Giant dilatations of virchow-robin spaces in the midbrain. MRI aspects and review of the literature.

Virchow-Robin spaces are lesions often seen in the brain parenchyma but their etiopathogenesis remains unsettled. Giant Virchow-Robin spaces placed in the midbrain are extremely rare. We describe three patients with a diagnosis of giant Virchow-Robin spaces in the midbrain, and their clinical and radiologic findings. We reviewed the literature in terms of the etiopathology, anatomic and radiologic appearance and differential diagnosis of the giant Virchow-Robin spaces. The diagno-stic role of the high Tesla magnetic resonance devices and new sequences techniques such as three dimensional isotropic acquisition and diffusion tensor imaging were also evaluated in this case series.

Epitrochlear lymph nodes: Anatomy, clinical aspects, and sonography features. Pictorial essay().

The normal and abnormal aspects of the epitrochlear lymphatic station are not well known, mainly because the axillary basin is commonly regarded as the primary lymphatic target of all upper limb disorders. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate, through a review of specific cases, the normal and abnormal findings that can emerge during ultrasonographic (US) and color-Doppler US exploration of the epitrochlear region. We illustrate the normal anatomy and variations of the epitrochlear lymph nodes and highlight the functional role of this lymphatic station. Subsequently we describe the US and color-Doppler US findings. A number of different abnormalities are reviewed, including metastases (mainly from upper limb cutaneous melanomas), Hodgkin disease, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lymphadenitis (cat-scratch disease, foreign bodies, and IV drug abuse). Measures are suggested to avoid interpretative pitfalls and to carry out an effective differential diagnosis of elbow masses. This article represents a pictorial essay of the US and color-Doppler US features of various epitrochlear lymph node abnormalities that clinicians may not be familiar with.

Non-Alcoholic Wernicke Encephalopathy: MR Imaging and Review of the Literature.

We describe a patient with non-alcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy caused by long-term parenteral nutrition. The diagnosis is based on clinical and magnetic resonance findings. We also reviewed the literature review in typical and atypical findings at MR examination.

Additional role of colour Doppler ultrasound imaging in intracystic breast tumours.

PURPOSE: Cystic breast lesions with a nonsimple appearance, either complicated or complex, pose unique diagnostic difficulties, in part owing to their potentially malignant nature. Current ultrasound classification systems are based on morphostructural aspects only. The objective of this paper is to highlight the adjunctive role of Doppler techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 1-year period, we prospectively evaluated 45 women with atypical breast cysts of type IV, V or VI according to the Chang classification. Forty patients were symptomatic, whereas the cyst was discovered as an incidental finding in five cases. Our assessment included morphostructural, angioarchitectural and flowmetric aspects. RESULTS: Twenty-three nontumoural lesions were managed conservatively. All 19 type-IV cysts and all four type-V cysts according to the Chang classification showed absence of signal flow at colour Doppler imaging. Among the 22 tumoural lesions, there were eight papillomas, one atypical ductal hyperplasia and 13 carcinomas. The eight papillomas showed single (four cases) or multiple (four cases) mural projections. The atypical ductal hyperplasia showed a single parietal nodule. Among the 13 carcinomas, patterns included mural projections in 11 cases, eccentric cystic wall thickening in one and coarse intracystic septa in one. Cystic content appeared clear in six papillomas and in the case of atypical ductal hyperplasia, whereas it exhibited fine echoes in two papillomas. Among the carcinomas, cystic content showed coarse echoes in two cases and fine echoes in 11. Intralesional calcifications were seen in three carcinomas. Posterior enhancement was present in all carcinomas, whereas none showed posterior shadowing. In three carcinomas, some small solid satellite nodules were evident. Colour Doppler imaging showed lack of flow in four papillomas and subtle flow in the remaining four papillomas and in the atypical ductal hyperplasia. All 13 carcinomas showed diffuse vascularity, with multiple sparse vessels and multiple vascular poles. The resistive index, measurable in 4/8 papillomas, was 0.43 on average. Spectral analysis was measured in all carcinoma cases, yielding a mean resistive index of 0.71. CONCLUSIONS: Intracystic breast tumours exhibit distinctive morphostructural and colour Doppler features that allow effective differentiation from nontumoural cysts. Frequently, a presumptive differentiation between papillomas and carcinomas can be achieved. Absence of flow signals represents an additional criterion for complicated/complex cysts, allowing conservative management. Vascularity indicates the need for excision or biopsy of the solid projections, even in cases with negative cytology.

Furanocoumarins from the aerial parts of Dorstenia contrajerva.

A new glycosylated furanocoumarin, alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-bergaptol (1), has been isolated from Dorstenia contrajerva together with three known furanocoumarins, catechin and epicatechin. Their structures were established using high field 2D NMR techniques.

Flavonol glycosides from Aristeguietia discolor reduce morphine withdrawal in vitro.

The effects of extracts, partially purified fractions and four flavonol glycosides 1-4 from Aristeguietia discolor were investigated on the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal contraction of the acute morphine dependent guinea-pig ileum in vitro. After a 4 min in vitro exposure to morphine a strong contraction of guinea-pig isolated ileum was observed after the addition of naloxone. Both MeOH extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/mL), the partially purified fractions I, L, M and N (50, 100 and 200 mg/mL) and flavonol glycosides 1-4 (1 x 10(-4) 5 x 10(-5) 1 x 10(-5) M), injected 10 min before morphine, were capable of blocking the naloxone-induced contraction after exposure to morphine in a concentration-dependent fashion. The results of the present paper suggest that flavonol glycosides from Aristeguietia discolor may play an important role in the control of morphine withdrawal.

Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of novel beta-lactam monocyclic compounds.

We have examined the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of a new series of monocyclic beta-lactams (azetidinones), similar to others which have been demonstrated to be inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase (HLE), an enzyme involved in degradation processes of connective tissue. Our new compounds have been administered orally (15 mg/kg) to albino rats 30 min before injecting carrageenin in the plantar aponeurosis. Tested compounds have demonstrated a certain activity and stability to gastric hydrolysis, in particular two of them markedly reduced paw edema formation, even if slightly less effectively than indomethacin (reference compound, 5 mg/kg). To evaluate the analgesic activity we carried out the acetic acid writhing test, pretreating rats orally with our compounds 30 min before injecting the acid solution i.p. The same two molecules which showed the anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated a very light analgesic activity. These results suggest the possibility of carrying out further studies, particularly in vitro, on the mechanism of action of our compounds, mechanism which could be the HLE inhibition.

Amide derivatives with H1-antihistaminic effect.

The synthesis and the structure-activity correlation of a series of N-aminoalkylacetamides as H1-antihistaminic agents have been carried out. The compounds were tested in vitro by measurement of the inhibition of histamine-induced contractions on isolated guinea pig ileum; the results are expressed as pA2.

A new class of pyrrolidin-2-ones: synthesis and pharmacological study. II.

The anticonvulsant activity of a second series of pyrrolidin-2-ones (1-2a, 1-4b, 1-9c) was tested on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) treated mice. The compounds were obtained by acylation of N-(3'-aminopropyl)-2-pyrrolidinone with the suitable acid chloride.

Synthesis and pharmacological activities of some 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro[1,5]benzo[f]thiazepines.

In search of new biological active agents in the series of [1,5]benzothiazepines, some 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-N-(5-morpholinopentanoyl)-[1,5]benzo[f] thiazepines were synthesized and examined in vitro for their calcium antagonist activity compared to the Diltiazem one.

Isolation, characterization and antimicrobial activity of coumarin derivatives from Cyperus incompletus.

Ten coumarin derivatives were isolated and characterized by UV, 1H NMR and GC-MS spectra. Their in vitro efficacy against several human pathogenic bacteria and two fungi was evaluated. The tested coumarins showed mild to undefined activity.

Minor components in food plants--Note I. Flavonol glycosides from Ullucus tuberosus.

This work deals with the isolation and characterization in Ullucus tuberosus of flavonoids, a class of natural products influencing potentially the taste and nutritional value of the plant food. The three flavonoids, rutin, narcissin and kaempferol 3-O-(2",6"-di-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosil)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, isolated, are devoid of taste, but appear to possess health promoting effects.

[Minor components in food plants--II. Triterpenoid saponins from Ullucus tuberosus]. / Componenti minori nelle piante alimentari--Nota II. Saponine triterpenoidiche dall' Ullucus tuberosus.

The present work deals with the isolation and characterization of triterpenoid saponins from Ullucus tuberosus. This class of natural products can account at least in part for unpalatability of the tubers of the plant. Two saponins were isolated 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-epihederagenine and 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1"-- 2')-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-oleanoate.

Two flavonol glycosides from Chenopodium quinoa.

Two new flavonol glycosides from the seeds of Chenopodium quinoa have been isolated. Their structures were established as kaempferol 3-apiofuranosyl(1"'----2")rhamnopyranosyl(1""----6")galactoside and kaempferol 3-apiofuranosyl(1"'----2")rhamnopyranosyl(1""----6")galactoside. The main flavonoid glycoside was kaempferol 3-(2,6-dirhamnopyranosyl)galactoside.