Image features of two rare mediastinal tumors: schwannoma of intrathoracic phrenic nerve and clear cell chondrosarcoma of the rib

The current report focuses on two patients of the same age who presented similar appearances on initial anteroposterior chest images. Follow-up images showed superoanterior and superoposterior mediastinal lesions. The first patient with noninvasive cystic thymoma was suspected before surgery, while the pathologic diagnosis was intrathoracic phrenic nerve schwannoma. The second patient was with an asymmetric, dumbbell-shaped paravertebral tumor over T3 and T4 on the left side. The preoperative…     

SUICIDE ATTEMPT DUE TO METOCLOPRAMIDE-INDUCED AKATHISIA

Akathisia as a side-effect of metoclopramide has received increasing attention in consultation-liaison psychiatry in recent years. A case of metoclopramide-induced akathisia resulting in a suicide attempt is reported in order to highlight the suffering of such patients and the factors that lead to misdiagnosis.     

Genetic differentiation between and within strains of the saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) at RAPD loci

Nine strains of Oryzaephilus surinamensis have been kept in laboratory culture for periods ranging from 5 to 30 years (30–180 generations). Two RAPD primers provided sufficient information to separate the strains reliably and unambiguously. The strains are maintained at a population size of 200 breeding adults. The marked divergence between strains is consistent with the small population size, which for the older strains, according to population genetics theory, implies that roughly half the original genetic variation should now be lost from within strains. However, there is no indication that the older strains have less inter-strain variation. The results demonstrate RAPD loci can reliably detect population subdivision, which in field populations of pest species is of fundamental importance in understanding the population genetics of insecticide resistance.     

Splenic irradiation in HIV-related thrombocytopenia

Splenic irradiation has been used in patients with HIV-related thrombocytopenia. This retrospective review deals with four patients treated with low dose splenic irradiation. All patients had an increase in platelet count and tolerated the treatment without side effects. However, the treatment response lasted for several months only.     

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma presenting as obstructive jaundice

Eleven (3%) of 340 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presented with obstructive jaundice. The tumor extensively infiltrated the major bile ducts in eight patients. Jaundice was relieved by endoscopic endoprosthesis in four patients, nasobiliary drainage in two patients, percutaneous transhepatic stenting in one patient, and surgical intubation in one patient. The survival interval of these eight patients (mean +/- SD) was 35 +/- 20 days. Three patients had tumor fragments in the common bile ducts. In two patients, major hepatic resection was done after initial tube decomposition of the biliary system. One patient remained tumor-free on follow-up at 24 months, and the other patient had recurrent tumor detected on follow-up at 17 months after surgery. The tumor was irresectable in the third patient. Multiple surgical and endoscopic procedures kept the bile duct patent for 17 months before the patient died of the disease. Not all patients who present with obstructive jaundice due to HCC are terminally ill. With proper management, good palliation and occasional cure are possible.