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Epilepsy Behav 2018 Dec 3;90:93-98. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

IRCCS "NEUROMED", Pozzilli, IS, Italy; Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report long-term seizure outcome in patients who underwent frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) surgery.

Method: This retrospective study included 44 consecutive subjects who underwent resective surgery for intractable FLE at IRCCS NEUROMED (period 2001-2014), followed up for at least 2 years (mean: 8.7 years). Read More

FASEB J 2018 Dec 6:fj201802075R. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Center of Biomechanics and Bioengineering, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are able to differentiate into functional hepatocytelike cells, which are expected to serve as a potential cell source in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and clinical treatment of liver injury. Little is known about whether and how space microgravity is able to direct the hepatogenic differentiation of BMSCs in the actual space microenvironment. In this study, we examined the effects of space microgravity on BMSC hepatogenic differentiation on board the SJ-10 Recoverable Scientific Satellite. Read More

Med Mycol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Mycology Unit, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut and IISPV, University Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.

We report several cases of fungal infections in snakes associated with a new species within the genus Paranannizziopsis. Three juvenile Wagler's vipers (Tropidolaemus wagleri) presented with skin abnormalities or ulcerative dermatitis, and two snakes died. Histologic examination of skin from the living viper revealed hyperplastic, hyperkeratotic, and crusting epidermitis with intralesional fungal elements. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa.

Cholangiolocellular carcinoma (CLC) is a unique subtype of primary liver carcinoma, which sometimes coexists with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA). "Ductal plate malformation" (DPM)-pattern of primary liver carcinoma, which resembles biliary lesions in Caroli disease and von Meyenburg complex, is sometimes associated with CLC. We examined genetic alterations of hTERT promoter (hTERT), IDH1 or 2 (IDH1/2), KRAS, ARID1A, PBRM1, ARID2, BAP1, p53 and their association with histologic features such as proportion of CLC and DPM-pattern in 77 patients with primary liver carcinoma diagnosed as cHCC-CCA or CLC. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Rare Cancer Center.

NTRK fusions in malignant tumors are therapeutic targets of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Because they occur only in a small subset of mesenchymal tumors, knowledge regarding the corresponding histology is important to effectively identify patients who could benefit from targeted therapy. In this study, using RNA sequencing, we identified novel NTRK3 fusions involving related partner genes in 2 adult bone and soft tissue tumors that met the current histologic criteria of fibrosarcoma. Read More

Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Corteva AgriscienceTM, Agriculture Division of DowDuPontTM, 3B Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, UK.

The European Commission intends to protect vertebrate wildlife populations by regulating Plant Protection Product (PPP) active substances that have endocrine disrupting properties with a hazard-based approach. In this paper we consider how the Commission's hazard-based Regulation and accompanying Guidance can be operationalised to ensure that a technically robust process is used to distinguish between substances with adverse population level effects and those for which it can be demonstrated that adverse effects observed (typically in the laboratory) do not translate into adverse effects at the population level. Our approach is to use population models within the adverse outcome pathway framework to link the non-linear relationship between adverse effects at the individual and population levels in the following way: (1) Use Specific Protection Goals for focal wildlife populations within an ecosystem services framework; (2) Model the effects of changes in population-related inputs on focal species populations using individual-based population models to determine thresholds between negligible and non-negligible (i. Read More

Neurotherapeutics 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, 33 Queen Square, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is an alternative to open surgery for drug-resistant focal mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Studies suggest maximal ablation of the mesial hippocampal head and amygdalohippocampal complex (AHC) improves seizure freedom rates while better neuropsychological outcomes are associated with sparing of the parahippocampal gyrus (PHG). Optimal trajectories avoid sulci and CSF cavities and maximize distance from vasculature. Read More

Neuromolecular Med 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Mezourlo Hill, 41100, Larissa, Greece.

A few genetic variants are implicated in the development of blepharospasm (BSP). The precise role of the rs6265 on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene on BSP remains controversial. The effect of rs6265 on BSP was evaluated. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2018 21;5:322. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Biological Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Kidney glomerular diseases, such as the minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and other nephrotic syndromes, are typically diagnosed or confirmed via electron microscopy. Although optical microscopy has been a vital tool to examine clinical specimens for diagnoses in pathology for decades, the optical resolution is constricted by the physical diffraction limit of the optical microscope, which prevents high-resolution investigation of subcellular anatomy, such as of the podocyte tertiary foot processes. Here, we describe a simple, fast, and inexpensive protocol for nanoscale optical imaging of kidney glomeruli. Read More

Case Rep Neurol Med 2018 4;2018:3092018. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Tartu, Estonia.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare, rapidly progressive spongiform encephalopathy in humans. EEG plays an important role in diagnosing this disease. In some patients, epileptic activity and encephalopathy from various aetiologies may share morphological features on EEG. Read More

Respirol Case Rep 2019 Feb 28;7(2):e00390. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Respiratory Department Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Pleural anthracosis is rare and, in most cases, is diagnosed incidentally or at autopsy. We report a 67-year-old man with pleural anthracosis. He was initially referred for possible tuberculous pleural effusion and had recurrent admissions for symptomatic pleural effusion, which increased with each subsequent episode. Read More

Respirol Case Rep 2019 Feb 28;7(2):e00389. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Respiratory Medicine Cork University Hospital Ireland.

A 45-year-old lady presented acutely with pleuritic chest pain, haemoptysis, and dyspnoea. Her background was significant for a 1.4 cm renal angiomyolipoma, and she was an ex-smoker without any relevant family history. Read More

J Cancer 2018 20;9(22):4215-4222. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Approximately 90% of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) die due to distant metastases. However, the complicated molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in lung cancer metastasis remain poorly understood. Copine III (CPNE3), a member of a Ca-dependent phospholipid-binding protein family, was identified as a novel metastasis-associated protein in NSCLC in our previous study, however, its function in metastasis remains unclear. Read More

Breathe (Sheff) 2018 Dec;14(4):288-301

Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Medical treatment of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease has highly variable outcomes. Despite the use of multiple antibiotics, sputum clearance is often difficult to achieve, especially in cases with macrolide resistant NTM infection. Immunocompromised patients and those with structural lung disease are at increased risk, although occurrence in immunocompetent patients without structural lung disease is well recognised. Read More

Front Neurol 2018 21;9:988. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.

Some patients with acute stroke symptoms do not show hyperintensities on diffusion-weighted image (DWI). A few case reports have indicated that acutely developed cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) might cause focal symptoms. This study sought to investigate the incidence and characteristics of symptomatic CMBs in the patients with acute stroke symptoms but without DWI ischemic lesions. Read More

Cell Death Dis 2018 Dec 5;9(12):1178. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a group of incurable extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas that develop from the skin-homing CD4 T cell. Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome are the most common histological subtypes. Although next-generation sequencing data provided significant advances in the comprehension of the genetic basis of this lymphoma, there is not uniform consensus on the identity and prevalence of putative driver genes for this heterogeneous group of tumors. Read More

Int Heart J 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Cardiology, Atrial Fibrillation Center, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences.

The incidence of atrial tachycardia (AT) after rheumatic mitral valvular (RMV) surgery has been well described. However, there have been few reports on the characteristics, mechanism, and long-term ablation outcome of ATs after RMV surgery and concomitant Cox-MAZE IV procedure.The present study reviewed consecutive patients who underwent AT ablation between May 2008 and July 2013. Read More

Neurology 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

From IRCCS NEUROMED (A.B.), Pozzilli, IS, Italy; Departments of Neurology (N.V.M., G.L.S., M.C.), Radiology (M.C.), Anatomy & Neurobiology (M.C.), and Bioengineering (M.C.), Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, MO; Department of Neuroscience (M.C.), University of Padua; and Padua Neuroscience Center (M.C.), Italy.

Objective: To investigate whether different language deficits are distinguished by the relative strengths of their association with the functional connectivity (FC) at rest of the language network (LN) and cingulo-opercular network (CON) after aphasic stroke.

Methods: In a group of patients with acute stroke and left-hemisphere damage, we identified 3 distinct, yet correlated, clusters of deficits including comprehension/lexical semantic, grapheme-phoneme knowledge, and verbal executive functions. We computed partial correlations in which the contributions of a behavioral cluster and network FC of no interest were statistically regressed out. Read More

J Transl Med 2018 Dec 5;16(1):339. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Navy General Hospital, No. 6, Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100048, China.

Background: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADMSC) therapy can promote recovery from cerebral ischemia; however, more information regarding appropriate sources of ADMSCs is required. This study was aimed at analyzing the immunogenicity of rat ADMSCs by comparing the immunological effects of intraparenchymal administration of allogeneic ADMSCs (allo-ADMSCs) and autologous ADMSCs (auto-ADMSCs) after the acute phase of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats.

Methods: Allo- or auto-ADMSCs from rats (1 × 10 cells) were transplanted into Lewis rats 8 days post MCAO. Read More

Reprod Sci 2018 Dec 5:1933719118816852. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

1 Department of Gynaecology Obstetrics II and Reproductive Medicine, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Universitaire Paris Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Cochin, Paris, France.

Background:: Adenomyosis (ADE) is an enigmatic uterine disorder. Several types have been previously described: diffuse adenomyosis (DIF-ADE), focal adenomyosis (FOC-ADE), and association of focal and diffuse lesions (FOC/DIF-ADE). Abnormal immune phenomena have been described that may provide an understanding of the pathophysiology of adenomyosis. Read More

Spine J 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.

Background Context: Low back pain (LBP) is a multifactorial problem with complex interactions among many biological, psychological and social factors. It is difficult to fully appreciate this complexity because the knowledge necessary to do so is distributed over many areas of expertise that span the biopsychosocial domains.

Purpose: This study describes the collaborative modeling process, undertaken among a group of participants with diverse expertise in LBP, to build a model to enhance understanding and communicate the complexity of the LBP problem. Read More

Carcinogenesis 2018 Dec 2. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas USA.

Kidneys are one of the main dose-limiting organs in radio-therapeutic procedures of lower abdomen. Likewise, the threat of exposure of radio-sensitive organs such as kidneys in warfare or radiation accidents among military personal or due to terrorist activities in general public is of increasing concern. These events warrant the need for appropriate animal models to study the acute and chronic effects of low and high dose rate radiation exposures. Read More

J Xray Sci Technol 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Background: SPECT MPI (Single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging) is an essential tool for diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, but it also involves considerable exposure to ionizing radiation.

Objective: To determine the radioprotective potential of lipoic acid free and nano-capsule against 99mTc-MIBI-induced injury in cardiovascular tissue.

Methods: The radioprotective ability was assessed by blood count, histopathology and heart enzymes in different groups of mice. Read More

J Toxicol Environ Health A 2018 Dec 3:1-15. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

a Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science , Annamalai University , Annamalainagar , TN , India.

Substantial evidence has established the negative impact of inhalation exposure to welding fumes on respiratory functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of welding fume inhalation on expression of molecules that function as sensors, transducers and effectors of DNA damage response (DDR) in the respiratory tract of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were exposed to 50 mg/m stainless steel welding fumes for 1 h/d for 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. Read More

Exp Dermatol 2018 Dec 2. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Centro Oncologico ad Alta Tecnologia Diagnostica, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale - IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Melanomas and nevi displaying regression features can be difficult to differentiate. To describe reflectance confocal microscopy features in benign and malignant pigmented skin lesions characterized by regression features in dermoscopy. Methods: Observational retrospective study. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Breast cancer with metastasis especially brain metastasis represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the hub genes and potential molecular mechanism in brain metastasis breast cancer. Expression profiles of the genes were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Read More

Neuromodulation 2018 Dec 2. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Department of Urology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea.

Objectives: Incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) accounts for two-thirds of all SCIs in clinical practice. Preclinical research on the effect of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) on bladder function, however, has been focused only on animal models of complete SCI. We aimed to evaluate the effect of early SNM on bladder responses in a rat model of incomplete SCI. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Dermatology, The Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.

Benign chronic familial pemphigus or Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD, OMIM 169600) is a rare, autosomal dominant blistering skin disorder characterized by suprabasal cell separation (acantholysis) of the epidermis. To date, the proteomic changes in skin lesions from HHD patients has not been reported yet. In this study, a sample of skin lesions from HHD patients was collected for isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation to analyze proteome changes compared with unaffected individuals. Read More

Mol Ecol Resour 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.

Introgression is now commonly reported in studies across the Tree of Life, aided by recent advancements in data collection and analysis. Nevertheless, researchers working with non-model species lacking reference genomes may be stymied by a mismatch between available resources and methodological demands. In this study, we demonstrate a fast and simple approach for inferring introgression using RADseq data, and apply it to a case study involving spiny lizards (Sceloporus) from northeastern México. Read More

Acta Neurol Scand 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Infanta Leonor Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Objectives: Evaluate long-term effectiveness and tolerability of brivaracetam in clinical practice in patients with focal epilepsy.

Materials And Methods: This was a multicentre retrospective study. Patients aged ≥16 years were started on brivaracetam from November 2016 to June 2017 and followed over 1 year. Read More

Infection 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Neurology, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.

Purpose: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis continues to be the most common form of sporadic lethal encephalitis worldwide. The wide spectrum of clinical presentations and laboratory findings often poses a diagnostic challenge for physicians which might delay administration of life-saving therapy with acyclovir. Atypical presentations of HSV encephalitis have become increasingly prevalent with better diagnostic techniques and have not been well studied. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Cardiology Department, NIMTS Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Background/objective: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of focal atrial tachycardia (FAT) traditionally is guided by conventional endocardial mapping of earliest atrial activation; however, more recently electro-anatomical mapping is heralded as a more effective, albeit more expensive, tool to guide ablation. Herein we present the results of conventional mapping-guided RFCA. Apropos, we conducted a literature search of studies reporting > 10 FAT patients submitted to RFCA. Read More

Conf Proc Int Conf Image Form Xray Comput Tomogr 2018 May;2018:47-51

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA

This work reports experimental results of dynamic fluence field modulation (FFM) using a dual multiple aperture devices (MAD) system. MAD filters use Moiré patterns produced by relative motions between two sets of thin, highly attenuating tungsten bars of varying widths and spacings. Each MAD was affixed to a linear actuator and installed on an experimental cone-beam CT bench. Read More

Quant Imaging Med Surg 2018 Oct;8(9):910-924

Department of Psychiatry, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.

Background: F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) is a reliable technique to quantify regional neural glucose metabolism even with major depressive disorder (MDD) heterogeneous features. Previous study proposed that in the resting-state (RS), pairs of brain regions whose regional glucose metabolic rates were significantly correlated were functionally associated. This synchronicity indicates a neuronal metabolic and functional interaction in high energy efficient brain regions. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Oct;10(Suppl 28):S3436-S3445

Section of Chest Surgery, Fukujuji Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (bronchiectasis) is an abnormal dilatation of the bronchi and bronchioles, resulting from a prolonged recurrent infectious process due to various causes and predisposing factors. This disease has several etiologies and affects a heterogeneous population of patients. The most important viewpoint for the surgical management of bronchiectasis is to select appropriate candidates for surgery and conduct suitable anatomic lung resections at the right time under appropriate conditions. Read More

Clin Orthop Surg 2018 Dec 21;10(4):433-438. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.

Background: Cervical foraminal stenosis (CFS) is one of the degenerative changes of the cervical spine; however, correlations between the severity of stenosis and that of symptoms are not consistent in the literature. Studies to date on the prevalence of stenosis are based on images obtained from the departments treating cervical lesions, and thus patient selection bias may have occurred. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CFS according to the site, extent, and morphology of stenosis using cervical computed tomography (CT) images obtained from patients who were visiting not because of symptoms related to the cervical spine, cervical pain, or upper limb pain. Read More

Oman J Ophthalmol 2018 Sep-Dec;11(3):200-206

Department of Vitreo-Retina Services, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), the fourth most common nonsurgical retinopathy with a usual self-limiting course, is known to present with persistent or recurrent form with distressing visual loss. Evolution of newer mutimodal imaging techniques have revolutionized the understanding about the pathophysiology of CSC, and hence the diagnosis and management. Multifactorial etiopathology of CSC promotes the use of multiple treatment modalities. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 Nov 30;9(1):5105. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and University at Lin-Kou, 5, Fuxing St., Guishan Dist., 333, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

Metastasis remains a clinically unsolved issue in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Here, we report that higher levels of cytoplasmic leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and LIF receptor are correlated with poorer metastasis/recurrence-free survival. Further, single nucleotide variations and signal peptide mutation of LIF are identified in NPC. Read More

Neurol India 2018 Nov-Dec;66(6):1672-1677

Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: Stroke is common in tuberculous meningitis (TBM), and aspirin has been shown to reduce mortality. A combination of aspirin and corticosteroid may be more useful in this condition.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of aspirin and corticosteroid adjunctive therapy alone or in combination in determining the outcome of TBM. Read More

Neurol India 2018 Nov-Dec;66(6):1655-1666

Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Aim: Surgery for drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) often requires multiple non-invasive as well as invasive pre-surgical evaluations and innovative surgical strategies. There is limited data regarding surgical management of people with FCD as the underlying substrate for DRE among the low and middle-income countries (LAMIC) including India.

Methodology: The presurgical evaluation, surgical strategy and outcome of 52 people who underwent resective surgery for DRE with FCD between January 2008 and December 2016 were analyzed. Read More

Neurol India 2018 Nov-Dec;66(6):1601-1602

Department of Neurosurgery, Medanta, The Medicity, Gurugram, Delhi National Capital Region, New Delhi, India.

Neurol India 2018 Nov-Dec;66(6):1595-1597

Department of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Anticancer Res 2018 Dec;38(12):6865-6868

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan.

Background/aim: Switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF)-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily B member 1 (SMARCB1), also named integrase interactor 1, is one of the core subunit proteins in the SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex encoded at chromosomal position 22q11.2. Complete loss of SMARCB1 expression has been reported in various malignant tumors. Read More

J Biol Chem 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Oncology, University of Alberta, Canada.

Malignant glioma (MG) is the most lethal primary brain tumor. In addition to having inherent resistance to radiation treatment and chemotherapy, MG cells are highly infiltrative, rendering focal therapies ineffective. Genes involved in MG cell migration and glial cell differentiation are up-regulated by hypophosphorylated nuclear factor I (NFI), which is dephosphorylated by the phosphatase calcineurin in MG cells. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Central Integration of Pain team (NeuroPain), Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Inserm U1028, UCB Lyon1, UJM, F-42023 Saint-Etienne, France.

In spite of systematic investigations, the existence of a specific cortex that could encode for the intensities of somatosensory stimuli, including within nociceptive ranges, is still a matter of debate. The present consensus is that pain is expressed in a distributed network made of thalamus, SII, insula, ACC, and, less consistently, SI. Here we argument that there must be an entrance to this network. Read More

Dev Cell 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Medicine IV, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79106, Germany; III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany; BIOSS Center for Biological Signaling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg 79106, Germany. Electronic address:

Podocytes, highly specialized epithelial cells, build the outer part of the kidney filtration barrier and withstand high mechanical forces through a complex network of cellular protrusions. Here, we show that Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization controls actomyosin contractility and focal adhesion maturation of podocyte protrusions and thereby regulates formation, maintenance, and capacity to adapt to mechanical requirements of the filtration barrier. We find that N-WASP-Arp2/3 define the development of complex arborized podocyte protrusions in vitro and in vivo. Read More

Brain Stimul 2018 Nov 17. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

School of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background: Current transcranial ultrasound stimulation for small animal in vivo experiment is limited to acute stimulation under anesthesia in stereotaxic fixation due to bulky and heavy curved transducers.

Methods: We developed a miniaturized ultrasound ring array transducer which is capable of invoking motor responses through neuromodulation of freely-moving awake mice.

Results: The developed transducer is a 32-element, 183-kHz ring array with a weight of 0. Read More

J Biomech 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. Electronic address:

Experimental measurements of cellular mechanical properties have shown large variability in whole-cell mechanical properties between cells from a single population. This heterogeneity has been observed in many cell populations and with several measurement techniques but the sources are not yet fully understood. Cell mechanical properties are directly related to the composition and organization of the cytoskeleton, which is physically coupled to neighboring cells through adherens junctions and to underlying matrix through focal adhesion complexes. Read More

Biophys J 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Bioengineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Background: Understanding the biophysical processes by which electrical stimuli applied to cardiac tissue may result in local activation is important in both the experimental and clinical electrophysiology laboratory environments, as well as for gaining a more in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms of focal-trigger-induced arrhythmias. Previous computational models have predicted that local myocardial tissue architecture alone may significantly modulate tissue excitability, affecting both the local stimulus current required to excite the tissue and the local effective refractory period (ERP). In this work, we present experimental validation of this structural modulation of local tissue excitability on the endocardial tissue surface, use computational models to provide mechanistic understanding of this phenomena in relation to localized changes in electrotonic loading, and demonstrate its implications for the capture of afterdepolarizations. Read More

Seizure 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Service de neurochirurgie pédiatrique, Fondation Rothschild 25-29, rue Manin Paris Cedex 19, France.

Designed from the 60s to the 80s for adults, and despite the development of many new techniques, invasive explorations still have indications in children with focal drug-resistant epilepsy. The main types are stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) and subdural explorations (SDE). They provide precise information on the localization of the epileptogenic zone (EZ), its relationships with eloquent cortex, and the feasibility of performing a tailored surgical resection. Read More