Jugular venous thrombosis: MR imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of jugular venous thrombosis was investigated in three patients who had symptoms suggestive of this condition; the diagnosis was later confirmed by computed tomography, by venography, and clinically. Bright intraluminal signal intensity was seen throughout the course of the affected jugular vein on MR images in all three patients, in sharp contrast to the lack of signal from the corresponding site in the uninvolved venous system. Temporal changes in signal intensity from the acute to subacute stage of thrombosis were evaluated for one patient. A relative increase in signal intensity for the subacute phase was believed to be related to a decrease in the T1 relaxation time. MR may be the imaging modality of choice in the investigation of venous thrombosis.     

Ocular and orbital lesions: surface coil MR imaging

Nine lesions, four ocular (three melanomas, one hemangioma) and five orbital (two perioptic meningiomas, one hemangioma, one pseudotumor, one mucocele), were evaluated by magnetic resonance surface coil imaging at 1.5 T. Small ocular lesions with 3.9-4.5-mm-elevation were demonstrated. The use of two different pulse sequences resulted in separation of melanoma from adjacent retinal detachment. Contrast obtained between orbital lesions and the adjacent normal structures was better than that demonstrated with high-resolution computed tomography.     

Endocervical gland involvement by cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III. Predictive value for residual and/or recurrent disease

The prognostic significance for residual or recurrent disease of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Grade III in endocervical glands by cone biopsy was examined in 341 consecutive patients diagnosed from 1979 through 1983 and followed through 1988. Treatment by hysterectomy, within 8 weeks of cone biopsy, was done in 96 patients. The only variable that could predict residual disease at hysterectomy was positive margins (P = 0.059). However, both positive margins and positive glands were (independently of one another and after the effects of length of follow-up, hospital of admission, and age at time of first diagnosis were held constant) highly significant predictors of residual or recurrent disease in the 245 women who did not undergo a hysterectomy (P = 0.000 for each). The authors therefore conclude that information concerning gland involvement on cone biopsy specimens should influence patient management.     

Prognostic factors for malignant mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus

This study examined factors affecting the survival of 28 consecutive patients with malignant mixed Mullerian tumors diagnosed at New York University Medical Center from 1971 through 1985. The cumulative 5-year survival for all patients was 38%. Patients with pedunculated tumors (18/25) had a significantly improved 5-year survival of 53% compared with patients having a tumor with a broad-based attachment (7/25), all of whom died within 1 year (p less than 0.01). Eleven patients whose tumors demonstrated vascular invasion had a worse prognosis compared with 14 patients without demonstrable vascular invasion (18% versus 53% 5-year survival; p less than 0.05). Interestingly, patients with pedunculated tumors persisted in having an improved survival even after correcting for vascular invasion, compared with patients having broad-based tumor attachment. Small tumor size (less than or equal to 7 cm) also proved to be a significant and independent prognostic indicator for improved survival. Advanced stage, heterologous sarcomatous elements, and deep myometrial invasion (greater than one-third invasion) tended to be associated with decreased survival, but not with statistical significance. Patient age and grade of the carcinoma element did not appear to affect survival.     

Reductive metabolism of ascorbic acid in the central nervous system

Rat and feline brain and feline spinal cord were examined for the presence of semidehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.6.5.4) and dehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.8.5.1). Semidehydroascorbate reductase (SDAR), as monitored by both ascorbyl radical-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase activity and NADH-dependent ascorbyl radical quenching, was present in all tissues studied. Rat cerebrum exhibited the highest levels and feline spinal cord the lowest. SDAR activity was about twice as high in feline cerebral cortex as in underlying white matter, and paralleled ascorbic acid levels. Subcellular fractionation of rat cerebrum localized most SDAR in a large granular fraction. In contrast, dehydroascorbate reductase was not detectable in any of the tissues examined. The results suggest that semidehydroascorbate reductase is the major enzyme catalyzing the regeneration of reduced ascorbic acid in the central nervous system.     

Medication induced gingival overgrowth

A number of idiopathic, pathological and pharmacological reactions may result in an overgrowth of the gingiva. This review concentrates on those overgrowths associated with various pharmacological agents. The pharmacokinetics and side effects of each drug associated with gingival overgrowth are discussed along with the clinical and histological features and treatment. By examining the possible pathogeneses for these overgrowths we propose a unifying hypothesis for the causation based around inhibition of apoptosis and decreased collagenase activity modulated by cytoplasmic calcium.