Hypereosinophilia with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and intracerebral hemorrhage: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Hypereosinophilia (HE) is defined as a peripheral blood eosinophil count of > 1.5 × 109/L and may be associated with tissue damage. The clinical presentations of HE vary; however, myocardial fibrosis and thrombosis can threaten the lives of patients with sustained eosinophilia. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in the setting of eosinophil-related diseases has seldom been reported. Here, we review the literature on HE with CVST to increase knowledge and encourage early diagnosis. CASE SUMMARY: A previously healthy 41-year-old man was admitted to hospital with diarrhea and abdominal pain. He was treated with antibiotics for suspected acute colitis. Three days later, he experienced headache and vomiting. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed thrombosis of the left jugular vein to the left transverse sinus vein. Platelet (PLT) count decreased to 60 × 1012/L, and absolute eosinophil count (AEC) increased to 2.41 × 109/L. He was treated with low-molecular-weight heparin. PLT count progressively decreased to 14 × 109/L, and we terminated anticoagulation and performed PLT transfusion. Six days after admission, he complained of a worsening headache. Brain CT revealed right temporal lobe and left centrum semiovale intracerebral hemorrhage, and AEC increased to 7.65 × 109/L. We used prednisolone for HE. The level of consciousness decreased, so emergency hematoma removal and decompressive craniectomy for right cerebral hemorrhage were performed. The patient was alert 2 d after surgery. He was treated with anticoagulation again 2 wk after surgery. Corticosteroids were gradually tapered without any symptomatic recurrence or abnormal laboratory findings. CONCLUSION: HE can induce CVST, and we need to focus on eosinophil counts in patients with CVST.

Efficacy and safety of Wuling capsule, a single herbal formula, in Chinese subjects with insomnia: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wuling Capsule is a single herbal formula from mycelia of precious Xylaria nigripes (Kl.) Sacc and its pharmacological function have a tranquilizing effect on the central nervous system. The aim of the study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Wuling capsule in treatment of insomnia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The participants received either placebo (n=92) or Wuling capsule (n=94) for 4 weeks and a follow-up period for 2 weeks. RESULTS: Compared between pre-treatment and post-treatment, the global Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores in both Wuling capsule group and placebo group improved significantly (P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between Wuling capsule group and placebo group (P>0.05). Scores of clinical global impressions scale (CGI-I) at each week in Wuling capsule group was similar to those in placebo group (P>0.05). Compared between pre-treatment and post-treatment, scores of the four components of world health organization on quality of life brief scale (WHOQOL-BREF) in both Wuling capsule group and placebo group improved significantly (P<0.01). However, there were no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The rate of adverse events was 10.10% in Wuling group, and 6.73% in placebo group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Wuling capsule can improve insomnia when compared with pre-treatment for 4 weeks and be a well tolerated by all the patients at the 6 weeks of study period. However, there are no significant in the results of the variables tested when compared with placebo control. Further additional rigorous randomized clinical trials are still required.

[Changes of protein kinase A expressions in central amygdaloid nuclei during the process of chronic morphine-induced conditioned place aversion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore neurobiological mechanisms of the withdrawal-induced aversion. The changes of protein kinase A were measured in central amygdaloid nucleic (CeA) of conditioned place aversion (CPA) model rats. METHODS: (1) All 72 male SD rats were divided into three groups, model group (MN group), and control group (MS group and SN group). MN group was injected with morphine,6.5 days, 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (ip), twice per day, naloxone injection, 0.3 mg/kg, ip, along with conditioned place aversion training, to develop the CPA model. The MS group was administrated equivalent volume of morphine and saline. Also the SN group was injected with equivalent volume of saline and naloxone. (2) During the process of morphine-induced CPA, the expression of protein kinase A was assayed with immunohistochemistry in the CeA. RESULTS: In the MN group, protein kinase A expressions in the CeA occurred adaptive changes at different points of CPA (P < 0.05). Protein kinase A expressions after establishment(Day7,134.43 +/- 4.481, P < 0.05), and after extinction (Day 13, 141.01 +/- 3.360, P < 0.01), and after reinstatement (Day 14,137.18 +/- 40.330, P < 0.05) were also lower than those before the establishment of the CPA (Day 5, 124.48 +/- 6.722). However, PKA expressions were not significantly different both in MS group (P > 0.05)and SN group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: (1) Protein kinase A expression, in turn regulating the aversion expression, in the CeA probably is a key pathway contributing to the development of CPA. (2) The neuroadaptation mediated by protein kinase A may be one of the important molecular underpinnings of CPA.

Preferential enhancement of working memory in mice lacking adenosine A(2A) receptors.

There is evidence that adenosine acting at A(2A) receptors (A(2A)R) can influence striatal plasticity and cognitive functions. We examined spatial working memory in wild-type (WT) and A(2A) receptor knock-out (KO) mice using two assessments: the eight arm radial maze and a repeated trial Morris water maze (MWM) paradigm. Compared to WT littermates, A(2A)R KO mice displayed enhanced working memory as evidenced by a decrease in escape latency in trial 2 compared to trial 1 in the repeated trial MWM, and by a reduction in working memory errors in the radial arm maze. Both MWM and radial maze results indicated that this enhancement of working memory in A(2A)R KO mice was selective for this specific short-term memory. The decrease in escape latency in MWM was detected with an inter-trial interval of 15 s but not with intervals of 10 or 60 min. In the radial maze, spatial reference memory and memory retention after prolonged training (15 days but not 6 days) were not affected by the A(2A)R KO. These results demonstrate preferential improvement in spatial working memory by genetic inactivation of the A(2A)R and support a modulatory role of the A(2A)R in spatial working memory in mice.

[Correction of spectral interferences with mutual interference coefficient matrix for determination of impurities in Bi-based superconductor powder by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry].

In the present paper a method was proposed for the determination of Fe, Cr, Ni, Si, Al and Ba in Bi-based superconductor powder (BSCCO, Bi(2-x), Pb(x)Sr2Ca2Cu3O8) by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES). The operation parameters for ICP-AES were optimized, and the influences of acid kind and concentration were examined. The interferences of matrix elements Bi, Sr, Pb, Ca and Cu in Bi-based superconductor powder on the determination of impurities were studied systematically. The interference coefficients of Bi, Sr, Pb, Ca and Cu were obtained for each target elements respectively, and the mutual interferences matrix was constituted with the above coefficients. The equated concentrations of background from matrix elements were calculated by interferences coefficients matrix and concentrations of Bi, Sr, Pb, Ca and Cu using Gaussian elimination with full pivoting method. Then the concentrations of impurities were obtained by calculation of differences. By means of the mutual interference coefficients matrix, the artificial sample was determined for the target elements with the recovery coefficient of 99.5%-100.5%. The superconductor powers were analysed with satisfactory results also, and the results were identical with the reference values from ICP-MS.