Motor dysfunction following chronic exposure to a fluoroalkane solvent mixture containing nitromethane

We report the occurrence of a partially reversible Parkinson-like extrapyramidal syndrome in a woman chronically exposed to vapours from an industrial solvent mixture based on trichlorotrifluoroethane and nitromethane. The fluoroalkane group of compounds has not been previously reported to produce such effects in man, but mixtures containing nitromethane may not be innocent. Under certain industrial conditions the conversion of nitromethane to methylisocyanide may result in toxicity particularly in the basal ganglia and cerebellum following chronic low level exposure.     

Application of image-guided surface coil P-31 MR spectroscopy to human liver, heart, and kidney

Localized phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in humans has previously been accomplished with surface coils by means of depth-resolved surface coil spectroscopy or rotating frame experiments, in which the extent of tissue sampled critically depends on surface coil placement. The authors' goal was to modify the surface coil image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) experiment to accomplish three-dimensional volume selection through application of selective pulses in the presence of B0 gradients. Advantages of ISIS include the ability to use proton images to define the volume of interest (VOI) and reduced dependence on exact positioning of the surface coil. However, rapid replication of the surface coil ISIS experiment can cause spectral contamination from signals originating outside the VOI. A modified version of the ISIS experiment was developed to alleviate contamination under conditions of rapid replication. Applications of localized P-31 MR spectroscopy for observation of high-energy phosphorus metabolites are presented in human liver, heart, and transplanted and normal kidney.