Magnetic labeling of primary murine monocytes using very small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Due to their very small size, nanoparticles can interact with all cells in the central nervous system. One of the most promising nanoparticle subgroups are very small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (VSOP) that are citrate coated for electrostatic stabilization. To determine their influence on murine blood-derived monocytes, which easily enter the injured central nervous system, we applied VSOP and carboxydextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Resovist).

Biocompatibility of very small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in murine organotypic hippocampal slice cultures and the role of microglia.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) are applied as contrast media for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and treatment of neurologic diseases despite the fact that important information concerning their local interactions is still lacking. Due to their small size, SPIO have great potential for magnetically labeling different cell populations, facilitating their MRI tracking in vivo. Before SPIO are applied, however, their effect on cell viability and tissue homoeostasis should be studied thoroughly.

Studying Axonal Outgrowth and Regeneration of the Corticospinal Tract in Organotypic Slice Cultures.

Studies of axonal outgrowth and regeneration after spinal cord injury are hampered by the complexity of the events involved. Here, we present a simple and improved in vitro approach to investigate outgrowth, regeneration of the corticospinal tract, and intrinsic parenchymal responses. We prepared organotypic co-cultures using explants from the motor cortex of postnatal donor mice ubiquitously expressing green fluorescent protein and cervical spinal cord from wild type pups of the same age.

New findings about iron oxide nanoparticles and their different effects on murine primary brain cells.

The physicochemical properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) enable their application in the diagnostics and therapy of central nervous system diseases. However, since crucial information regarding side effects of particle-cell interactions within the central nervous system is still lacking, we investigated the influence of novel very small iron oxide particles or the clinically approved ferucarbotran or ferumoxytol on the vitality and morphology of brain cells. We exposed primary cell cultures of microglia and hippocampal neurons, as well as neuron-glia cocultures to varying concentrations of SPIOs for 6 and/or 24 hours, respectively.

Clonal analysis in recurrent astrocytic, oligoastrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors implicates IDH1- mutation as common tumor initiating event.

Background: To investigate the dynamics of inter- and intratumoral molecular alterations during tumor progression in recurrent gliomas.

Methodology/principal Findings: To address intertumoral heterogeneity we investigated non-microdissected tumor tissue of 106 gliomas representing 51 recurrent tumors. To address intratumoral heterogeneity a set of 16 gliomas representing 7 tumor pairs with at least one recurrence, and 4 single mixed gliomas were investigated by microdissection of distinct oligodendroglial and astrocytic tumor components.

Migration of monocytes after intracerebral injection.

Recently, we monitored green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing monocytes after injection at the entorhinal cortex lesion (ECL) site in mice. We followed their migration out of the central nervous system (CNS) along olfactory nerve fibers penetrating the lamina cribrosa, within the nasal mucosa, and their subsequent appearance within the deep cervical lymph nodes (CLN), with numbers peaking at day 7. This is the same route activated T cells use for reaching the CLN, as we have shown before.

Migration of monocytes after intracerebral injection at entorhinal cortex lesion site.

The lack of classical lymph vessels within brain tissue complicates immune surveillance of the CNS, and therefore, cellular emigration out of the CNS parenchyma requires alternate pathways. Whereas invasion of blood-derived mononuclear cells and their transformation into ramified, microglia-like cells in areas of axonal degeneration across an intact BBB have been demonstrated, it still remained unclear whether these cells reside permanently, undergo apoptosis, or leave the brain to present antigen in lymphoid organs. With the use of ECL of mice and injection of GFP-expressing monocytes, we followed the appearance of injected cells in spleen and LNs and the migratory pathways in whole-head histological sections.

Minocycline reduces glioma expansion and invasion by attenuating microglial MT1-MMP expression.

Glioma cells release soluble factors, which induce the expression of membrane type 1 matrix metalloprotease (MT1-MMP) in tumor associated microglia and then exploit MT1-MMP mediated matrix degradation for invasion. Here, we show that minocycline blocked the increase in MT1-MMP expression and activity in cultivated microglia stimulated with glioma conditioned medium. Glioma growth within an organotypic brain slice preparation was reduced by minocycline and this reduction depended on the presence of microglia.

Completely ossified pseudomeningocele, a rare complication after spinal surgery.

Background: We report the rare case of an ossified pseudomeningocele following laminectomy. The extradural pseudocyst has completely ossified without an overt communication to the subarachnoid space.

Case Report: In 1986, a 41 year-old woman suffered from spinal stenosis at levels L3-5 and was treated by laminectomy.

Gliomas induce and exploit microglial MT1-MMP expression for tumor expansion.

Diffuse infiltration of glioma cells into normal brain tissue is considered to be a main reason for the unfavorable outcomes of patients with malignant gliomas. Invasion of glioma cells into the brain parenchyma is facilitated by metalloprotease-mediated degradation of the extracellular matrix. Metalloproteases are released as inactive pro-forms and get activated upon cleavage by membrane bound metalloproteases.

Complications in percutaneous vertebroplasty associated with puncture or cement leakage.

Due to the minimally invasive character and excellent clinical outcome of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), the procedure is being performed in greatly increasing numbers. While PVP has a low complication rate in general, severe complications can occur. We focus on the imaging appearance of complications of PVP associated with puncture or cement leakage--from harmless to life-threatening.

A1 adenosine receptors in microglia control glioblastoma-host interaction.

We report that experimental glioblastoma grow more vigorously in A(1) adenosine receptor (A(1)AR)-deficient mice associated with a strong accumulation of microglial cells at and around the tumors. A(1)ARs were prominently expressed in microglia associated with tumor cells as revealed with immunocytochemistry but low in microglia in the unaffected brain tissue. The A(1)AR could also be detected on microglia from human glioblastoma resections.

Surgeon's radiation exposure during percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Object: In this study the authors evaluated levels of radiation exposure to surgeons' protected and unprotected hands during fluoroscopically assisted vertebroplasty.

Methods: The amount of radiation administered to 30 patients during 41 procedures in a controlled prospective trial over 6 months was assessed, comparing radiation exposure to the right and left hands in two neurosurgeons. Effective skin doses were evaluated using thermoluminescent finger dosimeters (ring dosimeters).

Bilateral basal ganglia infarction following resection of a right parietal parasagittal dural tumour requiring sinus repair -- an atypical complication of an atypical venous drainage.

The case of a 68-year old woman who underwent surgery for a right parietal parasagittal dural tumour is reported. In the preoperative angiography the straight sinus failed to show. During tumour resection the lateral wall of the parietal superior sagittal sinus was opened and reconstructed.

Intracavitary chemotherapy (paclitaxel/carboplatin liquid crystalline cubic phases) for recurrent glioblastoma -- clinical observations.

Human malignant brain tumors have a poor prognosis in spite of surgery and radiation therapy. Cubic phases consist of curved biocontinuous lipid bilayers, separating two congruent networks of water channels. Used as a host for cytotoxic drugs, the gel-like matrix can easily be applied to the walls of a surgical resection cavity.

Cerebral aneurysms associated with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis: report of a case and review of the literature.

The authors report a case of an intracranial aneurysm associated with von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. A 34-year-old woman presented with a history of headaches, unconsciousness and neck rigidity. Widespread cutaneous neurofibromas were found.

Local chemotherapy of F98 rat glioblastoma with paclitaxel and carboplatin embedded in liquid crystalline cubic phases.

Implanted drug carrier systems for retarded chemotherapy against gliomas are mainly based upon polymers containing nitrosoureas. The authors have developed an intracavitary carrier system of biodegradable liquid crystalline cubic phases encapsulating carboplatin and paclitaxel and studied it for release kinetics, antitumor activity, and survival prolongation. A total of 61 Fisher rats with F98 tumors were divided into six treatment groups at day 12 post-inoculation, receiving either no treatment, surgery with partial tumor resection, or partial resection with implantation of cubic phases containing either paclitaxel and carboplatin, paclitaxel alone, carboplatin alone, or no drug.

Glioblastoma-induced attraction of endogenous neural precursor cells is associated with improved survival.

Neural precursor cells contribute to adult neurogenesis and to limited attempts of brain repair after injury. Here we report that in a murine experimental glioblastoma model, endogenous neural precursors migrate from the subventricular zone toward the tumor and surround it. The association of endogenous precursors with syngenic tumor grafts was observed, after injecting red fluorescent protein-labeled G261 cells into the caudate-putamen of transgenic mice, which express green fluorescent protein under a promoter for nestin (nestin-GFP).

Embolization of indirect carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas using the superior ophthalmic vein approach.

Objectives: In indirect carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas (CCF), abnormal connections exist between tiny dural branches of the external and/or internal carotid system and the cavernous sinus. Usually this kind of fistula occurs spontaneously and is characterized by a low shunt volume. Alternative vascular approaches for embolization are required when standard interventional neuroradiological access via arterial or transfemoral venous routes is not feasible.

[Bladder dysfunction due to spinal cord compression. Treatment modes and results].

Bladder dysfunction is often observed in cases of spinal compression and is commonly caused by spinal tumors, trauma, or degenerative spine disease. Microsurgical decompression is the most important therapy. The earlier microsurgery is performed, the better the chances are for recovery of bladder function.

Case history: multicentric glioma with involvement of the optic chiasm.

The case is reported of a man, aged 68, with a right-sided temporal glioblastoma multiform and a left sided chiasmal anaplastic glioma, as well as an occipital tumor, presumably of glial nature. The patient had a complete prostatectomy of adenocarcinoma a year before. The coincidence of multicentric gliomas and prostate cancer is briefly discussed.

Genetic signature of oligoastrocytomas correlates with tumor location and denotes distinct molecular subsets.

Oligoastrocytomas are heterogeneous tumors that have molecular features that overlap with either oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas. Differences in the frequency of chromosomal losses of 1p and 19q in oligodendrogliomas are related to tumor location, with a low rate of allelic loss in tumors of the temporal and a high rate in tumors of the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. To test the possibility of regional molecular heterogeneity in oligoastrocytoma, we examined a series of 203 gliomas including 68 oligoastrocytomas and two control groups of 73 oligodendrogliomas and 62 astrocytomas for allelic losses of chromosomal arms 1p and 19q, and TP53 mutations, and compared these data with tumor localization.

GABA(A)-receptor expression in glioma cells is triggered by contact with neuronal cells.

The expression of functional GABA(A)-receptors in glioma cells correlates with low malignancy of tumours and cell lines from glioma lack these receptors. Here we show that contact with neurons induces the expression of functional GABA(A)-receptors. C6 and F98 glioma cell lines were labelled by recombinant expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein injected into rat brain and studied in acute slices after two to three weeks of tumour growth.