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Background: Clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterized by transient mild symptoms of encephalopathy and a reversible lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is often triggered by infection. The common pathogens of MERS are viruses, especially influenza virus. However, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.pneumoniae) are relatively rare pathogens for MERS.Case Presentation: Here we report two paediatric cases of M.pneumoniae infection-induced MERS. The diagnosis of M.pneumoniae infection was established based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific serum antibodies (IgM). Both of the two patients presented with mild encephalopathy manifestations and recovered completely within a few days. The initial MRI showed a lesion in the central portion of the splenium of the corpus callosum, which completely resolved on the seventh and eighth day after admission for case 1 and case 2. Lumbar puncture was performed in both patients, which revealed no pleocytosis. In case 1, the patient had hyponatremia, peripheral facial nerve paralysis, and rash. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first MERS case associated with peripheral nerve damage. In case 2, interleukin-6(IL-6) was moderately increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It suggested that IL-6 may play a role in the pathogenesis of M.pneumoniae-induced MERS.Conclusion: Our study enriches the available information on the pathogens of MERS and provides valuable data for better understanding of this syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Postconditioning, a series of brief ischemia-reperfusion sequences given before an ischemic heart undergoes sustained reperfusion, has been shown to lessen ischemia/reperfusion injury. the current study establishes a rabbit model of myocardial ischemiareperfusion and studied the effects of pulmonary remote postconditioning in this model. Methods: Serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA), protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), Rho kinase (ROCK- 2), and protein kinase B (Akt) in myocardial cells and the apoptosis index of myocardial cells were examined. Results: Pulmonary remote postconditioning decreased CK, significantly decreased MDA, and increased SOD. Postconditioning significantly increased eNOS protein expression. Administration of eNOS inhibitor, L-NAME, dramatically suppressed the postconditioning-induced eNOS protein expression and serum SOD level, but significantly increased MDA level. The two longer sessions of postconditioning increased Akt, although this increase was not accompanied by changes in levels of the Akt inhibitor, ROCK-2. Blocking eNOS activity with L-NAME had no visible effect on either Akt or ROCK-2. Conclusion: Our results suggest a role for Akt in remote postconditioning-induced myocardial protection, but do not support an involvement of eNOS in Akt-mediated action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Postconditioning, a series of brief ischemia-reperfusion sequences given before an ischemic heart undergoes sustained reperfusion, has been shown to lessen ischemia/reperfusion injury. The current study establishes a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and studied the effects of pulmonary remote postconditioning in this model.Methods: Serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA), protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), Rho kinase (ROCK- 2), and protein kinase B (Akt) in myocardial cells and the apoptosis index of myocardial cells were examined.Results: Pulmonary remote postconditioning decreased CK, significantly decreased MDA, and increased SOD. Postconditioning significantly increased eNOS protein expression. Administration of eNOS inhibitor, L-NAME, dramatically suppressed the postconditioning-induced eNOS protein expression and serum SOD level, but significantly increased MDA level. The two longer sessions of postconditioning increased Akt, although this increase was not accompanied by changes in levels of the Akt inhibitor, ROCK-2. Blocking eNOS activity with L-NAME had no visible effect on either Akt or ROCK-2.Conclusion: Our results suggest a role for Akt in remote postconditioning-induced myocardial protection, but do not support an involvement of eNOS in Akt-mediated action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, [Ni(C3H4N2)5(H2O)](C4H2Br2O4), consists of NiII complex cations and dibromo­succinate anions. The Ni atom, water O atom and one imidazole N atom of the complex cation lie on a twofold axis. The anion lies on an inversion centre. The crystal packing is reinforced by O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, but there are no π–π stacking inter­actions even though the complex contains five aromatic imidazole rings. The compound is isostructural with its cobalt analogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]