Sonographic examination of the adult brain.

Phased-array real-time transcranial ultrasound with a 2.5-MHz transducer was used to examine 23 normal adult volunteers and patients, and 8 selected patients with abnormalities proven by computed tomography. Normal cerebral landmarks were consistently seen and pulsed Doppler signals were often obtainable from central cerebral arteries. Dilated lateral ventricles, subdural hygromas, or cerebral masses were identified in 6 of the 8 patients. In the 2 others abnormal cases, known suprasellar aneurysms were missed. While current technology will not provide accurate screening for cerebral abnormalities, ultrasound imaging may often be adequate for follow-up examinations and for midline evaluation, and may provide simplified preoperative localization of some brain lesions. Doppler ultrasound examinations may be used for intracranial vessel hemodynamic evaluation.

Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis as a complication of steroid immunosuppression in cardiac transplant patients. Report of two cases.

Patients with Cushing's syndrome may develop spinal epidural lipomatosis, an abnormal accumulation of fat in the spinal epidural space. This accumulation of fat may cause compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina with resulting neurological deficit. Two cases of symptomatic spinal lipomatosis are reported in cardiac transplant patients receiving chronic corticosteroid treatment. The literature is reviewed, and diagnostic and therapeutic considerations are discussed.

Effect of different fractions of Swertia chirayita on the blood sugar level of albino rats.

A 95% ethanol extract and four fractions of Swertia chirayita were tested for blood sugar lowering activity in rats when given orally at 250 mg/kg. The hexane fraction caused maximum lowering although the ethanol extract was clearly active. Of the four dose levels of the hexane fraction tested, 250 mg/kg was found to produce the optimum effect and 300 mg/kg did not evoke a better response. The optimum dose produced significant lowering of blood sugar in fed, glucose-loaded and tolbutamide-pretreated animal models, but not in fasted rats.

Magnetic resonance imaging and the diagnosis of dementia.

We describe seven patients with clinical, laboratory, and CT evidence of primary degenerative dementia (Alzheimer's, Pick's). Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated regions in the white matter consistent with cerebral infarction. MRI may be a sensitive way to differentiate multi-infarct dementia and primary degenerative dementia.

Cervical Castleman disease: CT study with angiographic correlation.

The computed tomographic (CT) appearance, angiographic appearance, and clinical features of a patient with cervical Castleman disease, an uncommon disease of benign lymph node hyperplasia, are reported. CT scans showed a densely enhancing cervical mass. On external carotid angiography, the mass was seen as hypervascular with a capillary blush. Differential diagnosis included carotid body chemodectoma, vagal neuroma, tumor of the salivary gland, tuberculous adenitis and other granulomatous diseases, inflammatory lymph nodes, metastatic disease, and lymphoma.