Third ventricular primary cerebral neuroblastoma. Electron-microscopic and immunohistochemical study

A case of third ventricular primary cerebral neuroblastoma with secondary hydrocephalus is reported. Light microscopy showed a cell pattern that resembled either ependymoma or oligodendroglioma. The tumor was confirmed to be neuroblastoma by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Immunoperoxidase staining was positive for neuron-specific enolase and negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein.     

Gastroepiploic veins: CT appearance in pancreatic disease.

The frequency with which gastroepiploic vein (GEV) enlargement was seen on CT and its relevance to disease of the portal venous system associated with pancreatic disease were studied. We performed a retrospective study of 50 patients with proved pancreatic disease and another 50 patients without such disease. The CT examinations were done in incremental dynamic fashion after a bolus injection of contrast medium. Scans were evaluated for collateral channel formation, including GEV enlargement, and for involvement of the portal venous system by pancreatic disease. Part of the GEV arcade was visible in 36 patients without pancreatic disease, and on average measured 3.2 mm in diameter (range, 1-5.5 mm). GEV enlargement was visible in 62% of the patients with disease; 16% demonstrated a vessel 6 mm or more in diameter. Thirty-four percent of the patients with disease had portal venous complications: 26% had isolated splenic vein involvement, 2% had isolated portal vein involvement, and 6% had a combination of splenic and portal vein involvement. Of the patients with splenic vein disease, 81% had collateral channel formation, 50% of them demonstrating isolated GEV enlargement. Patients with splenic vein disease due to acute pancreatic disease had a much higher instance of GEV enlargement (83.3%). Collateral vessels are commonly seen on CT scans of patients with splenic vein disease and most often occur via enlarged GEVs. Acute pancreatic disease is frequently associated with GEV enlargement, suggesting that the latter represents an early response to splenic vein disease. In contrast, multiple collateral pathways tend to develop in patients with chronic pancreatic disease.     

Isolation of non-spore-forming anaerobic bacteria from patients with tuberculosis of the lungs and other diseases of the respiratory organs

The use of specific means in bacteriological examination for anaerobic microflora in patients with purulent inflammatory diseases of the lungs including ones developing in the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis was validated. Isolation of nonsporulating anaerobic bacteria in monocultures or as a component of polymicrobial associations was shown important for correct diagnosis and using of etiotropic therapy and respective therapeutic measures. This should enable to prevent or to limit development of severe destructive affections of the lungs.     

Giant collagen plaques in Creutzfeld-Jakob disease

Summary We report two cases of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease with clusters of giant collagen fibers. To our knowledge, these abnormally large collagen fibers have never been described in patients with degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. The significance of the formation of such plaque-like large collagen fibers has as yet not been elucidated. It is felt that these represent a product of the degenerative process.Presented in part at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neuropathologists, St. Louis, Missouri, June 18–21, 1992     

The effect of high sodium intake on bone mineral content in rats fed a normal calcium or a low calcium diet

The effect of high sodium intake on bone mineral content of rats fed a normal (0.6% Ca) or a low (0.02% Ca) calcium diet was studied. Rats on a normal calcium diet given 1.8% sodium chloride to drink showed persistent and significant hypercalciuria and subnormal bone mineral content. Total calcium content of femur was significantly lower after 4 months (p<0.02) and 12 months (p<0.001). In rats maintained on a low calcium diet (0.02% Ca), a high sodium diet for 8 weeks caused a significant loss of calcium in bone similar to that seen in animals fed a normal calcium diet for 4 months. We conclude that high sodium intake reduces bone mineral content, especially if the diet is low in calcium.     

Potent inhibition of SARS-associated coronavirus (SCOV) infection and replication by type I interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) but not by type II interferon (IFN-gamma).

We sought to investigate the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SCoV) activities of type I (alpha and beta) and type II (gamma) interferons (IFN) in vitro. Type I IFNs protected cells from cytopathic effects (CPE) induced by SCoV, and inhibited viral genomic RNA replication in FRhk-4 cells (measured by quantitative RT-PCR) in a dose-dependent manner. Intracellular viral RNA copies were reduced 50% by IFN-alpha at a concentration of 25 U/ml and by IFN-beta at a concentration of 14 U/ml. IFN-gamma had fewer effects on inhibition of viral infection and replication. The type I IFN receptor signaling pathway in host cells is mainly involved in the inhibition of SCoV infection and replication. Type I IFNs could be used as potential agents for anti-SARS treatment.     

Evaluation of a single-tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction screen for detection of common alpha-thalassemia genotypes in a clinical laboratory

We prospectively compared a single-tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting alpha-thalassemia with our current approach using 452 blood samples. Initial evaluation of 89 specimens revealed sensitivity and specificity, respectively, for the hemoglobin H inclusion body test (HbH prep) vs PCR for detecting alpha0-thalassemia carriers of 0.79 and 0.96 and for a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 82 microm3 (82 fL) or less, 1.0 and 0.45. Detection of all alpha-thalassemia genotypes was significantly lower for HbH prep and MCV (sensitivity and specificity, respectively: HbH prep, 0.48 and 0.96; MCV, 0.87 and 0.47). In a follow-up evaluation of patients with positive HbH prep results or suspected alpha-thalassemia prescreened by low MCV, the sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of HbH prep vs PCR increased to 0.97 and 0.93 for alpha0-thalassemia and 0.83 and 0.92 for any alpha-thalassemia. PCR detected alpha-thalassemia in 37.2% of 298 suspected alpha-thalassemia cases with suggestive indices but negative HbH prep results and no detectable hemoglobinopathy. This multiplex approach was more sensitive than the HbH prep for detecting all alpha-thalassemia genotypes, particularly alpha+-thalassemia; was particularly valuable for identifying carriers of alpha0-thalassemia at risk for offspring with hemoglobin Bart hydropsfetalis, regardless of other diagnosed hemoglobinopathies; and is an ideal adjunct to standard clinical screening protocols for detecting alpha-globin deletions.