Two Cases of Menkes Disease With Similar Intracranial Arterial Tortuosity on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Menkes disease is an X-linked recessive genetically inherited metabolic disease caused by an ATP7A gene abnormality that gives rise to impaired copper absorption. Copper deficiency causes symptoms such as characteristic abnormalities in the hair and vascular disorders. Brain MRI findings include a high-signal intensity in the temporal lobe white matter on T2-weighted images and delayed myelination.

Extracellular enzymes secreted in the mycelial block of Lentinula edodes during hyphal growth.

Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom) is one of the most widely cultivated edible mushrooms and is primarily cultivated using sawdust medium. While there have been improvements in the cultivation technology, the mechanism of mycelial block cultivation, such as mycelial growth and enzymatic sawdust degradation, has not been clarified. In this study, the mycelium was elongated longitudinally in the bottle sawdust culture for 27 days, and the cultivated sawdust medium was divided into three sections (top, middle, and bottom parts).

Pectin decomposition at the early stage of brown-rot decay by Fomitopsis palustris.

The sapwood of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) was decayed by the brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis palustris under bright and dark conditions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of mycelia inside the wood even after 1 week from the start of fungal exposure.

Selective EP2 and Cox-2 inhibition suppresses cell migration by reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and Cox-2 overexpression and E-cadherin downregulation are implicated in neck metastasis of hypopharyngeal cancer.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) has been shown to promote cancer initiation and progression through pleiotropic functions including induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via its predominant product prostaglandin E that binds to the cognate receptor EP2. Hence, pharmacological inhibition at the level of EP2 is assumed to be a more selective alternative with less risk to Cox-2 inhibition. However, little is known regarding the anti-cancer effect of an EP2 antagonist on the malignant properties of cancers including hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC).

Starch-degrading enzymes from the brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis palustris.

Brown-rot fungi preferentially degrade softwood and cause severe breakdown of wooden structures. At the initial stage of the brown-rot decay, penetrating hyphae of the fungi are observed in ray parenchyma. Since starch grains are known to be present in the ray parenchyma of sapwood, investigation of the functions and roles of the starch-degrading enzymes is important to understand the initial stage of brown-rot decay.