Cytoplasmic iron deposition is associated with the expression of oxidative DNA damage marker in meningiomas.

Angiomatous meningiomas are rare meningioma subtypes, which are characterized by abundant, well-formed vessels. We encountered two cases of newly diagnosed angiomatous meningiomas exhibiting tumor cells with brown pigments, which were histochemically proven to be iron. In an attempt to understand its pathological significance, we assessed this unusual finding in representatives for each grade of meningiomas and immunoexpression of transferrin receptor (CD71) and the oxidative DNA damage marker, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).

Usefulness of running wheel for detection of congestive heart failure in dilated cardiomyopathy mouse model.

Background: Inherited dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a progressive disease that often results in death from congestive heart failure (CHF) or sudden cardiac death (SCD). Mouse models with human DCM mutation are useful to investigate the developmental mechanisms of CHF and SCD, but knowledge of the severity of CHF in live mice is necessary. We aimed to diagnose CHF in live DCM model mice by measuring voluntary exercise using a running wheel and to determine causes of death in these mice.

Characterization of microglia/macrophages in gliomas developed in S-100β-v-erbB transgenic rats.

Glioma-infiltrating microglia/macrophages are referred to as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Transgenic (TG) rats expressing v-erbB, which is a viral form of the epidermal growth factor receptor, under transcriptional regulation by the S100-β promoter, develop brain tumors. This study was designed to clarify the pathological characteristics of TAMs in these experimental tumors.

Coexpression of glial and neuronal markers in the neurocytic rosettes of rosette-forming glioneuronal tumors.

Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor of the fourth ventricle (RGNT) is a new entity in the WHO 2007 Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. RGNT has two components: neurocytic rosettes and low-grade gliomas. Neurocytic rosettes are conventionally described as consisting of uniform neurocytes.

Impairment of spinal motor neurons in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1-knock-in mice.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of polyglutamine repeats in the Ataxin-1 protein. An accumulating body of cerebellar, histological and behavioral analyses has proven that SCA1-knock-in mice (in which the endogenous Atxn1 gene is replaced with mutant Atxn1 that has abnormally expanded 154 CAG repeats) work as a good tool, which resembles the central nervous system pathology of SCA1 patients. However, the peripheral nervous system pathology of the model mice has not been studied despite the fact that the clinical manifestation is also characterized by peripheral involvement.

Intradural extramedullary spinal nerve sheath myxoma: a report of two cases.

Nerve sheath myxoma, a myxoid variant of schwannoma, is a dermal tumor that usually occurs in the upper extremities, head and neck region, or trunk; occasionally, however, it has also been reported to develop in the spinal canal. Here, we describe two cases of intraspinal nerve sheath myxoma. Case 1 was a 74-year-old man with left hypochondrial pain.

Acrolein-conjugated low-density lipoprotein induces macrophage foam cell formation.

Objective: Acrolein-conjugated lysine residues in proteins are present in human atherosclerotic lesions, and are detected in human low-density lipoprotein (LDL). These findings suggest that acrolein may contribute to macrophage foam cell formation and atherogenesis through modification of LDL. The purpose of this study is to determine whether acrolein-conjugated LDL (Acro-LDL) induces macrophage conversion to form foam cells.

Epithelioid cell granulomatous response of Waldeyer's ring among Japanese : a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 16 cases.

The tonsils are uncommonly affected by granulomatous inflammation. This study attempted to clarify the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings and presence or absence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in tonsilar granulomatous inflammation. A total of 537 consecutive specimens from tonsillectomies performed at Dokkyo University School of Medicine between 1999 and March 2012 were reexamined.

PDGFRA gain in low-grade diffuse gliomas.

Glioblastomas with a proneural expression signature are characterized by frequent IDH1 mutations (i.e. genetic hallmarks of secondary glioblastomas) and PDGFRA (platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α) amplification.

Immediate cytology improves accuracy and decreases complication rate in real-time computed tomography-guided needle lung biopsy.

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (CTNB) of the lung is a well-established diagnostic technique for the evaluation of thoracic lesions. At our institution, we have performed real-time CTNB using automated biopsy needles since 1998 and we introduced immediate cytology in 2004. We evaluate immediate cytology in CTNB to increase the diagnostic accuracy and to reduce the number of inadequate specimens.

Randomized trial of chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with nimustine (ACNU) versus nimustine plus procarbazine for newly diagnosed anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma (JCOG0305).

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the worst cancers in terms of prognosis. Standard therapy consists of resection with concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Resistance to nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU), an alkylating agent, has been linked to methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT).

"Heart appearance" infarction of the pons: a case report.

"Heart appearance" on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a unique presentation of bilateral medial medullary infarction. In contrast, "heart appearance" infarction of the pons has rarely been featured in the medical literature. In this paper, we present a case of "heart appearance" infarction of the pons with its MRI and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings.

Surface modification of amorphous nanosilica particles suppresses nanosilica-induced cytotoxicity, ROS generation, and DNA damage in various mammalian cells.

Recently, nanomaterials have been utilized in various fields. In particular, amorphous nanosilica particles are increasingly being used in a range of applications, including cosmetics, food technology, and medical diagnostics. However, there is concern that the unique characteristics of nanomaterials might induce undesirable effects.

Slug, twist, and E-cadherin as immunohistochemical biomarkers in meningeal tumors.

The overexpression of Twist and Slug and subsequent down-regulation of E-cadherin facilitate the acquirement of invasive growth properties in cancer cells. It is unclear which of these molecules are expressed in mesenchymal tumors in the central nervous system. Here, we investigated 10 cases each of hemangiopericytoma, solitary fibrous tumor, meningothelial, fibrous, angiomatous, and atypical meningiomas, and 5 cases of anaplastic meningioma for Slug, Twist, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin immunoexpression.

Olig2-positive cells in glioneuronal tumors show both glial and neuronal characters: the implication of a common progenitor cell?

Glioneuronal tumors (GNTs) are rare neoplasms consisting of both glial and neuronal components. Among the GNTs, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs), papillary glioneuronal tumors (PGNTs), and rosette-forming glioneuronal tumors of the fourth ventricle (RGNTs) share the character of being mainly composed of small round Olig2-positive tumor cells. Using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we examined a series of 35 GNT cases (11 DNTs, 15 PGNTs and 9 RGNTs) on the characteristics of Olig2-positive tumor cells.

Cerebral astroblastoma in an adult: an immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and genetic study.

Astroblastoma is a rare glial tumor of unknown origin, usually affecting the cerebral hemispheres of children and young adults. Here we report an unusual cerebral tumor in a 60-year-old woman. On MRI, the tumor appeared as a well circumscribed lesion in the left frontal lobe.

Encephalopathy with amyloid angiopathy and numerous amyloid plaques with low levels of CSF Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42.

A middle-aged male suffering from encephalopathy with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) with amyloid beta (Aβ) presented with initial symptoms of transient consciousness disturbance and left visual field photophobia. Lesions with aberrantly high signal on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain appeared in the right temporal lobe posterior to the occipital lobe and spread to other areas. Brain biopsy revealed Aβ deposits in vascular walls and numerous diffuse plaques in parenchymal areas.

Long-term effect of epidural injection with sustained-release lidocaine particles in a rat model of postoperative pain.

Background: Single applications of sustained-release local anaesthetics may provide prolonged pain relief without requiring indwelling catheters, but have not yet been investigated for epidural postoperative pain management. We synthesized injectable sustained-release lidocaine particles (SRLPs) from biodegradable polymers and examined their effect in a rat model of postoperative pain.

Methods: Two types of polylactic acid particles, SRLP-10 and SRLP-25, containing 10% or 25% lidocaine, respectively, were generated and the lidocaine release was evaluated in vitro for 14 days.

The saw-tooth sign as a clinical clue for intrathoracic central airway obstruction.

Background: The saw-tooth sign was first described by Sanders et al in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome as one cause of extrathoracic central airway obstruction. The mechanism of the saw-tooth sign has not been conclusively clarified. The sign has also been described in various extrathoracic central airway diseases, such as in burn victims with thermal injury to the upper airways, Parkinson's disease, tracheobronchomalacia, laryngeal dyskinesia, and pedunculated tumors of the upper airway.

DMBT1 homozygous deletion in diffuse astrocytomas is associated with unfavorable clinical outcome.

Primary glioblastomas develop with a short clinical history, without evidence for less malignant precursor lesions, while secondary glioblastomas slowly develop via progression from diffuse astrocytoma (WHO grade II) or anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III). The time until progression and the clinical outcome of diffuse astrocytomas vary significantly. We have shown that IDH1 mutations reliably distinguish between primary glioblastomas (without IDH1 mutations) and secondary glioblastomas (with IDH1 mutations).

Mometasone furoate nasal spray relieves the ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Background: Recent studies have examined the effects of intranasal corticosteroids (INSs) in relieving the ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR) and perennial allergic rhinitis. However, because most of these studies were based on subjective assessments by patients, the associated factors and mechanism of action are unknown.

Methods: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study was carried out in which patients with SAR were randomly assigned to an INS mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) group or to a placebo group and treated once daily for 4 weeks.

Immunohistochemical analysis-based proteomic subclassification of newly diagnosed glioblastomas.

Recent gene expression and copy number profilings of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network suggest the existence of distinct subtypes of this tumor. However, these approaches might not be easily applicable in routine clinical practice. In the current study, we aimed to establish a proteomics-based subclassification of GBM by integrating their genomic and epigenomic profiles.