Altered Function of Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescents with Peer Verbal Abuse History

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies showing the association of exposure to peer (PeVA) and parental verbal abuse in childhood with structural alterations in the young adult brain suggest functional changes in adolescence. In this functional MRI study, we investigated the effects of exposure to PeVA, during elementary and middle school periods, on brain response to emotional words, in high school students. METHODS: An emotional Stroop task consisting of swear, negative, positive, and neutral words was performed during functional MRI scan for 23 subjects who were divided into low- and high exposure groups to PeVA. RESULTS: High-PeVA group had a higher depression score, greater left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) activity, and higher left VLPFC-left hippocampus connectivity in swear word conditions. The VLPFC activity and left VLPFC-left hippocampus connectivity was negatively related to the severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that exposure to PeVA, during childhood, is an aversive stimulus associated with meaningful functional change in emotional regulation network, showing hypersensitivity to swear words, at middle adolescence.

Successful Treatment of Recurrent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia and Endocarditis by Linezolid, Valve Replacement, and Excisional Surgery of Limb in a Patient with Complicated Arteriovenous Malformation

Vancomycin treatment failure in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia patients has increased over the past decade. We experienced a case of repeated MRSA bacteremia resulting in left-side endocarditis in 38-year-old male with a huge complicated arteriovenous malformation in the left thigh. After vancomycin treatment failure, the patient was successfully treated with the administration of linezolid, leg amputation, and mitral valve replacement.