Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in murine malaria parasite, Plasmodium chabaudi AS, infected NC mice.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is an important tropical disease and has remained a serious health problem in many countries. One of the critical complications of malarial infection is renal injury, such as acute renal failure and chronic glomerulopathy. Few animal models of nephropathy related to malarial infection have been reported. Therefore, we developed and investigated a novel malarial nephropathy model in mice infected by murine malaria parasites. METHODS: NC mice and C57BL/6J mice were infected with Ttwo different murine malaria parasites, Plasmodium (P.) chabaudi AS and P. yoelii 17X. After the infection, renal pathology and blood and urinary biochemistry were analyzed. RESULTS: NC mice infected by the murine malaria parasite P. chabaudi AS, but not P. yoelii 17X, developed mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with endothelial damage, and decreased serum albumin concentration and increased proteinuria. These pathological changes were accompanied by deposition of immunoglobulin G and complement component 3, mainly in the mesangium until day 4 and in the mesangium and glomerular capillaries from day 8. On day 21, renal pathology developed to focal segmental sclerosis according to light microscopy. In C57BL/6J mice, renal injuries were not observed from either parasite infection. CONCLUSION: The clinical and pathological features of P. chabaudi AS infection in NC mice might be similar to quartan malarial nephropathy resulting from human malaria parasite P. malariae infection. The NC mouse model might therefore be useful in analyzing the underlying mechanisms and developing therapeutic approaches to malaria-related nephropathy.

[Severe rhabdomyolysis and intracranial hemorrhage associated with synthetic cannabinoid: a case report].

A 28-year-old male presented with language and behavior disorders a few days prior to examination. Magnetic resonance images and cerebral angiography revealed an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the right frontal lobe. The size of the nidus was 2.0 cm, and it was fed by the middle cerebral arteries and drained by the superior sagittal and transverse sinuses. The AVM was completely surgically resected without any complications. Ten months after the surgery, the patient presented with behavior disorders again and general convulsion. Computed tomography showed a small intracranial hemorrhage at the right frontal lobe, where the AVM was located. Blood examination revealed severe rhabdomyolysis (CK:536,620U/L)and acute kidney injury (Cr:5.20mg/dL). After admission, it became clear that the patient had used synthetic cannabinoid (SC). SC refers to a variety of herbal/chemical mixtures, which mimic the effects of marijuana. Little data is available on the psychopathological and physical effects of SC. This is the first report of severe rhabdomyolysis and intracranial hemorrhage associated with SC use in Japan.