Clinicopathological Profile of Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: Single-center Real-world Experience and Review of Literature

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cell origin. MM primarily affects bone marrow, but extramedullary sites can also be involved. Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is an atypical and rare complication of MM. We aimed to systematically study the incidence and clinicopathologic profile of patients with MPE in a real-world setting.

Complete recovery of filler-induced visual loss following subcutaneous hyaluronidase injection

The rise in popularity of hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler injection has caused an exceptional increase in the number of cases of reported irreversible blindness. Here, we reported a case of ischemic optic neuropathy and ophthalmoplegia following subcutaneous HA filler injection with complete visual recovery. A 31-year-old Chinese woman presented with sudden onset of right monocular visual impairment associated with diplopia. Patient had received a hyaluronic acid-containing ?ller injection for nasal dorsum augmentation twelve hours prior to presentation. Visual acuity of the right eye was counting finger. A right relative afferent pupillary defect was demonstrated with ophthalmoplegia. Humphrey visual field test disclosed a right inferior altitudinal field defect with impairment of colour vision. Computed tomography of the orbit revealed mild enlargement of the right medial and inferior recti muscles. Our patient showed a tremendous improvement of vision after a subcutaneous hyaluronidase injection with complete visual recovery within 2 weeks.     

Idiopathic neonatal pleural effusion

We present two cases of neonatal pleural effusion, a relatively rare condition, most commonly due to chylothorax. One had bilateral hypoplastic lungs and the other suffered birth asphyxia. Both died before any treatment could be initiated.     

Role of levamisole immunotherapy as an adjuvant to radiotherapy in oral cancer. II. Lymphocyte subpopulations

The effect of radiotherapy and adjuvant levamisole immunotherapy on the lymphocyte subpopulations was investigated. Comparisons were made between the groups receiving levamisole, those receiving placebo and normal healthy controls. Results of a thirty-month follow-up are reported. Radiotherapy caused leukopenia and lymphopenia affecting all the subsets (T, B, TG, and TM), T lymphocytes were affected to a greater extent. This study demonstrates that levamisole does hasten the restoration of T lymphocytes, with the TM lymphocytes showing a faster repopulation in comparison to the TG lymphocytes.     

Presence of a receptor for the active component of Iscador in ascites fluid of tumour bearing mice

Tumour bearing mice exhibit a specific "receptor" in the ascites fluid which binds with the active component isolated from Iscador. This "receptor" was found to be a protein which inhibited the cytotoxicity of Iscador and its isolated active component at low concentration. The receptor protein was also found in the sonicates of tumour cells which are susceptible to the action of Iscador but not in lymphocytes which were not susceptible to Iscador or its isolated active component. The receptor was separated on a Sephadex G-50 column. Activity was lost upon heat denaturation and dialysis.     

p-Amino salicylic acid — oxidized cellulose system: a model for long term drug delivery

The immobilization of p-amino salicylic acid (PASA) on periodic oxidized cellulose (O.C) as a biocompatible carrier was investigated. The immobilization of the PASA is based on Schiff's base formation between the amino group of PASA and the aldehyde group of O.C. The in vivo and in vitro release of p-amino salicylic acid was studied. Such a system may be useful for the sustained delivery of the drugs in the body, since O.C. itself is a biosoluble carrier.     

Malignancy may adversely influence the quality and behaviour of oocytes

A case series of eight cycles of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in five women diagnosed with malignant disorders is presented. These patients chose to defer definitive treatment for a chance for preservation of potential fertility. The response of these patients to ovarian stimulation, and the outcome, was compared with 17 IVF cycles in 12 age- matched patients with isolated tubal infertility. An apparent adverse influence of malignant disease on the quality and behaviour of oocytes was observed. Despite a comparable total number of oocytes per cycle in the two groups, a significantly reduced percentage of mature oocytes was retrieved per cycle from patients with malignant diseases. The oocytes from patients with malignant disorders were of a poorer quality and exhibited a significantly impaired fertilization rate compared to the controls. We propose that neoplastic processes, irrespective of the site or cell of origin, may have a detrimental impact on the biology of oocytes, an effect akin to that seen on spermatozoa in men with certain malignancies.      

Microglial inflammation in the parkinsonian substantia nigra: relationship to alpha-synuclein deposition

Background  

The role of both microglial activation and alpha-synuclein deposition in Parkinson's disease remain unclear. We have tested the hypothesis that if microglia play a primary role in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis, the microglial "activated" phenotype should be associated with histopathological and/or clinical features of the disease.