The aquatic impact of ionic liquids on freshwater organisms.

Ionic liquids (ILs), also known as liquid electrolytes, are powerful solvents with a wide variety of academic and industrial applications. Bioassays with aquatic organisms constitute an effective tool for the evaluation of ILs' toxicity, as well as for the prediction and identification of possible moieties that act as toxicophores. In this work, the acute toxicity of six ILs and two commonly used organic solvents was evaluated using freshwater organisms: Daphnia magna, Raphidocelis subcapitata and Hydra attenuata. The bioassays were performed by exposing the organisms to increasing concentrations of the ILs and observing D. magna immobilization, R. subcapitata growth inhibition, and the morphological or mortality effects in H. attenuata. The results demonstrate that the tested organisms are not equally susceptible to the ILs, e.g., bmpyr [BF4] was the least toxic compound for R. subcapitata, N1,1 [N1,1,1OOH] for D. magna and emim [Tf2N] for H. attenuata. This highlights the importance of applying a battery of assays in toxicological analysis. Additionally, Hydra proved to be the most tolerant species to the tested ILs. According to their hazard rankings, the tested ILs are considered practically harmless or moderately toxic, except (Hex)3(TDec)P [Cl], which was classified as highly toxic. The ILs were revealed to be more harmful to aquatic systems than the tested organic solvents, reaffirming the need to analyze carefully the (eco)toxicological impact of these compounds. The present study provides additional data in the evaluation of the potential hazard and the impact of ILs in the environment.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma presenting as spermatic cord tumor.

A well-differentiated liposarcoma of the retroperitoneum and spermatic cord, contiguous through the inguinal canal, presented clinically as a scrotal mass. Radical orchiectomy was performed with removal of the spermatic cord tumor. The retroperitoneal portion was not discovered until one month postoperatively when a computerized tomographic scan of the abdomen was done. A recommendation is made for preoperative evaluation of the retroperitoneal space prior to extirpation of supratesticular spermatic cord masses.

Ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination in four Chinese patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

We studied the degree of Ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination in 4 Chinese patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. At Ristocetin concentrations of 1.2-2.0 mg/ml (final concentration) variable, abnormal responses were observed. The most notable feature in 3 of 4 patients studied was the phenomenon of dose dependent, cyclic platelet agglutination-disagglutination. However, this phenomenon could be reproduced in only one of the 2 patients who were investigated on 2 separate occasions. Variable, but often characteristic responses of thrombasthenic platelets to different concentrations of Ristocetin are a useful additional diagnostic marker for this disease.

Carbamazepine-induced orofacial dyskinesia.

Extrapyramidal syndromes have been described after administration of phenytoin and primidone. Although asterixis, dystonia, and tremor have been described with carbamazepine (Tegretol), there is no report of orofacial dyskinesia. We report a case in which a dose-related lingual-facial-buccal extrapyramidal reaction occurred in association with carbamazepine intoxication.

Nerve conduction studies in patients treated with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II): a preliminary report.

We performed serial histories, physical examinations, and nerve conduction studies on seven cancer patients who were treated with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). Total cumulative doses ranged from 200 to 350 mg/m2. In nerve conduction studies, three of seven patients showed subclinical, predominantly sensory, changes compatible with a peripheral neuropathy.