Glial-Specific Deletion of Med12 Results in Rapid Hearing Loss via Degradation of the Stria Vascularis.

Mediator protein complex subunit 12 (Med12) is a core component of the basal transcriptional apparatus and plays a critical role in the development of many tissues. Mutations in Med12 are associated with X-linked intellectual disability syndromes and hearing loss; however, its role in nervous system function remains undefined. Here, we show that temporal conditional deletion of Med12 in astrocytes in the adult CNS results in region-specific alterations in astrocyte morphology.

Small vessel vasculitis associated with cocaine use.

We report a case of cocaine-induced small vessel vasculitis in a 51-year-old woman. We postulate that levamisole, an adulterant of cocaine, likely is the cause of this increase in cocaine-induced vasculitis. Based on a literature review, we suggest some helpful tests to differentiate cocaine-induced vasculitis from true autoimmune vasculitis in the setting of midline destructive nasal lesions.