Cervicothoracic spinal cord compression caused by IgG4-related sclerosing pachymeningitis: a case report and literature review.

PURPOSE: To report a case of cervicothoracic spinal cord compression caused by IgG4-related sclerosing pachymeningitis (IgG4-RSP). METHODS: A 43-year-old male patient presented with 'neck pain for 15 days, exacerbated accompanying motor and sensory dysfunction of lower limbs with bowel and bladder dysfunction for 4 days' was admitted to our department. Combined with the history of 'acupuncture treatment', MRI results and rapid-developing progression, we considered the great possibilities of spinal cord compression by intradural hematoma and timely performed the emergency operation of cervical double-door laminoplasty and thoracic decompression with internal fixation. RESULTS: After combined therapy of dexamethasone, mannitol and neurotrophic drugs, sensory recovery of lower limbs started at the fifth day after operation and the sensory function became normal at the fourteenth day after operation with still complete loss of muscle strength. Pathological examination strongly suggested the diagnosis of IgG4-related sclerosing pachymeningitis (IgG4-RSP). CONCLUSIONS: IgG4-related sclerosing pachymeningitis (IgG4-RSP) is a newly recognized disease. This case of cervicothoracic spinal cord compression caused by IgG4-related sclerosing pachymeningitis (IgG4-RSP) has never been reported in China with merely three case reports worldwide. Prompt surgical decompression is recommended and pathological examination is essential for diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.

Role of TG2 and TGF-ß1 in the pathogenesis of human breast cancer.

The present study analyzed the role of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and tissue transglutaminase (TG2) in breast cancer, as well as their protein levels in MCF-7 cells treated with cisplatin. In addition, the present study investigated the effects of TG2 and TGF-ß1 in MCF-7 cells following TGF-ß1 and TG2 inhibition or TGF-ß1 induction. The protein levels of TG2 and TGF-ß1 in breast cancer tissues and in MCF-7 cells treated with cisplatin, TG2 and TGF-ß1 inhibitors or 10 ng/ml TGF-ß1 were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescence and western blotting. The results revealed that the expression levels of TG2 and TGF-ß1 in breast cancer tissues were significantly higher compared with those in paracancerous tissues. The fluorescence intensity of TG2 and TGF-ß1 in MCF-7 cells treated with cisplatin was lower compared with that in untreated MCF-7 cells. Using bioinformatics analysis, the present study predicted that TGF-ß1 may be associated with TG2. In addition, the expression levels of TGF-ß1 and TG2 in MCF-7 cells treated with inhibitors of TGF-ß1 and TG2 were lower compared with those in untreated MCF-7 cells. By contrast, the expression levels of TGF-ß1 and TG2 in MCF-7 cells treated with TGF-ß1 were higher compared with those in untreated MCF-7 cells. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that TGF-ß1 and TG2 may serve an important role in breast cancer tissues and in MCF-7 cells. In addition, it was revealed that TG2 and TGF-ß1 may have a synergistic role in MCF-7 cells.

Pathological features of paraganglioma in the lumbar spinal canal: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the pathological features of a patient with paraganglioma in the lumbar spinal canal. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was 36 years old male with electrical pain in the waist and buttock which occurred intermittently, and was not relieved under oral use of analgesics. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to diagnose the disease. The results revealed that the size of the tumor was 3.4 × 1.6 × 1.4 cm. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained tumor cells mainly presented with an organ-like arrangement under low power microscope, showing prominent chrysanthemum-like, pseudo glandular or pseudo papillary arrangements. The surrounding area of the nest presented with sinusoids, and fibrosis and focal calcification could be observed in the interstitial space among the lesions. Immunohistochemistry results showed that the chief cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), Syn and CgA, and Sertoli cells were positive for S-100. CONCLUSION: Paraganglioma is a very rare malignant tumor. This tumor should be distinguished from ependymoma, meningioma and hemangioblastoma, to avoid misdiagnosis, and missed diagnosis.