Isolated intracranial Rosai-Dorfman disease mimicking meningioma in a child.

A 9-year-old boy presented with a 12-month history of headaches and recent grand mal seizures. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed an enhancing right frontal convexity lesion. The preoperative diagnosis was meningioma. However, histological examination was diagnostic of Rosai-Dorfman disease. Rosai-Dorfman disease confined to the intracranial compartment is very rare, of 34 reported cases only one presented in the first decade. Optimal treatment has not been established, but complete surgical resection alone seems effective and allows histological distinction from meningioma.

Spontaneous extradural haematoma associated with craniofacial infections: case report and review of the literature.

A 17-year-old male with occult cleft palate presented with depressed-consciousness due to spontaneous frontal extradural haematoma associated with sinusitis. Craniotomy, evacuation of the haematoma and drainage of the frontal sinuses led to a full recovery. Spontaneous extradural haematomas secondary to craniofacial infections are very rare; this appears to be the first described with a coexisting congenital palatal abnormality. The diagnosis should be considered when signs of infection are present with depressed consciousness as a delay in treatment may result in death.

Intraventricular haemorrhage due to ruptured posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm in tuberculous meningitis.

A 9-year-old Asian boy with known miliary tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis and hydrocephalus was successfully treated with chemotherapy and ventriculoperitoneal shunting, but re-presented 7 months later with an intraventricular haemorrhage secondary to a ruptured left posterior inferior cerebellar artery mycotic aneurysm. The aneurysm was successfully treated by craniotomy and clipping. Tuberculous mycotic intracranial aneurysms are rare, but they should be considered in patients with tuberculous meningitis, particularly when there is a rapid neurological deterioration which may represent rupture.

Photodynamic therapy of ovarian tumours and normal cells using 5,10,15,20-tetra-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-chlorin.

The photosensitizing ability of the second generation photosensitizer 5,10,15,20-tetra-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-chlorin (m-TCMPC), a derivative of m-THPC, was tested on both three-dimensional multicellular spheroids of varying sizes and on monolayer cultures. These experiments were carried out on two spheroid-forming cell lines, A2780 (a human ovarian adenocarcinoma) and CHO (Chinese hamster ovarian cells). For both cell lines, photodynamic therapy (sensitizer plus visible light) treatments were carried out. The chlorin m-TCMPC was shown to have considerable promise as a photosensitizing agent. Cell kill was achieved for all situations tested, i.e. monolayer, 100, 500 and 750 microm spheroids. In addition no significant dark toxicity was observed.

Co-purification of a ribonuclease and human chorionic gonadotrophin beta-core protein from human urine and displacement of 125I-human luteinizing hormone from Candida albicans binding sites by ribonucleases.

An 18 kDa pregnancy urine protein preparation, purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity as judged by silver-staining of polyacrylamide gels, inhibited binding of 125I-hLH (human luteinizing hormone) to Candida albicans microsomes, reacted with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies raised against human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) beta-core protein and exhibited ribonuclease (RNase) activity. Eleven of the 12 amino acids at the N-terminus of a protein in this preparation were identical to those of the N-terminus of human non-secretory ribonuclease. These results indicate co-purification of hCG beta-core with a RNase. An 18 kDa RNase was also purified from a commercial hCG preparation (Chorulon). However, no RNase activity was detected in a highly purified commercial preparation (Profasi). Three commercial RNase preparations displaced 125I-hLH from C. albicans binders at extremely low concentrations (< 0.001 microg/ml RNase) whereas only slight displacement of 125I-hLH from sheep luteal binding sites was observed with very high concentrations of the RNases (100 microg/ml RNase). The co-purification of hCG beta-core and RNase from pregnancy urine and the displacement of 125I-hLH from C. albicans binding sites by RNases may be related to the close relationship that has been identified between mammalian RNase inhibitors and the extracellular domain of gonadotrophin receptors. The presence of RNase in commercial preparations of gonadotrophins should be borne in mind during any investigations that involve impure preparations of these hormones.

The acidogenic microbial composition of dental plaque from caries-free and caries-prone people.

Plaque samples collected from caries-free and caries-prone subjects were analysed for total bacteria, the ratio of acidogenic to total organisms and the proportions of streptococci, Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces. The acidogenic composition of plaque reflected the dietary habits and caries status of an individual. A high acidogenic ratio was found in individuals with active lesions or recent restorations; individuals who were caries-free or had no recent lesions had a lower ratio although total organisms were similar. The ratio remained constant in sequential samples from caries-prone subjects but was increased by frequent exposure to sugar. Streptococci, Actinomyces and Strep. mutans were isolated from all samples but no consistent relationship was found between either their isolation frequency or proportions and caries status.