Mast cell hyperactivity underpins the development of oxygen-induced retinopathy.

Mast cells are classically thought to play an important role in protection against helminth infections and in the induction of allergic diseases; however, recent studies indicate that these cells also contribute to neovascularization, which is critical for tissue remodeling, chronic inflammation, and carcinogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that mast cells are essential for sprouting angiogenesis in a murine model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Although mouse strains lacking mast cells did not exhibit retinal neovascularization following hypoxia, these mice developed OIR following infusion of mast cells or after injection of mast cell tryptase (MCT).

Subcutaneous fat necrosis after selective head cooling in an infant.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates causes irreversible damage to tissue and organs and results in multiple organ failure and poor outcome. Therapeutic hypothermia is the most effective therapy in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. We report here a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis (SCFN) after therapeutic hypothermia by selective head cooling.

Ovarian histological findings in an adult patient with the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) deficiency reveal the impairment of steroidogenesis by lipoid deposition.

Context: The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) is essential for the production of steroid hormones. The mutations in the StAR gene typically cause congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (lipoid CAH), characterized by severe adrenal insufficiency in both sexes and complete female external genitalia in genetic males. Affected 46, XX females feminize at puberty and menstruate but have progressive hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.