Three distinct co-existent primary brain tumors in a patient.

A rare case of simultaneous occurrence of three entirely distinct intracranial tumors is described. A 55-year-old male with no evidence of phacomatoses or history of radiation therapy presented with complaints of increased drowsiness, headaches, and dysarthria. Investigations revealed an olfactory groove meningioma, a glioblastoma multiforme in the left medial temporal lobe, and a diffuse glioma in the brain stem.

MicroRNA function is globally suppressed in mouse oocytes and early embryos.

Dicer, which is required for the processing of both microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), is essential for oocyte maturation [1, 2]. Oocytes express both miRNAs and endogenous siRNAs (endo-siRNAs) [3, 4]. To determine whether the abnormalities in Dicer knockout oocytes during meiotic maturation are secondary to the loss of endo-siRNAs and/or miRNAs, we deleted Dgcr8, which encodes an RNA-binding protein specifically required for miRNA processing.

Saphenous mononeuropathy after popliteal vein aneurysm repair.

Introduction: Saphenous mononeuropathy has been a well recognized consequence of lower extremity surgery. However, this complication has not been previously described with popliteal vein aneurysm repair.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with a saphenous mononeuropathy after popliteal vein aneurysm repair.

Phase II trial of intratumoral BCNU injection and radiotherapy on untreated adult malignant glioma.

DTI-015 (BCNU dissolved in ethanol) utilizes solvent facilitated perfusion (SFP) for intratumoral drug delivery. A phase II clinical trial of DTI-015 and fractionated external beam radiotherapy on newly diagnosed, malignant gliomas investigated early changes in tumour physiology and metabolism, clinical outcome and safety. Pre- and post DTI-015 injection neuro-imaging included computed tomography (CT) cerebral blood flow and volume, glucose and thallium single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

A novel presentation of diffuse lung disease caused by congenital hypothyroidism.

A term infant was born with respiratory distress, and subsequent imaging, histopathologic, and hormonal studies confirmed congenital hypothyroidism. This report is intended to alert pediatricians to the possibility of congenital hypothyroidism as a cause of respiratory symptoms of unknown cause in neonates with respiratory distress.

Genomic analysis suggests that mRNA destabilization by the microprocessor is specialized for the auto-regulation of Dgcr8.

Background: The Microprocessor, containing the RNA binding protein Dgcr8 and RNase III enzyme Drosha, is responsible for processing primary microRNAs to precursor microRNAs. The Microprocessor regulates its own levels by cleaving hairpins in the 5'UTR and coding region of the Dgcr8 mRNA, thereby destabilizing the mature transcript.

Methodology/principal Findings: To determine whether the Microprocessor has a broader role in directly regulating other coding mRNA levels, we integrated results from expression profiling and ultra high-throughput deep sequencing of small RNAs.

Novel SPG3A and SPG4 mutations in two patients with Silver syndrome.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia encompasses a group of disorders that are characterized by progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity. We describe two patients with Silver phenotype including one with a novel SPG4 (Spastin) mutation and a second with a known SPG 4 mutation (previously unassociated with this phenotype) and a concomitant previously unreported mutation in SPG3A (Atlastin). These cases suggest that Silver syndrome may be associated with a wider variety of genotypes than previously described.

Bone marrow stem and progenitor cell contribution to neovasculogenesis is dependent on model system with SDF-1 as a permissive trigger.

Adult bone marrow (BM) contributes to neovascularization in some but not all settings, and reasons for these discordant results have remained unexplored. We conducted novel comparative studies in which multiple neovascularization models were established in single mice to reduce variations in experimental methodology. In different combinations, BM contribution was detected in ischemic retinas and, to a lesser extent, Lewis lung carcinoma cells, whereas B16 melanomas showed little to no BM contribution.

Extent of MGMT promoter methylation correlates with outcome in glioblastomas given temozolomide and radiotherapy.

Background: Epigenetic silencing of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) by promoter methylation is associated with improved survival in glioblastomas treated with alkylating agents. In this study, we investigated MGMT promoter methylation in glioblastomas treated with temozolomide and radiotherapy in a single UK treatment centre.

Methods: Quantitative methylation data at individual CpG sites were obtained by pyrosequencing for 109 glioblastomas.

The evolution of guanylyl cyclases as multidomain proteins: conserved features of kinase-cyclase domain fusions.

Guanylyl cyclases (GCs) are enzymes that generate cyclic GMP and regulate different physiologic and developmental processes in a number of organisms. GCs possess sequence similarity to class III adenylyl cyclases (ACs) and are present as either membrane-bound receptor GCs or cytosolic soluble GCs. We sought to determine the evolution of GCs using a large-scale bioinformatic analysis and found multiple lineage-specific expansions of GC genes in the genomes of many eukaryotes.

High ambient glucose augments angiotensin II-induced proinflammatory gene mRNA expression in human mesangial cells: effects of valsartan and simvastatin.

Background: Hyperglycemia may potentiate the adverse renal effects of angiotensin II (AII). In the kidney, the major target of AII action is the glomerular mesangial cell, where its hemodynamic and proinflammatory action contributes to renal injury. AII action is mediated by several types of cell receptors.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia with Col-S strains: a successful comeback of colistin!

Emergence of multi and pan-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria causing nosocomial infections in intensive care settings has become a challenge for clinicians. The mortality rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is known to increase when the initial microbiological diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy are inappropriate. We present a case of a 18-year-old man, who after being admitted following an accident, had developed VAP due to multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.

Characterization of an evolutionarily conserved metallophosphoesterase that is expressed in the fetal brain and associated with the WAGR syndrome.

Among the human diseases that result from chromosomal aberrations, a de novo deletion in chromosome 11p13 is clinically associated with a syndrome characterized by Wilms' tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation (WAGR). Not all genes in the deleted region have been characterized biochemically or functionally. We have recently identified the first Class III cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, Rv0805, from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which biochemically and structurally belongs to the superfamily of metallophosphoesterases.

Embryonic stem cell-specific microRNAs regulate the G1-S transition and promote rapid proliferation.

Dgcr8 knockout embryonic stem (ES) cells lack microprocessor activity and hence all canonical microRNAs (miRNAs). These cells proliferate slowly and accumulate in G1 phase of the cell cycle. Here, by screening a comprehensive library of individual miRNAs in the background of the Dgcr8 knockout ES cells, we report that multiple ES cell-specific miRNAs, members of the miR-290 family, rescue the ES cell proliferation defect.

Increased risk of cervical dysplasia in long-term survivors of allogeneic stem cell transplantation--implications for screening and HPV vaccination.

As more women survive allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), the development of genital human papilloma virus (HPV)-related squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) warrants study. Thirty-five of 38 females followed prospectively long-term after SCT for hematological malignancies (median: 7 years posttransplant) were adults and had cervical cytology testing. Acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) occurred in 9 and chronic (cGVHD) in 34 patients.

A survey of nucleotide cyclases in actinobacteria: unique domain organization and expansion of the class III cyclase family in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Cyclic nucleotides are well-known second messengers involved in the regulation of important metabolic pathways or virulence factors. There are six different classes of nucleotide cyclases that can accomplish the task of generating cAMP, and four of these are restricted to the prokaryotes. The role of cAMP has been implicated in the virulence and regulation of secondary metabolites in the phylum Actinobacteria, which contains important pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M.

Primary gastrointestinal mucormycosis in an immunocompetent person.

In the past decade, mucormycosis has emerged as an important lethal infection in diabetics and other immunocompromised hosts. Rhinosinusitis, pansinusitis, rhino-orbital and rhinocerebral are the common classical manifestations of mucormycosis. However, primary gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis is an uncommon disease associated with a high mortality rate.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is critical for the host resistance against Toxoplasma gondii.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) exerts either a protective or a deleterious role in the immune response to different pathogens. We analyzed herein the role of MIF in the host control of toxoplasmosis using MIF(-/-) mice backcrossed to either the BALB/c or the C57BL/6 genetic backgrounds. Both, wild-type (WT) BALB/c and MIF(-/-) BALB/c mice were susceptible to infection with highly virulent RH as well as moderately virulent ME49 strains of T.

Is it the end of the road for dental amalgam? A critical review.

The longevity of dental restorations is dependent on many factors, including those related to materials, the dentist, and the patient. Dental amalgams have successfully served the profession for over a century. The main reasons for restoration failure are secondary caries, fracture of the bulk of the restoration or of the tooth, and marginal deficiencies and wear.