Devastating renal outcome caused by skin infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A case report.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging pathogen that infects the skin and soft tissue. However, there are few reports of renal complications from MRSA involving immunoglobulin (Ig)A-dominated rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (GN). Favorable renal outcomes from IgA GN are achieved by administering timely therapy. In the present study, we describe the case of a healthy young woman suffering from a cutaneous MRSA infection that initially presented with gross hematuria. Six months after eradicating the infection, severe impairment of renal function was noted because of intractable nausea and vomiting. Renal pathology revealed advanced IgA nephropathy with fibrocellular crescent formation. An aggressive treatment plan using immunosuppressants was not adopted because of her irreversible renal pathology, and she was therefore administered maintenance hemodialysis.This instructive case stresses the importance of being aware of the signs of IgA nephropathy post-MRSA infection, such as cutaneous lesions that are mostly painless and accompanied by hematuria and mild proteinuria. If the kidney cannot be salvaged, it will undergo irreversible damage with devastating consequences.

Dysfunctional autophagy in Alzheimer's disease: pathogenic roles and therapeutic implications.

Neuronal autophagy is essential for neuronal survival and the maintenance of neuronal homeostasis. Increasing evidence has implicated autophagic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mechanisms underlying autophagic failure in AD involve several steps, from autophagosome formation to degradation. The effect of modulating autophagy is context-dependent. Stimulation of autophagy is not always beneficial. During the implementation of therapies that modulate autophagy, the nature of the autophagic defect, the timing of intervention, and the optimal level and duration of modulation should be fully considered.

[Effects of pyrethroids on dopamine and its metabolites in nigrostriatum of male rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of pyrethroids on nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways in male rats and its mechanism. METHODS: Different doses of permethrin (PM, 200, 400 mg/kg) and deltamethrin (DM, 6.25, 12.50 mg/kg) in corn oil were administered to rats by gavage once daily for ten days, then the contents of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the substantial nigra and striatum were analyzed by HPLC-fluorescence detection. RESULTS: The contents of DA in striatum in four administered groups were decreased to a certain extent. DA in 6.25 mg/kg DM group [(6.14 +/- 0.57) microg/g wet weight] was lower than that in control group [(9.46 +/- 1.95) microg/g wet weight], P < 0.05. The turnover rate of DA in 200, 400 mg/kg PM and 6.25, 12.5 mg/kg DM groups increased by 133.33%, 166.67%, 166.67%, 266.67% respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), however there was no significant difference in DA and DOPAC in substantial nigra between control and administered groups. CONCLUSION: DM may inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase and decrease the level of DA in striatum, and both pyrethroid pesticides may increase the metabolism of dopamine in striatum.