Explore the vast range of titles available.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) exert profound influence over breast cancer progression, promoting immunosuppression, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Neuropilin-2 (NRP2), consisting of the NRP2a and NRP2b isoforms, is a co-receptor for heparin-binding growth factors including VEGF-C and Class 3 Semaphorins. Selective upregulation in response to environmental stimuli and independent signaling pathways endow the NRP2 isoforms with unique functionality, with NRP2b promoting increased Akt signaling via receptor tyrosine kinases including VEGFRs, MET, and PDGFR. Although NRP2 has been shown to regulate macrophage/TAM biology, the role of the individual NRP2a/NRP2b isoforms in TAMs has yet to be evaluated. Using transcriptional profiling and spectral flow cytometry, we show that NRP2 isoform expression was significantly higher in TAMs from murine mammary tumors. NRP2a/NRP2b levels in human breast cancer metastasis were dependent upon the anatomic location of the tumor and significantly correlated with TAM infiltration in both primary and metastatic breast cancers. We define distinct phenotypes of NRP2 isoform-expressing TAMs in mouse models of breast cancer and within malignant pleural effusions from breast cancer patients which were exclusive of neuropilin-1 expression. Genetic depletion of either NRP2 isoform in macrophages resulted in a dramatic reduction of LPS-induced IL-10 production, defects in phagosomal processing of apoptotic breast cancer cells, and increase in cancer cell migration following co-culture. By contrast, depletion of NRP2b, but not NRP2a, inhibited production of IL-6. These results suggest that NRP2 isoforms regulate both shared and unique functionality in macrophages and are associated with distinct TAM subsets in breast cancer.

Pleural effusions, when benign, are attributed to cardiac events and suffusion of fluid within the pleural space. When malignant, lymphatic obstruction by tumor and failure to absorb constitutively produced fluid is the predominant formulation. The prevailing view has been challenged recently, namely that the lymphatics are only passive vessels, carrying antigenic fluid to secondary lymphoid sites. Rather, lymphatic vessels can be a selective barrier, efficiently coordinating egress of immune cells and factors within tissues, limiting tumor spread and immune pathology. An alternative explanation, offered here, is that damage associated molecular pattern molecules, released in excess, maintain a local milieu associated with recruitment and retention of immune cells associated with failed lymphatic clearance and functional lymphatic obstruction. We found that levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were equally elevated in both benign and malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) and that limited diversity of T cell receptor expressing gamma and delta chain were inversely associated with these levels in MPEs. Acellular fluid from MPEs enhanced γδ T cell proliferation , while inhibiting cytokine production from γδ T cells and monocytes as well as restricting monocyte chemotaxis. Novel therapeutic strategies, targeting HMGB1 and its neutralization in such effusions as well as direct delivery of immune cells into the pleural space to reconstitute normal physiology should be considered.

Patients with progressive apraxia of speech (PAOS) often develop atypical parkinsonian features suggestive of corticobasal syndrome (CBS) or progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and typically have an underlying 4-repeat tauopathy at autopsy. We describe three cases of PAOS with underlying Pick’s disease, a 3-repeat tauopathy, who lacked CBS or PSP features during life. We reviewed patients enrolled in the Neurodegenerative Research Group’s ongoing studies on speech and language disorders and identified those with PAOS who had autopsy-confirmed Pick’s disease. All patients had comprehensive neurologic, speech-language, and neuropsychological assessments, as well as multimodal neuroimaging, during life. Three female patients presented with phonetic PAOS without parkinsonism. Patient 1 had speech onset at age 54, later developed behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), and died at 64. Patient 2 had speech onset at 47, early bvFTD features, prominent frontal and temporal involvement, and died at 53. Patient 3 had speech onset at 58, minimal behavioral changes, primarily frontal involvement on imaging, and died at 63. Our findings highlight that Pick's disease can present with PAOS and may be distinguished from 4R-tau PAOS by an absence of motoric CBS/PSP features and, in some cases, by prominent temporal hypometabolism with bvFTD development. These atypical features may prove useful in the antemortem identification of Pick's disease as a cause of PAOS. •Progressive apraxia of speech typically shares features with 4R tauopathies.•We report three autopsy-confirmed cases of PAOS with underlying 3R tau.•Early behavioral changes and lack of parkinsonism may be clinical clues to 3R tau.•Prominent temporal involvement on imaging may be a marker of 3R tau.

The authors present the case of a 10-year-old boy with a 2-year history of intermittent macroscopic haematuria. After exclusion of other causes of haematuria through history, examination and a number of investigations, MRI revealed the finding of a retro-aortic left renal vein, which appeared to be compressed between the aorta and the L3 vertebral body. The retro-aortic left renal vein or ‘posterior nutcracker syndrome” is a rare but important cause of haematuria and other manifestations of left renal vein hypertension. A discussion about the implications of this finding in children with symptoms consistent with left renal vein hypertension, and the potential options for management is undertaken.

Previous literature has indicated a lack of information available regarding virtual schooling and how it compares to traditional schooling in terms of the academic achievement of students (Angiello, 2010; Brady, 2012; Dichev, Dicheva, Agre, & Angelova, 2013; Molnar et al., 2019; Molnar, 2021). This study aimed to examine differences among virtual schooling and traditional schooling, and to what extent gender, ethnicity, and/or at-risk indicator relate to these differences by analyzing State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) 2019 eighth grade mathematics and reading individual student results of two Texas school districts with both virtual and traditional schooling. A secondary data analysis of data collected from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was used in the current study. Findings from the study supported the hypothesis that there was a statistically significant difference in virtual and traditional schooling when comparing STAAR mathematics scale scores of eighth grade students in virtual and traditional schooling with traditional students scoring statistically significantly higher than virtual students. Conversely, findings from the study did not support the hypothesis that there was a statistically significant difference in virtual and traditional schooling when comparing STAAR reading scale scores of eighth grade students in virtual and traditional schooling. Additional findings from the study supported the hypothesis that there was a statistically significant difference in STAAR mathematics scale scores and STAAR reading scale scores among virtual and traditional schooling when comparing student gender, ethnicity, and at-risk indicator categories. Future implications of this research are vital as virtual learning has grown significantly, based on the current findings it appears this would have an adverse impact on students’ math achievement, but less of an adverse impact on their reading achievement. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and at-risk indicator appear to be associated with differences in both math and reading student achievement. Future research will need to consider the impact of remote instruction on student achievement.

The authors present the case of a 10-year-old boy with a 2-year history of intermittent macroscopic haematuria. After exclusion of other causes of haematuria through history, examination and a number of investigations, MRI revealed the finding of a retro-aortic left renal vein, which appeared to be compressed between the aorta and the L3 vertebral body. The retro-aortic left renal vein or ‘posterior nutcracker syndrome” is a rare but important cause of haematuria and other manifestations of left renal vein hypertension. A discussion about the implications of this finding in children with symptoms consistent with left renal vein hypertension, and the potential options for management is undertaken.

Here we describe a case of antenatally diagnosed congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation. Due to increasing cyst size and fetal hydrops an antenatal drain was inserted. The lesion was excised surgically soon after birth due to significant respiratory distress. During histological assessment an area of squamous metaplasia was found within the cyst wall. This developed as a result of the drain placement. At 4-year follow-up the child remains well and has experienced no long-term respiratory sequalae.

Digital preservation is a challenging topic. The digital world evolves so quickly that it is hard to keep up with all the new developments, or understand the shelf life of various digital media because it has been changing exponentially fast.

The authors present the case of a 10-year-old boy with a 2-year history of intermittent macroscopic haematuria. After exclusion of other causes of haematuria through history, examination and a number of investigations, MRI revealed the finding of a retro-aortic left renal vein, which appeared to be compressed between the aorta and the L3 vertebral body. The retro-aortic left renal vein or ‘posterior nutcracker syndrome” is a rare but important cause of haematuria and other manifestations of left renal vein hypertension. A discussion about the implications of this finding in children with symptoms consistent with left renal vein hypertension, and the potential options for management is undertaken.