Pharyngitis Workup Leads to the Discovery of Massive Tricuspid Vegetation.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is one of the leading causes of life-threatening infections and is most often observed among patients who use intravenous (IV) drugs. We discuss the unique presentation of a 31-year-old gentleman with a two-week history of sore throat and shortness of breath, who returned to his community emergency room with persistent symptoms of streptococcal pharyngitis. A thorough history, physical examination, and diagnostic workup were conducted, where a large, protruding, highly mobile vegetation was observed on echocardiogram.

Intrinsic disorder in spondins and some of their interacting partners.

Spondins, which are proteins that inhibit and promote adherence of embryonic cells so as to aid axonal growth are part of the thrombospondin-1 family. Spondins function in several important biological processes, such as apoptosis, angiogenesis, etc. Spondins constitute a thrombospondin subfamily that includes F-spondin, a protein that interacts with Aβ precursor protein and inhibits its proteolytic processing; R-spondin, a 4-membered group of proteins that regulates Wnt pathway and have other functions, such as regulation of kidney proliferation, induction of epithelial proliferation, the tumor suppressant action; M-spondin that mediates mechanical linkage between the muscles and apodemes; and the SCO-spondin, a protein important for neuronal development.

Apigenin: Selective CK2 inhibitor increases Ikaros expression and improves T cell homeostasis and function in murine pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) evades immune destruction by favoring the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs) that inhibit effector T cells. The transcription factor Ikaros is critical for lymphocyte development, especially T cells. We have previously shown that downregulation of Ikaros occurs as a result of its protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in our Panc02 tumor-bearing (TB) mouse model.