Brain tumors in children and adolescents and exposure to animals and farm life: a multicenter case-control study (CEFALO)

The etiology of brain tumors in children and adolescents is largely unknown, and very few environmental risk factors have been identified. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pre- or postnatal animal contacts or farm exposures and the risk of childhood brain tumors (CBTs), since infectious agents may pose a risk factor and a proposed mechanism is transferral of infectious agents from animals to humans.

Outcome and prognostic factors in endometrial stromal tumors: a Rare Cancer Network study

To provide further understanding regarding outcome and prognostic factors of endometrial stromal tumors (EST).

Impact of 3,4-dihydroxy-6-18F-fluoro-L-phenylalanine PET/CT on managing patients with brain tumors: the referring physician's perspective

We investigated the impact of (18)F-DOPA brain PET/CT on the clinical management of patients with known or suspected brain tumors.

The warning-sign hierarchy between quantitative subcortical motor mapping and continuous motor evoked potential monitoring during resection of supratentorial brain tumors

Mapping and monitoring are believed to provide an early warning sign to determine when to stop tumor removal to avoid mechanical damage to the corticospinal tract (CST). The objective of this study was to systematically compare subcortical monopolar stimulation thresholds (1-20 mA) with direct cortical stimulation (DCS)-motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring signal abnormalities and to correlate both with new postoperative motor deficits. The authors sought to define a mapping threshold and DCS-MEP monitoring signal changes indicating a minimal safe distance from the CST.

Low-threshold monopolar motor mapping for resection of primary motor cortex tumors

Microsurgery within eloquent cortex is a controversial approach because of the high risk of permanent neurological deficit. Few data exist showing the relationship between the mapping stimulation intensity required for eliciting a muscle motor evoked potential and the distance to the motor neurons; furthermore, the motor threshold at which no deficit occurs remains to be defined.

Inhibition of the human epithelial calcium channel TRPV6 by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB)

TRPV6, a highly calcium-selective member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily, is a major pathway for calcium absorption in the fetal and adult body. It is expressed abundantly in the duodenum, the placenta and exocrine tissues. TRVP6 was postulated to contribute to store-operated calcium channel (SOC) activity in certain cell types such as exocrine cells. In this study, we tested 2-APB, a widely used SOC inhibitor on human TRPV6 (hTRPV6) activity using fluorescence imaging, patch clamp and radioactive tracer techniques in transiently and stably transfected HEK293 cells. We found that the basal calcium and cadmium influx was higher in HEK293 cells transfected with hTRPV6 than in non-transfected cells. 2-APB inhibited hTRPV6 activity in both transient and stably transfected cells. This effect was slightly sensitive toward extracellular calcium. The extracellular sodium concentration did not affect the inhibition of hTRPV6 by 2-APB. However, N-methyl-d-glucamine significantly diminished the inhibitory effect of 2-APB presumably through direct interaction with this compound. Furthermore, 2-APB inhibited the activity of TRPV6 orthologs but not human TRPV5. 2-APB may serve as a parental compound for the development of therapeutic strategies specifically targeting the hTRPV6 calcium channel.

Surfactant protein D modulates allergen particle uptake and inflammatory response in a human epithelial airway model

Background Allergen-containing subpollen particles (SPP) are released from whole plant pollen upon contact with water or even high humidity. Because of their size SPP can preferentially reach the lower airways where they come into contact with surfactant protein (SP)-D. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of SP-D in a complex three-dimensional human epithelial airway model, which simulates the most important barrier functions of the epithelial airway. The uptake of SPP as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines was investigated. Methods SPP were isolated from timothy grass and subsequently fluorescently labeled. A human epithelial airway model was built by using human Type II-pneumocyte like cells (A549 cells), human monocyte derived macrophages as well as human monocyte derived dendritic cells. The epithelial cell model was incubated with SPP in the presence and absence of surfactant protein D. Particle uptake was evaluated by confocal microscopy and advanced computer-controlled analysis. Finally, human primary CD4+ T-Cells were added to the epithelial airway model and soluble mediators were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay or bead array. Results SPP were taken up by epithelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. This uptake coincided with secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. SP-D modulated the uptake of SPP in a cell type specific way (e.g. increased number of macrophages and epithelial cells, which participated in allergen particle uptake) and led to a decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion These results display a possible mechanism of how SP-D can modulate the inflammatory response to inhaled allergen.

High salt intake down-regulates colonic mineralocorticoid receptors, epithelial sodium channels and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2

Besides the kidneys, the gastrointestinal tract is the principal organ responsible for sodium homeostasis. For sodium transport across the cell membranes the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is of pivotal relevance. The ENaC is mainly regulated by mineralocorticoid receptor mediated actions. The MR activation by endogenous 11β-hydroxy-glucocorticoids is modulated by the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2). Here we present evidence for intestinal segment specific 11β-HSD2 expression and hypothesize that a high salt intake and/or uninephrectomy (UNX) affects colonic 11β-HSD2, MR and ENaC expression. The 11β-HSD2 activity was measured by means of 3H-corticosterone conversion into 3H-11-dehydrocorticosterone in Sprague Dawley rats on a normal and high salt diet. The activity increased steadily from the ileum to the distal colon by a factor of about 3, an observation in line with the relevance of the distal colon for sodium handling. High salt intake diminished mRNA and protein of 11β-HSD2 by about 50% (p<0.001) and reduced the expression of the MR (p<0.01). The functionally relevant ENaC-β and ENaC-γ expression, a measure of mineralocorticoid action, diminished by more than 50% by high salt intake (p<0.001). The observed changes were present in rats with and without UNX. Thus, colonic epithelial cells appear to contribute to the protective armamentarium of the mammalian body against salt overload, a mechanism not modulated by UNX.

Effect of tumor size and tumor-to-liver contrast of hypovascular liver tumors on the diagnostic performance of hepatic CT imaging

To assess the effect of tumor size and tumor-to-liver contrast of simulated hypovascular liver tumors on the diagnostic accuracy of hepatic computed tomography (CT).