Recurrent neonatal sepsis and progressive white matter injury in a premature newborn culture-positive for group B Streptococcus: A case report.

RATIONALE: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains a principal pathogen causing neonatal sepsis and meningitis, particularly in premature infants with relatively insufficient immunity. Recurrence may occur uncommonly, largely associated with subclinical mucosal persistence or repetitive exposure to exogenous sources. White matter injury (WMI) including cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) has been associated with intrauterine infection/inflammation, and neonatal infection as a more significant predictor including postnatal sepsis and recurrent infection, even without microbial neuroinvasion. Furthermore, clinical and experimental evidence of WMI by some bacteria other than GBS without central nervous system invasion has been reported. However, there is little evidence of WMI associated with neonatal GBS sepsis in the absence of meningitis in the literature. PATIENT CONCERNS: A newborn at 30+4 weeks' gestation with low birthweight presented with 2 episodes (with a 13-day interval with no antibiotic therapy) of neonatal sepsis culture-proven for GBS with early-onset presentation after clinical chorioamnionitis via vertical GBS transmission and the associated conditions including prematurity-related neonatal immunodeficiency and persistent mucosal GBS carriage after the first antibiotic treatment. The perinatal GBS infection was complicated by progressive WMI presenting with ventriculomegaly and cystic PVL without a definite evidence of meningitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and documented cerebral hypoxia or hypoperfusion conditions including septic shock. DIAGNOSES: Recurrent group B streptococcal sepsis and cystic PVL with ventriculomegaly. INTERVENTIONS: Two episodes of GBS sepsis were treated with 15-day parenteral antibiotic therapy, respectively. OUTCOMES: Resolution of the recurrent GBS sepsis without further relapses, however, complicated by WMI and subsequent about 6 months delay in motor development at 12 months' corrected age. LESSONS: This case suggests WMI associated with GBS bacteremia without central nervous system entry by viable GBS and also shows that in premature infants, intrauterine GBS infection with no interventions may lead to extensive and persistent GBS colonization, early-onset and recurrent GBS disease, and WMI. Postnatal as well as intrauterine infection/inflammation controls with maternal prophylaxis may be pivotal for prevention and limiting the magnitude of neurologic injury.

Mechanism of the natural product moracin-O derived MO-460 and its targeting protein hnRNPA2B1 on HIF-1α inhibition.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mediates tumor cell adaptation to hypoxic conditions and is a potentially important anticancer therapeutic target. We previously developed a method for synthesizing a benzofuran-based natural product, (R)-(-)-moracin-O, and obtained a novel potent analog, MO-460 that suppresses the accumulation of HIF-1α in Hep3B cells. However, the molecular target and underlying mechanism of action of MO-460 remained unclear. In the current study, we identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1) as a molecular target of MO-460. MO-460 inhibits the initiation of HIF-1α translation by binding to the C-terminal glycine-rich domain of hnRNPA2B1 and inhibiting its subsequent binding to the 3'-untranslated region of HIF-1α mRNA. Moreover, MO-460 suppresses HIF-1α protein synthesis under hypoxic conditions and induces the accumulation of stress granules. The data provided here suggest that hnRNPA2B1 serves as a crucial molecular target in hypoxia-induced tumor survival and thus offer an avenue for the development of novel anticancer therapies.

Advanced Daily Prediction Model for National Suicide Numbers with Social Media Data.

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is a significant public health concern worldwide. Social media data have a potential role in identifying high suicide risk individuals and also in predicting suicide rate at the population level. In this study, we report an advanced daily suicide prediction model using social media data combined with economic/meteorological variables along with observed suicide data lagged by 1 week. METHODS: The social media data were drawn from weblog posts. We examined a total of 10,035 social media keywords for suicide prediction. We made predictions of national suicide numbers 7 days in advance daily for 2 years, based on a daily moving 5-year prediction modeling period. RESULTS: Our model predicted the likely range of daily national suicide numbers with 82.9% accuracy. Among the social media variables, words denoting economic issues and mood status showed high predictive strength. Observed number of suicides one week previously, recent celebrity suicide, and day of week followed by stock index, consumer price index, and sunlight duration 7 days before the target date were notable predictors along with the social media variables. CONCLUSION: These results strengthen the case for social media data to supplement classical social/economic/climatic data in forecasting national suicide events.

Superficial Echogenic Lesions Detected on Neonatal Cranial Sonography: Possible Indicators of Severe Birth Injury.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and importance of superficial echogenic lesions around cranial sutures on neonatal cranial sonography. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and neuroimaging studies of 40 neonates who had superficial echogenic lesions around sutures on neonatal cranial sonography. Magnetic resonance imaging (n = 18) and computed tomography (n = 2) were performed within 2 weeks after sonography. We correlated sonographic findings with computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings and analyzed them. We also evaluated the associated lesions, neurologic signs, and follow-up changes. RESULTS: Sonographically, the superficial echogenic lesions involved both sulci and perisulcal parenchyma in 39 neonates and were located in the frontal and parietal areas around the sagittal suture in 38 neonates. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pattern of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in 9 neonates, birth trauma in 3 neonates, a mixed pattern of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and trauma in 3 neonates, nonspecific single infarctions in 2 neonates, and lack of a defined lesion in 1 neonate. The associated lesions were subdural hemorrhage (n = 12), epidural hematoma (n = 4), germinal matrix hemorrhage (n = 3), intraventricular hemorrhage (n = 2), and periventricular leukomalacia (n = 1). All epidural hematomas were associated with scalp hematoma, and 2 patients had skull fractures. One neonate with epidural hematoma associated with a hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy pattern showed mild spasticity in both ankles until 16 months. CONCLUSIONS: Superficial echogenic lesions detected around cranial sutures on neonatal sonography may be an indicator of more serious intracranial lesions such as more extensive hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and intracranial hematomas, including epidural hematoma.

Dacryocystocele on prenatal ultrasonography: diagnosis and postnatal outcomes.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence of dacryocystoceles detected by prenatal ultrasonography (US) and their postnatal outcomes and to determine the factors associated with the postnatal persistence of dacryocystoceles at birth. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the prenatal US database at our institution for the period between January 2012 and December 2013. The medical records of women who had fetuses diagnosed with dacryocystocel larger than 5 mm were reviewed for maternal age, gestational age (GA) at detection, size and side of the dacryocystoceles, delivery, and postnatal information, such as GA at delivery, delivery mode, and gender of the neonate. RESULTS: A total of 49 singletons were diagnosed with a dacryocystocele on prenatal US, yielding an overall incidence of 0.43%. The incidence of dacryocystoceles was the highest at the GA of 27 weeks and decreased toward term. Of the 49 fetuses including three of undeter mined gender, 25 (54%) were female. The mean GA at first detection was 31.2 weeks. The dacryocystocele was unilateral in 29 cases, with a mean maximum diameter of 7 mm. Spontaneous resolution at birth was documented in 35 out of 46 neonates (76%), including six with prenatal resolution. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that GA at delivery was a significant predictor of the postnatal persistence of dacryocystoceles (P=0.045). CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of prenatal dacryocystoceles was 0.43%; the incidence was higher in the early third trimester and decreased thereafter. Prenatal dacryocystoceles resolved in 76% of the patients at birth, and the GA at delivery was a significant predictor of postnatal persistence.

Pregnancy-associated pulmonary embolism during the peripartum period: An 8-year experience at a single center.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence, timing of onset, risk factors, and mortality rate of pregnancy-associated pulmonary embolism (PAPE). METHODS: We analyzed PAPE cases that occurred between January 2005 and December 2012 at Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center. Those cases that were not confirmed by computed tomography scan or were confirmed as amniotic fuid embolisms were excluded. We analyzed various risk factors such as previous surgery, mode of delivery, maternal age, and obesity in PAPE. RESULTS: There were 57,092 deliveries over 8 years. Of them, 13 cases (0.023%) were diagnosed with PAPE. All cases occurred in the postpartum period after cesarean delivery. There were no cases of PAPE after vaginal deliveries. Of the total cases, 10 cases (76.9%) were diagnosed in the early postpartum period within 48 hours. Eight cases (61.5%) had a history of previous surgery. There were 3 cases (23.1%) of multiple pregnancy and 3 cases (23.1%) of preterm delivery. No cases had a history of venous thromboembolism. Among 13 cases, 10 cases improved with only anticoagulation, 2 cases received surgical thrombectomy, and one case was maternal death. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that the incidence of PAPE was very low (0.023%) and occurred mainly in the postpartum period after cesarean section. However, its maternal mortality rate was significantly high (7.7%). Therefore, we suggest that immediate diagnosis and prompt treatment should be prioritized for improvement of PAPE patients' survival rate.

Oligomycin A enhances apoptotic effect of TRAIL through CHOP-mediated death receptor 5 expression.

Development of resistance to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in tumor cells is one of the important problems in cancer treatment. Despite the previous report demonstrating that oligomycin suppressed TNF-induced apoptosis, in our screening of small molecules enhancing cancer cell death to TRAIL, oligomycin A (OMA) was found to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) was found to directly bind to death receptor 5 (DR5) promoter through endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress) signaling and sensitize the cells to TRAIL. Among ER-stress associated proteins, OMA triggered the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) signaling pathway, leading to X-binding protein 1 (XBP1) splicing, CHOP expression and DR5 upregulation. In contrast, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) of CHOP reduced the number of apoptotic cells in response to the co-treatment of TRAIL and OMA. Collectively, our data suggest that OMA enhances apoptotic death of cervical cancer cells to TRAIL through upregulation of CHOP-mediated DR5 expression following ER-stress.

STK295900, a dual inhibitor of topoisomerase 1 and 2, induces G(2) arrest in the absence of DNA damage.

STK295900, a small synthetic molecule belonging to a class of symmetric bibenzimidazoles, exhibits antiproliferative activity against various human cancer cell lines from different origins. Examining the effect of STK295900 in HeLa cells indicates that it induces G(2) phase arrest without invoking DNA damage. Further analysis shows that STK295900 inhibits DNA relaxation that is mediated by topoisomerase 1 (Top 1) and topoisomerase 2 (Top 2) in vitro. In addition, STK295900 also exhibits protective effect against DNA damage induced by camptothecin. However, STK295900 does not affect etoposide-induced DNA damage. Moreover, STK295900 preferentially exerts cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines while camptothecin, etoposide, and Hoechst 33342 affected both cancer and normal cells. Therefore, STK295900 has a potential to be developed as an anticancer chemotherapeutic agent.

Uterus didelphys with blind hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis (Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome) suspected on the presence of hydrocolpos on prenatal sonography.

We report the case of a female neonate with ipsilateral renal agenesis and uterus didelphys with blind hemivagina, also known as Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich (HWW) syndrome. Prenatal sonography revealed the absence of the left kidney and a retrovesical cystic lesion suspected as hydrometrocolpos. Postnatal evaluation confirmed that the cystic lesion was a hydrocolpos associated with double uterus and blind hemivagina (HWW syndrome). HWW syndrome can be suspected prenatally if a retrovesical cystic lesion is detected in a female fetus with unilateral absence of kidney.

Regulation of CEP131 gene expression by SP1.

Centrosomal proteins play important roles in cell cycle. Among them, the centrosomal protein of 131kDa (CEP131) has been reported as a critical factor for cilia formation which is related with development, signaling, and various diseases, the malfunction of cilia leading to cancer. Specificity protein 1 (SP1), known as a centrosome regulator, is an essential transcription factor regulating the genes involved in multiple cellular processes such as cell cycle, apoptosis, and DNA damages. In this study, we explored the crucial role of SP1 in the regulation of CEP131 gene transcription. A deletion analysis of the CEP131 promoter region revealed dominant promoter elements within the sequence between -400bp and -200bp, which contained consensus binding sites for SP1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) assay further confirmed the direct binding of SP1 to the CEP131 promoter. On the other hand, CEP131 transcription could be inhibited by mithramycin (a GC-rich region inhibitor), but exogenous expression of SP1 could increase CEP131 expression as evidenced by a reporter gene assay. In addition, mutation of several SP1 binding sites revealed four SP1 binding sites at -244/-225, -258/-239, -304/-283 and -323/-304 that strongly affect CEP131 expression. Hence, it is suggested that SP1 is a pivotal transcription factor for the regulation of CEP131 expression, consequently leading the control of centrosome functions.

Osteoporosis regulation by salubrinal through eIF2α mediated differentiation of osteoclast and osteoblast.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) was shown to induce osteoclast differentiation by increasing the expression of c-Fos, NFATc1 and TRAP. Salubrinal treatment to bone marrow macrophage (BMM) cells, however, significantly blocked NFATc1 expression and osteoclast differentiation by RANKL. Overexpression of NFATc1 further confirmed that NFATc1 is a key factor affected by salubrinal in osteoclast differentiation by RANKL. Unexpectedly, NFATc1 and c-Fos mRNA expressions were not affected by salubrinal, implicating that NFATc1 expression is regulated at a translational stage. In support of this, salubrinal increased the phosphorylation of a translation factor eIF2α, decreasing the global protein synthesis including NFATc1. In contrast, a phosphorylation mutant plasmid pLenti-eIF2α-S51A restored RANKL-induced NFATc1 expression and osteoclast differentiation even in the presence of salubrinal. Furthermore, knockdown of ATF4 significantly reduced salubrinal-induced osteoblast differentiation as evidenced by decreased calcium accumulation and lowered expressions of the osteoblast differentiation markers, alkaline phosphatase and RANKL in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells. Salubrinal treatment to co-cultured BMM and MC3T3-E1 cells also showed reduction of osteoclast differentiation. Finally, salubrinal efficiently blocked osteoporosis in mice model treated with RANKL as evidenced by elevated bone mineral density (BMD) and other osteoporosis factors. Collectively, our data indicate that salubrinal could affect the differentiation of both osteoblast and osteoclast, and be developed as an excellent anti-osteoporosis drug. In addition, modulation of ATF4 and NFATc1 expressions through eIF2α phosphorylation could be a valuable target for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Congenital portosystemic shunts: prenatal manifestations with postnatal confirmation and follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prenatal sonographic findings that could be helpful for diagnosis of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts and the follow-up results. METHODS: Six neonates with congenital shunts between the portal vein and hepatic vein were enrolled in this study. Prenatal sonography was performed in 5 cases. We categorized the cases according to a previously published classification of intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts and retrospectively reviewed the prenatal and postnatal sonographic examinations to identify findings that might be helpful for diagnosing shunts prenatally. Follow-up sonographic examinations were done until closure of the shunts. Clinical features were also determined. RESULTS: According to the original reports, intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts were diagnosed by prenatal sonography in 2 of 5 cases. In the remaining 3 cases, there were suggestive abnormal findings on retrospective review, including an abnormal intrahepatic tubular structure, a prominent hepatic vein, and congestive heart failure. Postnatal sonography showed type 2 shunts in all 6 cases. In 1 case, there were 2 type 2 lesions between two branches of the left portal vein and the middle and left hepatic veins. On follow-up sonography, 5 of the 6 congenital shunts had spontaneously closed by 11 months of age. One case was treated with coil embolization during the neonatal period. Intrauterine growth restriction was the most commonly clinical feature prenatally. CONCLUSIONS: Findings such as an abnormal tubular structure, a prominent hepatic vein, and congestive heart failure can be important clues for identifying congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts on prenatal sonography. The use of prenatal and postnatal sonography is feasible for detection and evaluation of these shunts.

Serotonergic dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder assessed by the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential.

OBJECTIVE: The loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential (LDAEP) is suggested to be a marker of serotonin system function. This study explored the LDAEP of multiple mood statuses (depression, mania, and euthymia) and its clinical implication in bipolar disorder patients. METHODS: A total of 89 subjects, comprising 35 patients with bipolar disorder, 32 patients with schizophrenia, and 22 healthy controls were evaluated. The bipolar disorder cases comprised 10 depressed patients, 15 patients with mania, and 10 euthymic patients. The N1/P2 peak-to-peak amplitudes were measured at 5 stimulus intensities, and the LDAEP was calculated as the slope of the linear regression. Both cortical and source LDAEP values were calculated. RESULTS: LDAEP varied according to mood statuses, and was significantly stronger in cases of euthymia, depression, and mania. Cortical LDAEP was significantly stronger in patients with bipolar euthymia compared with schizophrenia, stronger in bipolar depression than in schizophrenia, stronger in healthy controls than in schizophrenia patients, and stronger in healthy controls than in patients with bipolar mania. Source LDAEP was significantly stronger in patients with bipolar euthymia, bipolar depression, and bipolar mania compared with schizophrenia, stronger in bipolar euthymia than in bipolar mania. Psychotic features weakened the source LDAEP relative to nonpsychotic features. The severity of the depressive symptom was negatively correlated with source LDAEP. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the serotonin activity of patients with bipolar disorder may vary according to mood status. A longitudinal follow-up study should be pursued using drug-naive subjects.

Patulin induces colorectal cancer cells apoptosis through EGR-1 dependent ATF3 up-regulation.

Patulin is a fungal mycotoxin of Aspergilus and Penicillium that is commonly found in rotting fruits and exerts its potential toxic effect mainly by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, the effect of patulin on cancer cells as well as its intracellular mechanism has been controversial and not clearly defined yet. In this study, patulin was found to induce G1/S accumulation and cell growth arrest accompanied by caspase-3 activation, PARP cleavage and ATF3 expression in human colon cancer cell line HCT116. Ser/Thr phosphorylation of a transcription factor, EGR-1, was increased while its expression did not change upon patulin treatment to the cells. Knockdown of ATF3 and EGR-1 using their respective siRNAs showed EGR-1 dependent ATF3 expression. Moreover, treatment of the cells with antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) revealed that patulin induced ATF3 expression and apoptosis were dependent on ROS generation. ATF3 expression was also increased by patulin in other colorectal cancer cell types, Caco2 and SW620. Collectively, our data present a new anti-cancer molecular mechanism of patulin, suggesting EGR-1 and ATF3 as critical targets for the development of anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. In this regard, patulin could be a candidate for the treatment of colorectal cancers.

Imaging features of bilateral breast abnormalities.

There are various-causes, broad-spectrum, heterogeneous groups with various biologic profiles, and imaging features of bilateral breast abnormalities. As imaging modalities continue to be developed, the ability to detect subtle or tiny abnormalities is improved in the contralateral breast of patients already diagnosed with unilateral breast disease, especially in breast cancer patients when using magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, some diseases involved bilateral breast, simultaneously. The purpose of this review is to describe imaging features of the bilateral breast abnormalities-common diseases and simultaneously involving diseases. In order to provide adequate treatment and to prevent misdiagnosis, a complete understanding of the imaging and clinical features of bilateral breast abnormalities of common diseases as well as those of simultaneously involving diseases is necessary.

Proteasome inhibitor-I enhances tunicamycin-induced chemosensitization of prostate cancer cells through regulation of NF-κB and CHOP expression.

Although endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction by some anticancer drugs can lead to apoptotic death of cancer cells, combination therapy with other chemicals would be much more efficient. It has been reported that proteasome inhibitors could induce cancer cell death through ER-stress. Our study, however, showed a differential mechanism of proteasome inhibitor-I (Pro-I)-induced cell death. Pro-I significantly enhanced apoptotic death of PC3 prostate cancer cells pretreated with tunicamycin (TM) while other signaling inhibitors against p38, mitogen activated kinase (MEK) and phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) did not, as evidenced by cell proliferation and cell cycle analyses. NF-κB inhibition by Pro-I, without direct effect on ER-stress, was found to be responsible for the TM-induced chemosensitization of PC3 cells. Moreover, TM-induced/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP) expression was enhanced by Pro-I without change in GRP78 expression. CHOP knockdown by siRNA also showed a significant decrease in Pro-I chemosensitization. All these data suggest that although TM could induce both NF-κB activation and CHOP expression through ER-stress, both NF-κB inhibition and increased CHOP level by Pro-I are required for enhanced chemosensitization of PC3 prostate cancer cells. Thus, our study might contribute to the identification of anticancer targets against prostate cancer cells.

A case of gastric cancer initially presenting with polydipsia.

Metastatic brain tumors from gastric cancer are extremely rare. A 61-year-old Korean woman, initially presenting with polydipsia and polyuria, was found to have metastatic lesions in the brain by MRI. We performed several diagnostic procedures to determine the origin of the brain metastases. She was revealed to have a soft tissue mass of the right adrenal gland and fungating ulcers in the stomach. Histologic studies of both the adrenal gland mass and gastric tissues revealed malignant tumors composed of anaplastic cells. Based on the electron microscopy study, the malignant tumor of the right adrenal gland was a metastatic lesion from the anaplastic carcinoma of stomach. Therefore, the malignant tumors of the brain were assumed to have originated from the gastric cancer. This case report is presented to make clinicians aware of the possibility that diabetes insipidus (polydipsia) may present as an initial manifestation of brain metastases.

Complications arising in twin pregnancy: findings of prenatal ultrasonography.

Multifetal gestations are high-risk pregnancies involving higher perinatal morbidity and mortality, and are subject to unique complications including twin oligohydramnios-polyhydramnios sequence, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, acardiac twins, conjoined twins, co-twin demise, and heterotopic pregnancies. The purpose of this study is to describe the prenatal ultrasonographic and pathologic findings of these complications.