Solitary pulmonary metastasis from intracranial meningiothelial meningioma

Although known, histologically proven pulmonary metastasis from a benign intracranial meningioma is exceedingly rare. We report a case of meningiothelial meningioma producing a solitary pulmonary deposit.     

Tuberculoma en plaque: a case report

A 14 year old girl presented with a 6-month history of headaches and visual blurring. CT showed a right tentorial enhancing lesion. Angiogram showed no enhancement. Histopathological examination of the excised material was consistent with tuberculoma. The presentation of such unusual intracranial tuberculoma is reported and the literature reviewed on the subject.     

Chronic pancreatitis: evaluation of pancreatic exocrine function with MR pancreatography after secretin stimulation

PURPOSE: To compare duodenal filling seen at magnetic resonance (MR) pancreatography after secretin stimulation and biochemical parameters determined with the intraductal secretin test (IDST) for evaluation of pancreatic exocrine function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR pancreatography after secretin stimulation and IDST were performed in 41 patients with chronic pancreatitis (group 1) and eight patients with other pancreatic disease (group 2). A control group (group 3, n = 28) underwent MR pancreatography after secretin stimulation only. MR pancreatograms were acquired before and every 30 seconds for 10 minutes after secretin injection. Duodenal filling was graded from least amount of filling (grade 1) to normal filling (grade 3) on the last MR pancreatogram. Pancreatic exocrine function was determined at IDST. Main pancreatic ductal diameter was compared between groups 1 and 3. RESULTS: All ductal diameters were significantly larger in group 1 (P <.001). The maximal diameter variation after secretin stimulation was significantly higher in the control group (P =.001). Pancreatic exocrine function parameters determined at IDST were significantly lower in patients with grade 1 duodenal filling than in those with grade 2 or 3 (P <.05). Maximal bicarbonate concentration alone was independently associated with all grades of duodenal filling (P =.007). The sensitivity and specificity of reduced duodenal filling for assessment of reduced pancreatic exocrine function were 72% and 87%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Duodenal filling grade determined at MR pancreatography after secretin stimulation allows specific estimation of pancreatic exocrine function.     

AIPL1突变患者先天性Leber黑蒙表现型

目的：叙述26例先证者中芳香族羟基碳氢化合物受体蛋白样1蛋白质（AIPL1）突变的先天性Leber黑蒙（LCA）的表现型，并比较其他LCA相关性基因的表现型。叙述杂合子携带者的视网膜电图（ERG）。     

Unusual cervical mass — A surgical dilemma and unfortunate sequelae

The differential diagnosis of a neck mass encompasses a broad range of possibilities including congenital cysts, inflammatory masses and both primary and metastatic neoplasms. A clear understanding of the normal anatomy of the neck and a high index of suspicion with a detailed history elicitation, proper physical examination and adjunctive test reports all lead to an accurate diagnosis. This is a case report of a thirty three year old lady who presented with a mass in the posterior triangle of neck with paraesthesia and mild weakness of the upper limb of the same side. The diagnostic evaluation revealed possibility of Schwannoma of the Brachial plexus and the surgical management posed a great surgical dilemma and led to cervical 5^th and 6^th trunk paralysis. We performed a second stage Sural nerve grafting.     

Effect of irradiation at the early foetal stage on adult brain function of mouse: learning and memory

PURPOSE: To study the long-term effect of early foetal irradiation on the learning and memory in the adult mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The abdominal area of pregnant Swiss albino mice was exposed to a single dose of 0.25-1.5Gy gamma-radiation on the 14th day of gestation and the mice were left to deliver their offspring. At 6 months of age, the learning and memory functions of the F(1) mice were tested by hole-board activity, conditioned avoidance response and radial arm maze performance. The animals were again subjected to the radial arm maze test at 12 and 18 months of age. RESULTS: There was a significant dose-dependent decrease in the learning ability and memory retention of 6-month-old mice at doses > 0.25Gy. The significant changes persisted to 18 months of age in mice exposed to >or= 0.5Gy. All changes showed a linear dose-response at doses < 1Gy. CONCLUSIONS: The gestational day 14 of Swiss albino mice is a sensitive stage in brain development to gamma-ray-induced impairment of learning and memory during the adult life. Permanent deficits in these functions can be induced by a dose of approximately 0.5Gy at this stage, when the developmental activity of the cerebral cortex is at its peak.     

Oral contraceptives and plasma lipids

The effects of 2 types of oral contraceptives (OCs) on plasma lipids in 45 healthy women were studied. The women received 1 mg lynestrenol plus .1 mg mestranol (Days 5-27), 4 mg megesterol acetate plus .05 mg ethinyl estradiol (Days 5-26), or .05 mg megesterol acetate daily for 3 months. Blood samples were collected prior to medication and subsequently in each of 3 consecutive cycles during medication between Days 23 and 26. The only change observed was a significant rise (p .05) in beta lipoproteins with a corresponding decline in alpha lipoproteins in the group receiving lynestrenol plus mestranol. It is concluded that if the desired efficacy and minimum clinical side effects can be obtained, either progestogens alone or progestogens with a small dose of estrogen should be the choice of medication.     

Transforming Orphanage Care: A Case Example in Zimbabwe

The author presents the voices of boys from an orphanage in Zimbabwe that he himself grew up in over a period of 10 years. After gaining professional child and youth care training in Canada, he has returned to the orphanage seeking to be an advocate and a catalyst for change in order to assist the Director and Board of Governors in the transformation of the residence.     

Effect of noise stress on free radical scavenging enzymes in brain

The levels of free radical scavenging enzymes in six discrete brain regions (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, midbrain, pons medulla, hippocampus and hypothalamus), after exposure to three different durations of noise stress (broadband white noise, 100dB, 4h/day, in acute: 1 day, sub acute: 15 days and chronic stress: 30 days) was studied in Wister strain male albino rats. Acute noise stress significantly increases the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), glutathione peroxidase (GPx: EC 1.11.1.9), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreases the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), GSH/GSSG ratio and protein thiols. The free radical scavenging enzymes levels, in sub acute and chronic noise stress also showed marked deviation in certain regions from the controls within the study duration. The results indicate that adaptation to noise stress does not occur immediately in all the brain regions. The noise induced alterations in free radicals may be assumed to serve as a linkage between the environmental noise and the manifestation of multifactorial diseases attributed to noise exposure. Moreover the quantification of the health effects of noise by the alterations in free radicals seems inappropriate in chronic noise stress.     

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns upon chronic exposure to cigarette smoke: Protective effect of bacoside A

Despite a strong association between cigarette smoking and alarming increase in mortality rate from smoking-related diseases, around 35-40% of the world's population continues to smoke and many more are being exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Since the role of free radicals and oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of smoking-related diseases has been suggested, bacoside A, a potent antioxidant was tested for its ability to protect against cigarette smoking-induced toxicity in terms of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymes. Rats were exposed to cigarette smoke and simultaneously administered with bacoside A, for a period of 12 weeks. Total LDH activity was assayed in serum, lung, heart, brain, liver and kidney, and serum LDH isoforms were separated electrophoretically. Cigarette smoke exposure resulted in significant increase in serum LDH and its isoenzymes with a concomitant decrease in these organs. These alterations were prevented by administration of bacoside A. Excessive oxidants from cigarette smoke is known to cause peroxidation of membrane lipids leading to cellular damage, thereby resulting in the leakage of LDH into the circulation. Bacoside A could have rendered protection to the organs by stabilizing their cell membranes and prevented the release of LDH, probably through its free radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidative effect.