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Journal of Neurosciences in Rural... 2023Pineal cysts are usually benign, fluid-filled sacs and most pineal cysts are asymptomatic. Sudden death specifically related to pineal cysts is extremely uncommon. A...
Pineal cysts are usually benign, fluid-filled sacs and most pineal cysts are asymptomatic. Sudden death specifically related to pineal cysts is extremely uncommon. A literature review of the pertinent databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, was carried out to review the existing literature describing sudden death in patients with pineal cysts. In the evaluation of 49 articles, it was found that four reports discussed the unexpected death of patients who had pineal cysts. A total of four cases of sudden death and a pineal cyst were reported. There were 75% females and a mean age of 29 (range: 20-45). Cyst size on average was 1.3 cm (1.2-1.5). In each case, the cause of death and the involvement of important brain structures were confirmed by autopsy results. A pathological analysis of the pineal region and the surrounding brain tissue revealed a variety of lesions. Vascular malformation was found in one case, adding another layer of complexity to the study of sudden death syndrome. In this research, the authors highlight the fact that patients with pineal cysts can experience serious, even fatal, complications. Increased vigilance and early detection through neuroimaging and neurological assessments are required due to the wide variety of clinical manifestations and underlying mechanisms. To explain the mechanism and enhance the management and prevention of sudden deaths associated with pineal cysts, additional research with larger sample sizes is required.
PubMed: 38059255
DOI: 10.25259/JNRP_421_2023 -
Research Square Nov 2023Life-threatening, space-occupying mass effect due to cerebral edema and/or hemorrhagic transformation is an early complication of patients with middle cerebral artery ()...
BACKGROUND
Life-threatening, space-occupying mass effect due to cerebral edema and/or hemorrhagic transformation is an early complication of patients with middle cerebral artery () stroke. Little is known about longitudinal trajectories of laboratory and vital signs leading up to radiographic and clinical deterioration related to this mass effect.
METHODS
We curated a granular retrospective dataset of 635 patients with large middle cerebral artery () stroke totaling 108,547 data points for repeated measurements of 10 covariates, and 40 time-independent covariates. We assessed longitudinal trajectories of the 10 longitudinal variables during the 72 hours preceding three outcomes representative of life-threatening mass effect: midline shift () ≥5mm, pineal gland shift () >4mm, and decompressive hemicraniectomy (). We used a "backward looking" trajectory approach. Patients were aligned according to the time of outcome occurrence and the trajectory of each variable was assessed prior to that outcome by accounting for both cases and non-cases.
RESULTS
Of 635 patients, 49% were female, and mean age was 69 years. Thirty five percent of patients had MLS ≥ 5mm, 24.1% had PGS >4mm, and DHC occurred in 10.7%. For the three outcomes of interest, backward-looking trajectories showed mild increases in white blood cell count (10 up to 11 K/UL within 72 hours), temperature (up to half a degree within 24 hours), and sodium (1-3 mEq/L within 24 hours) leading up to outcomes. We also observed a decrease in heart rate (75 - 65 beats per minute) 24 hours prior to DHC.
CONCLUSIONS
Univariable longitudinal profiling showed that temperature, white blood cell count, and sodium increase prior to radiographic and clinical indicators of space-occupying mass effect. These findings will inform development of multivariable dynamic risk models to aid prediction of life-threatening space-occupying mass effect.
PubMed: 38045289
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3594179/v1 -
Biological Research Dec 2023Atherosclerosis (AS), a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), is steadily rising with the aging of the global population. Pyroptosis and apoptosis,...
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerosis (AS), a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), is steadily rising with the aging of the global population. Pyroptosis and apoptosis, both caspase-mediated cell death mechanisms, play an essential role in the occurrence and progression of AS. The human pineal gland primarily produces melatonin (MT), an indoleamine hormone with powerful anti-oxidative, anti-pyroptotic, and anti-apoptotic properties. This study examined MT's anti-oxidative stress and anti-pyroptotic effects on human THP-1 macrophages treated with nicotine.
METHODS
In vitro, THP-1 macrophages were induced by 1 µM nicotine to form a pyroptosis model and performed 30 mM MT for treatment. In vivo, ApoE mice were administered 0.1 mg/mL nicotine solution as drinking water, and 1 mg/mL MT solution was intragastric administrated at 10 mg/kg/day. The changes in pyroptosis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were detected.
RESULTS
MT downregulated pyroptosis, whose changes were paralleled by a reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reversal of sirtuin3 (SIRT3), and Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3α) upregulation. MT also inhibited apoptosis, mainly caused by the interaction of caspase-1 and caspase-3 proteins. Vivo studies confirmed that nicotine could accelerate plaque formation. Moreover, mice treated with MT showed a reduction in AS lesion area.
CONCLUSIONS
MT alleviates pyroptosis by regulating the SIRT3/FOXO3α/ROS axis and interacting with apoptosis. Importantly, our understanding of the inhibitory pathways for macrophage pyroptosis will allow us to identify other novel therapeutic targets that will help treat, prevent, and reduce AS-associated mortality.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Melatonin; Pyroptosis; Reactive Oxygen Species; Sirtuin 3; Nicotine; Apoptosis; Atherosclerosis; Caspases
PubMed: 38041171
DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00479-6 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Dec 2023Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a source of pollution worldwide, that causes inflammation and liver fibrosis. Melatonin, as the predominant hormone secreted by the...
OBJECTIVE
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a source of pollution worldwide, that causes inflammation and liver fibrosis. Melatonin, as the predominant hormone secreted by the pineal gland, can inhibit PM2.5-induced lung injury by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to inhibit ferroptosis. However, the possible role of melatonin in PM2.5-induced liver damage remains unclear.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
In vitro, the effects of melatonin on PM2.5-induced oxidative stress and LX-2 cell activation were examined. In vivo, a PM2.5-induced inflammation and liver fibrosis mouse model was used to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of melatonin.
RESULTS
In vitro, melatonin induced the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream genes and inhibited PM2.5-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial damage. Melatonin also ameliorated the PM2.5-induced oxidative stress and fibrogenic marker upregulation. However, the antifibrotic effect of melatonin was abolished in siNrf2-treated LX-2 cells. In vivo, we observed mitochondrial abnormalities and mitochondrial fragmentation, which were accompanied by increased PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin expression, in PM2.5-treated mouse hepatocytes. These changes were partially reversed by melatonin. In addition, melatonin activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway and protected against PM2.5-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, melatonin alleviated inflammation and liver fibrosis. Moreover, Nrf2-KO mice exhibited more severe inflammation and liver fibrosis after PM2.5 exposure than wild-type mice, and the protective effect of melatonin on PM2.5- treated Nrf2-KO mice was greatly compromised.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that melatonin effectively inhibits PM2.5-induced liver fibrosis by activating Nrf2 and inhibiting ROS-mediated mitophagy and inflammation.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Inflammation; Liver Cirrhosis; Melatonin; Mitophagy; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Particulate Matter; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 37992643
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115717 -
Surgical Neurology International 2023Intracranial germinomas are rare tumors, accounting for 0.5-2% of primary intracranial neoplasms. While they typically occur in the pineal gland, suprasellar region,...
BACKGROUND
Intracranial germinomas are rare tumors, accounting for 0.5-2% of primary intracranial neoplasms. While they typically occur in the pineal gland, suprasellar region, basal ganglia, and thalamus, germinomas arising in the medulla oblongata are exceptionally rare. Diagnosis of medulla oblongata germinoma is challenging, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and poor prognosis.
CASE DESCRIPTION
We present a case of a 29-year-old man complaining of left leg numbness. Radiological findings revealed a contrast-enhanced lesion in the medulla oblongata. The patient underwent tumor biopsy, and intraoperative pathological diagnosis (IOD) suspected the diagnosis of medulla oblongata germinoma. He underwent chemoradiotherapy after confirming the diagnosis of germinoma. Intracranial germinoma arising in the medulla oblongata differs from germinomas in other locations due to its higher incidence in individuals in their 20s and a slight female predominance.
CONCLUSION
When encountering lesions in the medulla oblongata, germinoma should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses, and surgical strategies including IOD should be planned accordingly.
PubMed: 37941640
DOI: 10.25259/SNI_682_2023 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023Environmental light entrains many physiological and behavioural processes to the 24 h solar cycle. Such light-driven circadian rhythms are centrally controlled by the... (Review)
Review
Environmental light entrains many physiological and behavioural processes to the 24 h solar cycle. Such light-driven circadian rhythms are centrally controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which receives information from the short-wavelength-sensitive intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. The SCN synchronizes local clocks throughout the body affecting sleep/wake routines and the secretion of neuroendocrine-linked hormones such as melatonin from the pineal gland and cortisol via the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Although the effects of light parameters on melatonin have been recently reviewed, whether the experimental variation of the spectral power distribution and intensity of light can induce changes in cortisol rhythms remains unclear. Thus, this systematic review evaluated the effects of daytime exposure to lights of different spectral wavelength characteristics and luminance intensity on the cortisol levels in healthy individuals. A search of the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases on 19 June 2023 identified 3418 articles, of which 12 studies (profiling 337 participants) met the inclusion and risk of bias criteria. An analysis of the literature indicated that exposure to bright lights of any colour during the late night or early morning can induce significant increases in cortisol secretion relative to time-matched dim light comparison conditions. Furthermore, exposure to bright lights with stronger short-wavelength (blue/green) components in the early morning typically induced greater increases in cortisol relative to lights with stronger long-wavelength (red) components. Thus, the circadian regulation of cortisol is sensitive to the wavelength composition of environmental lighting, in line with the more commonly studied melatonin. As such, wavelength characteristics should be optimized and reported in light intervention studies (particularly for the investigation of cortisol-associated disorders and HPA axis function), and exposure to short-wavelength light during sensitive periods should be carefully considered in constructed environments (e.g., bedroom and classroom lighting and device screens).
PubMed: 37895351
DOI: 10.3390/life13101968 -
Biosensors Oct 2023Melatonin (MT), a pineal gland hormone, regulates the sleep/wake cycle and is a potential biomarker for neurodegenerative disorders, depression, hypertension, and...
Melatonin (MT), a pineal gland hormone, regulates the sleep/wake cycle and is a potential biomarker for neurodegenerative disorders, depression, hypertension, and several cancers, including prostate cancer and hepatocarcinoma. The amperometric detection of MT was achieved using a sensor customized with ruthenium-incorporated carbon spheres (Ru-CS), possessing C- and O-rich catalytically active Ru surfaces. The non-covalent interactions and ion-molecule adducts between Ru and CS favor the formation of heterojunctions at the sensor-analyte interface, thus accelerating the reactions towards MT. The Ru-CS/Screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) sensor demonstrated the outstanding electrocatalytic oxidation of MT owing to its high surface area and heterogeneous rate constants and afforded a lower detection limit (0.27 μM), high sensitivity (0.85 μA μM cm), and excellent selectivity for MT with the co-existence of crucial neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. High concentrations of active biomolecules, such as ascorbic acid and tyrosine, did not interfere with MT detection. The practical feasibility of the sensor for MT detection in pharmaceutical samples was demonstrated, comparable to the data provided on the product labels. The developed amperometric sensor is highly suitable for the quality control of medicines because of its low cost, simplicity, small sample size, speed of analysis, and potential for automation.
Topics: Carbon; Melatonin; Ruthenium; Oxidation-Reduction; Epinephrine; Electrodes; Electrochemical Techniques
PubMed: 37887129
DOI: 10.3390/bios13100936 -
Current Issues in Molecular Biology Oct 2023Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland of vertebrates, regulates sleep, blood pressure, and circadian and seasonal rhythms, and acts as an antioxidant and...
Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland of vertebrates, regulates sleep, blood pressure, and circadian and seasonal rhythms, and acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. We investigated the protective effects of melatonin against markers of D-galactose (D-Gal)-induced hepatocellular aging, including liver inflammation, hepatocyte structural damage, and non-alcoholic fatty liver. Mice were divided into four groups: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, control), D-Gal (200 mg/kg/day), melatonin (20 mg/kg), and D-Gal (200 mg/kg) and melatonin (20 mg) cotreatment. The treatments were administered once daily for eight consecutive weeks. Melatonin treatment alleviated D-Gal-induced hepatocyte impairment. The AST level was significantly increased in the D-Gal-treated groups compared to that in the control group, while the ALT level was decreased compared to the melatonin and D-Gal cotreated group. Inflammatory genes, such as IL1-β, NF-κB, IL-6, TNFα, and iNOS, were significantly increased in the D-Gal aging model, whereas the expression levels of these genes were low in the D-Gal and melatonin cotreated group. Interestingly, the expression levels of hepatic steatosis-related genes, such as LXRα, C/EBPα, PPARα, ACC, ACOX1, and CPT-1, were markedly decreased in the D-Gal and melatonin cotreated group. These results suggest that melatonin suppresses hepatic steatosis and inflammation in a mouse model of D-Gal-induced aging.
PubMed: 37886973
DOI: 10.3390/cimb45100530 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023Pediatric diencephalic tumors represent a histopathologically and molecularly diverse group of neoplasms arising in the central part of the brain and involving eloquent... (Review)
Review
Pediatric diencephalic tumors represent a histopathologically and molecularly diverse group of neoplasms arising in the central part of the brain and involving eloquent structures, including the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), optic pathway, thalamus, and pineal gland. Presenting symptoms can include significant neurological, endocrine, or visual manifestations which may be exacerbated by injudicious intervention. Upfront multidisciplinary assessment and coordinated management is crucial from the outset to ensure best short- and long-term functional outcomes. In this review we discuss the clinical and pathological features of the neoplastic entities arising in this location, and their management. We emphasize a clear move towards 'function preserving' diagnostic and therapeutic approaches with novel toxicity-sparing strategies, including targeted therapies.
PubMed: 37886179
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1178553 -
BMC Endocrine Disorders Oct 2023The pineal lesion affecting melatonin is a rare cause of central precocious puberty by decreasing the inhibition of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Germ cell tumor... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The pineal lesion affecting melatonin is a rare cause of central precocious puberty by decreasing the inhibition of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Germ cell tumor secreting human chorionic gonadotropin is a rare cause of peripheral puberty.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 5.8-year-old male presented facial hair and phallic growth, deepened voice, and accelerated growth velocity for 6 months. The elevated human chorionic gonadotropin level with undetectable gonadotropin levels indicated peripheral precocious puberty. Brain imaging revealed a pineal mass and further pathology indicated the diagnosis of teratoma. During chemoradiotherapy with operation, the elevated human chorionic gonadotropin level reduced to normal range, while the levels of gonadotropins and testosterone increased. Subsequently, progressing precocious puberty was arrested with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analog therapy. Previous cases of transition from peripheral precocious puberty to central precocious puberty were reviewed. The transitions were caused by the suddenly reduced feedback inhibition of sex steroid hormones on gonadotropin releasing hormone and gonadotropins.
CONCLUSIONS
For patients with human chorionic gonadotropin-secreting tumors, gonadotropin levels increase prior to sex steroid decrease, seems a sign of melatonin-related central PP related to melatonin.
Topics: Child, Preschool; Humans; Male; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Melatonin; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Puberty, Precocious
PubMed: 37884982
DOI: 10.1186/s12902-023-01494-0