Probiotics normalize the gut-brain-microbiota axis in immunodeficient mice.

The gut-brain-microbiota axis is increasingly recognized as an important regulator of intestinal physiology. Exposure to psychological stress causes activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and causes altered intestinal barrier function, intestinal dysbiosis, and behavioral changes. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the effects of psychological stress on intestinal physiology and behavior, including anxiety and memory, are mediated by the adaptive immune system. Furthermore, we wanted to determine whether treatment with probiotics would normalize these effects. Here we demonstrate that B and T cell-deficient Rag1(-/-) mice displayed altered baseline behaviors, including memory and anxiety, accompanied by an overactive HPA axis, increased intestinal secretory state, dysbiosis, and decreased hippocampal c-Fos expression. Both local (intestinal physiology and microbiota) and central (behavioral and hippocampal c-Fos) changes were normalized by pretreatment with probiotics, indicating an overall benefit on health conferred by changes in the microbiota, independent of lymphocytes. Taken together, these findings indicate a role for adaptive immune cells in maintaining normal intestinal and brain health in mice and show that probiotics can overcome this immune-mediated deficit in the gut-brain-microbiota axis.

Nilotinib-Induced Dystonia and Cognitive Deficits in a Neurologically Normal Patient with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Nilotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This agent is also being studied in neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson disease. Studies have shown that nilotinib may decrease the accumulation of parkin substrates and decrease the loss of dopaminergic cells. The use of nilotinib in neurologic disorders is relatively new, and little information about this use has been published. We report on a patient receiving nilotinib for CML. The patient had no previous neurologic deficits, and developed intermittent dystonic posturing of the left upper extremity and cognitive impairment after she began nilotinib treatment. The mechanisms behind this adverse effect are not clear; however, her symptoms began after nilotinib was introduced, decreased with dose reduction, stopped with its cessation, and re-emerged when the medication was restarted. To our knowledge, this is the first reported patient with neurologic symptoms secondary to nilotinib use.

Temporal evolution on MRI of successful treatment of rabies.

Rabies is a nearly uniformly fatal disease for individuals who develop clinical symptoms. We report a case of a patient with paralytic rabies who survived after being treated with what is now known as Milwaukee protocol. This is only the third known case of rabies survival after being treated with the protocol. We present sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the brain and lumbar spine throughout the course of her treatment. In doing so, we provide insight into the temporal evolution of MRI findings in the brain and lumbar spine.

Established and emerging variants of glioblastoma multiforme: review of morphological and molecular features.

Since the recent publication of the World Health Organization brain tumour classification guidelines in 2007, a significant expansion in the molecular understanding of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and its pathological as well as genomic variants has been evident. The purpose of this review article is to evaluate the histopathological, molecular and clinical features surrounding emerging and currently established GBM variants. The tumours discussed include classic glioblastoma multiforme and its four genomic variants, proneural, neural, mesenchymal, classical, as well as gliosarcoma (GS), and giant cell GBM (gcGBM). Furthermore, the emerging variants include fibrillary/epithelial GBM, small cell astrocytoma (SCA), GBM with oligodendroglial component (GBMO), GBM with primitive neuroectodermal features (GBM-PNET), gemistocytic astrocytoma (GA), granular cell astrocytoma (GCA), and paediatric high-grade glioma (HGG) as well as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Better understanding of the heterogeneous nature of GBM may provide improved treatment paradigms, prognostic classification, and approaches towards molecularly targeted treatments.