Boettcherisca peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): A flesh fly species of medical and forensic importance

@#Boettcherisca peregrine, as a fly with the necrophagous habits found on human corpses and a vector of disease or parasitic, myiasis-producing agent, is a significant flesh fly species in forensic entomology and medical context. This study reviewed the various aspects of this fly species, including morphology, bionomics, molecular analysis, medical and forensic entomology involvement, such as morphological characteristics of larva, puparia and adult, developmental rate of larvae, the effects of heavy metal (such as Cd and Cu) on the growth and developmentin of larvae, and the impact of some specific stimulis on the labellar chemosensory hair of B. peregrina. Species identification, gene and functions, myiasis and forensic case of this species were also outlined. Therefore, the paper has an important implication for improving the role of B. peregrina in medicine and forensic science.

Long non-coding RNA CHCHD4P4 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inhibits cell proliferation in calcium oxalate-induced kidney damage

Kidney stone disease is a major cause of chronic renal insufficiency. The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in calcium oxalate-induced kidney damage is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the roles of lncRNAs in glyoxylate-exposed and healthy mouse kidneys using microarray technology and bioinformatics analyses. A total 376 mouse lncRNAs were differentially expressed between the two groups. Using BLAST, 15 lncRNA homologs, including AU015836 and CHCHD4P4, were identified in mice and humans. The AU015836 expression in mice exposed to glyoxylate and the CHCHD4P4 expression in human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells exposed to calcium oxalate monohydrate were analyzed, and both lncRNAs were found to be upregulated in response to calcium oxalate. To further evaluate the effects of CHCHD4P4 on the cell behavior, we constructed stable CHCHD4P4-overexpressing and CHCHD4P4-knockdown HK-2 cells. The results showed that CHCHD4P4 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in kidney damage and fibrosis caused by calcium oxalate crystallization and deposition. The silencing of CHCHD4P4 reduced the kidney damage and fibrosis and may thus be a potential molecular target for the treatment of kidney stones.

Efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of antidepressant treatments for patients with post-stroke depression: a network meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of antidepressants in treating post-stroke depression (PSD) by performing a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the current literature. Eligible studies were retrieved from online databases, and relevant data were extracted. The primary outcome was efficacy as measured by the mean change in overall depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes included discontinued treatment for any reason and specifically due to adverse events. Fourteen trials were eligible, which included 949 participants and 9 antidepressant treatments. Few significant differences were found for all outcomes. For the primary outcome, doxepin, paroxetine, and nortriptyline were significantly more effective than a placebo [standardized mean differences: −1.93 (95%CI=−3.56 to −0.29), −1.39 (95%CI=−2.59 to −0.21), and −1.25 (95%CI=−2.46 to −0.04), respectively]. Insufficient evidence exists to select a preferred antidepressant for treating patients with post-stroke depression, and our study provides little evidence that paroxetine may be the potential choice when starting treatment for PSD. Future studies with paroxetine and larger sample sizes, multiple medical centers, and sufficient intervention durations is needed for improving the current evidence.

Astragalus polysaccharides improve cardiomyopathy in STZ-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous (SOD2+/-) knockout mice

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. In the present study, we determined whether the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on diabetic cardiomyopathy was associated with its impact on oxidative stress. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous superoxide dismutase (SOD2+/-) knockout mice were administered APS. The hemodynamics, cardiac ultrastructure, and the apoptosis, necrosis and proliferation of cardiomyocytes were assessed to evaluate the effect of APS on diabetic and oxidative cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, H2O2 formation, oxidative stress/damage, and SOD activity in cardiomyocytes were evaluated to determine the effects of APS on cardiac oxidative stress. APS therapy improved hemodynamics and myocardial ultrastructure with reduced apoptosis/necrosis, and enhanced proliferation in cardiomyocytes from both STZ-induced diabetic mice and heterozygous SOD2+/- knockout mice. In addition, APS therapy reduced H2O2 formation and oxidative stress/damage, and enhanced SOD activity in both groups of mice. Our findings suggest that APS had benefits in diabetic cardiomyopathy, which may be partly associated with its impact on cardiac oxidative stress.

Overexpression of myeloid differentiation protein 88 in mice induces mild cardiac dysfunction, but no deficit in heart morphology

Cardiac remodeling involves changes in heart shape, size, structure, and function after injury to the myocardium. The proinflammatory adaptor protein myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88) contributes to cardiac remodeling. To investigate whether excessive MyD88 levels initiate spontaneous cardiac remodeling at the whole-organism level, we generated a transgenic MyD88 mouse model with a cardiac-specific promoter. MyD88 mice (male, 20-30 g, n=∼80) were born at the expected Mendelian ratio and demonstrated similar morphology of the heart and cardiomyocytes with that of wild-type controls. Although heart weight was unaffected, cardiac contractility of MyD88 hearts was mildly reduced, as shown by echocardiographic examination, compared with wild-type controls. Moreover, the cardiac dysfunction phenotype was associated with elevation of ANF and BNP expression. Collectively, our data provide novel evidence of the critical role of balanced MyD88 signaling in maintaining physiological function in the adult heart.

The consensus sequence of FAMLF alternative splice variants is overexpressed in undifferentiated hematopoietic cells

The familial acute myeloid leukemia related factor gene (FAMLF) was previously identified from a familial AML subtractive cDNA library and shown to undergo alternative splicing. This study used real-time quantitative PCR to investigate the expression of the FAMLF alternative-splicing transcript consensus sequence (FAMLF-CS) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 119 patients with de novo acute leukemia (AL) and 104 healthy controls, as well as in CD34+ cells from 12 AL patients and 10 healthy donors. A 429-bp fragment from a novel splicing variant of FAMLF was obtained, and a 363-bp consensus sequence was targeted to quantify total FAMLF expression. Kruskal-Wallis, Nemenyi, Spearman's correlation, and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to analyze the data. FAMLF-CS expression in PBMCs from AL patients and CD34+ cells from AL patients and controls was significantly higher than in control PBMCs (P<0.0001). Moreover, FAMLF-CS expression in PBMCs from the AML group was positively correlated with red blood cell count (rs =0.317, P=0.006), hemoglobin levels (rs =0.210, P=0.049), and percentage of peripheral blood blasts (rs =0.256, P=0.027), but inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels in the control group (rs =–0.391, P<0.0001). AML patients with high CD34+ expression showed significantly higher FAMLF-CS expression than those with low CD34+ expression (P=0.041). Our results showed that FAMLF is highly expressed in both normal and malignant immature hematopoietic cells, but that expression is lower in normal mature PBMCs.

Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection for upper gastrointestinal multiple submucosal tumors originating from the muscular propria layer: A feasibility study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In recent years, submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) was applied more and more often for single gastrointestinal (GI) submucosal tumor (SMT). However, little is known about this technique for treating multiple SMTs in GI tract. In the present study, we investigated the feasibility and outcome of STER for upper GI multiple SMTs originating from the muscularis propria (MP) layer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A feasibility study was carried out including a consecutive cohort of 23 patients with multiple SMTs from MP layer in esophagus, cardia, and upper corpus who were treated by STER from June 2011 to June 2014. Clinicopathological, demographic, and endoscopic data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: All of the 49 SMTs were resected completely by STER technique. Furthermore, only one tunnel was built for multiple SMTs of each patient in this study. En bloc resection was achieved in all 49 tumors. The median size of all the resected tumors was 1.5 cm (range 0.8–3.5 cm). The pathological results showed that all the tumors were leiomyoma, and the margins of the resected specimens were negative. The median procedure time was 40 min (range: 20–75 min). Gas‑related complications were of the main complications, the rates of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and pneumoperitoneum were 13.0%, 8.7% and 4.3%. Another common complication was thoracic effusion that occurred in 2 cases (8.7%), among which only 1 case (4.3%) with low‑grade fever got the drainage. Delayed bleeding, esophageal fistula or hematocele, and infection in tunnel were not detected after the operation there were no treatment‑related deaths. The median hospital stay was 4 days (range, 2–9 days). No residual or recurrent lesion was found during the follow‑up period (median 18, ranging 3–36 months). CONCLUSION: Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection is a safe and efficient technique for treating multiple esophageal SMTs originating from MP layer, which can avoid patients suffering repeated resections.

Outcome analysis of benign vocal cord tumors treated by laryngeal endoscopy under low temperature-controlled radiofrequency.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of benign vocal cord tumors treated using a laryngeal endoscopy under low temperature‑controlled radiofrequency and to elucidate the application of a dynamic laryngoendoscopy in the operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 85 patients with benign vocal cord tumors were treated by laryngeal endoscopy under low temperature‑controlled radiofrequency from September 2011 to October 2013. A XION electronic dynamic laryngoendoscopy (Germany) was used to observe curative effects 3 months after operation. Wave images were recorded with larynx‑wave recording software to analyze tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 85 patients, 81 showed smooth surface of operation wounds without any residue. The mucosal wave was also basically normal. Sound was generally recovered after 1–3 months. Three cases presented improved pronunciation function after the operation, whereas 1 patient with residual tumor at the front of vocal chords underwent another operation after 6 months.CONCLUSION: Low temperature‑controlled radiofrequency exhibited many advantages, including minimal trauma, minimal bleeding, high safety, and few complications. Moreover, treatment of benign vocal cord tumors with a laryngeal endoscopy presented satisfactory outcomes. Therefore, this technology has broad application prospects.

Is endoscopic sphincterotomy plus large-balloon dilation a better option than endoscopic large-balloon dilation alone in removal of large bile duct stones? A retrospective comparison study.

Background: Several comparison studies have demonstrated that endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) combined with large-balloon dilation (LBD) may be a better option than EST alone to manage large bile duct stones. However, limited data were available to compare this combination method with LBD alone in removal of large bile duct stones. Objective: To compare EST plus LBD and LBD alone for the management of large bile duct stones, and analyze the outcomes of each method. Patients and Methods: Sixty-one patients were included in the EST plus LBD group, and 48 patients were included in the LBD alone group retrospectively. The therapeutic success, clinical characteristics, procedure-related parameters and adverse events were compared. Results: Compared with EST plus LBD, LBD alone was more frequently performed in patients with potential bleeding diathesis or anatomical changes (P = 0.021). The procedure time from successful cannulating to complete stone removal was shorter in the LBD alone group significantly (21.5 vs. 17.3 min, P = 0.041). The EST plus LBD group and the LBD alone group had similar outcomes in terms of overall complete stone removal (90.2% vs. 91.7%, P = 1.000) and complete stone removal without the need for mechanical lithotripsy (78.7% vs. 83.3%, P = 0.542). Massive bleeding occurred in one patient of the EST plus LBD group, and successfully coagulated. Postoperative pancreatitis did not differ significantly between the EST plus LBD group and the LBD alone group (4.9% vs. 6.3%; P = 1.000). Conclusion: Endoscopic sphincterotomy combined with LBD offers no significant advantage over LBD alone for the removal of large bile duct stones. LBD can simplify the procedure compared with EST plus LBD in terms of shorten the procedure time.

Nontyphoidal Salmonella urinary tract infection in a case of hyperparathyroidism and nephrocalcinosis / Infección de las vías urinaria por Salmonella no tifoidea en un caso de hiperparatiroidismo y nefrocalcinosis

Nontyphoidal Salmonella infections often present with self-limited gastroenteritis. Extraintestinal focal infections are uncommon but have high mortality and morbidity. Urinary tract infection caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella is usually associated with structural abnormalities of the urinary tract. Nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis are the major risk factors. Although primary hyperparathyroidism has been reported to increase the risk of nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis, little is known about the association between hyperparathyroidism and Salmonella urinary tract infection. We report the case of a 37-year old man who had a history of primary hyperparathyroidism and bilateral nephrocalcinosis and who developed urinary tract infection. Salmonella Group D was isolated from his urine specimen. Salmonella should be considered as a possible causality organism in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and nephrocalcinosis who develop urinary tract infection. These patients need to be aware of the potential risks associated with salmonellosis.

Las infecciones por Salmonella no tifoidea se presentan a menudo con gastroenteritis auto-limitada. Las infecciones extra-intestinales focales son poco frecuentes, pero tienen una alta mortalidad y morbilidad. La infección de las vías urinarias causada por la Salmonella no tifoidea se asocia generalmente a anomalías estructurales de las vías urinarias. La nefrocalcinosis y la nefrolitiasis son los principales factores de riesgo. Aunque se ha reportado que el hiperparatiroidismo primario aumenta el riesgo de la nefrocalcinosis y la nefrolitiasis, poco se sabe sobre la asociación entre el hiperparatiroidismo y la infección de las vías urinarias por Salmonella. Damos a conocer aquí el caso de un hombre de 37 años con una historia de hiperparatiroidismo primario y nefrocalcinosis bilateral, que desarrolló una infección de las vías urinarias. La Salmonella del grupo D fue aislada de su muestra de orina. La Salmonella se debe considerar como un posible organismo de causalidad en pacientes con hiperparatiroidismo primario y nefrocalcinosis que desarrollan infección del tracto urinario. Estos pacientes necesitan tomar conciencia de los riesgos potenciales asociados con la salmonellosis.

Periodic drop thumb, hypokalemia and adrenal adenoma

To report an unusual involvement of focal distal muscles but not proximal muscles in a patient with hypokalemic periodic paralysis [hypoPP]. A middle-aged woman presented with episodic weakness of the bilateral thumbs lasting for 2 years. Hypokalemia and a left adrenal mass were subsequently found. Her weakness subsided after surgical removal of the adrenal mass, which was pathologically proven to be an adrenal adenoma. The findings for this patient should alert physicians to consider focal distal motor paresis due to hypoPP. A preexisting occult trauma may predispose to paralysis at an atypical location in secondary hypoPP

Prediction of total cholesterol: high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio in young adults.

Abnormal cholesterol fraction is an essential risk factor for atherosclerosis of large cerebral arteries in young Asians. In order to reduce the medical cost and social resource for cholesterol electrophoresis, especially in undeveloped and developing Asian countries, we evaluated the validity of Nanji's GUT score for predicting TC: HDLC ratio in this population. Results showed that GUT score only predicted 71% of them. We also tested the predictive power of CUT index, and predicting rate was 81%. Therefore, Nanji's GUT score is not an ideal surrogate for cholesterol electrophoresis. We recommend CUT index to screen for high-risk subjects till a new method can satisfy the economic pattern in Asian countries.

The lipoprotein profile of young adults with cerebral atherosclerosis.

In order to elucidate the relationship between the lipoprotein profile and large cerebral artery atherosclerosis in the young adults living in developing Asian countries, the serum lipoprotein profile and the luminal diameter of large cerebral arteries (internal carotid, middle/anterior cerebral and vertebrobasilar arteries) were measured and correlated in 67 young Taiwanese with non-embolic cerebral infarct (CI). Totally 23 (21.9%) patients had atherosclerotic stenosis. A significant elevation of the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, total lipids, beta-lipoprotein (beta-LP) and pre-beta-LP level was found in atherosclerotic CI patients. But multiple regression analysis showed only the serum beta-LP (p = 0.0041) and TC (p = 0.0324) level to be the independent risk factors for atherosclerosis. Secondary dyslipoproteinemia is the main cause for hyperlipoproteinemia in our atherosclerotic patients. Therefore, an abnormal lipoprotein profile is linked to large cerebral artery atherosclerosis in young Asians regardless of ethnic group. A tailored program is recommended to modify the life style and dietary habit, as well as to gain access to secondary control for large cerebral atherosclerosis prevention in developing countries.

The effect of immunotherapy on bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic children.

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine were evaluated in 47 asthmatic children before and after allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) by using the forced oscillation method. Eighty-seven percent (13/16) of BHR-negative patients had good clinical response after 1-year immunotherapy while there were only 45% (14/31) in the BHR-positive asthmatic children (p < 0.02). In the BHR-positive group, the relationship between clinical response and the change of nonspecific bronchial sensitivity was further analyzed. In those of good clinical response (IT responder), the tolerance dose of methacholine was significantly increased from 0.78 +/- 0.71 to 4.11 +/- 4.65 mg/ml (p < 0.05), and bronchial sensitivity increased from 1.14 +/- 1.42 U to 7.55 +/- 9.55 U (p < 0.02). In those with no clinical improvement (IT non-responder), there were no significant changes in either methacholine tolerance dose or bronchial sensitivity. With respect to other parameters, such as Grs, PD35, and SGrs, the differences between before and after immunotherapy were similar in both the IT responders and IT non-responders. These results suggest that asthmatic children with different bronchial sensitivity had different responses to immunotherapy and the clinical improvement after immunotherapy is significantly related to the improvement of bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Detection of IgM antibodies from cerebrospinal fluid and sera of dengue fever patients.

During the dengue epidemic from late 1987 to 1989, 6 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera for IgM detection were collected from 4 cases virologically confirmed dengue patients who had neural symptoms. Another 20 serum specimens, which had been diagnosed as dengue infection either virologically or serologically, were sent to the laboratory from Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital. All these specimens were also taken to detect the existence of IgM. The results showed that IgM could be detected from 14 out of 20 serum specimens. One of the positive specimens showed IgM can last up to 252 days after onset of illness. In addition, IgM was detected from both CSF and sera of all four dengue patients with neural symptoms. The IgM titer in CSF (less than or equal to 1:20) was always lower than that in serum (greater than or equal to 1:80). Two cases with sequentially collected specimens showed the fading of IgM titer in CSF. As a matter of fact, it became undetectable about a month after onset of illness, which is apparently different from the situation in serum.