Diseases of the vertebral arteries.

Case reports and postmortem neuropathological findings of a wide spectrum of diseases affecting the vertebral arteries, in particular vasculitis, traumatic lesions, degenerative changes and congenital abnormalities, are discussed.

Differential expression of the tumor suppressor A-kinase anchor protein 12 in human diffuse and pilocytic astrocytomas is regulated by promoter methylation

The scaffold protein A-kinase anchor protein 12 (AKAP12) exerts tumor suppressor activity and is downregulated in several tumor entities. We characterized AKAP12 expression and regulation in astrocytomas, including pilocytic and diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas. We examined 194 human gliomas and 23 normal brain white matter samples by immunohistochemistry or immunoblotting for AKAP12 expression. We further performed quantitative methylation analysis of the AKAP12 promoter by MassARRAY® of normal brain, World Health Organization (WHO) grade I to IV astrocytomas, and glioma cell lines. Our results show that AKAP12 is expressed in a perivascular distribution in normal CNS, strongly upregula…

CD133 expression is associated with small round blue cell tumour morphology in human central nervous system neoplasms

Schittenhelm J, Simon P, Harter P N, Zachskorn C, Schlaszus H, Rottger F, Winkels M, Weller M, Meyermann R & Mittelbronn M (2011) Histopathology58, 739–749 CD133 expression is associated with small round blue cell tumour morphology in human central nervous system neoplasms Aims:  CD133 is considered to be a marker for brain tumour-initiating cells. However, most data on CD133 are derived from animal or in-vitro studies. The aim of this study was to characterize CD133 expression, and the distribution and morphological features of CD133+ cells, in primary and secondary human central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. Methods and results:  Tumours were analysed by real-time reverse transcription …

Chemoradiotherapy of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma With Intensified Temozolomide

Purpose To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) administered in an intensified 1-week on/1-week off schedule plus indomethacin in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Patients and Methods A total of 41 adult patients (median Karnofsky performance status, 90%; median age, 56 years) were treated with preirradiation TMZ at 150 mg/m 2 (1 week on/1 week off), involved-field radiotherapy combined with concomitant low-dose TMZ (50 mg/m 2 ), maintenance TMZ starting at 150 mg/m 2 using a 1-week on/1-week off schedule, plus maintenance indomethacin (25 mg twice daily). Results The median follow-up interval was 21.7 months. Grade 4 hematologic toxicit…

Characteristic morphologic manifestation of CADASIL, cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, in skeletal muscle and skin.