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The prevalence of pyramidal cells (PCs) in the mammalian cerebral cortex underscore their value as they play a crucial role in various brain functions, ranging from cognition, sensory processing, to motor output. PC morphology significantly influences brain connectivity and plays a critical role in maintaining normal brain function. Pathological alterations to PC morphology are thought to contribute to the aetiology of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. This review explores the relationship between abnormalities in PC morphology in key cortical areas and the clinical manifestations in schizophrenia and ASD. We focus largely on human postmortem studies and provide evidence that dendritic segment length, complexity and spine density are differentially affected in these disorders. These morphological alterations can lead to disruptions in cortical connectivity, potentially contributing to the cognitive and behavioural deficits observed in these disorders. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of investigating the functional and structural characteristics of PCs in these disorders to illuminate the underlying pathogenesis and stimulate further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on rechargeable aqueous Zinc(Zn)‐ion batteries has expanded exponentially. However, the performance of Zn anodes during cycling and their commercial application is restricted by severe corrosion and dendritic formation. In this study, a facile approach is presented to address these challenges by introducing minute quantities of Zr(NO3)4 into the 3 m ZnSO4 electrolyte. The Zr(NO3)4 additive facilitates the creation of a protective layer comprising spatial gradient oxidation alloy (GOA) particles. The insulating zirconium‐based materials provide the necessary potential gradient to induce the Zn plate under the covering film. As a proof of concept, the in situ GOA coating anode exhibits exceptional cycling stability for 8000 cycles and an ultralow hysteresis voltage of 41 mV at current density of 5 mA cm−2. Furthermore, Density Functional Theory analyses reveal that the GOA coating anode homogenizes the electric field surrounding the Zn anode surface providing abundant zincophilic sites for Zn nucleation compared to bare Zn plates. This ensures uniform Zn deposition, preventing dendritic growth. In addition, the in situ characterization and computation of Gibbs free energy (ΔGH*) reveal that the GOA coating anode may effectively suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrogenetic models of martian magmas reflect the compositional, thermal, and geodynamical evolution of its interior. Most models for shergottite meteorites, which sampled relatively young martian basalts, invoke partial melting in a mantle plume head and filtering of the magma through the crust. Olivine-phyric, poikilitic, and olivine-gabbroic shergottites contain large, Mg-rich olivine crystals that record their parent magma history and are generally regarded to form initially in slow cooling, near-equilibrium environments in the lower crust. Here we report the unexpected common occurrence of Mg-rich olivine crystals with chained, mantled dendritic, and skeletal morphologies that reflect rapid growth, requiring relatively large degrees of undercooling and possibly moderate to fast cooling rates. Novel 3D analysis of crystal textures and core Fe-Mg content demonstrates that chained and mantled dendritic olivines in enriched shergottites are among the earliest-formed crystals, indicating rapid crystal growth during initial magma pooling in the lower crust, a process that has not been documented in Earth basalts. In geochemically depleted shergottites, skeletal olivines appear later in the crystallization sequence, but before the final eruption and solidification. Geochemically intermediate samples do not contain rapid-growth olivine, indicating extended equilibrium growth. The frequent occurrence of chained, mantled dendritic, and skeletal olivines in enriched and depleted shergottites suggests that the conditions needed for rapid growth are common for mafic magmatism on Mars, and that these magmas experience complex thermal histories characterized by discrete episodes of large undercooling at depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase - field method offers the prospect of carrying out realistic numerical calculation on dendrite growth in metallic systems. The dendritic growth process of Al - 0,02mole % Si binary alloy was simulated by the coupling method of phase field and solute field. The effects of anisotropic parameters on the growth morphology of dendrite were studied. The results show that with the increase of the anisotropy magnitude, the secondary dendrite arms are more developed, and the dendrite tip is obvious oriented. For the multiple dendrite growth, the dendrites present the morphology from the tip splitting to the dendrite tip oriented. The multi dendritic branching and remelting states of Al - Si alloy were obtained and the directional solidification remelting and solute segregation were obtained under different anisotropic index conditions. And numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the growth of single and multiple dendrites under coupled conditions of phase field, solute field, and flow field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase – field method offers the prospect of carrying out realistic numerical calculation on dendrite growth in metallic systems. The dendritic growth process of Al – 0,02mole % Si binary alloy was simulated by the coupling method of phase field and solute field. The effects of anisotropic parameters on the growth morphology of dendrite were studied. The results show that with the increase of the anisotropy magnitude, the secondary dendrite arms are more developed, and the dendrite tip is obvious oriented. For the multiple dendrite growth, the dendrites present the morphology from the tip splitting to the dendrite tip oriented. The multi dendritic branching and remelting states of Al – Si alloy were obtained and the directional solidification remelting and solute segregation were obtained under different anisotropic index conditions. And numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the growth of single and multiple dendrites under coupled conditions of phase field, solute field, and flow field.

Freshwater fish metacommunities are best understood when considering the dendritic structure of riverine networks. The dendritic structure imposes restrictions to dispersal associated with the connectivity. Many structures restrict the movement of fish even more, such as dams and the terrain slope (dispersal costs). We investigated the influence of environmental predictors and dispersal costs on the beta diversity of freshwater fishes from the Upper Tennessee River using Generalised Dissimilarity Modelling (GDM). In addition, we tested the effects of asymmetrical dispersal costs (high costs for upstream dispersal) on the nestedness of native and non‐native fishes. Environmental predictors were more important than dispersal costs for explaining the overall fish dissimilarity in the GDM models, with the turnover capturing most of the explanation compared to the species richness difference. Dam heights were the most important dispersal cost variable in the GDM, mainly for species turnover. Overall dissimilarity of the native fish subset was better explained by environmental and dispersal variables than non‐native fish (20.03% vs. 8.41%). Considering the native species assemblage subset, dispersal cost related to maximum channel slope between pairs of sites and watercourse distance increased the nestedness of adjacent upstream–downstream sites, whereas those attributed to dams reduced the nestedness. The results support that dams increase overall dissimilarity in the native fish metacommunity of the Upper Tennessee basin, but also reduce the nestedness of adjacent sites. Our findings improve the knowledge on how mechanisms and processes associated with dispersal costs in watersheds under the effects of dams create patterns of dissimilarity and nestedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu additions notably strengthen Al-Mg-Si and Al-Si-Mg alloys due to the dense precipitation of quaternary nano precipitates during ageing. However, the chemical evolution and mechanical behaviors of the quaternary micro-scale Q constituent phase occurring in cast and homogenized states have rarely been studied. Meanwhile, there exists a type of AlCuMgSi cluster in the cast state, which has been regarded as Q particles. The accurate identification of phase constituents is the basis for the future design of alloys with better performance. In our work, this type of cluster was revealed to consist of α-Al, θ-Al2Cu, Q, and Si phases through micro-to-atomic scale studies using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The skeleton of the dendrite was θ phase. The second phases in the dendritic eutectic cluster dissolved quickly during a 4 h homogenization at 550 °C. The Q phase was found to effectively absorb the Fe impurities during casting and homogenization. As a result, the formation of other harmful Fe-rich intermetallics was suppressed. These Q constituent particles were observed to break into separate pieces in an intermediately brittle manner when compressed in situ in a scanning electron microscope. These findings provide insights into the thermodynamic modeling of the Al-Mg-Si-Cu system and alloy design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of amniotic membranes for corneal perforations using different surgical techniques has been widely described in the literature. This case report is a novel variation in the technique that can be useful for incorporating in clinical practice when the need arises. Case Report: A 36-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with a corneal ulcer in his left eye caused by herpetic keratitis, treated with a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (indomethacin 0.1% solution). Examination revealed a paracentral 2-mm wide corneal perforation on the site of the corneal ulcer. The patient was admitted to the hospital. He was treated with intravenous piperacillin-ofloxacine, and an emergency surgical intervention using a lyophilized amniotic membrane was performed using a "plug and patch" technique. Postoperatively, the patient received 48 h of intravenous antibiotics and was discharged on topical antibiotic/corticosteroid eyedrops along with a 10-day course of oral antibiotics (ofloxacin) and antiviral therapy (valaciclovir). Three months after surgery, the anterior chamber was formed, the corneal defect was closed, and visual acuity improved. One year after initial presentation, anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed a large scarred but healed cornea. Conclusions: We report the successful use of combination of a single round-shaped rolled amniotic membrane with a multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation for the treatment of a 2-mm-wide perforated corneal ulcer. This technique allowed for preservation of the globe integrity without the need for a keratoplasty, stopped further tissue loss, and was associated with a rapid visual recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of carbazole-based blue-emitting dendritic conjugated polymer, poly[(9,9-dioctyl)-2,7-fluorene-co-4,4’,4”-triphenylamine-co-9-(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl)-3,6-carbazole](P), was successfully synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction. Chemical structures of monomers and polymer were verified by FI-IR and 1HNMR characterizations. We found that polymer showed a special selectivity and high sensitivity for I−. With the addition of I−, the fluorescent polymer solution was obviously quenched. The polymer showed a special detection effect on I−. However, the fluorescent polymer was obviously restored when Hg2+ was added to the P/I− system due to the large complexation between I− and Hg2+. The anti-interference experiments of probe P/I− showed that other background cations have a slight influence on detecting Hg2+, and the calculated detection limit of Hg2+ reached 9.7 × 10−8 M, which could be a potential application for a two-channel cyclic detection of I− and Hg2+. Additionally, it was found that the theoretical values were in agreement with the experimental data.

Khalid Ali Nasif,1,2 Awad S Al Samghan,3 Nahla El-Sharkawy,4 Amr M Abass,5 Ebtesam Elgezawy,6,7 Safaa AA Khaled,8 Mahmoud I Elbadry,9 Marwa M Thabet6 1Clinical Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 2Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 3Family and Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 4Clinical Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 5Medical Physiology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 6Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 7Immunohematology Consultant, AMCH, Asir, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Hematology Unit, AUH/Unit of Bone Marrow Transplantation, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 9Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, EgyptCorrespondence: Safaa AA Khaled, Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Hematology Unit, AUH/Unit of Bone Marrow Transplantation, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, Email safaakhaled2003@gmail.com; safaakhaled@aun.edu.eg Mahmoud I Elbadry, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt, Tel +20 10-6596-4083, Fax +20 93-460-9304, Email mahmoudibrahem837@gmail.com; mahmoudibrahim@med.sohag.edu.egBackground: Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells. In humans two distinct lineages of DCs exist: DC1 and DC2. Efforts to explore the role of DCs in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic peripheral blood stem–cell transplantation (PBSCT) are gaining traction. However, further research is needed to identify particular lineages and their values in terms of developing an evidence-based aGVHD- or relapse-prevention strategy. We monitored DC counts and subsets in PBSC grafts while harvesting stem cells in recipients to elucidate their value in anticipating disease relapse or aGVHD.Methods: We enrolled 29 participants. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, total counts/kg of CD34+, DCs, and DC subsets were analyzed in 29 PBSC-graft components using CMRF44, CD11c, and CD4 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs).Results: In the 29 grafts, we detected a significant positive correlation (P< 0.01) between DCs and both DC1 and DC2. Significantly higher counts (P< 0.01) of DCs and DC1 in those who had developed aGVHD (nine cases) were also observed. Relapsed cases (two) were also associated with higher counts of DCs and DC2. A significant positive correlation (P< 0.05), was recorded between DCs and DC1 counts and the day of myeloid engraftment, while this was not detected on the day of platelet engraftment. Myeloid engraftment transpired earlier in patients without aGVHD. Increased DC-graft numbers, particularly DC1 measured by CD11c Moabs, were associated with aGVHD. Recipients of higher numbers of CD4bright DCs had an increased risk of relapse after allogeneic PBSCT.Conclusion: This study analyzed DCs in PBSC grafts, using novel specific MoAbs and flow cytometry. Our data showed that higher donor DC1 counts were linked to the incidence of aGVHD and DC2 with relapse. We propose a fundamental role for DC-graft monitoring in anticipating aGVHD and disease relapse.Keywords: dendritic, cell, biomarker, acute GVHD, relapse, allogeneic PBSCT

A new type of carbazole-based blue-emitting dendritic conjugated polymer, poly[(9,9-dioctyl)-2,7-fluorene-co-4,4',4"-triphenylamine-co-9-(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl)-3,6-carbazole](P), was successfully synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction. Chemical structures of monomers and polymer were verified by FI-IR and 1HNMR characterizations. We found that polymer showed a special selectivity and high sensitivity for I−. With the addition of I−, the fluorescent polymer solution was obviously quenched. The polymer showed a special detection effect on I−. However, the fluorescent polymer was obviously restored when Hg2+ was added to the P/I− system due to the large complexation between I− and Hg2+. The anti-interference experiments of probe P/I− showed that other background cations have a slight influence on detecting Hg2+, and the calculated detection limit of Hg2+ reached 9.7 × 10−8 M, which could be a potential application for a two-channel cyclic detection of I− and Hg2+. Additionally, it was found that the theoretical values were in agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of carbazole-based blue-emitting dendritic conjugated polymer, poly[(9,9-dioctyl)-2,7-fluorene-co-4,4',4"-triphenylamine-co-9-(4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl)-3,6-carbazole](P), was successfully synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction. Chemical structures of monomers and polymer were verified by FI-IR and 1HNMR characterizations. We found that polymer showed a special selectivity and high sensitivity for I−. With the addition of I−, the fluorescent polymer solution was obviously quenched. The polymer showed a special detection effect on I−. However, the fluorescent polymer was obviously restored when Hg2+ was added to the P/I− system due to the large complexation between I− and Hg2+. The anti-interference experiments of probe P/I− showed that other background cations have a slight influence on detecting Hg2+, and the calculated detection limit of Hg2+ reached 9.7 × 10−8 M, which could be a potential application for a two-channel cyclic detection of I− and Hg2+. Additionally, it was found that the theoretical values were in agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu additions notably strengthen Al-Mg-Si and Al-Si-Mg alloys due to the dense precipitation of quaternary nano precipitates during ageing. However, the chemical evolution and mechanical behaviors of the quaternary micro-scale Q constituent phase occurring in cast and homogenized states have rarely been studied. Meanwhile, there exists a type of AlCuMgSi cluster in the cast state, which has been regarded as Q particles. The accurate identification of phase constituents is the basis for the future design of alloys with better performance. In our work, this type of cluster was revealed to consist of α-Al, θ-Al2Cu, Q, and Si phases through micro-to-atomic scale studies using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The skeleton of the dendrite was θ phase. The second phases in the dendritic eutectic cluster dissolved quickly during a 4 h homogenization at 550 °C. The Q phase was found to effectively absorb the Fe impurities during casting and homogenization. As a result, the formation of other harmful Fe-rich intermetallics was suppressed. These Q constituent particles were observed to break into separate pieces in an intermediately brittle manner when compressed in situ in a scanning electron microscope. These findings provide insights into the thermodynamic modeling of the Al-Mg-Si-Cu system and alloy design.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used for functional restoration after stroke. However, its role in post-stroke rehabilitation and the associated regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we applied EA to the Zusanli (ST36) and Quchi (LI11) acupoints in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. We found that EA effectively increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor tyrosine kinase B, synapsin-1, postsynaptic dense protein 95, and microtubule-associated protein 2 in the ischemic penumbra of rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. Moreover, EA greatly reduced the expression of myelin-related inhibitors Nogo-A and NgR in the ischemic penumbra. Tyrosine kinase B inhibitor ANA-12 weakened the therapeutic effects of EA. These findings suggest that EA can improve neurological function after middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, possibly through regulating the activity of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase B signal pathway. All procedures and experiments were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China (approval No. PZSHUTCM200110002) on January 10, 2020.

Two-dimensional (2D) crystalline growth of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) is highly sensitive to any changes in growth parameters. At an optimized growth temperature and transition metal flux, 2D compact domains grow primarily triangular/hexagonal in shape that transform into dendritic structures at higher transition metal flux. With changes in the local flux (or, local chalcogen-to-transition metal vapor ratio), domain morphologies on the substrate vary with distance for locations away from the center. In this work, phase field simulations are carried out to emulate experimentally observed morphology evolution as a function of transition metal flux. Our model demonstrates the critical roles of precursor flux and attachment time in controlling the domain morphologies which is further established by fractal dimension analysis. Evolution of patterns simulated as a function of flux and attachment time can help to identify more precise combination of growth parameters leading to a specific growth mode. Consistent with the experimental observations, the model also reproduces the interaction among multiple domains. Our findings could be useful for achieving controlled growth of 2D domains with desired shape (compact or dendritic) as required for the next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices, and efficient catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunoediting progresses through elimination, equilibrium, and escape. Each of these phases is characterized by breaching, remodeling, and rebuilding tissue planes and structural barriers that engage extracellular matrix (ECM) components, in particular matrix proteoglycans. Some of the signals emanating from matrix proteoglycan remodeling are readily co-opted by the growing tumor to sustain an environment of tumor-promoting and immune-suppressive inflammation. Yet other matrix-derived cues can be viewed as part of a homeostatic response by the host, aiming to eliminate the tumor and restore tissue integrity. These latter signals may be harnessed for therapeutic purposes to tip the polarity of the tumor immune milieu toward anticancer immunity. In this review, we attempt to showcase the importance and complexity of matrix proteoglycan signaling in both cancer-restraining and cancer-promoting inflammation. We propose that the era of matrix diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer is fast approaching the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to develop a chemoimmunotherapy regimen consisting of a novel Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) peptide-pulsed dendritic cell (WT1-DC) vaccine and multiagent chemotherapy and to investigate the safety, clinical outcomes, and WT1-specific immune responses of patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (UR-PDAC) who received this treatment., Methods: Patients with UR-PDAC with stage III disease (locally advanced (LA-PDAC; n=6)), stage IV disease (metastatic (M-PDAC; n=3)), or recurrent disease after surgery (n=1) were enrolled in this phase I study. The patients received one cycle of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine alone followed by 15 doses of the WT1-DC vaccine independent of chemotherapy. The novel WT1 peptide cocktail was composed of a multifunctional helper peptide specific for major histocompatibility complex class II, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02:01, or HLA-A*02:06 and a killer peptide specific for HLA-A*24:02., Results: The chemoimmunotherapy regimen was well tolerated. In the nine patients for whom a prognostic analysis was feasible, the clinical outcomes of long-term WT1 peptide-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (WT1-DTH)-positive patients (n=4) were significantly superior to those of short-term WT1-DTH-positive patients (n=5). During chemoimmunotherapy, eight patients were deemed eligible for conversion surgery and underwent R0 resection (four patients with LA-PDAC, one patient with M-PDAC, and one recurrence) or R1 resection (one patient with M-PDAC), and one patient with LA-PDAC was determined to be unresectable. Long-term WT1-DTH positivity was observed in three of the four patients with R0-resected LA-PDAC. These three patients exhibited notable infiltration of T cells and programmed cell death protein-1+ cells within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME). All patients with long-term WT1-DTH positivity were alive for at least 4.5 years after starting therapy. In patients with long-term WT1-DTH positivity, the percentage of WT1-specific circulating CD4+ or CD8+ T cells that produced IFN-γ or TNF-α was significantly greater than that in patients with short-term WT1-DTH positivity after two vaccinations. Moreover, after 12 vaccinations, the percentages of both circulating regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells were significantly lower in patients with long-term WT1-DTH-positive PDAC than in short-term WT1-DTH-positive patients., Conclusions: Potent activation of WT1-specific immune responses through a combination chemoimmunotherapy regimen including the WT1-DC vaccine in patients with UR-PDAC may modulate the TME and enable conversion surgery, resulting in clinical benefits (Online supplemental file 1)., Trial Registration Number: jRCTc030190195., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Targeting kinases presents a potential strategy for treating solid tumors; however, the therapeutic potential of vaccines targeting kinases remains uncertain., Methods: Adenovirus (Ad) vaccines encoding Aurora kinase A (AURKA) or cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) were developed, and their therapeutic potentials were investigated by various methods including western blot, flow cytometry, cytotoxic T lymphocyte assay, and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot), in mouse and humanized solid tumor models., Results: Co-immunization with Ad-AURKA/CDK7 effectively prevented subcutaneous tumor growth in the Renca, RM-1, MC38, and Hepa1-6 tumor models. In therapeutic tumor models, Ad-AURKA/CDK7 treatment impeded tumor growth and increased immune cell infiltration. Administration of Ad-AURKA/CDK7 promoted the induction and maturation of dendritic cell subsets and augmented multifunctional CD8 + T-cell antitumor immunity. Furthermore, the vaccine induced a long-lasting antitumor effect by promoting the generation of memory CD8 + T cells. Tumor recovery on CD8 + T-cell depletion underscored the indispensable role of these cells in the observed therapeutic effects. The potent efficacy of the Ad-AURKA/CDK7 vaccine was consistently demonstrated in lung metastasis, orthotopic, and humanized tumor models by inducing multifunctional CD8 + T-cell antitumor immune responses., Conclusions: Our findings illustrate that the Ad-AURKA/CDK7 vaccine targeting dual kinases AURKA and CDK7 emerges as a promising and effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of solid tumors., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis is a rare condition characterized by the proliferation of abnormal Langerhans cells in the skin and mucosa. It is mostly seen in children between 1 and 3 years old. Although the skeleton accounts for 80% of infiltration and the skin accounts for 33%, it can affect other organs as well., Case Presentation: The authors report a case of a 13-month-old male with fever, rash, and nontender swelling in the frontal, temporal, and infraorbital regions. Imaging showed diffusion restriction in the frontal, left parietal, right sphenoid, right temporal bones, and right maxillary antrum. Biopsy and immunohistochemistry from the right maxilla confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was treated with vinblastine and prednisolone for 3 months, resulting in reduced swelling and no fever on follow-up., Discussion: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), formerly Histiocytosis X, has diverse clinical manifestations and is classified as localized or disseminated based on organ involvement. It is associated with viral infections, communication defects, and cytokine processes, with BRAF mutations and the MAPK/ERK pathway implicated. Diagnosis involves clinical, radiological, histological, and immunophenotypic methods, including identifying Birbeck granules in Langerin-positive cells. Treatment varies by disease extent, with vinblastine and prednisolone for children with multisystem disease and tailored approaches for adults., Conclusion: Despite atypical presentation, thorough evaluation confirmed Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in a pediatric patient. This highlights the necessity of considering Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in differential diagnoses for persistent cutaneous lesions and bony swellings. Prompt detection and timely action are essential for successful treatment and better results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial conflict of interest with regard to the content of this report.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

It has been shown in recent years that many species in Nature employ hierarchy and contact splitting as a strategy to enhance the adhesive properties of their attachments. Maximizing the adhesive force is however not the only goal. Many animals can achieve a tunable adhesive force, which allows them to both strongly attach to a surface and easily detach when necessary. Here, we study the adhesive properties of 3D dendritic attachments, which are structures that are widely occurring in nature and which allow to achieve these goals. These structures exploit branching to provide high variability in the geometry, and thus tunability, and contact splitting, to increase the total peeling line and thus the adhesion force. By applying the same principles presented by A.A. Griffith 100 years ago, we derive an analytical model for the detachment forces as a function of their defining angles in 3D space, finding as limit cases 2D double peeling and 1D single peeling. We also develop a numerical model, including a nonlinear elastic constitutive law, for the validation of analytical calculations, allowing additionally to simulate the entire detachment phase, and discuss how geometrical variations influence the adhesive properties of the structure. Finally, we also realize a proof of concept experiment to further validate theoretical/numerical results. Overall, we show how this generalized attachment structure can achieve large variations in its adhesive and mechanical properties, exploiting variations of its geometrical parameters, and thus tunability. The in-depth study of similar basic structural units and their combination can in future lead to a better understanding of the mechanical properties of complex architectures found in Nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN) is a very rare type of leukemia in children, Although BPDCN is a chemo-sensitive tumor, the relapse rate is very high. Tagraxofusp, which is a CD123-directed cytotoxin has been used as a targeted therapy and has shown promising results in patients with either untreated or relapsed BPDCN. There is also a good response with Venetoclax, a selective BCL2 inhibitor, as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy.Here, we described a case of a pediatric patient with BPDCN who was treated initially with ALL-based regimen followed by Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and salvaged with Hyper-CVAD combined with Venetoclax after testicular relapse 11 months post Allogeneic HSCT.

Background: Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is a form of malignant tumor associated with chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation. However, the specific immune status and key mechanisms of immune regulation in this disease require further exploration., Methods: To investigate the features of the human ESCA tumor immune microenvironment and its possible regulation, we performed mass cytometry by time of flight, single-cell RNA sequencing, multicolor fluorescence staining of tissue, and flow cytometry analyses on tumor and paracancerous tissue from treatment-naïve patients., Results: We depicted the immune landscape of the ESCA and revealed that CD8 + (tissue-resident memory CD8 + T cells (CD8 + TRMs) were closely related to disease progression. We also revealed the heterogeneity of CD8 + TRMs in the ESCA tumor microenvironment (TME), which was associated with their differentiation and function. Moreover, the subset of CD8 + TRMs in tumor (called tTRMs) that expressed high levels of granzyme B and immune checkpoints was markedly decreased in the TME of advanced ESCA. We showed that tTRMs are tumor effector cells preactivated in the TME. We then demonstrated that conventional dendritic cells (cDC2s) derived from intermediate monocytes (iMos) are essential for maintaining the proliferation of CD8 + TRMs in the TME. Our preliminary study showed that hypoxia can promote the apoptosis of iMos and impede the maturation of cDC2s, which in turn reduces the proliferative capacity of CD8 + TRMs, thereby contributing to the progression of cancer., Conclusions: Our study revealed the essential antitumor roles of CD8 + TRMs and preliminarily explored the regulation of the iMo/cDC2/CD8 + TRM immune axis in the human ESCA TME., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) continues to rise all over the world, 10-15% of the patients have a poor prognosis. Although immunotherapy has been applied in clinical practice, its therapeutic efficacy remains far from satisfactory, necessitating further investigation of the mechanism of PTC immune remodeling and exploration of novel treatment targets., Methods: This study conducted a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis using 18 surgical tissue specimens procured from 14 patients diagnosed with adjacent tissues, non-progressive PTC or progressive PTC. Key findings were authenticated through spatial transcriptomics RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunohistochemistry, and an independent bulk RNA-seq data set containing 502 samples., Results: A total of 151,238 individual cells derived from 18 adjacent tissues, non-progressive PTC and progressive PTC specimens underwent scRNA-seq analysis. We found that progressive PTC exhibits the following characteristics: a significant decrease in overall immune cells, enhanced immune evasion of tumor cells, and disrupted antigen presentation function. Moreover, we identified a subpopulation of lysosomal associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3 + ) dendritic cells (DCs) exhibiting heightened infiltration in progressive PTC and associated with advanced T stage and poor prognosis of PTC. LAMP3 + DCs promote CD8 + T cells exhaustion (mediated by NECTIN2-TIGIT) and increase infiltration abundance of regulatory T cells (mediated by chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 17 (CCL17)-chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 4 (CCR4)) establishing an immune-suppressive microenvironment. Ultimately, we unveiled that progressive PTC tumor cells facilitate the retention of LAMP3 + DCs within the tumor microenvironment through NECTIN3-NECTIN2 interactions, thereby rendering tumor cells more susceptible to immune evasion., Conclusion: Our findings expound valuable insights into the role of the interaction between LAMP3 + DCs and T-cell subpopulations and offer new and effective ideas and strategies for immunotherapy in patients with progressive PTC., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

An accurate diagnosis of melanocytic lesions requires a thorough histopathological evaluation accompanied by appropriate correlation with clinical examination findings. Although most melanocytic lesions can readily be classified as one of the defined diagnostic entities according to well‐established diagnostic criteria, a subset of melanocytic lesions, particularly those with blue naevus‐like (pigmented dendritic) morphology, have notoriously constituted an enduring challenge for pathologists. These lesions are rare and often show histological ambiguities, with features of both benignity and malignancy, thereby making accurate risk assessment and prediction of their biological behaviours difficult on histological grounds alone. Herein, we outline a practical and systematic approach for the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions with dendritic morphology, with a particular focus on histological and immunophenotypic features that help to distinguish one entity from another. In this review, we provide the most current knowledge on these melanocytic lesions in the literature and our experience with these rare entities, and we discuss the utility of molecular techniques as an ancillary tool, especially in histologically ambiguous and/or borderline lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anisotropic phase‐field dendritic crystal growth model is a highly nonlinear system that couples the anisotropic Allen–Cahn equation and the thermal equation together. Due to the high anisotropy and nonlinear couplings in the system, how to develop an accurate and efficient, especially a fully decoupled scheme, has always been a challenging problem. To solve the challenge, in this article, we construct a novel fully decoupled numerical scheme which is also linear, energy stable, and second‐order time accurate. The key idea to realize the full decoupling structure is to introduce an ordinary differential equation to deal with the nonlinear coupling terms satisfying the so‐called "zero‐energy‐contribution" property. This scheme is very effective and easy to implement since only a few fully decoupled elliptic equations with constant coefficients need to be solved at each time step. We rigorously prove the solvability of each step and the unconditional energy stability, and perform a large number of numerical simulations in 2D and 3D to demonstrate its stability and accuracy numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural disorders of the auditory nerve are associated with particular disorders of auditory perceptions dependent on processing of acoustic temporal cues. These include: (1) speech perception; (2) localizing a sound's origin in space; and (3) identifying sounds in background noise. Auditory neuropathy (AN) is a consequence of: (1) presynaptic disorders affecting inner hair cell ribbon synapses; (2) postsynaptic disorders of auditory nerve dendrites; and (3) postsynaptic disorders of auditory nerve axons. The etiologies of these disorders are diverse, similar to other cranial or peripheral neuropathies. The pathologies cause attenuated and dyssynchronous auditory nerve discharges. Therapies and management of patients with AN are reviewed.

Neural disorders of the auditory nerve are associated with particular disorders of auditory perceptions dependent on processing of acoustic temporal cues. These include: (1) speech perception; (2) localizing a sound's origin in space; and (3) identifying sounds in background noise. Auditory neuropathy (AN) is a consequence of: (1) presynaptic disorders affecting inner hair cell ribbon synapses; (2) postsynaptic disorders of auditory nerve dendrites; and (3) postsynaptic disorders of auditory nerve axons. The etiologies of these disorders are diverse, similar to other cranial or peripheral neuropathies. The pathologies cause attenuated and dyssynchronous auditory nerve discharges. Therapies and management of patients with AN are reviewed.

In this paper, super-hydrophilic coatings were generated on glass substrates via dipping method using colloidal silica with different morphologies as the main raw materials. The coatings were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), water contact angle (WCA) analyzer, and atomic force microscope (AFM). The hardness, adhesion, self-cleaning and antifogging properties of the coatings were examined. It has been found that the hydrophilicity of the coating can be significantly improved by using dendritic silica nanoparticles, and the comprehensive performance of the coating is optimum when the branch length of dendritic silica nanoparticles is about 60 nm. The coatings show super-hydrophilicity (CA, 1.7°), and high transmittance (the maximum light transmittance of the coating on glass is increased by 2.2%). Moreover, the coating is very effective in eliminating fog and dirt. The hardness and the adhesion of the coating can be reached 9H and grade 0, respectively, indicating that the coatings have a good mechanical performance, which is essential for its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly active Ni/Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) of the different molar ratios of Ni and Cu (1:1, 1:3, 3:1) assisted by dendritic ligand 2,4,6-Tris (di-4-chlorobenzamido)-1,3-diazine were synthesized successfully confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Diffraction X-ray (EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis. These NPs were studied as a heterogeneous catalyst for the chemoselective oxidation of alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde at 30 min and chemoselective reduction of aromatic nitro substituents to the corresponding amino substituents at 20 min, while the Ni/Cu (3:1) NPs were found to be the most effective among other Ni/Cu (1:1) and Ni/Cu (1:3) NPs at room temperature under mild conditions. The Ni/Cu (3:1) NPs can be recycled for at least five successive runs with no perceptible decrease in catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dendritic morphology, elements segregation index, precipitates morphology, and precipitates types in GH5605 ingot produced by vacuum induction melting and electroslag remelting were investigated by using optical microscopy (OM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum analysis and the results of thermodynamic and kinetic calculations by Thermal-Calc and JMatPro sofeware. To study the effects of high-temperature diffusion annealing on GH5605 ingot, the annealing system was investigated and the microstructure and macrostructure characteristics of GH5605 ingot were analyzed before and after the diffusion annealing by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal compression simulation tests in Gleeble 3800 test machine. In the OM results, dendrites are not obvious, and secondary dendritic arms cannot be distinguished in the GH5605 surface but they are gradually clearer toward the center area. The EDS results show that element segregation index is comparably small in GH5605 ingot; every element segregation index is in the range of 0. 9-1. 4 which is not as large as those of nickelbased superalloy. The main segregating elements during solidification are Cr and W which mainly segregate in the dendritic regions.According to the FESEM results, the precipitate phases include austenite and grain boundary carbide M23C6 and because of the Cr and W segregation at dendritic arms, an unexpected eutectic phase comprising austenite and M23C6 appears, and the alternating lamellae of austentite and M23C6 develop a lathlike morphology. Different macrostructure and microstructure characteristics including the morphology of dendritic, elements segregation index, grain size, morphology and the amount of eutectic phase were analyzed and compared in different annealing times. The high-temperature diffusion annealing system is optimal at 1210 ℃/8 h, at which the dendrites and elemental segregation are substantially eliminated, and the eutectic phase is almost dissolved.

Background: While immunotherapy has been highly successful for the treatment of some cancers, for others, the immune response to tumor antigens is weak leading to treatment failure. The resistance of tumors to checkpoint inhibitor therapy may be caused by T cell exhaustion resulting from checkpoint activation., Methods: In this study, lentiviral vectors that expressed T cell epitopes of an experimentally introduced tumor antigen, ovalbumin, or the endogenous tumor antigen, Trp1 were developed. The vectors coexpressed CD40 ligand (CD40L), which served to mature the dendritic cells (DCs), and a soluble programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) microbody to prevent checkpoint activation. Vaccination of mice bearing B16.OVA melanomas with vector-transduced DCs induced the proliferation and activation of functional, antigen-specific, cytolytic CD8 T cells., Results: Vaccination induced the expansion of CD8 T cells that infiltrated the tumors to suppress tumor growth. Vector-encoded CD40L and PD-1 microbody increased the extent of tumor growth suppression. Adoptive transfer demonstrated that the effect was mediated by CD8 T cells. Direct injection of the vector, without the need for ex vivo transduction of DCs, was also effective., Conclusions: This study suggests that therapeutic vaccination that induces tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells coupled with a vector-expressed checkpoint inhibitor can be an effective means to suppress the growth of tumors that are resistant to conventional immunotherapy., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Lithium (Li) metal stands as a promising anode in advancing high-energy-density batteries. However, intrinsic issues associated with metallic Li, especially the dendritic growth, have hindered its practical application. Herein, we focus on molecular combined structural design to develop dendrite-free anodes. Specifically, using hydrogen-substituted graphdiyne (HGDY) aerogel hosts, we successfully fabricated a promising Li composite anode (Li@HGDY). The HGDY aerogel's lithiophilic nature and hierarchical pores drive molten Li infusion and reduce local current density within the three-dimensional HGDY host. The unique molecular structure of HGDY provides favorable bulk pathways for lithium-ion transport. By simultaneous regulation of electron and ion transport within the HGDY host, uniform lithium stripping/platting is fulfilled. Li@HGDY symmetric cells exhibit a low overpotential and stable cycling. The Li@HGDY||lithium iron phosphate full cell retained 98.1% capacity after 170 cycles at 0.4 C. This study sheds new light on designing high-capacity and long-lasting lithium metal anodes.

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are a highly abundant class of molecular chaperones that can be released into the extracellular milieu and influence the immune response. HSP release can occur when cells undergo necrosis and exude their contents. However, HSPs are also secreted from intact cells, either in free form or in lipid vesicles including exosomes to react with receptors on adjacent cells. Target cells are able recognize extracellular HSPs through cell surface receptors. These include scavenger receptors (SR) such as class E member oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1, aka OLR1, Clec8A, and SR-E1) and scavenger receptor class F member 1 (SCARF1, aka SREC1). Both receptors are expressed by dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages. These receptors can bind HSPs coupled to client binding proteins and deliver the chaperone substrate to the pathways of antigen processing in cells. SR are able to facilitate the delivery of client proteins to the proteasome, leading to antigen processing and presentation, and stimulation of adaptive immunity. HSPs may also may be involved in innate immunity through activation of inflammatory signaling pathways in a mechanism dependent on SR and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on DC and macrophages. We will discuss the pathways by which HSPs can facilitate uptake of protein antigens and the receptors that regulate the ensuing immune response.

Being able to bind, select, and transport species is central to a number of fields, including medicine, materials, and environmental science. In particular, recognizing a specific species from one phase and transporting it across, or into another phase, has obvious applications in environ-mental science, for example, removal of unwanted or toxic materials from an aqueous or organic phase. In this paper, we describe an approach that uses a functionalized dendritic polymer to bind and transport a small anionic molecule across an organic phase (and between two aqueous phases). The design was based on encapsulation principles borrowed from nature, where anions are bound and transported by proteins that have specific sites within their globular ordered structures. For the work reported here, a globular dendritic polymer functionalized with an isophthalamide-based receptor was used to replace the protein structure and anion-binding site. Along with control experiments, the binding and transport properties of two functionalized HBPs were assessed using a Pressman U tube experiment. Both HBPs demonstrated an enhanced ability to bind and transport anions (when compared to the anion-binding site used in isolation). Furthermore, optimum binding and transport occurred when the smaller of the two HBPs were used. This supports our previous observations regarding the existence of a dense packed limit for HBPs.

Purpose: To study morphology and treatment outcomes in serpiginous-like choroiditis (SLC).Methods: A retrospective chart review of SLC cases with ≥1-year follow-up. SLC lesions with elongated borders, thin body named dendritic (D-SLC), large lesions still with elongated borders named advanced dendritic (AD-SLC), and lesions with rounded borders, thick body called placoid (P-SLC). History, investigations, treatment response, and relapses were studied.Results: Thirty-three eyes [D-SLC (n = 14), AD-SLC (n = 13), P-SLC (n = 6)] of 24 patients were studied. Resolution on Fundus autofluorescence achieved at 8.6 months (Range: 4-12 months). 0/16 eyes treated with anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) and 4/11 eyes treated without ATT had at least one recurrence in (D-SLC + AD-SLC) group (p = .019). Mean best corrected visual acuity at final follow-up was 20/20, 20/25, and 20/60 in D-SLC, AD-SLC, and in P-SLC, respectively.Conclusion: P-SLC has poor visual prognosis compared to AD-SLC and D-SLC. ATT may prevent recurrences in D-SLC and AD-SLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a detailed study of the hydrolysis process of tetrabutyl orthotitanate (TBOT), TiO2 nanoclusters were modified inside the pores of SiO2 core-shell particles instead of the outside. The pore size distribution of SiO2 core-shell spheres modified with TiO2 (SiO2@dSiO2@TiO2) was analyzed by Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method and density functional theory (DFT) method, respectively. The results of the DFT calculations demonstrate that the TiO2 nanoclusters are always first formed in bulk solution and then enter the pores. By regulating the rate of hydrolysis of TBOT, almost all of the TiO2 nanoclusters are modified into the pores and the structure of the original SiO2 core-shell sphere is hardly affected. The morphology of the particles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The crystal phase of TiO2 was measured by XRD. SiO2@dSiO2@TiO2 spheres functionalized with C18 were packed into a stainless steel column. The chemical stability of SiO2@dSiO2@TiO2 spheres under alkaline was tested by flushing of a mobile phase at pH 13 for 7 days. The efficiency of the column after the alkali solution treatment still reaches 98,430 plates m−1, which is only about 1.6% lower than that before the alkali solution treatment. A series of basic and acidic analytes were also separated on the column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptic plasticity is important for learning and memory. With increasing evidence linking sleep states to changes in synaptic strength, an emerging view is that sleep promotes learning and memory by facilitating experience- induced synaptic plasticity. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on the function of sleep in regulating cortical synaptic plasticity. Specifically, we outline the electroencephalogram signatures of sleep states (e.g. slow-wave sleep, rapid eye movement sleep, spindles), sleep statedependent changes in gene and synaptic protein expression, synaptic morphology, and neuronal and network activity. We highlight studies showing that post-experience sleep potentiates experience-induced synaptic changes and discuss the potential mechanisms that may link sleep-related brain activity to synaptic structural remodelling. We conclude that both synapse formation or strengthening and elimination or weakening occur across sleep. This sleep-dependent synaptic plasticity plays an important role in neuronal circuit refinement during development and after learning, while sleep disorders may contribute to or exacerbate the development of common neurological diseases. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Memory reactivation: replaying events past, present and future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are a highly abundant class of molecular chaperones that can be released into the extracellular milieu and influence the immune response. HSP release can occur when cells undergo necrosis and exude their contents. However, HSPs are also secreted from intact cells, either in free form or in lipid vesicles including exosomes to react with receptors on adjacent cells. Target cells are able recognize extracellular HSPs through cell surface receptors. These include scavenger receptors (SR) such as class E member oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1, aka OLR1, Clec8A, and SR-E1) and scavenger receptor class F member 1 (SCARF1, aka SREC1). Both receptors are expressed by dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages. These receptors can bind HSPs coupled to client binding proteins and deliver the chaperone substrate to the pathways of antigen processing in cells. SR are able to facilitate the delivery of client proteins to the proteasome, leading to antigen processing and presentation, and stimulation of adaptive immunity. HSPs may also may be involved in innate immunity through activation of inflammatory signaling pathways in a mechanism dependent on SR and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on DC and macrophages. We will discuss the pathways by which HSPs can facilitate uptake of protein antigens and the receptors that regulate the ensuing immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of two novel antibacterial dendritic methacrylate-based dental monomers. For this purpose, two dendritic esters have been synthesized via condensation reaction and then reacted with methacryloyl chloride to afford methacrylate-end caped dendritic esters. These compounds are subsequently converted to quaternary ammonium fluoride monomers (QAFMs) with decyl substituted side chain to produce two novel antibacterial dendreticdental monomers. The chemical structures of synthesized samples have been characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopies. The obtained monomers can be used to replace 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropyl)-phenyl]propane (Bis-GMA) as the base monomer of universal resin-based dental composites in the presence of a diluting monomer (e.g.,triethyleneglycoldimethacrylate; TEGDMA), mainly due to their superior characteristics such as multifunctionalities as well as antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indeterminate cell tumor (ICT) is a rare neoplastic dendritic cell disorder that has been poorly defined due to its rarity and poorly understood histogenesis and pathogenesis. It is characterized by a proliferation of dendritic cells, which mimic Langerhans cells immunophenotypically (positive for CD1a and S-100 protein), but lack Birbeck granules characteristic of Langerhans cells. The clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and ultrastructural features of 5 ICT cases are reported in an attempt to further define ICT and to examine the postulated relationship between indeterminate cells and Langerhans cells. Four of 5 patients were females, and 4 of 5 were older than 68 years. Three of 5 patients had cutaneous lesions, whereas 2 presented with cervical lymph node involvement. Two patients had a possible association with lymphoma: first patient had a history of progressive follicular lymphoma that led to patient's demise and the second patient had unexplained systemic lymphadenopathy and died 1 week after the biopsy. All 5 ICT cases expressed CD1a and S-100 protein, but lacked Langerin expression and Birbeck granules ultrastructurally. Interestingly, a t(14;18) was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in the ICT cells of the patient with previous follicular lymphoma and a monoclonal kappa light chain gene rearrangement was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the patient with systemic lymphadenopathy. In both cases, there was no morphologic or immunophenotypic evidence of a concurrent B-cell lymphoma. In conclusion, ICT is a rare neoplasm that can occur de novo or in association with a B-cell lymphoma, possibly as a result of B-cell dedifferentiation caused by relatively unknown mechanisms. Finally, Langerin immunostaining may be used as a surrogate marker for the ultrastructural demonstration of Birbeck granules, the absence of which represents a strong diagnostic criterion for ICT.

Indeterminate cell tumor (ICT) is a rare neoplastic dendritic cell disorder that has been poorly defined due to its rarity and poorly understood histogenesis and pathogenesis. It is characterized by a proliferation of dendritic cells, which mimic Langerhans cells immunophenotypically (positive for CD1a and S-100 protein), but lack Birbeck granules characteristic of Langerhans cells. The clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and ultrastructural features of 5 ICT cases are reported in an attempt to further define ICT and to examine the postulated relationship between indeterminate cells and Langerhans cells. Four of 5 patients were females, and 4 of 5 were older than 68 years. Three of 5 patients had cutaneous lesions, whereas 2 presented with cervical lymph node involvement. Two patients had a possible association with lymphoma: first patient had a history of progressive follicular lymphoma that led to patient's demise and the second patient had unexplained systemic lymphadenopathy and died 1 week after the biopsy. All 5 ICT cases expressed CD1a and S-100 protein, but lacked Langerin expression and Birbeck granules ultrastructurally. Interestingly, a t(14;18) was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in the ICT cells of the patient with previous follicular lymphoma and a monoclonal kappa light chain gene rearrangement was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the patient with systemic lymphadenopathy. In both cases, there was no morphologic or immunophenotypic evidence of a concurrent B-cell lymphoma. In conclusion, ICT is a rare neoplasm that can occur de novo or in association with a B-cell lymphoma, possibly as a result of B-cell dedifferentiation caused by relatively unknown mechanisms. Finally, Langerin immunostaining may be used as a surrogate marker for the ultrastructural demonstration of Birbeck granules, the absence of which represents a strong diagnostic criterion for ICT.