Invasive and Noninvasive Nonfunctioning Gonadotroph Pituitary Tumors Differ in DNA Methylation Level of LINE-1 Repetitive Elements.

Purpose: Epigenetic dysregulation plays a role in pituitary tumor pathogenesis. Some differences in DNA methylation were observed between invasive and noninvasive nonfunctioning gonadotroph tumors. This study sought to determine the role of DNA methylation changes in repetitive LINE-1 elements in nonfunctioning gonadotroph pituitary tumors.

The Search of miRNA Related to Invasive Growth of Nonfunctioning Gonadotropic Pituitary Tumors.

Purpose: Nonfunctioning gonadotropic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are among the most frequent neoplasms of pituitary gland. Although PitNETs are commonly considered benign, a notable part of patients suffer from tumor recurrence after treatment. Invasive growth of pituitary tumor is among the most important prognostic factors.

DNA Methylation Influences miRNA Expression in Gonadotroph Pituitary Tumors.

microRNAs are involved in pathogenesis of cancer. DNA methylation plays a role in transcription of miRNA-encoding genes and may contribute to changed miRNA expression in tumors. This issue was not investigated in pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) previously.

The Role of Aberrant DNA Methylation in Misregulation of Gene Expression in Gonadotroph Nonfunctioning Pituitary Tumors.

Gonadotroph nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are common intracranial tumors, but the role of aberrant epigenetic regulation in their development remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of impaired CpG methylation in NFPAs. We determined DNA methylation and transcriptomic profiles in 32 NFPAs and normal pituitary sections using methylation arrays and sequencing, respectively.

USP8 mutations in corticotroph adenomas determine a distinct gene expression profile irrespective of functional tumour status.

Objective: Pituitary corticotroph adenomas commonly cause Cushing's disease (CD) but part of these tumours are hormonally inactive (silent corticotroph adenomas, SCA). USP8 mutations are well-known driver mutations in corticotrophinomas. Differences in transcriptomic profiles between functioning and silent tumours or tumours with different USP8 status have not been investigated.

Telomere length and TERT abnormalities in pituitary adenomas.

Objectives: Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are among the most frequent intracranial tumors in humans. Abnormal telomerase activity and telomere lengthening are features of tumor cells. They may result from mutations in TERT promoter region, gene amplification or aberrant DNA methylation pattern.

DNA methylation profiling in nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are among the most frequent intracranial tumors but their molecular background, including changes in epigenetic regulation, remains poorly understood. We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of 34 NFPAs and normal pituitary samples. Methylation status of the selected genomic regions and expression level of corresponding genes were assessed in a group of 75 patients.

Mutational Analysis of Recurrent Meningioma Progressing From Atypical to Rhabdoid Subtype.

Background: Rhabdoid meningioma is rare aggressive meningioma histological subtype that develops predominantly through progression from less malignant tumors. Owing to its low incidence, this tumor's biological background is unknown. The aim of this study was to profile somatic mutations in 4 meningioma samples from the same patient, derived previously from 4 subsequent tumor resections.

Microsatellite instability analysis in pituitary adenomas.

Objective: Mutator phenotypes with microsatellite instability (MSI) are observed in a subset of solid tumors including those localized in the brain. MSI arises from impaired DNA mismatch repair. It can be a potential marker of resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, as demonstrated for several cancer types.

Ganglion cell tumours in the sella turcica in close morphological connection with pituitary adenomas.

Ganglion cell tumours in the sellar region are uncommon. They are usually associated with pituitary adenomas, while isolated ganglion cell neoplasms are extremely rare. We report the clinicopathological studies of five cases diagnosed as ganglion cell tumours located in the intrasellar region: four mixed/collision tumours composed of gangliocytoma and pituitary adenoma, and one isolated ganglioglioma unrelated to adenoma.

, , and mutations in meningiomas.

Meningiomas are among the most frequent intracranial tumors. Treatment involves surgical resection with optional subsequent radiotherapy for high-grade meningiomas or radiosurgery following incomplete tumor removal. At present, no pharmacological agents are used as treatment.

Alternative splicing of iodothyronine deiodinases in pituitary adenomas. Regulation by oncoprotein SF2/ASF.

Pituitary tumors belong to the group of most common neoplasms of the sellar region. Iodothyronine deiodinase types 1 (DIO1) and 2 (DIO2) are enzymes contributing to the levels of locally synthesized T3, a hormone regulating key physiological processes in the pituitary, including its development, cellular proliferation, and hormone secretion. Previous studies revealed that the expression of deiodinases in pituitary tumors is variable and, moreover, there is no correlation between mRNA and protein products of the particular gene, suggesting the potential role of posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms.

Motor cortex stimulation in the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Background And Purpose: Despite the rapid development of neuropharmacotherapy, medical treatment of neuropathic pain (NP) still constitutes a significant socioeconomic problem. The authors herein present a group of patients treated with motor cortex stimulation (MCS) for NP of various types and aetiologies.

Material And Methods: Our cohort included 12 female and 11 male NP patients aged 53 ± 16 treated with MCS.

Statistical analysis of the intracranial procedures in Poland in 2008-2009.

Background And Purpose: Quantitative and qualitative analysis of neurosurgical procedures provides important data for assessment of the development and trends in the field of neurosurgery. The authors present statistical data on intracranial procedures (IPs) performed in Poland in 2008-2009.

Material And Methods: Data on IPs come from reports of the National Health Fund, grouped according to the system of Diagnosis-Related Groups, group A - nervous system diseases.

Fluorescence-guided resection of primary and recurrent malignant gliomas with 5-aminolevulinic acid. Preliminary results.

Background And Purpose: Extent of resection plays a key role in the treatment of malignant gliomas (MGs). Patients with complete glioma removal, followed by chemoradiation, obtain the longest overall and progression-free survival. Fluorescence-guided resection of MGs enables intraoperative visualization of glioma tissue and increases control of the resection.

Histopathological patterns of papillary tumour of the pineal region.

Papillary tumour of the pineal region (PTPR) is a rare neoplasm that has been formally included in the 2007 WHO classification of central nervous system tumours. The critical diagnosis of this neoplasm is often difficult because of its similarity to other primary or secondary papillary lesions of the pineal region, including parenchymal pineal tumours, papillary ependymoma, papillary meningioma, choroid plexus papilloma and metastatic papillary carcinoma. We present the variability of the histopathological pattern in three cases of PTPR.

Thalamic deep brain stimulation in the treatment of essential tremor.

Background And Purpose: Quality of life can be severely impaired by essential tremor (ET) being the main cause of the patient's disability. The authors present a group of ET patients treated with deep brain stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (Vim DBS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Vim DBS in the treatment of ET.

Subthalamic deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson disease.

Background And Purpose: The role of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) in the treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) is well established. The authors present a group of patients diagnosed with PD who were treated with STN DBS.

Material And Methods: Between 2008 and 2009, 32 female and 34 male patients with PD were treated with STN DBS.

Thalamic deep brain stimulation for tremor among multiple sclerosis patients.

Background And Purpose: Disabling tremor might be the main cause of disability of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Neuromodulation with deep brain stimulation of the thalamic nucleus ventralis intermedius (Vim DBS) is a well accepted method of neurosurgical treatment of tremor related to essential tremor or Parkinson disease. Vim DBS is not widely used to control MS tremor.

Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor of the fourth ventricle with advanced microvascular proliferation--a case report.

Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor (RGNT) of the fourth ventricle is a recently described novel type of primary brain tumor that was included into the current WHO classification of CNS tumors. It is a very rare, slowly growing, mixed neoplasm at cerebellar localization with distinctive morphological pattern. We present an unusual case of a 20-year-old patient with RNGT of the fourth ventricle with advanced microvascular proliferation.

Spindle cell oncocytoma of the adenohypophysis - a clinicopathological and ultrastructural study of two cases.

Spindle cell oncocytoma (SCO) of the pituitary gland is a relatively recently established, very rare subtype of adenohypophysis tumours that was introduced as a distinct clinicopathological entity in the fourth edition of WHO classification of the central nervous system tumours (2007). It is non-endocrine neoplasm of the anterior pituitary that occurs in adults and usually follows a benign clinical course, corresponding to WHO grade I. Up to now, pituitary SCO have been reported occasionally and only 14 cases of SCO have been documented in the literature.

Neuroendocrine tumours of rare location.

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) arising from dispersed endocrine system may originate from almost every location, although they are most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. NETs are considered as particularly rare if they constitute less than 1% of all neuroendocrine tumours. The aim of the paper is to present ten rare NETs from the database of the Endocrinology Department of the Jagiellonian University, Medical College: 4 NETs of the ampulla of Vater, 2 of the gallbladder, and 1 of the ovary, sphenoid sinus, Meckel's diverticulum, and epiglottis.

Prognostic value of IDH1 mutations identified with PCR-RFLP assay in glioblastoma patients.

Background And Objective: It has been shown that somatic missense mutations in codon 132 of the NADP+ dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene occur frequently in primary brain tumors including highly malignant glioblastoma (GBM). The aim of this study was to evaluate a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based method for missense mutation detection and to estimate the prognostic value of the two most frequent IDH1 codon 132 mutations, R132H and R132C, in patients with newly diagnosed GBM treated with radiation combined with temozolomide.

Methods: DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.

MRI image characteristics of materials implanted at sellar region after transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumours.

Background: Post-surgical evaluation of the pituitary gland in MRI is difficult because of a change in anatomical conditions. It depends also on numerous other factors, including: size and expansion of the tumour before surgery, type of surgical access, quality and volume of implanted materials and time of its resorption. The purpose was to demonstrate the characteristics of the implanted materials on MRI performed after transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumours and to identify imaging criteria helpful in differential diagnosis of masses within the sellar region.