Longitudinal Volume Quantification of Deep Medullary Veins in Patients with Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis : Venous Volume Assessment in Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Using SWI.

PURPOSE: Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) visualizes small cerebral veins with high sensitivity and could, thus, enable quantification of hemodynamics of deep medullary veins. We aimed to evaluate volume changes of deep medullary veins in patients with acute cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) over time in comparison to healthy controls. METHODS: All magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments were executed at 3 T using a 32-channel head coil. Based on SWI and semiautomatic postprocessing (statistical parametric mapping [SPM8] and ANTs), the volume of deep medullary veins was quantified in 14 patients with acute CVST at baseline and the 6­month follow-up, as well as in 13 healthy controls undergoing repeated MRI examination with an interscan interval of at least 1 month. RESULTS: Deep medullary venous volume change over time was significantly different between healthy controls and patient groups (p < 0.001). Patients with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSST) showed a significant decline from baseline to follow-up measurements (9.8 ± 4.9 ml versus 7.5 ± 4.2 ml; p = 0.02), whereas in patients with transverse sinus thrombosis (TST) and healthy controls no significant volume changes were observable. CONCLUSIONS: Venous volume quantification was feasible and reproducible both in healthy volunteers and in patients. The decrease of venous volume in patients over time represents improvement of venous drainage, reduction of congestion, and normalization of microcirculation due to treatment. Thus, quantification of venous microcirculation could be valuable for estimation of prognosis and guidance of CVST therapy in the future.

[Idiopathic intracranial hypertension]. / Idiopathische intrakranielle Hypertension.

This review describes the clinical findings as well as thes diagnostic and therapeutic options for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). Furthermore, the pathophysiological concepts are discussed. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is characterized by signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure with no established pathogenesis. Common symptoms include headaches, visual loss and pulsatile tinnitus. Treatment has two major goals: the alleviation of headaches and the preservation of vision. Weight loss and acetazolamide are the cornerstones in the treatment of the disorder. Drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, optic nerve sheath fenestration and stent angioplasty of a sinus stenosis can be employed in severe cases.

Serum immunologic markers in multiple sclerosis patients on continuous combined therapy with beta-interferon 1a, prednisone and azathioprine.

Break-through symptoms (BTS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients on beta-interferon (beta-IFN) monotherapy are most frequently treated with a brief administration of steroids. Here, we report the results of monitoring serum immunologic markers recorded at three-month intervals for 1.5 years in responders to beta-INF 1a (Avonex) monotherapy (n =21) and MS patients placed on Avonex with prednisone (n =83) and Avonex, prednisone and azathioprine (AZA) (n =21) because of BTS. Compared to 23 healthy controls, patients on Avonex monotherapy and Avonex with prednisone, in individuals on Avonex, prednisone and AZA, a significant decrease in serum concentration of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) (P=0.001) was established. Combined therapy with Avonex, prednisone and AZA was associated with a significant increase in the serum level of interleukin (IL)10 (P <0.001). Compared to Avonex monotherapy, combined therapy suppressed the serum level of IL12p40, antagonized elevation in the serum concentration of soluble IL2 receptor (sIL2R) and inhibited an increase in the serum soluble CD95 (sCD95) molecule. In patients studied, no significant differences in the serum level of IL18 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were established. These findings are important in understanding some of the immunoregulatory mechanisms induced by combined therapy in MS.

Mitochondrial DNA depletion in liver tissue of patients infected with hepatitis C virus: contributing effect of HIV infection?

OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection depletes mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the liver. Because decreased mtDNA levels were also found in humans infected with HIV, we investigated whether HIV may have aggravated hepatic mtDNA depletion in individuals with HCV infection. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, liver biopsies were performed in a total of 40 individuals prior to any antiviral therapy. The individuals were recruited from the Hospital Clinic, Barcelona and the HIV Centre, Dusseldorf. Seventeen patients were negative for HIV and HCV and were biopsied for liver enzyme elevation of unknown cause (controls), 14 individuals had chronic HCV but no HIV infection, and nine subjects were coinfected with both viruses. mtDNA and liver histology were centrally assessed. RESULTS: The groups did not differ with respect to age, gender, liver function tests and HCV viral load, where applicable. mtDNA levels were decreased by 19% in the HCV-monoinfected group (P=0.03) and by 27% in the HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects (P=0.02) compared to controls. The mtDNA content, however, did not differ between individuals with HCV monoinfection and HCV/HIV coinfection (P=0.75). The degrees of liver fibrosis, inflammatory activity or steatosis did not correlate with mtDNA content. CONCLUSIONS: Liver mtDNA content is reduced in both HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Under the limitations of our study, we could demonstrate only a slight trend towards more pronounced mtDNA depletion in HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects.

A comparison of two commercial quantitative electromyographic algorithms with manual analysis.

Quantitative EMG (QEMG) is a useful technique in the evaluation of neuromuscular disease. Manual waveform measurements have been replaced by automated computer-based measurements, but there is no uniformity in computer algorithms used to make waveform measurements. We compared QEMG measurements made by algorithms in two commercially available EMG machines with manual measurements. Motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) were simultaneously fed into the two machines and analyzed using QEMG default settings and automatic waveform marking. The averaged MUAPs were also manually marked. The two algorithms and manual marking did not differ significantly for MUAP amplitude. There were significant differences between algorithms for duration and number of phases. Our study indicates that, although automated algorithms make QEMG more practical, visual inspection, and remarking of each MUAP if needed, is necessary before making clinical judgments from the data.

Antibiotics from Basidiomycetes. XVI. Antimicrobial and cytotoxic polyines from Mycena viridimarginata Karst.

Two new biologically active polyines were isolated from cultures of the fungus Mycena viridimarginata. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods as 10-hydroxy-undeca-2,4,6,8-tetraynamide (1) and 3,4,13-trihydroxy-tetradeca-5,7,9,11-tetraynoic acid-gamma-lactone (2). The main component (1) is highly antibiotically active and cytotoxic.