Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome following Spinal Surgery

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) typically occurs after gastroenteritis and respiratory tract infec-tion, but surgery has also been considered one of the triggers. Posterior reversible encepha-lopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare complication of GBS. A normotensive female in her 70s pre-sented ascending paralysis and frontal-parieto-occipital subcortical lesions with intermittent hypertension after spinal surgery. Nerve conduction studies revealed demyelinating polyneu-ropathy. The patient’s brain lesions disappeared with amelioration of hypertension. She was diagnosed with the demyelinating form of GBS and PRES caused by intermittent hypertension. Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) improved her symptoms without exacerbation of the PRES. Surgery can be a trigger of GBS, and GBS can cause PRES by hypertension and present as central nervous lesions. It is important to treat hypertension before using IVIG when PRES is suspected as a complication of GBS, since the encephalopathy can be exacerbated by IVIG. There may be more undiagnosed cases of the coexistence of GBS and PRES after surgery be-cause surgery itself can also cause PRES. Proper control of blood pressure and confirmation of negative central nervous lesions are required to treat GBS patients with IVIG safely

Callus Formation and Plant Regeneration of Herbs in Perilla Family

Effective methods of callus culture of herbs were studied to establish basic techniques for cell fusion and gene engineering. Eight basil cultivars, five species of Perilla family and a sweet basil were used, and following results were obtained. 1: Effects of phytohormones on callus formation. Callus formed effectively from hypocotyls and cotyledons of sterile seedlings cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.1mg/12,4-D and BA. Plantlets succeeded in regenerating from callus cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.1mg/I NAA and BA, but callus formation on a similar medium was inferior to that on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D and BA. Callus formed best on MS medium supplemented with 2ip, among other cytokinins, but only BA actually induced regeneration of plantlets from callus. 2: Effects of age and different organs of explants on callus formation. Callus with similar weight formed from hypocotyls of young seedlings about 1-3 weeks after germination. The heaviest callus formed from cotyledons, followed by hypocotyls and roots. 3: Callus formation and regeneration of adventitious buds in eight basil cultivars. Calli formed cotyledons of lettuce basil, Anise basil, lemon basil, bush basil, sweet basil, purple raffles basil, dasil opal basil and cinnamon basil, in descending orderof weight, on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D and 2ip. Callus from lettuce basil was three times as heavy as that from cinnamon basil. Callus formed on MS medium supplemented NAA and BA from cotyledone of all cultivars, but adventitious buds regenerated only from sweet basil, dark opal basil and bush basil. 4: Callus formation from six Perilla herbs. Callus fromed from hypocotyls and cotyledons of sweet basil, red perilla, green perilla, lemon balm, peppermint and sweet majoram in descending order of weight.ハーブの新しい植物育成のための細胞融合や遺伝子導入の基礎技術として、カルス培養の方法を検討した。材料として、カルス培養の為に、8品種のバジルおよび6種類のシソ科ハーブを用いて実験した。得られた結果は次の様であった。1:植物ホルモンの効果　カルスは、無菌実生の胚軸および子葉をMS培地に0.1mg/ℓの2,4-DとBAを添加した培地で培養することにより効果的に形成され、また同じ組成の培地または3mg/ℓ 2,4-Dと0.1mg/ℓ BA添加培地継代することにより高い増殖率を示したが、植物体は再分化しなかった。植物体の再分化は上記の材料を0.1mg/ℓ　のNAAと0.1または1.0mg/ℓのBAを添加した培地で培養することにより、カルスおよび不定根または不定芽を再分化することができたが、カルス形成は2,4-D添加培地に及ばさなかった。培地添加サイトカイニンとしては、カルス形成のためには2ipが大きなカルスを形成したが、植物体の再分化のためにはBAしか効果がなかった。2:植え付け外植体の差　無菌培養した実生の発芽1から3週間後の胚軸を外植体とした時、カルス形成には大きな差は見られなかった。無菌実生の1週間後の胚軸、根、子葉を外植体とした時、子葉が最も重いカルス形成し、次いて胚軸であった。3:8品種のバジルのカルス形成と不定芽再生2,4-Dと2ip添加培地でカルスの形成が最もよかったのはレタスバジルで次いでアニスバジル、レモンバジル、プッシュバジル、スイートバジル、パープルラフレスバジル、ダークオパールバジル、シナモンバジルの順で、レタスバジルはシナモンバジルの3.3倍の重さがあった。NAAとBA添加培地では、カルスはいずれの品種でも形成されたが、不定芽が再生されたのはスイートバジル、ダークオパールバジル、ブッシュバジルであった。4:6種のシソ科ハーブのカルス形成いずれの種類もカルスは形成されたが、スイートバジルに比較して生体重は軽く、アカジソがかろうじて匹敵するくらいで、アオジソ、レモンバーム、ペパーミント、スイートマジョラムの順に軽くなり、特にスイートマジョラムは形成外植体率も低かった。

Focal brain lactate accumulation in metformin-induced encephalopathy without systemic lactic acidosis: A case report suggesting mitochondrial vulnerability in lentiform fork sign

Metformin causes metabolic encephalopathy in some patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease, resulting in impaired consciousness and parkinsonism. This encephalopathy has a very characteristic magnetic resonance imaging feature in lentiform nuclei known as the “lentiform fork sign”. However, the mechanism is unknown. Here, we report a case of metformin-induced encephalopathy with a novel observation of lactate accumulation in the lentiform nuclei on magnetic resonance spectroscopy without systemic lactic acidosis. Since metformin is an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex-I, this focal brain lactate accumulation implies that a part of the pathogenesis of metformin-induced encephalopathy is the focal vulnerability of mitochondria to metformin in the lentiform nuclei. When metformin causes encephalopathy, not only testing for serum lactic acidosis and performing routine magnetic resonance imaging but also evaluation of brain lactate accumulation by magnetic resonance spectroscopy should be required to elucidate the etiology

[資料] 日本赤十字秋田看護大学におけるオンライン授業開始に向けた取り組み

要旨：本学オンライン授業検討プロジェクトは新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大に伴いオンライン授業の稼働を可能とさせる目的で立ち上げられたプロジェクトである。本プロジェクトチームが中心となりながら、多くの教職員の前向きな協力のもと、授業実施に至った経緯と取り組みを報告する。【オンライン授業開始に向けた取り組み】（1）授業方法に関する学内での取り組み（2）教員の授業配信支援に関する取り組み（3）学内設備に係る取り組み（4）学生への平等な受講環境整備に向けた取り組み（5）学内での感染防止に関する取り組み（6）資料作成、を行った。【オンライン授業開始後の取り組み】（1）学生調査（①６月１日第１回学生調査の実施 ②７月30日第２回学生調査の実施）【おわりに】新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を契機に本学のオンライン授業は全教職員と学生・保護者の協力のもと急速に整えられた。コロナ禍での円滑な社会活動遂行のためにもICTの活用は推進され、大学教育においても同様である。我が国においてもハイブリット授業を勧める方向がある一方、看護・介護福祉という対人援助職に就く専門職の養成を任務とする本学において、教育方法のあり方には慎重を期する必要がある。特にICT教育の導入範囲の決定が本学の重要な方針の一つとなる。Abstract:The online classes research project of our college was launched with the aim of enabling online lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic.This report describes the process and efforts that led to the implementation of online classes through the positive cooperation of many faculty members, with this project taking the lead.【Preparation for online classes】　(1) Online classs develoment support. (2) Technical support for teachers. (3) Improvement of college facilities. (4) In forming students of necessary preparations to attend online classes. (5) Implement COVID-19 prevention measures on campus. (6) Produced online class implementation manuals.【Efforts after the start of online classes】　Student satisfaction surveys were conducted twice after the start of online classes - June 1st. and July 30th.【Conclusion】　Due to the spread of COVID-19 infection in Japan, our college’s online classes were rapidly arranged through the cooperation of many faculty members, students and parents. Even in college education, the use of information and communication technology is advancing in order to facilitate activities amid the spread of infection. In Japan as well, there is a direction to recommend online and face-to-face classes. However, at our college, whose mission is to train specialists in nursing and long-term care interpersonal support, we need to pay attention to what provides the highest quality of education, is an important policy at our college

Focal brain lactate accumulation in metformin-induced encephalopathy without systemic lactic acidosis: A case report suggesting mitochondrial vulnerability in lentiform fork sign

Metformin causes metabolic encephalopathy in some patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease, resulting in impaired consciousness and parkinsonism. This encephalopathy has a very characteristic magnetic resonance imaging feature in lentiform nuclei known as the “lentiform fork sign”. However, the mechanism is unknown. Here, we report a case of metformin-induced encephalopathy with a novel observation of lactate accumulation in the lentiform nuclei on magnetic resonance spectroscopy without systemic lactic acidosis. Since metformin is an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex-I, this focal brain lactate accumulation implies that a part of the pathogenesis of metformin-induced encephalopathy is the focal vulnerability of mitochondria to metformin in the lentiform nuclei. When metformin causes encephalopathy, not only testing for serum lactic acidosis and performing routine magnetic resonance imaging but also evaluation of brain lactate accumulation by magnetic resonance spectroscopy should be required to elucidate the etiology