Teaching NeuroImages: CNS pituitary-hypothalamic Langerhans cell histiocytosis in an adult

A 66-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of worsening confusion and panhypopituitarism. MRI showed a 1.7-cm enhancing mass involving the infundibulum and hypothalamus.¹ Total body PET scan showed isolated uptake in the hypothalamus (standardized uptakevalue25.3) (figure 1). Full body CT, lumbar puncture, and infectious workup were negative. Endoscopic transventricular biopsies were performed. Microscopy revealed gliotic hypothalamus with clusters of cells with elongated grooved nuclei positive for CD1a, Langerin, BRAF (V600E), CD68, CD163, and S-100 by immunohistochemistry and negative for Grocott methenamine silver, Gram stain, acid-fast bacilli, Warthin-Starry, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, Epstein-Barr virus, and β-amyloid, confirming the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (figure 2). The finding of BRAF (V600E) positivity is important diagnostically and as a potential therapeutic target.²

from Neurology recent issues https://ift.tt/2tXm47n

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Menopause Symptoms Reduced by Cold Water Swimming

Cold water swimming significantly eases menopausal symptoms. Surveying 1114 women, with 785 experiencing menopause, researchers found improvements in anxiety, mood swings, low mood, and hot flushes among participants. from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/9AqHsEa

UPI: Kids with psych disorders most likely to take dangerous viral challenges

The “choking game” — and other clearly ill-advised and dangerous internet challenges — leave many parents wondering what drives teens to take the bait and participate. Now, a new study suggests that an underlying psychological disorder may be one reason why some kids jump at online dares such as the “Bird Box” challenge, where people walk around blindfolded, and the Tide Pod challenge, daring people to eat laundry detergent. (January 28, 2019) Read the full article here from Brain Health Daily http://bit.ly/2DIWHbD

The emerging influential role of microglia in neurology

In her most catchily titled book, The Angel and the Assassin , Donna Jackson Nakazawa highlighed nerve cells which have hitherto been very little acknowledged – microglia . Long ignored as bit players in the big league of the nervous system, Nakazawa colourfully illustrated what many neuroscientists are beginning to realise: the small size of microglia belies their huge influence ; m icroglia are, after all, the defence force of the nervous system, protecting the brain from microbial invaders . In keeping with their small size, their role is to surreptitiously present the antigens of invading bugs to T cells , the toffs who actually carry out the final hatchet job . It is therefore not surprising that any dysfunction of microglia will come with significant clinical consequences . By GerryShaw – Own work , CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link The most important clinical fallout of dysfunctional microglia appears to be the emergence of dementia. It is indeed spec...

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