Association between severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and poor motor neurodevelopmental outcome

During the final (third) trimester outside of the womb, the retina develops significantly and is vulnerable to problems. Similar to how the cerebral cortex does, the cerebellum also grows quickly during this time and is susceptible to upsetting environmental influences. The only factors that show promise for lowering the incidence and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) severity among high-risk infants are prematurity prevention, preeclampsia control, and prudent use of oxygen therapy and ventilation. The third trimester is when the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and retina develop. These areas are vulnerable to environmental influences if their development is interrupted. Throughout childhood and adolescence, neurodevelopmental defects have been linked to impaired cortical development and smaller brain volumes. Reduced cerebellar volumes have been linked to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, lower motor performance, impaired executive functioning, and poorer cognitive outcomes. The complete avascular retina, as well as the peripheral retina, should be treated during retinal ablation with laser photocoagulation (using a transpupillary diode, 11 argon, and three FD-YAG) or cryoablation as failing to do so promotes disease progression and results in unfavorable anatomical and refractive outcomes.

p300-mediated acetylation of human transcriptional coactivator PC4 is inhibited by phosphorylation

The human positive coactivator 4 (PC4) acts as a general coactivator for activator-dependent transcription, the activity of which is regulated negatively by phosphorylation. We report here that PC4 can be acetylated specifically by another coactivator, p300. Interestingly, phosphorylation of PC4 by casein kinase II inhibits the p300-mediated acetylation. Mass spectral analysis revealed that there are at least two lysine residues acetylated in PC4, as a result of which its DNA binding activity is stimulated.

Mandibular talon cusp: report of two rare cases

Two rare cases of talon cusps in the mandibular incisors were observed during a prevalence study on talon cusp. One of them was seen on a mandibular primary lateral incisor. The other one was observed on the mandibular left permanent central incisor, and the right mandibular permanent central incisor was congenitally missing. There were no associated developmental syndromes with either of the cases reported. Of the 4770 children examined, nine cases had talon cusp with only two rare cases of mandibular talon cusp, one in the primary dentition and the other in the permanent dentition.

Familial occurrence of mesiodentes with unusual findings: case reports

Supernumerary teeth are common and can occur throughout the oral cavity. Molariform supernumerary teeth in the maxillary central incisor area have rarely been reported. This article reports the presence of mesiodentes in two siblings, one of whom exhibited an unusual molariform mesiodens. The clinical and radiographic appearance of the anomalies and treatment modalities are discussed.

Fusarium solani infection in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia--a case report

Multiple necrotizing skin lesions due to Fusarium solani in an elderly man with acute myelogenous leukemia is described.

Acylated C-21 steroidal bisdesmosidic glycosides from Caraluma umbellata

From the whole plant of Caraluma umbellata, three new C-21 steroidal glycosides, named as carumbellosides III-V, were isolated and their structures elucidated by extensive spectroscopic experiments, devoid of any derivatisation, as caralumagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-digitalopyranoside-20-O-be ta- D-glucopyranoside, caralumagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosy(1-->4)- beta-D-digitalopyranoside-20-O-(2-O- benzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and caralumagenin 3-O-[6-O-benzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)]-beta-D- digitalopyranoside-20-O-(2-O-benzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. The determination of the absolute configuration of the aglycone as (20 R), the conformations of the sugars and the unambiguous assignments of their NMR spectroscopic signals were achieved by a combination of 2D-NMR techniques. The isolates were devoid of significant cytotoxity in the UIC human cancer cell panel.

Myocardial glycoproteins in diabetes: type VI collagen is a major PAS-reactive extracellular matrix protein

An investigation of myocardial glycoproteins was undertaken to elucidate the molecules responsible for the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reactivity of the increased extracellular matrix of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Perfusion with radiolabeled mannose indicated an enhanced formation of matrix components in the diabetic compared to the normal rat heart. Electrophoretic separation of radiolabeled extracts demonstrated the presence of glycoproteins with Mr values of 205, 142 and 90 kDa which could be separated by Bio-Gel A-5 m filtration. Fractionation of non-perfused hearts resulted in the isolation of only the 205 and 142 kDa components, which were shown by amino acid analyses and collagenase digestion to belong to the collagen family of proteins and by immunoblotting to represent type VI collagen. The carbohydrate content of these rat myocardial type VI collagen subunits, determined from monosaccharide analyses, was 11 and 12%, respectively, and N-glycanase digestion of the 142 kDa chain resulted in a decrease in size of approximately 14 kDa, indicating the presence of asparagine-linked units. Examination of normal and diabetic rat heart sections indicated that the latter contained abundant PAS-positive strands and nodules which corresponded to the distribution of anti type VI collagen reactivity. Moreover, immunoblots showed higher levels of Type VI collagen in diabetic than in normal heart extracts. Type VI collagen therefore appears to represent a major glycoprotein of myocardial extracellular matrix and to be implicated in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Sensory nerve conduction velocities amongst healthy soldiers

Sensory nerve conduction velocities (SNCV) have been studied amongst 50 healthy soldiers between age group 21-40 years on 4 mixed peripheral nerves and one purely sensory nerve. Motor nerve conduction velocities and sensory latency rates were studied under similar standardized conditions and at the same sitting. Sensory nerve conduction velocities are faster when compared to motor nerve conduction velocities. Median nerve shows the highest values and sural nerve the slowest values of SNCV. Latency rates are fastest in median nerve and slowest in sural nerve.

Appearing and disappearing CT scan abnormalities and seizures

A group of patients presenting with seizures (focal or generalised) and abnormal CT scans who, on follow up, showed complete resolution of the CT scan changes, without any treatment other than anticonvulsants, are described.