Task-dependent activation latency in human visual extrastriate cortex

Event related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from subjects who had to perform either an identification task or a simple detection task on moving visual stimuli. Results showed that the amplitude of the so-called visual "N1" component was larger for identification than for mere detection, replicating previous data obtained with static stimuli. However, we also found that: (i) the onset, peak and offset latencies of the visual N1 to dynamic stimuli were significantly earlier in the detection task than in the identification task, and (ii) in both conditions, the coordinates of the equivalent current dipoles best explaining the visual N1 component were consistent with those of the human motion visual area MT+/V5 in the extrastriate cortex. Altogether, these results indicate that dynamic stimuli may activate (at least partly) different pathways and processes in extrastriate cortex according to the nature of the task required on these stimuli.     

ALK positive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the pineal region

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMTs) are an uncommon spindle cell neoplasm with a dense inflammatory infiltrate, usually encountered in children. IMTs of the central nervous system are extremely rare. This report describes the case of an IMT in a 61 year old man, in the pineal region. The tumour was completely excised, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated anaplastic lymphoma kinase 1 expression. There was no tumour recurrence during 18 months of follow-up. Our case extends both the age range and sites of occurrence of this rare tumour.     

Increased survival due to radioactive estradiol in mice with C3HBA or BW 10232 tumors

Summary The influence of progesterone and estradiol labeled with tritium was studied in mice inoculated with transplantable mammary adenocarcinomas C3HBA or BW 10232. Tumor size, tumor growth rate, and host survival were measured. Radioactive [³H]estradiol administration increased survival time and inhibited tumor growth in mice inoculated with these tumor lines. Tumor growth retardation depended on the amount of radioactivity injected and nonradioactive estradiol was without any salutary effect on tumor size or host survival. Neither survival times nor tumor growth rate were altered by radioactive [³H]progesterone. The underlying mechanism(s) is (are) referable to ionizing radiation by the specific carrier estradiol or to an isotope effect of [³H]estradiol.     

Dynamics of obstruction in acontractile bladder: Attempt at management

Five patients with acontractile bladders were observed during lateral voiding cystourethrography in the resting and straining states. Two abnormalities were noted: (I) posterior displacement of the bladder with closure of the posterior vesicourethral angle on straining, and (2) plication of the bladder over the symphysis pubis, resulting in the formation of an anterior pseudodiverticulum. Two other abnormalities are discussed: closure of the anterior vesicourethral angle, and descent of the bladder and prostate in flaccid paraplegia, causing plication at the prostatic apex. Surgical techniques for the correction of the abnormalities are described.     

Selective staining of a subset of Purkinje cells in the human cerebellum with monoclonal antibody mabQ113

MabQ113 is a monoclonal antibody raised against rat cerebellum which selectively stains Purkinje cells. Likewise, in mabQ113-immunoperoxidase stained sections of human cerebellum, deposits of reaction product are found only in the Purkinje cells. The dendritic arborizations, cell body, and axonal processes are immunoreactive. In rat, mabQ113 reveals a series of parasagittal antigenic bands which run throughout the cerebellar cortex. The staining distribution in human cerebellar cortex likewise reveals heterogenous staining but the pattern is a complex one and seems to be unlike the parasagittal banding found in the rat. In a number of human diseases Purkinje cell degeneration is not uniform throughout the vermis and cerebellar hemispheres. It is possible that mabQ113⁺ and mabQ113− subsets of Purkinje cells may respond differentially to various pathological conditions.