Pilot Study and Review: Physiological Differences in BDNF, a Potential Biomarker in Males and Females with Autistic Disorder.

Aims: There is a need for more biologic research in autistic disorder (AD) to determine if biomarkers exist that would be useful for correlating to symptom severity and/or clinical improvement during treatment. Given the fact that AD is 4 times more common in males than females, gender differences in physiological biomarkers may be present. One potential biomarker that has begun to be studied is brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a peptide involved in the regulation of neuronal cell survival, differentiation, and plasticity, and possessing an ability to influence neurotransmitter systems by modulating gene expression.

Myocbacterium-avium intracellulare associated inflammatory pseudotumor of the anterior nasal cavity.

In this case report, we describe an unusual case of mycobacterial associated inflammatory pseudotumor that occurred in a patient with a previous history of cocaine abuse. We discuss inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) in general and emphasize the rare entity where an associated mycobacterial infection is seen. The histogenesis is not yet completely understood.

Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in a lymph node involved with small lymphocytic lymphoma: case report and review of the literature.

Diagnosis of two distinct malignant entities existing concurrently and at the same location (synchronous malignancy) by fine- needle aspiration (FNA) is unusual but may occur. Small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SLL/CLL) in particular is associated with an increased incidence of secondary tumor, likely due to associated immunodeficiency. Co-occurrence of some carcinomas such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), may show especially aggressive behavior.

Phenotypic diversity of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma on aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy: case series and review of the literature.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) represents approximately 10% of primary liver malignancies and can mimic metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the cytopathology files at the University of Texas Medical Branch to identify patients who were diagnosed with intrahepatic or extrahepatic CC by aspiration cytology between 1995 and 2004. Brush cytology specimens of extrahepatic CC were excluded.