Histological findings of sperm storage in green turtle (Chelonia mydas) oviduct.

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are seasonal breeders with a time lag between mating and nesting periods. We therefore investigated whether female turtles store sperm like some other animals by histologically and ultrastructurally analyzing oviducts collected from three mature female free-ranging green turtles during the breeding season in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan. The oviduct comprised an infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, and vagina. Sperm was found in the isthmus of all turtles examined. Some spermatozoa were found in the duct and acini of glands in the isthmus of two turtles with oviducts containing eggs, and a few were also located in the transition area between the uterus and vagina of one of the turtles. On the other hand, we also found abundant spermatozoa on the luminal surface of the isthmus of one turtle captured during mating. In most reptiles, fertilization occurs in the infundibulum or albumen region, and thus the isthmus near those areas might be suitable for storing sperm in female turtles.

Detection and molecular characteristics of Rhytidodoides sp. (Digenea: Rhytidodidae) from the gall bladder of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan.

Trematodes of the genus Rhytidodoides are parasitic in marine turtles. Of the already known species, Rhytidodoides similis Price, 1939, occurs especially in the gall bladder. In this study, we surveyed 73 green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, and detected Rhytidodoides sp. from the gall bladders of 18 turtles. A detailed morphological analysis revealed that the forebody of Rhytidodoides sp. differed slightly in shape from that of R. similis. There has been no information on DNA sequences of the family Rhytidodidae. A molecular phylogeny based on 28S rDNA sequences of Rhytidodoides sp. and related taxa suggested that the Rhytidodidae is sister to the other families of Echinostomatoidea. The intraspecific diversity of Rhytidodoides sp. was examined by using DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI). The population genetic features of the COI haplotypes demonstrated that Rhytidodoides sp. is highly diverse in the Ogasawara Islands. The DNA sequences determined in this study will contribute to the species identification of congeners and the taxonomic reconsideration of the Echinostomatoidea.

Recombinant human thrombomodulin attenuated sepsis severity in a non-surgical preterm mouse model.

Neonatal sepsis is characterised by dysregulated immune responses. Lipid mediators (LMs) are involved in the regulation of inflammation. Human recombinant thrombomodulin (rhTM), an anticoagulant, has anti-inflammatory effects and might be useful for sepsis treatment. A stock caecal slurry (CS) solution was prepared from adult caeca. To induce sepsis, 1.5 mg/g of CS was administered intraperitoneally to 4 d-old wild-type FVB mouse pups. Saline (Veh-CS) or rhTM (3 or 10 mg/kg; rhTM3-CS or rhTM10-CS) was administered subcutaneously 6 h prior to sepsis induction, and liver LM profiles at 3 and 6 h post-sepsis induction and survival up to 7 days were examined. Mortality was significantly lower (47%) in the rhTM3-CS group and significantly higher (100%) in the rhTM10-CS group, compared with the Veh-CS group (79%, p < 0.05). Eleven LMs (12-HEPE, EPA, 14-HDHA, DHA, PD1, PGD2, 15d-PGJ2, 12S-HHT, lipoxin B4, 12-HETE, AA) were significantly increased at 3 h, and five LMs (5-HEPE, 15-HEPE, 18-HEPE, 17-HDHA, PD1) were significantly increased at 6 h post-sepsis induction. Increased EPA, DHA, 12S-HHT, lipoxin B4, and AA were significantly suppressed by rhTM pre-treatment. rhTM was protective against neonatal sepsis. This protective effect might be mediated via LM modulation. Further post-sepsis studies are needed to determine clinical plausibility.

Insulin therapy for hyperglycemia in neonatal sepsis using a preterm mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Stress-induced hyperglycemia is a frequent complication of neonatal sepsis. Hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress and immunosuppression. We investigated the glucose kinetics and effect of insulin administration during stress-induced hyperglycemia in a neonatal sepsis mouse model. METHODS: A stock cecal slurry (CS) solution was prepared from adult cecums and 3.0 mg of CS/g (LD40 ) was administered intraperitoneally to 4-day-old FVB mouse pups. Blood glucose levels were measured at 1.5, 3, 6, and 9 h post-sepsis induction and compared with basal levels. Two different doses of ultrafast-acting insulin were administered subcutaneously, and blood glucose levels and survival rates were monitored. RESULTS: Blood glucose levels were significantly higher than those of baseline levels with a peak at 3 h, which progressively decreased from 6 to 9 h post-sepsis induction. Insulin treatment reduced post-sepsis-induced hyperglycemia at 1.5 and 3 h. The mortality rate of CS-only pups (39%) was similar to that of CS + 1 U/kg insulin pups (60%). However, the mortality rate of CS + 5 U/kg insulin pups (82%) was significantly higher than that of CS-only pups. CONCLUSIONS: Marked hyperglycemia was induced immediately after post-sepsis induction, and the high-dose insulin treatment increased mortality post-induction. Stress-induced hyperglycemia could therefore be a physiological and protective response for preterm sepsis, and aggressive treatment of this hyperglycemia might be contraindicated.

Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae Sepsis in a Term Neonate.

We reported a term newborn case of early onset sepsis caused by nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae (NTHi) with massive bacterial invasion in the placenta. Based on the consistent results of maternal placental pathology and neonatal bacterial culture, we diagnosed this as vertical transmission of NTHi via vaginal delivery. In general, NTHi infections occur in preterm infants, and our term infant case is very unusual. In conclusion, clinicians should consider NTHi as a cause of neonatal sepsis, even in term infants.

A Case of Congenital Complete Atrioventricular Block Treated with Transdermal Tulobuterol.

Congenital complete atrioventricular block (CCAVB) is a condition in which the atria and ventricles beat independently of each other. CCAVB cases require permanent pacemaker implantation until adulthood. Nevertheless, consensus regarding postnatal medical therapy for bradycardia has not been reached. Here we report the case of a newborn with CCAVB, whose intractable bradycardia was successfully treated with transdermal tulobuterol. Tulobuterol is a selective ß2-adrenoceptor agonist, widely used safely as bronchodilator in children. It also has positive inotropic and chronotropic effect via ß1-adrenoceptors. We believe the tulobuterol patch can be used as an optional therapy for CCAVB where pacemaker implantation is not available.

Congenital immature pure erythroid leukemia with E-cadherin expression.

Congenital pure erythroid leukemia is exceedingly rare and poses a diagnostic challenge. We report an atypical case of congenital pure erythroid leukemia that did not express typical erythroid markers. The patient presented with a high white blood cell count with blastic cells at birth. Although flow cytometric analyses of peripheral blood and bone marrow showed a large CD45-negative cell population, we did not identify any evidence of monoclonality. While the circulating blasts decreased with only supportive care, hepatomegaly with multiple nodules was accompanied by liver failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and development of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pathological examination of the liver biopsy specimen revealed a small round cell tumor that was negative for nearly all hematopoietic cell markers, including classical erythroid cell markers, and positive for CD43, CD71, and E-cadherin, an early erythroid marker epithelial calcium-dependent adhesion protein, suggesting that these tumor cells originated from an immature erythroblast. We found high ß-catenin and c-Myc protein expression, which were not previously described in pure erythroid leukemia. Cytosine arabinoside temporarily alleviated clinical symptoms; however, the patient died of progressive disease at 8 months of age. This case indicates that E-cadherin is useful for diagnosing pure erythroid leukemia, even in immature cases.

A 5-bp insertion in Mip causes recessive congenital cataract in KFRS4/Kyo rats.

We discovered a new cataract mutation, kfrs4, in the Kyoto Fancy Rat Stock (KFRS) background. Within 1 month of birth, all kfrs4/kfrs4 homozygotes developed cataracts, with severe opacity in the nuclei of the lens. In contrast, no opacity was observed in the kfrs4/+ heterozygotes. We continued to observe these rats until they reached 1 year of age and found that cataractogenesis did not occur in kfrs4/+ rats. To define the histological defects in the lenses of kfrs4 rats, sections of the eyes of these rats were prepared. Although the lenses of kfrs4/kfrs4 homozygotes showed severely disorganised fibres and vacuolation, the lenses of kfrs4/+ heterozygotes appeared normal and similar to those of wild-type rats. We used positional cloning to identify the kfrs4 mutation. The mutation was mapped to an approximately 9.7-Mb region on chromosome 7, which contains the Mip gene. This gene is responsible for a dominant form of cataract in humans and mice. Sequence analysis of the mutant-derived Mip gene identified a 5-bp insertion. This insertion is predicted to inactivate the MIP protein, as it produces a frameshift that results in the synthesis of 6 novel amino acid residues and a truncated protein that lacks 136 amino acids in the C-terminal region, and no MIP immunoreactivity was observed in the lens fibre cells of kfrs4/kfrs4 homozygous rats using an antibody that recognises the C- and N-terminus of MIP. In addition, the kfrs4/+ heterozygotes showed reduced expression of Mip mRNA and MIP protein and the kfrs4/kfrs4 homozygotes showed no expression in the lens. These results indicate that the kfrs4 mutation conveys a loss-of-function, which leads to functional inactivation though the degradation of Mip mRNA by an mRNA decay mechanism. Therefore, the kfrs4 rat represents the first characterised rat model with a recessive mutation in the Mip gene.

A case of hypothalamic panhypopituitarism with empty sella syndrome: case report and review of the literature.

Empty sella syndrome is frequently accompanied with pituitary dysfunction. Most of the patients with empty sella syndrome demonstrate primary pituitary or stalk dysfunction and few cases show hypothalamic dysfunction. A 71-year-old man manifested appetite loss, nausea and vomiting with hyponatremia and adrenal insufficiency. Hormonal evaluation and cranial MRI revealed a panhypopituitarism with empty sella. Intriguingly, while the response of ACTH to CRH administration was exaggerated, the response to insulin hypoglycemia was blunted. Serum PRL levels were normal. Further, decreased level of fT4, slightly elevated basal levels of TSH, and delayed response of TSH to TRH administration were observed. These findings strongly suggest that the panhypopituitarism is caused by hypothalamic dysfunction. The presence of autoantibodies to pituitary and cerebrum in the patient's serum implies an autoimmune mechanism as a pathogenesis.