9 research outputs found
Chondroblastoma of thoracic vertebra in young adult causing paraparesis
Chondroblastoma of spine is very rare condition. To best of our knowledge, fewer than 30 cases have been reported in the world literature. Almost all of them involved both anterior & posterior component of vertebra. There are only few reports with isolated posterior element involvement. Clinical presentation of paraparesis because of vertebral chondroblastoma is very rare. This case report presents 17 yr old male with chondroblastoma involving posterior thoracic vertebra presenting with quadriparesis which improved after successful treatment. Early diagnosis and complete excision with periodic follow up is necessary for treatment of this disease
Exosomes Derived from M. Bovis BCG Infected Macrophages Activate Antigen-Specific CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is required for an effective immune response to an M. tuberculosis infection. However, infected macrophages are poor antigen presenting cells and may be spatially separated from recruited T cells, thus limiting antigen presentation within a granuloma. Our previous studies showed that infected macrophages release from cells small membrane-bound vesicles called exosomes which contain mycobacterial lipid components and showed that these exosomes could stimulate a pro-inflammatory response in naĂŻve macrophages. In the present study we demonstrate that exosomes stimulate both CD4+ and CD8+ splenic T cells isolated from mycobacteria-sensitized mice. Although the exosomes contain MHC I and II as well as costimulatory molecules, maximum stimulation of T cells required prior incubation of exosomes with antigen presenting cells. Exosomes isolated from M. bovis and M. tuberculosis infected macrophages also stimulated activation and maturation of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Interestingly, intranasal administration of mice with exosomes isolated from M. bovis BCG infected macrophages induce the generation of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The isolated T cells also produced IFN-Îł upon restimulation with BCG antigens. The release of exosomes from infected macrophages may overcome some of the defects in antigen presentation associated with mycobacterial infections and we suggest that exosomes may be a promising M. tuberculosis vaccine candidate
De novo assembly, functional annotation, and analysis of the giant reed (Arundo donax L.) leaf transcriptome provide tools for the development of a biofuel feedstock
Taste dysfunction in vestibular schwannomas
Background: Gustatory dysfunction associated with vestibular
schwannomas (VS) is a poorly represented clinical presentation.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and forty-nine cases operated from
1997 to 2005 where at least six-month follow-up was available were
included. All patients were tested for taste sensations using four
modalities of standard taste solutions. Apart from the taste
sensations, any altered or abnormal taste perceptions were recorded
both in the preoperative and postoperative period. Results: After
applying the exclusion criteria, the taste dysfunction was studied in
142 patients. The evidence of decreased taste sensation was found in 58
(40.8%) patients prior to surgery. Preoperatively, taste disturbance
was found in 29 (37.2%) giant, 28 (45.9%) large and one (33.3%)
medium-sized tumors, respectively. There were no significant age or
sex-related differences. The postoperative taste disturbances were
found in 65 (45.8%) patients. Among patients with anatomically
preserved facial nerve, postoperative taste disturbances were found in
55 (42.3%) patients whereas nine (6.9%) patients reported improvement
in taste sensations. Conclusions: Taste dysfunction is common
following vestibular schwannoma surgery. Patient counseling prior to
surgery is necessary to avoid any distress caused by taste dysfunction.
Taste dysfunction should be included in the facial nerve functional
grading system while assessing outcome
Muslim Bengal writes back: A study of Rokeya’s encounter with and representation of Europe
A Large-Scale Genome-Wide Study of Gene-Sleep Duration Interactions for Blood Pressure in 811,405 Individuals from Diverse Populations.
Although both short and long sleep duration are associated with elevated hypertension risk, our understanding of their interplay with biological pathways governing blood pressure remains limited. To address this, we carried out genome-wide cross-population gene-by-short-sleep and long-sleep duration interaction analyses for three blood pressure traits (systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure) in 811,405 individuals from diverse population groups. We discover 22 novel gene-sleep duration interaction loci for blood pressure, mapped to genes involved in neurological, thyroidal, bone metabolism, and hematopoietic pathways. Non-overlap between short sleep (12) and long sleep (10) interactions underscores the plausibility of distinct influences of both sleep duration extremes in cardiovascular health. With several of our loci reflecting specificity towards population background or sex, our discovery sheds light on the importance of embracing granularity when addressing heterogeneity entangled in gene-environment interactions, and in therapeutic design approaches for blood pressure management