Maintaining the integrity of the mitotic spindle in metaphase is essential to ensure normal cell division. We show here that depletion of microtubule-associated protein ATIP3 reduces metaphase spindle length. Mass spectrometry analyses identified the microtubule minus-end depolymerizing kinesin Kif2A as an ATIP3 binding protein. We show that ATIP3 controls metaphase spindle length by interacting with Kif2A and its partner Dda3 in an Aurora kinase A-dependent manner. In the absence of ATIP3, Kif2A and Dda3 accumulate at spindle poles, which is consistent with reduced poleward microtubule flux and shortening of the spindle. ATIP3 silencing also limits Aurora A localization to the poles. Transfection of GFP-Aurora A, but not kinase-dead mutant, rescues the phenotype, indicating that ATIP3 maintains Aurora A activity on the poles to control Kif2A targeting and spindle size. Collectively, these data emphasize the pivotal role of Aurora kinase A and its mutual regulation with ATIP3 in controlling spindle length.

Inclusion of brain tumour patients in oncological protocols may be hampered by their neurological impairment. The goal of this study was to assess the reliability of Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and WHO Performance Scale (WHO-PS) scores in this population.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted through the Association des Neuro-Oncologues d’Expression Française (ANOCEF) and European Neuro-Oncology Association (EANO) networks. Clinicians were asked to write a text defining their operative definition of a patient with ≥ 70 KPS and to assess KPS and WHO-PS in six different clinical case vignettes.

Two hundred seventy-six clinicians sent a response. The operative definition mentioned a normal life (89%), what patients were able (26%) or unable (29%) to do, normal cognitive processing (8%) and caregivers (6%). Older physicians mentioned more often what patients were unable to do (p = 0.005). The two scales were homogeneous in less severely handicapped patients only. More patients were excluded for hemiplegia than for expressive aphasia. Older physicians significantly excluded more patients for KPS and WHO-PS. Speciality of the physician significantly influenced scoring. On multivariable analysis, age and speciality of the physicians were correlated with KPS and WHO-PS rating even if adjusted on cases. Discordant scoring increased with severity of the deficit in nearly all cases, the KPS would have denied, while WHO-PS would have allowed, access to a trial.

Performance scores assigned to brain tumour patients are clinician and score dependant. WHO-PS would allow more access to a trial. selleck Specific criteria should be developed for patients with neurological deficits to facilitate their access to trials.

Performance scores assigned to brain tumour patients are clinician and score dependant. WHO-PS would allow more access to a trial. Specific criteria should be developed for patients with neurological deficits to facilitate their access to trials.On the one hand, the emotional state can influence food intake and on the other hand, hunger can have an impact on the emotional state. Leptin, which is encoded by the ob gene, is involved in the energy homeostasis and plays a role in development of obesity. Mice deficient for leptin (ob/ob) are obese and display several behavioral alterations. It has been shown that ob/ob mice display striking changes in neuronal plasticity within the limbic system, e.g., hippocampal formation. We focus on alterations in ob/ob mice that can be related to alter processing in another part of the limbic system, the amygdala. ob/ob mice have a higher food consumption than age-matched controls, which might have an impact on the emotional state of these mice. Since the amygdala is involved in emotional processing, we analyze whether ob/ob mice display alterations in plasticity at the electrophysiological and structural level. No changes were seen in dendritic spine densities in the basolateral and lateral (LA) nucleus of the amygdala. Interestingly and in contrast to the hippocampus (Porter et al. 2013), long-term potentiation in the LA was increased in ob/ob mice. Our results indicate that amygdalar and hippocampal synaptic plasticity are regulated in different ways by leptin deficiency in accordance with the different functions of these limbic structures in stress and anxiety.The hematopoietic niche is a specialized microenvironment that supports the survival, proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs). Three-dimensional (3D) models mimicking hematopoiesis might allow in vitro and in vivo studies of the hematopoietic (HP) process. Here, we investigate the capacity of a 3D construct based on non-adherent murine bone marrow mononuclear cells (NA-BMMNCs), mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and collagen microspheres (CMs), all embedded into plasma clot (PC) to support in vitro and in vivo hematopoiesis. Confocal analysis of the 3D hematopoietic construct (3D-HPC), cultured for 24 h, showed MSC lining the CM and the NA-BMMNCs closely associated with MSC. In vivo hematopoiesis was examined in 3D-HPC subcutaneously implanted in mice and harvested at different intervals. Hematopoiesis in the 3D-HPC was evaluated by histology, cell morphology, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and hematopoietic colony formation assay. 3D-HPC implants were integrated and vascularized in the host tissue, after 3 months of implantation. Histological studies showed the presence of hematopoietic tissue with the presence of mature blood cells. Cells from 3D-HPC showed viability greater than 90%, expressed HSPCs markers, and formed hematopoietic colonies, in vitro. Confocal microscopy studies showed that MSCs adhered to the CM and NA-BMMNCs were scattered across the 3D-HPC area and in close association with MSC. In conclusion, the 3D-HPC mimics a hematopoietic niche supporting the survival, proliferation and differentiation of HSPCs, in vivo. 3D-HPC may allow evaluation of regulatory mechanisms involved in hematopoiesis.

Our aim was to investigate whether the surgical approach, i.e. endoscopic (ET) versus conventional/open thyroidectomy (ConT), contributes towards the improvement in quality of life (QoL), cosmetic outcomes and overall patient satisfaction with treatment.

We conducted a prospective study (October 2016-August 2018) consisting of patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy for euthyroid, non-malignant solitary thyroid nodules (STNs). Patients were divided into two groups Group I (ET)-41 patients and Group II (ConT)-52 patients. ET was performed via bilateral-axillo breast approach (BABA). A thyroid disease-specific questionnaire “ThyPRO-39hin” was used to evaluate pre- and post-operative QoL. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for post-operative pain. Cosmetic satisfaction, paraesthesia and overall satisfaction with treatment were evaluated using Likert-type verbal response scales. Pre- and post-operative scores (>6months) were compared, and p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Mean age (p = 0.26), gender distribution (p = 0.