Pituitary function after pituitary apoplexy.

Pituitary function was studied in nine patients who had recovered from pituitary apoplexy. All the patients recovered spontaneously; none required immediate surgery. Four of the patients had acromegaly, two had pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome, and a "functionless" pituitary adenoma was found in three. Low serum growth hormone concentrations were observed in three patients with acromegaly whereas the concentration remained increased in the fourth one. Of the two patients with Cushing's syndrome, a selective ACTH-deficiency developed in one and Nelson's syndrome appeared with excessive secretion of ACTH in the other. Transient or persistent hypofunction of the anterior pituitary occurred in al patients. Three patients underwent hypophysectomy after respective intervals of three, eight and 12 months after pituitary apoplex. The operation revealed a hemorrhage in one functionless adenoma and a large cyst in another one. In the third patient who had acromegaly, no signs of the pituitary apoplexy were observed at operation.

Exposure to industrial solvents and brain atrophy. A retrospective study of pneumoencephalographic findings among 37 patients with exposure to industrial solvents.

Pneumoencephalographic (PEG) findings of 37 patients referred to the Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, because of suspected chronic organic solvent intoxication showed changes suggesting brain atrophy in 64% of the patients. Slight asymmetric central and slight local cortical atrophy were the most common findings. There were no significant difference between those considered having heavy exposure and those with less significant exposure either in regards to PEG findings or other neurological findings. Thus, lack of dose-response relationship in this study suggests nonspecificity of the slight PEG findings and possibly also individual susceptibility to neurotoxic agents.

Acute encephalitis. A survey of epidemiological, clinical and microbiological features covering a twelve-year period.

The 191 adult patients with acute encephalitis who attended the Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Helsinki, during the 12-year period 1967-78, were analyzed for epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological features. Young healthy adults of either sex under 30 years of age were the most susceptible. The duration of symptoms varied from some hours to more than one month (less than or equal to 5 days in half of the patients). Prodromal symptoms were observed in 37.7%, meningeal signs or symptoms in 93.2%, features indicating brain involvement in 84.3% and clear effects on consciousness in 27.7% of the patients. Half (50.8%) recovered, while 43 (22.5%) were left with at least moderate disability after the acute phase. Twelve patients (6.3%) died. Lower socioeconomic status and age over 35 years were associated with increased mortality. The 10 patients with proven or presumptive herpes simplex virus (HSV) etiology had a mortality of 40% and only one recovered satisfactorily. There were 14 further cases suggestive of HSV. Mumps, Coxsackie B, adeno, and measles were the most frequent identifiable causes after HSV. Other etiological factors, including bacteria, appeared occasionally. The etiology remained obscure in 58.6% of the cases.

Enhancement of abnormality in gamma images using Kohonen filters.

A new method of processing digital images consists of a numerical filter which suppresses normal features producing an enhancement of the abnormality. The resulting filtered image aids the observer in the recognition of the abnormality. The filter is developed from verified normal images in the computer memory. The enhancement of pathologic accumulations with respect to surrounding activity was improved on the average by a factor of 2.6 for 13 lateral brain images.