Intracranial plasmacytoma: a case report

Multiple myeloma may have extraosseous manifestations in the cranial region. It may be a solitary intracranial tumour without any other signs of multiple myeloma, or intracranial disease may be a part of generalised disease, as in the present case. Our patient had received chemotherapy for multiple myeloma for 9 months, with good response. However, her condition suddenly deteriorated, with signs of increased intracranial pressure and a 5-cm-diameter tumour infiltrating the meninges and brain was found in the left temporal fossa. The radiological diagnosis, based on contrast-enhanced CT and angiography, was not straightforward or specific for plasmacytoma, as chemotherapy for the extracranial disease had been successful. Diseases such as meningioma, metastasis, lymphoma, chondrosarcoma or haemangioma had to be considered. Received: 1 November 1994 Accepted: 31 August 1995     

Valproinsäure in der prophylaktischen Behandlung der Migräne

Zusammenfassung Im Jahr 1988 wurde erstmals von der m?glichen Wirksamkeit der Valproins?ure in der Migr?neprophylaxe berichtet. Seit 1992 sind insgesamt 359 Patienten in 5 Doppelblindstudien untersucht. In allen Studien ergab sich eine signifikant überlegene Wirksamkeit im Vergleich zu Placebo, eine Studie belegt einen gleichen Effekt wie Propranolol. Es fehlen noch Wirksamkeitsanalysen, die sich am Plasmaspiegel orientieren. Die Nebenwirkungen entsprechen denen aus der Epilepsietherapie, scheinen aber im Vergleich zu Propranolol etwas h?her zu liegen. International und nach den Empfehlungen der Deutschen Migr?ne- und Kopfschmerzgesellschaft gilt Valproins?ure mittlerweile als etabliertes Mittel der zweiten Wahl.      

Time-dependent changes of insufficiency fractures of the sacrum: intraosseous vacuum phenomenon as an early sign

Sacral insufficiency fractures develop over a period of time and show time-dependent changes. We report on 15 CT examinations of 5 patients with early-stage insufficiency fractures of the sacrum. In 4 patients only irregular sclerosis without distinct fracture lines was present in 7 of 8 fractures. Of these 4 patients; 3 exhibited intraosseous gas inclusions in a ventral part of a lateral mass; 5 of 8 fractures disclosed a ventral cortical break. When distinct fracture lines had developed in 1 patient, intraosseous vacuum phenomenon had disappeared. Fracture lines evolve over weeks to months and show central bone absorption. The fractures can heal as demonstrated in 4 of 6 fractures in 3 patients, can persist over 1 year without significant changes or can progress to pseudoarthrosis with bone destruction similar to neuropathic joint disease. Intraosseous vacuum phenomena can persist to this stage. Intraosseous vacuum phenomenon is recognized as a potential finding in the early stage of sacral insufficiency fracture, which also is true for irregular sclerosis and ventral cortical disruption. Correspondence to: A. Stäbler     

Percutaneous aspiration and ethanol sclerotherapy of symptomatic hepatic cysts

Nineteen patients with 49 symptomatic non-neoplastic non-parasitic simple hepatic cysts were subjected to ultrasonographically guided percutaneous aspiration and temporary injection of 99% ethanol into the cyst. Small cysts were treated twice, the large ones three times at the same sitting. The volume of alcohol per injection varied from 20 to 100 ml, depending on the size of the cyst. A cure was usually achieved with one ethanol sclerotherapy treatment. Only minor side effects such as transient pain and temperature elevation occurred. Forty-seven of the 49 cysts could be treated adequately, and did not recur during a follow-up period af 12–40 months. The results indicate that aspiration an and ethanol sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice in patients with symptomatic non-neoplastic simple hepatic cysts or polycystic liver disease. Correspondence to: A. Leinonen     

Liver metabolic effects of intestinal shock and naloxone treatment in the rat

The liver metabolic response of rats following a standardized intestinal shock, induced by applying a pressure of 120 cm water on the mesenteric vessels for 60 min, was studied. Immediately prior to the release of the pressure on the vessels saline or naloxone was given either as a single injection or as a continuous infusion. After the reperfusion of the intestine no early disturbances in liver metabolism were found as evidenced from the ATP, glucose and lactate levels in liver biopsies taken 15 min following reflow. Within 60 min of reflow reduction of ATP and increases of glucose and lactate levels occurred. There were no major hemodynamic or liver metabolic differences between saline- and naloxone-treated shocked rats. When saline or naloxone was given as a continuous infusion, the changes in liver metabolism were, however, less severe than those observed in the single injection situation pointing toward a non-specific effect of volume replacement rather than a blockade of opioid receptors. Hepatic hypoxia and/or cellular effects of "shock factors" could be mechanisms of pathophysiologic importance for the disturbed liver metabolism in this shock model.     

Indomethacin in canine acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis

The effects of indomethacin administration on hemodynamics were investigated in canine acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis (AHP). Thirteen mongrel dogs were randomly divided into a fluid treatment group, an indomethacin prophylaxis group (IMP), and an indomethacin therapy (IM) group. Indomethacin (5 mg/kg) was administered as a bolus dosage 30 min before the induction of AHP in the IMP group. In the IM group, indomethacin was also given as a bolus (5 mg/kg) in 5 min starting 30 min after the induction of AHP. AHP was induced with a mixture of trypsin and sodium taurocholate infused into the pancreatic duct. Hemodynamics were monitored during the 4.5 h of surveillance time. Heart rate did not change significantly between the groups. Indomethacin prophylaxis maintained mean arterial pressure at a significantly higher level (P less than 0.05) and prevented the initial fall in blood pressure when compared to the fluid treatment or IM group. Indomethacin increased cardiac output (P less than 0.05) in the IM group, but did not differ significantly in the IMP group in comparison with the fluid treatment group. In conclusion, the inhibition of the initial fall in blood pressure by indomethacin in AHP suggests prostaglandins to play a role in hemodynamic changes and pancreatic shock to be "septic" as evaluated by hemodynamic changes.     

Phase I trial of the polyelectrolyte carbetimer administered i.v. once every four weeks

Summary Carbetimer, a new synthetic low molecular weight polyelectrolyte with a novel structure displayed antitumor activiy in a number of animal tumor model systems and in vitro investigations. Based on these findings it was brought to a phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced malignant disease after failure of conventional treatment or with no conventional treatment available. Forty-eight patients received 98 courses. The schedule was a one hour i.v. infusion every four weeks. The starting dose was 180 mg/m² and dose escalation was performed according to a modified Fibonacci formula up to 16,690 mg/m². At least three patients were treated at each dose level and each patient was eligible to receive repeat courses at the same dose, until progressive disease or dose-limiting toxicity intervened. No hematological toxicity was encountered. Some adverse effects such as reversible proteinuria, hypercalcaemia, pain at infusion site, nausea and vomiting and fatigue were seen partly in a dose-related manner but did not represent the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The limiting toxicity at the highest dose level of 16,690 mg/m² consisted of ocular symptoms (light flashes) accompanied by a modest decrease of blood pressure and nausea or vomiting during a one hour infusion. 16,690 mg/m²/1 hour was considered the MTD. There were four deaths on study, all considered diseaserelated. Fourteen patients had stable disease for more than two courses, which, however, could also be explained by the natural course of disease. No clear-cut antitumor responses were noted in our study center.The recommended dose for phase II trials derived from our results is 12,550 mg/m²/2 hours. However, with regard to experiences in other phase I studies, the subsequent phase II studies will be performed with a dose of 6,500 mg/m².     

Refraction and accommodation in diabetic school children

Refraction and accommodation of 61 diabetic children (aged 9 to 16 years) and 92 non-diabetic children (aged 10 to 16 years) were studied. Myopia was found in 36.1% of the diabetic children and in 29.3% of the non-diabetic children. The difference was not statistically significant. In the diabetic children, the age of the onset of myopia and the progression of myopia were the same as in the usual myopia at school age. The refraction curve of the diabetic children was less peaked than that of the non-diabetic children; a greater number of low myopic refractions were observed, and the low hyperopic refractions were more evenly distributed in the curve of the diabetic children. The mean accommodation of the diabetic children was 9.9 D +/- 2.2, and in the non-diabetic children it was 11.8 D +/- 2.6. The difference was statistically significant. The accommodation of both the diabetic and non-diabetic girls was lower than that of the boys. The accommodation in the myopic diabetic children was statistically significantly lower than the accommodation in the hyperopic diabetic children.