Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma presenting with primary cardiac involvement

Primary cardiac lymphoma is extremely uncommon. We report a case of a 54 year old Caucasian male with a history of non-small cell lung cancer treated by surgical resection who presented with chest pain and dyspnea on exertion. Computerized tomography (CT) imaging confirmed a 7.8×3.8 cm right atrial soft tissue mass infiltrating the lateral wall of the right atrium, and a 5 cm pericardiophrenic mass. Echocardiography confirmed a moderate pericardial effusion without tamponade physiology. Percutaneous biopsy of the pericardiophrenic mass revealed pathologic features diagnostic of NK/T-cell lymphoma. He received CHOP chemotherapy with some improvement in symptoms, but experienced radiographic progression after 2 cycles. He received palliative involved field radiotherapy but developed new sites of progressive disease within the abdomen and died shortly after completing radiotherapy. NK/T-cell lymphomas are aggressive tumors that may present with unusual extranodal disease sites. Prompt diagnosis with consideration for referral to a specialty center with experience in treatment of these rare tumors may offer the greatest potential for improving treatment outcomes

Involvement of the LlaKR2I methylase in expression of the AbiR bacteriophage defense system in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis KR2

The native lactococcal plasmid, pKR223, from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis KR2 encodes two distinct bacteriophage-resistant mechanisms, the LlaKR2I restriction and modification (R/M) system and the abortive infection (Abi) mechanism, AbiR, that impedes bacteriophage DNA replication. This study completed the characterization of AbiR, revealing that it is the first Abi system to be encoded by three genes, abiRa, abiRb, and abiRc, arranged in an operon and that it requires the methylase gene from the LlaKR2I R/M system. An analysis of deletion and insertion clones demonstrated that the AbiR operon was toxic in L. lactis without the presence of the LlaKR2I methylase, which is required to protect L. lactis from AbiR toxicity. The novelty of the AbiR system resides in its original gene organization and the unusual protective role of the LlaKR2I methylase. Interestingly, the AbiR genetic determinants are flanked by two IS982 elements generating a likely transposable AbiR composite. This observation not only substantiated the novel function of the LlaKR2I methylase in the AbiR system but also illustrated the evolution of the LlaKR2I methylase toward a new and separate cellular function. This unique structure of both the LlaKR2I R/M system and the AbiR system may have contributed to the evolution of the LlaKR2I methylase toward a novel role comparable to that of the cell cycle-regulated methylases that include Dam and CcrM methylases. This new role for the LlaKR2I methylase offers a unique snapshot into the evolution of the cell cycle-regulated methylases from an existing R/M system.Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimento

Anion-Dependent Construction of Two Hexanuclear 3D-4F Complexes with a Flexible Schiff Base Ligand

Two hexanuclear 3d-4f Ni-Eu and Cu-Eu complexes [Eu4Ni2L2(OAc)(12)(EtOH)(2)] (1) and [Eu4Cu2L2(OAc)(12)]center dot 2H(2)O (2) are reported which are formed from the salen type Schiff-base ligand H2L (H2L = N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)butane-1,4-diamine). In both complexes, four Eu3+ cations are bridged by eight OAc- groups and the chain is terminated at each end by two ML (M = Ni and Cu) units. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallographic studies and the luminescence properties of the free ligand and metal complexes in solution were measured.HHMI Undergraduate Science Education Award 52005907National Science Foundation CHE-0629136, CHE-0741973, CHE-0847763Welch Foundation F-1631, F-816Hong Kong Baptist University FRG/06-07/II-16Hong Kong Research Grants Council HKBU 202407Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD)Open Foundation of Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Fine Petrochemical Technology KF1005UT-CNM and UT-AustinChemistr

Validation of a Low-Cost Paper-Based Screening Test for Sickle Cell Anemia

The high childhood mortality and life-long complications associated with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in developing countries could be significantly reduced with effective prophylaxis and education if SCA is diagnosed early in life. However, conventional laboratory methods used for diagnosing SCA remain prohibitively expensive and impractical in this setting. This study describes the clinical validation of a low-cost paper-based test for SCA that can accurately identify sickle trait carriers (HbAS) and individuals with SCA (HbSS) among adults and children over 1 year of age

Necrotizing Enterocolitis: An Update on the Benefits of Breast Milk

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of death for preterm infants resulting from gastrointestinal disease. This review will focus on several components of human breast milk that may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of NEC. The severe pathological features of NEC include inflammation, mucosal ulceration and disruption of the intestinal barrier. Despite maximal neonatal intensive care, the incidence and mortality rate of the disease remains high. Administration of breast milk, as well as donor breast milk, to preterm infants has been shown to reduce the incidence of NEC. Beyond this, there is no disease specific treatment for NEC. The immunomodulatory and protective properties of human breast milk have been evaluated in search of key components that may be utilized for the effective prevention and treatment of NEC

{μ-6,6′-Dimeth­oxy-2,2′-[butane-1,4-diylbis(nitrilo­methyl­idyne)]diphenolato-1:2κ8 O 6,O 1,O 1′,O 6′:O 1,N,N′,O 1′}tris­(nitrato-1κ2 O,O′)copper(II)gadolinium(III)

In the title dinuclear complex, [CuGd(C20H22N2O4)(NO3)3], the CuII ion is located in the inner N2O2 cavity of the Schiff base ligand and adopts a distorted square-planar geometry. The GdIII ion is ten-coordinate being bound to ten O atoms, four from the Schiff base ligand and six from three bidentate nitrate anions. The CuII and GdIII ions are linked by two phenolate O atoms of the Schiff base ligand, with a separation of 3.5185 (9) Å

Pediatric emergency department visits for pedestrian injuries in relation to the enactment of Complete Streets policy

IntroductionThis study aimed to evaluate the rate of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for pedestrian injuries in relation to the enactment of the Complete Streets policy.MethodsThe National Complete Streets policies were codified by county and associated with each hospital's catchment area and date of enactment. Pedestrian injury-related ED visits were identified across 40 children's hospitals within the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) from 2004 to 2014. We calculated the proportion of the PHIS hospitals' catchment areas covered by any county policy. We used a generalized linear model to assess the impact of the proportion of the policy coverage on the rate of pedestrian injury-related ED visits.ResultsThe proportion of the population covered by Complete Streets policies increased by 23.9%, and pedestrian injury rates at PHIS hospitals decreased by 29.8% during the study period. After controlling for years, pediatric ED visits for pedestrian injuries did not change with increases in the PHIS catchment population with enacted Complete Streets policies.ConclusionAfter accounting for time trends, Complete Streets policy enactment was not related to observed changes in ED visits for pedestrian injuries at PHIS hospitals