Reconstructive considerations after resection of malignant melanoma in the head and neck

Little has been written about reconstructive methods after resection of melanomas in the head and neck region. We investigated reconstructive methods retrospectively related to the site and size of the melanomas resected by examining the medical records of 28 patients who had malignant melanomas of the head and neck resected at our hospital from 1984 to 2001. The tumour distribution was 12 in the cheek, 6 in the conjunctiva, 2 in the upper lip, 2 in the lower lip, one each in the lower eyelid, eyebrow, scalp, nose, and auricle. Reconstructive methods were 18 skin grafts, seven local flaps, and three free flaps. Three patients who had skin grafts required secondary reconstruction using free flaps. No local recurrences were observed. Reconstructions with local flaps give better aesthetical and functional results than free flaps and skin grafts. Immediate reconstruction with a flap is safe and it does not affect observation of local recurrences.     

Analysis of proteins in human gingival crevicular fluid by mass spectrometry

Kido J, Bando M, Hiroshima Y, Iwasaka H, Yamada K, Ohgami N, Nambu T, Kataoka M, Yamamoto T, Shinohara Y, Sagawa I, Nagata T. Analysis of proteins in human gingival crevicular fluid by mass spectrometry. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 488–499. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: Gingival crevicular fluid is a bodily fluid transuded from periodontal tissues into the gingival crevice and periodontal pocket, and contains many species of components. Proteins in gingival crevicular fluid have been studied as markers for periodontal diseases. Mass spectrometric analysis is used for the analyses of proteins, lipids, saccharides and metals, and expected as an approach for disease diagnosis. For better analysis of the protein components in gingival crevicular fluid, we investigated proteins in gingival crevicular fluid samples from the healthy gingival crevice and periodontal pocket using mass spectrometry. Material and Methods: Gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected from subjects who gave their informed consent and were periodontally healthy or had diseased pockets. These samples were electrophoretically separated, and each fraction on the gels was analysed by nano liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial peptides detected in gingival crevicular fluid were confirmed by western blotting. Results: One hundred and four proteins were detected in gingival crevicular fluid samples from both healthy sites and sites of periodontitis; 64 proteins were contained only in gingival crevicular fluid from healthy sites and 63 proteins were observed only in gingival crevicular fluid from periodontitis sites. These proteins were blood‐, cytoskeleton‐, immunity‐, inflammation‐ and lipid‐related proteins and enzymes. Some proteins, including ceruloplasmin, glycogen phosphorylase, glutathione S‐transferase, phosphoglycerate mutase, psoriasin, S100A11 and resistin, were identified for the first time in gingival crevicular fluid. Antimicrobial peptides, such as lactoferrin, α1‐antitrypsin, lipocalin, S100A7, S100A8, S100A9 and cathelicidin, were observed by mass spectrometry and western blotting. Conclusion: Multiple protein components in gingival crevicular fluid were analysed at the same time using mass spectrometry, and this approach may be useful for the diagnosis of periodontal diseases.     

Rats classified as low or high cocaine locomotor responders: A unique model involving striatal dopamine transporters that predicts cocaine addiction-like behaviors

Individual differences are a hallmark of drug addiction. Here, we describe a rat model based on differential initial responsiveness to low dose cocaine. Despite similar brain cocaine levels, individual outbred Sprague-Dawley rats exhibit markedly different magnitudes of acute cocaine-induced locomotor activity and, thereby, can be classified as low or high cocaine responders (LCRs or HCRs). LCRs and HCRs differ in drug-induced, but not novelty-associated, hyperactivity. LCRs have higher basal numbers of striatal dopamine transporters (DATs) than HCRs and exhibit marginal cocaine inhibition of in vivo DAT activity and cocaine-induced increases in extracellular DA. Importantly, lower initial cocaine response predicts greater locomotor sensitization, conditioned place preference and greater motivation to self-administer cocaine following low dose acquisition. Further, outbred Long-Evans rats classified as LCRs, versus HCRs, are more sensitive to cocaine's discriminative stimulus effects. Overall, results to date with the LCR/HCR model underscore the contribution of striatal DATs to individual differences in initial cocaine responsiveness and the value of assessing the influence of initial drug response on subsequent expression of addiction-like behaviors.     

Comparison of magnetoencephalography,functional MRI,and motor evoked potentials in the localization of the sensory-motor cortex

Abstract

To clarify the topographical relationship between peri-Rolandic lesions and the central sulcus, we carried out presurgical functional mapping by using magnetoencephalography (MEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI), and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) on 5 patients. The sensory cortex was identified by somatosensory evoked magnetic fields using MEG (magnetic source imaging (MSI)). The motor area of the hand region was identified using f-MRI, during a hand squeezing task. In addition, transcranial magnetic stimulation localized the hand motor area on the scalp, which was mapped onto the MRI. In all cases, the sensory cortical vein or the lack of any functional activation in the area of peri-lesional edema. MEPs were also unable to localize the entire motor strip. Therefore, at present, MSI is considered to be the most reliable method to localize peri-Rolandic lesions. [Neurol Res 1995; 17: 361-367] cortical vein or the lack of any functional activation in the area of peri-lesional edema. MEPs were also unable to localize the entire motor strip. Therefore, at present, MSI is considered to be the most reliable method to localize peri-Rolandic lesions. [Neurol Res 1995; 17: 361-367]     

Giant-cell glioblastoma of childhood associated with HIV-1 and JC virus coinfection

Purpose

John Cunningham (JC) viral DNA sequence has seldom been reported in patients with brain tumors such as high grade gliomas and medulloblastomas, pointing to a role in the etiopathogenesis of such tumors.

Results

We present a unique clinical case of an HIV-positive pediatric patient with multifocal leukoencephalopathy and confirmed JC virus (JCV) infection that developed a giant-cell glioblastoma.

Conclusions

Experimental data with infected primates has previously hypothesized an association of human giant-cell glioblastoma with JCV or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, though such association has not been documented in the literature for humans. Future studies with larger cohorts and molecular pathological analyses are still needed to corroborate the role of the widely spread human neurotropic virus in early transformation and in the development of brain tumors with different histology in the setting of HIV-related severe immunosuppression.     

Whole‐exome sequencing of a unique brain malformation with periventricular heterotopia,cingulate polymicrogyria and midbrain tectal hyperplasia

We report a case of an infant with unique and unreported combinations of brain anomalies. The patient showed distinctive facial findings, severe delay in psychomotor development, cranial nerve palsy and seizures. Brain magnetic resonance imaging performed at 5 days of age revealed complex brain malformations, including heterotopia around the mesial wall of lateral ventricles, dysmorphic cingulate gyrus, and enlarged midbrain tectum. The patient unexpectedly died at 13 months of age. Postmortem pathological findings included a polymicrogyric cingulate cortex, periventricular nodular heterotopia, basal ganglia and thalamic anomalies, and dysmorphic midbrain tectum. Potential candidate genes showed no abnormalities by traditional PCR‐based sequencing. Whole‐exome sequencing confirmed the presence of novel gene variants for filamin B (FLNB), guanylate binding protein family member 6, and chromosome X open reading frame 59, which adapt to the autosomal recessive mode or X‐linked recessive mode. Although immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the expression of FLNB protein in the vessel walls and white matter in autopsied specimens, there may be functional relevance of the compound heterozygous FLNB variants during brain development.