No abstract

Severe mercury intoxication is very rare in developed countries, but still occurs as the result of volatile substance abuse, suicide attempts, occupational hazards, or endemic food ingestion as reported in the cases of public health disasters in Iraq and in Minamata Bay, Japan. Here, we describe the dramatic physical and cognitive decline of a 23-year-old patient caused by a severe methyl mercury (MeHg) intoxication of unknown origin. We show serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patient’s brain, as well as ex vivo analyses of blood and cerebrospinal fluid including multicolor flow cytometric measurements, functional assays of hemostaseologic efficacy, and evaluation of regulatory effector molecules. Together with the clinical history, our findings show the progressive neuronal degeneration accompanying the deterioration of the patient. Moreover, the ex vivo analyses display alterations of thrombocyte function and coagulation, as well as an immunological milieu facilitating autoimmunity. Despite the successful reduction of the MeHg concentration in the patient’s blood with erythrocyte apheresis and chelator therapy, his condition did not improve and led to a persistent vegetative state. This case illustrates the neurotoxicity of MeHg following severe intoxication for the first time by serial MRI. Data on immune-cell and thrombocyte function as well as on coagulation in mercury poisoning reveal potential implications for anticoagulation and immunomodulatory treatment.

· Prange A, Bokhof B, Polzer P et al. Higher Detection Rates of Biologically Aggressive Breast Cancers in Mammography Screening than in the Biennial Interval. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2018; DOI: 10.1055/a-0657-3970.

Roots of Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS) are a promising alternative source of natural rubber latex (NRL). This study demonstrated the novel possibility of extracting, stabilizing, and concentrating NRL from roots of TKS with a high solid content. In addition, some colloidal characteristics of the isolated products, which are of interest for latex processing, were determined. A scaled-up extraction sequence based on previous studies of flow extraction was applied with a setup comprised of an industrial slicer, stirring stations, and a hydraulic press. Significant amounts of natural rubber (NR) were separated along with removed biomass. Stabilization of NRL was successfully maintained during latex isolation using ammonia-free stabilizing solutions consisting of an ethanolamine/ethanolamine hydrochloride (ETA/ETA-HCl) buffer, sodium oleate, sodium sulfite, and benzalkonium chloride. Purified and preconcentrated raw latex was obtained through repeated creaming and redilution. While a direct further concentration of raw latex proved difficult, the isolation of latex with a high solid content was achieved through redilution before the final centrifugation. Gravimetry indicated a solid content of >54%. The products were characterized by a high viscosity, and dilution was possible without coagulation. ζ-potential (ZP) was determined to be −60 mV and approved the successful stabilization of high solid latex. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirmed the possibility of maintaining a bimodal particle size distribution (PSD) with hydrodynamic diameters of 104–231 nm for the first mode and 522–830 nm for the second mode.