Transient facial nerve palsy after auriculotemporal nerve block in awake craniotomy patients.

In this case series, we describe transient postoperative facial nerve palsy in patients after awake craniotomy using selective scalp nerve blocks. In a 1-year period, 7 of the 42 patients receiving scalp nerve blocks at our institutions developed this complication. This is significant because there is only 1 previously reported case of postoperative facial nerve palsy related to scalp nerve blocks.

Role of Notch signaling in cell-fate determination of human mammary stem/progenitor cells.

Introduction: Notch signaling has been implicated in the regulation of cell-fate decisions such as self-renewal of adult stem cells and differentiation of progenitor cells along a particular lineage. Moreover, depending on the cellular and developmental context, the Notch pathway acts as a regulator of cell survival and cell proliferation. Abnormal expression of Notch receptors has been found in different types of epithelial metaplastic lesions and neoplastic lesions, suggesting that Notch may act as a proto-oncogene.