Sarcoidosis presenting as a central nervous system mass lesion.

Neurosarcoidosis occurs in approximately 5% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. A review of medical literature shows that intracranial mass-like lesions secondary to sarcoidosis are quite rare. CT and MRI scanning would suggest that this manifestation of neurosarcoidosis may be more common than previously realized. We discuss five cases of neurosarcoidosis presenting as an intracranial mass. Empiric corticosteroid treatment can be recommended for cases with CNS mass in the context of systemic sarcoidosis.

Detection of transforming gene regions of human papillomavirus type 16 in cervical dysplasias by the polymerase chain reaction.

In a study of 29 cases of histologically confirmed, characterized colposcopically and cytologically, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias 48.3% (14/29) of biopsies were positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA by polymerase chain reaction. We used two oligonucleotide primer pairs (position 215-514 and 606-805) flanking a 300 and a 199 base pair fragment from the early 6 (E6) and early 7 (E7) genes. The results were concordant both with the E6 and with the E7 regions. Of the amplified products 85.7% (12/14) could be confirmed; these carried 16 specific sequences by Southern blot hybridization. HPV 16 DNA was present in 6.7% (2/30) of the colposcopically directed cytologically normal matched control samples using the same methods.

Pneumothorax and pulmonary cavitation in a man with systemic sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder with protean manifestations. Physicians should be aware of potential unusual complications and this reminds one of the paradoxical affirmation that "rare events are always possible!" The case presented demonstrates two unusual consecutive complications: pneumothorax with lobar dissociation and primary acute pulmonary cavitation. Myocardium, liver and spleen were also involved. History and evolution suggest a relationship between sarcoid activity and alcohol consumption.

[Neurosarcoidosis. Comments on 2 cases]. / Neurosarcoidoza. Consideratii pe marginea a doua cazuri.

Sarcoidosis can involve any tissue in the body and, consequently, the disease presents to clinicians of many different disciplines. We report two cases of sarcoidosis involvement of the nervous system: one male patient with right facial nerve palsy and a cutaneous involvement (supraorbital subcutaneous nodule) associated with bilateral hilar adenopathy; and a female patient presenting a hypothalamus involvement with diabetes insipidus, obesity, lethargy, sleep disturbances and amenorrhoea. In the later case an upper respiratory tract involvement was also present with nasal and tonsils sarcoidosis. A review of the clinical manifestations of neurosarcoidosis and the criteria for establishing the diagnosis is presented.

The effect of membrane potential on the limited tryptic digestion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase.

The tryptic cleavage process of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase was analysed under the influence of experimentally generated membrane potential. The digestion of the Ca2+ transport enzyme was stopped before the dissipation of the potential response. The cleavage products reflected the actual conformation of the enzyme as the low Ca2+ affinity E2, under the influence of inside positive, and as the high Ca2+ affinity E1 conformation under the influence of inside negative potential. These results provide further support for the possible role of transient membrane potential changes in the regulation of the conformational equilibrium of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump enzyme.

Interruption of pregnancy by cervical rivanol predilatation.

Experience obtained in 1361 cases of first trimester pregnancy interruption with cervical Rivanol predilatation is reported. Rivanol-induced predilatation of the cervical canal prior to interruption was found to be an efficient procedure. The dilating effect of Rivanol could not be enhanced by i.m. administration of 5 IU oxytocin. After the interruption of more advanced pregnancies a higher degree of dilatation of the cervix was observed. The necessity of further dilatation prior to vacuum aspiration is, in the majority of cases, not higher than 2-2.5 H, which is insignificant on the softened cervix. The immediate complications of medical induction and interruption were infrequent and not severe. Thus, cervical predilatation with Rivanol prior to vacuum aspiration is a recommendable method of pregnancy interruption, worthy of widespread application.

Early complications of first trimester interruption of pregnancies with rivanol predilatation.

The early complications of the non-invasive interruption of 1361 first trimester pregnancies induced by Rivanol predilatation were studied. For this purpose the patients were called back for follow-up examination 6 weeks after the operation. The number of patients reporting at the control examination was 769. The number of febrile complications of genital origin was low. Slight postoperative bleeding exceeded the amount of normal menstruation only in 4.9% of the patients and, in general, it did not last longer than 7 days. The same applied to abdominal and lumbar complaints. The proportion of early complications was lower than after interruptions with the D + VA and D + C methods. The first menstruation after the operation did not differ from the earlier menstruation pattern of the particular patient in 75.9% of the cases. This also showed that the use of Rivanol did not involve lasting and severe damage to the endometrium.