Treatment of non-neoplastic stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius with extrathecal CSF shunts

A series of 185 patients operated on with extrathecal shunts for non-neoplastic aqueductal stenosis has been reviewed. The longterm results of 84 of them, followed-up for 2 to 20 years after primary surgery, are illustrated and critically analyzed. This study indicates that a normal mental development or normalization of mental and neurological conditions can be expected in a high percentage of patients after the CSF diversional procedure which nonetheless is still associated with a high percentage of even serious complications.     

肾上腺素对促肾上腺皮质激素分泌的影响及其作用机制的初步探讨

对颈外静脉预先置入硅橡胶导管的大鼠注射肾上腺素,应用放射免疫测定法,直接测定血浆促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)浓度的改变,以了解肾上腺素影响肾上腺皮质活动的机理。实验在脑内正中隆起损伤和假损伤两组动物中进行,结果外周给肾上腺素兴奋垂体前叶释放ACTH,从而兴奋肾上腺皮质的活动;作用点在下丘脑,兴奋促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRF)的分泌,而非直接作用于腺垂体.     

Adrenal masses: characterization with T1-weighted MR imaging

The ability of a T1-weighted spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) sequence to allow differentiation of benign from malignant adrenal masses at 0.5 T was investigated in 28 patients with 35 adrenal masses. All nine lesions with an adrenal mass-liver signal intensity ratio of 0.71 or less were metastases, and all 15 with a ratio of 0.78 or more were adenomas. Eleven masses (31%)--including six adenomas, three metastases, a pheochromocytoma, and a neuroblastoma--had ratios between these values. Nine of ten masses with adrenal mass-fat intensity ratios of 0.35 or less were metastases, and all 12 with ratios of 0.42 or more were benign. Eleven masses (31%), four malignant and one benign, had ratios between these values. The ratios for two masses could not be calculated due to lack of fat. The specificity of T1-weighted MR imaging in differentiating benign from malignant adrenal masses appears similar to that reported for T2-weighted imaging. However, significant overlap occurred, as has also been reported for T2-weighted imaging. While both imaging sequences may help distinguish benign from malignant adrenal masses in some cases, biopsy is still necessary when an accurate histologic diagnosis is essential.     

High specific activity I131 and Tc99m-albumin for studying the cerebrospinal fluid circulation in infantile and childhood hydrocephalus

Summary The authors describe the techniques of isotope cisternography and ventriculography with high specific activity I¹³¹ and Tc^99m albumin in children and adult patients. They have studied 35 patients including different type of obstructive and communicating hydrocephalus, microcephalic patients and patients with no intracranial pathology. The value, the limitations, and the potential damage of the test are discussed and the proper use of the two different tracers is assessed.Paper presented at the 1969 Meeting of the Society for Research into Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida, London, June 1969.     

Comparison of Agar Dilution,Broth Dilution,Cylinder Plate and Disk Diffusion Methods for Evaluation of Anti-leishmanial Drugs on Leishmania promastigotes

Background

Leishmaniases are a group of diseases caused by Leishmania parasites. Growing of drug unresponsiveness in leishmaniasis patients necessitates the development of new drugs and accordingly a suitable assay is needed for evaluation of any modalities. The aim of this study was to compare four drug assays methods, agar dilution, broth dilution, cylinder plate and disk diffusion, for evaluation of anti-leishmanial drugs on Leishmania promastigotes, using glucantime as a currently available drug for treatment of leishmaniasis.

Methods

For broth dilution method, different concentration of glucantime was added to the parasite culture (promastigotes of Leishmania), while in cylinder plate method wells were punched in agar gel and filled with different concentration of drug and zone of inhibition was measured in each well. In disk diffusion method, the parasites were cultivated on the surface of agar; filter paper disks were enriched with various concentration of glucantime and were placed on the surface of agar. In agar dilution method, various concentrations of drug were incorporated onto blood agar and the parasites were cultivated on the surface of the agar.

Results

A direct correlation was found between the drug concentration and size of inhibitory zones in cylinder plate and disk diffusion methods. These two drug assays methods provided much better performance in comparison with broth and agar dilution methods.

Conclusion

Cylinder plate and disk diffusion methods seem to be acceptable methods for susceptibility testing of anti-leishmanial compounds on Leishmania promastigotes.