-
Journal of Pineal Research Sep 2022Melatonin is a hormone synthesized in the pineal gland and has widespread physiological and pharmacological functions. Moreover, it can activate protective...
Melatonin is a hormone synthesized in the pineal gland and has widespread physiological and pharmacological functions. Moreover, it can activate protective receptor-dependent processes. These processes can prevent tissue carcinogenesis and inhibit malignant tumor progression and metastasis. Therefore, we investigated the regulatory effects of melatonin on dysregulated circular RNAs in human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells. In this study, we treated LUAD cells with melatonin and measured the expression of hsa_circ_0017109, miR-135b-3p, and TOX3 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Colony formation and cell counting kit-8 assays were used to determine cell proliferation. The wound-healing assay and Transwell experiment were carried out to evaluate the migration potential and invasive capacity of LUAD cells. Also, cell apoptosis was detected using a cell apoptosis kit, and protein production was identified by Western blot. It was suggested that melatonin could inhibit LUAD progression in vivo and in vitro, and the role of TOX3 in this process was explored. Additionally, hsa_circ_0017109 was found to sponge miR-135b-3p, a downstream factor of circ_0017109, which was demonstrated to target TOX3 in LUAD cells and could promote the Hippo pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway. To summarize, we demonstrated that melatonin decreases the expression of circ_0017109 and suppresses the non-small-cell lung cancer cell migration, invasion, and proliferation through decreasing TOX3 expression via direct activation of miR-135b-3p.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma of Lung; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Disease Progression; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Melatonin; MicroRNAs
PubMed: 35661247
DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12813 -
Headache Sep 2022To illustrate the possibility of spontaneous involution of a pineal cyst, justifying an initial observation strategy in patients without evident mass effect. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To illustrate the possibility of spontaneous involution of a pineal cyst, justifying an initial observation strategy in patients without evident mass effect.
BACKGROUND
Pineal cysts are frequent radiological findings, with a reported overall prevalence from 0.6% to 40%. Historically, surgery has been reserved for patients with symptoms attributable to a mass effect of the cyst. Despite the high prevalence of pineal cysts, the clinical approach to patients with non-specific symptoms remains controversial.
METHODS
We report on the spontaneous involution of a large pineal cyst in a 26-year-old female who presented in our outpatient clinic with transient symptoms of headache and nausea. PubMed and Web of Science databases were scrutinized using a predefined search strategy in accordance with the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome (PICO) set-up using "pineal cyst" and "surgery" as search terms. Only peer-reviewed publications were considered eligible. Titles and abstracts of 1513 manuscripts were screened for relevance. After excluding 1420 publications evaluating non-relevant pathology, the eligibility of the remaining 93 full-text records was further assessed and included if they reported patients with pineal cysts presenting with intractable symptoms without hydrocephalus or Parinaud syndrome, and if they documented on their symptomatology and clinical management.
CONCLUSION
Recent case series and reviews report favorable results of surgery in patients with pineal cysts but also a potentially high complication rate. However, the evidence offered by these reports is limited and a placebo effect cannot be ruled out. Therefore, surgery cannot be unequivocally advocated in these patients. Instead, an initial surveillance strategy is advocated. We concur with a previously propounded surveillance strategy of a single follow-up magnetic resonance imaging at 12 months. This case report demonstrates the importance of an initial observation strategy since pineal cysts may also show a spontaneous involution.
Topics: Adult; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Cysts; Cysts; Female; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pineal Gland
PubMed: 36017961
DOI: 10.1111/head.14378 -
Child's Nervous System : ChNS :... Mar 2023Intracranial cysts are fluid-filled sacs within the brain. There is a diversity of intracranial cysts with different incidences in addition to the growing awareness...
OBJECTIVES
Intracranial cysts are fluid-filled sacs within the brain. There is a diversity of intracranial cysts with different incidences in addition to the growing awareness about comorbidities and the consequences. The present study aimed to evaluate cystic findings in children who were admitted to the department of pediatric neurology.
METHODS
Children who were admitted to the Clinic of Pediatric Neurology and who had an MRI between 2016 and 2021 were evaluated. The MRI examination was performed with the pediatric epilepsy protocol. Children with primary intracranial cysts were enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical findings were evaluated from the hospital's database and patients' files.
RESULTS
Among the 78 patients, 36 (46.2%) were male and 42 (53.8%) were female. The mean age was 7 ± 5.4 years. The most frequent presenting complaint was a seizure (47.4%). Approximately one-quarter (28.2%) had mental and/or motor retardation. Nine (11.5%) of the children had a neuropsychiatric diagnosis. Most of the cysts were located at the midline (41%) with the majority located extra-axial (71.8%) and supratentorial (78.2%). Arachnoid cysts were observed most frequently with a percentage of 64.1%, followed by pineal cysts (15.4%). The history of seizure, epilepsy, presence of mental retardation, and neuropsychiatric problems were evaluated according to the population ratios based on z approximation in which significantly higher rates were observed among cases with intracranial cysts.
CONCLUSION
Intracranial cysts should be taken into consideration for comorbid pathologies, especially in the childhood period. Early evaluation in patients with intracranial cysts for developmental delay and neuropsychiatric problems is important.
Topics: Child; Humans; Male; Female; Infant; Child, Preschool; Arachnoid Cysts; Central Nervous System Cysts; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Epilepsy; Seizures
PubMed: 36323954
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-022-05724-z -
Journal of Environmental Pathology,... 2022Melatonin is primarily synthesized in the pineal gland under the influence of noradrenergic stimulation at night. It regulates the sleep-wake cycle, gonadal activity,... (Review)
Review
Melatonin is primarily synthesized in the pineal gland under the influence of noradrenergic stimulation at night. It regulates the sleep-wake cycle, gonadal activity, redox homeostasis, immune functions, and anticarcinogenic effects at the normal physiological state. The activity of melatonin is mediated by membrane-bound G protein-coupled receptors MT1 and MT2. Circadian deregulation, exposure to light-at-night, shift work, and jet lag disrupt the melatonin rhythm. A low level of circulatory melatonin concentration influences the development of many cancers, including breast cancer. Melatonin acts as an anticancer agent in breast tissue. It suppresses metabolic activity, regulates cell-signaling pathways, and subsequently blocks cell proliferation. This indolamine induces apoptosis, inhibits chronic inflammation and metastasis. Melatonin restricts the functions of estrogen receptor α and also inhibits aromatase activity. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that reduces the chemoresistance capacity of breast cancer cells. At therapeutic levels, it potentially increases the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents and decreases their adverse effects during the treatment of breast cancer. The present review focuses on the antineoplastic activity of melatonin against breast cancer. Emphasis has been given to the possible use of melatonin in the treatment of breast cancer.
Topics: Humans; Melatonin; Antineoplastic Agents; Neoplasms; Antioxidants; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 36374962
DOI: 10.1615/JEnvironPatholToxicolOncol.2022041294 -
Psychiatry Research. Neuroimaging Jul 2019Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) often have circadian rhythm alteration and sleep disturbance. The pineal gland regulates the circadian rhythm and sleep by...
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) often have circadian rhythm alteration and sleep disturbance. The pineal gland regulates the circadian rhythm and sleep by the secretion of melatonin neurohormone. However, the relationship between pineal abnormality and MDD remains elusive. 50 patients with MDD and 35 gender- and age-matched healthy controls underwent high-resolution structural MRI. Pineal parenchymal volume (PPV) was measured manually. Inter-group differences in prevalence of pineal cyst and PPV were examined. In addition, we investigated the correlations between PPV and symptom severity as well as sleep variables in the patient group. Compared to healthy controls, patients with MDD had a higher prevalence of pineal cyst. Moreover, patients had significantly decreased PPV relative to controls. However, no significant correlations were observed between PPV and symptom severity as well as sleep variables. Our findings suggest that pineal abnormality may play a critical role in depression.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cysts; Depressive Disorder, Major; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pineal Gland; Young Adult
PubMed: 31121531
DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2019.05.004 -
Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences Feb 2021Most patients with pineal cysts referred for neurosurgical consultation have no specific symptoms or objective findings except for pineal cyst size to help in management...
BACKGROUND
Most patients with pineal cysts referred for neurosurgical consultation have no specific symptoms or objective findings except for pineal cyst size to help in management decisions. Our purpose was to assess the relationship between pineal cyst size and aqueductal CSF flow using PC-MRI.
METHODS
Eleven adult patients with pineal cysts (>1 cm) referred for neurosurgical consultations were included. Cyst volume was calculated using 3D T1 images. Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) in axial plane with velocity encoding of 5 cm/sec was used to quantitatively assess CSF flow through the cerebral aqueduct to determine the aqueductal stroke volume, which was then correlated to cyst size using Pearson's correlation. Pineal cysts were grouped by size into small (6/11) and large (5/11) using the median value to compare aqueductal stroke volume using Mann-Whitney test.
RESULTS
Patients were 39±13 years (mean±SD) of age, and 10/11 (91%) were female. There was significant negative correlation between cyst volume and aqueductal stroke volume (r=0.74; P=0.009). Volume of small cysts (4954±2157 mm) was significantly different compared to large cysts (13,752±3738 mm; P=0.008). The aqueductal stroke volume of patients harboring large cysts 33±8 μL/cardiac cycle was significantly lower than that of patients with small cysts 96±29 μL/cardiac cycle (P=0.008).
CONCLUSIONS
Aqueductal CSF flow appears to decrease with increasing pineal cyst size. Our preliminary results provide first evidence that even in the absence of objective neurological findings or hydrocephalus; larger pineal cysts already display decreased CSF flow through the cerebral aqueduct.
Topics: Adult; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebral Aqueduct; Child; Cysts; Female; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 29480683
DOI: 10.23736/S0390-5616.18.04258-3 -
The Journals of Gerontology. Series A,... Aug 2023In this work, we report preliminary results about the involution of the human pineal gland involution. The detailed analysis of pineal structure was done on autopsy...
In this work, we report preliminary results about the involution of the human pineal gland involution. The detailed analysis of pineal structure was done on autopsy material of 77 persons in age 27-96 using x-ray phase-contrast tomography, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Our study suggests that the pineal gland alteration in older adults may be more profound than has been reported to date. We identified and described a new form of pineal gland involution that eventually led to the total degradation of the pineal gland. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report on the complete replacement of pineal gland parenchyma with connective tissue in older adults.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Pineal Gland; Cysts; Immunohistochemistry; Autopsy
PubMed: 36966358
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad091 -
World Neurosurgery Feb 2021Given the rarity of patients with pineal glioblastoma (GBM), clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognostic factors are not well characterized. This study aimed to...
OBJECTIVE
Given the rarity of patients with pineal glioblastoma (GBM), clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognostic factors are not well characterized. This study aimed to investigate these characteristics and identify the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS).
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed patients with pineal GBM, including our 3 cases and an additional 44 cases from published articles, was conducted. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis was used to determine the prognostic factors.
RESULTS
A total of 47 patients (28 males and 19 females) were enrolled, with a median age of 46 years (range, 5-74 years). Forty-four patients (90.9%) had preoperative obstructive hydrocephalus. Among 38 patients, 21 (55.3%) had distal leptomeningeal dissemination. Forty-five patients (95.7%) had resection/biopsy, 6 of whom had gross total resection, 22 had subtotal resection, 7 had partial resection, and 10 had biopsy. Adjuvant therapy included radiotherapy in 36 patients and chemotherapy in 27 patients. The median OS was 10.0 months. The 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year survival was 68.0%, 42.6%, and 17.0%, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that patients receiving biopsy (P = 0.042) or chemotherapy (P = 0.029) had the better OS and these were regarded as independent prognostic factors. Further survival analysis showed that chemoradiotherapy had better survival benefit than other regimens.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we summarized the characteristics of patients with pineal GBM and showed the correlation between clinical characteristics and prognosis. This study may give readers a deep understanding of these rare GBMs and provide some references for future management.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Brain Neoplasms; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Glioblastoma; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurosurgical Procedures; Pineal Gland; Pinealoma; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Survival Rate; Young Adult
PubMed: 33186787
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.11.016 -
American Journal of Translational... 2021Pineal region tumors (PRTs) affect all ages, with a remarkable proportion of cases occurring in children. They are mainly classified into three categories, namely germ... (Review)
Review
Pineal region tumors (PRTs) affect all ages, with a remarkable proportion of cases occurring in children. They are mainly classified into three categories, namely germ cell tumors (GCTs), pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs), and other tumors such as gliomas and tumors of the surrounding structures. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature regarding pathophysiological mechanisms of the presenting clinical features of patients with PRT. The usual presentation of PRTs is the symptoms of obstructive hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension, such as headache and vomiting. However, there is a remarkable spectrum of clinical findings that can be caused by such lesions. These include ophthalmologic and endocrinologic disturbances, motor and sensory abnormalities, and cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. The unique anatomic location of the pineal gland, which is close to many vital brain structures, is crucial for the explanation of most of those findings. In rare cases, manifestations of intracranial bleeding may be the presenting feature of a PRT. Tumor histology and patient's age can affect the clinical presentation. Hydrocephalus is the most common clinical syndrome of a PRT because of the location of the pineal gland. Presenting symptoms also include ophthalmologic, endocrinologic, motor, sensory, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of the initial symptoms of PRTs, including the misleading ones, in order to avoid delay in the diagnosis and management of these life-threatening lesions.
PubMed: 34306324
DOI: No ID Found -
Neurosurgical Review Oct 2022Indications for surgery of pineal cysts without ventriculomegaly are still under debate. In view of the limited data for pineal cyst resection in the absence of... (Review)
Review
Indications for surgery of pineal cysts without ventriculomegaly are still under debate. In view of the limited data for pineal cyst resection in the absence of hydrocephalus, and the potential risk of this approach, we have analyzed our patient cohort focusing on strategies to avoid complications according to our experience in a series of 73 pineal cyst patients. From 2003 to 2015, we reviewed our database retrospectively for all patients operated on a pineal cyst. Furthermore, we prospectively collected patients from 2016 to 2020. In summary, 73 patients with a pineal cyst were treated surgically between 2003 and 2020. All patients were operated on via a microscopic supracerebellar-infratentorial (SCIT) approach. The mean follow-up period was 26.6 months (range: 6-139 months). Seventy-three patients underwent surgery for a pineal cyst. An absence of enlarged ventricles was documented in 62 patients (51 female, 11 male, mean age 28.1 (range 4-59) years). Main presenting symptoms included headache, visual disturbances, dizziness/vertigo, nausea/emesis, and sleep disturbances. Complete cyst resection was achieved in 59/62 patients. Fifty-five of 62 (89%) patients improved after surgery with good or even excellent results according to the Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale, with complete or partial resolution of the leading symptoms. Pineal cysts resection might be an indication in certain patients for surgery even in the absence of ventriculomegaly. The high percentage of postoperative resolution of quality-of-life impairing symptoms in our series seems to justify surgery. Preoperatively, other causes of the leading symptoms have to be excluded.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Cysts; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Male; Middle Aged; Pineal Gland; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 35829978
DOI: 10.1007/s10143-022-01831-2