Effects of Flunarizine on Contractile Responses of Porcine Brain Arteries to Various Peripheral Vasoactive Agents

Effects of various peripheral vasoconstrictors on isolated porcine basilar and posterior communicating arteries(BA and PCA) were investingated and effected of flunarizine on the contractile responses were compared with those of a vasodilator, nitroglycerin. KCl elicited dose-dependent contractions in BA and PCA. 50mM KCl-induced contraction was not affected by nitroglycerin but dose-dependently inhibited by nimodipin and flunarizine in both rings. Epinephrine produced contractile response of BA and PCA in a dose-dependent fashion, but norepinephrine or phenylephrine did not cause obvious contraction by itself. Norepinephrine and phenylephrine elicited dose-dependent contractions in both rings treated with 10 -6M propranolol and the epinephrine-induced contractions were potentiated by pretreatment with propranolol, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine contracted BA and PCA in a dose-dependent manner and the contraction of PCA was more prominent than that of BA. In PCA rings, 10(-6)M 5-hydroxytryptamine and 10 -6M orepinephrine-induced contractions were not changed by nitroglycerin but inhibited by flunarizine in a dose-dependent manner. Small doses of flunarizine inhibited gradually both drug-induced contractions and large doses(3.5 x 10(-6) and 10(-6)M) steeply inhibit ed the contractions. Then the slopes of inhibitory curves in both cases were biphasic. Above results suggest that responsibility of catecholamine in porcine brain artery is more prominent in alpha-adrenoceptors than in beta-adrenoceptors, and inhibitory effect of flunarizine on brain artery results from inhibition of calcium influx through stimulated receptor-operated calcium channel(ROC) and potential-operated calcium channel(POC) .

Sphenoid Sinus Mucocele with Intracranial Extension: Case Report

A case of mucocele of the sphenoid sinus with blurred vision and headache is presented. Mucocele of the sphenoid sinus is relatively rare and benign. Accurate diagnosis is possible through Brain CT scan and MRI. But it should be included in the differential diagnosis of malignancy or pituitary tumor, and unnecessary treatment such as radiotherapy or craniotomy should not be performed. In this case, mucocele is extended into sella turcica which is markedly destroyed and eroded. We removed it by sublabial transseptal sphenoidal sinusotomy and drainage without difficulties and postoperative complications.

Multiple Meningiomas: A Case Report

Meningioma has been considered to be rare as multiple growths. More often than not, they are associated with neurofibromatosis, bilateral acoustic tumors and multiple angiomata. Less frequently multiple meningiomas may be present without these associated problems. Cushing and Eisenhardt called the former "meningiomatosis" and the latter multiple meningiomas. The incidence of multiple meningiomas has been reported 1-8.9% of all intracranial meningiomas. The availability of CT has increased the incidence of the diagnosis of multiple meningiomas by visualizing smaller meningiomas which would have remained undetected and it seems to be reasonable that some elderly patients with multiple lesions diagnosed by CT should be followed and not operated on. We report a patient with multiple meningiomas without evidence of von Recklinghausen's disease and explore its various theories of the etiology.