The analysis of peri-tumor necrosis following the subcutaneous implantation of autologous tumor cells transfected with an episome transcribing an antisense insulin-like growth factor 1 RNA in a glioblastoma multiforme subject.

A subject inflicted with glioblastoma multiforme who received partial tumor resection and radiotherapy was recruited for an ex vivo gene therapy protocol using irradiated autologous tumor cells that had been engineered to suppress the expression of insulin-like growth factor I as the tumor vaccine. After subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks, the subject developed peri-tumor necrosis with mass effect. The authors wondered whether this event could have resulted from the tumor vaccine. The tissue section bordering the necrotic tumor tissue to the viable normal tissue was examined for nature of any infiltrated cells and their activities. Lymphocytes, macrophages, and a small number of neutrophils diffused into the necrotic tumor tissue were found. The infiltrated lymphocytes consisted of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The functional activity of these lymphocytes was demonstrated by the active production of interferon y and tumor necrosis factor alpha based on the respective immunofluorescent staining localized to these cells. This finding is compatible with the proposed mechanism underlying the tumor vaccination. However, the contribution of radiation treatment to this event cannot be clearly ruled out.

Ketoconazole and Flutamide in the treatment of disseminated intravascular clotting from prostate cancer: a case report and review.

Disseminated intravascular clotting (DIC) is a well-recognized complication of malignancy. Prostatic cancer can produce chronic DIC as well as acute severe DIC. Treatment of DIC are general supportive measures including heparin, transfusion of blood, platelets and clotting factors, but the most important aspect is correction of underlying malignant diseases i.e. cancer of the prostate gland. For metastatic prostatic cancer presenting with an emergency oncologic condition, the treatment of choice is surgical orchiectomy, but surgery may not be possible in the presence of severe DIC. Ketoconazole and Flutamide are drugs with different mechanisms for hormonal manipulation of this cancer. Due to severe DIC, we combined both drugs trying to put maximum therapeutic effect on this life threatening profound DIC patient.

Bilateral high radial nerve compressions: a case report.

A 40-year-old woman with bilateral high radial nerve compressions by non-traumatic cause was reported. It occurred first at the right radial nerve which was explored after a period of investigation and conservative treatment. Two constricted sites 2.0 cm apart of the right radial nerve crossed by branches of the radial collateral artery beneath the lateral head of the triceps were found. The constricted sites including tissue in between was resected and replaced with a sural nerve graft. One year later the patient had the same episode on the left side. The operative finding was the same as the previous one. Sural nerve graft was performed after neurolysis had failed. The patient's normal radial nerve function returned in one year. This is the first reported case in the literature of bilateral high radial nerve compressions by branches of the radial collateral artery.

Successful medical treatment of multiple cryptococcomas: report of a case and literature review.

We report a 35-year-old man diagnosed as having CNS cryptococcosis with multiple cryptococcomas, presenting with headache, papilloedema and impaired mental function in a previously healthy man. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis with low glucose level. Gram's stain, acid fast bacilli stain and Indian ink examination were all negative. CSF cryptococcal antigen was positive, however, several fungal cultures were negative. Early cranial CT scan showed focal cerebritis over the right temporal lobe while subsequent imaging studies showed multiple contrast-enhancing masses with severe surrounding brain oedema over bilateral frontoparietal areas. Brain biopsy showed cryptococcal granulomatous lesions. Treatment was successful with antifungal agents and steroids without surgical removal.

Mitochondrial genome analysis in Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

We analysed the mitochondrial genome of one patient with chronic and progressive bilateral ophthalmoplegia. This patient also had abnormal EKG showing cardiac conduction defects and pigmentary retinopathy, suggestive of the Kearns-Sayre syndrome. On muscle biopsy, with Gomori trichrome stain, the fibers showed an increase in red-staining material in the intermyofibrillary network and the subsarcolemmal region. On electron microscopy, aggregations of abnormal mitochondria were demonstrated, confirming the diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the patient and her mother showed no deleted mtDNA.

Spontaneous granulomatous amebic encephalitis: report of four cases from Thailand.

Granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), or meningoencephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba sp and leptomyxid amebae are uncommon CNS infections that usually occur in an immunocompromised host. From 1990 to 1992, 4 patients with GAE were treated at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok. One case was diagnosed antemortem, from a brain biopsy. The other three cases were diagnosed as GAE postmortem. Pathological findings included acute and subacute granulomatous inflammation with extensive cerebral necrosis, angiitis, fibrinoid necrosis and fibrin thrombi. One patient had a chronic skin ulcer in which free-living amebic trophozoites were found. No visceral involvement was observed. All patients developed "spontaneous" GAE, but we suspect an undiagnosed abnormality in cell mediated immunity or a deficient humoral immune response.

Brainstem germinoma presenting as intermittent apnoea: a rare entity: report of one patient and review of literature.

A 17-year-old man who had repeated pneumonia and presented with intermittent apnoea was described clinically and pathologically. Neurological examination and computed axial tomography revealed a calcified mass over the lower brainstem. Neurological intervention was done with removal of the tumour and the pathological section showed the classical picture of germinoma. The patient was given irradiation treatment afterwards and he was weaned off the respirator within a week. Unfortunately, he died because of recurrent chest infection after a long hospital admission of 92 days. Reviewing the literature showed the rarity of the germinoma at the brainstem location.

Pasteurella multocida infective endocarditis: a case report.

A 17-year-old man presented with acute febrile illness with jaundice, embolic skin lesion, heart murmur, renal insufficiency and abnormal CSF. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from blood cultures. In spite of adequate antibiotic treatment for endocarditis of the mitral valve, he developed a fatal ruptured cerebral mycotic aneurysm. Post mortem examination revealed an atrial septal defect, vegetation at the anterior mitral leaflet, intraventricular, subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage.