Transzygomatic anterior infratemporal fossa approach and high cervical approach for resection of infra temporal fossa and parapharyngeal space solitary fibrous tumours: Report of 2 cases and review of literature

The infratemporal fossa (ITF) is the region under the floor of the middle fossa giving passage to most major cerebral vessels and cranial nerves.(1) It is closely related to important adjacent regions such as the middle fossa, pterygopalatine fossa, orbit, and nasopharynx.(2) Due to the anatomical complexity in the ITF, surgical removal of the lesions in or around it is still challenging.(3) Since the 1960s, many surgeons have reported various surgical approaches. the preauricular transzygomatic approach via a transcranial route was reported to be used for exposure of the antero-superior portion of the ITF (2,3). Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) were first described by Klempere and Rabin in 1931 as spindle-cell tumours originating from the pleura.(4) With the exception of myopericytoma, infantile myofibromatosis and HPC-like lesions of the sinonasal tract showing myoid differentiation, all other HPC like lesions are best considered as subtypes of SFT.(5) Only a few cases of SFT have been described in the literature involving the skull base and parapharyngeal space.(6–8) The purpose of this article is to show anatomical dissections involving this surgical approach and to evaluate our surgical experience using it

Identification of glucosylceramides containing sphingatrienine in maize and rice using ion trap mass spectrometry.

We characterized the glucosylceramide moieties from maize and rice using liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. Glucosylceramides containing 4, 8-sphingadienine (d18:2) acylated to hydroxy-fatty acids were detected as the predominant molecules both in maize and in rice. In addition, 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenine (t18:1) and sphingatrienine (d18:3) were found in maize and rice glucosylceramides, and in the case of rice, sphingenine (d18:1) was also detected. Glucosylceramides containing d18:3 were acylated to hydroxyl fatty acids (16-24 carbon atoms). Our results indicate the presence of the triene type of sphingoid base in higher plants

Solution Structures of Cytosolic RNA Sensor MDA5 and LGP2 C-terminal Domains : Identification of the RNA Recognition Loop in RIG-I-LIKE Receptors

The RIG-I like receptor (RLR) comprises three homologues: RIG-I (retinoic acid-inducible gene I), MDA5(melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5), and LGP2 (laboratory of genetics and physiology 2). Each RLR senses different viral infections by recognizing replicating viral RNA in the cytoplasm. The RLR contains a conserved C-terminal domain (CTD), which is responsible for the binding specificity to the viral RNAs, including double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and 5'-triphosphated single-stranded RNA (5'ppp-ssRNA). Here, the solution structures of the MDA5 and LGP2 CTD domains were solved by NMR and compared with those of RIG-I CTD. The CTD domains each have a similar fold and a similar basic surface but there is the distinct structural feature of a RNA binding loop; The LGP2 and RIG-I CTD domains have a large basic surface, one bank of which is formed by the RNA binding loop. MDA5 also has a large basic surface that is extensively flat due to open conformation of the RNA binding loop. The NMR chemical shift perturbation study showed that dsRNA and 5'ppp-ssRNA are bound to the basic surface of LGP2 CTD, whereas dsRNA is bound to the basic surface of MDA5 CTD but much more weakly, indicating that the conformation of the RNA binding loop is responsible for the sensitivity to dsRNA and 5'ppp-ssRNA. Mutation study of the basic surface and the RNA binding loop supports the conclusion from the structure studies. Thus, the CTD is responsible for the binding affinity to the viral RNAs

Dietary Cerebroside from Sea Cucumber (Stichopus japonicus): Absorption and Effects on Skin Barrier and Cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids

Sphingolipids from marine sources have attracted more attention recently because of their distinctive structures and expected functions. In this study, the content and components of cerebroside from sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus were analyzed. The absorption of cerebroside from <i>S. japonicus</i> was investigated with an in vivo lipid absorption assay. The result revealed that <i>S. japonicus</i> is a rich source of cerebroside that contained considerable amounts of odd carbon chain sphingoid bases. The cumulative recoveries of d17:1- and d19:2-containing cerebrosides were 0.31 ± 0.16 and 0.32 ± 0.10%, respectively, for 24 h after administration. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that shows sphingolipids from a marine source could be absorbed in vivo and incorporated into ceramides. In addition, dietary supplementation with sea cucumber cerebroside to hairless mouse improved the skin barrier function and increased short-chain fatty acids in cecal contents, which have shown beneficial effects on the host