A gelatinous human tail with lipomyelocele: case report.

We report a female infant who presented with a tail appendage bearing a gelatinous tip and an associated lipomyelocele. Magnetic resonance images revealed the presence of spina bifida and a tract in continuity from the tail to the conus medullaris. The tail was surgically removed. A human tail may be associated with underlying spinal dysraphism. Magnetic resonance or computed tomographic imaging is required in such cases for complete evaluation. This is the first case report of gelatinous-tip human tail.

Decreased anti-inflammatory responses to vitamin D in neonatal neutrophils.

Neutrophil activity is prolonged in newborns, suggesting decreased exposure and/or responses to immunosuppressive modulators, such as 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-vit D(3)). We hypothesized that 1,25-vit D(3) suppresses neutrophil activation and that this response is impaired in newborns. Consistent with this, 1,25-vit D(3) decreased LPS-induced expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß and VEGF in adult, but not neonatal, neutrophils. Expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3)-1α-hydroxylase was reduced in neonatal, relative to adult neutrophils. Moreover, 1,25-vit D(3) induced VDR gene expression in activated adult, but not neonatal, neutrophils. 1,25-vit D(3) also suppressed expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and induced expression of 5-lipoxygenase in LPS-exposed adult neutrophils, while neonatal cells were not affected. 1,25-vit D(3) had no effect on respiratory burst in either adult or neonatal cells. Anti-inflammatory activity of vitamin D is impaired in neonatal neutrophils, and this may be due to decreased expression of VDR and 1α-hydroxylase. Insensitivity to 1,25-vit D(3) may contribute to chronic inflammation in neonates.