DNA repair in thymocytes of mice undergoing thymic involution

DNA repair in mouse thymocytes before the onset of thymic involution was compared to that at successive stages during involution of the thymus. Repair of DNA in these cells after in vitro X-irradiation was evaluated by sedimentation of nucleoids in a sucrose gradient, as a measure of DNA supercoiling. DNA repair continued to function in the thymocytes even at ages when there was a dramatic reduction in the number of cells in the thymus.     

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Recurrence Pattern in Patients with Resectable Colorectal Liver Metastases

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Studies have suggested that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has value as a predictor of long-term outcomes in various cancer types. Its prognostic potential in...     

ASO Visual Abstract: Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Recurrence Pattern in Patients with Resectable Colorectal Liver Metastases

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration in the management of actinomyces pelvic abscess

Background: Increasing reports of intrauterine device (IUD)-related abdominopelvic actinomycosis have been described recently. Surgical therapy has been the usual treatment when tubo-ovarian abscess is identified.Case: A 38-year-old woman suffering from Actinomyces pelvic abscess unresponsive to medical treatment underwent transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. It resulted in marked improvement and avoided surgical treatment.Conclusion: Transvaginal needle aspiration of Actinomyces pelvic abscess may be an alternative to surgical therapy, thereby allowing the preservation of pelvic organs.     

Werner's syndrome (adult progeria): An affected mother and son presenting with resistant psychosis

Age-related psychotic conditions may be studied by focusing on the unique group of progeroid syndromes. This report will focus on Werner's syndrome, one of the better defined and studied progeroid syndromes. We applied clinical and histophysiological evaluations to two patients, a mother and son, suffering from Werner's syndrome. Both patients presented with resistant psychosis and evidence of impaired cellular repair mechanisms. Psychiatric morbidity in Werner's syndrome is rarely reported. This syndrome can serve as a possible model for aging-associated development of psychosis.     

Alterations in intrinsic membrane properties and the axon initial segment in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome

The axon initial segment (AIS) is the site of action potential initiation in neurons. Recent studies have demonstrated activity-dependent regulation of the AIS, including homeostatic changes in AIS length, membrane excitability, and the localization of voltage-gated Na(+) channels. The neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome (AS) is usually caused by the deletion of small portions of the maternal copy of chromosome 15, which includes the UBE3A gene. A mouse model of AS has been generated and these mice exhibit multiple neurological abnormalities similar to those observed in humans. We examined intrinsic properties of pyramidal neurons in hippocampal area CA1 from AS model mice and observed alterations in resting membrane potential, threshold potential, and action potential amplitude. The altered intrinsic properties in the AS mice were correlated with significant increases in the expression of the α1 subunit of Na/K-ATPase (α1-NaKA), the Na(+) channel NaV1.6, and the AIS anchoring protein ankyrin-G, as well as an increase in length of the AIS. These findings are the first evidence for pathology of intrinsic membrane properties and AIS-specific changes in AS, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autism.     

Granular cell tumor of the vulva: six new cases

Granular cell tumors are rare neoplastic skin and soft tissue lesions: only 1–2% are malignant. Five to sixteen percent occur in the vulva. We present our experience with granular cell tumors of the vulva in six patients, all of whom had wide local excisions and were followed-up in our outpatient clinic for 3–171 months. One died of an unrelated cause. None of the others has evidence of the disease. Rabin Medical Center is affilated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel     

Infectious inflammation of the CNS involves activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and AKT proteins in CSF in humans

Abstract The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the AKT are interacting proteins that serve as transmitters of numerous extracellular signals to their intracellular targets, thereby regulating many cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, development or stress responses. Whereas a large amount of information about the MAPKs/AKT participation in biological processes is available, less is known about their role in human diseases. We postulated that the MAPKs/AKT could be involved in inflammatory processes of the central nervous system (CNS) in humans and we investigated the CSF of 12 patients with viral infection of the CNS for the presence of the distinct components of these cascades. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 18 individuals who underwent a lumbar puncture for diagnostic purposes served as controls. Six patients with inflammatory disease of the CNS revealed the presence of activated ERK. In five patients p38MAPK was detected, in three in its activated form. The activity of AKT could be demonstrated in four patients. JNK was not found. None of the control patients showed the presence of MAPK enzymes. The mean CSF cellularity was higher in MAPK-positive than in MAPKnegative patients. There was no difference in mean age or gender between the patients and controls, or between the MAPK- and AKT-positive or -negative patients. Our work demonstrates that the MAPK and AKT cascades might participate in inflammatory processes of the CNS. As selective inhibitors of the MAPKs are available, their application in the future might reduce an inappropriate inflammatory response and thus limit brain damage in severe cases of meningoencephalitis.