Smooth muscle tumour of uncertain malignant potential (SMTUMP) in the nasal cavity: an incidental finding.

Sino-nasal smooth muscle tumours of uncertain malignant potential (SMTUMP) are very rare neoplasms of mesenchymal origin with features in between a benign leiomyoma and a leiomyosarcoma. We report a rare case of SMTUMP in a 44-year-old woman, who presented with vague symptoms of pharyngitis. Nasal endoscopy revealed a smooth mass in left nasal cavity. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI scans showed features likely to be inverted papilloma or olfactory neuroblastoma or meningioma. Excision was planned and intraoperatively, frozen section revealed a probable spindle cell lesion. Final histopathological report following immunohistochemistry (IHC) & immunofluoresence (IF) confirmed it to be a SMTUMP. This patient underwent complete resection via endoscopic KTP laser assisted, anterior skull base surgery with no recurrence on follow-up.

Inhibitors of catechol-O-methyltransferase in the treatment of neurological disorders.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is the enzyme which catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to catechols and catecholamines, like the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. COMT has implications in many neurological and psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease (PD), bipolar disorders, etc. and therefore, it serves as an important drug target. Since its characterization in 1957, many inhibitors were designed where the first generation inhibitors were found to be highly toxic, short acting and had poor bioavailability. Currently, two of the second generation inhibitors, tolcapone and entacapone have been used for treatment of PD but are associated with various dopaminergic and gastro-intestinal side-effects. There have been several approaches for the design of novel COMT inhibitors with a good and safe therapeutic profile. The focus of this article is to review the current knowledge on COMT and the role of COMT inhibitors in the treatment of neurological disorders. The inhibitors have been classified into six different classes based on the structural framework. A historical overview of the discovery and development of COMT inhibitors is presented with a special emphasis on new generation of inhibitors till date.