Fenestration of the posterior communicating artery

A 21-year-old male presented with sudden onset of right-sided third nerve paresis. Angiogram showed a fenestrated posterior communication artery on the right side and no other vascular anomalies. There was no other lesion that could suggest a cause for the third nerve weakness. Fenestration of the posterior communicating artery has not been reported till date. The case is discussed and the literature on the subject is reviewed.     

Internuclear ophthalmoplegia and torsional nystagmus: an MRI correlate

The association of internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) with torsional nystagmus is rare. We report a case of a 72-year-old male who developed brainstem stroke and was found to have left INO with torsional nystagmus. An MRI correlation in this case has been described.     

Spinal angiolipoma: report of three cases and review of MRI features

We report three cases of spinal angiolipoma, two intramedullary and one epidural, and review their MRI features. Diagnoses were established preoperatively in all cases. Specific MRI features including the importance of postgadolinium fat-saturated T1-weighted images and presence of vascular flow-voids are discussed with histopathological correlation. A characteristic morphological appearance of intramedullary angiolipoma has been suggested.     

Antimetastatic efficacy of niosomal pentoxifylline and its combination with activated macrophages in murine B16F10 melanoma model

The aims of the present study were a) to enhance the effectiveness of antimetastatic agent, Pentoxifylline (PTX) by encapsulation in niosomes and b) to investigate the anticancer activity by combination therapy involving activated macrophages and PTX solution/PTX niosomes. Niosomes were prepared by lipid film hydration method. Particle size distribution revealed bimodal distribution with median vesicle size of 462 nm. The entrapment efficacy of PTX niosomes was found to be 9.64%. A cumulative release of 82.43% from niosomal suspension was observed at the end of 21 hours. Intravenous administration of niosomal PTX (6 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) resulted in significant reduction in lung nodules in an experimental metastatic B16F10 model suggesting accumulation of PTX in a distant target organ-lung. Light microscopic observations of histologic sections showed a decrease in number of tumor islands in the lung. Macrophages activated by intraperitoneal injection of Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM) containing 20% fetal calf serum (FCS) followed by in vitro incubation with muramyl dipeptide (MDP) were more effective in controlling tumor spread than those activated by FCS alone. Combination therapy of activated macrophages and PTX solution/niosomal PTX showed no additive or synergistic effect in controlling tumor spread. Carbon clearance studies revealed that PTX inhibits the phagocytic ability of activated macrophages, thereby resulting in the failure of combination therapy.     

Postangiographic thrombosis of a spinal arteriovenous malformation: case report

The authors report the case of a 30-year-old man who presented with progressive neurological deficits due to a spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). There was sudden increase in his neurological deficits after diagnostic angiography was performed. Repeated magnetic resonance imaging and angiography revealed complete thrombosis of the malformation. Stenosis in the draining vein was the most probable cause of this postangiographic occlusion of the AVM. Contrast injection during angiography may have precipitated the thrombosis.     

Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the sphenoid bone with unusual imaging features: a case report

Ewing's sarcomas (ES) account for approximately 10% of primary malignant bone tumors. Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the skull is a very rare entity. We report a case of Ewing's sarcoma of the sphenoid bone in a 5-year-old boy. CT scan showed heterogeneously enhancing mass with associated spiculated new bone formation along the posterolateral wall of the orbit. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed markedly heterogeneously signal intensity mass lesion containing areas of hemorrhage and fluid–fluid levels. Spiculated new bone formation and fluid–fluid levels had not been reported previously in skull Ewing's sarcomas and may be helpful features for preoperative diagnosis.     

Neuropathological spectrum of Rasmussen encephalitis

BACKGROUND: Rasmussen encephalitis (RE) is a chronic epileptic disorder of unknown etiology, and is clinically characterized by progressive neurological deterioration, focal seizures often progressing to intractable epilepsy, cognitive decline and hemispheric atrophy. AIMS: We report the spectrum of neuropathological changes seen in RE, and discuss the evolutionary mechanisms of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgically obtained specimens from RE patients diagnosed during 2002-2004 at this institute were evaluated for the presence and extent of different histopathological features of RE. The H&E and immunohistochemistry stained slides were also evaluated for the type and distribution pattern of inflammatory infiltrates, along with a semiquantitative evaluation for the severity of inflammation. RESULTS: Four cases of RE were admitted during the study period, all of which presented with partial seizures with successive deterioration to intractable epilepsy. The age at onset varied between 5 and 10 years (mean 7.8 years), with three male and one female patients. Subsequently, all four patients underwent hemispherotomy. Histopathological features of perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate, neuronal loss, microglial nodules, and reactive astrocytosis, with or without evidence of neuronophagia confirmed a diagnosis of RE. These cases also had varying degrees of T-cell-rich (CD3-positive) inflammatory infiltrates and CD68-immunopositive microglial proliferation. It was observed that the severity of inflammation had a trend to inversely correlate with the duration of symptoms. CONCLUSION: It is proposed that an accurate evaluation and histopathological grading of these lesions may possibly have a role in patient prognostication.     

Novel reno-protective mechanism of Aspirin involves H2AK119 monoubiquitination and Set7 in preventing type 1 diabetic nephropathy

Background

Even after several novel therapeutic approaches, the number of people with diabetic nephropathy (DN) still continues to increase globally, this suggest to find novel therapeutic strategies to prevent it completely. Recent reports, are indicating the ubiquitin proteasome system alterations in DN. Recently, we also showed that, histone H2AK119 mono-ubiquitination (H2AK119-Ub) found to regulate Set7, a key epigenetic enzyme in the development of renal fibrosis under type 1 diabetic condition. Hence, we aimed to study the role of a known 20 s proteasome inhibitor Aspirin, on histone ubiquitination in the progression of DN.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Madhuca longifolia seed saponin mixture

The ethanol extract and saponin mixture of Madhuca longifolia L. (Sapotaceae) were evaluated for anti- inflammatory activity using acute (carrageenan-induced inflammation), sub-acute (formaldehyde-induced inflammation), and chronic (cotton pellet granuloma) models of inflammation in rats. Saponins alone seem to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity in the studied models. MLEE (Madhuca longifolia ethanol extract) at a dose level of 10 and 15?mg/kg and Madhuca longifolia saponin mixture (MLSM) at a dose level of 1.5 and 3?mg/kg significantly reduced the edema induced by carrageenan in acute model of inflammation, inhibiting both phases of inflammation. Both the extracts had a more effective response than the reference drug diclofenac sodium in the sub-acute inflammation model. Results indicated a significant anti-inflammatory activity by M. longifolia saponins in cotton pellet granuloma.