Calisiomorpha herczeki sp. nov. in Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

From inclusion in Cretaceous Burmese amber, a new species of the fossil flat bug genus Calisiomorpha Heiss, 2016, C. herczeki sp. nov., is described and illustrated.

A new species, a new synonymy, a revised generic assignment and new records in some African and Palaearctic Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

The late Ludvík Hoberlandt left several specimens of African Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in the collection of the National Museum in Prague which were labelled as new synonyms or types of new species, but, however, the corresponding taxonomic acts and decisions have never been published. As a result of their examination, Hoberlandt's 'Aradus africanus n. sp.' is identified as A. gracilipes Linnavuori, 1978, 'A. nuristanicus n. sp.' as A. betulae (Linnaeus, 1758), and 'Aradus intermedius n. sp.' is recognized as a new species, described here as A. congoensis sp. nov. (from the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Mezira lindemannae Kormilev, 1974, syn. nov., is synonymized with Brachyrhynchus abyssinicus Bergroth, 1895. The generic placement of Mezira amplicollis Linnavuori, 1978 in Brachyrhynchus Laporte, 1832 is confirmed. The status of 'Carventus machadoi n. sp.' (member of Burgeonia Schouteden, 1919; Angola) and 'Neuroctenus arnoldi n. sp.' (Zimbabwe), two additional putatively new species recognized by Hoberlandt, remains unresolved, pending the revision of the respective genera. The following new distributional records are given: Aradus gracilipes from Chad, Aradus betulae from Afghanistan, and Brachyrhynchus abyssinicus from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea and Kenya.

New genus and species of apterous Carventinae from Costa Rica and Grenada (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae)

Only three species assigned to two genera of the flat bug subfamily Carventinae Usinger, 1950 are recorded to date from Costa Rica and one genus and species from Grenada. Following apterous carventine taxa are described and illustrated in the present paper: Joceliaptera graziae gen. et sp. nov.; Peggicoris cahuitanus sp. nov.; Peggicoris grenadensis sp. nov. Joceliaptera gen. nov. is compared with most similar Neotropical genera. A key to species of Peggicoris is presented.

The invisibile becomes visible: X-ray micro-CT reconstruction of emAneurus/em emdamzeni/em sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae) from Eocene Baltic amber

The subfamily Aneurinae of the flat bug family Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) contains about 150 extant species assigned to seven genera, and seven fossil species of which six were described from Eocene Baltic amber and one from Cretaceous Burmese amber. A new species Aneurus damzeni sp. nov. from Baltic amber is described and illustrated using X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) reconstructing concealed morphological characters. A key to all five extant and fossil Aneurinae species with triangular scutellum is provided.

Rotundocoris, a new apterous genus of Carventinae from China (Heteroptera: Aradidae)

A new apterous genus, Rotundocoris gen. nov., and two included new species, R. stenonotum sp. nov. and R. obliquonotum sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae: Carventinae), are described from Hainan, China. The diagnostic morphological features of the genus and its two species are discussed and illustrated.

A new Cervinotaptera species from northern Madagascar (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae)

A new species, Cervinotapteratomhenryi, sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae: Mezirinae), from Montagne d'Ambre National Park in northern Madagascar is described and illustrated. The newly described species is compared with the only other known species, Cervinotapteraguilberti Heiss & Marchal, 2012.

Two new genera and species of flat bugs from the Philippines (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

From the Philippines a new genus of Mezirinae: Cagayanacoris gen.nov. with the species C. menardi sp.nov. and a new genus of Carventinae: Vizcayaptera gen.nov. with the species V. minuta sp.nov. are described and illustrated.

The Oriental flat bug genus Libiocoris Kormilev, 1957 revisited: re-examination, synonymy, and description of a new genus (Heteroptera, Aradidae)

Re-examination of type specimens of LibiocorisKormilev 1957, L.poecilus from New Guinea and other taxa assigned to this genus, the Chinese Libiocorisheissi Bai, Yang & Cai, 2006 and Libiocorissinensis Bai, Yang & Cai, 2006 proved to be synonyms, thus L.heissi = L.sinensis syn. n. They are, however, different from Libiocoris Kormilev, 1957 to which they were originally assigned and a new genus Paralibiocorisgen. n. is proposed for them. Therefore Paralibiocorisheissi comb. n. = Libiocorisheissi Bai et al., 2006 = Libiocorissinensis Bai et al., 2006, syn. n. From Hainan Island, China, the following new species, P.roundangulussp. n., P.hainanensissp. n., and P.limuensissp. n., are described and figured and a key to species is provided.

A new species of Tingidae from Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

From the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber, only three genera and species of Tingidae, (Spinitingis ellenbergeri and Burmacader multivenosus Heiss Guilbert, 2013; Tingiometra burmanica Heiss et al. 2015), are reported to date. A new species Burmacader lativentris sp.nov. is described and illustrated.

Two new species of lace bugs from Dominican amber and a new species from Colombian copal (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae)

Two new fossil species (Phatnoma pulchra sp. nov., Leptopharsa antica sp. nov.) of the family Tingidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Dominican amber (Dominican Republic) and one new species (Leptopharsa colombiana sp. nov.) from Colombian copal (Colombia) are described and illustrated with photos. Features of similarities and differences from closely related fossil and recent species are given.

Three new species of the Neotropical genus Phyllotingis (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

Three new species of Phyllotingis Walker, 1873 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae), Ph. tortugueria sp. nov. and Ph. costaricana sp. nov.from Costa Rica (representing a new generic record for the country), and Ph. moraguesi sp.nov. from French Guyana are described and illustrated. A key to all species of Phyllotingis is presented.

The external scent efferent system of selected European true bugs (Heteroptera): a biomimetic inspiration for passive, unidirectional fluid transport

In this work, we present structured capillaries that were inspired by the microstructures of the external scent efferent system as found in different European true bug species (Pentatomidae and Cydnidae). These make use of small, orientated structures in order to facilitate fluid movement towards desired areas where defensive substances are evaporated. Gland channels and microstructures were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy and abstracted into three-dimensional models. We used these models to create scent channel replicas from different technical substrates (steel and polymers) by means of laser ablation, laser structuring and casting. Video analysis of conducted fluid-flow experiments showed that bug-inspired, artificial scent fluid channels can indeed transport different fluids (water solutions and oils/lubricants) passively in one direction (velocities of up to 1 mm s-1), while halting the fluid movement in the opposite direction. At the end of this contribution, we present a physical theory that explains the observed fluid transport and sets the rules for performance optimization in future work.

Adaptive camouflage: what can be learned from the wetting behaviour of the tropical flat bugs Dysodius lunatus and Dysodiusmagnus

The neotropical flat bug species Dysodius lunatus and Dysodius magnus show a fascinating camouflage principle, as their appearance renders the animal hardly visible on the bark of trees. However, when getting wet due to rain, bark changes its colour and gets darker. In order to keep the camouflage effect, it seems that some Dysodius species benefit from their ability to hold a water film on their cuticle and therefore change their optical properties when also wetted by water. This camouflage behaviour requires the insect to have a hydrophilic surface and passive surface structures which facilitate the liquid spreading. Here we show morphological and chemical characterisations of the surface, especially the cuticular waxes of D. magnus Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the animal is covered with pillar-like microstructures which, in combination with a surprising chemical hydrophilicity of the cuticle waxes, render the bug almost superhydrophilic: water spreads immediately across the surface. We could theoretically model this behaviour assuming the effect of hemi-wicking (a state in which a droplet sits on a rough surface, partwise imbibing the structure around).  Additionally the principle was abstracted and a laser-patterned polymer surface, mimicking the structure and contact angle of Dysodius wax, shows exactly the behaviour of the natural role model - immediate spreading of water and the formation of a thin continuous water film changing optical properties of the surface.

Bioinspired polymer microstructures for directional transport of oily liquids

Nature has always served as an inspiration for scientists, helping them to solve a large diversity of technical problems. In our case, we are interested in the directional transport of oily liquids and as a model for this application we used the flat bug Dysodius lunatus. In this report, we present arrays of drops looking like polymer microstructures produced by the two-photon polymerization technique that mimic the micro-ornamentation from the bug's cuticle. A good directionality of oil transport was achieved, directly controlled by the direction of the pointed microstructures at the surface. If the tips of the drop-like microstructures are pointing towards the left side, the liquid front moves to the right and vice versa. Similar effects could be expected for the transport of oily lubricants. These results could, therefore, be interesting for applications in friction and wear reduction.

Monophyly, review, six new species and DNA barcode of micropterous Afromontane <i>Afropictinus</i> (Heteroptera: Aradidae)

The micropterous East African flat bug genus Afropictinus Heiss, 1986 (Heteroptera: Aradidae: Mezirinae) is revised. In addition to the type and only known species A. congoensis (Hoberlandt, 1956) from Rwanda, four new species from Tanzania (A. castor sp. nov., A. hylas sp. nov., A. idas sp. nov., A. nauplius sp. nov.), one new species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (A. kahuzianus sp. nov.), and one new species from Ethiopia (A. nabu sp. nov.) are described and illustrated. An identification key is presented to all seven nominal species of Afropictinus. DNA barcodes of 28 individuals of Afropictinus species were newly generated and together with 12 sequences of other Aradidae were made publicly available at dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-AFROPICT. These mtDNA sequences were analyzed phylogenetically using Maximum Likelihood approach with 500 bootstraps. Obtained topology reveals a monophyletic Afropictinus with high statistical support (84%), although its sister group remains elusive. Both specimens of non-Tanzanian Afropictinus species included in the study (A. kahuzianus and A. nabu) were nested among Tanzanian congeners. The internal clades within Afropictinus, except for those at species and population level, had lesser statistical support. Despite of intense sampling, no Afropictinus species was found in mountain forests of geologically young (<2 Ma) volcanic highlands of the Ngorongoro-Kilimanjaro Volcanic Belt, which suggest reduced dispersal capacities.

Pseudowuiessa, a new genus of brachypterous Mezirinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae) from China

A new brachypterous flat bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae) genus and species, Pseudowuiessa producta Bai, Heiss & Cai, gen. nov. & sp. nov., is described from Yunnan, China. A key to related genera is given and the diagnostic characters of the new taxon are illustrated.

A remarkable fossil leptosaldine bug from Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Leptopodomorpha: Leptopodidae)

A new genus and species of leptosaldine bugs, Leptosaldinea cobbeni gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Leptopodidae) is described and illustrated from Burmese Middle Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) amber found in Kachin State, northern Myanmar. This is the third record of a leptosaldine bug from Burmese amber. A brief analysis of the characters and systematic relationships of Leptosaldinae is provided.

Rearrangement of mitochondrial tRNA genes in flat bugs (Hemiptera: Aradidae)

The typical insect mitochondrial (mt) genome organization, which contains a single chromosome with 37 genes, was found in the infraorder Pentatomomorpha (suborder Heteroptera). The arrangement of mt genes in these true bugs is usually the same as the ancestral mt gene arrangement of insects. Rearrangement of transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, however, has been found in two subfamilies of flat bugs (Mezirinae and Calisiinae, family Aradidae). In this study, we sequenced the complete mt genomes of four species from three other subfamilies (Aradinae, Carventinae and Aneurinae). We found tRNA gene rearrangement in all of these four species. All of the rearranged tRNA genes are located between the mitochondrial control region and cox1, indicating this region as a hotspot for gene rearrangement in flat bugs; the rearrangement is likely caused by events of tandem duplication and random deletion of genes. Furthermore, our phylogenetic and dating analyses indicated that the swap of positions between trnQ and trnI occurred ~162 million years ago (MYA) in the most recent common ancestor of the five subfamilies of flat bugs investigated to date, whereas the swap of positions between trnC and trnW occurred later in the lineage leading to Calisiinae, and the translocation of trnC and trnY occurred later than 134 MYA in the lineage leading to Aradinae.

Review of the Neotropical genus Helenus White, 1879, with description of a new species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

Since the description of Helenus hirsutus by Champion (1898) from Panama, it was unclear if this species was a synonym of Helenus hesiformis White, 1879 that was described from Brazil. Now it was possible to locate and compare type specimens of both species, that resulted in recognising them as valid species. In this contribution, a third species, Helenus wachteli n. sp. is described from Peru, and a key to all species of the genus Helenus is presented.

New species of Ribesaptera Heiss from eastern Madagascar (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

The rich flat bug fauna of Madagascar comprises eleven apterous genera of Mezirinae with 21 species (Heiss 2012, Heiss & Marchal 2012) to date, and all of them are endemic: Ambohitantelya Heiss & Baňař 2013 (1 sp.); Antsirabenus Heiss 2008 (2 spp.); Cervinotaptera Heiss & Marchal 2012 (1 sp.); Chlonocoris Usinger & Matsuda 1959 (3 spp.); Cimicomanes Kiritshenko 1959 (5 spp.); Classeyana Hoberlandt 1963 (1 sp.); Paulianum Hoberlandt 1957 (1 sp.); Pericartaptera Heiss 2009 (2 spp.); Ribesaptera Heiss 2011 (1 sp.); Robertiessa Hoberlandt 1963 (1 sp.) and Tananarivea Drake 1957 (3 spp.).

Type specimens of Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) collected from North Korea and adjacent regions deposited at Insect Collections of Chungnam National University (CNU) in Daejeon, Republic of Korea

A list of type specimens of Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) collected from North Korea (mostly by the late Dr. Michail Josifov, Sofia, Bulgaria) acquired earlier by E. Heiss, now donated to and deposited in the insect collections of Chungnam National University (CNU), Deajeon, Korea, is presented. A total of 31 holotypes and 694 paratypes of 41 species and 1 subspecies in 6 families and 9 subfamilies are presented: Miridae (Deraeocorinae, Mirinae, Orthotylinae, Phylinae), Tingidae (Tinginae), Piesmatidae (Piesmatinae), Berytidae (Metacanthinae), Cymidae (Cyminae), Pentatomidae (Asopinae).

A new apterous genus of Carventinae (Hemiptera: Aradidae) from China

A new apterous aradid, Paramorphocoris henanensis Bai & Heiss Cai, gen. et sp. nov., from China is described and illustrated, including the diagnostic morphological features of the new taxon.

Review and three new species of the flat bug genus Neochelonoderus Hoberlandt, 1967 from East Africa (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

The apterous East African Mezirinae flat bug genus Neochelonoderus Hoberlandt 1967 is revised. In addition to known species from Burundi (N. basilewskyi) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (N. straeleni), two new species from Tanzania (N. talaus n. sp. and N. areius n. sp.) and one from Zambia (N. hoberlandti n. sp.) are described and illustrated. A key to the species of Neochelonoderus is presented.

A new species of the genus Capsus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae) from the Korean Peninsula, with a key to the Korean Capsus species

A new species of the genus Capsus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae) from the Korean Peninsula is reported, and congeners in the Korean Peninsula are reviewed. Biological information such as host plants and distributions with a key to the Korean species are also provided. 

Aradidae from Vietnam IV. Review of the Oriental flat bug genus Lissonotocoris Usinger & Matsuda, 1959 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

To date, only the type species Lissonotocoris membranaceus Usinger & Matsuda 1959 is known and recorded from Vietnam and China, Hainan Island. Four new species of the previously monotypic genus Lissonotocoris are described and figured: loebli n.sp. (Thailand), glabronotus n.sp. (N.Vietnam), pachycerus n.sp. (Malaysia) and siamensis n.sp. (Thailand). A key for the identification of all 5 species is provided.

Grimaldinia pronotalis n.gen., n.sp. from Mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber (Hemiptera: Heteroptera, Leptopodidae, Leptosaldinae)

A new genus and species of leptopodid bug, Grimaldinia pronotalis Popov & Heiss is described and illustrated from Burmese Middle Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) amber originating from the northern Myanmar's Kachin State. This is the second finding of Leptosaldinae (Leptopodidae), after Poinar published on Palaeoleptus burmanicus from Burmese amber in 2009.

Aradidae from Vietnam III. Trichosomaptera gibbosa n.gen., n.sp., an apterous Carventinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

A new apterous flat bug genus of the subfamily Carventinae, Trichosomaptera n.gen., is described and illustrated to accommodate gibbosa n. sp. from Vietnam. The species could not be placed in any known genus.

Two new genera and species of Tingidae from Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Burma) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

From the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber, the first known genera of Tingidae, Spinitingis n. gen. and Burmacader n. gen. with the species Spinitingis ellenbergeri n. sp. and Burmacader multivenosus n. sp., are described and figured. Their systematic placement and relationship to fossil and extant taxa are discussed.

New Aradidae from Ecuador (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Aradidae)

As an addition to the presently poorly known aradid fauna of Ecuador, 3 new genera and 4 new species are described: Osellaptera setiferagen. n., sp. n.; Kormilevia ecuadorianasp. n. both belonging to Mezirinae; and CarventinaeCotopaxicoris cruciatusgen. n., sp. n. and Onorecoris piceusgen. n., sp. n. An updated key is provided for all species of the Neotropical genus Kormilevia Usinger & Matsuda, 1959.

New apterous Carventinae from Sri Lanka and Southern India (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae)

Two new species of apterous Carventinae are described in this paper. One belongs to the endemic monotypic genus Singhalaptera Heiss 2001 from Sri Lanka (Singhalaptera secunda n.sp.), and the other to the monotypic genus Signocoris Hoberlandt 1958 from Madras (Signocoris nilgiricus n.sp.). All four known species of both genera are illustrated and compared.

NK cells mediate costimulation blockade-resistant rejection of allogeneic stem cells during nonmyeloablative transplantation

Although T-cell CD28/CD40 costimulation blockade represents a powerful mechanism to promote immune tolerance during murine allotransplantation, it has not yet been successfully translated to clinical transplantation. We determined the impact of natural killer (NK) cells on costimulation blockade-resistant rejection of donor bone marrow. We found that NK cells represent a potent barrier to engraftment: host NK depletion led to increased donor stem cell survival, increased mixed hematopoietic chimerism and to engraftment of low doses of donor marrow (1 x 10(8)/kg) that were otherwise rejected. To understand the mechanisms of NK alloreactivity, we employed an in vivo NK-specific cytotoxicity assay. We found that an increased proportion of target cells were killed between days 2 and 8 after cell transfer, and that NK killing of parental targets was inducible: NK cells preprimed with allotargets were more efficient at their elimination upon reexposure. Finally, both transplant and in vivo NK-killing models were used to determine the contribution of LFA-1 to NK alloreactivity. Blockade of LFA-1 led to decreased NK-mediated killing, and increased alloengraftment. These results identify NK alloreactivity as an integral component to costimulation blockade-resistant rejection, and suggest that its inhibition may represent an important target in the clinical translation of tolerance-induction transplantation.

Nuclear factor kappa B is a molecular target for sulforaphane-mediated anti-inflammatory mechanisms

Sulforaphane (SFN), an aliphatic isothiocyanate, is a known cancer chemopreventive agent. Aiming to investigate anti-inflammatory mechanisms of SFN, we here report a potent decrease in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic signaling factors in cultured Raw 264.7 macrophages after SFN treatment, i.e. NO, prostaglandin E(2), and tumor necrosis factor alpha. SFN did not directly interact with NO, nor did it inhibit inducible nitric-oxide synthase enzymatic activity. Western blot analyses revealed time- and dose-dependent reduction of LPS-induced inducible nitric-oxide synthase as well as Cox-2 protein expression, which was suppressed at the transcriptional level. To reveal the target of SFN beyond its anti-inflammatory action, we performed electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses of transcription factor-DNA binding. Consequently, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), a pivotal transcription factor in LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory response, was identified as the key mediator. SFN selectively reduced DNA binding of NF-kappa B without interfering with LPS-induced degradation of the inhibitor of NF-kappa B nor with nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B. Because SFN can interact with thiol groups by dithiocarbamate formation, it may impair the redox-sensitive DNA binding and transactivation of NF-kappa B. Sulforaphane could either directly inactivate NF-kappa B subunits by binding to essential Cys residues or interact with glutathione or other redox regulators like thioredoxin and Ref-1 relevant for NF-kappa B function. Our data provide novel evidence that anti-inflammatory mechanisms contribute to sulforaphane-mediated cancer chemoprevention.

The yeast SEC20 gene is required for N- and O-glycosylation in the Golgi. Evidence that impaired glycosylation does not correlate with the secretory defect

The Golgi plays a fundamental role in posttranslational glycosylation, transport, and sorting of proteins. The mechanism of protein transport through the Golgi has been seen as controversial in recent years. During the characterization of N-glycosylation-defective mutants (ngd) previously isolated by this laboratory, it was found that ngd20 is allelic to sec20. SEC20 was reported to be required for transport from endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi, but its precise function remains to be determined. We show now that SEC20 is also required for N- and O-glycosylation in the Golgi but not in the ER, in a cargo-specific manner, and that the glycosylation defect does not correlate with the secretory defect. By pulse-chase labeling experiments in combination with mannose linkage-specific antibodies, invertase and carboxypeptidase were found to be efficiently secreted to their final compartment, even upon shift to the nonpermissive temperature, while glycosylation in the Golgi was severely impaired. Using microsomal membranes isolated from ngd20, we found that mannosyl transfer from GDP-Man to various mannose-oligosaccharides, indicative for Golgi mannosylation, was strongly diminished. Analysis of the carbohydrate component of chitinase, an exclusively O-mannosylated protein, or of the bulk mannoprotein indicates that O-mannosylation is also reduced. The results demonstrate that in addition to secretion SEC20 also affects glycosylation in the Golgi, presumably because it exerts a more general role in maintenance and function of the Golgi compartments.

Preirradiation gemcitabine chemotherapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. A phase II study

BACKGROUND

The median survival for patients with glioblastoma is reported to be 12 months. To improve the outcome for glioblastoma patients, the authors evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of preirradiation gemcitabine chemotherapy followed by standard radiotherapy.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma were enrolled in a prospective unicenter trial of preirradiation gemcitabine chemotherapy. Chemotherapy included up to 4 monthly cycles of intravenous gemcitabine (Day 1, Day 8, and Day 15; 1000 mg/m2). Involved field radiotherapy was given after chemotherapy or earlier in the case of disease progression or gemcitabine intolerance.

RESULTS

With gemcitabine chemotherapy alone, there was a median progression free survival of 11 weeks and a progression free survival rate at 4 months of 24%. In 18 of 21 patients who subsequently received a full course of radiotherapy, the median progression free survival from the time of diagnosis was 8 months and the progression free survival rate at 12 months was 17% (3 of 18 patients). The median overall survival was 11 months. There was no specific treatment-related neurotoxicity reported. Neither age nor extent of residual postoperative tumor predicted the duration of progression free survival in patients treated with gemcitabine chemotherapy alone or in those treated with gemcitabine plus radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Gemcitabine followed by radiotherapy is a safe regimen for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma but the gemcitabine schedule used in the current study did not appear to confer any survival advantage compared with standard involved field radiotherapy alone.

Role of hydrodynamic processes in the pathogenesis of peritumoral brain edema in meningiomas

OBJECT

In a prospective study, 28 patients with 32 intracranial meningiomas were examined to determine the role of hydrodynamic interaction between tumor and surrounding brain tissue in the pathogenesis of peritumoral brain edema.

METHODS

Gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DPTA), an extracellular contrast agent used for routine clinical imaging, remains strictly extracellular without crossing an intact blood-brain barrier. Therefore, it is well suited for investigations of hydrodynamic extracellular mechanisms in the development of brain edema. Spin-echo T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired before and after intravenous administration of 0.2 mmol/kg Gd-DPTA. Additional T1-weighted imaging was performed 0.6, 3.5, and 6.5 hours later. No significant Gd-DPTA diffused from tumor into peritumoral brain tissue in 12 meningiomas without surrounding brain edema. In contrast, in 17 of 20 meningiomas with surrounding edema, contrast agent in peritumoral brain tissue was detectable after 3.5 hours and 6.5 hours. In three of 20 meningiomas with minimum surrounding edema (<5 cm3), contrast agent effusion was absent. After 3.5 hours and 6.5 hours strong correlations of edema volume and the maximum distance of contrast spread from the tumor margin into adjacent brain parenchyma (r = 0.84 and r = 0.87, respectively, p < 0.0001) indicated faster effusion in larger areas of edema.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study show that significant contrast agent effusion from the extracellular space of the tumor into the interstitium of the peritumoral brain tissue is only found in meningiomas with surrounding edema. This supports the hypothesis that hydrodynamic processes play an essential role in the pathogenesis of peritumoral brain edema in meningiomas.

[The significance of morphological changes in the brain-tumor border area for the pathogenesis of brain edema in meningiomas: magnetic resonance tomographic and intraoperative studies]

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to verify a possible correlation between macroscopic changes of the brain-tumor interface (BTI) and the development of a peritumoral brain edema in meningiomas.

METHODS

27 meningiomas were investigated in this prospective study using an optimized inversion-recovery (IR) sequence. After i.v. administration of 0.2 mmol Gd-DTPA/kg axial and coronary images were acquired (slice thickness = 2 mm). The distances of signal altered cortex and obliterations of the subarachnoid space (SAS) were measured at the BTI and related to the pial tumor circumference (cortical-index and SAS-index). Intraoperatively the BTI was divided into the following categories: 0: SAS not obliterated, 1: SAS partially obliterated, 2: direct contact between tumor and white matter, 3: tumor infiltration into brain.

RESULTS

Edema-associated meningiomas showed a significantly (p = 0.0001) increased SAS-index (0.47 vs. 0.07) and cortical index (0.45 vs. 0.0) compared to cases without edema. Intraoperatively 95% of meningiomas with brain edema showed SAS-obliterations, compared to 50% of cases without an edema.

CONCLUSIONS

Arachnoid adhesions at the BTI with obliteration of the SAS seem to play an essential role in the induction of brain edema in meningiomas.

Angiogenesis and brain oedema in intracranial meningiomas: influence of vascular endothelial growth factor

The correlation between angiographic neovascularization, peritumoural brain oedema (PTBOe) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), was analysed in 30 patients with intracranial meningiomas. Pre-operative angiograms were examined for the existence of either an exclusively dural tumour blush or an additionally pial tumour supply from cerebral arteries. Furthermore the presence of macroscopic tumour-neovascularization and dysplastic changes of tumour-draining cerebral veins was evaluated. VEGF expression was investigated on histological tissue samples, using immunohistochemical techniques. VEGF immunohistochemistry and neuroradiological evaluations were performed in double blind fashion. Tumour volume and the amount of oedema were calculated by computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The oedema-tumour volume ratio was defined as oedema index (OeI). Compared to VEGF-negative meningiomas, tumours with striking VEGF staining revealed a significant higher mean oedema index (OeI = 4.2 vs. OeI = 1.5; p < 0.018), and a higher oedema incidence (91.7% vs. 44.4%; p < 0.046). Equally, meningiomas with additionally tumour supply from cerebral arteries were associated with a significant higher mean OeI (OeI = 4.1 vs. OeI = 1.2; p < 0.01) and oedema incidence (94.7% vs. 20.0%; p < 0.0023) than meningiomas with exclusively tumour supply from dural arteries. All meningiomas with striking VEGF-expression were associated with vascular tumour supply from cerebral arteries, but VEGF-negative tumours only in 50% (p < 0.029). These data suggest a link between VEGF-expression, arterial tumour supply and peritumoural brain oedema. The development of tumour supply from cerebral arteries may be important for formation of meningioma-related oedema. Therefore, VEGF may represent a potent mediator in the evolution of this type of vascularization in meningiomas.

Peritumoural brain oedema in intracranial meningiomas: influence of tumour size, location and histology

Peritumoural brain oedema was examined retrospectively in 175 patients with 179 intracranial meningiomas. The influence of tumour size, location and histology were investigated. Tumour volume and localization, and the presence of peritumoural brain oedema (PTBOe) were determined by computed tomography (CT). The oedema-tumour volume ratio was defined as Oedema Index (Oel). All patients underwent microsurgical removal of the tumour. Surgically resected meningiomas were classified histopathologically based on criteria of the new World Health Organization (WHO) classification. A close relationship was found between the tumour size and the incidence of peritumoural oedema: with increasing size of the tumour the incidence of oedema also rises, the oedema index, however decreases. Frontobasal and temporobasal meningiomas showed a significant increase in the oedema incidence and the mean oedema index. If major parts of the surface of meningiomas were adjacent to subarachnoid cisterns only a slight tendency for the development of oedema was observed. WHO-III-meningiomas showed a significantly higher oedema incidence (61.1% vs. 94.4%; p < 0.004) and mean oedema index (Oel = 2.7 vs. 3.7; p < 0.0009) than WHO-I-meningiomas. Brain tissue was affected in 59 cases. 19 meningiomas with infiltration into adjacent brain parenchyma revealed a statistically significant increase in oedema incidence (94.7% vs. 51.7%; p < 0.0003) and mean oedema index (Oel = 3.9 vs. Oel = 2.2; p < 0.0001) when compared to tumours without any brain tissue involvement in the histopathological specimens. Tumours with large volume, fronto-temporo-basal location and anaplastic histology were not only associated with the highest incidence of oedema formation but also presented with an overproportionate infiltrative growth. Thus, a disruption of the arachnoid or a true brain infiltration may be an essential factor for the development of a PTBOe.

Chondroma of the cerebellopontine angle. Case report

A patient is reported who had a solitary chondroma of the cerebellopontine angle. The tumor was totally removed. The diagnostic value of CT-scanning and MRI in this rare pathological condition are discussed.

Giant cell tumor of the occipital bone in a case of von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis

Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF1) is the most common hereditary syndrome predisposing to neoplasia. The most common symptomatic manifestation of NF1 is the plexiform neurofibroma. We describe the case of a patient with classical von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis presenting with a giant cell tumor (GCT) of the occipital bone infiltrating a surrounding plexiform neurofibroma.