High-grade neuroepithelial tumor with BCL6 corepressor-alteration presenting pathological and radiological calcification: A case report

A 5-year-old girl presented with headache and vomiting. Head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a right frontal lobe tumor with marked calcification. The patient underwent resection surgery with suspicion of anaplastic ependymoma, and the tumor was gross totally removed. Pathological examination revealed areas of dense tumor cells with a high nucleocytoplasmic ratio and myxoid areas consisting of tumor cells with a round-shaped nucleus and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Perivascular pseudorosette, necrosis, circumscribed growth, and microcalcification were also observed. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated negative staining for glial fibrillary protein and epithelial membrane antigen. Diagnosis of a high-grade neuroepithelial tumor (HGNET) with BCL6 corepressor (BCOR) alteration was made based on pathological findings and internal tandem duplication in the exon 15 of BCOR. Although calcification on radiological and pathological examination is not typical, it would be essential to recognize that calcification could appear in HGNET-BCOR.     

Notch-Hes1 signaling activation in Caroli disease and polycystic liver disease

The Notch signaling pathway plays a key role in the morphogenesis of the biliary tree, but its involvement in cystic biliary diseases, such as Caroli disease (CD) and polycystic liver disease (PLD), has yet to be determined. Immunostaining was performed using liver sections of CD and PLD, and the results were compared with those of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) and von Meyenburg complex (VMC). The expression of Notch receptor 1 (Notch1) was increased in the nuclei of biliary epithelial cells in all cases of CD and PLD, whereas it remained at a low level in CHF and VMC. In addition, Notch2 and Notch3 were preferably expressed in the nuclei of biliary epithelial cells of PLD. Accordingly, the Notch effector Hes1 was highly expressed in biliary epithelial cells of CD and PLD, and the cell proliferative activity was significantly higher in CD and PLD. The expression of the Notch ligand Delta-like 1 was significantly increased in biliary epithelial cells of CD and PLD, which may be causally associated with the nuclear overexpression of Notch1 and Hes1. These results indicate that aberrant activation of the Notch-Hes1 signaling pathway may be responsible for the progression of biliary cystogenesis in CD and PLD.     

Consumption of lycopene-rich tomatoes improved glucose homeostasis in rats via an increase in leptin levels

Journal of Natural Medicines - The lycopene content of tomatoes is important because of its effects on vital physiological functions such as improvement of glucose tolerance and non-alcoholic fatty...