A novel epigenetic marker, Ten-eleven translocation family member 2 (TET2), is identified in the intractable epileptic brain and regulates ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) in the blood-brain barrier.

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is a chronic condition derived from spontaneous changes and regulatory effects in the epileptic brain. As demethylation factors, ten-eleven translocation (TET) family members have become a focus in recent studies of neurological disorders. Here, we quantified and localized TET1, TET2 and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the temporal lobe cortex of DRE patients (n = 27) and traumatic brain hemorrhage controls (n = 10) by immunochemical staining. TET2 and ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) expression patterns were determined in the isolated brain capillaries of DRE patients. TET2 expression was significantly increased in the temporal cortical tissue of DRE patients with or without hippocampal sclerosis (HS) compared to control patients, while TET1 and 5-hmC showed no differences in expression. We also found that a particularly strong expression of TET2 in the vascular tissue of DRE patients. ABCB1 and TET2 have evidently higher expression in the vascular endothelium from the neocortex of DRE patients. In blood-brain barrier (BBB) model, TET2 depletion can cause attenuated expression and function of ABCB1. Data from a cohort study and experiments in a BBB model suggest that TET2 has a specific regulatory effect on ABCB1, which may serve as a potential mechanism and target in DRE.

Clinicopathologic and neuroradiologic studies of papillary glioneuronal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Papillary glioneuronal tumor (PGNT) is a rare, recently described distinct low-grade brain neoplasm. This study was performed to characterize the clinicopathologic and neuroradiologic features of PGNTs. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 16 patients with PGNT who underwent surgery, including 11 males and five females (median age 27 years). The clinical, neuroradiologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings were documented. RESULTS: Headache was the principal presentation. Neuroimaging showed contrast-enhancing, cystic-solid or cystic masses with a mural nodule, mostly involved the frontal or parietal lobes. Histologically, the tumors were characterized by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive small cuboidal cells lining hyalinized vascular pseudopapillae and synaptophysin and/or NeuN-positive interpapillary neuronal elements. Other findings included small angiomatous areas in ten, small islands of neuropil and rosettes in seven, and microvascular proliferation and/or nuclear atypia in six. Mitoses or necrosis were absent. All lacked isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) R132H protein expression. Low expression of p53 was observed in three cases. Ki67 labeling index ranged from less than 1 to 3 %. All but one was totally resected. Median follow-up was 65 months, and one patient had tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: PGNTs display distinct clinicopathologic and imaging characteristics and indicate a favorable prognosis. However, recurrences sometimes occur. Immunohistochemistry facilitates the appropriate diagnosis of these tumors. Complete resection of the tumor is important for a favorable outcome.

[Effect of embedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of embedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: Fifty-six cases were randomly divided into an embedding thread group, an embedding thread plus Leli group and a Leli group. The pain of the patient before treatment, 3 months and 6 months after treatment were assessed. RESULTS: There was significant difference before and after treatment in the score of pain in both the embedding thread group and the embedding thread plus Leli group (P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05); there was no significant difference before and after treatment in the score of pain in the Leli group (P > 0.05), but with significant differences as compared with other two groups (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Embedding thread at Shenshu (BL 23) has very obvious therapeutic effect on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis, and oral administration of Leli capsule has no significantly therapeutic effect on clinical pain of postmenopausal osteoporosis.