bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical changes of the blood‐brain barrier in rat spinal cord after heavy‐ion irradiation
Authors: Okada S , Okeda R , Matsushita S , Kawano A
Published: May 2007

Changes in the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) of the rat spinal cord after irradiation with heavy ion were investigated ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically by using SMI 71, a monoclonal antibody against rat endothelial barrier antigen (EBA); anti‐ZO‐1, a polyclonal antibody against endothelial tight junctions, anti‐rat serum to extravasated serum, and anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The lower thoracic and lumbar cord of male Wistar rats was singly irradiated with a carbon beam at a dose of 30 Gy. Rats were sacrificed before or after the onset of hind limb paralysis. Histologically, white‐matter vacuolization was observed from 13 weeks after irradiation, and white‐matter necrosis was first noted at 17 weeks. SMI 71 staining was decreased or lost 13 weeks after irradiation, just prior to the formation of white‐matter necrosis, and was almost completely lost in the center and periphery of the white‐matter necrosis. Although ZO‐1 expression and tight junctions in the ultrastructure were preserved at that time, serum leakage occurred almostly completely in parallel with the changes in EBA. Therefore, carbon‐ion irradiation at a dose of 30 Gy induces BBB breakdown 13 weeks after irradiation. The SMI 71‐negative blood vessels were sparsely distributed throughout the entire white and gray matter, and there was no evidence of preferential localization. Immunostaining of smooth muscle actin showed that most of the SMI 71‐negative blood vessels were veins or capillaries. These findings suggest that the hyper‐permeability of the veins and/or capillaries that occurs after a certain latent period is one of the important factors in the pathogenesis of delayed radiation injury by carbon ions, the same as by X‐rays. Radiation‐induced functional disturbances of the endothelium and involvement of cytokines such as VEGF are suspected of being the cause of such vascular hyper‐permeability.
A comparative immunohistochemical study of tissue transglutaminase and factor XIIIa in hemangioblastoma
Authors: Mizoguchi Masahiro , Iwaki Toru , Fukui Masashi
Published: May 2007

The tissue transglutaminase (tissue TG) is a cross‐linking enzyme, which is observed in a subpopulation of erythrocytes, endothelium, and smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. It consists of the homologous gene family with factor XIIIa (F‐XIIIa) and keratinocyte transglutaminase. The tissue TG expression was examined by immunostaining in ten hemangioblastomas and immunoblotting in seven, then such expression was compared with the expression of F‐XIIIa. The stromal cells showed a diffuse immunoreactivity with tissue TG in all examined tumor tissue specimens. The immunohistochemical profiles of tissue TG were different from those of F‐XIIIa, which were mainly localized in either spindle or stellate cells. By immunoblotting, both tissue TG and F‐XIIIa were detected in all examined samples. The most characteristic feature of stromal cells was thus found to be the presence of tissue TG and not F‐XIIIa. Tissue TG is therefore considered useful in detecting the stromal cells in hemangioblastoma.
The limbic system: An outline and brief history of its concept
Authors: Nakano Imaharu
Published: May 2007

The limbic system, which essentially comprises the phylogenetically old limbic lobe, subcortical nuclei, closely connected to it and bundles bridging both, is a functional concept that is not as yet empirically proven, but quite pragmatic for discussion on some brain functions. As widespread structures as the telencephalon, diencephalon and brainstem are added to the limbic system, the traditional notion of its association with emotional experience and expression alone is being challenged.
Herpes encephalitis and paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis
Authors: Nagashima Kazuo , Kobayashi Yoshiyasu , Kojima Hideaki , Hasegawa Hideki , Kurata Takeshi
Published: May 2007

Pathological examination of four autopsy cases of herpes simplex virus encephalitis reconfirmed that the inflammatory necrotizing lesions occurred predominantly in the limbic system. This site predilection can be explained by the viral spread via the olfactory pathway, or along the meningeal branches of the trigeminal nerves and by the localization of specific herpes virus receptors. Case studies of non‐herpetic paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis were briefly introduced and the results suggest that a specific protein recognized by antibody exists in the limbic system. Thus, both virological and immunological evidence suggests that the human limbic system has specific proteins which are unique in the human brain.
Ventricular dilatation and brain atrophy of normal elderly individuals and patients with Alzheimer‐type dementia: A retrospective longitudinal computed tomographic study of autopsy cases
Authors: Yamada Shigeo , Asano Tetsuichi , Enomoto Mutsuo , Sakata Masuhiro , Tanno Munehiko , Yamada Hideo , Esaki Yukiyoshi , Mizutani Toshio
Published: May 2007

A retrospective longitudinal study of autopsy cases was performed in order to investigate the time course of ventricular dilatation and brain atrophy in normal individuals and patients with Alzheimer‐type dementia (ATD) subjects over 70 years of age. The brains of eight non‐demented individuals with no neurological or psychiatric illness (normal subjects, aged between 73 and 91 years), and the brains of seven ATD subjects (aged 68–96 years) were studied. The clinical records, including computed tomographic (CT) films, and autopsy findings were examined to eliminate subjects with conditions other than ATD. The rate of ventricular dilatation and brain atrophy was determined by volumetric measurement using serial CT films. Alzheimer‐type dementia was diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings, the presence of laminar cortical degeneration of the medial temporal cortex, and the density of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Ventricular dilatation was not detected in the normal subjects but was detected in the ATD patients during the follow‐up period. Brain atrophy was detected in both groups of subjects. However, the mean rate of brain atrophy of the ATD subjects was four times greater than that in the normal subjects. In addition, brain atrophy was accompanied by ventricular dilatation in all of the ATD patients, but was not evident in six of the eight normal subjects. Thus, the rate of ventricular dilatation was correlated with that of brain atrophy in the ATD patients, but not in the normal subjects. These results show that after 70 years of age: (i) the ventricular dilatation in normal subjects probably does not progress; (ii) brain atrophy in most normal subjects may continue; and (iii) rapidly progressive brain atrophy with ventricular dilatation is probably a common characteristic of ATD patients.
Age‐related brain atrophy with a constant cortical thickness in the normal elderly
Authors: Yamada Shigeo , Mizutani Toshio , Asano Tetsuichi , Enomoto Mutsuo , Sakata Masuhiro , Esaki Yukiyoshi , Mukai Masami
Published: May 2007

A study was performed to determine whether the thickness of the cerebral cortex remains unchanged during agerelated brain atrophy in the normal elderly (physiological brain atrophy of the elderly). Thirty autopsied brains from normal subjects (normal brains; patient age 65–96 years) and two from patients with Alzheimer‐type dementia (ATD brains; patient age 90 and 101 years) were analyzed. Volumes of the fresh brain and intracranial cavity were measured at autopsy to estimate the degree of brain atrophy using the ratio of fresh brain volume to intracranial cavity volume (BV/ICV ratio). Each brain was then fixed, and sliced coronally at 1.0 cm intervals. Each cut surface was photographed, and input to a personal computer. Then, the cross‐sectional areas of the cortex and the white matter, and the perimeter of the cortex were measured to calculate the volumes of the cortex and the white matter. For normal brains, the cortical thickness was constant (0.27 ± 0.01 cm), regardless of age and the BV/ICV ratio. In addition, the volume ratio of the cortex to the white matter remained unchanged, regardless of the brain volume or BV/ICV ratio. These results show that the cortical thickness remains constant regardless of the degree of brain atrophy or cortical atrophy. In the two ATD brains, the cortical thickness was 0.23 and 0.21 cm, being less than that of any of the normal brains. Thus, the mean cortical thickness remains unchanged in physiological brain atrophy of the elderly, and a decrease in cortical thickness can be a pathological phenomenon.
Ultracytochemical demonstration of the polarity of Ca2+‐ATPase activity in microglia
Authors: Fukai Kosuke , Kawai Kensuke , Ishizu Hideki , Tanabe Yasuyuki , Komoto Yasunobu , Kuroda Shigetoshi
Published: May 2007

In order to investigate plasma membrane Ca2+‐ATPase (Ca2+‐ATPase) activity in three subsets of microglia/macrophages (microglia in perineuronal regions (perineuronal microglia)), microglia in contact with the parenchymal side of the vascular basal lamina (juxtavascular microglia) and perivascular cells within the basal lamina), we performed an ultracytochemical study using a lead salt technique in rat cerebral cortices. In 60.6% of perineuronal microglia, the cytochemical reaction (CR) for Ca2+‐ATPase on the plasma membrane (PM) in the vicinity of neurons was stronger than the CR on the other side of the PM, and deposits of the reaction product (RP) for Ca2+‐ATPase had accumulated, reflecting the polarity of Ca2+‐ATPase activity. In contrast, in all of juxtavascular microglia and perivascular cells, deposits of the RP were distributed evenly along the PM without polarity. These results suggest that the polarity of the Ca2+‐ATPase activity manifests certain functional interactions between perineuronal microglia and neurons.
Neuronal degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is mediated by a possible mechanism different from classical apoptosis
Authors: Kihira Tameko , Yoshida Sohei , Hironishi Masaya , Wakayama Ikuro , Yase Yoshiro
Published: May 2007

In order to determine the potential role of apoptosis in the degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we correlated the morphological characteristics of the remaining neurons in the spinal cord with the results of in situ DNA fragmentation detected by terminal transferase‐mediated deoxyuridinetriphosphate (dUTP)‐biotin nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) in 17 cases of ALS, five age‐matched control cases, six aged control cases, and three disease control cases with spinal cord lesions. The remaining neurons were classified into five categories: normal appearing, chromatolytic, degenerative, atrophic, and inclusion laden. We measured the areas of the per©karya, the nuclei, and the nucleoli of the neurons in these categories. The areas of perikarya, nuclei, and nucleoli in the postero‐posterolateral neurons of the ALS cases were significantly decreased compared with those of the age‐matched controls. The nucleolar and nuclear areas of even normal‐appearing neurons from the ALS cases were significantly decreased compared with those from the age‐matched controls, suggesting that nuclear and nucleolar shrinkage in normal‐appearing neurons in ALS is an early change in this disease. However, the frequency of TUNEL‐positive neurons in the normal‐appearing, degenerative, atrophic, or inclusion‐laden neurons in the spinal cord of the ALS cases was not significantly elevated compared with those in the age‐matched, aged, or disease controls. No apoptotic bodies were detected by electron microscopy in the ALS spinal cords examined. Our results suggest that neuronal degeneration in ALS involves a certain mechanism different from classical apoptosis. We hypothesize that classical apoptosis may be a terminal event of neuronal degeneration in ALS, even though classical apoptosis has a role in the disease processes of ALS.
Meningeal large granular lymphocyte lymphoma
Authors: Nagashima Toshiko , Mori Masamitsu , Kazumata Ken , Fujimoto Makoto , Kuroda Bin , Nunomura Mitsuru , Shinohara Toshiya , Hasegawa Hideki , Watanabe Yoshiaki , Tanaka Shinya , Nagashima Kazuo
Published: May 2007

A 57‐year‐old man who presented with leptomeningeal lymphoma was reported. The lymphoma cells in the cere‐brospinal fluid were large in size, had atypical nuclei and contained many azurophilic granules in their pale cytoplasm, all of which were consistent with malignant lymphoma of large granular lymphocytes (LGL). Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for cyto‐plasmic CD3, UCHL‐1, and CD56, markers of natural killer (NK)cells. Epstein‐Barr virus encoded small RNA (EBER) was detected in tumor cells by in situ hybridization. No evidence of parenchymal central nervous system or systemic tumor was identified, although at autopsy microscopic lympuoma involvement was found in the pituitary gland and kidney. To our knowledge this is the first autopsy case report of primary meningeal LGL lymphoma.
Cortical control of complex sequential movement studied by functional neuroimaging techniques
Authors: Honda Manabu , Shibasaki Hiroshi
Published: May 2007

Recent advances in functional neuroimaging techniques permit non‐invasive visualization of the human brain functions. In the central mechanism for controlling complex sequential movement, several candidate brain regions have been suggested to participate in a different way by the previous studies. The motor executive areas including the bilateral primary sensorimotor area and supplementary motor area, appear to play an executive role in running motor sequences, regardless of their length, and increase their activity associated with implicit or procedural learning of motor sequence. In contrast, the fronto‐parietal network including the bilateral premotor, prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices appears to be related to the length of sequence performed and increases its activity associated with explicit or declarative learning of motor sequence. Although these techniques provide useful information on human physiology and pathophysiology in various brain functions, in order to explore functional relevance of findings it is important to combine functional neuroimaging studies with other modalities of physiological techniques.
Neuropathology of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with superoxide dismutase 1 gene mutation
Authors: Hirano Asao
Published: May 2007

More than 60 mutations of the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene have been identified. We are aware of 19 reported autopsied cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) linked to these mutations. A review of these cases disclosed remarkable heter‐ogenicity of ALS, not only in molecular genetics but also clinicopathologically. However, it is noteworthy that all patients with alanine to valine substitution at codon 4 (A4V) mutation of SOD1 in familial ALS apparently disclose a distinct characteristic phenotype. All these patients manifested a rapid course of progressive muscular atrophy and died less than 1 year after the onset of illness. Microscopic findings were essentially identical in three cases: (i) marked loss of anterior horn neurons and Clarke's nuclei; (ii) the presence of intracytoplasmic Lewy body like hyalin inclusions and cord‐like enlargements of the processes in some of the affected neurons. The Lewy body like inclusions were also recognized by antibodies to phos‐phorylated neurofilaments protein, ubiquitin, and SOD1. Under electron microscopy, the inclusions consisted of a network of 10 nm neurofilaments intermingled with ill‐defined coarse linear structures; (iii) degeneration of spinocerebellar tracts, and middle root zone of the posterior column.
Clinicopathological analysis of chronic brain stem encephalitis: Comparison with neuro‐Behçet's disease
Authors: Yamada Hitoshi , Watanabe Rihito , Hasegawa Osamu , Matsuyama Haruo
Published: May 2007

We present the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings obtained at autopsy from the central nervous system (CNS) of patients with chronic encephalomyelitis (CEM; n= 5) with prominent involvement of the brain stem and those with neuro‐Behçt's disease (NBD; n= 3). The clinical findings in these patients were similar except for the absence of mucocutaneo‐ocular symptoms in CEM. It was not possible to differentiate CEM from NBD based on neuropathology. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that UCHL1+ T cell infiltration in all cases examined was prominent not only in the perivascular area but also in grossly normal‐appearing areas which lacked necrosis or degenerative changes. The widespread UCHL1+ cell infiltration observed throughout the CNS including cerebral cortex and white matter might be responsible for the psychiatric disturbances which were manifest in these diseases. Pseudobulbar paresis and spastic tetraparesis could be explained by small necrotic foci that were mainly distributed in brain stem and spinal cord.
Neurofibrillary tangle pathology correlates with the activity of daily living of the house living aged population: A medicolegal aspect
Authors: Hattori Hideyuki , Matsumoto Masayuki , Iwai Kunimitu , Munehira Junichi , Wakasugi Choei , Kobayashi Miho , Sato Takao , Hashimoto Shigeo
Published: May 2007

The care of the aged population living at home is an urgent issue in the developed countries. It is important to investigate the factors in relation to the level of activities of daily life (ADL). It is also important to investigate the death situation in order to protect this population from accidental death. This study was undertaken to investigate whether the pathological change of the brain was one of the decisive factors of ADL and accidental death. Detailed information of ADL was obtained from the family and neighbors of 40 cases that were autopsied medicolegally at the medical examiner office of Osaka prefecture. The information regarding death situation was obtained from the coroner's documents. In each autopsied brain, senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangle (NFT), arteriosclerosis and ischemic changes of the brain were examined. Correlation between the neuropathological change, ADL and the death situation was statistically investigated. The severity and expansion of NFT, which was categorized as Braak's stage, showed significant correlation with ADL. Senile plaques and vascular change showed no significant correlation. Cases that had developed to Braak's isocortical stage showed a tendency to die in the bathroom or toilet. The NFT pathology of the limbic system has been shown to correlate with ADL. The damage of the limbic system might have an influence on the cognitive and behavior function of the brain and may lead to the reduced ADL. In addition, the NFT pathology may be a factor for the autonomic dysfunction and circulatory disorder. Therefore, the NFT pathology is considered to play a role in death during defecation and bathing.
Neuropathologic abnormalities of the brain in the Wistar ataxic rat
Authors: Kakimi Shigeo , Goto Noboru , Otsuka Naruhito , Ohnishi Akio
Published: May 2007

The neuropathologic findings of the Wistar ataxic rat brain were reported after making serial sections of the brain and studying the cerebellum with an electron microscope. Twenty‐five adult Wistar rats from a mutant strain were used: 14 were ataxic and 11 were normal. In the brains of the Wistar ataxic rats, neuropathologic abnormalities were present only in the Purkinje cells. The possibility of a new model animal with autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia is discussed.
Normal and abnormal neurulation in humans: Implications for the pathogenesis of neural tube defects
Authors: Shiota Kohei , Nakatsu Tomoko
Published: May 2007

The closure of the neural tube (NT) in humans has generally been described as a continuous process that begins in the region of the future neck and proceeds both rostrally and caudally, Recently, four separate initiation sites for neural tube fusion have been demonstrated in mice and other experimental animals. In humans, based on the study of neural tube defects (NTD) in clinical cases, van Allen et al. proposed a multisite NT closure model which argued that five closure sites exist in the NT of human embryos.1 By direct observation of human embryos with the fusing NT (Congenital Anomaly Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan), it was revealed that NT closure in human embryos does initiate at multiple sites but that the mode of NT closure in humans may be different from that in rodent species. In addition to the future cervical region which is widely accepted as an initiation site of NT closure, the mesencephalic‐rhombencephalic border was found to be another initiation site. Because there may be such species difference in the mode of NT closure, we should be careful when extrapolating data from experimental animals as it may not apply to humans. It is likely that the type of NTD affects the intra‐uterine survival rate of human embryos with NTD. Almost all of the embryos with total dysraphism appear to die by 5 weeks of gestation. while those with an opening over the rhombencephalon appear to die by 6.5 weeks, and those with a defect at the frontal and parietal regions survive beyond 7 weeks.
Morphological features of holoprosencephaly
Authors: Yokota Akira , Hamada Tetsuo , Miyayama Haruhiko
Published: May 2007

The gross and microscopic features of holoprosencephaly are described on the basis of five representative cases of the alobar and semilobar types, which were investigated by autopsy and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Alobar holoprosencephaly was distinguished from the semilobar type by its gross morphology: the brain neither separated horizontally into the hemispheres nor differentiated axially into the telencephalon and diencephalon. Dorsal cyst, which communicated with the prosencephalic common ventricle through a horseshoe‐shaped cerebral mantle defect, was present in all cases. The wall of the cyst, called the ‘dorsal sac’, consisted of ependymal remnants and leptomeninges, in which a layer of dysplastic cerebral tissue or heterotopic glioneural tissue was included in some cases. The dorsal sac extended from the hippocampal ridge and attached posteriorly to the epithalamic structure. The cerebral cortex showed abnormally formed convolutions with agyria, pachygyria or polymicrogyria in all the cases examined, without distinction between the alobar and semilobar types. The microscopic features of these cortices were poorly formed lamination, marginal glioneural heterotopia and periventricular aggregates of neuroblasts. Glomerular structures, which Mere devoid of neurons and consisted of fine dendrites and axons, were found in three cases of this series. These abnormal cortical structures, resulting from disordered neuronal migration, were considered characteristic microscopic findings of the holoprosencephalic brain. The current classification system advocated by DeMyer and Zeman, which depends on surface morphology, does not reflect the maturity of the brain as investigated histopathologically in this series.
Neuronal migration disorder: Expression of gene products in the neocortex
Authors: Takashima Sachio , Mizuguchi Masashi , Arii Naoto
Published: May 2007

Many genes are concerned with neuronal migration and arrangement in the cerebral cortex. In this report, the gene products of Miller‐Dieker syndrome, thanatophoric dysplasia and tuberous sclerosis, of which the genes have been recently identified, were studied using the histochemical methods of LIS‐1, FGFR3 and tuberin. In Miller‐Dieker syndrome, there was an early arrest of neuronal migration in the deep cellular layer and disarrangement of neuronal settling in the superficial cellular layer, which may be related to loss of LIS‐1 immunoreactivity in the brain of sufferers of this disease. In thanatophoric dysplasia there were various degrees of polymicrogyria to microgyria in the cortex of deep sulci, predominantly in the temporal lobes, and these may have been produced through glia or vessels which showed high FGFR3 immunoreactivity in the early fetal period. In tuberous sclerosis there was abnormal differentlation and migration of neural cells in the cerebral hemisphere which showed a decreased immunoreactivity of tuberin. Tuberin is a tumor suppressor and it may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of tuberous sclerosis. Thus, the foundation of antibodies against gene products is important in order to clarify the pathomechanism of migration disorders, and to establish their diagnosis and classification.
Developmental anomalies of the spinal cord
Authors: Hori Akira
Published: May 2007

A review of the literature and a personal collection of human spinal cord anomaly cases revealed a kaleidoscope of malformations and normal variations of this anatomical structure. One of the most frequently found anomalies is dysraphism and, thus, this is clinically one of the most important malformations of the spinal cord. There are different forms of spinal dysraphism combined with brain anomalies. Other forms of spinal malformations should also be discussed in relation to cranial and brain malformations. Certain kinds of neoplasms, such as my‐xopapillary ependymomas and paragangliomas of the medullary conus/filum terminale and sacrococcygeal subcutaneous ependymomas, can be discussed in relation to their embryological aspects. Regarding pathological histogenesis in cases of abnormal course of fibers, fiber tract‐related pathological sulcus formation, neuronal heterotopia etc., many experimental investigations are currently being performed. They include investigations concerned with neural stem cell exploration, target search or crossing of the developing axons and migration of neurons. Senescent changes of survived malformations may also be of interest, such as senile degeneration of the heterotopia. In this review, we propose: (i) a hypothesis on morphogenesis of the ascending course of spinal nerve roots in Chiari anomaly type 2, emphasizing the idea of the ‘craniocervical growth conflict of both neural and mesodermal tissues’(Roth); (ii) at least two possible causes resulting in abnormal longitudinal sulcus formation of the spinal cord surface; (iii) three probable histological types of the filum terminale in the tethered cord; and (iv) a speculation on multipotentiality of the cellular differentiation of ependymal vestiges originating from the embryonal canalization phase.
Co‐existing fibrous dysplasia and atypical lymphoplasmacyte‐rich meningioma
Authors: Ghosal Nandita , Furtado Sunil V. , Santosh Vani , Sridhar Manthravadi , Hegde Alangar S.
Published: May 2007

We report an unusual and extremely rare case of coexisting fibrous dysplasia of the sphenoid sinus with atypical lymphoplasmacyte rich meningioma (World Health Organization Grade II), right frontal lobe in a 25‐year‐old male. The patient presented with history of generalized tonic clonic seizures with a loss of vision in the right eye. Radiologically it was seen that the sphenoid sinus lesion was sclerotic and was extending and causing compression of the optic nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed mass lesion in the right frontal lobe, iso to hypointense on T1 weighted images and hyperintense on T2 weighted images with uniform contrast enhancement. Clinically and radiologically the possibility of fibrous dysplasia of the sphenoid bone and sinus with metastases in the frontal lobe from a different primary was considered. On histopathology the frontal lobe lesion showed a tumor composed of cells with vesicular nuclei, focal nuclear pleomorphism, a mitotic rate of = 4/10 high power field and a single focus of necrosis. The cells were arranged in fascicles and had a prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. In contrast, the sphenoid sinus lesion was composed of narrow, curved bony trabeculae with a characteristic fishhook configuration without osteoblastic rimming and interspersed with fibrous tissue of variable cellularity. Although no definite causative factors are described for the coexistence of these tumors, however, a common yet undetermined denominator in the origin has been proposed in the literature.
The peri‐microvascular edema in hippocampal CA1 area in a rat model of sepsis
Authors: Kafa Ilker Mustafa , Ari Ilknur , Kurt Mustafa Ayberk
Published: May 2007

Encephalopathy is a common complication of sepsis. However, little is known about the morphological changes that occur in the brain during sepsis. In this study, fecal peritonitis was induced in Wistar rats, which had been monitored for 4 h before their brains were removed and samples from the CA1 area taken. In addition to higher blood pressure with a decreasing pattern and a significant drop in rectal temperature, an increased heart rate and marked respiratory failure were observed. The tissue was investigated and compared with corresponding hippocampal samples taken from sham‐operated and not operated control groups. Significantly more peri‐microvascular edema was found in the hippocampal CA1 area in the septic group. The percentages of the peri‐microvascular edema were 158.57 ± 3.6%, 122.84 ± 1.5% and 120.24 ± 1.9% in the fecal peritonitis group, sham‐operated and not operated control groups, respectively. The results may suggest that the edema observed around the microvessels may participate in the pathogenesis of the septic encephalopathy probably by causing in the microvascular permeability characteristics.
Primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis followed with serial magnetic resonance images
Authors: Ishige Satoshi , Iwadate Yasuo , Ishikura Hiroshi , Saeki Naokatsu
Published: May 2007

We report a case of primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis (PDLG) followed up with serial magnetic resonance images (MRI). A 45‐year‐old man manifested with bilateral abducens nerve palsy and meningisms. Repeated MRI revealed diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement throughout the central nervous system without intra‐axial mass accompanied with the dilatation of ventricles and focally enlarged cerebral sulci. Brain biopsies showed a leptomeningeal gliomatosis. The MRI findings described here would contribute to the diagnosis of PDLG among other common diseases diffusely spreading along the leptomeningeal structures.
Neuroblastomas and medulloblastomas exhibit more Coxsackie adenovirus receptor expression than gliomas and other brain tumors
Authors: Persson Annette , Fan Xiaolong , Salford Leif G. , Widegren Bengt , Englund Elisabet
Published: May 2007

Adenoviral vector‐mediated treatment is a potential therapy for tumors of the central nervous system. To obtain a significant therapeutic effect by adenoviral vectors, a sufficient infection is required, the power of which depends predominantly on the level of Coxsackie adenovirus receptors. We stained surgical biopsies of central nervous system tumors and neuroblastomas for Coxsackie adenovirus receptors. For gliomas, the level of the receptor was low and markedly variable among individual tumors. By contrast, neuroblastomas and medulloblastomas exhibited a higher degree of Coxsackie adenovirus receptor expression than gliomas and other brain tumors. We conclude that neuroblastomas and medulloblastomas could be suitable for adenovirus‐mediated gene therapy. Adverse effects of the treatment, however, must be considered because neurons and reactive astrocytes also express a significant amount of the receptor.
Asymptomatic persistence of anti‐Yo antibodies for 5 years without relapse of malignancy
Authors: Finsterer Josef , Unterberger Ursula , Grisold Wolfgang
Published: May 2007

Neurological paraneoplastic syndromes (NPS) are rare disorders in association with malignancy and the presence of various antineuronal antibodies. The persistence of antineuronal antibodies for years after the eradication of the tumor without clinical manifestations of a NPS has not been reported. In a 64‐year‐old woman with a history of gynecologic malignancy, treated by surgery and chemotherapy with docetaxel and carboplatin, ptosis, hypertelorism, dysarthria, short stature, upper and lower limb weakness, exaggerated tendon reflexes and recurrent creatine‐kinase elevation were found. Nerve conduction studies disclosed polyneuropathy and muscle biopsy non‐specific myopathic features. Though anti‐Yo antibodies were repeatedly positive, the clinical findings and polyneuropathy were rather attributed to a suspected metabolic myopathy or chemotherapy than a NPS. Anti‐Yo antibodies remained positive at 5 further determinations. During the 5 years of follow up there was improvement of polyneuropathy and no relapse of the malignancy, as assessed clinically, by tumor markers, computed tomography scans and 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Anti‐Yo antibodies may occur without the typical clinical manifestations of a NPS and may persist for years without the development of a NPS or relapse of the tumor.
Audit of pneumocystis pneumonia in patients seen by the Christchurch Hospital rheumatology service over a 5‐year period
Authors: Meuli K. , Chapman P. , O’Donnell J. , Frampton C. , Stamp L.
Published: May 2007

Aim: The aim of the study was to review all cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients seen by the Christchurch Hospital Rheumatology service over a 5‐year period and to determine the annual incidence of PCP.

Methods: The Canterbury Health Laboratory database was searched for rheumatology patients testing positive for PCP from 31 December 2000 to 31 December 2005. The rheumatology database was then searched to identify patients receiving the same immunosuppressant medication as those who developed PCP to determine the annual incidence of PCP in this group.

Results: Four rheumatology patients were diagnosed with PCP during the 5‐year period. Two were receiving oral methotrexate (MTX) for rheumatoid arthritis and two were receiving cyclophosphamide (CYC), one each for Wegener’s granulomatosis and dermatomyositis. None of the four cases was receiving PCP chemoprophylaxis. Five hundred and forty‐seven patients commenced MTX over the same 5‐year period and 47 commenced CYC. Only 14 of 47 (29.7%) CYC‐treated patients received PCP prophylaxis. The annual incidence of PCP was 0.17% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02–0.63) and 5.33% (95%CI 0.65–19.24) in patients prescribed MTX and CYC, respectively. For the 33 patients receiving CYC without concomitant PCP prophylaxis the annual incidence was 9.50% (95%CI 1.15–34.33).

Conclusion: In our study the annual incidence of PCP in patients taking MTX was low and would not support the use of routine PCP chemoprophylaxis. In patients receiving CYC without concomitant PCP chemoprophylaxis the annual incidence of PCP was higher although the number of cases was small. Given the high morbidity and mortality in this group, PCP chemoprophylaxis should be considered.
Prevalence of occult metastatic disease in patients undergoing 18F‐FDG PET for primary diagnosis or staging of lung carcinoma and solitary pulmonary nodules
Authors: Lee S. T. , Berlangieri S. U. , Poon A. M. T. , Mitchell P. , Pathmaraj K. , Tabone K. , Byrne A. J. , O’Keefe G. J. , Knight S. R. , Clarke C. P. , Scott A. M.
Published: May 2007

Background: Accurate staging of lung cancer is essential in determining the most appropriate management plan, as detection of occult metastasis can significantly alter management.

Aims: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of occult metastasis in patients undergoing 2‐18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (18F‐FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) for evaluation of suspected/proven lung carcinoma and correlate pre‐PET TNM stage with prevalence of metastasis.

Methods: FDG‐PET, which identified patients with metastasis on institutional database, was re‐evaluated by a nuclear medicine physician blinded to clinical information. The confidence level of metastasis was scored on a 5‐point scale, with a score of ≥4 considered positive.

Results: There were 67 of 645 (10%) patients identified with suspected occult metastasis on FDG‐PET. Twelve patients scoring ≤3 were excluded. Prevalence of occult metastasis was 10/156 (6%) in solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN); 22/319 (7%) and 23/170 (14%) in proven and suspected lung cancer, respectively. Positive predictive value of FDG‐PET for metastasis was 8/10 (80%) in solitary pulmonary nodules, 14/20 (70%) and 17/21 (81%) in proven and suspected lung cancer, respectively. 18F‐FDG‐avid lesions classified as false positives were patients with cholelithiasis, rib fractures and those with equivocal/negative bone scans or computed tomography on follow up. There was a higher incidence of true positive occult metastasis in patients in all stages of disease, particularly stage III disease.

Conclusion: 18F‐FDG PET is predictive for occult metastatic disease in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules and proven or suspected lung cancer and is more likely to be present in all stages, particularly in stage III. PET findings should be actively pursued with correlative investigation to identify benign pathology in patients who remain candidates for curative treatment.
A neutral sampling formula for multiple samples and an ‘exact’ test of neutrality
Authors: Etienne Rampal S.
Published: May 2007

As the utility of the neutral theory of biodiversity is increasingly being recognized, there is also an increasing need for proper tools to evaluate the relative importance of neutral processes (dispersal limitation and stochasticity). One of the key features of neutral theory is its close link to data: sampling formulas, giving the probability of a data set conditional on a set of model parameters, have been developed for parameter estimation and model comparison. However, only single local samples can be handled with the currently available sampling formulas, whereas data are often available for many small spatially separated plots. Here, I present a sampling formula for multiple, spatially separated samples from the same metacommunity, which is a generalization of earlier sampling formulas. I also provide an algorithm to generate data sets with the model and I introduce a general test of neutrality that does not require an alternative model; this test compares the probability of the observed data (calculated using the new sampling formula) with the probability of model‐generated data sets. I illustrate this with tree abundance data from three large Panamanian neotropical forest plots. When the test is performed with model parameters estimated from the three plots, the model cannot be rejected; however, when parameter estimates previously reported for BCI are used, the model is strongly rejected. This suggests that neutrality cannot explain the structure of the three Panamanian tree communities on the local (BCI) and regional (Panama Canal Zone) scale simultaneously. One should be aware, however, that aspects of the model other than neutrality may be responsible for its failure. I argue that the spatially implicit character of the model is a potential candidate.
Texture Synthesis using Exact Neighborhood Matching
Authors: Sabha M. , Peers P. , Dutré P.
Published: May 2007

In this paper we present an elegant pixel‐based texture synthesis technique that is able to generate visually pleasing results from source textures of both stochastic and structured nature. Inspired by the observation that the most common artifacts that occur when synthesizing textures are high‐frequency discontinuities, our technique tries to avoid these artifacts by forcing at least one of the direct neighboring pixels in each causal neighborhood to match within a predetermined threshold. This does not only avoid deterioration of the visual quality, but also results in faster synthesis timings. We demonstrate our technique on a variety of stochastic and structured textures.
Automatic Light Source Placement for Maximum Visual Information Recovery
Authors: Vázquez P.‐P.
Published: May 2007

The automatic selection of good viewing parameters is a very complex problem. In most cases, the notion of good strongly depends on the concrete application. Moreover, when an intuitive definition of good view is available, it is often difficult to establish a measure that brings it to the practice. Commonly, two kinds of viewing parameters must be set: camera parameters (position and orientation) and lighting parameters (number of light sources, its position and eventually the orientation of the spot). The first parameters will determine how much of the geometry can be captured and the latter will influence on how much of it is revealed (i.e., illuminated) to the user. Unfortunately, ensuring that certain parts of a scene are lit does not make sure that the details will be communicated to the user, as the amount of illumination might be too small or too high. In this paper we define a metric to calculate the amount of information relative to an object that is effectively communicated to the user given a fixed camera position. This measure is based on an information‐based concept, the Shannon entropy, and will be applied to the problem of automatic selection of light positions in order to adequately illuminate an object. In order to validate the results, we have carried out an experiment on users, this experiment helped us to explore other related measures.
Smooth Piecewise Polynomial Blending Operations for Implicit Shapes
Authors: Li Q.
Published: May 2007

In this paper, we present a new set of blending operations for implicitly defined geometric shapes. The proposed shape operators are piecewise polynomial and blending range controllable, and can be constructed to any required degree of smoothness. The key idea behind these techniques is the introduction of the concept of the smooth absolute functions, which in turn lead to the definition of smooth maximum functions. These novel generalized absolute functions can be constructed recursively or through a recursively defined functions, and can thus be computed cheaply. In addition, the underlying mathematical descriptions of these shape operations are very simple and elegant.
A Method for Constructing Interpolatory Subdivision Schemes and Blending Subdivisions
Authors: Li G. , Ma W.
Published: May 2007

This paper presents a universal method for constructing interpolatory subdivision schemes from known approximatory subdivisions. The method establishes geometric rules of the associated interpolatory subdivision through addition of further weighted averaging operations to the approximatory subdivision. The paper thus provides a novel approach for designing new interpolatory subdivision schemes. In addition, a family of subdivision surfaces varying from the given approximatory scheme to its associated interpolatory scheme, namely the blending subdivisions, can also be established. Based on the proposed method, variants of several known interpolatory subdivision schemes are constructed. A new interpolatory subdivision scheme is also developed using the same technique. Brief analysis of a family of blending subdivisions associated with the Loop subdivision scheme demonstrates that this particular family of subdivisions are globally C1 continuous while maintaining bounded curvature for regular meshes. As a further extension of the blending subdivisions, a volume‐preserving subdivision strategy is also proposed in the paper.
A Lagrangian Approach to Dynamic Interfaces through Kinetic Triangulation of the Ambient Space
Authors: Pons J.‐P. , Boissonnat J.‐D.
Published: May 2007

In this paper, we propose a robust and efficient Lagrangian approach for modeling dynamic interfaces between different materials undergoing large deformations and topology changes, in two dimensions. Our work brings an interesting alternative to popular techniques such as the level set method and the particle level set method, for two‐dimensional and axisymmetric simulations. The principle of our approach is to maintain a two‐dimensional triangulation which embeds the one‐dimensional polygonal description of the interfaces. Topology changes can then be detected as inversions of the faces of this triangulation. Each triangular face is labeled with the type of material it contains. The connectivity of the triangulation and the labels of the faces are updated consistently during deformation, within a neat framework developed in computational geometry: kinetic data structures. Thanks to the exact computation paradigm, the reliability of our algorithm, even in difficult situations such as shocks and topology changes, can be certified. We demonstrate the applicability and the efficiency of our approach with a series of numerical experiments in two dimensions. Finally, we discuss the feasibility of an extension to three dimensions.
Comparing inclusive and segregated settings for children with dyslexia — parental perspectives from Ireland
Authors: NUGENT MARY
Published: May 2007

This study evaluates and compares special educational services for children with dyslexia in three different set tings: special schools, reading units and mainstream resource provision. The emphasis in this paper is on the parental perspectives. Participants were the parents of dyslexic children, aged eight to thirteen, who had been accessing special educational services for two academic years. Data involved individual postal questionnaires, returned by 113 parents. Results suggested that parents were generally very positive about special educational services across all three settings, although parents of children attending specialist services (in special schools and units) tended to be more satisfied and more positive about services than parents whose children attended mainstream resource provision. It was noted that, while parents expressed a preference for inclusive services in theory, in reality, once provided with services, parents were actually more satisfied with specialist segregated services. The discussion considers the implications of these findings in the context of the inclusion debate in special education.
Child and adolescent traumatic brain injury: academic, behavioural, and social consequences in the classroom
Authors: JANTZ PAUL B. , COULTER GAIL A.
Published: May 2007

More than five million children suffer from brain injuries each year. While the majority of these children are treated and released without permanent consequences, many children return to the classroom with lasting effects. Symptoms of brain injury can be misconstrued as common behaviour or academic problems. Therefore, teachers need to recognize how traumatic brain injury can be manifested in the classroom. This paper presents information regarding the nature of brain injury for the educational professional. It describes types of brain injuries, introduces the con sequences of brain injuries in school‐age children and adolescents, and provides examples of common cognitive, physical, psycho‐social, behavioural, and emotional manifestations.