Phosphatidylcholine-Plasmalogen-Oleic Acid Reduces BACE1 Expression in Human SH-SY5Y Cells.

Plasmalogens are a family of glycerophospholipids containing one vinyl-ether bond at the sn-1 position in the glycerol backbone, and play important roles in cellular homeostasis including neural transmission. Therefore, reductions of plasmalogens have been associated with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). To evaluate the potential protective effects of plasmalogens against the pathology of AD, protein expression levels of key factors in amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolic processes were examined using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Here, phosphatidylcholine-plasmalogen-oleic acid (PC-PLS-18) was shown to reduce protein expression levels of ß-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), clusterin, and Tau, factors involved in the amyloid ß-associated pathogenesis of AD. Thus, PC-PLS-18 may have preventive effects against AD by delaying the onset risk for a certain period.

Phosphatidylcholine-Plasmalogen-Oleic Acid Has Protective Effects against Arachidonic Acid-Induced Cytotoxicity.

Plasmalogens are a group of glycerophospholipids containing a vinyl-ether bond at the sn-1 position in the glycerol backbone. Cellular membrane plasmalogens are considered to have important roles in homeostasis as endogenous antioxidants, differentiation, and intracellular signal transduction pathways including neural transmission. Therefore, reduced levels of plasmalogens have been suggested to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Interestingly, although arachidonic acid is considered to be involved in learning and memory, it could be liberated and excessively activate neuronal activity to the excitotoxic levels seen in Alzheimer's disease patients. Here, we examined the protective effects of several kinds of plasmalogens against cellular toxicity caused by arachidonic acid in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. As a result, only phosphatidylcholine-plasmalogen-oleic acid (PC-PLS-18) showed protective effects against arachidonic acid-induced cytotoxicity based on the results of lactate dehydrogenase release and ATP depletion assays, as well as cellular morphological changes in SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that PC-PLS-18 protects against arachidonic acid-induced cytotoxicity, possibly via improving the stability of the cellular membrane in SH-SY5Y cells.

Abdominal pregnancy implanted on surface of pedunculated subserosal uterine leiomyoma: A case report.

Abdominal pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy. Various sites of implantation in abdominal pregnancy have been reported. Uterine serosa is an extremely rare implantation site, with only a few cases reported to date. No case of abdominal pregnancy implanted on the surface of a subserosal uterine leiomyoma has been reported. We herein report the case of a 40-year-old primigravida woman who was diagnosed with abdominal pregnancy implanted on the surface of a pedunculated subserosal uterine leiomyoma. The uterine leiomyoma with gestational tissue was resected laparoscopically and the postoperative course was uneventful. It is necessary to remember the possibility of unexpected implantation sites and that laparoscopic surgery may be more difficult in such cases than that for fallopian tube pregnancy.

Ovarian abscess caused by Helicobacter cinaedi in a patient with endometriosis.

Helicobacter cinaedi is a rarely encountered pathogen that easily induces bacteremia. Various foci of H. cinaedi infection have been reported; however, no case of adnexal abscess caused by H. cinaedi has been reported in the English literature. We herein report a case of ovarian abscess caused by H. cinaedi. A 38-year-old nulligravid Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with an adnexal abscess. Clinical findings included fever, leukocytosis, and elevated C-reactive protein. Laparoscopic right partial oophorectomy with abdominal lavage was performed. H. cinaedi was isolated from cultures of blood and ovarian abscess fluid after surgery. Intravenous ampicillin/sulbactam was administered for 2 weeks, followed by oral amoxicillin for an additional 2 weeks. The postoperative course was uneventful and clinical findings improved. There was no evidence of relapse. H. cinaedi can cause ovarian abscess and is likely an under-recognized pathogen.

Resolution of dopamine agonist-resistant hyperprolactinemia by hysterectomy: a case report.

Prolactin-producing uterine leiomyomas are very rare. Although hyperprolactinemia rapidly improves after removal of such leiomyomas, no preoperative diagnostic test has been established for prolactin-producing uterine leiomyomas. A 45-year-old Japanese woman, gravida 3 para 3, was referred to our hospital for further examination of hyperprolactinemia resistant to a dopamine agonist. A pituitary prolactinoma was undetectable by brain magnetic resonance imaging. A bromocriptine loading test revealed an increased serum prolactin concentration after loading. Examination for the detection of an ectopic prolactinoma revealed a 9.0 cm diameter uterine leiomyoma that had measured 6.6 cm in diameter about six months before the first visit to our hospital. The hyperprolactinemia rapidly improved after hysterectomy. A prolactin-producing uterine leiomyoma should be considered as a possible cause of hyperprolactinemia resistant to dopamine agonists. Responsiveness to dopamine agonists; deterioration of hyperprolactinemia may be diagnostic for prolactin-producing uterine leiomyomas, although further research is required.

Steroid Pulse Therapy for De Novo Minimal Change Disease During Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Nephrotic syndrome occurs very rarely, in only about 0.01%-0.02% of all pregnancies, and de novo minimal change disease during pregnancy is especially rare. Nephrotic syndrome and, especially, minimal change disease are highly responsive to steroids, and preterm labor may be avoidable if the maternal condition is improved with steroid therapy. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and proper management are critical to maternal and fetal outcome when severe proteinuria occurs during pregnancy. CASE REPORT A 30-year-old pregnant Japanese woman presented with systemic edema, oliguria, and severe proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia at 25 weeks of gestation, although she was normotensive. The patient had high urinary protein selectivity. Her illness was diagnosed as de novo nephrotic syndrome with high steroid responsiveness rather than pre-eclampsia. She began steroid pulse therapy the day after admission. Complete remission was confirmed after 3 weeks. The patient did not relapse during pregnancy and delivered a healthy male baby at 37 weeks of gestation. A renal biopsy at a relapse after delivery confirmed minimal change disease. CONCLUSIONS In pregnant women with de novo minimal change disease, serious maternal and/or fetal complications may occur if severe proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia are unabated for an extended time. Evaluation of urinary protein selectivity is noninvasive and useful for prediction of steroid responsiveness. Results of urinary protein selectivity can be obtained earlier than results of renal biopsy. Renal biopsy during pregnancy is not always necessary for initiation of steroid therapy. Rapid initiation of steroid pulse therapy may enable quicker achievement of remission and prevent serious perinatal complications.