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ObjectiveThe appropriate treatments for the different molecular subgroups of medulloblastomas are challenging to determine. Hence, this study aimed to examine the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) to determine a marker that may be important for treatment selection in these subgroups.MethodsChanges in the expression of LncRNAs in the tissues of patients with medulloblastoma, which are classified into four subgroups according to their clinical characteristics and gene expression profiles, were examined via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, there association with patient prognosis was evaluated.ResultsThe expression levels of MALAT1 and SNGH16 were significantly higher in patients with group 3 medulloblastoma than in those with other subtypes. Patients with high expression levels of MALAT1 and SNGH16 had a relatively shorter overall survival than those with low expression levels.ConclusionsPatients with group 3 medulloblastoma have a high MALAT1 level, which is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, MALAT1 can be a new therapeutic target in medulloblastoma.

Objective: This study was designed to conduct molecular classification based on IDH1/2, TERT, ATRX, and DAXX changes in pediatric and adult primary glioblastoma (GB) and to analyze the potential interaction of LncRNA MALAT1 in the determined homogeneous subgroups. Methods: We analyzed the expression profiles of ATRX/DAXX and MALAT1 using the qRT-PCR method and IDH and TERT mutation status using DNA sequencing analysis in 85 primary pediatric and adult GB patients. Results: IDH1 mutation was observed in 5 (5.88%) and TERT mutation in 65 (76.47%) primary pediatric and adult GB patients. ATRX and DAXX were detected in 18 (21.18%) and 7 (8.24%) patients. TERT mutation and loss of ATRX/DAXX were associated with short overall survival (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Patients carrying especially TERT C228T mutation had worse prognosis (p < 0.001). Six subgroups were obtained from the genetic analysis. Among the subgroups, MALAT1 was highly expressed in group A that had a single TERT mutation as compared to that in groups D and E (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively); further, high MALAT1 expression was associated with worse prognosis in patients with C228T mutation (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings highlight that the presence of TERT C228T mutation and expression of MALAT1 can be used as primary targets during the follow-up of primary GB patients and in the development of new treatment strategies.

Arachnoid cysts are usually asymptomatic lesions. However, they can sometimes cause intracranial hypertension, headache, seizures, focal neurological deficits, and bleeding. The most commonly used surgical techniques are microsurgical cyst fenestration/excision/drainage, cyst shunting, and endoscopic procedures. We aimed to investigate the success of different surgical techniques.Between 2000 and 2021, patients with Sylvan fissure arachnoid cysts who received treatment via an endoscopic approach chosen as the first-line treatment in three centers were enrolled. All case notes and radiological studies were evaluated retrospectively.The study included 131 (female, n = 28; male, n = 103) patients with a mean age of 87.04 ± 66.76 (range, 0-216) months. Of the patients, 25 had Galassi type II left-sided arachnoid cysts, 33 had Galassi type II right-sided arachnoid cysts, 40 had Galassi type III left-sided arachnoid cysts, and 32 had Galassi type III right-sided arachnoid cysts. No difference was found between patients who underwent single and multiple fenestrations in terms of Galassi type, side, clinical outcome, and cyst size (p 0.05). On the contrary, the rate of additional surgical intervention was lower in patients with multiple fenestrations than in those with single fenestration (36.10% vs. 5.30%; p 0.001).Endoscopic fenestration of Sylvian fissure arachnoid cysts is a good alternative to open surgery or cystoperitoneal shunting, and the number of fenestrations made during this surgery decreases the need for a second surgical procedure.

Background: This study aims to examine the efficacy of clipping in thoracic sympathectomy based on electrophysiological evaluation and to investigate whether nerve conduction can be formed by collateral nerve extensions as a result of the clipping procedure to different levels of sympathetic nerve. Methods: Newly sacrificed six sheep hemithoraces were studied between August 2016 and October 2016. Thoracic sympathectomy was performed by clipping at T2, T3, T4, and T5 sympathetic chain levels and their branches. Electrophysiological studies were performed with an electromyography device and the filter range was 1 Hz with 20 µV/D amplification. Signals were processed digitally; bipolar subdermal needle electrodes were used as stimulation and recording electrodes (Ø 0.75 mm); and the ground electrode was placed in the intercostal muscle where the thoracic sympathectomy procedure would be performed. Results: Electrophysiological evaluations showed that clips placed on the main sympathetic chain branches and sympathetic nerve trunk prevented collateral impulse conduction and stimulated potentials were not recorded. However, sympathetic conduction continued at the same intensity after removal of the clips. Conclusion: Clipping of different regions of the sympathetic nerve provides electrophysiological blockage of the sympathetic nerve, and conduction continues after removal of the clips. However, the short- and long-term postoperative electrophysiological results after removal of the clips over the sympathetic nerve is still a question mark.

Surgery is the gold standard treatment for patients with scoliosis. Fusion and reconstruction of the spinal column is the preferred method for correction of scoliosis. This study aimed to investigate the preoperative and postoperative differences in the upper-body and spinal shapes of patients with scoliosis.Digitized two-dimensional X-ray images were used to obtain the shapes of the upper-body and spine. The preoperative and postoperative mean shapes were compared by using a Generalized Procrustes analysis. The thin plate spline (TPS) method was used to evaluate the spinal shape deformation between the preoperative and postoperative periods.The pre- and postoperative upper-body and spinal shape differences were significant. The TPS graphics showed high-level deformations between the pre- and postoperative periods. The left superior border of the L4 spinous process showed the highest deformation.The preoperative and postoperative upper-body and spinal shape differences and structural deformations that correlated with scoliosis were shown to be significant.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent and deadliest subtype of glioma. Despite current innovations in existing therapeutic modalities, GBM remains incurable, and alternative therapies are required. Previously, we demonstrated that Olea europaea leaf extract (OLE) kills GBM cells by modulating miR-181b, miR-137, miR-153 and Let-7d expression. However, although oleuropein (OL) is the main compound in OLE, its role in the antitumour effect of OLE remains unknown. This study determined the effect of OL on GBM cell line T98G and compared the results with our previous findings regarding the effect of OLE on the same cell line. The antiproliferative activity of OL and its effect on temozolomide (TMZ) response were tested inT98G cells using WST-1 assay. OL inhibition was evaluated using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s post hoc test. The effect of OL on miR-181b, miR-137, miR-153 and Let-7d expression was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Fold differences in expression between untreated, OL or OL + TMZ-treated samples were calculated using 2−ΔCt method. Significance was evaluated using an independent sample t-test. Treatment with 277.5 and 555 µM OL resulted in 39.51% and 75.40% reductions in T98G cells within 24 h. Coadministration of 325 µM TMZ and 277.5 or 555 µM, OL caused 2.08- and 2.83-fold increases, respectively, in the therapeutic effect of TMZ. OL + TMZ significantly increased microRNA expression, particularly Let-7d, than OLE. In conclusion, OL has an antitumour effect on GBM cells mainly via regulation of Let-7d expression. The present results also indicate other minor compounds in OLE play important anticancer roles.

Background: Craniosynostosis is a deformity of the skull that occurs as a result of early fusion of one or more cranial sutures and can be accompanied by neurological deficits. Craniosynostosis can be classified as syndromic or non-syndromic according to the type of suture involved. Surgical treatment of craniosynostosis in infants basically involves loosening and opening the fused sutures to reduce intracranial pressure, allow the brain to grow, and also fix the skull shape. However, in such cases there is a risk of re-synostosis after surgery. According to the literature, re-synostosis rates vary between 0% and 70%. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the re-operation rate in craniosynostosis cases treated surgically in our clinic.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 70 non-syndromic craniosynostosis cases treated surgically in the Neurosurgery Department of Bursa Uludag University from 2005–2019 was performed. All patients had undergone total cranial vault remodeling surgically and had been followed up for at least a year.Results: The study group included 70 patients, comprising 40 (57.1%) male and 30 (42.9%) female patients. The mean age of the group was 10.9 ± 7.8 months (range 3–34 months). Out of 70 patients, repeat surgery due to re-synostosis had been performed once in 5 (7.1%) patients and twice in 1 (1.4%) patient.Conclusion: Early identification and prompt referral play a very significant role in the management of patients with craniosynostosis. Further studies based on a larger sample size are recommended for more quantitative data and better results.

Aim When cerebellar tonsils are placed ≥ 5 mm below the foramen magnum, the situation is referred to as Chiari malformation Type I (CM-I). The prevalence of CM-I has been reported as 0.6%-1%. Due to obstruction in Cerebrospinal Fluid Circulation (CSF) circulation, formation of syrinx of the spinal cord can be observed in these patients. We aimed to ascertain whether the brain stem\'s shape differs in patients with syrinx and without syrinx, relative to healthy controls. Material and methods Data on marked brainstem regions were obtained from 2D digital image files. Generalized Procrustes analysis was used to evaluate shape differences among patients with syrinx, patients without syrinx, and healthy controls. Shape deformations among groups were examined by Thin Plate Spline (TPS) analysis. Results According to the brain stem shape, there were differences between patients with syrinx and controls and between patients without syrinx and controls. High-level deformations were also observed among the groups. Conclusion In the present study, the presence of shape deformations in Chiari patients\' brainstem was demonstrated. This is the first study using a landmark-based geometrical morphometric method to demonstrate the shape difference in Chiari patients\' brainstem.

Adilay, Hüseyin Utku (Balikesir Author), AIM: To investigate the effects of different radiation doses on the development of the neural tube defect in chick embryos using computed tomography (CT), and assess its correlation with survivin and Bcl-2 expressions. MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 150 chicken eggs were used and grouped into five categories. In Group 1 (n=30), the embryos were not exposed to radiation. In Group 2 (n=30), the embryos were irradiated using lung cancer screening chest CT protocol. In Groups 3 and 4 (n=30 each), the abdominopelvic and adult routine head CT protocols, respectively, were used to irradiate the embryos. In Group 5 (n=30), the embryos were irradiated using adult brain perfusion CT protocol. Subsequently, the embryos were examined under a stereomicroscope to assess the presence of neural tube developmental abnormalities. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the survivin and Bcl-2 expression levels. RESULTS: The risk of developing neural tube defect increased with the amount of exposed radiation. Moreover, no significant correlation was observed between the survivin and Bcl-2 expression levels and the radiation dose. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of this study indicate that the radiation from CT may cause neural tube defect in chicken embryos., Balikesir University 2017/203

Introduction: The noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a role in biological processes of various cancers including gliomas. The majority of these transcripts are uniquely expressed in differentiated tissues or specific glioma types. Pediatric oligodendroglioma (POG) is a rare subtype of diffuse glioma and accounts for Methods: We investigated the levels of 13 known miRNAs and 6 LncRNAs in tumor samples from 9 patients with primary POG by using RT-PCR and analyzed their association with outcomes. Results: The expression levels of miR-21, miR-106a, miR-10b, and LncRNA NEAT1 were higher, and the expression level of miR-143 was lower in POG tissues compared with normal brain tissues (p = 0.006, p = 0.032, p = 0.034, p = 0.002, and p = 0.001, respectively). High levels of NEAT1 and low expression of miR-143 were associated with decreased probability of short disease-free survival (p = 0.018 and p = 0.022, respectively). Discussion: NEAT1 and miR-143 levels could serve as reciprocal prognostic predictors of disease progression in patients with POG. New treatment models to regulate the expression levels of NEAT1 and miR-143 will bring a new approach to the therapy of POG.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a rare high-grade malignant subtype of chondrosarcoma that is characterized by undifferentiated, round, or spindled mesenchymal cells, interspersed with islands of hyaline cartilage. We report a primary intracranial extra-axial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a 16-month-old patient with a review of the literature focusing on intracranial extra-axial MCs with or without skull involvement in pediatric patients, including differential diagnosis. The patient was admitted with a swelling in the right temporooccipital region. There was intracranial extra-dural extension of the mass, which abuts the neural parenchyma without any invasion. A complete tumor resection was performed. Pathological diagnosis was mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. The patient was free of symptoms after surgery.

Background : Spinal surgical interventions are generally used in the treatment of various spinal pathologies such as vertebral fracture, luxation-subluxation, congenital vertebral deformities, discal hernia, infection and tumor. Minimally invasive spinal surgery contributes to rapid recovery by reducing iatrogenic muscle damage and postoperative pain. In minimally invasive spinal surgery, a new hybrid imaging technique, the exoscope, has been developed in the last decade The purpose of this study was to report efficacy of the exoscopic microdecompressive spinal surgery (MDSS) and its early postoperative electromyography (EMG) results in dogs. Materials, Methods & Results : The material of this study consisted of the owned 10 dogs with spinal cord injury resulted from the different etiologies. On the basis of examinations, medical support (fluid therapy, corticosteroid, etc.) was applied to the required dogs. Exoscopic MDSS was performed under general anesthesia in dogs. The neurologic, radiologic and EMG examination were completed at pre- and postoperative periods. EMG results at postoperative 1 st week showed increased conduction velocity and amplitudes in 3 cases. There was no significant change in a case. And, there was a slight slowdown in conduction velocity and significant decrease in amplitudes in a case. At postoperative 4 th week, ther was increased conduction velocity and amplitudes in 8 cases and needle EMG showed that spontan muscle activity was normal in 5 cases, mild in 2 cases, moderate a case and severe in a case. But spontan muscle activity was unfollowed in a case. Postoperative outcomes were poor in 3 cases, fair in 3 cases, good in 3 cases and unfollowed in a case. Discussion : Spinal cord injuries encountered in veterinary medicine have significant morbidity and mortality. In spinal patients, in addition to neurological examination, lesion localization can be determined using imaging techniques such as radiology, computed tomography, and MRI. EMG and somatosensory evoked potentials examinations are used to evaluate quantitative functional recovery, especially in spinal cord injuries. EMG also provides an opportunity to evaluate muscle activation patterns during recovery. Exoscopic spinal surgery is the newest hybrid imaging technique. Exoscopic MDSS facilitated manipulation by providing adequate illumination and vision at the exploration site. Exoscopic MDSS has the advantages of microscopic surgery and is a new technique that can be applied in dogs with spinal pathology.

Unmethylated O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter leads to Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in most of the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. We previously investigated the synergistic effect of Olea europaea leaf extract (OLE) on TMZ cytotoxicity through modulating microRNA expression. To date, knowledge about the effect of OLE on MGMT methylation is insufficient. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential modulating effect of OLE on the TMZ response of GBM tumors through MGMT methylation. Exposure to 1mg/mL OLE caused a significant induction of CpG island methylation in the MGMT gene using Methyl quantitative PCR assay (P < 0.001). In WST-1 analysis, the use of 350 mu M TMZ plus 1mg/mL OLE significantly increased the TMZ response of MGMT unmethylated cells (P = 0.003). Using the comet assay, the impact of 1mg/mL OLE plus 350 mu M TMZ on the formation of DNA strand breaks was significantly higher than that of 450 mu M TMZ alone (P < 0.001) and Western blot analysis revealed that, when cells are treated with 1-mg/mL OLE, the total p53 protein levels tended to decrease. The results presented in this study uniquely demonstrated that OLE synergistically increased the TMZ response of GBM tumors by regulating MGMT gene methylation and p53 expression. However, further studies to validate our findings are required.

Primary glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive type of brain tumors. While mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes are frequent in secondary GBs and correlate with a better prognosis, most primary GBs are IDH wild-type. Recent studies have shown that the long noncoding RNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript-1 (MALAT1) is associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes in different cancers. Our aim was to clarify the prognostic significance of MALAT1 in IDH1/2 wild-type primary GB tumors. We analyzed IDH1/2 mutation status in 75 patients with primary GB by DNA sequencing. The expression of MALAT1 was detected in the 75 primary GB tissues and 5 normal brain tissues using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The associations between MALAT1 expression, IDH1/2 mutation status, and clinicopathological variables of patients were determined. IDH1 (R132H) mutation was observed in 5/75 primary GBs. IDH2 (R172H) mutation was not detected in any of our cases. MALAT1 expression was significantly upregulated in primary GB vs. normal brain tissues (p = 0.025). Increased MALAT1 expression in IDH1/2 wild-type primary GBs correlated with patient age and tumor localization (p = 0.032 and p = 0.025, respectively). A multivariate analysis showed that high MALAT1 expression was an unfavorable prognostic factor for overall survival (p = 0.034) in IDH1/2 wild-type primary GBs. High MALAT1 expression may have a prognostic role in primary GBs independent of IDH mutations.

Aim To investigate the differences in the head shapes of scaphocephaly patients during the pre- and postoperative phases. Material and methods Cranium shape data were collected from the two-dimensional digital images. The generalised Procrustes analysis was used to obtain mean shapes in the pre- and postoperative phases. The shape deformation of the cranium from the pre- to postoperative phases was evaluated using the thin plate spline method. Results There was no significant cranial shape difference in the pre and postoperative phases. The high-level deformations from the pre- to postoperative phase were seen in thin plate spline graphs. The highest deformation was observed at the biparietal dimension. Conclusion In this study, we showed that the structural deformation of the cranium was correlated with sagittal craniosynostosis. The present study also shows that pre- and postoperative head shapes of patients with scaphocephaly can be compared using head shape with the landmark-based geometric morphometric method by taking into consideration the topographic distribution.

Patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) that are cancer stem-cell-positive (GSC [+]) essentially cannot benefit from anti-angiogenic or anti-invasive therapy. In the present study, the potential anti-angiogenic and anti-invasive effects of Olea europaea (olive) leaf extract (OLE) were tested using GSC (+) tumours. OLE (2 mg/mL) caused a significant reduction in tumour weight, vascularisation, invasiveness and migration (p = 0.0001, p < 0.001, p = 0.004; respectively) that was associated with reducing the expression of VEGFA, MMP-2 and MMP-9. This effect was synergistically increased in combination with bevacizumab. Therefore, our current findings may contribute to research on drugs that inhibit the invasiveness of GBM.

Aim To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of computed tomography-guided high-level percutaneous selective cervical cordotomy (CT-guided HPSCC). Material and methods CT-guided percutaneous procedures were performed in fifty-nine patients between the years 2004- 2013 for cancer pain. Forty-eight patients with cancer-related body pain were treated with CT-guided HPSCC was evaluated retrospectively. Results CT-guided HPSCC was performed in 33 male and 15 female patients. The mean age was 49.93 years. The distance between skin-dura, anteroposterior diameter and mediolateral diameter was measured as 40 to 71.1 mm, 8 to 88 mm and 8 to 99 mm respectively. The mean postoperative Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) was 95. Mean preoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score was 9.6, and 3.6 on postoperative day 1. The 6 th month follow-up VAS score was 6.8. Preoperative total sleeping hours in a 24-hour period were 5.5 hours, which increased in the immediate postoperative period to 8.5 hours. The most common pathology treated was bronchogenic carcinoma. Six of the procedures were bilateral and there were no permanent complication due to the procedure. Conclusion CT-guided HPSCC is still very effective, cheap and repetitive procedure for cancer pain. The procedure should be performed by experienced surgeons and although there is a hegemony of opioids, the number of surgeons that perform the procedure must be increased.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is widely used to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Although the MGMT gene methylation status is postulated to correlate with TMZ response, some patients with a methylated MGMT gene still do not benefit from TMZ therapy. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be one of the causes of therapeutic resistance, but the molecular mechanism underlying this resistance is unclear. microRNA (miRNA) deregulation has been recognized as another chemoresistance modulating mechanism. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the miRNA expression patterns associated with chemoresistance that is dependent on the CSC status in GBM tumors to identify therapeutic biomarkers. CSCs were identified in 5 of 20 patients' tumor tissues using magnetic separation. CSC (+) tumors displayed a significant induction of CpG island methylation in the MGMT gene promoter (p = 0.009). Using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), 9 miRNAs related to GBM (mir-181b, miR-153, miR-137, miR-145, miR-10a, miR-10b, let-7d, miR-9, and miR-455-3p), which are associated with cell cycle and invasion was analyzed in tumor samples. Low miR-181b and high miR-455-3p expression levels were detected (p = 0.053, p = 0.004; respectively) in CSC (+) tumors. Analysis revealed a significant correlation between miR-455-3p expression and Smad2 protein levels as analyzed by immunohistochemistry in CSC (+) tumors (p = 0.002). Thus, miR-455-3p may be involved in TMZ resistance in MGMT methylated CSC (+) GBM patients. Further studies and evaluations are required, but this miRNA may provide novel therapeutic molecular targets for GBM treatment and new directions for the development of anticancer drugs.

Glioblastoma cyst fluid contains growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins which are known as neurotrophic and neurite-promoting agents. Therefore, we hypothesized that glioblastoma cyst fluid can promote the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves. To validate this hypothesis, we transected rat sciatic nerve, performed epineural anastomosis, and wrapped the injured sciatic nerve with glioblastoma cyst fluid- or saline-soaked gelatin sponges. Neurological function and histomorphological examinations showed that compared with the rats receiving local saline treatment, those receiving local glioblastoma cyst fluid treatment had better sciatic nerve function, fewer scars, greater axon area, counts and diameter as well as fiber diameter. These findings suggest that glioblastoma cyst fluid can promote the regeneration of injured sciatic nerve and has the potential for future clinical application in patients with peripheral nerve injury.

Study design Level 1 randomized controlled study. Purpose To investigate the effects of systemic and local interferon-beta-1a (IFN-β-1a) on prevention of epidural fibrosis using histopathological parameters. Overview of literature Epidural fibrosis involves fibroblastic invasion of nerve roots into the epidural space. Formation of dense fibrous tissue causes lumbar and radicular pain. Many surgical techniques and several materials have been proposed in the literature, but no study has assessed the effect of IFN-β-1a on prevention of epidural fibrosis. Methods Forty-eight adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups of eight: sham group, control group, systemic 44 μg IFN-β-1a group and 22 μg IFN-β-1a group (after laminectomy and discectomy, 0.28 mL and 0.14 mL IFN-β-1a applied subcutaneously three times for a week, respectively), local 44 μg IFN-β-1a group (laminectomy and discectomy, followed by 0.28 mL IFN-β-1a on the surgical area), and local 22 μg IFN-β-1a group (laminectomy and discectomy, followed by 0.14 mL IFN-β-1a on the surgical area). All rats were sacrificed after 4 weeks and groups were evaluated histopathologically. Results Compared with sham and control groups, significantly less epidural fibrosis, dural adhesion, and fibroblast cell density were observed in the local and systemic 44 μg IFN-β-1a groups. No other differences were evident between the local and systemic groups. Conclusions IFN-β-1a is effective in preventing epidural fibrosis with systemic and local application.

AIM: To demonstrate the effect of glatiramer acetate (GA) in chick embryos on neural tube (NT) development, and to explore its effects of FOXP1, apoptosis, and N-cadherin. MATERIAL and METHODS: One hundred fertile, specific pathogen free eggs were divided into 5 groups for this study. The eggshell was windowed specifically at 24 hours of incubation. The embryos in Group 1 (n=20) were treated with 10 mu l physiological saline; in Group 2 the embryos (n=20) were given 10 mu l GA (equal to daily human therapeutic dose); 20 mu l GA (equal to twice daily human therapeutic dose) was injected to embryos in Group 3 (n=20); in Group 4 and 5, 30 mu l and 40 mu l GA were administered to the embryos (n=20) (equal to x3 and x4 daily human therapeutic dose, respectively). Each egg was re-incubated for 24 hours more. Then, histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of the subjects were done. RESULTS: The embryos with NT defect showed FOXP1 expression without N-cadherin or staining with N-cadherin in another location in our study. We interpreted this result as GA leading to an NT closure defect by increasing FOXP expression. Moreover, we also showed the reverse relation between FOXP1 and N-cadherin at the immunohistochemical level for the first time. CONCLUSION: GA affects the spinal cord development through FOXP in the chick embryo model at high doses.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the deadliest human malignancies. A cure for GBM remains elusive, and the overall survival time is less than 1 year. Thus, the development of more efficient therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these patients is required. Induction of tumor cell death by certain phytochemicals derived from medicinal herbs and dietary plants has become a new frontier for cancer therapy research. Although the cancer suppressive effect of Ficus carica (fig) latex (FCL) has been determined in a few cancer types, the effect of this latex on GBM tumors has not been investi- gated. Therefore, in the current study, the anti-proliferative activity of FCL and the effect of the FCL-temozolomide (TMZ) combination were tested in the T98G, U-138 MG, and U-87 MG GBM cell lines using the WST-1 assay. The mechanism of cell death was analyzed using Annexin-V/ FITC and TUNEL assays, and the effect of FCL on inva- sion was tested using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. To determine the effect of FCL on GBM progres- sion, the expression levels of 40 GBM associated miRNAs were analyzed in T98G cells using RT-qPCR. According to the obtained data, FCL causes cell death in GBM cells with different responses to TMZ, and this effect is synergisti- cally increased in combination with TMZ. In addition, the current study is the first to demonstrate the effect of FCL on modulation of let-7d expression, which may be an important underlying mechanism of the anti-invasive effect of this extract.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the dose dependence of citicoline's previously-reported effects on recovery of peripheral nerve injury. MATERIAL and METHODS: Right sciatic nerves of sixty adult female Wistar Albino rats were incised and primary anastomosis was performed. Rats were then divided into four groups: Control group received 2 ml of saline intraperitoneally, while rats in C-300, C-600 and C-900 groups received 300 mu mol/kg, 600 mu mol/kg and 900 mu mol/kg citicoline dissolved in 2 ml saline, respectively. Rats were tested for sciatic functional index (SFI) on the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks and electrophysiological recordings were obtained on the 12th week. Rats were then sacrificed to investigate nerve adhesions and perform histomorphological examinations. RESULTS:Our results showed that rats in C-600 and C-900 groups had significantly lesser neural adhesion and greater SFI and electrophysiological score than those in the Control and C-300 groups (p

Glioblastoma represents extreme anaplasia in astrocytic tumors. In spite of this aggressiveness, extracranial metastasis of glioblastoma is very rare and has been documented in only a few patients in the literature. In this article, a 30-year-old woman with secondary glioblastoma associated with extracranial distant metastasis was presented. In September 2008, an intracranial lesion in the left frontal region was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after admission to the hospital by headache and seizure and subsequently resected. The histology of the lesion revealed an anaplastic astrocytoma (grade III). Upon recurrence of the tumor 7 months later, the patient underwent a second craniotomy for recurrence tumor resection. The histological diagnosis was glioblastoma. After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, cranial computerized tomography (CT) and whole body scintigraphy revealed metastatic lesions in the right cervical lymph nodes and the left ischium. A neck dissection and parathyroidectomy on the right side was performed. The cytomorphological and histological features of the tumor supported the diagnosis of metastatic glioblastoma.