Cyclopia: The Face Predicts the Future

The most extreme form of holoprosencephaly (HPE) is cyclopia and appears with a single characteristic midline diamond-shaped orbital structure and various facial, brain, and extrafacial features. We aimed to report a case of a cyclopic fetus diagnosed at the 22 weeks of the gestational age and further we reviewed the recent literature in order to highlight the etiopathogenesis and set goals for approaching such future pregnancies. Following the first-trimester assessment, in a 27-year-old pregnant woman, who underwent in vitro fertilization, the pregnancy was associated with a low risk for aneuploidies and a high risk for pre-eclampsia. On the anomaly scan, due to severe fetal brain maldevelopment and microcephale, HPE was suspected. Furthermore, three-dimensional ultrasound confirmed a common orbit in the midline of the face. Although the parents did not opt for amniocentesis and further postnatal management, parental karyotyping test did not detect any pathology. The pregnancy was terminated and the macroscopic examination of the aborted specimen revealed cyclopia, synophalmia, fussed eyelids with a proboscis on the upper midline of the face, and a malpositioned left ear. To conclude, cyclopia is not widely manifested, and different cyclopian disorders could still occur. Although this rare congenital abnormality is incompatible with life, the awareness of the spectrum of sonographic features and the appropriate genetic counseling can determine the outcome of current and forthcoming pregnancies.

The pharmacological effect of fractions obtained by smoking cannabis through a water-pipe. II. A second fractionation step

The catatonic activity, prolongation of phenobarbital sleeping-time, convulsant action and disruption of nest-building activity was assessed in mice subjected to 4 cannabis pyrolysis products and their tobacco analogues. All but one of the cannabis fractions prolonged the pentobarbital sleeping-time and disrupted the nest-building activity of mice in a way not related to their content in the main cannabinoids. Nest-building activity seems to be the most valid assay we have used so far.

Hashish smoke interfers with Sidman avoidance in mice

Hashish smoke has been proved to be active in the Sidman avoidance. Its activity is similar to that of hallucinogens.

Cannabis interferes with nest-building behavior in mice

Nest-building, a behavioral model shown to be disrupted by hallucinogens, has never been used to answer questions concerning the psychotomimetic effects of delta9-THC. Several fractions of cannabis and tobacco pyrolysis products were tested consecutively in the same procedure. The following drugs were injected i.p. under a saline-drug-saline schedule: d-amphetamine (6 mg/kg), pentobarbital (25 mg/kg), delta9-THC (10 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg), the cannabis fractions designated Is (water soluble products), IIs (nonsoluble, nonvolatile products, IIIs (it comprises what is inhaled by a common hashish smoker), and analogous fractions of tobacco pyrolysis products designated IIIB (what is inhaled by a common tobacco smoker), IIB and IB. The effects of delta9-THC (10 mg/kg), IIs, and IIIs were quite similar as far as the disruption of the normal behavioral pattern is concerned. d-Amphetamine, delta9-THC (5 mg/kg), and IIB disrupted the normal behavioral pattern as well. The similarity of the effects of IIs and IIIs was unexpected in view of the different contents of cannabinoids in these fractions. Also unexpected was the similarity of the effects of delta9-THC (10 mg/kg) and IIIs (40 mg/kg containing 7% delta9-THC) as well as the activity of fraction IIIB.