Transitional progressive multiple sclerosis: MRI and MTI findings

Transitional progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is quite an unusual form of presentation and course of the disease. A case with this progressive form is presented and brain MRI and MTI findings are discussed in relation to the possible insight they may provide for understanding the mechanisms that determine progressive disability in MS.     

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.     

Intracranial alveolar echinococcosis: CT and MRI

Intracranial alveolar echinococcosis is uncommon. We report a patient with right frontal lobe and palpebral lesions secondary to a primary hepatic focus with secondary lesion in the lung. The intracranial and palpebral cystic masses were totally removed and both proved to be alveolar hydatid cysts. An unusual feature in this case is CT and MRI demonstration of dural and bony extension.     

The inhibitory effect of opioid and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists on cardiac sensory neurones is pertussis toxin-insensitive.

The role of pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins on the alpha 2-adrenoceptor and mu-opioid receptor-mediated inhibition of the efferent function of capsaicin-sensitive neurones was investigated in guinea-pig atria pretreated with guanethidine. In the presence of atropine, CGP 20712A (2-hydroxy-5-(2-[hydroxy-3-(4-[(1-methyl- 4-trifluormethyl)1H-imidazol-2-yl]-phenoxy)propyl]aminoethoxyl+ ++)-benzamide) and prazosin, [D-Ala2,NMe-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAGO, 0.1-3 microM) and 2-amino-6-allyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo(4,5-d)azepine (BHT 920, 0.01-1 microM) reduced the positive inotropic effect induced by transmural stimulation of preparations obtained from control and from pertussis toxin-treated animals. These results suggest that pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins are not involved in the inhibitory regulation of the efferent function of capsaicin-sensitive nerve terminals in cardiac tissue induced by alpha 2 and opioid receptor stimulation.     

Familial partial monosomy 7 and myelodysplasia: different parental origin of the monosomy 7 suggests action of a mutator gene

Two sisters are reported, both with a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) associated with partial monosomy 7. A trisomy 8 was also present in one of them, who later developed an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of the M0 FAB-type and died, whereas the other died with no evolution into AML. Besides FISH studies, microsatellite analysis was performed on both sisters to gather information on the parental origin of the chromosome 7 involved in partial monosomy and of the extra chromosome 8. The chromosomes 7 involved were of different parental origin in the two sisters, thus confirming that familial monosomy 7 is not explained by a germ-line mutation of a putative tumor-suppressor gene. Similar results were obtained in two other families out of the 12 reported in the literature. Noteworthy is the association with a mendelian disease in 3 out of 12 monosomy 7 families, which suggest that a mutator gene, capable of inducing both karyotype instability and a mendelian disorder, might act to induce chromosome 7 anomalies in the marrow. We postulate that, in fact, an inherited mutation in any of a group of mutator genes causes familial monosomy 7 also in the absence of a recognized mendelian disease, and that marrow chromosome 7 anomalies, in turn, lead to MDS/AML.     

Identification, characterization and biological activity of oxytocin receptor in the developing human penis

Although abnormalities of the male external genitalia (MEG) are a relatively common problem, little is known concerning the molecular mechanisms that finely regulate penile development. We report here the expression of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) gene by real-time RT-PCR in human fetal tissues (11th-12th week of gestation), including the MEG. The developing penis expressed a very high level of OTR mRNA, only a half log(10) unit lower than fetal central nervous system, used as a positive control. The OTR protein is also highly expressed (western, immunohistochemistry and binding studies) and immunolocalized both in the mesenchymal body and in the surrounding blood capillaries, which will later constitute penile trabeculae and sinusoids. Binding studies using [125I]oxytocin antagonist ([125I]OTA) in cultured human fetal penile smooth muscle cells (hfPSMC) revealed the presence of specific OTR with a high capacity and affinity for oxytocin (OT) and for OTA. Increasing concentrations of OT dose-dependently induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Furthermore, OTR mediated an increase in the proliferation and the migration of hfPSMC. In conclusion, we demonstrate that in the developing human MEG, OTR is highly expressed and might be involved in coordinating timely and appropriate proliferation and migration of the penile cells. Thus, OTR might represent an additional target for investigating human fetal MEG organogenesis.