Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a treatment-responsive encephalitis associated with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies, which bind to the NR1/NR2 heteromers of the NMDA receptors. It is a highly characteristic syndrome evolving in five stages: the prodromal phase (viral infection-like symptoms), psychotic phase, unresponsive phase, hyperkinetic phase, and gradual recovery phase. It has been considered as a paraneoplastic syndrome usually affecting childbearing-age female with ovarian tumors; however, recent reports suggest a much higher incidence of nonparaneoplastic cases in children.

Congenital chylothorax in a late preterm infant and successful treatment with octreotide.

Chylothorax is defined as abnormal accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space and is a rare condition in neonates. Chylothorax causes respiratory and nutritional problems and a significant mortality rate. Octreotide is a long-acting somatostatin analog that can reduce lymphatic fluid production and has been used as a new strategy in the treatment of chylothorax.

Human umbilical cord blood cells protect against hypothalamic apoptosis and systemic inflammation response during heatstroke in rats.

Background: Intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBC) has been shown to improve heatstroke by reducing arterial hypotension as well as cerebral ischemia and damage in a rat model. To extend these findings, we assessed both hypothalamic neuronal apoptosis and systemic inflammatory responses in the presence of HUCBCs or vehicle medium immediately after initiation of heatstroke.

Methods: Anesthetized rats, immediately after the initiation of heat stress, were divided into two groups and given either serum-free lymphocyte medium (0.

Infusion of human umbilical cord blood cells ameliorates hind limb dysfunction in experimental spinal cord injury through anti-inflammatory, vasculogenic and neurotrophic mechanisms.

Background: Human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) were used to investigate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of cord blood cells in spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: (1) sham operation (laminectomy only); (2) Laminectomy+SCI+human adult peripheral blood mononucleocytes (PBMCs) (5 x 10(6)/0.3 mL); and (3) Laminectomy+SCi+HUCBCs (5 x 10(6)/0.

Disseminated pneumococcal infection with pericarditis and cardiac tamponade: report of one case.

A 1-year-5-months-old female who had cough, rhinorrhea and prolonged fever for 19 days was admitted to the intensive care unit due to exertional dyspnea. She was intubated promptly in virtue of hypotension and cyanosis. The physical examination demonstrated diminished breathing sound over the right lung and distant heart sound; echocardiogram showed cardiac tamponade.