Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the temporal bone with endocranial extension.

Cranial malignant fibrous histiocytomas are rare tumors. Most are hypervascular, destructive masses that are similar to other malignant lesions and to malignant fibrous histiocytomas found elsewhere in the body. We describe a myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the temporal bone, possibly of dural origin, with features that more closely resembled a meningioma at CT, MR imaging, and angiography.     

Intracranial actinomycosis in juvenile patients Case report and review of the literature

A case of actinomycotic brain infection in a juvenile patient is described. Cases of actinomycosis affecting the head and neck are rare, particularly in juvenile patients. In this case complete resolution of the infection was achieved by means of surgical treatment and prolonged antibiotic therapy. The authors emphasize the importance of a combined approach for treatment of this unusual brain infection and stress the difficulties involved in the diagnosis of this pathology. Received: 3 November 1997     

Preoperative Chemotherapy Alone and Combined with Preoperative Radiotherapy in Small-Size Breast Cancer

Abstract: Breast conservation surgery is an effective and safe treatment for many breast carcinomas. It may be possible to further limit the extent of resection (or expand the indication for breast conservation) by the application of preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We explored the feasibility of this in a pilot study.
Seventy-three patients (mean age 48, 63% premenopausal) with confirmed breast cancer, less than 2.5 cm, received chemotherapy (Group A) or chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (Group B) prior to limited resection (tumorectomy). Axillary dissection was always performed. Results: In 6/31 (19%) Group A and 17/42 (40%) Group B patients the tumor was not palpable after preoperative treatment, with complete pathological remission in 1 and 3 cases respectively. Histologic grading, mitosis, cellular alteration, and cellularity evaluations indicated a consistently greater therapeutic effect with chemoradiotherapy than with chemotherapy alone.
In conclusion, radiotherapy appears useful in the preoperative treatment of breast cancer and its use in association with various drug combinations should be further explored.     

Magnetization transfer effects in MR-detected multiple sclerosis lesions: comparison with gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo images and nonenhanced T1-weighted images.

PURPOSETo define the relationship between magnetization transfer and blood-brain-barrier breakdown in multiple sclerosis lesions using gadolinium enhancement as an index of the latter.METHODSTwo hundred twenty lesions (high-signal abnormalities on T2-weighted images) in 35 multiple sclerosis patients were studied with gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo imaging and magnetization transfer. Lesions were divided into groups having nodular or uniform enhancement, ring enhancement, or no enhancement after gadolinium administration. For 133 lesions, T1-weighted images without contrast enhancement were also analyzed. These lesions were categorized as isointense or hypointense based on their appearance on the unenhanced T1-weighted images.RESULTSThere was no difference between the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of lesions as a function of enhancement. MTR of hypointense lesions on unenhanced T1-weighted images was, however, lower than the MTR of isointense lesions.CONCLUSIONWe speculate that diminished MTR may reflect diminished myelin content and that hypointensity on T1-weighted images corresponds to demyelination. Central regions of ring-enhancing lesions had a lower MTR than the periphery, suggesting that demyelination in multiple sclerosis lesions occurs centrifugally. In addition, the short-repetition-time pulse sequence seems useful in the evaluation of myelin loss in patients with multiple sclerosis.     

ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE IN THE CONTROL OF THE RENAL MEDULLARY CIRCULATION

1. Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated as an important controller in the short- and long-term regulation of arterial pressure. Studies performed in our laboratory have demonstrated that chronic intravenous administration of the NO synthase inhibitor N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) selectively decreases renal medullary blood flow, causes sodium and water retention and leads to hypertension. 2. To determine the importance of the renal medullary effects in this model of hypertension, further studies were conducted to examine the influence of selective stimulation or inhibition of renal medullary NO on whole kidney function and cardiovascular homeostasis. With the use of a unique catheter to directly infuse into the renal medullary interstitial space, stimulation (bradykinin or acetylcholine) or inhibition (L-NAME) of renal medullary NO selectively increased or decreased renal medullary blood flow. 3. The changes in medullary flow in these experiments were associated with parallel changes in sodium and water excretion independent of alterations in renal cortical blood flow or glomerular filtration rate. 4. Studies were then undertaken to examine the long-term effects of selective NO inhibition in the renal medulla on cardiovascular homeostasis. Chronic infusion of L-NAME directly into the renal medullary interstitial space of uninephrectomized Sprague-Dawley rats led to a selective decrease in renal medullary blood flow that was sustained throughout the 5 day L-NAME infusion period. The decrease in medullary blood flow was associated with retention of sodium and the development of hypertension and the effects were reversible. 5. The data reviewed indicate that NO in the renal medulla has a powerful influence on fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and the control of blood pressure.     

Cost-effectiveness and pain medicine

The specialty of pain medicine, as noted by Lippe,“… justifies itself as a unique medical specialty by virtue of a distinct body of knowledge and a well-defined scope of practice. In common with other medical specialties, it is founded on an infrastructure of scientific research, education, and clinical practice [1].“ The traditional methods of education for healthcare providers, such as medical schools, nursing schools, physical therapy schools, and clinical psychology programs, do not prepare their students adequately for the delivery of evaluation and treatment services to patients experiencing pain. Also apparent, as evidenced by the dearth of medical literature, is that the traditional methods of educating pain specialists do not adequately prepare students for an effective approach to the realities of healthcare economics in their respective fields.The result of a lack of significant education in the economics of pain medicine can be financially devastating to a new practitioner who is practicing “good” medicine yet not meeting the financial obligations incipient in the operation of a multidisciplinary pain center or even a solo practice. One important concept in the study of healthcare economics is the issue of cost-effectiveness [2].     

Cisplatin-associated anaemia in patients with solid tumours

We have reviewed the incidence of cisplatin-induced anaemia in patients affected with solid tumours treated with at least three courses of first-line cisplatincontaining regimens. In our experience, a low percentage (5%) of patients required transfusions of red blood cells. We think it is of the utmost importance to adopt uniform criteria in monitoring and treatment of patients at risk of developing cisplatin anaemia and to identify subsets of patients to eventually treat with erythropoietin.     

Raised corticosterone in the rat after exposure to the elevated plus-maze

Rats given one or two 5-min trials in the elevated plus-maze had plasma corticosterone concentrations significantly higher than the home cage control group and there was no sign of habituation in the group given two trials. In rats given two plus-maze trials the corticosterone responses were significantly higher in the group given 10-min rather than 5-min trials. A previous experience of cat odour (1 week earlier) has no effect on the plasma corticosterone response, but did have an anxiogenic effect that could be detected by a decrease in the percentage of time spent on the open arms of the plus-maze. The results are discussed with reference to the nature of anxiety generated by trials 1 and 2 and by the trial duration in the plus-maze, and with respect to dissociation between behavioural and endocrinological measures.     

Rural Hospital Inpatient Surgical Volume: Cutting-edge Service or Operating on the Margin?

Surgical services are an important part of modern health care, but providing them to isolated rural citizens is especially difficult. Public policy initiatives could influence the supply, training, and distribution of surgeons, much as they have for rural primary care providers. However, so little is known about the proper distribution of surgeons, their contribution to rural health care, and the safety of rural surgery that policy cannot be shaped with confidence. This study examined the volume and complexity of inpatient surgery in rural Washington state as a first step toward a better understanding of the current status of rural surgical services. Information about rural surgical providers was obtained through telephone interviews with administrators at Washington's 42 rural hospitals. The Washington State Department of Health's Commission Hospital Abstract Recording System (CHARS) data provided a count of the annual surgical admissions at rural hospitals. Diagnosis-related group (DRG) weights were used to measure complexity of rural surgical cases. Surgical volume varied greatly among hospitals, even among those with a similar mix of surgical providers. Many hospitals provided a limited set of basic surgical services, while some performed more complex procedures. None of these rural hospitals could be considered high volume when compared to volumes at Seattle hospitals or to research reference criteria that have assessed volume-outcome relationships for surgical procedures. Several hospitals had very low volumes for some complex procedures, raising a question about the safety of performing them. The leaders of small rural hospitals must recognize not only the fiscal and service benefits of surgical services--and these are considerable--but also the potentially adverse effect of low surgical volume on patient outcomes. Policies that encourage the proper training and distribution of surgeons, the retention of basic rural surgical services, and the rational regionalization of complex surgery are likely to enhance the convenience and safety of surgery for rural citizens.