Neuroprotection of midbrain dopaminergic cells in MPTP‐treated mice after near‐infrared light treatment

This study explores whether near‐infrared (NIr) light treatment neuroprotects dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the zona incerta‐hypothalamus (ZI‐Hyp) from degeneration in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐treated mice. BALB/c albino mice were divided into four groups: 1) Saline, 2) Saline‐NIr, 3) MPTP, 4) MPTP‐NIr. The injections were intraperitoneal and they were followed immediately by NIr light treatment (or not). Two doses of MPTP, mild (50 mg/kg) and strong (100 mg/kg), were used. Mice were perfused transcardially with aldehyde fixative 6 days after their MPTP treatment. Brains were processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunochemistry. The number of TH⁺ cells was estimated using the optical fractionator method. Our major finding was that in the SNc there were significantly more dopaminergic cells in the MPTP‐NIr compared to the MPTP group (35%–45%). By contrast, in the ZI‐Hyp there was no significant difference in the numbers of cells in these two groups. In addition, our results indicated that survival in the two regions after MPTP insult was dose‐dependent. In the stronger MPTP regime, the magnitude of loss was similar in the two regions (≈60%), while in the milder regime cell loss was greater in the SNc (45%) than ZI‐Hyp (≈30%). In summary, our results indicate that NIr light treatment offers neuroprotection against MPTP toxicity for dopaminergic cells in the SNc, but not in the ZI‐Hyp. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:25–40, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Outcome of living donor renal allograft survival in children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Abstract:  FSGS is the most frequent GN that may recur in a renal allograft. Compared with adults, the impact of FSGS on graft survival appears to be more significant in children. Thus we decided to assess graft survival and complications after renal transplantation in children with FSGS. Outcome of renal transplantation in 25 children with FSGS who received a renal transplant at Labafi Nejad Hospital was studied and compared with 75 patients as a control group. The mean follow-up duration was 68.16 (s.d. = 41.93) months. Other than demographics, variables such as DGF, acute rejection, number of acute rejection episodes, and graft failure in both groups were evaluated. Acute rejection was seen in 22/25 (88%) of FSGS group, compared to 40/75 (53.3%) in the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). DGF was seen in 4/25 (16%) and 13/75 (17.3%) in the FSGS and control groups, respectively (p = N.S.). The mean graft survival time was 115.61 (s.e.m. = 12.56) and 155.56 (s.e.m. = 7.16) month in FSGS and control group, respectively (p = N.S.). We demonstrated that graft function and survival were not significantly different in the FSGS and control patients. However, acute rejection episodes were more common in FSGS patients but without a significant impact on graft survival.     

Death following tonsillectomy in a child with Williams syndrome

Williams syndrome (WS) is an uncommon genetic syndrome due to a deletion of several genes on chromosome 7. The syndrome is associated with dysmorphic facies, neurological manifestations, idiopathic hypercalcemia, and cardiac abnormalities, particularly supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS). Children with Williams syndrome may have chronic serous otitis media and/or obstructive sleep apnea. Hyperacusis is also commonly seen in these children. We report a case of sudden death at the time of tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy and bilateral tympanostomy tube placement in a child with Williams syndrome. All children with Williams syndrome should have a thorough cardiac evaluation before undergoing general anesthesia for any otolaryngologic procedure.     

Gliomatosis cerebri: pitfalls in diagnosis.

We report two young patients with obscure presentations of gliomatosis cerebri. Initial CT scanning was inconclusive and in one case showed intraventricular haemorrhage, a feature not previously described. Magnetic resonance imaging was required to show the lesions with greater definition; however, in both cases, a biopsy was needed to confirm the diagnosis.     

Surveillance for metastatic hemangiopericytoma-solitary fibrous tumors-systematic literature review on incidence,predictors and diagnosis of extra-cranial disease

Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain malignancy with poor outcomes. Current standard of care involves surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Even with optimal treatment, 5-year survival rates are low. Many patients are unable to tolerate the considerable side effects that therapy involves and suffer from low quality of life. Anti-mitotic tumor treating fields have shown potential in treating glioblastoma with data suggesting that they prolong disease-free survival and overall survival. Novocure has marketed a device that generates these fields via externally placed electrodes. Incorporation of electric field therapy into GBM treatment has been somewhat slow, due to concerns about cost, practicality of its usage from a patient perspective, and hesitation of the medical and scientific community to embrace its unconventional mechanism. However, clinical trials have demonstrated this therapy has relatively minor side effects and high patient compliance. In this review, we explore the current state of this technology and discuss the benefits and limitations of tumor treating fields.     

Axial black blood turbo spin echo imaging of the right ventricle

Black blood turbo spin echo (TSE) imaging of the right ventricle (RV) free wall is highly sensitive to cardiac motion, frequently resulting in nondiagnostic images. Temporal and spatial parameters of a black blood TSE pulse sequence were evaluated for visualization of the RV free wall. Seventy‐four patient studies were retrospectively evaluated for the effects of acquisition timing on image quality. Axial black blood TSE images were acquired on 10 healthy volunteers to assess the role of spatial misregistration on right ventricle visualization; increasing the double inversion recovery (DIR) slice thickness beyond 300% had no effect on image quality (P = 0.2). Thirty‐five patient studies were prospectively evaluated with inversion times (TIs) corresponding to the mid‐diastolic rest period and end‐systole based on visual analysis of a four chamber cine. When TIs were chosen to be within the patients' RV rest period, mean image quality score was significantly improved (2.3 vs 1.86; P < 0.001) and the number of clinically diagnostic images increased from 32% to 46%. Black blood TSE imaging of the RV free wall is highly sensitive to cardiac motion. Image quality can be improved by choosing TIs concordant with the rest period of the patient's RV that may occur at mid‐diastole or end‐systole. Magn Reson Med 61:307–314, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.