Glioblastomas with oligodendroglial component-common origin of the different histological parts and genetic subclassification.

Background: Glioblastomas are the most common and most malignant brain tumors in adults. A small subgroup of glioblastomas contains areas with histological features of oligodendroglial differentiation (GBMO). Our objective was to genetically characterize the oligodendroglial and the astrocytic parts of GBMOs and correlate morphologic and genetic features with clinical data.

Glioblastomas with oligodendroglial component - common origin of the different histological parts and genetic subclassification.

Background: Glioblastomas are the most common and most malignant brain tumors in adults. A small subgroup of glioblastomas contains areas with histological features of oligodendroglial differentiation (GBMO). Our objective was to genetically characterize the oligodendroglial and the astrocytic parts of GBMOs and correlate morphologic and genetic features with clinical data.

Outcome-based profiling of astrocytic tumours identifies prognostic gene expression signatures which link molecular and morphology-based pathology.

Astrocytomas are intracranial malignancies for which invasive growth and high motility of tumour cells preclude total resection; the tumours usually recur in a more aggressive and, eventually, lethal form. Clinical outcome is highly variable and the accuracy of morphology-based prognostic statements is limited. In order to identify novel molecular markers for prognosis we obtained expression profiles of: i) tumours associated with particularly long recurrence-free intervals, ii) tumours which led to rapid patient death, and iii) tumour-free control brain.

A pig model with secondary increase of intracranial pressure after severe traumatic brain injury and temporary blood loss.

There is a lack of animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that adequately simulate the longterm changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) increase following clinical TBI. We therefore reproduced the clinical scenario in an animal model of TBI and studied long-term postinjury changes in ICP and indices of brain injury. After induction of anesthesia, juvenile piglets were randomly traumatized using fluid-percussion injury (FPI) to induce either moderate (mTBI = 6 pigs: 3.

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.

Low expression but infrequent genomic loss of the putative tumour suppressor DBCCR1 in astrocytoma.

DBCCR1 (deleted in bladder cancer chromosomal region 1) has been reported as the gene functionally affected by frequent loss of 9q32-33 in transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder. For these particular tumours, its proposed role in tumour suppression is supported both by the observation of methylation-based silencing of DBCCR1 in a large fraction of bladder cancers and by re-expression studies in bladder cancer-derived cell lines. A more general involvement of DBCCR1 in tumour development might be inferred from recent chip-based expression studies in other tumours.

Expression of ether à go-go potassium channels in human gliomas.

Ether à go-go (EAG) K(+) channels have been shown to be involved in tumor generation and malignant growth. Gliomas have not been investigated thus far. Using RT-PCR we investigated healthy human brain and human gliomas of different subtypes and malignancy grades for the expression of human EAG1 and eag-related gene (ERG) 1 channels.

Rapid generation of detailed loss of heterozygosity profiles for routine diagnosis of gliomas.

Aberrations in the genomes of gliomas seem to correlate well with clinical parameters. Pertinent studies, however, rely on highly sophisticated methods, they require large amounts of high-quality sample material and/or they demand profound analytical expertise. Consequently, molecular tumour analysis has not yet been widely implemented in routine laboratory applications.

Selection of D-amino-acid peptides that bind to Alzheimer's disease amyloid peptide abeta1-42 by mirror image phage display.

A mirror image phage display approach was used to identify novel and highly specific ligands for Alzheimer's disease amyloid peptide Abeta(1-42). A randomized 12-mer peptide library presented on M13 phages was screened for peptides with binding affinity for the mirror image of Abeta(1-42). After four rounds of selection and amplification the peptides were enriched with a dominating consensus sequence.

Expression of voltage-gated potassium channels Kv1.3 and Kv1.5 in human gliomas.

K(+) channels play an important role in glial cell proliferation and are functionally expressed in glial tumors. Because voltage-gated K(+) channel (Kv) subtypes Kv1.3 and Kv1.

BK channel openers inhibit migration of human glioma cells.

Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK channels) are highly expressed in human glioma cells. However, less is known about their biological function in these cells. We used the patch-clamp technique to investigate activation properties of BK channels and time-lapse microscopy to evaluate the role of BK channel activation in migration of 1321N1 human glioma cells.

Molecular characterization of voltage-gated sodium channels in human gliomas.

Voltage-sensitive sodium channels appear to be an electrophysiological hallmark of gliomas. However, the expression of channel subtypes is unclear in these tumors. In this study different gliomas were investigated for the expression of sodium channel subtypes Na(v)1.

Serial positron emission tomographic findings in an atypical presentation of fatal familial insomnia.

Background: Genetic analyses of fatal familial insomnia, a prion disease, disclose a broader range of symptoms than previously described. Although insomnia and dysautonomia have been described as hallmarks of the disease, there is substantial variability in clinical presentation.

Objective: To evaluate serial fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic and electroencephalographic findings in atypical fatal familial insomnia without clinical insomnia.

[Brain metastases of colorectal carcinomas].

Background: Patients with brain metastases from colorectal cancer are supposed to have the lowest median survival compared to other locations of metastases from this cancer. Patients with brain metastases usually receive highly palliative treatment and are excluded from studied investigating new therapeutic concepts. However, there appears to be a subgroup of patients with brain metastases originating from colorectal cancer who have a median survival comparable to that of other metastatic sites.

BK channel blockers inhibit potassium-induced proliferation of human astrocytoma cells.

The functional role of BK channels, which are consistently expressed in glioma cells, is not clear. Here we show that the BK channels are regularly active in human 1321N1 astrocytoma cells at physiological membrane potentials. The proliferation of the cells at the physiological external [K+] of 5 mM is compared with that at the elevated external [K+] of 20 mM, simulating the situation in rapidly growing, necrotic tumours in vivo.