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We report a 30-year-old man involving gastrointestinal symptoms, vitreous opacity, and multiple cranial neuropathies. Transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis genetic testing revealed a rare c.251T > C variant p.(Phe84Ser). Only four cases with this variant have been reported before.

Objective: To investigate whether a super-high dose (SHD) of methylprednisolone (MP) improves its efficacy or induces glucocorticoid (GC) resistance, and to explore the potential mechanisms of GC resistance in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE)., Methods: The therapeutic effects of SHD and low-dose MP were evaluated in EAE by analyzing clinical scores, pathological changes and cytokine production. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to investigate the expression of GC receptor (GR) isoforms and splicing factor SRp30c., Results: Both MP doses had similar therapeutic effects. The ratio of GRα to GRβ was positively correlated with clinical score changes. However, there was no difference in the GRα/GRβ ratio between SHD and low-dose MP groups. SRp30c mRNA was correlated with GRβ expression., Conclusion: This study indicates that the GRα/GRβ ratio is associated with GC sensitivity, and SRp30c may play an important role in promoting alternative splicing of GR pre-mRNA to generate GRβ in EAE rats. Compared with low-dose MP, SHD MP does not improve efficacy or induce GC resistance., (Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

By the method of co-culture and using cell density as the main indicator, this paper studied the allelopathic effect of Corallina pilulifera on Heterosigma akashiwo and its responses to UV-B irradiation. Under normal condition, the fresh tissue and aqueous extracts of C. pilulifera had significant inhibitory effects on the growth of H. akashiwo (P < 0.05), indicating their allopathic effect on H. akashiwo, while the dry power and culture media filtrate of C. pilulifera had less effect (P > 0.05). After pre-treated with different dose UV-B radiation and then co-cultured with H. akashiwo, C. pilulifera had some changes in the allelopathic activity of its fresh tissue, dry powder, and aqueous extracts. High-dose UV-B radiation (3.0 J x m(-2)) induced the decrease of the allelopathic effect, whereas low-dose UV-B radiation (0.9 J x m(-2)) was in adverse (P < 0.05).