Genetic and Lineage Classification of Glioma-Initiating Cells Identifies a Clinically Relevant Glioblastoma Model.

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project described a robust gene expression-based molecular classification of glioblastoma (GBM), but the functional and biological significance of the subclasses has not been determined. The present comprehensive analysis of 25 glioma-initiating cell (GIC) lines classifies GIC lines into four subtypes (classical, mesenchymal, proneural, and neural) that are closely related to the TCGA GBM subclasses and display distinct lineage characteristics and differentiation behavior that recapitulate neural development. More importantly, the GIC subtypes exhibit distinct biological phenotypes in relation to self-renewal capacity, proliferation, invasiveness, and angiogenic potential in vitro and in vivo.

The Oncogene Addiction Switch from NOTCH to PI3K Requires Simultaneous Targeting of NOTCH and PI3K Pathway Inhibition in Glioblastoma.

The NOTCH pathway regulates neural stem cells and glioma initiating cells (GICs). However, blocking NOTCH activity with γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) fails to alter the growth of GICs, as GSIs seem to be active in only a fraction of GICs lines with constitutive NOTCH activity. Here we report loss of function as a critical event leading to resistance to NOTCH inhibition, which causes the transfer of oncogene addiction from the NOTCH pathway to the PI3K pathway.

Effect of Notch expression in glioma stem cells on therapeutic response to chemo-radiotherapy in recurrent glioblastoma.

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) have the capacity to repopulate tumors and mediate resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The Notch signaling pathway is important in proliferation, stem cell maintenance, cell differentiation, and tumorigenesis in GSCs. In this study, we compared CD133, Notch, and VEGF expressions in histological sections of primary and recurrent glioblastomas after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Treatment of moyamoya syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and hypothyroidism in an adult by encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis: a case report.

A 54-year-old woman presented to our hospital with progressive motor weakness of the right arm. She had a medical history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and hypothyroidism. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated a watershed infarction of the left hemisphere.

Posttraumatic cranial cystic fibrous dysplasia.

A 14-year-old was girl admitted to our hospital with a subcutaneous mass of the occipital head. The mass had grown for 6 years, after she had sustained a head injury at the age of 6, and was located directly under a previous wound. Skull X-ray Photograph (xp), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a bony defect and cystic changes in the skull corresponding to a subcutaneous mass.

Linezolid treatment for intracranial abscesses caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus--two case reports.

Two patients were treated for intracranial infections involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A 30-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for intracerebral hemorrhage related to arteriovenous malformation. After decompressive craniectomy, the patient developed an epidural abscess.

Solitary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the third ventricular choroid plexus with rapid clinical manifestation by intratumoral hemorrhage.

A 72-year-old man who had undergone nephrectomy for left renal cell carcinoma (RCC) presented with worsening of cognitive function and frequent loss of consciousness. Computed tomography (CT) revealed tumor mass in the third ventricle and hydrocephalus. A ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was placed to treat the hydrocephalus.

[A case of encapsulated intracerebral hematoma mimicking metastatic brain tumor].

We report a case of encapsulated intracranial hematoma (EIH) mimicking metastatic brain tumor. A 77-year-old male with a medical history of prostate cancer was admitted to our hospital presenting with progressive left hemiparesis. Previous head CT scan and MRI findings during 3 weeks before admission revealed a subcortical acute to subacute hematoma under the right precentral gyrus with growing perifocal brainedema.

Therapeutic effect of caspase inhibitors in the prevention of apoptosis and reversal of chronic cerebral vasospasm.

One of the important histological changes in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is endothelial cell damage, which involves apoptosis. The current study was undertaken to determine whether anti-apoptosis therapy prevents apoptosis and reverses vasospasm in a dog SAH model. Twenty-three mongrel dogs of either sex, weighing 17-25 kg, were subjected to autologous arterial blood injection into the cisterna magna on day 0 and day 2, and sacrificed on day 7.

Cranial nerve pareses following wrapping of a ruptured dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm: a possible complication of cyanoacrylate glue--case report.

A 51-year-old female with a ruptured dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm underwent an uneventful wrapping technique using Biobond-soaked gauze through a unilateral suboccipital transcondyle approach. On the 3rd postoperative day, she developed pareses of the ipsilateral VII through XII cranial nerves. Daily intravenous administration of 300 mg of hydrocortisone was started.

Preliminary study of the effects of caspase inhibitors on vasospasm in dog penetrating arteries.

This preliminary study was undertaken to explore the possible protective effect of caspase inhibitors Z-VDVAD-FMK and Z-DEVD-FMK in apoptosis and vasospasm in penetrating arteries during cerebral vasospasm. Experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was induced in 16 dogs by an intracisternal injection of autologous arterial blood (0.4 ml/kg) on Day 0 and Day 2.

Morphological changes of cerebral arteries in a canine double hemorrhage model.

Cerebral vasospasm is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Despite numerous studies, the pathogenesis of this deadly disorder is not clearly understood. Alterations in endothelial cells are a distinct morphological feature of cerebral vasospasm and some recent studies suggest that apoptosis might play a role in the cells' death.