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.     

Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia preceding ulcerative proctitis

A 12-year-old girl is described who developed rectal bleeding 5 months after being diagnosed as having a Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia. Colonoscopy showed that the rectal bleeding was due to ulcerative proctitis. This is the first case report of Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia preceding the onset of ulcerative proctitis in a child.     

Home teaching of nocturnal nasogastric feeding

Nocturnal nasogastric feeding (NGF) supplementation is an effective means of supplying calories to children with chronic diseases which may impair caloric and nutritional intake. Herein, we describe our experience with 18 patients who were taught NGF. They were divided into two groups: one group was instructed in the hospital which is the typical situation, whereas the second group was instructed at home. No complications were associated with NGF taught either at home or in the hospital. Our experience, therefore, indicates that nocturnal NGF can be successfully taught at home.     

Ligand-exchange chromatography of racemates, 9. Ligand-exchange chromatography of amino acid enantiomers on asymmetric sorbents with polydentate sulfur containing groupings

The paper describes the syntheses of four asymmetric sorbents, which contain S-(2-aminoethyl)-L -cysteine ( 1a ), S-(carboxymethyl)-L -cysteine ( 1c ), S,S′-(ethylene)-bis(L -cysteine) ( 2a ), and N,N′-(ethylene)-bis(D-methionine) ( 3a ) groupings as the chiral fixed ligands in a cross-linked polystyrene matrix. The sorbents were used for ligand-exchange chromatography of amino acid enantiomers in the presence of Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions. Enantioselective effects in the formation of mixed-ligand complexes consisting of a fixed ligand, a metal ion, and an amino acid enantiomer were determined. The highest values of enantioselectivity reaching 1 300 to 1 890J/mol were found in mixed-ligand complexes containing histidine or β-phenyl-α-alanine.     

The choice of the radiation parameters in the laser reconstruction of the pupil

The phenomenon of a "local punch" of tissues in the zone of nano- or picosecond impulses of neodymium: YAG-laser radiation focusing allows to increase energy in the pulse by one order as compared with traditionally used energy. At this, in order to achieve the initial effect it becomes possible to reduce the number of shots by two orders and thus to increase the spot of radiation. The summary energy of action absorbed in the eye remains the same and that's why the number of complications doesn't increase. The widening of possibilities to choose a laser source for micro- and macroperforations allows, when prescribing the treatment, to more reliably consider clinical peculiarities in each concrete case.     

Corticosteroid treatment of severe, non-responsive Clostridium difficile induced colitis.

Clostridium difficile can cause inflammatory diarrhoea and colitis by disrupting normal colonic flora. Corticosteroids are effective against diarrhoea associated with inflammatory bowel disease, but their effectiveness in treating inflammatory diarrhoea of C difficile has not been reported. In this preliminary report, we describe the use of corticosteroids in a child with severe C difficile diarrhoea and colitis refractory to standard treatments.