by Michele Bisceglia  , Stefano Pizzolitto  , Tullio Parracino  , Giovanna De Maglio  , Elena Minenna  , Serena D’Agostini  and Carlos A. Galliani

Received: 07 October 2018;  Published: 14 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804016

Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is a nuclear polypeptide, tissue-restricted member of the homeobox protein family, that when attached to DNA plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of select genes during early embryonic development of the thyroid, lung, and brain. As often happens, the initial enthusiasm for the diagnostic value of TTF-1 as a selective immunohistochemical marker of lung and thyroid tumors began to dwindle, its wider use led its demonstration in tumors arising from other organs. T [...]

by Richard A. Prayson

Received: 04 September 2018;  Published: 05 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804015

Along with focal cortical dysplasia, hippocampal sclerosis and remote infarcts, tumors are a well known cause of medically intractable or pharmacoresistent epilepsy [1-3]. Most of the tumors encountered in this setting represent low grade glioneuronal neoplasms, particularly gangliogliomas and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors. In 2005, Wang and colleagues reported on 8 tumors which they designated as so-called “monomorphous angiocentric gliomas” [4]. The title of their paper suggested that these tumors we [...]

by Divya B. Mella  , Josie Sewell  and Edward Pan

Received: 12 October 2018;  Published: 01 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804014

Objective: To report three cases of refractory prolactinomas treated with Temozolomide (TMZ). Background: Prolactinomas account for 40% of pituitary adenomas. Dopamine agonists (DA) are the first line of treatment followed by surgical resection and radiation. TMZ is an oral chemotherapeutic agent used in gliomas, which has been given to patients with prolactinomas refractory to conventional treatments. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted for refractory prolactinoma patients treated between 2008 and 20 [...]

by Jai Jai Shiva Shankar  , Adil Bata  and Namita Sinha

Received: 07 August 2018;  Published: 25 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804013

Background: Current imaging standard for detecting and assessing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progression depends on contrast-enhancement on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Isolated foci of diffusion restriction have been observed to precede enhancement in GBM. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of isolated diffusion restriction that precede corresponding enhancement and to investigate if isolated diffusion restriction was associated with survival in patients with GBM. Methods: MRI of th [...]

by Ruth Prieto  and Jose M Pascual

Received: 11 September 2018;  Published: 15 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804012

Treatment of craniopharyngiomas (CPs) represents a neurosurgical challenge, the major reason being their close relationship with the hypothalamus and the third ventricle (3V) boundaries. Nevertheless, CPs are generally defined as “suprasellar” lesions, an imprecise and frequently faulty term. Despite being heterogeneous lesions, CPs are actually characterized by repeating pathological patterns which depend on their point of origin along the pituitary-hypothalamic axis. Preoperative understanding of the accurate CP- [...]

by Wolf-Dieter Heiss

Received: 02 July 2018;  Published: 19 September 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1803011

Gliomas originating from glial cells, comprise about 30 % of all primary central nervous system tumors and 80 % of malignant brain tumors. Gliomas are different with respect to their biological activity and are categorized according to grades, from benign to malignant with high recurrence rates. For diagnosis location and extent of tumor is assessed by CT and MRI, but for grading additional parameters are necessary: contrast enhanced CT and MRI reveal damage of blood brain barrier, perfusion weighted MRI shows regi [...]

by Bridget W. Brox  , Darren J. Day  and Bart A. Ellenbroek

Received: 01 February 2018;  Published: 07 June 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1802010

(1) Background: Drug addiction places a heavy burden on those affected by it but only a small percentage of individuals (~20%), regardless of their drug of abuse, go on to develop the compulsive behaviours that define drug addiction. Clinical studies have shown that genetic variations that reduce serotonin transporter (SERT) activity increase the vulnerability to developing a variety of psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and drug addiction. (2) Methods: To investigate the influence of reduced SERT fu [...]

by Gina Sizemore  , Brandon Lucke-Wold  , Charles Rosen  , James W. Simpkins  , Sanjay Bhatia  and Dandan Sun

Received: 12 January 2018;  Published: 31 May 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1802009

The brain is an integrated network of multiple variables that when compromised creates a disease state. The neuropathology of temporal lobe epilepsy, stroke, and traumatic brain injury demonstrate both similarity and complexity that reflects this integrated variability; temporal lobe epilepsy with its live human tissue resection research delivers reproducible genetic contributors such as channelopathies, and neurotransmitter deoxyribonucleic acid mutation, yet often fails to be consistent across monozygotic twins. [...]

by Bart A. Ellenbroek  and Weiwen Wang

Received: 20 March 2018;  Published: 29 March 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1801008

by Ya Wen

Received: 28 November 2017;  Published: 05 December 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1704007

More and more studies revealed links amongst neurological disorders, heart diseases and cancers. For example, people with subclinical cardiovascular diseases are at higher risk for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease is associated with varied risk of cancer, Autism Spectrum Disorders and cancer have overlapping genes and molecular pathways, heart disease and cancer share common risk factors, etc. It is intriguing how are these conditions that appear to be completely different linked together.