Ophthalmoplegia Due to Scrub Typhus.

Scrub typhus is an acute febrile infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. The illness is usually characterized by fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy, but severe cases progress to pulmonary and neurological involvement. We report a 69-year-old man who developed ptosis and ophthalmoplegia with a focal nodular lesion in the anterior cavernous sinus detected with magnetic resonance imaging. Found to have scrub typhus, the ptosis and ophthalmoplegia resolved after treatment with doxycycline.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Associated Protein 1 (TRAP1) is Released from the Mitochondria Following 6-hydroxydopamine Treatment.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Most cases are sporadic and its etiology is incompletely understood. However, increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in mitochondrial protein profiles during dopaminergic neuronal cell death using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with mass spectrometry. Several protein spots were found to be significantly altered following treatment of MN9D dopaminergic neuronal cells with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Among several identified candidates, TNF receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1), a mitochondrial molecular chaperone, was released from the mitochondria into the cytosol in MN9D cells as well as primary cultures of dopaminergic neurons following 6-OHDA treatment. This event was drug-specific in that such apoptotic inducers as staurosporine and etoposide did not cause translocation of TRAP1 into the cytosol. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate the drug-induced subcellular translocation of TRAP1 during neurodegeneration. Further studies delineating cellular mechanism associated with this phenomenon and its functional consequence may provide better understanding of dopaminergic neurodegeneration that underlies PD pathogenesis.

Pressure monitoring of multilayer inelastic bandaging and the effect of padding in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study of pressure monitoring of multilayer inelastic bandaging and the effect of padding in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients aimed to measure the resting and working sub-bandage pressures in compression therapy for lymphedema patients and to determine whether applying additional padding has an additional effect in volume reduction of the limb. DESIGN: Forty-eight patients with breast cancer who were beginning complex decongestive therapy for lymphedema were included. In 24 patients, padding was added to the forearm. A short-stretch bandage with or without padding was applied to the affected arm. The working pressure was measured while the patients squeezed a rubber device. The forearm limb circumference was measured before and after 2 wks of treatment. RESULTS: The mean (SD) of the resting pressure was 36.3 (2.2) mm Hg without padding and 49.5 (3.2) mm Hg with padding. The mean (SD) of the working pressure was 9.5 (3.7) mm Hg without padding and 24.3 (9.1) mm Hg with padding (P < 0.05). The volume loss after treatment was significantly greater in the group with added padding (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The working pressure during exercising with a force of 50 Pa is approximately 10 mm Hg with a short-stretch bandage applied. Adding a pad increases both the resting and the working pressure and also seems to be effective in increasing volume reduction of the limb.

Statistical 3D Distribution Analysis of Prostate Cancers in Korean Using Digital Processing Techniques.

OBJECTIVES: Several researchers have shown that three dimensional (3D) distribution analysis of prostate cancer is helpful when initiating needle biopsy procedures. Knowledge regarding the distribution of prostate cancer could enhance understanding of the pathophysiology involved and improve detection of these malignancies. We propose utilizing digital processing techniques to analyze prostate cancer distribution in a 3D setting. METHODS: Pre-made radical prostatectomy sample slices were digitized with a resolution of 76 dpi. Slices of each sample were aligned and registered by deformation algorithm and interpolated for analysis of relative distribution statistics. We analyzed 80 samples saved in electronic medical record and compared the detection rate of preoperative needle biopsies and radical prostatectomies using our 3D analysis technique. RESULTS: The statistical 3D distribution of prostate cancer was evaluated using a 36-sector process. Results were represented in the following two ways: distribution of a single patient, and statistical distribution of prostate cancers of multiple patients. The overall concordance rate was 62.7% between the two methods; therefore a technique is needed which can raise this percentage. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest using the normalization method to develop a software tool which permits reconstruction of the 3D distribution of prostate cancer from 2D legacy images and reduces the loss of image quality as well. This application will facilitate detection of prostate cancer by aiding in the determination of the most effective clinical position via partial sampling with decreased patient inconvenience.

Nuclear translocation of anamorsin during drug-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration in culture and in rat brain.

Anamorsin, also called cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1), was recently identified to confer resistance to apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation and to be indispensible for hematopoiesis. Recently, it was demonstrated that anamorsin is also widely distributed in both fetal and adult tissues. In this study, we evaluated the tissue distribution of anamorsin in the central nervous system (CNS) during development. In situ hybridization and immunoblot analyses revealed that anamorsin mRNA and protein were both highly and widely expressed in various regions of the CNS, including the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, cerebellum, medulla, and spinal cord. Based on these findings, we examined its cellular localization during drug-induced neurodegeneration in MN9D dopaminergic cells. Both immunocytochemical localization and immunoblot analyses indicated that cytosolic anamorsin was translocated into the nucleus in a time-dependent manner following treatment with a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing drug, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Treatment of cells with the apoptosis-inducing reagent, staurosporine, did not appear to cause translocation of anamorsin into the nucleus. When cells were treated with the nuclear export inhibitor, Leptomycin B, alone or with 6-OHDA, nuclear anamorsin levels increased, indicating that nuclear influx and efflux of anamorsin are regulated by 6-OHDA treatment. In rat brain injected with 6-OHDA, nuclear translocation of anamorsin was identified in certain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons as well as TH-negative cells. Furthermore, treatment of MN9D cells with hydrogen peroxide or ROS-inducing trace metals caused nuclear translocation of anamorsin. Taken together, our data indicate that nuclear translocation of anamorsin is a ROS-dependent event and may participate in the regulation of transcription of critical molecules during dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

Oxidative modification of peroxiredoxin is associated with drug-induced apoptotic signaling in experimental models of Parkinson disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in protein profiles during the early phase of dopaminergic neuronal death using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in conjunction with mass spectrometry. Several protein spots were identified whose expression was significantly altered following treatment of MN9D dopaminergic neuronal cells with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). In particular, we detected oxidative modification of thioredoxin-dependent peroxidases (peroxiredoxins; PRX) in treated MN9D cells. Oxidative modification of PRX induced by 6-OHDA was blocked in the presence of N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by 6-OHDA induce oxidation of PRX. These findings were confirmed in primary cultures of mesencephalic neurons and in rat brain injected stereotaxically. Overexpression of PRX1 in MN9D cells (MN9D/PRX1) exerted neuroprotective effects against death induced by 6-OHDA through scavenging of ROS. Consequently, generation of both superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide following 6-OHDA treatment was decreased in MN9D/PRX1. Furthermore, overexpression of PRX1 protected cells against 6-OHDA-induced activation of p38 MAPK and subsequent activation of caspase-3. In contrast, 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic death signals were enhanced by RNA interference-targeted reduction of PRX1 in MN9D cells. Taken together, our data suggest that the redox state of PRX may be intimately involved in 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic neuronal cell death and also provide a molecular mechanism by which PRX1 exerts a protective role in experimental models of Parkinson disease.

Mode propagation in optical nanowaveguides with dielectric cores and surrounding metal layers.

The mode spectrum in an optical nanowaveguide consisting of a dielectric-core layer surrounded by two identical metal layers is investigated. A simple model based on mode matching to predict the properties of mode propagation in such optical nanowaveguides is proposed. It is shown that quasi-TM00 and quasi-TM10 modes supported by an optical microstrip line do not have a cutoff frequency, regardless of the size of the metal strips, the thickness of the dielectric slab, and the cross-sectional shape. The transverse size of the TM00 mode supported by a nanosized microstrip line was found to be approximately equal to the transverse dimension of the microstrip line. In closed rectangular and elliptical nanowaveguides, i.e., in which all dielectric surfaces are covered with metal films, the cross-sectional shape of the waveguide should be stretched along one side to produce propagation conditions for the fundamental mode.

Neurofeedback training with virtual reality for inattention and impulsiveness.

In this research, the effectiveness of neurofeedback, along with virtual reality (VR), in reducing the level of inattention and impulsiveness was investigated. Twenty-eight male participants, aged 14-18, with social problems, took part in this study. They were separated into three groups: a control group, a VR group, and a non-VR group. The VR and non-VR groups underwent eight sessions of neurofeedback training over 2 weeks, while the control group just waited during the same period. The VR group used a head-mounted display (HMD) and a head tracker, which let them look around the virtual world. Conversely, the non-VR group used only a computer monitor with a fixed viewpoint. All participants performed a continuous performance task (CPT) before and after the complete training session. The results showed that both the VR and non-VR groups achieved better scores in the CPT after the training session, while the control group showed no significant difference. Compared with the other groups, the VR group presented a tendency to get better results, suggesting that immersive VR is applicable to neurofeedback for the rehabilitation of inattention and impulsiveness.

A virtual reality assessment and training system for unilateral neglect.

Patients with unilateral neglect have problems reporting, responding, or orienting to novel or meaningful stimuli that is presented to the side opposite to that of a brain lesion. This creates a serous problem in regards to daily living activities. However, the established methods for assessing and training of unilateral neglect patients have several deficits. Recently, virtual reality (VR) technologies have been used as an assessment and treatment tool for rehabilitation. Hence, this study designed a VR system to assess and train unilateral neglect patients. In addition, the suitability and feasibility of our VR system for unilateral neglect patients was verified.

Automated preparation of 188Re-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for endovascular radiation therapy.

We have developed an automated system for the preparation of highly concentrated 188Re-perrhenate, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3). The three procedural steps include concentration of 188Re-perrhanerate, chelation and purification and sterilization. The steps are operated by a small micro-controller. The eluted 188Re-perrhenate of 15 GBq/18 ml from 37 GBq 188W/188Re-generator was concentrated to 1.2 ml in 10 +/- 0.5 min with a recovery yield of 95 +/- 1.5%. We obtained the highest radiochemical yield of 95.4 +/- 2.8% and 98.5 +/- 1.2% for 188Re-DTPA and MAG3 at the oil bath temperatures of 95-97 degrees C and 93-97 degrees C, respectively.