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BACKGROUND Intracranial carotid sympathetic plexus (CSP) nerve sheath tumors have rarely been reported in the literature. This study describes the first reported case of a CSP neurofibroma and the first case of a CSP nerve sheath tumor treated via an endoscopic endonasal approach followed by adjuvant radiosurgery. OBSERVATIONS A 53-year-old man presented with 3 days of headaches and diplopia and was found to have a complete left abducens nerve palsy. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a smoothly dilated left carotid canal, CT angiography revealed a superiorly displaced left internal carotid artery (ICA), and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a T2-hyperintense and avidly enhancing lesion in the left cavernous sinus encasing the ICA. The patient underwent subtotal resection via an endoscopic transsphenoidal transcavernous approach followed by Gamma Knife radiosurgery. LESSONS Nerve sheath tumors arising from the CSP are extremely rare but need to be considered when assessing unusual cavernous sinus lesions. The clinical presentation is dependent on the anatomical location of the tumor and its relationship to the ICA. The optimal treatment paradigm is unknown.

Genes differentiate two groups of JPA Hanash data

Supplementary Figure 2 from Genome-Wide Allelic Imbalance Analysis of Pediatric Gliomas by Single Nucleotide Polymorphic Allele Array

Using single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) allele arrays, we analyzed 28 pediatric gliomas consisting of 14 high-grade gliomas and 14 low-grade gliomas. Most of the low-grade gliomas had no detectable loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in any of the 11,562 SNP loci; exceptions were two gangliogliomas (3q and 9p), one astrocytoma (6q), and two subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (16p and 21q). On the other hand, all high-grade gliomas had various degrees of LOH affecting 52 to 2,168 SNP loci on various chromosomes. LOH occurred most frequently in regions located at 4q (54%), 6q (46%), 9p (38%), 10q (38%), 11p (38%), 12 (38%), 13q (69%), 14q (54%), 17 (38%), 18p (46%), and 19q (38%). We also detected amplifications of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) in a few of the 13 cases of glioblastoma multiforme analyzed. Interestingly, the amplified EGFR and PDGFRα were located within regions of LOH. SNP loci with LOH and copy number changes were validated by sequencing and quantitative PCR, respectively. Our results indicate that, in some pediatric glioblastoma multiforme, one allele each of EGFR and PDGFRα was lost but the remaining allele was amplified. This may represent a new molecular mechanism underlying tumor progression. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(23): 11172-8)

Supplementary Figure 1 from Genome-Wide Allelic Imbalance Analysis of Pediatric Gliomas by Single Nucleotide Polymorphic Allele Array

Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA) is one of the most common brain tumors in children. The expression profiles of 21 JPAs, determined using Affymetrix GeneChip U133A, were compared with subjects with normal cerebella. The genes involved in neurogenesis, cell adhesion, synaptic transmission, central nervous system development, potassium ion transport, protein dephosphorylation, and cell differentiation were found to be significantly deregulated in JPA. These 21 JPAs were further clustered into two major groups by unsupervised hierarchical clustering using a set of 848 genes with high covariance (0.5-10). Supervised analysis with Significance Analysis of Microarrays software between these two potential subgroups identified a list of significant differentially expressed genes involved in cell adhesion, regulation of cell growth, cell motility, nerve ensheathment, and angiogenesis. Immunostaining of myelin basic protein on paraffin sections derived from 18 incompletely resected JPAs suggests that JPA without myelin basic protein–positively stained tumor cells may have a higher tendency to progress.

Figure S1 from Expression Analysis of Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas by Oligonucleotide Microarray Reveals Two Potential Subgroups

Supplementary Tables 1-2 from Genome-Wide Allelic Imbalance Analysis of Pediatric Gliomas by Single Nucleotide Polymorphic Allele Array

Tuberculosis (TB) and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are two important infectious diseases causing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Active TB infection can stimulate host immune responses and together with COVID-19, may lead to cytokine storm and immune dysregulation leading to multi-organ failure. We present a rare case of both miliary tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection in an infant who was a 6-month-old previously healthy term boy. He had persistent cough and congestion, became severely ill, and was brought to the emergency department. He was found to be COVID-19 positive by PCR test. Laboratory studies showed pancytopenia, elevated inflammatory markers, and an abnormal coagulation profile with coagulopathy. He developed strokes, severe sepsis, and electrolyte abnormalities, and declined rapidly within 6 days. Autopsy examination showed multifocal micro-abscesses in multiple organs, which on microscopic examination showed necrotic foci teeming with Mycobacteria and were culture positive for

While targeting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a rational anticancer strategy, patient benefit with OXPHOS inhibitors in the clinic has yet to be achieved. Based on promising preclinical data, we advanced IACS-010759, a highly potent and selective small-molecule inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, into two phase I trials in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (NCT02882321) or advanced solid tumors (NCT03291938). Clinical findings revealed that IACS-010759 had a narrow therapeutic index with emergent dose-limiting toxicities that included elevated blood lactate and neurotoxicity, obstructing efforts to maintain target plasma exposure. Consequently, only modest on-target inhibition and limited antitumor activity were observed. Follow-up reverse translational studies uncovered that IACS-010759 reduced oxygen consumption rates in neurons and damaged myelin. Further, IACS-010759-treated mice displayed behaviors indictive of neuropathy, which were minimized with the co-administration of a histone deacetylase 6 inhibitor. Our findings urge caution in the continued development of complex I inhibitors as antitumor agents.

Symbiotic organisms such as corals are threatened by changing climate because they are sensitive to stress, and may be unable to adapt quickly due to the long host generation time. Instead of selecting for stress tolerant hosts, manipulating their symbiotic microbes has been proposed because microbes affect holobiont phenotypes and they have rapid life cycles. Because it is time-consuming to isolate stress tolerant symbionts from the wild even when appropriate types exist, mutation and selection of symbionts is a promising alternative approach. Using green hydra (Hydra viridissima) and symbiotic algae (Chlorella variabilis NC64A), we found symbiont mutagenesis in vitro altered their UV-B resistance as well as that of holobionts receiving mutated algae. In addition, hydra UV-B tolerance was positively correlated to that of the algae they were hosting, as the hydra associated with UV-B tolerant algal strains exhibited higher UV-B resistance. However, chronic low-level UV-B selection decreased algal resistance to acute high-level UV-B, which was unexpected, and did not affect UV-B resistance of holobionts. The variations in algal UV-B tolerance and hydra UV-B tolerance were largely due to mutagenesis rather than selection. Our results suggest symbiont mutagenesis and trait-based identification may be more effective than assisted evolution in holobiont phenotype alteration, and it highlights the need to characterize symbiont traits in vitro that are correlated to stress tolerance they can confer to hosts, which may have application in conservation, agriculture and forestry.

It has been proposed that holobionts (host-symbiont units) could swap endosymbionts, rapidly alter the hologenome (host plus symbiont genome), and increase their stress tolerance. However, experimental tests of individual and combined contributions of hosts and endosymbionts to holobiont stress tolerance are needed to test this hypothesis. Here, we used six green hydra (Hydra viridissima) strains to tease apart host (hydra) and symbiont (algae) contributions to thermal tolerance. Heat shock experiments with (1) hydra with their original symbionts, (2) aposymbiotic hydra (algae removed), (3) novel associations (a single hydra strain hosting different algae individually), and (4) control hydra (aposymbiotic hydra re-associated with their original algae) showed high variation in thermal tolerance in each group. Relative tolerances of strains were the same within original, aposymbiotic, and control treatments, but reversed in the novel associations group. Aposymbiotic hydra had similar or higher thermal tolerance than hydra with algal symbionts. Selection on the holobiont appears to be stronger than on either partner alone, suggesting endosymbiosis could become an evolutionary trap under climate change. Our results suggest that green hydra thermal tolerance is strongly determined by the host, with a smaller, non-positive role for the algal symbiont. Once temperatures exceed host tolerance limits, swapping symbionts is unlikely to allow these holobionts to persist. Rather, increases in host tolerance through in situ adaptation or migration of pre-adapted host strains appear more likely to increase local thermal tolerance. Overall, our results indicate green hydra is a valuable system for studying aquatic endosymbiosis under changing environmental conditions, and demonstrate how the host and the endosymbiont contribute to holobiont stress tolerance.

Algal biofuel has potential as a source of renewable fuel and a tool for wastewater remediation. Open algal bioreactors fertilized with wastewater can have net energy gain but are vulnerable to colonization by algal grazers. However, colonizing predaceous insects may limit grazer impacts on algae. Here, we investigate the effects of grazers, predators, and invading algae species on algal production and community structure in high-nutrient environments. First, we grew diverse algal assemblages in treated municipal wastewater in a greenhouse with Daphnia grazers and different insect predators that were added experimentally. When Daphnia were present without predators, they eliminated suspended algae. But, dragonfly larvae [Odonata: Libellulidae] and backswimmers [Hemiptera: Notonectidae], but not larval diving beetles [Coloeoptera: Dytiscidae], suppressed Daphnia allowing suspended algae to persist. Second, we grew Chlorella algae in field tanks that were open or protected from natural invertebrate colonization and half the tanks received wild-collected plankton in a factorial design. Mosquito larvae [Culex sp.] readily colonized open tanks and reduced algal mass and dissolved phosphorus concentrations. Colonist addition to open tanks shifted algal functional and taxonomic composition but did not impact suspended algal production. Our study indicates that large numbers of grazer individuals can rapidly colonize open bioreactors. Experimentally added and naturally colonizing grazers altered algal community structure and reduced algal standing crops but may also aid in nutrient removal from wastewater-fed bioreactors. Effective operation of open algal bioreactors must consider cultivated algae species’ vulnerability to competition and local grazers as well as the ability of potential predators to both naturally disperse into bioreactors and to control grazers.

algal growth lowered temperature and levels of total dissolved solids in the tanks and increased pH and dissolved oxygen compared to supply water. Algae in the tanks removed 91% of nitrate-N and 53% of phosphorus from wastewater. Monocultures were not invaded by other algal species. Fish did not affect any variables. Our results indicated that algae can be grown in open tank bioreactors using wastewater as a nutrient source. The stable productivity of monocultures suggests that this may be a viable production method to procure algal biomass for biodiesel production.

Juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA) is one of the most common brain tumors in children. The expression profiles of 21 JPAs, determined using Affymetrix GeneChip U133A, were compared with subjects with normal cerebella. The genes involved in neurogenesis, cell adhesion, synaptic transmission, central nervous system development, potassium ion transport, protein dephosphorylation, and cell differentiation were found to be significantly deregulated in JPA. These 21 JPAs were further clustered into two major groups by unsupervised hierarchical clustering using a set of 848 genes with high covariance (0.5-10). Supervised analysis with Significance Analysis of Microarrays software between these two potential subgroups identified a list of significant differentially expressed genes involved in cell adhesion, regulation of cell growth, cell motility, nerve ensheathment, and angiogenesis. Immunostaining of myelin basic protein on paraffin sections derived from 18 incompletely resected JPAs suggests that JPA without myelin basic protein–positively stained tumor cells may have a higher tendency to progress.

Lipomatous hemangiopericytoma is a rare variant of hemangiopericytoma. Only a few cases of LHPC have been reported to date, with only two cases of this entity having been reported in the head and neck area, and none intracranially. We present the clinical, radiological, and histological features of the first reported case of a sellar lipomatous hemangiopericytoma, and review the literature. Material and Methods We report a case of a 51-year-old man who presented with visual field compromise and was thought to have a pituitary adenoma based on clinical, radiographic and endocrinologic workup; a sellar mass with suprasellar extension was found. Results Histological and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated evidence of a lipomatous hemangiopericytoma of the sellar region. Conclusion A handful of sellar hemangiopericytomas mimicking pituitary adenomas have been previously described. Although one case of lipomatous hemangiopericytoma has been reported in the soft tissues of the occipital region, and one in the skull base and jugular foramen, to our knowledge this is the first reported case of an intracranial (sellar) lipomatous hemangiopericytoma. This tumor represents a distinctive pathologic entity that can only be diagnosed on histological examination.

We present an adult autopsy case of primary hyperoxaluria type 1. Diagnosis was established with skin biopsy and subsequent genetic analysis one month prior to death. At autopsy, calcium oxalate crystals refringent to polarized light were found systemically. Interestingly, however, calcium oxalate crystals were not identified in the bone. Additionally, we have included a review of the literature for previous autopsy cases, presentations, diagnosis, complications, and treatment of this rare genetic systemic process.

Pharmaceutically valuable products from micro algae and its industrial commercialization today is still in its infancy and can be seen as a gateway to a multibillion dollar industry. Microalgae generally grow autotrophically and are ubiquitous in nature.They represent a major untapped resource of genetic potential for valuable bioactive agents and fine biochemical. This proven ability of microalgae to produce these compounds places these microorganisms in the biotechnological spotlight for applications and commercialization as in the Pharmaceutical industry. The production of microalgal metabolites, which stimulate defense mechanisms in the human body, has spurred intense study of the application of micro algal biomass and products thereof in various food preparations, pharmacological and medical products. There is therefore a huge scope for further study of the identified algal compounds and their activities in the treatment and prevention of various diseases, in addition to an ongoing search for other, as yet undetected, metabolites. Key words:Algae,Pharmaceuticals, Bioactive compounds.