Intra- and extra-cellular flux distributions of TCA and glyoxalate cycle and vancomycin production of Amycolatopsis orieantalis grown in different glycerol concentration.

The relationship between tricarboxylic acid (TCA) and glyoxalate cycle and the effect of their metabolites levels on the vancomycin production of Amycolatopsis orientalis were investigated in different concentration of glycerol (2.5-20 g/l). Intracellular glycerol levels increased with respect to increases in glycerol concentrations of the growth medium. Extracellular glycerol levels decreased slowly up to 24 h while uptake rates were increased during 36-48 h for 10 and 15 g/l and during 36-60 h at 20 g/l of glycerol. Intracellular citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate, fumarate levels increased up to 10 g/l glycerol concentration. However, intracellular succinate and malate levels were increased up to 15 g/l glycerol. Extracellular citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate, succinate and malate levels increased with respect to increases in glycerol concentration. The highest alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity was determined at 15 g/l glycerol. Isocitrate lyase activity showed a positive correlation with the increases in glycerol concentration of the growth medium. Vancomycin production increased with the increases in glycerol concentration from 5 to 10 g/l. These results showed that A. orientalis grown in glycerol containing medium used glyoxalate shunt actively instead of TCA cycle which supports precursors of many amino acid which are effective on the antibiotic production.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between anteroposterior and lateral penetrating craniocerebral gunshot wounds.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare, using a retrospective clinical study, the clinical outcomes of penetrating craniocerebral gunshot wounds (PCGW) with respect to the trajectory of penetration in the axial plane. METHODS: In total, 22 patients with PCGW caused by conflict, suicide attempt, or accidental firing were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: anteroposterior and lateral. All patients underwent surgical treatment following emergency intervention. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients, 16 had anteroposterior and 6 had lateral penetrating injury. Four patients with anteroposterior and five patients with lateral injury died despite surgical treatment. Mortality rate was 25% in the anteroposterior and 83% in the lateral injury group. CONCLUSION: We found that lateral PCGW is the most devastating type of missile injury to the head.

Isolated intracranial Rosai-Dorfman disease mimicking meningioma.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML), also known as Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), is an idiopathic histiocytic proliferation affecting lymph nodes. It is typically characterized by painless cervical lymphadenopathy, fever and weight loss. Although extranodal involvement has been reported in diverse sites, intracranial presentation, particularly in the absence of nodal disease is uncommon. To the best of our knowledge, 48 patients with intracranial masses have been reported previously. A 31-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with a 4-month history of progressive headache. His medical history was unremarkable except for occasional fever. There were not any neurological deficit and weight loss. No lymphadenopathy (particularly bilateral cervical) and extranodal involvement in diverse sites were revealed by physical and radiological examinations. Routine hematological and biochemical studies were normal except for mild leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing that revealed an enhancing mass in the left temporal lobe. Preoperative diagnosis was meningioma. The patient underwent a left frontotemporal craniotomy with complete resection of the mass. Histopathology was compatible with RDD. Extranodal RDD is rarely found intracranially. Prognosis is benign especially in the absence of nodal disease. It is clinically and radiologically difficult to distinguish from meningioma, and histological examination is essential for a definitive diagnosis.

Intracellular superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and membrane lipid peroxide levels in Fusarium acuminatum upon environmental changes in a defined medium.

The variations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and lipid peroxide (LPO) levels in Fusarium acuminatum, an aerobic filamentous fungus, were investigated depending on the carbon and nitrogen sources during the incubation period. Fungus was cultivated in growing medium containing either maltose or saccharose in 5-25 g/L concentration range as a carbon source and either glycine or peptone in 5-35 g/L concentration range as a nitrogen source at 28 degrees C and 100 rpm. The observed highest SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities were 31.2+/-0.655, 62.5+/-5.23, and 1.52+/-0.0122 IU/mg in the presence of 20 g/L maltose and 73.96+/-1.48, 74.46+/-2.94, 3.48+/-0.083 IU/mg in the 15 g/L glycine-containing medium at 16 days, respectively. At the same time, the minimum LPO level was observed at 20 g/L maltose and 15 g/L glycine compared with the other carbon and nitrogen sources. The results showed a negative correlation between antioxidant enzyme activities and membrane LPO levels in F. acuminatum cells.

Primary multiple cerebral hydatid cysts: case report with CT and MRI study.

We present a case of a patient with multiple cerebral hydatidosis. We could not find any other origin of hydatidosis. In the light of the radiodiagnostic and biochemical findings, we assessed this case as a primary cerebral hydatidosis. The cysts were delivered completely. Two months after operation, the patient's neurological examination and control MRI were normal.

Intrasellar gangliocytoma resembling pituitary adenoma.

Cushing's disease resulting from intrasellar gangliocytomas is very rare and only three cases have been reported to date. All of the cases were female. We present a fourth case of Cushing's disease resulting from intrasellar gangliocytoma. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans showed a pituitary macrotumor with suprasellar extension. A greenish-gray colored homogenous tumor was subtotally removed by a transcranial approach. Histological diagnosis was gangliocytoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of a tumor causing Cushing's disease in a man in the absence of a pituitary adenoma component.

Hydatid disease of the spine.

Spinal hydatid cyst was diagnosed in four patients, aged between 21 and 35 years, three male and one female between 1983 and 1993. In three patients, the cysts were epidural and in one intra-vertebral. All patients presented with symptoms of spinal cord compression. Surgical treatment was performed in all of the patients. One patient who relapsed showed evidence of cure after a second operation, and was given mebendazole (Vermox). Histological examination was performed in all of the patients.

Artificial reflex arc: a potential solution for chronic aspiration. III: Stimulation of implanted cervical skin as a functional graft triggering glottic closure in the canine.

Stroke often impairs the ability of the vocal cords to close during deglutition, resulting in aspiration. The current study is a further advance on the application of the concept of an artificial reflex arc during swallowing. The second and third cervical branches were bilaterally isolated in four dogs and baseline sensory nerve traffic was detected via tripolar perineural electrodes. Cervical skin pressure-induced suprathreshold signals were used to trigger vocal cord contraction via bipolar electrodes passed around the recurrent laryngeal nerves. Skin subtended by the cervical nerves was implanted over the lateral aspect of the pyriform sinuses for 1 week. After reexploration, glottic closure was verified on videotape as surges in sensory nerve traffic were induced by mechanical stimulation of the pharynx. The possibility of artifactual stimulation was ruled out by lack of electrode motion during pharyngeal stimulation, spontaneous firing in the sensory nerve during light anesthesia, and sensory frequency differing from ambient 60-Hz noise. This article introduces the concept of autogenous functional graft as a basis for afferent information in electronic systems for dynamic rehabilitation of swallowing disorders.

Hepatic cirrhosis and hepatic ultrastructure in pregnancy.

Hepatic cirrhosis rarely occurs with pregnancy. Since no report has been made on hepatic cirrhosis and hepatic ultrastructure in pregnancy, we present a case of cirrhosis and pregnancy in which a study of hepatic ultrastructure was carried out.