Bilateral optic pathway glioma with intracranial calcification: Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings

Optic nerve glioma is the most common primary neoplasm of the optic nerve in childhood. It can extend intracranially along the optic pathway (optic pathway glioma). The lesion tends to present with decreased visual acuity in the affected eye, but can cause additional symptoms when it is large. Local involvement within the orbit can be characterized using CT, but MRI is superior in showing the intracranial extent of the lesion. Intracranial calcification in optic pathway glioma is rare. We present a rare case of optic pathway glioma with calcification in the intracranial component. Also, we describe MR spectroscopy (MRS) findings in this case.     

High-LET-induced chromosome aberrations in V79 cells analysed in first and second post-irradiation metaphases

PURPOSE: As an extension of previous studies, the time-course of high-LET-induced chromosomal damage was investigated in first- and second-cycle V79 Chinese hamster cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were exposed in G1 to 10.4 MeV/u Ar ions (LET = 1226 keV/microm) and chromosomal damage was measured at 2h sampling intervals between 10 h and 34 h after irradiation. To distinguish between cells in different post-irradiation cycles, the fluorescence-plus-Giemsa technique was applied. RESULTS: For first- and second-generation cells, the number of aberrant metaphases and aberrations per metaphase were found to increase markedly with sampling time, demonstrating that cell cycle progression was delayed according to the number of lesions carried by the cell. To account for the time-dependent expression of chromosomal damage a mathematical approach was used based on the integrated flux of aberrant cells entering mitosis. Moreover, the analysis of Ar ion-induced chromosome lesions confirmed that high-LET radiation results in specific changes in the spectrum of aberration types. In particular, an increased rate of chromatid-type aberrations as well as a high frequency of chromosomal breaks was found, although the cells were exposed in G1. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the fact that cells collected at one sampling time are not representative of the entire population, the complete time-course of chromosomal damage has to be taken into account for the determination of a meaningful RBE value. Otherwise, the analysis of chromosomal damage can result in a pronounced over- or underestimation of the RBE depending on the subpopulation of cells entering mitosis at that particular sampling time.     

Cardiological aspects of the antiphospholipid syndrome. Part I. Valvular lesions in the primary and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus

AIM. To assess prevalence of cardiac valvular lesions in patients with primary (P) antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without secondary APLS. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Patients with PAPLS (n=56, 15 men and 41 women), SLE and APLS (n=88, 23 men, 65 women) and SLE without APLS (n=51, 19 men, 32 women) were followed up for 9 years. Serological markers of APLS were anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant. RESULTS. Prevalence of various heart defects was the highest in PAPLS (43%) compared with SLE with APLS (c2=5.6, p=0.001) and SLE without APLS (c2=9.3, p=0.0002). In secondary APLS prevalence of valvular involvement was 27% what was substantially more than in SLE without APLS (4%) (c2=7.2, p=0.0007). Changes of mitral valve cusps and mitral regurgitation were found in 33, 41 and 50% of patients with SLE, SLE with APLS and PAPLS, respectively. Pronounced mitral regurgitation and valve defects were significantly more frequent in patients with any APLS compared with those with SLE without APLS. Thickening of aortic cusps was significantly more frequent in patients with PAPLS compared with patients with SLE (with and without APLS). Changes of tricuspid valve were significantly more frequent in patients with any APLS. Progression of valvular pathology was observed in 2 patients with SLE and APLS after 4 and 5 years of follow up. During 9 years thrombotic complications developed in 8 patients with APLS and valvular lesions (6 strokes, 2 retinal thromboses). CONCLUSION. An association exists between presence of APLS and various cardiac valvular lesions. Lesions of aortic valve are associated with PAPLS. Development of valvular pathology in patients with SLE and PAPLS during follow up dictates the necessity to monitor echocardiographical parameters and titers of anticardiolipin antibodies.     

New trends in chemotherapy of systemic lupus erythematosus: treatment with mycophenolate mofetil

The review covers current issues of pharmacotherapy of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a focus on a novel immunodepressant mofetil microphenolate (MM) which is not inferior in efficiency to a conventional anti-SLE drug cyclophosphamide which has a worse tolerance.     

Deforming hand arthropathy in systemic lupus erythematosus

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus with deforming hand arthropathy (DHA) is reported in a woman observed for 15 years. DHA was presented with stable ulnar deviation, deformation of the fingers. This resulted in functional insufficiency of the hand of the third degree.     

The effect of bemetil on the production of DNA antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The levels of autoantibodies against DNA in blood serum and severity of the disease were evaluated prior to, during, and after 8-week treatment of patients suffering from lupus erythematosus systemicus (LES) with prednisolonum (daily dose of 5-60 mg/kg, 15 patient) and with prednisolonum in combination with cyclophosphane (CP) (a total dose of 2-4 mg/kg per os. 15 patients), or bemithyl doses of 500-750 mg/day per os (15 patients) or bemithyl in combination with CP (the same doses, 16 patients). It was shown that introduction of bemithyl into LES treatment schedule significantly lowered the level of autoantibodies against DNA evaluated in immunoassay and reduced LES severity assessed using standard SLEDAI-1 and ECLAM scales.     

Distribution of DNA-reactive serum factor in healthy mink and mink with Aleutian disease

A factor reacting with DNA and, in 62% of cases, with dextran sulfate was found in the gamma-globulin fraction of sera from mink with Aleutian disease or with no visible evidence of it. During chromatography of mink sera on a column with Biogel P-200, only the fractions of the first peak, consisting chiefly of a component with sedimentation constant 19S, were able to react with DNA. The presence of the factor and its ability to be neutralized by DNA preparations did not correlate with the hypergammaglobulinemia and were independent of the state of the animals.