Neurological Complications Resulting from Non-Oral Occupational Methanol Poisoning.

Methanol poisoning results in neurological complications including visual disturbances, bilateral putaminal hemorrhagic necrosis, parkinsonism, cerebral edema, coma, or seizures. Almost all reported cases of methanol poisoning are caused by oral ingestion of methanol. However, recently there was an outbreak of methanol poisoning via non-oral exposure that resulted in severe neurological complications to a few workers at industrial sites in Korea. We present 3 patients who had severe neurological complications resulting from non-oral occupational methanol poisoning. Even though initial metabolic acidosis and mental changes were improved with hemodialysis, all of the 3 patients presented optic atrophy and ataxia or parkinsonism as neurological complications resulting from methanol poisoning. In order to manage it adequately, as well as to prevent it, physicians should recognize that methanol poisoning by non-oral exposure can cause neurologic complications.

The Correlation Study between Plasma Aß Proteins and Cerebrospinal Fluid Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-ß proteins (Aß). In this study we explored the correlation of plasma Aß40 and Aß42 concentrations with Aß42, total tau (tTau) and phosphorylated tau 181 (pTau181) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in AD and control subjects to further understand the characteristics of plasma Aß proteins levels. METHODS: The consecutive subjects (44 AD and 47 controls) in this study were recruited. The plasma levels of Aß40 and Aß42 were measured using a commercially available sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. And the corresponding CSFs were analyzed in terms of Aß42, tTau and pTau181 concentrations using INNOTEST ELISA kits. Further, the albumin levels were measured both in serum and CSF and albumin ratio was obtained to check the integrity of blood-brain barrier. RESULTS: CSF Aß42 concentrations were significantly decreased while tTau and pTau181 levels were significantly increased in AD subjects. The plasma levels of Aß42 were significantly lower (p=0.007), while the Aß40/Aß42 ratio was significantly higher (p<0.001) in AD patients than in controls. The overall plasma Aß42 levels showed a positive correlation with those of CSF Aß42 (p=0.001), but not with the others in CSF. In subgroup analysis, the CSF Aß42 demonstrated positive correlation with not only plasma Aß42 but also Aß40 levels in controls. However, no significant relationship was noted between plasma and CSF Aß proteins in AD group. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma Aß42 and Aß40 concentrations were shown to have a close relationship with CSF Aß42 levels in controls, but not in AD subjects. Our results suggest that the correlation between plasma Aß40 and CSF Aß42 levels is perturbed in AD.

Capsaicin induces apoptosis of cisplatin-resistant stomach cancer cells by causing degradation of cisplatin-inducible Aurora-A protein.

Various chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin have been used to treat gastric cancer. However, a substantial number of patients acquire resistance to this treatment, and this is followed by rapid relapse of the disease. We investigated the anticancer effect of capsaicin, the active ingredient in red pepper, in the cisplatin-resistant Korean human gastric cancer cell line SNU-668. We found that treatment of SNU-668 cells with capsaicin in combination with cisplatin induced higher apoptotic cell death than that of treatment with either capsaicin or cisplatin alone. Furthermore, we discovered that Aurora-A protein increased in response to cisplatin and was degraded upon combined treatment with capsaicin with cisplatin, suggesting that the Aurora-A-mediated signaling pathway is responsible for the resistance to cisplatin in cisplatin-resistant gastric cancer cell lines. Combined treatment with capsaicin and cisplatin induced G1/S arrest, whereas cisplatin alone caused accumulation in G2/M. Combined treatment with capsaicin and cisplatin inhibited IκB phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that Aurora-A directly or indirectly regulates NF-κB translocation. We propose that combined administration of cisplatin and capsaicin may provide a strategy for overcoming cisplatin resistance.

Factors determining outcomes of aortic valve surgery in patients with aortic regurgitation due to Behçet's disease: impact of preoperative echocardiographic features.

BACKGROUND: Paravalvular leakage after open heart surgery is notoriously common in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) due to Behçet's disease. The aim of this study was to test whether initial echocardiographic findings are useful to predict recurrent AR. METHODS: Lesion severity on preoperative echocardiography was scored for redundant aortic valve cusp (0-2 points), aortic pseudoaneurysm (0-2 points), and dissection of the adjacent interventricular septum (0-2 points) in 22 patients with severe AR due to Behçet's disease (13 men; mean age, 42.4 ± 11.5 years), which was confirmed by histologic examination after open heart surgery. RESULTS: Recurrent AR developed in 13 patients at a median of 12.6 months (range, 2.4-70.3 months) after the first operation, and 10, four, and one patient underwent second, third, and fourth surgery, respectively, to control recurrent AR; three patients died. Those patients with recurrent AR had a significantly higher incidence of repeat surgery or death (84.6% [11 of 13] vs 0%, P = .015). Multivariate analysis showed that perioperative immunotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.002; 95% confidence interval, 0.001-0.1761; P = .006) and total echocardiographic score (hazard ratio, 2.843; 95% confidence interval, 1.350-5.991; P = .006) were independent factors associated with recurrent AR. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year AR-free survival rates were 73 ± 10%, 46 ± 12%, and 39 ± 12%. The optimal cutoff value for total echocardiographic score was 3.0, and the 5-year AR-free survival rates were significantly lower in patients with scores ≥ 3 (20 ± 13% vs 50 ± 19%, P = .022). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study confirms that initial echocardiographic features can provide useful prognostic information in patients with AR due to Behçet's disease.

Fetal death of dogs after the ingestion of a soil conditioner.

Castor beans (Ricinus communis) contain ricin, which is one of the most toxic substances of plant origin. Ricin toxicosis has been reported in different countries with usually ingestion of castor beans or plants in both animals and humans. However, ricin toxicosis by ingestion of some products containing castor oil cake has rarely been reported. This paper describes outbreaks of dog death by ricin toxicosis after accidental ingestion of the same soil conditioner. Fifteen dogs showed toxic symptoms such as severe vomiting, abdominal pain and hemorrhagic diarrhea, and then thirteen dogs died in a few days. The soil conditioner dogs ingested consisted of 10% castor oil cake containing ricin. On the basis of clinical signs, laboratory and pathologic findings, a diagnosis of ricin toxicosis was established in the present case. In comparison with previous cases by ingestion of castor beans, the dogs' morbidity was very high in the present case. The ingestion of castor oil cake may be more dangerous to life than the castor beans. It is because mortality by ingestion of castor beans depends on the degree of mastication of the beans, whereas ricin in oil cake is easily absorbed from the stomach and the intestines. As ricin is a heat-labile toxin, products containing ricin or oil cake should be properly treated with heat and have written caution sentences about toxicosis, and be kept out of reach of domestic animals and children.

Fibroma with osseous metaplasia of external auditory canal in a dog.

The present report describes a case of fibroma with osseous metaplasia of the external auditory canal in a 7-year-old male Pomeranian dog. Upon otoscopic examination, the right external auditory canal was almost completely obstructed by a well-circumscribed mass adjacent to the eardrum. The mass was surgically excised. Grossly, it was well demarcated, firm when cut, pink, and measured 0.3 cm x 0.2 cm x 0.7 cm. The cut surface of the mass exhibited a central portion of homogeneously white osseous components surrounded by brown to pink soft tissue. Microscopically, the resected external auditory canal mass mainly consisted of fibroblastic spindle cells showing differentiation to metaplastic osteoblast-like cells. Metaplastic osteoblasts and osteoclasts lining the osteoid bony trabeculae were also observed. Bony trabeculae and spicules were separated by abundant collagen and neoplastic fibroblastic cells. Fibromatous components, irregular formation of woven bone spicules, and the presence of osteoblasts lining bony trabeculae led to a diagnosis of fibroma with osseous metaplasia.

Potent neutralization of vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) of Helicobacter pylori by immunoglobulins against the soluble recombinant VacA.

BACKGROUND: The recombinant vacuolating cytotoxin (rVacA) of Helicobacter pylori that retains native conformational epitopes was evaluated as a vaccine antigen for anti-H. pylori treatment. METHODS: s1m1 vacA gene fraction encoding the mature VacA protein was expressed as a soluble protein in E. coli at low temperature. The efficacy of anti-rVacA antibody against VacA or H. pylori was assessed in vitro using AGS cells and in vivo using a murine model. RESULTS: The rabbit antisera against rVacA completely neutralized the vacuolating activity and partially inhibited the cell death induced by VacA in AGS cells. Oral immunization of C57BL/6 mice with rVacA plus CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) as an ajuvant stimulated specific anti-VacA antibody and mucosal immune responses which correlated with decreased systemic immune responses and gastric urease activities (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The rVacA antigen possessing conformational epitopes may have potential as a vaccine component and may be useful in serological and histopathological analysis.

Ebstein's anomaly with an atrial septal defect in a jindo dog.

A 7-month-old, female jindo dog was presented with severe ascites, cyanosis, and exercise intolerance. Diagnostic imaging studies revealed Ebstein's anomaly with an atrial septal defect. The dog was managed medically with inotropics, diuretics, and vasodilators.

Renal and ureteral fusion in a calf with atresia ani.

A 10-day old male calf exhibited multiple congenital anomalies of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, including renal fusion (horseshoe kidney), ureteral fusion, rectovesicular fistula, and atresia ani. In horseshoe kidney, the organs were fused together at the caudal poles. The left kidney and cranial half of right kidney were shrunken, while the remaining lobules were hypertrophic. Ureters were fused cranially and bifurcated caudally. The terminal rectum was narrowed and connected with the bladder. The anus was imperforate. The cause of these anomalies could not be determined.