The Effect of Hypoxia on the Epileptiform Activities Induced by Magnesium-Free Medium in Rat Brain Slices

Abstract: In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the seizure generation, the present study has investigated the effect of hypoxia on the transition between seizure and interictal bursting. Bathing rat brain slices of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in magnesium-free medium elicits electrographic seizures. However, they are eventually replaced by the interictal bursts. It has previously been shown that the interictal bursts, arising in the hippocampal area CA3, are propagated to and disrupt the seizure generation in the entorhinal cortex. In this report we demonstrate that bypoxia promotes the seizure reappearance in the entorhind cortex by suppressing the interictal bursts in CA3.     

Adaptation of a preembedding electron microscopic in situ hybridization for detection of the telomere region in human interphase nuclei

The in situ hybridization (ISH) method is generally used in light microscopy but not in electron microscopy. We investigated whether the ISH method can be applied to electron microscopy (EM) by a preembedding method using human lymphocyte nuclei as a material. In addition, we also present some data from fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the same DNA probe. We indicate the suitability of preembedding EM-ISH to isolated cells.     

Perineural extension of nasopharyngeal carcinoma into the posterior cranial fossa detected by magnetic resonance imaging

We report a case with perineural extension of carcinoma arising from the nasopharynx. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium-DTPA enhancement detected subtle but evident findings of perineural tumor extension through the jugulare foramen into the posterior cranial fossa.     

Maffucci's syndrome associated with primary brain tumor: report of a case

A rare case of Maffucci's syndrome associated with astrocytoma at the right frontal lobe and intracranial chondroma is reported in detail with a review of literature. A 24-year-old male who had diagnosed as multiple chondroma at the age of 14 years old was admitted to the hospital with complaint of double vision. Neurological examination revealed no abnormality except for the left abducens palsy. Multiple subcutaneous blue nodules in the left hand was carried for biopsy as cavernous hemangioma. Craniograph showed expansive radiolucent area in the parasellar region. CT scan demonstrated a round shaped low density area in the right frontal lobe, part of which was iso-density and turned out to be enhanced following contrast infusion. Roentgenogram disclosed many well-demarcated radiolucent area in phalanges of the left hand and leg, and right leg and third rib. The frontal tumor was totally extirpated and was histologically fibrillary astrocytoma. This is the ninth case of the Maffucci's syndrome associated with the primary intracranial tumor in the literature. It is emphasized that the Maffucci's syndrome is associated with a high incidence of malignancy. And the reason for tendency to develop malignant tumors is discussed.     

A correlation between serum immunosuppressive acidic protein and altered immunocompetence in patients with brain tumours

Summary The present investigation was conducted to document a correlation between the serum levels of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) and depressed lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogens in vitro in patients with intracranial tumours, and to delineate the possible roles of IAP upon immunocompetence in these patients. It was thought that high concentrations of IAP present in the serum of brain-tumour patients may play a significant role in the immunosuppression seen in this patient population. The effect of IAP upon mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte function was evaluated by tritiated (³H)-thymidine incorporation. Lymphocytes from both 30 patients with intracranial tumours and 30 normal individuals were incubated for 90 hours in culture medium in the presence of three mitogens: phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Lymphocytes obtained from patients with brain tumours and cultured in autologous serum displayed a significant depression of³H-thymidine incorporation, as was observed in previous studies. In addition, a significant suppression of mitogen-induced activation of the normal lymphocytes was demonstrated in the presence of allogeneic patients' serum and the percentage of inhibition was found significantly proportional to the IAP concentrations. Furthermore it was also demonstrated that increased levels of serum IAP could significantly correlate with two in vivo aspects of impaired cellular immunity: the decreased lymphocyte counts in the peripheral blood and diminished cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions measured by purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test reactivity. On the other hand, an attempt was also made to investigate changes in humoral immunity and immunoglobulin concentrations were observed not to correspond to the serum IAP levels. These studies suggest a possible connection between serum IAP levels and altered cellular immune competence in brain-tumour patients.     

Positron emission tomography (PET) of an invasive ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma

We report a case of large, invasive ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma with PET study. In CT scans, an intra- and supra-sellar mass diminished after replacement therapy for primary hypoadrenalism. Two years and seven months later, the tumor grew and extended into the neighboring structures. 11C-methionine accumulated markedly in the tumor, and depicted the lateral and dorsal extension.     

Wyburn-Mason syndrome: report of a rare case with computed tomography and angiographic evaluations

A case of Wyburn-Mason syndrome comprising unilateral retinocephalic vascular malformations is reported in a 7-year-old girl presenting with proptosis of the left eye associated with injection of the bulbar conjunctiva. This rare congenital vascular disorder is reviewed in the literature, and in particular the neuroradiological findings are detailed in the presented case.