Primary intracranial plasma cell granulomas presenting as malignant neoplasms.

Plasma cell granuloma (PCG) is an uncommon non-neoplastic mass lesion of unknown etiology. It is characterized by a polyclonal proliferation of chronic inflammatory cells, mostly mature plasma and other mononuclear cells. PCGs arising in the central nervous system are particularly rare.

Rare sensory and autonomic disturbances associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is an important nutritional disorder causing neurological manifestations of myelopathy, neuropathy and dementia. Sub-acute combined degeneration (SCD) with involvement of the posterior columns in the cervical and thoracic cord is a common presentation of this disorder. In this case report, we describe a 43 year old woman with pernicious anemia and myelopathy with atypical clinical features.

Essential role of Rac1/NADPH oxidase in nerve growth factor induction of TRPV1 expression.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) regulates the nociceptive properties of a subset of small diameter sensory neurons by increasing the expression of the heat-sensing transient receptor potential (TRP) channel, TRPV1. This action involves activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor (Trk) A/p38 MAPK pathway. Recent studies indicate that activation of TrkA promotes superoxide generation via NADPH oxidase.

Direct interaction of adenosine with the TRPV1 channel protein.

Vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1), a nonspecific cation channel expressed primarily in small sensory neurons, mediates inflammatory thermal pain sensation. The function and expression of TRPV1 are enhanced during inflammation and certain neuropathies, leading to sustained hyperalgesia. Activation of TRPV1 in the spinal cord and periphery promotes release of adenosine, which produces analgesia by activating A(1) and A(2A) adenosine receptor (AR) on central and peripheral neurons.