Infantile holocord cellular ependymoma with communicating hydrocephalus: unusual presentation of a rare case

We present a case of infantile holocord ependymoma in a 4-month-old boy who presented with infection of ventriculoperitoneal shunt done elsewhere for a communicating hydrocephalus. On magnetic resonance imaging, a diffuse holocord T2-hyperintense, T1-hypointense intramedullary bulky lesion with syringomyelia in the cervical level was seen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of infantile holocord ependymoma. As the extent of morbidity associated with a spinal cord tumor is high, an increased level of suspicion and the need for a complete spinal cord screening in a case of infantile hydrocephalus without obvious clinical and radiological evidence of intracranial abnormality is emphasized.     

Integrated exposure assessment of sewage workers to genotoxicants: an urinary biomarker approach and oxidative stress evaluation

Background  

Sewage workers are exposed to multiple chemicals among which many are suspected genotoxicants. Therefore, they might incur DNA damage and oxidative stress. We aimed to explore integrated urinary biomarkers, assessing the overall urine genotoxicity by in vitro comet and micronucleus assays and measuring urinary 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine.     

An update on calcium carbonate nanoparticles as cancer drug/gene delivery system

Introduction: In recent years, the applications of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles (NPs) have gained extensive interest as targeted drug/gene delivery systems to cancerous tissues and cells due to their accessibility, low cost, safety, biocompatibility, pH-sensitivity, and slow biodegradability.

Areas covered: Drug-loaded CaCO₃ NPs (CCNPs) have been reviewed. An updated search on the current state of CCNPs as cancer drug/gene delivery systems with a focus on their special properties including pH-sensitivity, biodegradability, and sustained release performance has been also assessed.

Expert opinion: Based on the reviewed literature, CCNPs, because of their superior features, will have a great aiding role in safe and efficient cancer treatment in the near future.     

Effects of Losartan,HO‐1 Inducers or HO‐1 Inhibitors on Erectile Signaling in Diabetic Rats

IntroductionActivation of the renin‐angiotensin system which is common in diabetes mellitus might affect heme oxygenase (HO‐1) gene expression.AimAssessment of the effects of administration of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonist (losartan) with HO‐1 inducer or inhibitor on erectile signaling in diabetic rats.Materials and MethodsSeventy male rats were divided equally into seven groups; healthy controls, streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats, rats on citrate buffer, diabetic rats on losartan, diabetic rats on HO‐1 inducer (cobalt protoporphyrin [CoPP]), diabetic rats on losartan and CoPP, and diabetic rats on losartan and HO‐1 inhibitor (stannus mesoporphyrin [SnMP]).Main Outcome MeasureHO enzyme activity, HO‐1 gene expression, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) assay, intracavernosal pressure (ICP), and cavernous tissue sinusoids surface area.ResultsHO‐1 gene expression, HO enzymatic activity, and cGMP were significantly decreased in the cavernous tissue of diabetic rats. These parameters were significantly elevated with the use of CoPP that restored the normal control levels of HO enzyme activity. Administration of losartan exhibited a significant enhancing effect on these parameters compared with the diabetic group, but not restored to the control levels, whereas administration of CoPP combined with losartan led to the restoration of their normal levels. ICP demonstrated significant decline in diabetic rats. The use of CoPP and/or losartan led to its significant improvement compared with diabetic rats. Administration of either losartan and/or CoPP led to a significant increase in the cavernous sinusoids surface area of diabetic rats. Administration of losartan with SnMP significantly decreased the enhancing effect of losartan on the studied parameters.ConclusionThe decline in erectile function in diabetes mellitus could be attributed to the downregulation of HO‐1 gene expression. HO‐1 induction added to Ang II receptor antagonist could improve erectile function. Abdel Aziz MT, El Asmer MF, Mostafa T, Atta H, Mahfouz S, Fouad H, Rashed L, Sabry D, Hassouna A, Abdel Aziz AT, Senbel A, and Demery A. Effects of losartan, HO‐1 inducers or HO‐1 inhibitors on erectile signaling in diabetic rats.     

Altered thyrotropic and lactotropic axes regulation in Huntington’s disease

Background Recently, a loss of hypothalamic dopamine D₂ receptors was demonstrated in Huntington’s disease (HD). Activation of dopamine D₂ receptors is known to inhibit the function of both thyrotropic and lactotropic axes. Objective To assess whether the activity of the thyrotropic and lactotropic axes is disturbed in patients with HD, contributing to symptoms such as unintended weight loss. Participants and methods In nine medication‐free patients with early‐stage HD (six men, three women) and nine age‐, sex‐ and body mass index‐matched controls, we measured serum levels of thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin (men only) every 10 min for 24 h. Multiparameter auto‐deconvolution and approximate entropy analysis were applied to quantify basal, pulsatile and total TSH and prolactin secretion rates as well as the regularity of hormone release. Results Compared with controls, TSH and prolactin secretion tended to be slightly, but not significantly, higher in patients with HD (TSH: 1·13 ±0·14 vs 0·91 ± 0·19 mU/l, P = 0·40; prolactin: 213 ± 18 vs 209 ± 11 pmol/l, P = 0·87). However, in patients with HD, total T₃ levels were significantly higher (1·60 ± 0·05 vs 1·35 ± 0·09, P = 0·045), while T₄ levels tended to be higher as well (91·9 ± 3·9 vs 81·3 ± 3·1, P = 0·085). Prolactin secretion was significantly more irregular in patients with HD (Approximate entropy (ApEn): 1·06 ± 0·08 vs 0·80 ± 0·09, P = 0·037). Total T₃ levels were negatively associated with motor impairment (r = ?0·72, P = 0·030), whereas increasing free T₄ levels were associated with a larger mutant cytosine‐adenine‐guanine (CAG) repeat size (r = +0·68, P = 0·044). Conclusion: Our findings indicate a mild hyperactivity of the thyrotropic axis and a disturbed regulation of the lactotropic axis in patients with early‐stage HD.     

Preparation and in vitro/pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation of a slow-release nano-liposomal form of prednisolone

A nano-liposomal carrier was prepared for the anti-inflammatory drug prednisolone acetate (PA). The drug showed remarkable loading in the nano-carriers. The drug-loaded nano-liposmes with average sizes of about 186?nm and zeta potentials of??20?mV were obtained. Our drug release studies showed an apparently zero-order trend with only 18% of the drug released in the first 120 h. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses showed no chemical interaction between the drug and carrier. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging showed near-spherical drug-containing nano-carriers. The intramuscular (IM) trial of the nanoformulation compared with the free drug showed both pharmacokinetic (lower C_max, higher area under the curve (AUC)) and pharmacodynamic (higher and longer lasting anti-inflammatory effect, both macroscopically and biochemically) superiority for the nano-liposomal drug above the free prednisolone in rats.