Langaycock7912

Ammonia is toxic to fishes. Different fish have different defense strategies against ammonia, so the mechanism of ammonia poisoning is different. In this study, yellow catfish were exposed to three levels of ammonia (0, 5.70 and 57.00 mg L-1) for 96 h. The results showed that ammonia poisoning could lead to free amino acid imbalance (ornithine and citrulline contents declined; arginine content elevated), urea cycle enzymes deficiency (carbamyl phosphate synthetase and arginase contents declined), oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities declined), immunosuppression (lysozyme activity, 50% hemolytic complement and total immunoglobulin contents and phagocytic index declined) and cytokines release (TNF, IL 1 and IL 8 contents elevated). In addition, ammonia poisoning could induce up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes (Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, CAT and GPx), cytokines (TNFα, IL 1 and IL 8) and apoptosis (p53, Bax, cytochrome c, Caspase 3 and Caspase 9) genes transcription. This study suggesting that the urea cycle and glutamine synthesis both were involved in the ammonia detoxification of yellow catfish, and the immunosuppression, inflammation and apoptotic induced by ammonia poisoning in yellow catfish are related to oxidative stress. BACKGROUND We have recently reported that peri-left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with atrial myocardial fibrosis, in which angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) protein content in EAT is associated with atrial myocardial fibrosis. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine if Angptl2 contained in peri-left atrial EAT can induce atrial myocardial fibrosis. METHODS Human peri-left atrial EAT and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were collected from nine autopsy cases. EAT- or SAT-conditioned medium was dropped onto the rat left atrial epicardial surface using an organo-culture system. Conditioned medium, recombinant Angptl2, and its antibody effects on the organo-cultured rat atrial myocardial fibrosis were evaluated. Angptl2 effects on cultured neonatal rat fibroblasts were also investigated. RESULTS The EAT conditioned medium induced atrial fibrosis in organo-cultured rat atrium with a progressive increase in the number of myofibroblasts. EAT pro-fibrotic effect was greater than that of SAT. The EAT in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) induced a more significant atrial fibrosis than in those without. Treatment with human recombinant Angptl2 induced fibrosis in organo-cultured rat atrium, which was suppressed by concomitant treatment with the Angptl2 antibody. In cultured fibroblasts, Angptl2 upregulated the expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, phospho-ERK, phospho-IκBα, and phospho-p38 MAPK. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that Angptl2 contained in EAT played a crucial role in EAT-induced inflammatory atrial fibrosis. The results also suggested that antagonizing the expression of Angptl2 in EAT can be a novel therapeutic approach to prevent AF. tRNA synthetases are responsible for decoding the molecular information, from codons to amino acids. Seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS), besides the five isoacceptors of tRNASer, recognizes tRNA[Ser]Sec for the incorporation of selenocysteine (Sec, U) into selenoproteins. The selenocysteine synthesis pathway is known and is dependent on several protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. Those interactions are not fully described, in particular, involving tRNA[Ser]Sec and SerRS. Here we describe the molecular interactions between the Escherichia coli Seryl-tRNA synthetase (EcSerRS) and tRNA[Ser]Sec in order to determine their specificity, selectivity and binding order, leading to tRNA aminoacylation. The dissociation constant of EcSerRS and tRNA[Ser]Sec was determined as (126 ± 20) nM. We also demonstrate that EcSerRS binds initially to tRNA[Ser]Sec in the presence of ATP for further recognition by E. coli selenocysteine synthetase (EcSelA) for Ser to Sec conversion. The proposed studies clarify the mechanism of tRNA[Ser]Sec incorporation in Bacteria as well as of other domains of life. OBJECT Tumors of the cervical spine often encase one or both vertebral arteries (VA), presenting the treating surgeon with the dilemma of whether to sacrifice or skeletonize the artery. Here we propose an algorithm for VA management in surgeries for cervical neoplasms METHODS Retrospective review of 67 patients undergoing resection of cervical spine tumors with VA involvement. Patients were categorized by tumor origin (primary vs. metastatic) and degree of circumferential VA involvement 1) abutment only; 2) 180° of circumferential VA involvement should be considered as indications for intraoperative sacrifice of the vertebral artery pending preoperative angiographic evaluation for contraindications. BACKGROUND The use of targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors has drastically changed the management of patients with melanoma and brain metastases. Specifically, combination therapy with ipilimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor, and nivolumab, a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, has become a preferred systemic therapy option for patients with melanoma and asymptomatic brain metastases. However, the efficacy and toxicity profile of these agents in combination with brain-directed radiation therapy is not well-described. CASE DESCRIPTION In this case series, we highlight a series of patients with melanoma demonstrating severe radiation necrosis immediately refractory to surgical resection following brain-directed stereotactic radiation therapy with concurrent ipilimumab and nivolumab. Three patients described in this series each received stereotactic radiation therapy to a dose of 30 Gy in 5 fractions to a melanoma brain metastasis. Chk2 Inhibitor II ic50 These areas developed radiographic evidence of necrosis, which was managed surgically and progressed immediately and rapidly after resection. Re-resection, bevacizumab, steroids, and/or discontinuation of nivolumab was used to mitigate further necrosis with varying efficacy. CONCLUSION Patients with metastatic melanoma receiving brain-directed radiation therapy with concurrent ipilimumab and nivolumab are at risk for developing severe, surgically refractory radiation necrosis and should be closely followed clinically and with imaging. The exact mechanism for such severe necrosis is unknown, and future studies are needed to better understand this pathophysiology and identify optimal treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE The influence of graft type (non-autologous versus autologous) on surgical outcomes in endoscopic anterior skull base (EASB) reconstruction is not well-understood. This review systematically evaluated rates of post-operative complications of EASB repairs that utilized autologous or non-autologous grafts. METHODS Original studies reporting EASB reconstruction outcomes were extracted from PubMed, Ovid, and Cochrane Library from database inception to 2019. Risk ratios (RRs), risk differences (RDs), chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate outcome measures post-operative CSF leaks, meningitis, and other major complications (OMCs). RESULTS A total of 2275 patients from 29 studies were analyzed. Rates of post-operative CSF leaks, meningitis, and OMCs were 4.0%, 1.6%, and 2.3%, respectively, using autologous grafts and 5.0%, 0.3%, and 1.0%, respectively, using non-autologous grafts. Multivariate analysis of 118 patients demonstrated no significant differences in age, CSF flow rate, single or multilayer reconstruction, and presence of intra-operative CSF leak or lumbar drain. Meta-analyses of six studies yielded a RR of 0.64 (95% CI0.19-2.14; p=0.47) for post-operative CSF leakage and RDs of -0.01 (95% CI-0.06-0.05; p=0.80) and -0.02 (95% CI-0.09-0.05; p=0.51) for post-operative meningitis and OMCs, respectively. There were no significant differences in post-operative CSF leakage (p=0.95) and OMCs (p=0.41) between graft types among cases with intra-operative CSF leaks. However, meningitis rates were lower (p=0.04) in the non-autologous group. CONCLUSIONS EASB reconstructions utilizing autologous and non-autologous grafts are associated with similar rates of post-operative CSF leakage and OMCs. In cases with intra-operative CSF leakage, non-autologous grafts were associated with reduced post-operative meningitis. INTRODUCTION The prognosis for patients with glioblastoma depends particularly on the degree of tumour resection. Patients with tumour remnants in post-surgical MRI ( less then 72 hours) may benefit from early re-operation. We present our results concerning the impact on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of re-operation in patients who have already undergone surgery for glioblastoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study included all patients who had undergone surgery for glioblastoma with control MRI, who received adjuvant therapy as per the STUPP protocol, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. We recorded the number of complete resections, partial resections and early re-operations. We determined the impact on OS and PFS of the early re-operations and the functional status. We considered complete resection when the volume of the residual tumour was 0 cc. RESULTS 112 patients were diagnosed with glioblastoma between March 2014 and March 2017. The study included 58 patients who fulfilled all the inclusion criteria. Complete resection was achieved in 24 patients (41.4%) and partial resection in 34 (58.6%). Of these 34 patients, 11 (32.35%) underwent early re-operation. The final result was complete resection in 58.62% of the patients. In the patients who underwent re-operation OS and PFS were 30.3 months and 16.6 months compared to 12.7 months and 6.75 months in those without re-operation (p=0.013 and p=0.012). The functional prognosis was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION Early re-operation in patients with residual tumour improved OS and PFS without increasing the number of complications as compared with the patients who did not undergo re-operation. BACKGROUND Some petroclival meningiomas cause trigeminal nerve compression leading to disabling trigeminal neuralgia. Tumor resection and nerve decompression can offer pain relief but may not be feasible in all patients. Simultaneous stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to the tumor and nerve is another option. It is an effective means of treating meningiomas and trigeminal neuralgia separately, but there is limited data regarding the efficacy and outcomes of their concomitant treatment. CASE DESCRIPTION We present our series of four patients who presented with trigeminal neuralgia secondary to a petroclival mass causing compression of the trigeminal nerve. All patients underwent SRS to both the petroclival mass and trigeminal nerve in a single-session. The average margin tumor dose was 12.25Gy (range, 12 to 12.5Gy) and average maximum trigeminal nerve dose was 80Gy (range, 75 to 85Gy). Barrow Neurologic Institute (BNI) Pain Intensity Scores in all patients prior to intervention were a grade IV or V. At last follow-up (average = 29.8 months), all patients were pain free (BNI I or IIIA). Two patients experienced reduced facial sensation in either one or all three distributions. No brainstem edema was seen. CONCLUSION This series highlights the benefit and safety of simultaneous treatment of petroclival tumors and the trigeminal nerve in a single session for patients affected by tumor related trigeminal neuralgia.