Fatal sibling cases of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) with MUNC13-4 mutations: case reports.

The authors report here sibling cases of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) type 3 that took fatal courses despite intensive treatment. The older brother achieved remission by immunochemotherapy, but a central nervous system lesion occurred before the introduction of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The patient died on day +1 of allo-HSCT due to progression of the disease.

Pancreatic metastasis of malignant melanoma diagnosed by EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA).

Pancreatic metastasis of malignant melanoma is rarely diagnosed while the patient is alive. We report a case of metastatic melanoma of the pancreas in a 35-year-old woman presenting with a solid mass of the pancreas. Her past medical history included a radical hysterectomy 2 years previously for malignant melanoma of the vagina.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis of FITC-albumin in alveolar type II epithelial cell line RLE-6TN.

We examined mechanisms of FITC-albumin uptake by alveolar type II epithelial cells using cultured RLE-6TN cells. Alkaline phosphatase activity and the expression of cytokeratin 19 mRNA, which are characteristic features of alveolar type II epithelial cells, were detected in RLE-6TN cells. The uptake of FITC-albumin by the cells was time and temperature dependent and showed the saturation kinetics of high- and low-affinity transport systems.

Suppressive effect of neonatal treatment with a phytoestrogen, coumestrol, on lordosis and estrous cycle in female rats.

The neural control systems for the ovulatory cycle and lordosis behavior are sexually differentiated by estrogen during the perinatal period in rats. In the present study, the effects of a single neonatal injection with the phytoestrogen, coumestrol, on female reproductive functions were investigated. Female rats were injected subcutaneously with 1 or 3mg coumestrol (CM1, CM3), 1mg genistein (GS1), 1mg estradiol (E2), or oil at day 5 after birth (birth day=day 1) and an estrous cycle check and lordosis behavior test were performed.

A case of listerial meningitis treated with a regimen containing panipenem-betamipron.

Although panipenem-betamipron, which is commercially available only in Japan, is recommended for treatment of pediatric bacterial meningitis by some experts, only a limited number of clinical studies have been reported. In the present report, we describe a 2-year-old boy with meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes who was treated with a regimen containing panipenem-betamipron and recovered without any apparent neurological sequelae. On the basis of our experience and previous reports, panipenem-betamipron appears to be effective for the treatment of listerial meningitis.

Effects of neonatal treatment with phytoestrogens, genistein and daidzein, on sex difference in female rat brain function: estrous cycle and lordosis.

It is well known that neonatal exposure to estrogen induces masculinization or defeminization of the brain. In this study, the effects of neonatal treatment with two kinds of soybean isoflavone aglycone, genistein (GS) and daidzein (DZ), on the estrous cycle and lordosis behavior were investigated. Female rats were injected subcutaneously with 1 mg GS, 1 mg DZ, 100 microg estradiol (E2), or oil daily for 5 days from birth.

Efficacy of phenytoin against hyponatremic seizures due to SIADH after administration of anticancer drugs in a neonate.

A neonate with the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) developed refractory hyponatremic seizures following administration of anticancer drugs. The seizures did not respond to diazepam, phenobarbital, or lidocaine, but resolved immediately with administration of phenytoin. The low water-excretion capacity in neonates should be taken into consideration when fluid loading is attempted, to avoid renal damage upon administration of drugs such as cisplatin that have a potential damaging effect on the kidney.