The classification of pituitary tumors is a dynamic area that changes with advances in cell biology that provide a deeper insight and clearer understanding of cell lineages and pathogenetic mechanisms. The 2004 edition of the World Heath Organization (WHO) text "Histological typing of endocrine tumors" reflects the progress that has been achieved since the previous edition of 2000. Here we review the new information and identify areas of concern for the next effort at classification of pituitary tumors.

✓ Subacute posttraumatic ascending myelopathy (SPAM) is a rare disorder that may gradually emerge in the first 1 to 3 weeks after a spinal cord injury and is unrelated to syrinx formation or mechanical instability. In addition to several theories that have been put forth to explain the origin of this syndrome, the authors propose a possible role for apoptosis in the causation and the progression of SPAM. They discuss the various theories that have been proposed thus far, to place the role of apoptosis in perspective and use their case as an illustration.

The molecular mechanisms through which ghrelin exerts its cardioprotective effects during cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction (MI) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the cardioprotection mechanisms are mediated by modulation of JAK/STAT signaling and what triggers this modulation. Rats were divided into six groups (n = 12/group): control, sham, sham + ghrelin (100 µg/kg, s.c., daily, starting 1 day post-MI), MI, MI+ ghrelin, and MI+ ghrelin+ AG490, a potent JAK2 inhibitor (5 mg/kg, i.p., daily). All treatments were administered for 3 weeks. Administration of ghrelin to MI rats improved left ventricle (LV) architecture and restored cardiac contraction. In remote non-infarcted areas of MI rats, ghrelin reduced cardiac inflammation and lipid peroxidation and enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activity. In addition, independent of the growth factor/insulin growth factor-1 (GF/IGF-1) axis, ghrelin significantly increased the phosphorylation of JAK2 and Tyr702 and Ser727 residues of STAT3 and inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK1 and Tyr701 and Ser727 residues of STAT1, simultaneously increasing the expression of BCL-2 and decreasing in the expression of BAX, cleaved CASP3, and FAS. This effect coincided with decreased expression of SOCS3. All these beneficial effects of ghrelin, except its inhibitory action on IL-6 expression, were partially and significantly abolished by the co-administration of AG490. In conclusion, the cardioprotective effect of ghrelin against MI-induced LV injury is exerted via activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling and inhibition of STAT1 signaling. These effects were independent of the GF/IGF-1 axis and could be partially mediated via inhibition of cardiac IL-6.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is classified as a member in the order herpesvirales, family herpesviridae, subfamily gammaherpesvirinae and the genus lymphocytovirus. The virus is an exclusively human pathogen and thus also termed as human herpesvirus 4 (HHV4). It was the first oncogenic virus recognized and has been incriminated in the causation of tumors of both lymphatic and epithelial nature. It was reported in some previous studies that 95% of the population worldwide are serologically positive to the virus. Clinically, EBV primary infection is almost silent, persisting as a life-long asymptomatic latent infection in B cells although it may be responsible for a transient clinical syndrome called infectious mononucleosis. Following reactivation of the virus from latency due to immunocompromised status, EBV was found to be associated with several tumors. EBV linked to oncogenesis as detected in lymphoid tumors such as Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), Hodgkin's disease (HD), post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) and T-cell lymphomas (e.g. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas; PTCL and Anaplastic large cell lymphomas; ALCL). It is also linked to epithelial tumors such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric carcinomas and oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). In vitro, EBV many studies have demonstrated its ability to transform B cells into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Despite these malignancies showing different clinical and epidemiological patterns when studied, genetic studies have suggested that these EBV- associated transformations were characterized generally by low level of virus gene expression with only the latent virus proteins (LVPs) upregulated in both tumors and LCLs. In this review, we summarize some clinical and epidemiological features of EBV- associated tumors. We also discuss how EBV latent genes may lead to oncogenesis in the different clinical malignancies

Epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular tumour of intermediate behaviour. It can arise from various sites including the liver, spleen, pleura, or lung. Cutaneous EHE can be primary or secondary. This report describes the case of a 51 year old man who presented with a history of dry cough, shortness of breath, and pleural effusion, and who developed two cutaneous nodules in the anterior abdominal wall a few weeks later. He had a previous history of asbestos exposure. Computed tomography scan showed a left sided pleural effusion and nodular pleural mass. Histology of both the pleural and cutaneous lesions was compatible with EHE. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated the presence of Weibel-Palade bodies. The patient underwent elliptical excision of the metastatic cutaneous nodules after decortication of the primary pleural tumour and adjuvant treatment. A few reports have described metastasis of intrathoracic EHE to the skin. Despite treatment with interferon, the patient developed more cutaneous lesions two years after the initial diagnosis. Even though the tumour has the classic light histological and ultrastructural features of EHE, it behaved in an aggressive manner.A 51 year old man presented with a history of dry cough, which was treated initially with bronchodilator, but with no improvement; one week later he developed shortness of breath on exertion. Chest x ray showed a pronounced left sided pleural effusion. The bronchoscopic examination was unremarkable. He underwent pleuroscopy with multiple pleural biopsies, and the results were interpreted at his regional hospital as malignant mesothelioma, undifferentiated, small cell type. His past medical history revealed exposure to asbestos for two to three months about 25 years previously. The patient was referred to Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada, for further management. The patient received one cycle of vinorelbine and cisplatin based on the presumed diagnosis of mesothelioma. However, the pathology was reviewed at that point by the pulmonary pathologist, and a revised diagnosis of epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (EHE) was made. On examination, the patient had no cervical lymphadenopathy. Respiratory assessment revealed greatly decreased chest expansion, in addition to decreased air entry on the left slide. He had dullness on percussion of his left lung posteriorly compared with the right lung. A thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan showed a moderately sized pleural effusion on the left side. There was pleural thickening, which became a nodular mass up to 6.2 cm in greatest dimension (fig 1). Multiple gas loculations were noted within the pleural fluid. He had a left lung decortication and resection of the pleural tumour.Light microscopic examination of the pleural tumour showed strips of dense fibrous tissue, with focal infiltration by nests and trabeculae of epithelioid cells. These cells showed irregularly round and rather uniform appearing nuclei, with open chromatin and a single prominent nucleolus. Many tumour...

No abstract

Rotenone ([2R-(2α,6aα,12aα)]-1,2,12,12a-tetrahydro-8,9-dimethoxy-2-(1-methylethenyl)-[1]benzopyran[3,4-b]furo [2,3-h][1]benzopyran-6(6aH)-one) is a naturally occurring compound derived from the roots and stems of Derris, Tephrosia, Lonchocarpus and Mundulea plant species. Since its discovery at the end of the 19 th century, rotenone has been widely used as a pesticide for controlling insects, ticks and lice, and as a piscicide for management of nuisance fish in lakes and reservoirs. In 2000, Betarbet et al. reproduced most of the behavioural, biochemical and pathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD) in rotenone-treated rats. Since that time, rotenone has received much attention as it would be one of the environmental neurotoxins implicated in etiopathogenesis of PD. Moreover, it represents a common experimental model to investigate the underlying mechanisms leading to PD and evaluate the new potential therapies for the disease. In the current general review, we aimed to address recent advances in the hazards of the environmental applications of rotenone and discuss the updates on the rotenone model of PD and whether it is implicated in the etiopathogenesis of the disease.

No abstract