Angiomatosis ; complications ; pathology ; Brain ; blood supply ; Brain Diseases ; complications ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Ganglioglioma ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; classification ; complications ; pathology ; Meninges ; blood supply

Astrocytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chromosome Deletion ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ependymoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hedgehog Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Medulloblastoma ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; SMARCB1 Protein ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiomyolipoma ; etiology ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Astrocytoma ; etiology ; Brain Neoplasms ; etiology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; etiology ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Choroid Plexus Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lateral Ventricles ; pathology

Objective To quantify the neurons in the temporal lobe white matter and find their distribution in the neurologically normal individuals.Methods The temporal lobe at the level of exterior geniculata body from brain autopsy samples of 14 neurologically normal individuals were made into large slice followed by quantitative analysis of neuron density,cell density,ratio and diameter of the neuronal nuclear and the distribution of white matter neurons using two-dimensional cell counting methods.Results With the depth of the white matter of the temporal lobe increasing,the neuron density decreased from 29.26 neurons/ mm~2 to 7.32 neurons/mm~2 and 0.00 neurons/mm~2,respectively;the cell density,neuron ratio and diameter of the neuronal nuclei all decreased.Conclusion There are neurons in the temporal lobe white matter of neurologically normal individuals,whose distribution of neurons is related to the depth of white matter.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic significance of D2-40 and annexin-1 in the ependymal tumors.

METHODSTo analyses the expression of D2-40, annexin-1, EMA and Ki-67 by immunohistochemistry in 52 cases of ependymal tumors (48 cases of ependymomas, 4 cases of choroid plexus papilloma) from Xuanwu Hospital from 2005 to 2009. Ten cases of corresponding normal brain tissue were also obtained as control.

RESULTSThirty-two of forty-eight (66.7%) cases of ependymomas were positive for D2-40. "Dot-like" and "ring-like" structures were commonly observed in ependymomas (55.3%, 21 of 38 cases) and anaplastic ependymomas (5 of 6 cases) with D2-40 staining. There was no difference in the expression between D2-40 and Ki-67 (r(s) = -0.013, P = 0.931). For annexin-1, 87.5% (42 of 48 cases) of the ependymomas were positive. The specific "granular structures" and cilium were observed in ependymomas (1 of 4 cases of myxopapillary ependymomas and 11 of 38 cases of ependymomas respectively) for annexin-1. The difference in expression between annexin-1 and Ki-67 was statistically significant (r(s) = -0.405, P = 0.005). D2-40 in combination of EMA and annexin-1 increased the positive rate to 100% in ependymomas. Choroid plexus papillomas were all positive for D2-40 and annexin-1. The control tissue was negative for D2-40 but positive for annexin-1 in the capillaries.

CONCLUSIONSThe specific structures are valuable in diagnosing of ependymal-genetic tumors, and are highlighted by D2-40 and annexin-1. D2-40 in combination of EMA and annexin-1 is a useful diagnostic marker for ependymal tumors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Annexin A1 ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ependymoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Papilloma, Choroid Plexus ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of P-glycoprotein, multi-drug resistance associated protein and major vault protein in pathologic brain specimens, and to investigate their roles in the pathogenesis of refractory epilepsy.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study was performed in pathology specimens from 18 cases of refractory epilepsy (including 5 cases of focal cortical dysplasia, 3 cases of tuberous sclerosis, 5 cases of ganglioglioma and 5 cases of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor).

RESULTSBoth the P-glycoprotein and major vault protein were localized in microvascular endothelium of the lesions. Major vault protein was also seen in balloon cells and some neuronal cells. On the other hand, multi-drug resistance associated protein was mainly localized in the neuronal component of the lesions. In general, the expression of P-glycoprotein and major vault protein in tumoral tissue was higher than that in non-tumoral tissue. The expression of multi-drug resistance associated protein and major vault protein was also different in the neoplastic glial cells of ganglioglioma and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor.

CONCLUSIONSP-glycoprotein, multi-drug resistance associated protein and major vault protein contribute to the pathogenesis of refractory epilepsy. They may however have different roles, with different cellular localization.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; analysis ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Child ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Ganglioglioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; genetics ; metabolism ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the alteration of subunits composition in NMDA receptor and the alterations of the expression and distribution of NMDA receptors and parvalbumin (PV)-positive neurons in focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) cortices.

METHODSTwenty cases of FCD samples (including all four subtypes of FCD) obtained during epilepsy surgery and 4 controls were analysed by immunohistochemical staining for NR1, NR2A/B and PV.

RESULTSIncreased expression of NR1 was detected in the giant neurons and dysmorphic neurons in FCD; while pronounced expression of NR2A/B was detected in immature neurons, giant neurons and dysmorphic neurons of FCD, especially in somata and processes of the immature neurons. Compared with the controls, FCD cortices showed prominent scattered arrangement of PV positive neurons and fibers, dramatically decreased number of PV positive interneurons and PV background staining, especially in foci of FCD II subtype.

CONCLUSIONThere are increased expressions of NR1 and NR2A/B subunits in FCD abnormal neurons, as well as scattered and reduced expressions of PV positive neurons and fibers in FCD cortices.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsies, Partial ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Infant ; Interneurons ; metabolism ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; pathology ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Parvalbumins ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of brain tumors occurring in patients with medically intractable epilepsy.

METHODSThe clinical, radiologic and pathologic features of brain tumors occurring in 35 patients with intractable epilepsy encountered during the period from January, 2005 to April, 2008 in Xuanwu Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThe mean age of seizure onset and duration of disease were 14.3-year-old and 8.6 years, respectively. Abnormal signals were observed in 94.3% of cases (33/35) by magnetic resonance imaging. The histologic types of brain tumors included ganglioglioma (13/35, WHO grade I and 6/35, WHO grade II), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (3/35, WHO grade I), pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (3/35, WHO grade II), diffuse astrocytoma (1/35, WHO grade II), oligoastrocytoma (1/35, WHO grade II), angiocentric glioma (1/35, WHO grade I) and meningioangiomatosis (1/35). The 6 remaining cases showed features seen in between glioneuronal hamartoma and mixed neuronal-glial tumor. Most of these tumors were located in the temporal lobe (27/35) and associated with focal cortical dysplasia. Immunohistochemical study showed a remarkable expression of CD34 in gangliogliomas.

CONCLUSIONSBrain tumors in patients with medically intractable epilepsy are almost always benign and located in the temporal lobe. Most of them represent mixed neuronal-glial tumors and some show transitional features in-between glioneuronal hamartoma and mixed neuronal-glial neoplasm. The similar morphologic pattern and biological behavior of glioneuronal hamartoma and mixed neuronal-glial tumor may suggest a common pathogenetic mechanism.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Astrocytoma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Diseases ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Female ; Ganglioglioma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glioma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hamartoma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Oligodendroglioma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of TSC1, TSC2, p-mTOR, p-4E-BP1, p-p70S6K and p-S6 in refractory epilepsy associated malformation of cortical development (MCD) tissues.

METHODSA total of 43 cases of refractory epilepsy were involved in the study, and all the patients were treated in Xuanwu Hospital during 2005 - 2008, including focal cortical dysplasia type IIa (11 cases) and type IIb (11 cases), tuberous sclerosis complex (10 cases) and ganalioglioma (11 cases), and other 12 cases were used as control. These cases were divided into 7 study groups and immunohistochemical EnVision method was used. To detect the location and intensity of TSC1, TSC2, p-mTOR, p-4E-BP1, p-p70S6K and p-S6 expression in every group. Then the Image-Pro Plus 6.0 image processing and analysis software were used to measure the number, area, integrating absorbance (IA) of positive cells in every samples. The statistical software SPSS 16.0 was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe immunolocalization of TSC1 and TSC2 was similar. It could be observed the expression of various levels in the cytoplasm of dysmorphic neurons, balloon cells, giant cells, ganglioglioma cells and normal neurons. TSC1 staining in normal neurons was more notably than others but TSC2 staining in giant cells was weaker than other samples. p-mTOR mainly presented in giant cells, which could also be observed in astrocyte. P-4E-BP1 presented in the cytoplasm and nuclear membrane of balloon cells, giant cells and ganglioglioma cells, the staining of giant cells was stronger than balloon cells, but their staining were weaker than ganglioglioma cells. P-p70S6K mainly expressed in giant cells and less commonly presented in balloon cells. P-S6 typically presented in all abnormal glioneuronal cells and it nearly did not present in the normal neurons of N-CTX group.

CONCLUSIONSPI3K pathway, at least in part, involves in the occurrence of MCD, and may play an important role in the pathogenesis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Epilepsy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Ganglioglioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Young Adult