Hyponatremia associated coma due to pituitary apoplexy in early pregnancy: a case report

Pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy is rare. Its clinical features may range from unspecific complaints to panhypopituitarism resulting even in coma and death. Therefore, alertness to signs and symptoms of acute loss of pituitary function in pregnancy is mandatory. We report a woman in her 7th week of her first gestation presenting with sudden coma due to severe hyponatremia. Secondary adrenal insufficiency could be identified as the underlying cause. Panhypopituitarism including central diabetes insipidus and spontaneous abortion developed during the follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging showed pituitary apoplexy without a pre-existing pituitary mass. The clinical course was notable for severe complications, including neurological deficits through cerebral ischemia, but eventual recovery could be achieved. We discuss the diagnostic difficulties in the evaluation of pituitary disease in pregnancy.

The tumour-suppressive miR-29a/b1 cluster is regulated by CEBPA and blocked in human AML

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (CEBPA) is crucial for normal granulopoiesis and is frequently disrupted in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Increasing evidence suggests that CEBPA exerts its effects, in parts, by regulating specific microRNAs (miRNAs), as previously shown for miR-223. The aim of this study was to investigate the genome-wide pattern of miRNAs regulated by CEBPA in myeloid cells.

Inhibition of the miR-143/145 cluster attenuated neutrophil differentiation of APL cells

MicroRNAs can influence hematopoietic cell lineage commitment and aberrant expression of hematopoietic miRNAs contributes to AML pathology. We found that miR-143 and miR-145 expression is significantly repressed in primary AML patient samples as compared to neutrophils of healthy donors. Further analysis revealed impaired neutrophil differentiation of APL cells upon inhibition of miR-145 expression. Lastly, we identified p73 as transcriptional regulator of miR-143/145 during neutrophil differentiation of APL cells. Our data suggest that low miR-145 levels in APL, possibly due to aberrant expression of p73 transcription factors, contribute to the differentiation block seen in this disease.

Diffusion tensor imaging in episodic cluster headache

Cluster headache (CH) is a rare headache disorder with severe unilateral headache bouts and autonomic symptoms. The pathophysiology of CH is not completely understood. Using a voxel-based morphometric paradigm or functional imaging, a key role of the hypothalamus and the pain matrix could be demonstrated during CH episodes. However, there are no diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data investigating the white matter microstructure of the brain in patients with CH. Therefore, we used DTI to delineate microstructural changes in patients with CH in a headache-free state.

Cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin-1 levels during the active period of cluster headache

Hypocretins (orexins) are hypothalamic neuropeptides which are involved in a wide range of physiological processes in mammals including central pain processing. Genetic studies in humans evidenced a role for the hypocretinergic system in cluster headache (CH).

Iron(III)-Pivalate-Based Complexes with Tetranuclear {Fe-4(mu(3)-O)(2)}(8+) Cores and N-Donor Ligands: Formation of Cluster and Polymeric Architectures

Different synthetic routes have been used for the preparation of a new tetranuclear [Fe4O2(O2CCMe3)(8)(bpm)] cluster (1) and a one-dimensional coordination polymer [Fe4O2-(O2CCMe3)(8)(hmta)](n) (2) (bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine and hmta = hexamethylenetetramine). For cluster 1, two structural isomers, 1a and 1b center dot 3MeCN, have been found. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that all complexes consist of a central {Fe-4(mu(3)-O)(2)}(8+) core. In 1a, metal ions in the core are additionally linked by six bridging pivalates as two other pivalates and a bpm ligand are chelated to Fe-III ions, whereas in cluster 1b, metal ions in the {Fe-4(mu(3)-O)(2)}(8+) core are linked by seven bridging pivalates and only one carboxylate as well as bpm are chelated to the iron centers. In coordination polymer 2, [Fe4O2(O2CCMe3)(8)] clusters are bridged by hmta ligands to form zigzag chains. Magnetic measurements have been carried out to characterize these complexes and revealed antiferromagnetic interactions between Fe-III ions with best-fit parameters of J(wb) = -72.2 (1a) and -88.7 cm(-1) (1b) for wing...body interactions.

Best combination of pre-stimulation and latency period duration before cluster attachment for efficient oxytocin release and milk ejection in cows with low to high udder-filling levels

Experiments were designed to investigate the suitability of a combination of a short manual teat stimulation with a short latency period before teat cup attachment to induce and maintain oxytocin release and milk ejection without interruption. In Experiment 1, seven dairy cows in mid lactation were manually pre-stimulated for 15, 30 or 45 s, followed by either 30 s or 45 s of latency period. It was shown that all treatments induced a similar release of oxytocin without interruption until the end of milking. In particular, the latency period of up to 45 s did not cause a transient decrease of oxytocin concentration. In Experiment 2, milking characteristics were recorded in seven cows each in early, mid, and late lactation, respectively. Because the course of milk ejection depends mainly on the degree of udder filling, individual milkings were classified based on the actual degree of udder filling which differs between lactational stages but also between morning and evening milkings. All animals underwent twelve different udder preparation treatments, i.e. 15, 30, or 45 s of pre-stimulation followed by latency periods of 0, 30, 45, or 60 s. Milking characteristics were recorded. Total milk yield, main milking time and average milk flow rate did not differ between treatments if the degree of udder filling at the start of milking was >40% of the maximum storage capacity. However, if the udder filling was <40%, main milking time was decreased with the duration of a latency period up to 45 s, independent of duration of pre-stimulation. Average milk flow at an udder filling of <40% was highest after a pre-stimulation of 45 s followed by a latency period of another 45 s. In contrast, average milk flow reached its lowest values at a pre-stimulation of 15 s without additional latency period. However, average milk flow after a 15-s pre-stimulation increased with increasing latency period. In conclusion, a very short pre-stimulation when followed by a latency period up to 45 s before teat cup attachment remains a suitable alternative for continuous stimulation to induce milk ejection.