Water intoxication from fluphenazine therapy

The present report describes a woman with a past history of alcoholism who coma associated with water intoxication (W.I.). Inappropriate secretion of ADH is discussed as one of multiple factors in the development of W.I.     

Permanent inflation of detachable balloons with a low-viscosity, hydrophilic polymerizing system

A polymer system was developed for use in permanent inflation of detachable balloons, to avoid long-term reliance on the integrity of balloon shells or valve mechanisms. This system is based on 2-hydroxy-ethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as the monomer, in combination with a cross-linking agent and a water-soluble curing system. The low-viscosity, hydrophilic mixture can be exchanged through a small-bore catheter into a detachable balloon and polymerizes in 40-60 minutes at body temperature. Partially polymerized HEMA can cause vascular occlusion; hence, careful timing of balloon detachment is required. The evolution of the radiographic appearance of HEMA-filled balloons is predictable. The balloons remain radiopaque on plain radiographs as long as the balloon shell and valve mechanisms are competent. After rupture of the shell or failure of the valve mechanism, the balloons become invisible on plain radiographs but remain hyperattenuating on computed tomography scans.     

Platelet 3H-imipramine binding and sulphotransferase activity in primary headache

We investigated platelet ³H-imipramine (³H-IMI) binding, a putative peripheral serotonergic marker, and the activity of sulphotransferase (ST), an enzyme involved in the catabolism of catecholamines and phenolic compounds, in 14 patients suffering from migraine without aura (MWoA) and in 10 with tension-type headache (TH), as compared with a group of controls. The possible relationships between the biological parameters and clinical features were also examined. The results showed that the two groups of patients had a lower number of ³H-IMI binding sites and a lower activity of the thermolabile form of ST, which acts preferentially on monoamine substrates, than the healthy controls, with no intergroup differences. Significant correlations between psychopathological rating scales and characteristics of the illness were observed in the patients with TH. The decreased number of platelet ³H-IMI binding sites is suggestive of a presynaptic serotonergic dysfunction and confirms the involvement of 5HT in primary headaches. The reduced ST activity might produce changes in the level of sulphated biogenic amines, including dopamine and tyramine, which might have an additional role in the pathophysiology of some aspects of primary headache.     

ER-D5 antigen immune radiometric assay in breast cancer research

A trial of 185 breast cancer tissues has been developed to characterize receptor negative tumors. We observed the ER-D5-Ag availability to recognize the hormone sensitivity inside the receptor-negative patient groups. In Pre-M ER--ve patients, we observed 26.9%-29.4% of D5+ve cases and in PgR--ve 50% of D5+ve cases. In Post-M ER--ve patients, we observed 31.2%-36.5% of D5+ve cases and in PgR--ve 53.2% of D5+ve cases. The reproducibility of our results suggests the relevance of an additional investigation to characterize the hormonal sensitivity of receptor-negative breast cancer tissues.     

Neurophysiological investigations in two cases of Alexander's disease with infantile onset

Repeated neurophysiological investigations over a six year period are reported in two children with histologically proven Alexander's leucodystrophy. The EEG alterations were already detectable at an early stage of the disease with subsequent progressive deterioration in both cases. There was no definite abnormality in the ERG-VEP studies which were only carried out in the younger patient. The EEG features in the course of the illness are different from those seen in most of the identified genetically determined neurometabolic diseases as well as in the group of so-called leucodystrophies of similar age groups. However, the EEG-ERG-VEP features are not sufficiently characteristic to be diagnostic.     

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.