[A hitherto unknown priority of Jan Ev. Purkyne--myocardial sleeves of the pulmonary veins. Contribution to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation]

According to recent electrophysiological discoveries, atrial fibrillation is triggered by ectopic beats which in most cases originate in the pulmonary veins, in extensions of left atrial myocardium upon these veins, so called myocardial sleeves. In the relevant literature it is stated that this anatomical structure was first described by Ferdinand Raeuschel in 1836 in the publication "De arteriarum et venarum structura". This publication appeared as Raeuschel's dissertation thesis at the faculty of medicine in Breslau (now Polish Wroclaw) at the department of physiology under the leadership of Jan Ev. Purkyne. In the introduction, the author thanks his tutor for introducing him into the problematic and for the continuous help, stating that all new discoveries in the dissertation should be ascribed to Purkyne. Thus, the description of myocardial sleeves of pulmonary veins appears as a yet further priority of the great Czech scientist.

Rasmussen encephalitis with active inflammation and delayed seizures onset

Severe focal epilepsy is regarded as a clinical hallmark of Rasmussen encephalitis (RE). The authors report two children with progressive hemiparesis, contralateral hemispheric atrophy, and pathologic features characteristic for RE. At histologic diagnosis and over several months, neither patient experienced seizures. The report enlarges the clinical spectrum of RE and suggests that seizures are not an obligatory presenting symptom of the disorder.

[Pulmonary embolism--temporal aspects]

The post-mortem incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in the years 1960-2000 was retrospectively reviewed. In five reference years 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 there was a total of 582 necropsy patients with PE encountered in 3420 autopsies of adults (> 18 y.)--an incidence of 17.0%. The incidence had a steadily declining trend--from 19.2% in 1960 to 14.2% in the year 2000. The incidence was higher in females (20.4%) than in males (14.4%). We have also followed the seasonal variation of PE incidence; this was the highest in autumn (September-November) 18.6%, and the lowest in spring (March-May) 14.3%. The average age of patients who died with PE increased from 63.7 y. in 1960 to 67.8 y. in 2000; it was higher in females (66.9 y.) than in males (64.2 y.). Our results confirm those of most pathological studies that the post-mortem incidence of PE is declining.

[Carcinoid heart disease]

Demonstrated are eight cases of carcinoid heart disease (7 females, 1 male; average age 63.4 y.). The primary tumor was localized in the ileum in 5, and in the cecal area in 3 patients, with liver metastases in each case. The characteristic heart lesion appears as an endocardial plaque composed of loose intercellular matrix with scattered smooth muscle cells, covered by an endothelial layer. The plaques are apposed on an otherwise normal valvular, or mural endocardium of the right heart. The resulting combined valvular lesions show a predominance o tricuspid incompetence, or of pulmonary stenosis. In one case with a widely patent foramen ovale there was involvement of left-heart valves in addition. Local effect of serotonin appears to play the main role in pathogenesis of the endocardial plaques.

Mitochondrial cardiomyopathy--case report

A male infant developed progressive neuromuscular disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and brain atrophy since the birth. Increased level of lactate with increased lactate/pyruvate ratio suggested a disturbance in the mitochondrial energy metabolism. The activities of respiratory chain complexes III, IV and II + III, of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and of citrate synthase in isolated muscle mitochondria were low in comparison with controls, with parallel decrease in the content of protein amount of respiratory chain complexes III and IV. No large scale deletions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and mtDNA point mutations A3243G, A8344G or T8993G indicating syndromes MELAS, MERRF or NARP were detected. The boy died at the age of 7 weeks. The autopsy revealed typical changes of mitochondrial cardiomyopathy-marked myocardial hypertrophy with muscle pallor, histological finding of diffuse fine granularity of the cytoplasm in the perinuclear regions, and ultrastructural findings of mitochondrial hyperplasia, enlargement (megamitochondria) and abnormal shape.

[Burned-out or depressive? An empirical study regarding the construct validity of burnout in contrast to depression]

Our study tested the discriminant validity of burnout in contrast to depression using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI, Maslach u. Jackson 1986) and the Allgemeine Depressionsskala (ADS, Hautzinger u. Bailer 1993). Furthermore the relationships between burnout and depression to social support, occupational and health variables were examined. Pre-school teachers (n = 101), physician-assistants (n = 81) and their intimates were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Spearman-correlations and factor analysis were conducted with SPSS. The results indicate validity for the burnout construct.

Spinal cord involvement in uncomplicated herpes zoster

We prospectively evaluated herpes zoster patients during the acute phase of the disease for central nervous system involvement. Of 24 patients with spinal zoster, 13 (54%) had spinal cord abnormality, which was asymptomatic in 12 of the 13. Age but not lack of acyclovir treatment was associated with such involvement. In all but 2, neurological involvement resolved within 6 months. Although the mechanism responsible for the neurological abnormalities is unknown, findings may support the hypothesis that zoster is associated with spread of viral infection into the spinal cord and therefore support the possibility that zoster is due to active viral replication in the ganglion.

[Aspergillosis--a rare complicating disease in patients after renal transplantation]

The authors submit a detailed analysis of the death of a 42-year-old man after a second renal transplantation. The patient died with symptoms of cardiac failure in a septic condition of obscure etiology where even detailed examination did not provide a timely answer as regards the lethal pathogen. Aspergillus fumigatus is a rare lethal pathogen. Despite this it is, as all opportune infections, for patients with immunosuppressive therapy a serious life threatening infection [1, 2]. In a group of 650 transplantations performed since 1961 in Hradec Králové it is the first death caused by generalized Aspergillus infection.

Mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene might be a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease in peripartum and under oral contraceptive use

Nine women (age 22-43 years) with cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) related to pregnancy, puerperium or contraceptive use were studied. Five were pregnant, 2 were post partum and 2 were taking oral contraceptives. All under- went a complete etiological examination including assessment for the thermolabile C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation. Three of the 9 patients were homozygotic for the C677T MTHFR mutation, and 3 were heterozygotic. In these 6 patients, no other etiology could be found. Mutation in the thermolabile MTHFR gene might be an important cause for CVD related to peripartum or contraceptive use.

Recurrence of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis at the previously affected brain site

BACKGROUND

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a usually monophasic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Recurrences pose a diagnostic challenge because they can be overlooked or suggest an alternative diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the frequency, nature, and outcome of recurrent ADEM.

DESIGN

Review of the medical records of patients diagnosed in our institution as having ADEM between January 1, 1983, and May 31, 1998. Recurrences were defined as appearance of new symptoms and signs at least 1 month after the previous episode.

RESULTS

Five (24%) of 21 patients with ADEM developed recurrent disease episodes. In all, diagnosis was confirmed by brain biopsy. One patient had 4 disease episodes, 2 had 3, and the other 2 each had 2. Recurrence appeared 1.5 to 32 months after initial presentation and involved the same brain territory in 6 of 9 recurrences in 3 of 5 patients. In 2 patients, recurrences included neuropsychiatric signs. A good response to corticosteroid therapy was observed in 10 of 13 of treated ADEM attacks: in 3 of the 4 treated initial events and in 7 of 9 recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrent ADEM may be more prevalent than previously recognized. Patients who relapse tend to have more than 1 recurrence that usually involves, clinically and radiologically, a brain territory that was affected before and can simulate a space-occupying lesion that requires histologic diagnosis. Neuropsychiatric features may be the main presentation of a relapse. Since recurrent ADEM is a corticosteroid-responsive condition, awareness and early diagnosis are mandatory.

[Cardiac myxomas]

Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. Between 1970 and 1998, 33 myxomas from patients operated at the Cardiosurgical Department were submitted for pathological examination. A review of age, sex and clinical symptoms of the patients as well as of gross and histological features of the tumors is presented. Immunohistochemical examination was performed on 10 selected myxomas-reactivity to vimentin, desmin, S-100 protein, cytokeratin and FVIIIR-Ag. The necessity of histological examination of the embolectomy material is stressed.

Infection and the etiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) currently defies clinical and scientific definitions, and carries a prognosis that remains practically unchanged despite many years of intensive research. Although the prevailing dogma is that MS is an immune-mediated condition, it fulfills none of the criteria of an autoimmune disease. On the other hand, there is enough significant data to suggest that infectious agents(s) could be involved in either direct damage to the white matter or induce inflammatory responses that secondarily affect the brain. Our goal here is to review the data supporting the possibility that infection has a critical role in the disease, examine the list of potential candidates that have been suggested, and outline an approach regarding the potential role of infectious agents in the etiology and pathogenesis of MS.

A GPS logger and software for analysis of homing in pigeons and small mammals

A detailed analysis of homing in pigeons and small mammals has remained difficult because the paths of the animals could not be reconstructed precisely. Here, we describe a lightweight global position system (GPS) data logger (35 g including battery and casing; 40 x 68 x 18 mm) that records the flight of pigeons and the path of dogs with an accuracy of +/-12 m. With one battery, the logger runs in continuous mode (1 fix/s) for 3.5 h and in power-saving mode (1 fix/5 s) for about 16 h, and stores a maximum of 100,000 data points that are downloaded to a PC. A module of our public domain software WINTRACK permits a detailed numerical and graphical analysis of path geometry, phases of resting and moving, and path similarity. The device can be adapted to different species provided that satellite signals can be received reliably and that the loggers can be recovered. We expect it to be useful for testing hypotheses about pigeon homing, assessing natural spatial behavior and orientation of many species, and anticipate further miniaturization.

Active infective endocarditis involving all four cardiac valves

A case is presented of a 70-year-old man treated for 3 months for necrotizing pancreatitis with multiorgan failure. The autopsy revealed enterococcal endocarditis affecting all eleven valvular cusps of the four heart valves.

Coronary arteritis with marked fibrous periarteritis: case report

A case is presented of a 43-year-old man who died suddenly and unexpectedly from cardiac malignant arrhythmia. Autopsy revealed isolated coronary arteritis involving primarily the left coronary stem and extending into the proximal half of its anterior descending branch. The most striking feature of the disease was marked fibrous periarteritis. Similar changes were present segmentally in the peripheral third of the right coronary artery, and also as small isolated foci of adventitial fibrosis in the aortic base. With some hesitation, we classify the case as coronary Takayasu's arteritis.

[Monitoring of the inflammation in children before and after tonsillectomy]

A group of 54 children aged from three to 13 years was qualified to tonsillectomy for laryngological indications. In sera of all children following measurements were performed: the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were measured using rocket immunoelectrophoresis according to Laurell, also concentrations of three main immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG, IgM) and antistreptolysin titer. The microheterogeneity of both AGP and ACT was investigated, using crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis according to Bog-Hansen with Concanavalin A (Con A) as a ligand. Results were expressed as reactivity coefficients (RC), being the proportion of all Con A-reacting variants to the non-reacting variant. It is worth mentioning that there was no difference in all investigated parameters as well between groups obtained by categorizing children according to the presence or absence of elevated antistreptolysin titer. It may mean that at least in some cases the chronic inflammation was caused by streptococci non-producing streptolysin O. The results obtained suggest that the absence of the arthritic pain does not exclude the need of antibiotic therapy in children after tonsillectomy. Generally it is postulated that estimation of acute phase proteins concentrations and glycosylation profiles, which were previously shown to be useful in clinical assessment of various diseases may serve as additional marker in laryngology in cases where indications to tonsillectomy are still controversial.

[Atheromatous (cholesterol) embolization]

A case is presented of an 89-year-old woman who died following an operation for arterial embolism of the lower limb. The autopsy histology showed acute occlusion of a stenosed sclerotic femoral artery by thrombotic and atheromatous emboli. In addition, it showed chronic cholesterol crystal embolism in multiple small arteries of abdominal organs, particularly of the kidneys. Abdominal aorta with severe ulcerated atherosclerosis appeared as the source of embolism.

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy: an autosomal recessive disorder due to thymidine phosphorylase mutations

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an autosomal recessive disorder defined clinically by severe gastrointestinal dysmotility; cachexia; ptosis, ophthalmoparesis, or both; peripheral neuropathy; leukoencephalopathy; and mitochondrial abnormalities. The disease is caused by mutations in the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) gene. TP protein catalyzes phosphorolysis of thymidine to thymine and deoxyribose 1-phosphate. We identified 21 probands (35 patients) who fulfilled our clinical criteria for MNGIE. MNGIE has clinically homogeneous features but varies in age at onset and rate of progression. Gastrointestinal dysmotility is the most prominent manifestation, with recurrent diarrhea, borborygmi, and intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Patients usually die in early adulthood (mean, 37.6 years; range, 26-58 years). Cerebral leukodystrophy is characteristic. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has depletion, multiple deletions, or both. We have identified 16 TP mutations. Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations were present in all patients tested. Leukocyte TP activity was reduced drastically in all patients tested, 0.009 +/- 0.021 micromol/hr/mg (mean +/- SD; n = 16), compared with controls, 0.67 +/- 0.21 micromol/hr/mg (n = 19). MNGIE is a recognizable clinical syndrome caused by mutations in thymidine phosphorylase. Severe reduction of TP activity in leukocytes is diagnostic. Altered mitochondrial nucleoside and nucleotide pools may impair mtDNA replication, repair, or both.

Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgG bands in patients with spinal arteriovenous malformation and structural central nervous system lesions

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the incidence and characteristics of patients with structural central nervous system (CNS) lesions and cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgG bands.

DESIGN

A retrospective study.

METHOD

The medical records of patients with cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgG bands were evaluated for the presence of structural CNS lesions, their location and cause, and for clinical characteristics.

SETTING

Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgG bands were examined in the Neuroimmunology Laboratory, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.

PATIENTS

Two hundred seventy of 570 patients with positive cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgG bands were available for analysis. Twenty patients had structural CNS lesions.

RESULTS

Twenty (7.5%) of the 270 patients had structural CNS lesions: 3 patients had spinal arteriovenous malformation; 5 patients had tumors; 9 patients had compressive cervical myelopathy. Traumatic leukomalacia, Arnold-Chiari malformation type 1, and CNS hemosiderosis were present in 1 patient each. In 2 patients (1 patient with recurrent meningioma and 1 patient with posttraumatic encephalomalacia) the presence of a structural CNS lesion was followed by the development of multiple sclerosis. In all 3 patients with spinal arteriovenous malformation, oligoclonal IgG identification prolonged the time to diagnosis and therapy, which varied from a few weeks to 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Structural CNS lesions, responsible for the neurological disorder, were present in 20 patients (7.5%) with cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgG bands. The mechanism underlying oligoclonal IgG presence in spinal arteriovenous malformation and the coexistence of multiple sclerosis and structural CNS lesions is unknown, but may be related to recurrent tissue damage with repeated presentation of CNS antigens to the immune system.

Multiple sclerosis--in need of a critical reappraisal

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that currently defies clinical and scientific definitions. Despite intensive clinical and basic research, very little is known about its possible cause(s) or pathogenesis, and the course and prognosis of MS practically remain unchanged. The aim of the present article is to outline some of the reasons for the constant failure to improve the therapy of MS. It also attempts to offer several guidelines which may enable a fresh and different approach to this devastating condition.

[Biopsy of the heart valves. 872 cases]

In this study, 872 heart valves surgically excised from 810 patients during a period of 5 years (1994 through 1998) were examined pathologically. There was a predominance of aortic (506 patients) versus mitral valves (246 pts.). While aortic valves came more often from men (364) than from women (142), in mitral valves the M:F ratio is 82/164. Isolated calcific aortic stenosis appeared as the most frequent valvular disease (418 pts.), with predominance of its sclerotic-senile type (238 pts.). Mitral stenosis (185 pts.) remains the classical post-rheumatic disease. The relative frequency of a subvalvular stenosing mitral lesion is stressed. The "pure" incompetence of both aortic (70 pts.) and mitral (56 pts.) valve was usually based on valvular myxoid degeneration. An aorto-mitral disease requiring replacement of both valves (51 pts.) presented typically as a post-rheumatic lesion, however, a combination of a post-rheumatic mitral with a degenerative-sclerotic aortic valve disease may be possible. In 30 patients, the valvular replacement was performed for infective endocarditis or a post-IE lesion, mostly of the aortic valve. With the almost non-existence of acute rheumatic fever and with the increasing average age of population in this country, we may expect a long-term decline in mitral valve disease and an increase in aortic valve disease, particularly in the sclerotic type of aortic stenosis.

Bell's palsy and herpes viruses: to (acyclo)vir or not to (acyclo)vir?

The majority of peripheral seventh cranial nerve palsy cases remain without an identified etiology and will eventually be diagnosed as idiopathic or Bell's palsy. Some features of this condition may be characteristic of a viral infection. Indeed, several herpes viruses have been implicated as potential causative pathogens. Besides varicella-zoster virus, shown to cause Bell's palsy under the Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, recent years have seen an increased interest and focus on the possible herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) etiology in idiopathic facial paralysis. We review the clinical, biological and virological basis for the potential herpetic cause of Bell's palsy and the rational for antiviral therapy in this condition.

Psychometrische Schweregradbeurteilung bei dementiellen Erkrankungen: Ein Vergleich von MMST, ADAS, BCRS und SKT

Zusammenfassung: In einer multizentrischen Studie wurden mit MMST, ADAS, BCRS und SKT vier im Bereich der dementiellen Alterserkrankungen international eingesetzte Testverfahren miteinander verglichen. Es wurde überprüft, inwieweit die Verfahren zwischen Patientengruppen mit klinisch unterschiedlich schwer beurteilten kognitiven Einbußen differenzieren können, ob die mit den einzelnen Tests getroffenen Störungsgradzuordnungen übereinstimmen und welche Entsprechungen zwischen den Testscores bestehen. Weiterhin wurde die faktorielle Struktur der Testbatterie analysiert. Die Ergebnisse legen eine unterschiedliche Störungsgradsensitivität von MMST, ADAS, BCRS und SKT in verschiedenen Stadien der Demenz nahe. Die auf der Grundlage der vier Tests vorgenommenen Schweregradbeurteilungen des dementiellen Syndroms weichen voneinander ab. In einer Regressionsanalyse konnten dafür in erster Linie die zwischen den verschiedenen Testverfahren bestehenden Unterschiede in der Definition von Schweregraden kognitiver Beeinträchtigungen verantwortlich gemacht werden. Die Faktorenanalyse erbrachte eine Lösung, die die Kernsymptomatik der Demenz abbildet und damit auf die faktorielle Validität der eingesetzten Tests hinweist.

Features of dural sinus thrombosis simulating pseudotumor cerebri

To characterize dural sinus thrombosis (DST) patients presenting with a syndrome simulating pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), medical records of patients initially diagnosed as having PTC between 1980 and 1995 were analysed. Inclusion criteria were intracranial hypertension (IH) and a normal initial computed tomography (CT) scan. All patients underwent angiography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance venography (MRV). Patients with IH secondary to a determined disorder were excluded from the study. Forty-six patients were included, 12 patients had MRI/MRV or angiography findings compatible with DST and the remaining 34 patients had no vascular pathology on neuroimaging studies and were considered to have PTC. No clinical or auxiliary findings differed between the two groups except for younger age, which delineated the PTC patients. Two patients with DST died during the study. Both were agitated, had a relatively rapid course of symptom progression, and a CSF pressure of over 40 cm water. We conclude that DST can be identified in 26% of patients presenting with symptoms and signs typical of PTC. It may be impossible to differentiate between patients with and without DST if MRI/MRV or angiography are not performed in this scenario.

Focal, steroid responsive myositis causing dropped head syndrome

The dropped head syndrome, which occurs in a variety of neuromuscular disorders, is usually not due to an inflammatory process and generally either self-limited or nonresponsive to therapy. We present an 80-year-old woman who developed progressive neck weakness over a few months due to a focal and restricted inflammatory process involving the neck extensor muscles. She responded dramatically to treatment with immunosuppressive therapy.

[Three cases of Kartagener's syndrome in children]

On the basis of the most recent works, etiology and the symptoms of Kartagener's syndrome have been described, as well as three cases of this disease in children.

[A case of malignant carcinoma in submandibular salivary gland in a 13-year old girl]

Of all head and neck neoplasms, 3% are malignant salivary neoplasms. Only 20% of them affect submandibular glands. These tumours vary histologically, which results from the complex embryogenesis of the glands. Malignant submandibular gland tumours are twice as frequent as parotid gland tumours. Simultaneous occurrence of quite different malignant tumours in the same salivary gland is extremely rare. The age range of patients affected with salivary gland neoplasms is wide. However, the occurrence of these neoplasms in children is exceptionally rare. The authors describe a case of a 13-year-old girl with acinose adenoid carcinoma and cystiscarcinoma coexisting in one submandibular salivary gland.

Subacute painful lumbosacral polyradiculoneuropathy in immunocompromised patients

The syndrome of inflammatory subacute lumbosacral polyradiculoneuropathy (SLP) has been reported in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in association with cytomegalovirus infection and is only partially amenable to anti-viral therapy. We report three cases of relatively benign inflammatory painful SLP in two non-AIDS, immunosuppressed patients and one who HIV-seroconversed at the time of clinical presentation. SLP developed: (1) in association with HIV seroconversion; (2) during ECHO virus infection in a patient with common variable immune deficiency; and (3) after a severe systemic infection that induced transient immunosuppression due to Epstein-Barr virus reactivation. This report expands the spectrum of viruses associated with acute and subacute lumbosacral polyradiculoneuropathy and may shed light on its possible pathogenesis.

Reversal of vision metamorphopsia: clinical and anatomical characteristics

BACKGROUND

Metamorphopsia is a visual illusion that distorts the size, shape, or inclination of objects. Reversal of vision metamorphopsia (RVM) is a rare transient form of metamorphopsia described as an upside-down, 180 degrees rotation of the visual field in the coronal plane. The pathophysiological characteristics of RVM remain unclear.

DESIGN

Patients with RVM had a complete neurologic examination during or shortly after an episode of metamorphopsia, with particular emphasis on gaze disorders, visual fields, visually guided hand movements, and perceptual or cognitive deficits. Workup included imaging studies, visual field examinations, and brainstem auditory and visual evoked response.

SETTING

Department of Neurology, Hadassah University Hospital, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.

PATIENTS

Six consecutive patients were evaluated from 1991 to 1996.

RESULTS

Five patients had parieto-occipital brain insult sparing the primary visual cortex, and 3 also had evidence of a concomitant brainstem or cerebellar syndrome. One patient had pure brainstem syndrome underlying the RVM. Three patients had complete RVM as well as oblique RVM of less than 180 degrees.

CONCLUSIONS

These cases imply a possible anatomical localization of the central integrator of visual extrapersonal orientation. Our observations suggest that a separate central mechanism of visual orientation might exist in each cerebral hemisphere and that occipital and parietal lesions that spare the optic radiations may account for the oblique and complete RVM. We postulate that failure to perceive space in an allocentric coordinate frame, particularly in the coronal roll plane, is potentially the critical event underlying RVM.

Migration of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from PVC child articles into saliva and saliva simulant

A simple migration test and a more complicated simulation of children's sucking and biting was used to establish migration of DEHP from PVC child-use articles into saliva and compared to a mimic test. The static migration test of a film containing approximately 30% DEHP with saliva simulant gave the lowest values of DEHP; simple shaking increased the amounts of DEHP from 25 +/- 8 to 499 +/- 153 micrograms/g film. The more complicated arrangements to simulate sucking and biting are not so suitable for standard applications. When comparing the in vitro migration tests with the mimic test the factors were 25 and 29 for the static tests (3 and 6 hours) and 1.4 for the shaking test.

The value of cerebrospinal fluid antiviral antibody in the diagnosis of neurologic disease produced by varicella zoster virus

We studied four patients with subacute to chronic varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection of the central nervous system (CNS). VZV infection was verified by detecting antibody to VZV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). VZV caused myelitis in two patients and encephalitis in two patients. In one of the patients with VZV encephalitis, in addition to VZV IgM antibody, VZV DNA was found in the CSF. Among the four patients with VZV infection of the CNS, CSF antibody to VZV was the crucial diagnostic laboratory test which corroborated the clinical features, and indicated that VZV caused neurologic disease. In addition to looking for amplifiable VZV DNA in the CSF of patients with neurologic disease whose clinical and radiologic features suggest VZV infection, we also recommend a search for CSF antibody to VZV, particularly in patients with intervals of weeks to months between zoster and the onset of neurologic disease, or in those patients without rash in whom the tempo of illness is unknown.

Tissue specific distribution of the herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcripts on polyribosomes during latent infection

Transcription of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) during latency produces two abundant latency-associated transcripts (LATs). We have recently shown, that during HSV-1 latency in mice trigeminal ganglia (TG) LATs are bound to polyribosomes (J Virol, 1997, 71, 2897-2904). In order to study the possible role of this binding in the latency process, we now extend the polyribosomal analysis to brainstem tissues of latently infected mice, that unlike TG do not support viral reactivation. We report here that the relative amounts of the LATs associated with polyribosomes in the brainstems of mice are significantly lower than those present in TG. We therefore show that binding of the 1.5 and 2.0 kilobases LATs to polyribosomes is tissue specific and hypothesize that this association may have a role in the reactivation function of HSV-1.

Anticardiolipin antibodies are frequently present in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension

BACKGROUND

Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL-Ab) are associated with various neurologic syndromes, but idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has only rarely been reported in this context.

OBJECTIVES

To delineate the frequency and clinical and radiological features of, as well as the cause-and-effect relationship between, ACL-Ab and IIH.

METHODS

We analyzed the medical records of patients with IIH hospitalized between January 1989 and September 1995. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance venography or angiography. Excluded were patients with intracranial hypertension due to dural sinus thrombosis or traumatic, structural, neoplastic, or infectious disorders. Patients who were found on at least 2 separate occasions to have increased IgG titers of ACL-Ab were identified and compared with patients without ACL-Ab.

RESULTS

Six (43%) of 14 patients with IIH had ACL-Ab. No differences in clinical, laboratory, or radiological variables could be found between patients with and without ACL-Ab. Only 3 of the 11 ACL-Ab-positive patients had previous systemic or neurologic abnormalities associated with ACL-Ab.

CONCLUSIONS

Anticardiolipin antibodies may cause IIH through mechanisms unrelated to major venous thrombosis. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is frequently associated with ACL-Ab and can be the presenting symptom of the antiphospholipid syndrome. There are no major clinical, laboratory, or radiological features that distinguish between patients with IIH with and without ACL-Ab.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcripts suppress viral replication and reduce immediate-early gene mRNA levels in a neuronal cell line

During herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latent infection in human dorsal root ganglia, limited viral transcription, which has been linked to HSV-1 reactivation ability, takes place. To study the involvement of this transcription in HSV-1 replication in neuronal cells and consequently in viral latency, we constructed stably transfected neuronal cell lines containing (i) the entire HSV-1 latency transcriptionally active DNA fragment, (ii) the same DNA sequence with deletions of the latency-associated transcript (LAT) promoters, or (iii) the DNA coding sequence of the LAT domain. Replication of HSV-1 or a LAT-negative mutant was markedly repressed in the LAT-expressing cells, a phenomenon mediated by the LATs. To study the mechanism responsible for this effect, we examined LAT influence upon expression of HSV-1 immediate-early (IE) genes ICP0, ICP4, and ICP27, by Northern blot analysis. Following infection of a LAT-expressing neuronal cell line with a LAT-negative mutant, the steady-state levels of all three IE mRNAs were reduced compared to those for control cells. Transient transfections into a neuronal cell line indicated that the LAT suppressive effect upon ICP0 mRNA was mediated directly and was not due to the LAT effect upon the ICP0 promoter. We therefore propose that the LATs may repress viral replication in neuronal cells by reducing IE gene mRNA levels and thus facilitate the establishment of HSV-1 latency in nervous tissue.

Progressive dystonia with optic atrophy in a Jewish-Iraqi family

The combination of progressive dystonia and optic atrophy is extremely rare and its morphological, metabolic and genetic basis is unknown. In a family of 9 children (8 males) born to consanguineous Israeli-Jewish-Iraqi parents, we identified four brothers who developed the syndrome at the end of the first decade. Patients had hemi or bilateral dystonia associated with striatal, mainly putaminal, atrophy on CT and MRI, various degrees of optic atrophy, minimal corticospinal tract involvement, normal intelligence and no peripheral nervous system or systemic abnormalities. No causative metabolic defect was identified. None of the several known mitochondrial DNA mutations associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) or with LHON with dystonia were detected. Likewise, linkage to the idiopathic torsion dystonia region on chromosome 9q34 was excluded. It is suggested that this in our patients might be due to a yet unidentified genomic, autosomal recessive mutation.

[Myofibroblastic proliferative lesions in the paratesticular area]

Myofibroblastic pseudotumorous proliferations have been recognized at a variety of sites. Six cases of paratesticular myofibroblastic lesions with emphasis on the spectrum of morphologic features were described. The microscopic features changed from abundant cellular spindle cell proliferation resembling nodular (pseudosarcomatous) fasciitis to hypocellular and hyalin fibrovascular lesion with extensive dystrophic calcification. The age of the patients ranged from 14 to 77 years. In four cases sarcoma was suspected histologically. Differential diagnosis and histogenesis of the lesion were discussed.

The abundant latency-associated transcripts of herpes simplex virus type 1 are bound to polyribosomes in cultured neuronal cells and during latent infection in mouse trigeminal ganglia

During herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency, limited viral transcription takes place. This transcription has been linked to the ability of the HSV-1 genome to reactivate and consists of abundant 2.0- and 1.5-kb collinear latency-associated transcripts (LATs), spanned by minor hybridizing RNA (mLAT). The 1.5-kb LAT is derived from the 2.0-kb LAT by splicing, and both transcripts contain two large overlapping open reading frames. The molecular action mechanisms of the latency-associated gene expression are unknown, and no HSV-1 latency-encoded proteins have been convincingly demonstrated. We have cloned the entire latency-associated transcriptionally active HSV-1 DNA fragment (10.4 kb) under control of a constitutive promoter and generated a neuronal cell line (NA4) stably transfected with the viral LAT's region. NA4 cells produced the 2.0- and the 1.5-kb LATs. Northern blotting and reverse transcription-PCR analysis of RNA from NA4 cells and from trigeminal ganglia of mice latently infected with HSV-1 revealed that the two abundant LAT species were present in the polyribosomal RNA fractions. After addition of EDTA, which causes dissociation of mRNA-ribosome complexes, both LATs could be detected only in subpolyribosomal, but not in polyribosomal fractions. These results show that (i) HSV-1 LATs are bound to polyribosomes during latency in vivo, as well as in neuronal cells in vitro, and therefore might be translated, and that (ii) the NA4 cell line is a suitable tool with which to look for HSV-1 latency-encoded gene products.