Functional-food constituents in the fruiting bodies of Stropharia rugosoannulata.

Nine compounds (1-9) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Stropharia rugosoannulata. Compounds 1-5, 8, and 9 suppressed the formation of osteoclast. Compounds 2 and 5 showed anti-fungal activity, and their MIC were 250 µM and 500 µM respectively. Compounds 2-6 showed inhibitory effects on thapsigargin toxicity.

Inferior Vena Cava Filter-Induced Thrombosis: Filter Insertion Prior to Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis and Successful Double-Filter Retrieval after Prolonged Indwelling Time.

Extended inferior vena cava (IVC) filter implantation time increases the risk of complications in patients. Here we present the case of a 72-year-old woman with IVC filter-induced thrombosis who underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis with prophylactic IVC filter placement. Two IVC filters were successfully retrieved 70 and 1858 days post placement. The decision to insert an IVC filter should be carefully considered with appropriate indications and all filters should be removed after the risk of deep vein thrombosis has resolved.

Influence of Acute Mental Arithmetic Stress on Taste and Pungency.

Mental stress is a known risk factor for disease. This study investigated changes in sensations of taste and pungency before and after mental stress. Thirty healthy male university students rested for 20 min, performed mental arithmetic tasks for 10 min, and then underwent measurement of changes in their taste and ability to discern pungency. Taste was measured with the "Taste Disk®," and pungency was measured by a filter-paper disc method using capsaicin solution. Subjects were not told the order of the reagent solutions used. To quantify pain sensation, a weak current applied to the central inner forearm skin by a Pain Vision® quantitative pain sensation analyzer was gradually increased. The degree of stress was measured by portable electrocardiography (ECG). During mental stress, the cognitive threshold of salty taste, sweet taste, and bitterness was significantly decreased, whereas the sensations of pungency and forearm skin pain were increased and showed significant correlation. Based on sympathetic nerve activity analyzed with the ECG, the subjects were divided into the mental stress group and non-mental stress group. The mental stress group experienced an increase in the pungency threshold and sensation of forearm skin pain with significantly high correlations obtained, whereas no correlation was found between these factors in the non-mental stress group. Acute mental stress increased the sensitivity to taste but decreased the sensitivity to the sensation of pungency on the tongue and pain on the skin. Sympathetic activity activated by stress may affect taste and the sensation of pungency.

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage in intracranial hypotension syndrome: usefulness of indirect findings in radionuclide cisternography for detection and treatment monitoring.

PURPOSE: To evaluate indirect findings of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage on radionuclide cisternography and their changes after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the hospital's institutional review board and informed consent was obtained before each examination. A total of 67 patients who were clinically suspected of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) syndrome underwent radionuclide cisternography, and 27 patients who had direct findings of CSF leakage on radionuclide cisternography were selected for this evaluation. They were 16 males and 11 females, aged between 26 and 58 years. Sequential images of radionuclide cisternography were acquired at 1, 3, 5, and 24 hours after injection. We assessed the presence or absence of 4 indirect findings; early visualization of bladder activity, no visualization of activity over the brain convexities, rapid disappearance of spinal activity, and abnormal visualization of the root sleeves. Changes of the direct and indirect findings after treatment were also evaluated in 14 patients who underwent epidural blood patch treatment. RESULTS: Early visualization of bladder activity was found in all 27 patients. Seven of 27 (25.9%) patients showed no activity over the brain convexities. Rapid disappearance of spinal activity and abnormal root sleeve visualization were present in 2 (7.4%) and 5 (18.5%) patients, respectively. After epidural blood patch, both direct CSF leakage findings and indirect findings of early visualization of bladder activity had disappeared or improved in 12 of 14 patients (85.7%). The other indirect findings also disappeared after treatment in all cases. CONCLUSION: Indirect findings of radionuclide cisternography, especially early visualization of bladder activity, may be useful in the diagnosis and posttreatment follow-up of CSF leakage.