Fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor in CSF: a candidate biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be valuable for exploring protein markers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The prospect of early detection and treatment, to slow progression, holds hope for aging populations with increased average lifespan. The aim of the present study was to investigate candidate CSF biological markers in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD and compare them with age-matched normal control subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We applied proteomics approaches to analyze CSF samples derived from 27 patients with AD, 3 subjects with MCI and 30 controls. The AD group was subdivided into three groups by clinical severity according to clinical dementia rating (CDR), a well known clinical scale for dementia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrated an elevated level of fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor protein in CSF from patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD compared to the age-matched normal subjects. Moreover, its expression was more prominent in the AD group than in the MCI and correlated with disease severity and progression. In contrast, fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor protein was detected very low in the age-matched normal group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that the CSF level of fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor may be a candidate biomarker for AD.</p

A Case of Acute Ventricular Capture Threshold Rise Associated with Flecainide Acetate

Antiarrhythmic agents may increase capture threshold, but this is rarely of clinical significance. Flecainide acetate, a class IC agent, is reported to have a significant effect on the myocardial capture threshold. In this presentation, we report the case of a 72-year-old male, with a previously implanted VVI pacemaker due to sick sinus syndrome, who was treated with flecainide acetate for paroxysmal atrial arrhythmia control. During the fifteenth day of treatment, an abrupt rise in the ventricular capture threshold with ventricular pacing failure was noted. The capture threshold decreased two days after discontinuation of flecainide acetate

Nomograms for Prediction of Disease Recurrence in Patients with Primary Ta, T1 Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

We developed nomograms to predict disease recurrence in patients with Ta, T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Thirty-eight training hospitals participated in this retrospective multicenter study. Between 1998 and 2002, a total of 1,587 patients with newly diagnosed non-muscle invasive bladder cancer were enrolled in this study. Patients with prior histories of bladder cancer, non-transitional cell carcinoma, or a follow-up duration of less than 12 months were excluded. With univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we constructed nomograms to predict disease recurrence, and internal validation was performed using statistical techniques. Three-year and five-year recurrence-free rates were 64.3% and 55.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio [HR]=1.437, p<0.001), tumor size (HR=1.328, p=0.001), multiplicity (HR=1.505, p<0.001), tumor grade (HR=1.347, p=0.007), concomitant carcinoma in situ (HR=1.611, p=0.007), and intravesical therapy (HR=0.681, p<0.001) were independent predictors for disease recurrence. Based on these prognostic factors, nomograms for the prediction of disease recurrence were developed. These nomograms can be used to predict the probability of disease recurrence in patients with newly diagnosed Ta, T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. They may be useful for patient counseling, clinical trial design, and patient follow-up planning

Early Outcome of Posterior Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy: An Alternative Treatment Choice for Physically/Socially Active Patients

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is currently the standard treatment for cervical disc disease. Some patients wish to be treated with a less invasive method, because of their social/physical situations. Here we present one method of treatments for socially/physically active patients. Three patients had triceps weakness and mild posterior neck pain. The offending lesions were at the C6-7 level. All were middle-aged soldiers with families. If conventional ACDF were performed, they would have to retire from the military according to the regulation. They had to be able to perform military drills after the treatment if they were going to be able to keep their jobs. Because of their social/physical situations, all wanted to choose method with that they could treat the disease and keep their jobs. For these reasons, the posterior cervical endoscopic discectomies were performed. Ruptured fragments were successfully removed in all. The arm pain improved by more than 90% in two patients by 7 days and in the other patient by 2 months, respectively (excellent outcome by Macnab's criteria). None of the operations caused instability. All of the patients are currently able to successfully perform their military drills without difficulty. The posterior cervical endoscopic discectomy may be a promising alternative for the physically/socially active patients

Different contribution of extent of myocardial injury to left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in early reperfused acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate the influence of the extent of myocardial injury on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients after reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Thirty-eight reperfused AMI patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging after percutaneous coronary revascularization. The extent of myocardial edema and scarring were assessed by T2 weighted imaging and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging, respectively. Within a day of CMR, echocardiography was done. Using 2D speckle tracking analysis, LV longitudinal, circumferential strain, and twist were measured. RESULTS: Extent of LGE were significantly correlated with LV systolic functional indices such as ejection fraction (r��=��-0.57, p��<��0.001), regional wall motion score index (r��=��0.52, p��=��0.001), and global longitudinal strain (r��=��0.56, p��<��0.001). The diastolic functional indices significantly correlated with age (r��=��-0.64, p��<��0.001), LV twist (r��=��-0.39, p��=��0.02), average non-infarcted myocardial circumferential strain (r��=��-0.52, p��=��0.001), and LV end-diastolic wall stress index (r��=��-0.47, p��=��0.003 with e') but not or weakly with extent of LGE. In multivariate analysis, age and non-infarcted myocardial circumferential strain independently correlated with diastolic functional indices rather than extent of injury. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with timely reperfused AMI, not only extent of myocardial injury but also age and non-infarcted myocardial function were more significantly related to LV chamber diastolic function.ope

A Case of Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium Combined with Situs Ambiguous with Polysplenia

A 33-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with chest pain and exertional dyspnea. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses, findings consistent with noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium. Thoracoabdominal CT and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) revealed situs ambiguous with polysplenia and noncompaction of the left ventricular myocardium. CMR also demonstrated delayed enhancement of the trabeculations located at the apical portion of the left ventricle. The coronary angiogram was normal. This is the first case of noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium associated with situs ambiguous with polysplenia

Spontaneous Sinus Conversion of Permanent Atrial Fibrillation During Treatment of Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a common adverse effect of treatment for heart failure and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The cardiac manifestations of hyperkalemia include various electrocardiogram changes. We describe a case of a 74-year-old woman with heart failure and permanent atrial fibrillation who reverted to normal sinus rhythm during recovery from hyperkalemia

Correction: triple-negative, basal-like, and quintuple-negative breast cancers: better prediction model for survival

After the publication of this work [1], we found that there were some mistakes in calculating the percentage of composition in Table 1(1). Clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer subtypes. We are therefore providing the revised Table 1, with the updated data for rows Mucinous carcinoma, Metaplastic carcinoma and Others. In the sub-content of Table 1, Histological type, the total number of Others was corrected from 18 to 16, and the composition of Others type was slightly changed according to breast cancer subtypes. For IHC-Her2 subtype, the number of Others was changed from 4 to 3, and 6 cases which were previously unidentified were assigned to corresponding subtypes. One case to IHC-BLBC, 2 cases to IHC-QNBC/5NP and 3 cases to IHC-TNCB. There was no effect on statistical analysis with the correction.