Scores above 50 in either category indicate the patient has no disability. Scores under 50 indicate increasing levels of disability AZD6738 compared to the general population (40–50 = mild disability, 30–40 = moderate disability, <30 = severe disability).[8] FFR is a valuable reconstructive option in high-risk patients with success rates as high as 80%.[9] Beyond successful limb salvage, we showed that the ability to ambulate significantly increased one's physical HRQoL and that ambulatory patients could achieve a HRQoL comparable to that of the general population. Factors such as the development of either immediate

or late complications did not influence HRQoL. The physical HRQoL scores as measured by the SF-12 in our patient cohort showed only mild disability compared with the general population when ambulation was achieved (82% of patients). This was in contrast to decreased physical HRQoL for nonambulatory patients post-operatively. Mental HRQoL was comparable with the general population for both ambulatory and nonambulatory patients. Another important factor influencing

HRQoL was amputation. We showed that patients had a higher find more physical HRQoL (comparable with that of the general population) when they did not undergo an amputation. However, this value continued to be influenced by the ambulatory status of the patient. Ambulatory patients showed only mild disability regardless of amputation status, and there was no difference between the physical HRQoL of ambulatory amputees and nonamputees. However, the HRQoL decreased dramatically for both amputees and nonamputees when these patients were not ambulatory. Interestingly, although both groups showed severe Rucaparib solubility dmso disability, the HRQoL was significantly higher for ambulatory amputees than nonambulatory nonamputees, further suggesting that the ability to ambulate was the main factor influencing HRQoL. This cohort of patients required a high rate of revisional surgeries (61% of patients) to achieve a successful outcome. Although the great majority of these additional surgical procedures were minor, subjecting patients to multiple surgeries could conceivably reduce their satisfaction with

the initial procedure. Despite this concern, we found that 95% of patients would choose to undergo FFR again if given the choice, with average patient satisfaction of 4.89 on a 5-point scale. The high level of HRQoL in ambulatory patients is a desirable result after FFR of the lower extremity. Although various other studies have previously reported evidence of patient satisfaction or HRQoL outcomes following FFR, none has so far employed the use of a validated questionnaire in this patient cohort.[10, 11] The evidence has thus far been sporadic and largely anecdotal. Of course, there are limitations to this study as well, such as the potential for self-selection bias. However, the near-equal response rate between ambulatory and non-ambulatory populations is reassuring.

The fragment ions were observed at m/z 748.6, and 911.1 which correspond to GlcCer and L-2, respectively. Therefore, the carbohydrate sequence of the GSL was determined to be HexNAc-O-Hex-O-Hex-O-Cer. Taken together with the finding that the GSL was reactive with antibody directed to L-3, the GSL is identified as authentic L-3, GlcNAcβ1-3Man β1-4Glcβ1-1’Cer. Previously we isolated and characterized nLc4Cer in K562 cells; this was able to significantly recognize

DENV-2 (15). In this study, one GSL with the same mobility as nLc4Cer was commonly detected on TLC plates in both LLC-MK2 and K562 cells (Fig. 2a and c). The GSL was clearly detected by TLC-immunostaining with anti-nLc4Cer antibodies (Fig. 2c). GSL corresponding to nLc4Cer on a TLC plate strongly recognized DENV-2 (Fig. 2b). Also DENV-2 Ibrutinib order in different doses bound to both purified L-3 and nLc4Cer on TLC plates (Fig. 3). These results indicate that LLC-MK2 also contains nLc4Cer reactive with DENV-2. To determine whether DENV-2 is specifically recognized with L-3 and nLc4Cer, we examined whether other viruses such as

Japanese encephalitis virus and influenza virus as negative control viruses bind to these GSLs. As shown in Figure 4, Japanese encephalitis virus did not bind nLc4Cer immobilized on the surface, meaning that DENV-2 does specifically bind to nLc4Cer. Also, a human influenza virus strain, A/Memphis/1/71 (H3N2) did not bind to either L-3 or nLc4Cer (Fig. 5). Under our conditions, influenza virus did react with sialyl paragloboside as described Deforolimus cell line previously (16). These results indicate that, under the current conditions, DENV-2 specifically binds to L-3 and nLc4Cer on TLC. In this study, different host cells (mammalian LLC-MK2 and mosquito AP-61 cell lines) were used for investigation of virus-binding molecules. In principle, the TLC/virus-binding assay in this study is similar to the virus-overlay

assay for detection of proteins on membranes which has previously been used to determine virus-binding proteins (10–12, 17). The neutral GSL nLc4Cer was detected in LLC-MK2 cells by TLC-immunostaining assay. The presence of this molecule BCKDHB is consistent with our previous finding that nLc4Cer on the human erythroleukemia line K562 is a putative receptor for DENV-2 (Table 1) (15). Taken together, it can reasonably be implied that nLc4Cer acts as a putative receptor molecule for DENV-2. The GSL L-3, which was detected as a major GSL in a neutral GSL fraction from AP-61 cells, was able to bind to DENV-2 on a TLC plate (Table 1). The reactivity of L-3 with DENV-2 was stronger than that of other neutral GSLs. L-3 has previously been identified in insects, namely the larval stage of Lucilia caesar (18) and the pupal stage of Calliphora vicira (19, 20). This molecule has also been found in C6/36 cells derived from the same Aedes mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and can bind to DENV-2 (Suzuki et al., unpublished observations). This cell line is highly susceptible to DENV infection.

Exogenous BM-MSCs were detected in their kidneys. These data suggest a modulatory effect of BM-MSCs on albumin-induced tubular inflammation and fibrosis and underscore a therapeutic potential of BM-MSCs in proteinuric CKD. OSAFUNE KENJI Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Vemurafenib Kyoto University, Japan Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes both medical and medicoeconomical problems worldwide. Regenerative medicine strategies using stem cells are considered candidates

to solve these problems. Cell replacement therapy and disease modeling with patient-derived stem cells should be applied for CKD. However, the methods to regenerate fully differentiated renal cells and tissues from stem cells remain to be developed. The mechanisms of kidney morphogenesis and cell fate determination of renal lineage cells have been elucidated by experimental animal

models. By mimicking in vivo kidney development, we are aiming to develop stepwise differentiation methods for adult renal cells and tissues from human pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We established highly efficient differentiation methods from human iPSCs/ESCs into intermediate mesoderm (IM), an early embryonic germ layer that gives rise to most cells constituting adult kidneys. Palbociclib in vivo These human IM cells show the developmental PAK5 potential to differentiate into multiple renal lineage cells and to form three-dimensional renal tubular structures (Mae S, 2013). A recent report has demonstrated that IM are divided into two domains, anterior and posterior IMs (Taguchi A, 2013). The anterior IM gives rise to ureteric bud, an embryonic progenitor tissue that elaborates collecting ducts

and lower urinary tract, while the posterior IM gives rise to metanephric mesenchyme, another progenitor tissue that differentiate into nephron and interstitium. We are currently establishing the induction protocols to selectively generate each of anterior and posterior IMs from human iPSCs/ESCs in order to generate the two renal progenitors, ureteric bud and metanephric mesenchyme, and adult renal cell types. I would like to summarize the current status of regenerative medicine research for kidney diseases including our results and describe the future perspectives. NISHINAKAMURA RYUICHI, TAGUCHI ATSUHIRO Department of Kidney Development, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Japan Recapitulating three-dimensional structures of the kidney in vitro is a major challenge for developmental biology and regenerative medicine. Adult kidney derives from embryonic metanephros, which develops by the reciprocal interaction between the metanephric mesenchyme and the ureteric bud.

NAD(P)H oxidase-derived ROS may act as intercellular

regulators of the redox-sensitive transcription factors HIF-1α and Nrf2, and their target genes including NQO1, γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and HO-1 [94]. In aortic endothelial cells, advanced glycation end products evoke ROS generation and activate Nrf2-dependent expression of HO-1 and NQO1, providing evidence of adaptive Nrf-2-mediated protection against oxidative stress in diabetes [33]. Increased ROS production by the mitochondria, xanthine oxidase, and uncoupled eNOS may also activate these transcription factors leading to upregulation FDA approved Drug Library concentration of antioxidant enzymes; however, with age the responsiveness of redox-sensitive transcription factors wanes in the aorta and carotid arteries [93,94]. Together, these findings suggest that an age-related decline in the ability to activate endogenous antioxidant mechanisms contributes to increased endothelial inflammation and apoptosis in large arteries. Future work will be needed to determine whether or not the function of endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms declines in the microvascular endothelium with advancing age. The impact of an age-related decline in endogenous antioxidant mechanisms on angiogenesis, endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and microvascular permeability remains to be assessed in the microvasculature. In contrast to O2•−,

H2O2 is not a free radical (i.e., unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration), making it less reactive, more stable and longer lasting [2]. These properties and the ability of H2O2 to diffuse across cell membranes allow it to play an important AZD1208 clinical trial signaling role. H2O2 is primarily produced by the dismutation of O2•− by SOD, but can also be formed by the spontaneous dismutation of O2•−, or directly by the action of enzymes such as xanthine oxidase, glucose oxidase [7], and NADPH oxidase [17,51,72,76]. H2O2 is found in both physiological and pathophysiological states. In aging, H2O2 production is increased [13,48]

possibly due to age-related increases in mitochondrial H2O2 generation [79–81] and eNOS dependent O2•− generation [4]. H2O2 does not inactivate NO• and in conditions Teicoplanin of oxidant stress, H2O2 may act as a compensatory mechanism to maintain NO• bioavailability. H2O2 has been shown to cause a potent dose-dependent increase in NO• production [9], upregulate eNOS expression [8,19], and to enhance eNOS function by promoting eNOS phosphorylation and eNOS dephosphorylation at Thr-495 [90]. Recently, Martin-Garrido et al. [50] demonstrated that H2O2 enhances vascular relaxation to NO by stabilizing sGCβ1 mRNA through HuR, increasing the expression of sGCβ1 and thus increasing cGMP formation. However, Gerassimou et al. [27] showed that higher concentrations of H2O2 downregulated sGCα1 mRNA indicating that the levels of H2O2 may dictate its action.

In this study we R788 show that LPS induces apoptosis of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and modulates phenotypes of DCs. LPS treatment up-regulates expression of tolerance-associated molecules such as CD205 and galectin-1,

but down-regulates expression of Gr-1 and B220 on CD11c+ DCs. Moreover, LPS treatment regulates the numbers of CD11c+CD8+, CD11c+CD11blow and CD11c+CD11bhi DCs, which perform different immune functions in vivo. Our data also demonstrated that intravenous transfer of LPS-treated DCs blocks experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) development and down-regulates expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR-γt), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, www.selleckchem.com/products/Temsirolimus.html IL-21, IL-22 and interferon (IFN)-γ in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-primed CD4+ T cells in the

peripheral environment. These results suggest that LPS-induced apoptotic DCs may lead to generation of tolerogenic DCs and suppress the activity of MOG-stimulated effector CD4+ T cells, thus inhibiting the development of EAE in vivo. Our results imply a potential mechanism of LPS-induced tolerance mediated by DCs and the possible use of LPS-induced apoptotic DCs to treat autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. “
“Complement is the central host defense system that clears invading microbes and balances homeostasis. Pathogenic microbes such as Candida albicans have to breach this efficient and important immune defense layer in order to propagate within

the host and to establish an infection. Knowing exactly how the activated complement cascade responds to and attacks microbial invaders is central to understanding the immune battle and the infection process. This also allows a better understanding of how Candida counteracts the individual steps of host innate immunity. Ultimately this knowledge will allow the design of appropriate PIK3C2G therapeutic molecules. In this issue Cheng et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2012. 42: 993-1004] identify a new cellular effect of the activated human complement system in the defense against the fungal pathogen C. albicans. The authors show that the complement activation fragment C5a, which is formed in response to Candida infection, induces the cellular release of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Cheng et al. [1] show that Candida activates complement and that the newly formed activation peptide C5a activates human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and induces the release of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β. Thereby, the authors identify a new C5a-mediated cytokine response by the activated complement system. Fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus activate the human complement system [[2-4]], which in turn generates damaging effector molecules that normally attack and eliminate the invading microorganism [[5]].

As eye-trackers become more prevalent in infancy research, there is the potential for users to be

unaware of dangers lurking “under the hood” if they assume the eye-tracker introduces no errors in measuring infants’ gaze. Moreover, the influx of voluminous data sets from eye-trackers requires users to think hard about what they are measuring and what these measures mean for making inferences about underlying cognitive processes. The present LDE225 mw commentary highlights these concerns, both technical and interpretive, and reviews the five articles that comprise this Special Issue. “
“Developmental changes in learning from peers and adults during the second year of life were assessed using an imitation paradigm. Independent groups of 15- and 24-month-old infants watched a prerecorded

video of an unfamiliar child or adult model demonstrating a series of actions with objects. When learning was assessed immediately, 15-month-old infants imitated the target actions from the adult, but not the peer whereas 24-month-old infants imitated PS341 the target actions from both models. When infants’ retention was assessed after a 10-min delay, only 24-month-old infants who had observed the peer model exhibited imitation. Across both ages, there was a significant positive correlation between the number of actions imitated from the peer and the length of regular peer exposure reported by caregivers. Length of peer exposure was not related to imitation from the adult model. Taken together, these findings indicate that a peer-model advantage develops as a function of age and experience during the second year of life. “
“Infants typically exhibit a shift from unimanual to bimanual reaching toward

the end of their first year, which has been linked to walking onset. Until now, however, it has been unclear whether it was the onset of walking per se that influenced reaching PRKD3 patterns or whether a more general shift to an upright posture might have prompted the reorganization of the motor system. To address this question, the current study longitudinally chronicled the uni- and bimanual reaching preferences of 25 infants every 3 weeks starting at 7 months, prior to the onset of pulling-to-stand and through the onset of cruising. Experimenters recorded infants’ reaching behavior via a semi-structured reaching procedure and documented their motor development. There was no relationship between the shift from uni- to bimanual reaching and the onset of pulling-to-stand. However, the onset of cruising was related to a shift in reaching pattern preference, suggesting that the increase in infants’ bimanual reaching was prompted by a reorganization of the motor system in which the arms are recruited for use in new ways to support locomotion. We also discuss individual differences in the trajectory of reaching activity in terms of the pitfalls of using age as an explanatory variable.

Culture medium was refreshed twice weekly. At subconfluency, MSC were removed from culture flasks using 0·05% trypsin–ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) (Life Technologies) and reseeded at 1000 cells/cm2. MSC were characterized by means of

immunophenotyping and by their ability to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. MSC cultured between two to six passages were used. MSC from these passages did not differ in their ability to differentiate or to exert their immunosuppressive functions. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from buffy coats of healthy blood donors (Sanquin, Rotterdam, the Netherlands) Selleckchem BMN673 by density gradient centrifugation using Ficoll-Paque PLUS (density 1·077 g/ml; GE Healthcare, Uppsala, Sweden). Cells were frozen at −150°C until further use in RPMI-1640 medium with GlutaMAXTM-I (Life Technologies) supplemented with 1% P/S, 10% human serum (Sanquin) and 10% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO; Merck, Hohenbrunn, Germany). Mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) were set up with 5 × 104 effector PBMC and 5 × 104 γ-irradiated (40 Gy) allogeneic PBMC in round-bottomed 96-well plates (Nunc, Roskilde, Denmark). MLR were cultured in MEM-α supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 1% P/S and 10% heat-inactivated human serum for 7 days in a humidified

atmosphere with 5% CO2 at 37°C. Effector–stimulator cell combinations were chosen on the basis of a minimum of four human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches. The immunomodulatory capacities of MSC and belatacept (Bristol-Myers-Squibb, New York, NY, USA) on MLR were determined in suppression assays. For learn more flow cytometric analysis, effector PBMC were labelled with BD Horizon violet cell proliferation dye 450 (VPD450; BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA,

USA). For distinction from effector PBMC, γ-irradiated allogeneic stimulator PBMC (40 Gy) were labelled using the PKH26 Red Fluorescent Cell Linker Kit (Sigma-Aldrich). When cell proliferation was assessed by thymidine incorporation, [3H]-thymidine (0·25 μCi/well; PerkinElmer, Groningen, the Netherlands) was added on PAK6 day 7, incubated for 8 h and its incorporation was measured using the Wallac 1450 MicroBeta TriLux (PerkinElmer). PBMC were stained with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD3 (AmCyan), CD4 [allophycocyanin (APC)], CD8 [fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)], CD28 [peridinin chlorophyll-cyanin 5·5 (PerCP-Cy5·5)] and either CD3+CD8+CD28− cells and CD3+CD4+ cells or CD3+CD28− cells and CD3+CD28+ cells were sorted on the BD FACSAria II cell sorter (BD Biosciences). Effector populations for MLR consisted either of CD3+CD28− cells only (mean purity 97·8%, range 96·3–98·8%), CD3+CD28+ cells only (mean purity 96·2%, range 93·0–99·5%) or a combination of 10% CD3+CD8+CD28− cells (mean purity 92·3%, range 88·4–94·72%) and 90% CD3+CD4+ cells to provide help (mean purity 98·2%, range 97·2–99·5%).

Gp96, a 96-kDa glycoprotein, is a member of the HSP90 family and resident in the endoplasmic reticulum selleck compound (ER) [12]. It possesses a signal peptide of 21 amino acids at the N-terminal region of the protein which is cleaved cotranslationally, while the C-terminal contains KDEL, an ER-retention sequence [13]. Gp96-specific interaction with CD91 receptor which expressed on professional APCs mediates endocytosis [14]. Receptor-mediated endocytosis of gp96 molecule leads to MHC class I-restricted re-presentation of gp96-associated peptides [15]. Several studies have established the ability of gp96 to activate innate immune responses and thereby influence the

outcome of adaptive immune responses. Gp96 is able to mediate maturation of DCs in a TLR4-dependent manner, as determined by upregulation selleck inhibitor of MHC class II, CD86 and CD83 molecules, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and TNF-α and enhanced T cell stimulatory capacity. The interaction of gp96 with DCs leads to the preferential expansion of antigen-specific CD8-positive

T cells in vitro and in vivo [16, 17]. It was demonstrated that amino acid sequence 1–355 of gp96 is sufficient to bind peptides and mediates the uptake of peptides into the endosomal compartment of APCs. In comparison with the full-length gp96, the N-terminal fragment up-regulates the same costimulatory receptors and induces secretion of the same cytokines [18, 19]. Furthermore, co-administration of N-terminal fragment of gp96 along with Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) enhances the humoral immunity induced by Adenosine HBsAg [20] and CTL immune responses to Hepatitis-B-Virus (HBV) peptide [21]. Further study indicated the construction

of highly immunogenic fusions by linking the N-terminal fragment of gp96 to HBV antigens [22]. Altogether, these data imply that the N-terminal fragment of gp96 performs the same adjuvant activity to enhance the potency of vaccines as the full-length gp96. Indeed, the studies in animal model revealed that DNA [23] or protein [24, 25] vaccination with full-length antigen co-linked to different HSPs elicit antigen-specific immune responses. In the current study, the humoral and cellular immune responses as well as the protective anti-tumour immunity using the adjuvant-free recombinant (r) HPV16 E7-NT-gp96 fusion protein were evaluated and compared to rE7 alone in tumour mice model. Mice and cell line.  Female C57BL/6 mice, 6–8-weeks old, were obtained from breeding stock maintained at the Pasteur Institute of Iran. TC-1 (ATCC number: CRL-2785) tumour cell line was prepared from primary lung epithelial cells by co-transformation with HPV16 E6, HPV16 E7 and ras oncogenes [26]. The TC-1 cancerous cell line was cultured in RPMI 1640 (Sigma, St.

The ATF6 branch of UPR also plays a role in plasma cell function [97]. Murine B cells transduced with a dominant-negative form of ATF6 had diminished IgM secretion after treatment with LPS. Expression of Ig transcripts in these cells happened

at the same levels S1P Receptor inhibitor as in control cells, while protein levels were diminished. This suggests that protein synthesis is impaired and/or degradation of nascent chains is enhanced in the presence of ATF6 dominant-negative mutant [97]. Most of what we know about the UPR pathway refers to C. elegans and mice studies. A few years ago, we got involved with studying the UPR pathway based on the hypothesis that the hypogammaglobulinemia observed in Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) was a

result of defective activation of the UPR pathway [98]. CVID is the most prevalent immunodeficiency of adult humans and it is a syndrome diagnosed by the loss of at least two immunoglobulin isotypes. Several defects have been identified as causes of CVID, but a large number of patients still have unknown underlying causes for their phenotype (reviewed by [99]). We identified one CVID patient whose activation of the IRE1/XBP-1 pathway occurs at a slower rate as compared to a matched healthy control. LY2109761 price Ex vivo and EBV-immortalized B cells were treated with LPS or brefeldin A (ER stressor) and the levels of transcripts for XBP-1s, IRE1α, and BiP were quantified over time. XBP-1 splicing was performed at a much slower rate in this patient, as well as transcription of BiP and IRE1Α. Peripheral blood B cells were enlarged and did not present typical membrane-bound IgM. Instead, Liothyronine Sodium chains of IgM co-localized with BiP inside the ER. Both the XBP-1 and endonuclease/kinase domains of IRE1α were sequenced, and had no mutations that could explain the defective activation. Because the defect(s) resulted in deficient BiP transcription,

we hypothesized that a rescue of function could be achieved by providing these cells with chemical chaperones. Indeed, in vitro treatment of the cells with DMSO rescued secretion of IgM and IgG, suggesting that there is no defect on the secretory pathway of the cells [98]. More recently, we started analyzing ex vivo cells from CVID patients to check whether the differentiation programme of their B cells is completed by the time these cells reach periphery. It is conceivable to hypothesize that the UPR pathway will be properly activated only when the cell has reached a certain developmental stage. Our preliminary data suggest that B cells from CVID patients represent a heterogeneous group, where cells at different stages of differentiation can be found based on expression of FMC7, CD5, CD19, CD23, CD38 and CD45.

It remains unknown whether RGMa plays a role in the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We hypothesize that RGMa, if it is concentrated on amyloid plaques, might contribute to a regenerative failure of degenerating axons in AD brains. Methods: By immunohistochemistry, we studied RGMa and neogenin (NEO1) expression in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of 6 AD and 12 control cases. The levels of RGMa expression were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot in cultured human astrocytes following exposure

to cytokines and amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. Results: In AD brains, an intense RGMa immunoreactivity was identified on amyloid plaques BGJ398 research buy and in the glial scar. In the control brains, the glial scar and vascular foot processes of astrocytes expressed RGMa immunoreactivity, while oligodendrocytes and microglia were negative for RGMa. In AD brains, a small subset of amyloid plaques expressed a weak NEO1 immunoreactivity, while some reactive astrocytes in both AD and control brains showed Selleck Small molecule library an intense NEO1 immunoreactivity. In human astrocytes, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ1), Aβ1–40 or Aβ1–42 markedly elevated the levels of RGMa, and TGFβ1 also increased its own levels. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis validated the molecular interaction between RGMa and

the C-terminal fragment β of amyloid beta precursor protein (APP). Furthermore, recombinant RGMa protein interacted with amyloid Methocarbamol plaques in situ. Conclusions: RGMa, produced by TGFβ-activated astrocytes and accumulated in amyloid plaques and the glial scar, could contribute to the regenerative failure of degenerating axons in AD brains. “
“Chronic granulomatous CNS infections may be caused by tuberculosis, fungi and rarely by free-living amoeba, especially in immunocompromised individuals. We report a rare, fatal case of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in an immunocompetent patient mimicking CNS

tuberculosis, and review the imageological features and diagnostic tests. “
“A 57-year old man with chronic alcoholism presented with apraxia of speech and disturbance of consciousness. He had a history of gastrectomy and had been drinking alcohol. The symptoms improved with administration of thiamine, but he later developed diarrhea and delirium, and died approximately 40 days after the onset. Autopsy findings were consistent with Wernicke’s encephalopathy and pellagra encephalopathy. Furthermore, laminar cortical necrosis with vacuoles and astrocytosis was found in the second and third layers of the bilateral frontal cortices, suggesting Morel’s laminar sclerosis. The lesions were mainly located in the bilateral primary motor cortices. Involvement of the lower part of the left primary motor cortex may be associated with apraxia of speech in our case. “
“S. J. Crocker, R. Bajpai, C. S. Moore, R. F. Frausto, G. D. Brown, R. R. Pagarigan, J. L. Whitton and A. V.