Neuroimaging in Pineal Tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread.     

The role of age-related and adaptive changes in the vascular wall in atherogenesis in light of the theory of Academician I. V. Davydovski? on atherosclerosis

Aorta and coronary arteries (1053 and 386 cases, respectively) were evaluated in young persons. It is shown that atherosclerotic developments in the vessels are largely determined by hyperplastic involvement of the intima due to age-related vascular rearrangement and the hemodynamic factor. For aorta, these are represented by rhythmic structures which seem to give rise to the majority of the fibrous plaques. The findings are in consistence with I. V. Davydovsky's conceptions on age-related and adaptation changes in the vascular wall emerging during various human vital activities and supposed to underlie the development of atherosclerosis.     

Changes in myocardial enzyme activity of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and the relationship of these parameters to disturbed myocardial contractility and coronary atherosclerosis]

Endomyocardial biopsies from 20 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) were studied histochemically. The decrease of the mitochondrial enzyme activity and increase of the activity of lysosomal and hydrolytic enzymes were found. These alterations reflect degenerative processes in cardiomyocytes followed by activation of their degradation and utilization. This results in the decrease of the myocardium contractile volume and its contractile function damage. There was no correlation between the level of the enzyme activity in the myocardium and the degree of the contractile function activity. There was a tendency to the increase of the above changes in patients with early signs of coronary atherosclerosis.     

Detection of viral antigens by solid phase radioimmunoassay on polyethylene film

Polyethylene film, without any pretreatment, may serve as a solid phase (SP) for RIA. Viral antigens (HBsAg, and influenza virus) are detected by SP-RIA on the film with a sensitivity of about 2-3 ng/ml or 40-60 pg/assay. The use of polyethylene film allows one to record RIA autographically. The use of micro amounts of reagents and specimens tested is an added advantage. No special equipment is necessary, the method is inexpensive, easy to perform and may be used for mass screening.     

Role of proliferation and differentiation of hemopoietic precursors in regeneration of hemopoiesis in cytostatic myelodepressions

Quantitative and qualitative composition of hemopoietic tissue and the intensity of proliferation and differentiation of committed hemopoietic precursors are studied in mice treated with adriamycin, cyclophosphane, or 5-fluorouracil. It is shown that intense maturation of colony-forming units results in rapid regeneration of hemopoiesis even under conditions of reduced proliferation of these cells, whereas inhibition of their differentiation suppresses restoration of bone marrow cellularity despite intense proliferation of hemopoietic precursors. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 12, pp. 616–620, December, 1997