Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea complicating conventional radiotherapy in a patient with pituitary adenoma

A 24-year-old man with a history of non-functional pituitary adenoma was treated with conventional radiotherapy. Two months following radiotherapy, the tumour size had significantly decreased, but early post radiotherapy rhinorrhea. This case highlights two predisposing factors of cerebrospinal fluid leak after radiotherapy of pituitary adenomas, i.e. skull base erosion and rapid significant tumour regression

Saturated picric acid prevents autophagia and self-mutilation in laboratory rats

The dysesthesia and paresthesia that occurs in laboratory rats after spinal cord injury [SCI] results in autophagia. This self-destructive behavior interferes with functional assessments in designed studies and jeopardizes the health of the injured rat. In this study, we evaluated role of saturated picric acid in the prevention of autophagia and self-mutilation. All rats were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of a mixture of ketamine [100 mg/kg] and xylazine [10 mg/kg] for the SCI procedures. In the first 39 rats, no solution applied to the hind limbs, but in the next 26 cases, we smeared the saturated picric acid on the tail, lower extremities, pelvic, and abdomen of the rats immediately after SCI. In the rats without picric acid, 23 rats died following autophagia, but in the 26 rats with picric acid, there was no autophagia [P < 0.001]. Picric acid side effects in skin and gastrointestinal signs such as irritation, redness and diarrhea were not seen in any rat. Saturated picric acid is a topical solution that if used appropriately and carefully, might be safe and effectively prevents autophagia and self-mutilation. When the solution is applied to the lower abdomen and limbs, we presume that its bitterness effectively prevents the rat from licking and biting the limb

Opioid use in patients presenting with pain in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran

To study the prevalence and factors associated with opioid use in pain, 480 consecutive patients with a chief complaint of pain were interviewed at 10 clinics in Zahedan. The data were analysed in relation to 18 possible associated factors. The prevalence of opioid use was 28.5% in patients presenting with pain. There was no significant relation between opioid use and chronic pain [>/= 6 months], but there was a relationship with the following 5 factors: previous opioid use by friends [72.9% versus 20.4% without friends using], occupation [58.5% private sector employees/self-employed versus 17.4% housewives], cigarette smoking [60.8% versus 21.8% not smoking], consultation for a psychological problem [38.3% versus 23.3% without], and death of a spouse [60.0% versus 26.1% without]