We describe a 19-year-old female patient who developed recurrent ulcerations limited to the orogenital mucosa for the last 3 years. She also developed dyspnoea 5 months after the onset of the orogenital lesions. Castleman's tumour of the retroperitoneum was found incidentally during routine physical examination. The diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) was made by pathological and immunological studies. The orogenital ulceration responded well to corticosteroid therapy, but severe bronchiolitis obliterans progressed despite intensive care. The patient eventually died from respiratory failure. This case demonstrates the diversity of clinical features of paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Sexual dimorphism is the most conspicuous difference between the sexes. This study examines possible sexual dimorphism and the relative growth patterns of morphometric characteristics in the marine medaka, Oryzias dancena for their potential to help differentiate between males and females of this species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated by a non-linear regression method were L∞=30.2 mm, K=3.22/year, and τ0=-0.05. All 18 characteristics measured showed a difference between males and females from 70 days after hatching. Each of these characteristics were significantly different between sexes (ANCOVA, P<0.05), and the ratio of standard length between sexes showed that males were larger than females for all five morphometric measurements. Fin length measurements were taken for 21 distances of anal fin and 7 distances of dorsal fin between landmarks. There were all differences for all dorsal fin rays between the males and the females and there is significant difference in 70 days after their hatch when the sexual dimorphism is presented. The significant difference (P<0.05) in fin ray for male and female was more greatly seen as they grow. Male marine medaka showed more rapid growth than females, with longer length, dorsal fins and anal fins. Differences in these characteristics will be useful during experiments when it is necessary to differentiate between sexes of marine medaka.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common diseases worldwide. Uncontrolled and prolonged hyperglycemia can cause diabetic complications, which reduce the quality of life of patients. Diabetic complications are common in DM patients. Because it is impossible to completely recover from diabetic complications, it is important for early detection. In this study, we suggest a novel method of determining blood flow characteristics based on fluorescence image analysis with indocyanine green and report that diabetic complications have unique blood flow characteristics.MethodsWe analyzed time-series fluorescence images obtained from controls, DM patients, and DM patients with complications. The images were segmented into the digits and the dorsum of the feet and hands, and each part has been considered as arterial and capillary flow. We compared the blood flow parameters in each region among the three groups.ResultsThe DM patients with complications showed similar blood flow parameters to the controls, except the area under the curve and the maximum intensity, which indicate the blood flow volume. These parameters were significantly decreased in DM patients with complications. Although some blood flow parameters in the feet of DM patients with complications were close to normal blood flow, the vascular response of the macrovessels and microvessels to stimulation of the hands was significantly reduced, which indicates less reactivity in DM patients with complications.ConclusionsOur results suggest that DM patients, and DM patients with complications, have unique peripheral blood flow characteristics.

Left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysms rarely occur, but are detected more often with the development of new diagnostic tools. Since LV pseudoaneurysms are life-threatening, early surgical intervention is recommended. This report describes an 87-year-old woman with heart failure and a large LV pseudoaneurysm which progressed from a small LV pseudoaneurysm after an acute myocardial infarction over a 1-year period.

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