital at 32 weeks of gestation for the evaluation of a fetus with an intrathoracic cystic lesion. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that a fetal cystic lesion without a mucosal layer was located in the posterior mediastinum. These findings were consistent with a bronchogenic cyst. At 38 3/7 weeks of gestation, an elective cesarean section was performed because of her previous cesarean section. A female neonate without any external anomalies, weighing 2,442 g, with Apgar scores of 8 and 9, and requiring no resuscitation was born. Four weeks after delivery, the neonate was admitted because of respiratory distress due to mass effect. At right lateral thoracotomy, a 105 × 65 mm of solitary smooth-walled cyst containing serosanguineous fluid was found in the posterior mediastinum, which was excised completely. Histologic examination revealed the diagnosis of the mediastinal gastric duplication cyst. The neonate made an uneventful recovery. Accurate diagnosis is not necessary, but detection and continuous observation are logical. Although gastric duplication, particularly intrathoracic, is a rare pathology, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any intrathoracic cyst

Dectin-2-dependent NKT cell activation and serotype-specific antibody production in mice immunized with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Although thymus-independent type 2 antigens generally do not undergo Ig class switching from IgM to IgG, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) induces the production of serotype-specific IgG. How this happens remains unclear, however. In the present study, PPV immunization induced production of IgG as well as IgM specific for a serotype 3-pneumococcal polysaccharide in the sera of wild-type (WT) mice, but this phenomenon was significantly reduced in Dectin-2 knockout (KO) mice. Immunization with PPV caused IL-12p40 production in WT mice, but this response was significantly reduced in Dectin-2KO mice. Likewise, immunization with PPV activated natural killer T (NKT) cells in WT mice but not in Dectin-2KO mice. Furthermore, administration of α-galactosylceramide, recombinant (r)IL-12 or rIFN-γ improved the reduced IgG levels in Dectin-2KO mice, and treatment with neutralizing anti-IFN-γ mAb resulted in the reduction of IgG synthesis in PPV-immunized WT mice. Transfer of spleen cells from PPV-immunized WT mice conferred protection against pneumococcal infection on recipient mice, whereas this effect was cancelled when the transferred spleen cells were harvested from PPV-immunized Dectin-2KO mice. These results suggest that the detection of PPV antigens via Dectin-2 triggers IL-12 production, which induces IFN-γ synthesis by NKT cells and subsequently the production of serotype-specific IgG