Outcome of Visual Function after Removal of Tuberculum Sellae Meningioma Presenting with Scotoma at the Lower Visual Field Center.

Tuberculum sellae meningiomas commonly present as bitemporal hemianopia and loss of visual acuity due to optic nerve compression. Two female patients (48 and 58 years old) presented with a small scotoma at the lower visual field center due to tuberculum sellae meningioma (25 and 10 mm, respectively). Despite the fact that their visual field defect was not very large, daily activities, including walking or reading were hindered. By the total removal of the tumors in both patients, the scotoma was cured and daily activities recovered. When patients exhibit visual deficits, especially in the lower center fields, surgical removal should be considered even if the tumors are small and visual deficits are limited because improvement of both vision and daily activities can be achieved.

Preoperative risk assessment for predicting the opening of mastoid air cells in lateral suboccipital craniotomy for microvascular decompression.

OBJECTIVE: Opening of mastoid air cells (MACs), a complication of lateral suboccipital craniotomy for microvascular decompression (MVD), might cause cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and meningitis. Only a few studies have investigated the association of degree of MAC development and actual opening of MACs. The present study focused on preoperative risk assessment for predicting the opening of MACs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 204 consecutive patients who underwent MVD at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2018. We retrospectively collected clinical and neuroimaging data from electronic medical charts and discharge summaries. MACs were classified into four types according to neuroimaging data. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) was used to assess patients with and without CSF leakage into MACs. RESULTS: No CSF leakage was observed into types 1 and 2 MACs, but it was noted in 14 of 46 patients (30 %) with type 3 and 44 of 58 patients (76 %) with type 4 MACs. Opening of MACs during surgery could not be recognized in 33 (57 %). CSF rhinorrhea was noted in 1 of the 58 patients with CSF leakage into MACs and meningitis was not noted. CONCLUSION: Patients with types 3 and 4 MACs have a high risk of CSF leakage. Complete prevention of mild symptoms, such as ear obstruction, is challenging even if opened MACs are sealed, but serious complications, such as CSF rhinorrhea and meningitis, can be avoided. For cases in which preoperative CT reveals a high risk of opening of MACs, preventive closure should be performed.

Synthesis of 3,5,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by glucosyltransferases from Phytolacca americana.

Two glucosyltransferase isozymes from Phytolacca americana, PaGT3 and PaGT2, catalyzed stereo- and regio-selective monoglucosylation of 3,5,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene to yield 3,5,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Glycosylation of trans-resveratrol by plant-cultured cells.

Plant-cultured cells of Catharanthus roseus converted trans-resveratrol into its 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, 4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, 3-O-(6-O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside, and 3-O-(6-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside. The 3-O-(6-O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside and 3-O-(6-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucopyranoside compounds of trans-resveratrol are both new. Incubation of plant-cultured cells of Ipomoea batatas and Strophanthus gratus with trans-resveratrol gave trans-resveratrol 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside and trans-resveratrol 4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside.

Regioselective formation of silybin-23-beta-D-glucoside by glucosylation of silybin with cultured plant cells of Eucalyptus perriniana.

Time course experiment revealed that cultured plant cells of Eucalyptus perriniana regioselectively glucosylated silybin to silybin-23-beta-D-glucoside in up to 70% yield.

Regioselective glucosidation of trans-resveratrol in Escherichia coli expressing glucosyltransferase from Phytolacca americana.

A glucosyltransferase (GT) of Phytolacca americana (PaGT3) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified for the synthesis of two O-ß-glucoside products of trans-resveratrol. The reaction was moderately regioselective with a ratio of 4'-O-ß-glucoside: 3-O-ß-glucoside at 10:3. We used not only the purified enzyme but also the E. coli cells containing the PaGT3 gene for the synthesis of glycoconjugates. E. coli cell cultures also have other advantages, such as a shorter incubation time compared with cultured plant cells, no need for the addition of exogenous glucosyl donor compounds such as UDP-glucose, and almost complete conversion of the aglycone to the glucoside products. Furthermore, a homology model of PaGT3 and mutagenesis studies suggested that His-20 would be a catalytically important residue.