Neuroarchitecture of the central complex of the desert locust: Tangential neurons

The central complex (CX) comprises a group of midline neuropils in the insect brain, consisting of the protocerebral bridge (PB), the upper (CBU) and lower division (CBL) of the central body and a pair of globular noduli. It receives prominent input from the visual system and plays a major role in spatial orientation of the animals. Vertical slices and horizontal layers of the CX are formed by columnar, tangential, and pontine neurons. While pontine and columnar neurons have been analyzed in detail, especially in the fruit fly and desert locust, understanding of the organization of tangential cells is still rudimentary. As a basis for future functional studies, we have studied the morphologies of tangential neurons of the CX of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. Intracellular dye injections revealed 43 different types of tangential neuron, 8 of the PB, 5 of the CBL, 24 of the CBU, 2 of the noduli, and 4 innervating multiple substructures. Cell bodies of these neurons were located in 11 different clusters in the cell body rind. Judging from the presence of fine versus beaded terminals, the vast majority of these neurons provide input into the CX, especially from the lateral complex (LX), the superior protocerebrum, the posterior slope, and other surrounding brain areas, but not directly from the mushroom bodies. Connections are largely subunit- and partly layer-specific. No direct connections were found between the CBU and the CBL. Instead, both subdivisions are connected in parallel with the PB and distinct layers of the noduli.     

Sub-angiographic peripheral emboli in high resolution DWI after endovascular recanalization

Journal of Neurology - To analyze the incidence of peripheral emboli after successful mechanical thrombectomy (MT) of intracranial large vessel occlusions (LVO). We performed a prospective analysis...     

Pflegeschulungen für Angehörige mit Migrationshintergrund und Kompetenzbildungen für professionell Pflegende

Background

The proportion of people in need of care with a migration background and therefore the demand for qualified nursing staff will increase. So far, however, considerations and concepts aiming to improve the care situation (including cultural sensitivity) for people in need of care with a migration background are lacking.

Objective

The following questions are addressed on the basis of care training for relatives with migration background and competence development for health care professionals: What content should the care training/competence development take into account? What are the limits regarding planning and implementation, and what are the suggestions for improvements?

Materials and methods

The development of care training and competence development was based on a needs and resources assessment (in the form of a systematic literature review, an expert workshop, semistructured interviews with relatives with migration background who are providing nursing care). A training manual that has been published includes research results and findings and is applicable to other target groups and settings.

Results and discussion

A transcultural training manual was developed and tested for use in outpatient care. It consists of two parts: training for relatives providing nursing care and competency training for health care specialists. It enables the planning, preparation, and implementation of training courses and includes theoretical background knowledge, practical exercises, and didactic advice. When using the manual, however, the target group should be planned at an early stage and individual needs and resources of course participants should be taken into account.

     

Involvement of thromboxane A2 in interleukin-31-induced itch-associated response in mice

Background

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and severe pruritic skin disease. Interlukin-31 (IL-31) has been recently demonstrated to be one of the key pruritogens in atopic dermatitis. However, the mechanisms underlying IL-31-induced itching remains unclear. In our previous study, we have shown that thromboxane (TX) A₂ is involved in itch-associated responses in mice with atopy-like skin diseases.

Pneumosinus dilatans frontalis: two case reports.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumosinus dilatans was described first in 1898 by Meyes. Up to now only 60 cases have been published worldwide dealing mainly with young men between 20 and 30 years of age. The aetiology remains unknown. Whilst frontal sinuses are affected most often other sinuses can also be involved. The expansion of the pneumosinus is not only an aesthetic problem but may also have functional consequences. There may be a bulging of the roof of the orbit with consequent global displacement, ocular alterations and ptosis. Other features are headache and anosmia. PATIENTS: Two male patients with a pneumosinus dilatans of the frontal sinus are presented. They were 22 and 25 years old. The main complaints were aesthetic disfigurement. Treatment consisted of craniofacial repair of the malformation. RESULTS: While one patient was lost to follow-up, the other still is happy and has a stable aesthetic long-term result.     

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in an advanced metastasized hypopharyngeal carcinoma and cultured tumor cells

Purpose

The inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) catalyzes PGE₂ production and plays an important role in the progression of many solid cancers. However, the role of COX-2 expression in cervical lymph node metastases of head and neck cancer has not been clarified yet.

Patient and methods

We comment on a male patient aged 53 who was admitted to an ENT-department with acute bleeding from an advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma and a frontotemporal mass. Prior to palliative intended radiotherapy, the metastasis was resected. During the procedure, a small amount of tumor tissue was harvested for primary tumor cell culture.

Results

COX-2 overexpression was demonstrated in the primary tumor tissue, the metastasis, in the cultured tumor cells by standard immunohistochemistry, as well as cytochemistry.

Conclusions

A simultaneous expression of COX-2 in head and neck carcinoma was presented for the first time. Besides the prognostic impact in oral carcinogenesis, this COX-2 role of biomarker for aggressive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas should be further evaluated. Additionally, treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinomas with selective COX-2 inhibitors could be beneficial when administered in combination with radiochemotherapy.     

Profile Changes Following Maxillary Impaction and Autorotation of the Mandible

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was the evaluation and prediction of profile changes after Le Fort I osteotomy including maxillary impaction and subsequent autorotation of the mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 42 patients (32 female, 10 male) underwent a Le Fort I osteotomy with posterior impaction after preoperative orthodontic treatment. No surgical intervention in the mandible was performed. Pre- and postoperative lateral cephalograms of each patient were analyzed in two steps using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U test. All patients were evaluated for vertical and sagittal skeletal and soft tissue changes. These results led to further classification into three groups according to the type and extent of maxillary impaction. These groups included parallel impaction, posterior impaction with additional anterior subsidence, and posterior impaction only. RESULTS: The results of the first evaluation step revealed that the chin had advanced on average by 79%, while the lower face was shortened by as much as 70% in the pogonion point. However, the second evaluation showed that the type and extent of maxillary impaction led to significant changes in these parameters. Parallel maxillary impaction resulted in 100%, posterior impaction in 80% and posterior impaction with anterior subsidence in 50% advancement of the mandible in the pogonion point in relation to the distance covered during impaction. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the change in the facial profile caused by autorotation of the mandible after Le Fort I osteotomy and maxillary impaction can be predicted in relation to the dimensions of maxillary impaction.     

Treatment of arginase deficiency revisited: guanidinoacetate as a therapeutic target and biomarker for therapeutic monitoring

Hyperargininaemia is a disorder of the last step of the urea cycle. It is an autosomal recessive disease caused by deficiency of liver arginase‐1 and usually presents later in childhood with progressive neurological symptoms including marked spasticity. In contrast with other urea cycle disorders, hyperammonaemia is not usually present but can be a feature. A number of guanidine compounds may accumulate in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of these patients, which could play an important pathophysiological role. Guanidinoacetate is of particular interest as a well‐known potent epileptogenic compound in guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency. We found markedly elevated guanidinoacetate levels in a patient with arginase deficiency, which dropped significantly in response to dietary and medical treatment. Measurement of guanidinoacetate and other guanidino compounds may, therefore, be important for therapeutic monitoring in arginase deficiency.