ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to investigate the abnormalities of cortical lamination observed in temporal lobe specimens obtained during surgery for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with hippocampal sclerosis. Specifically, we aimed to 1) correlate high-field ex vivo MRI with histopathologic analysis and 2) evaluate the effect of tissue fixation on image contrast. METHODS: A cohort of 13 specimens was considered. T2-weighted imaging and relaxometry were performed during and after fixation using a 7-T experimental scanner. After imaging, the specimens were studied with histopathologic (Black Gold myelin fiber staining) and immunohistochemical (NeuN neuronal staining) methods in order to explore the correspondence between MRI and histopathologic features. RESULTS: The principal findings of this study are that 1) superior MRI contrast is obtained among the cortical layers using completely fixed specimens as opposed to recently excised tissue, 2) the intensity of the T2-weighted MRI signal is lowest (hypointensity) at the site of highest fiber concentration and cellular density, and highest (hyperintensity) when the density of fibers and cells is lowest, and 3) the MRI signal is altered in presence of abnormal cortical lamination (focal cortical dysplasia type IA). CONCLUSIONS: High resolution ex vivo MRI enables the study of intracortical organization in normal and pathologic areas. Comparisons between MRI, NeuN, and Black Gold indicate that the differences apparent in T2-weighted images are mainly related to fiber concentration, although neuronal density might also play a role.
Subject(s)
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Temporal Lobe/pathology , Adult , Child , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/physiopathology , Female , Histocytochemistry , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Temporal Lobe/anatomy & histology , Temporal Lobe/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Fosinopril has recently been added to the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors inducing pemphigus. The observation of a patient in whom pemphigus vulgaris (PV) worsened after taking fosinopril prompted us to study an experimental way to assess its responsibility. Slices of normal human skin (NHS) were simultaneously incubated for 2, 6, 12 and 24 h at 4 degrees C with progressively diluted fosinopril and captopril solutions and used as indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) substrates for 2 sera containing anti-desmoglein-3 (anti-Dsg3) antibodies at a dilution of 1/160. With captopril, IIF was negative, irrespective of dilution and time of incubation. Only at 1/40,000 dilution was IIF positive. With fosinopril, IIF was negative for the 2- and 6-hour-long incubations but turned positive after 12 h and so remained with all other solutions and incubation times. IIF negativity with captopril suggests that anti-Dsg3 antibodies contained in the PV sera were unable to find molecules in NHS to bind to. Captopril would therefore induce acantholysis by blocking the adhesion molecules. With fosinopril, instead, a partial block of the adhesion molecules was seen only with the very concentrated solution, unlikely to occur in vivo. Fosinopril, therefore, is probably unable to block the adhesion molecules in vivo. Our method might be used to verify the acantholytic properties of a drug.
Subject(s)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/adverse effects , Cell Adhesion Molecules/drug effects , Fosinopril/adverse effects , Pemphigus/chemically induced , Acantholysis/chemically induced , Antibodies, Monoclonal/drug effects , Cadherins/immunology , Captopril/adverse effects , Desmoglein 3 , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Humans , Middle Aged , Pemphigus/diagnosisABSTRACT
Administration of 50 mg trazodone, an antidepressant drug, in a single oral dose to 10 normal subjects of both sexes, aged 24--41, resulted in a significant (p less than 0.01) decrease of serum prolactin (PRL) values. The mean serum PRL levels were 8.9 +/- 2.2 ng/ml in basal conditions and 4.5 +/- 1.7 ng/ml 180 min after trazodone. Pretreatment with trazodone does not modify TRH-induced PRL release.
Subject(s)
Piperazines/pharmacology , Pituitary Gland, Anterior/metabolism , Prolactin/metabolism , Trazodone/pharmacology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Prolactin/blood , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH), of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), of prolactin (Prl) and of growth hormone (GH) was evaluated, in basal conditions and during stimulation tests, in serum of 32 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), of 29 patients suffering from prostatic carcinoma and of a control group of similar age. Significant difference in pituitary Prl secretion was found between the prostatic patients and the control group.
Subject(s)
Pituitary Hormones, Anterior/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/physiopathology , Aged , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/metabolism , Growth Hormone/metabolism , Humans , Insulin , Luteinizing Hormone/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Pituitary Function Tests , Prolactin/metabolism , Thyrotropin/metabolism , Thyrotropin-Releasing HormoneABSTRACT
The authors describe the principal tests employed in clinical evaluation of anterior pituitary function.
