Exogenous phosphatidic acid reduces acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice by activating hepatic interleukin-6 signaling through inter-organ crosstalk

We previously demonstrated that endogenous phosphatidic acid (PA) promotes liver regeneration after acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity. Here, we hypothesized that exogenous PA is also beneficial. To test that, we treated mice with a toxic APAP dose at 0 h, followed by PA or vehicle (Veh) post-treatment. We then collected blood and liver at 6, 24, and 52 h. Post-treatment with PA 2 h after APAP protected against liver injury at 6 h, and the combination of PA and

Lemierre Syndrome: A Meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Lemierre syndrome, or postpharyngitis anaerobic sepsis, is an infrequent but life-threatening infection that often involves thrombosis of the internal jugular vein. The role of anticoagulation in addition to antibiotics and surgical treatment remains uncertain. Objectives 1) To perform a meta-analysis on outcomes and treatment of Lemierre syndrome; and 2) to evaluate the effect of anticoagulation in Lemierre syndrome on vessel recanalization and on mortality. Data Synthesis A Pubmed database search was conducted using the keywords Lemierre syndrome. A total of 427 studies were identified and reviewed. Data were extracted on patient demographics, treatment type including use and type of anticoagulation, type of antibiotics, presence and location of vessel thrombosis, presence of cranial neuropathies, recanalization of thrombosed vessels on follow-up imaging, organisms isolated on wound or blood cultures, and mortality. The primary outcome variables examined were the effect of anticoagulation on vessel recanalization and mortality. After the review, 359 studies totaling 394 patients between 1990 and 2017 had partial or complete data that could be analyzed. In total, 50 patients had sufficient data on the effect of anticoagulation on vessel recanalization, and 194 had sufficient data on the effect of anticoagulation on mortality. The odds ratio for anticoagulation and vessel recanalization was 1.6 (95% confidence interval = 0.3 to 9.4; p= 0.6). The odds ratio for anticoagulation and death was 0.6 (95% confidence interval = 0.1 to 2.9; p= 0.5). Conclusion The present meta-analysis did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect on vessel recanalization or mortality for patients treated with anticoagulation versus patients not anticoagulated in the Lemierre syndrome literature.

Lacrimal gland lymphoma: role of radiation therapy

To report the clinical and treatment outcome of patients with lacrimal gland lymphoma [LGL] treated with radiation therapy [RT] at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Institutional review board approved retrospective chart review of eight patients and literature review. The study patients included six males and two females with a mean age of 70 years [range 58-88 years]. The mean follow-up period was 23 months [range 3-74 months]. Four patients had mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [50%] lymphoma and four patients had other non-Hodgkin's lymphoma variants. Four patients had bilateral disease [50%]. Four patients had primary LGL [stages I-IIAE, 50%] and four had LGL as part of systemic lymphoma [stage IVAE, 50%]. The median RT dose was 2987 cGy [range 2880-3015 cGy]. All patients had complete response to RT with symptomatic relief. Minimal dry eye was seen in all patients. There were no late effects such as corneal ulcer, radiation retinopathy, maculopathy, papillopathy, or secondary neovascular glaucoma. RT alone is an extremely effective treatment in the curative management of localized LGL and provides durable, local control of secondary LGL

Pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase from Entamoeba histolytica recognized by a monoclonal antibody.

A mouse monoclonal antibody, Eh208C2-2 MAb, raised against whole cell antigens of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites of the pathogenic strain HM-1: IMSS and polyclonal antisera (PAb) against membrane antigens of E. histolytica trophozoites of strain HTH-56: MUTM were screened against a cDNA library of the pathogenic strain, SFL3. The monoconal antibody detected many phage plaques expressing an E. histolytica protein. The DNA sequence encoding the protein was approximately 55% identical, over 1,100bp, to Trichomonas vaginalis pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) and pyruvate: flavodoxin oxidoreductase from Klebsiella pneumoniae, Anabaena variabilis and Enterobacter agglomerans. Two of seven clones detected by mouse polyclonal antisera also encoded this protein. Two others encoded Entamoeba Hsp70, another encoded Entamoeba alkyl-hydroperoxide reductase and the remaining two were unidentified sequences. Entamoeba PFOR is an abundant, antigenic protein which may be a useful target for the development of protective host immune responses against invasive amebiasis.