VISTA Emerges as a Promising Target against Immune Evasion Mechanisms in Medulloblastoma.

Background: Relapsed medulloblastoma (MB) poses a significant therapeutic challenge due to its highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have struggled to mitigate this challenge, largely due to low T-cell infiltration and minimal PD-L1 expression. Identifying the mechanisms driving low T-cell infiltration is crucial for developing more effective immunotherapies.

Invasive Fungal Infections of the Head and Neck: A Tertiary Hospital Experience.

From the existing millions of fungal species, only a few cause disease. In this study, we investigated invasive fungal infections in the head and neck (H&N) over a 19-year period (2005 to 2024) at a large academic healthcare system. Among the 413 documented fungal H&N infections, 336 were noninvasive, and 77 were invasive.

Autologous stem cell transplantation in adults with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor: a case report and review.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is a rare and highly aggressive primary CNS neoplasm, predominantly observed in children. The use of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in pediatric ATRT has shown promise; however, its utility in adult ATRT remains unclear. This study presents the case of an adult patient with ATRT who is in remission after ASCT and reviews the literature on ASCT in adults with ATRT.

Transcriptional Signatures of Hippocampal Tau Pathology in Primary Age-Related Tauopathy and Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Tau pathology is common in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Tau pathology in primary age-related tauopathy (PART) and in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a similar biochemical structure and anatomic distribution, which is distinct from tau pathology in other diseases. However, the molecular changes associated with intraneuronal tau pathology in PART and AD, and whether these changes are similar in the two diseases, is largely unexplored.

Nodular fasciitis of the periorbital soft tissue in an adolescent confirmed by USP6 gene rearrangement.

Nodular fasciitis is a benign, idiopathic condition that can simulate both benign and malignant neoplasms. In adults, it generally occurs in the subcutaneous or superficial fascia of the trunk or upper extremities; occurrence in the periorbital region is far less common. We describe a case of a 16-year-old male with a 4-month history of a nodular, non-tender, progressively enlarging mass of the superotemporal periorbita.

GammaTile® brachytherapy in the treatment of recurrent glioblastomas.

Background: GammaTile® (GT) is a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared brachytherapy platform.

Selumetinib normalizes Ras/MAPK signaling in clinically relevant neurofibromatosis type 1 minipig tissues in vivo.

Background: The MEK1/2 inhibitor selumetinib was recently approved for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated plexiform neurofibromas, but outcomes could be improved and its pharmacodynamic evaluation in other relevant tissues is limited. The aim of this study was to assess selumetinib tissue pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) using a minipig model of NF1.

Methods: WT ( = 8) and NF1 ( = 8) minipigs received a single oral dose of 7.

Devascularization of a Hemorrhagic Pineocytoma by Laser Thermal Ablation Followed by Endoscopic Resection: A Proof-of-Principle Case Report.

Background: Thermal coagulation is a central principle in surgery, particularly regarding hemostasis, as well as being an integral part of intracranial tumor removal. Traditionally, surgical hemostasis is achieved through application of unipolar or bipolar electrocautery. This method has been contemporized and specialized to treat intracranial tumors through a technique called stereotactic laser ablation (SLA), also known as laser interstitial thermal therapy.

Lipoblast-Like Morphology in a Uveal Melanoma with Delayed Metastasis to the Liver.

Uveal melanomas are typically described as having epithelial or spindled cell morphology; however, as is the nature of melanomas, the morphology of the malignant melanocytes can be varied. We describe a unique case of metastatic uveal melanoma with lipoblast-like morphology, identified in the liver during an autopsy of a 75-year-old woman. Apart from a remote history of uveal melanoma in the right eye, there was no other history of cancer, and there were no concerning skin lesions present.

Blood biomarkers as surrogate endpoints of treatment responses to aerobic exercise and cognitive training (ACT) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: the blood biomarkers study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (the ACT Trial).

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an epidemic with tremendous public health impacts because there are currently no disease-modifying therapeutics. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for prevention of AD dementia often use clinical endpoints that take years to manifest (e.g.

PD-L1 Expression in Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas Is Independent of BRAF V600E Mutational Status.

To evaluate a potential relationship between BRAF V600E mutation and PD-L1 expression, we examined the expression of PD-L1 in pediatric high- and low-grade glioma cell lines as well as a cohort of pediatric low-grade glioma patient samples. Half of the tumors in our patient cohort were V600-wildtype and half were V600E mutant. All tumors expressed PD-L1.

Infratentorial Glioblastoma Metastasis to Bone.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rapid-growing central nervous system neoplasm. We report a case of GBM with extensive intramedullary lumbar drop metastasis and highly unusual osseous spine metastasis from a primary infratentorial GBM occurring 10 years after the initial diagnosis, which to our knowledge has not been described previously.

Case Description: This 37-year-old man presented with new-onset headaches of increasing severity.

Neuropathologic, genetic, and longitudinal cognitive profiles in primary age-related tauopathy (PART) and Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is a recently described entity that can cause cognitive impairment in the absence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we compared neuropathological features, tau haplotypes, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes, and cognitive profiles in age-matched subjects with PART and AD pathology.

Methods: Brain autopsies (n = 183) were conducted on participants 85 years and older from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging and Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

PD-L1 expression in medulloblastoma: an evaluation by subgroup.

Background: This study evaluated the expression of PD-L1 and markers of immune mediated resistance in human medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor.

Results: Overall levels of PD-L1 in human MB were low; however, some cases demonstrated robust focal expression associated with increased immune infiltrates. The case with highest PD-L1 expression was a sonic hedgehog (SHH) MB.

A unique telomere DNA expansion phenotype in human retinal rod photoreceptors associated with aging and disease.

We have identified a discrete, focal telomere DNA expansion phenotype in the photoreceptor cell layer of normal, non-neoplastic human retinas. This phenotype is similar to that observed in a subset of human cancers, including a large fraction of tumors of the central nervous system, which maintain their telomeres via the non-telomerase-mediated alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. We observed that these large, ultra-bright telomere DNA foci are restricted to the rod photoreceptors and are not observed in other cell types.

Multiplexed analysis of fixed tissue RNA using Ligation in situ Hybridization.

Clinical tissues are prepared for histological analysis and long-term storage via formalin fixation and paraffin embedding (FFPE). The FFPE process results in fragmentation and chemical modification of RNA, rendering it less suitable for analysis by techniques that rely on reverse transcription (RT) such as RT-qPCR and RNA-Seq. Here we describe a broadly applicable technique called 'Ligation in situ Hybridization' ('LISH'), which is an alternative methodology for the analysis of FFPE RNA.

Craniopharyngiomas : Radiological Differentiation of Two Types.

Objective: To determine imaging features that may separate adamantinomatous and papillary variants of craniopharyngiomas given that tumors with adamantinomatous signature features are associated with higher recurrence rates, morbidity, and mortality. We specifically reviewed calcification on CT, T1 bright signal intensity, and cystic change on T2 weighted images for differentiating these two types.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the MRI and CT studies in 38 consecutive patients with pathologically proven craniopharyngiomas between January 2004 and February 2014 for the presence of calcification on CT scans, bright signal intensity on T1 weighted images, and cystic change on T2 weighted images.

Expression of p16 and p53 in Intraepithelial Periocular Sebaceous Carcinoma.

Purpose: Identifying intraepithelial sebaceous carcinoma cells in small periocular biopsies can be difficult, particularly in the conjunctiva. The goal of this study was to evaluate p53 and p16 immunohistochemistry as potential markers of intraepithelial sebaceous carcinoma.

Procedures: A total of 25 tumors, including 4 recurrent lesions, were stained for p16 and p53, with intensity scored as negative, weak, moderate or strong.

Diffusion tensor imaging suggests extrapontine extension of pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.

Purpose: To apply DTI to detect early extrapontine extension of pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma along the corticospinal tracts.

Methods: In children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, low-grade brainstem glioma, and age-matched controls, DTI metrics were measured in the posterior limb of the internal capsule and posterior centrum semiovale. Histological examination was available in one patient.

cMYC expression in infiltrating gliomas: associations with IDH1 mutations, clinicopathologic features and outcome.

Gliomas are among the most frequent adult primary brain tumors. Mutations in IDH1, a metabolic enzyme, strongly correlate with secondary glioblastomas and increased survival. cMYC is an oncogene also implicated in aberrant metabolism, but its prognostic impact remains unclear.

Seasonality, clinical types and prognostic factors of Vibrio vulnificus infection.

Introduction: Vibrio vulnificus infection, an uncommon but life-threatening illness, manifests as two main types, primary septicemia and primary wound infections.  Little information regarding the seasonality of V. vulnificus infections in tropical areas and prognostic factors of primary V.