Recent achievements in colorectal cancer diagnostic and therapy by the use of nanoparticles.

Colorectal cancer is a major public health issue, being the third most common cancer in men and the second in women. It is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. Nanomedicine is an emerging field of interest, many of its aspects being linked to cancer research. Chemotherapy has a well-established role in colorectal cancer management, unfortunately being limited by inability to have a selective distribution, by multidrug resistance and adverse effects. Researches carried out in recent years about nanotechnologies aimed, among others, to resolve the issues mentioned above. Targeted and localized delivery of the chemotherapeutic drugs, using nanoparticles, with selective destruction of cancerous cells would minimize the toxicity on healthy tissues. Also, the use of nanomaterials as contrast agent could improve sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the recent achievements of cancer research by use of nanomaterials, in the idea of finding the ideal composite, capable to simultaneous diagnostic and treat cancer.

[Enophthalmos in an orbital tumor]. / Enoftalmia asociata unei formatiuni tumorale iitraorbitale--prezentare de caz clinic.

Enophtalmus is an unusual sign of the orbital tumors often represented by proptosis. One patient with enophtalmus and intraorbital tumor and aplasy is presented. The treatment of choice of orbital tumor is complete surgical excision and careful follow-up. Considering the more aggressive course followed by recurrent tumor, correct diagnosis and management is essential.

[Orbit evisceration: retrospective study on a consecutive series of 10 years]. / Exenteratii de orbita: studiu retrospectiv pe o serie consecutiva de 10 ani.

Exenteration of the orbit is challenging in its anatomical, surgical and postsurgical management-related issues. We describe a surgical series of 65 patients diagnosed at Neurosurgery and Ophthal-mology departments; between 2003 and 2012, 65 cases with intraorbital tumors were identified and underwent partial or total exenteration of the orbit. The most frequent dignosticated tumor which underwent exenteration were spinous and basal carcinoma of the orbit (41.5 %) followed by neurofibroma The most common preoperative sign was proptosis (100%), followed by ocular and orbital pain (6.1%) and visual acuity loss (3.07%). Preoperatively signs included alteration of the facial aspect (96.9%), behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, especially in young people (6,9%). Although there is an extremely mutilant surgical procedure, pain is often relieved. Therefore, the surgical aim should be life preserving and relief of leading symptoms; estetic aspect of the patients was also one of postoperative aims.

White matter changes in fetal brains with ventriculomegaly.

Introduction: Ventriculomegaly (VM) is a fetal brain malformation which may present independently (isolated form) or in association with different cerebral malformations, genetic syndromes or other pathologies (non-isolated form). Methods: This paper aims to study the effect of ventriculomegaly on the internal tridimensional architecture of fetal brains by way of Klingler's dissection. Ventriculomegaly was diagnosed using fetal ultrasonography during pregnancy and subsequently confirmed by necropsy. Taking into consideration the diameter of the lateral ventricle (measured at the level of the atrium), the brains were divided into two groups: moderate ventriculomegaly (with atrial diameter between 13 and 15 mm) and severe ventriculomegaly (with atrial diameter above 15 mm). Results and discussion: The results of each dissection were described and illustrated, then compared with age-matched reference brains. In the pathological brains, fascicles in direct contact with the enlarged ventricles were found to be thinner and displaced inferiorly, the opening of the uncinate fasciculus was wider, the fornix was no longer in contact with the corpus callosum and the convexity of the corpus callosum was inverted. We have studied the prevalence of neurodevelopmental delay in children born with ventriculomegaly in the literature and discovered that a normal developmental outcome was found in over 90% of the mild VM cases, approximately 75% of the moderate and 60% in severe VM, with the correlated neurological impairments ranging from attention deficits to psychiatric disorders.

[Tonic pupil, pupil Adie syndrome Adie Holmes: current reassessment of terminology -- a clinical case]. / Pupila tonica, pupila Adie sindromul Adie Holmes reevaluarea actuala a terminologiei - prezentare de caz clinic.

The benign syndrome of pupillotonia and absence of deep reflexes is not uncommon. It was clearly and accurately described by Adie (1932), although incompletely recognized many years, before. The pupillary abnormality was reported by ophthalmologists at the turn of the century (Saenger, 1902, Strasburger 1902), and the associated deep reflex change was described by Markus (1906), Roemheld (1921) and Parkes Weber (1923). Holmes (1932) was fully aware of the association of "partial iridoplegia" with diminished reflexes. Tonic pupils react poorly to light but constrict during viewing of a near stimulus. Adie's name is typically used in association with tonic pupils, but a review of Adie's articles reveals that he described the syndrome of tonic pupils and absent reflexes and not the pupillary abnormality per se. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to refer to a tonic pupil as simply a 'tonic pupil" and leave Adie's name for the syndrome. We report a typical case of tonic pupil.

[Diagnosis of orbital cysticercosis -- a challenge for ophthalmologist]. / Diagnosticul cisticercozei orbitale: o reala provocare pentru medicul oftalmolog.

Cysticercosis is a cause of serious ocular/orbital morbidity. Ocular cysticercosis can involve the anterior segment, posterior segment or adnexa. The cysticercus parasite has a predilection for subconjunctival, subretinal and intravitreal structures. Orbital involvement, in which the parasite localises within the extraocular muscle is rare. Orbital cysticercosis commonly presents with signs of inflammation, diplopia, restricted extraocular motility and proptosis. This report is of a 43-year-old woman with orbital cysticercus lying in the intraconal space, in relation with lateral rectus muscle, near to the apex of the orbit, presenting as a diplopia and painless movements of the eyeball.

[Paralysis of the oculomotor nerve caused by aneurysm--general facts and a case report]. / Paralizia nervului oculomotorde cauza anevrismala--date generale. Prezentare de caz clinic.

One of the most frequent etiology of oculomotor nerve palsy are intracerebral aneurysms. Due to anatomical facts (its course and main relations with vascular structures of the brain) lesions of the oculomotor nerve often occur. In this paper there are presented essential issues concerning neuroanatomy of the III-rd cranial nerve pair main locations of the cerebral aneurysms in order to investigate the effect of nerve compression, clinical data regarding the palsy of the oculomotor nerve due to a cerebral aneurysm, the treatment and post surgery recovery followed by a clinical report.

[Pneumosinus dilatans--general considerations and a case report]. / Pneumosinus dilatans consideratii generale. Prezentare de caz clinic.

The term "pneumosinus dilatans" was coined by Benjamin in 1918 in his description of ballooning hyperpneumatization of the frontal sinus. The term was use later on for excessive pneumatization of individual or several paranasal sinuses, with or without local compressive signs. Inspite of numerous publications, the phenomenon of pneumosinus dilatans of paranasal sinuses never became particularly popular. The diagnosis of sphenoid pneumosinus dilatans in particular was difficult to establish by conventional radiological methods and demonstration of the indirect signs of a compressive mechanism was almost impossible prior to the introduction of thin section CT. The etiology and pathogenesis of pneumosinus dilatans were a matter of speculation and remained unsatisfactory to researches and clinicians. A 28-year-old male had a six-year history of scotoma and loss of the temporal visual fields for both eyes; he was admitted to Ophthalmological Department with visual loss of the right eye. The section CT was performed and revealed massive hyperpneumatization of the sphenoethmoidal sinusal complex, extending into the right anterior clinoid process, causing narrowing of the optic canal, more marked on the right than on the left side. The final diagnosis was: Right eye - Vitreous hemorrhage. Pneumosinus dilatans.

Nanomedicine and contrast enhanced imaging. Applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Nanotechnology and its applications in medicine made us live a new era of healthcare, particularly in oncology. The objective of this paper is to review the contribution of nanotechnology in clinical use of contrast agents for gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis and follow-up and to offer an overview of the impact of nanotechnology in the management of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this regard, we reviewed the main areas of expertise where nanotechnology has contributed to the improvement of diagnostic methods (CE-US, CE-CT, MRI), along with the therapeutic applications that nanoparticles can have. Last but not least, the article highlights the potential that theragnostic molecules can have in the diagnosis and treatment of neoplasia, including those in an advanced stage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Nanomedicine has the ability to improve the specificity and sensitivity of cancer diagnosis, together with the enhancing of the systemic cytostatic effect by developing nano bioconjugates that have a wider effect, higher tumor selectivity and thus, lower systemic toxicity. KEY WORDS: Ablative treatment, Cancer, Contrast enhanced imaging, Drug delivery, Nanomedicine.

White Matter Dissection of the Fetal Brain.

Neuroplasticity is a complex process of structural and functional reorganization of brain tissue. In the fetal period, neuroplasticity plays an important role in the emergence and development of white matter tracts. Here, we aimed to study the architecture of normal fetal brains by way of Klingler's dissection. Ten normal brains were collected from in utero deceased fetuses aged between 13 and 35 gestational weeks (GW). During this period, we observed modifications in volume, shape, and sulci configuration. Our findings indicate that the major white matter tracts follow four waves of development. The first wave (13 GW) involves the corpus callosum, the fornix, the anterior commissure, and the uncinate fasciculus. In the second one (14 GW), the superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi and the cingulum could be identified. The third wave (17 GW) concerns the internal capsule and in the fourth wave (20 GW) all the major tracts, including the inferior-occipital fasciculus, were depicted. Our results suggest an earlier development of the white matter tracts than estimated by DTI tractography studies. Correlating anatomical dissection with tractography data is of great interest for further research in the field of fetal brain mapping.

[The role of diagnostic imaging in pediatric ophthalmology]. / Valoarea diagnosticului imagistic în oftalmopediatrie.

The paper underlines the importance of the imagistic examination in the diagnosis and the therapeutical orientation in an orbital injury in a four-year-old child. The orbital injury ends with a foreign body (fragment of a pencil) in the orbit. The situation and the orientation of the foreign body was revealed by the computer tomography and the MIMICS program. Afterwards, the MRI exam ruled out a muscular injury and permitted a correct strabological diagnose and a correct strabismus surgery.

[Role of diagnostic imaging in pediatric ophthalmology]. / Valoarea diagnosticului imagistic în oftalmopediatrie.

The paper underlines the importance of the imagistic examination in the diagnosis and the therapeutical orientation in an orbital injury in a four year old child. The orbital injury ends with a foreign body (fragment of a pencil) in the orbit. The situation and the orientation of the foreign body was reveled by the computer tomography and the MIMICS program. Afterwards, the MRI exam ruled out a muscular injury and permitted a correct strabological diagnose and a correct strabismus surgery.

[Progressive axial exophthalmy--case report]. / Exoftalmie axiala progresiva--caz clinic.

INTRODUCTION: It is being presented the clinical case of a 67 year old male patient who has been under clinical observation and treatment for 10 years. The diagnosis rests upon clinical methods, imaging techniques (ocular-orbital examination, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) as well as post-operative histopathology reports. RESULTS: The clinical diagnosis was supported by the progressive decrease in visual acuity, painful, irreducible, non-pulsating axial progressive exophthalmia, associated with disorders of the ocular motility initially at the level of the RE, followed by bilateral involvement. The RE ocular-orbital ultrasound and the MRI examination point out a homogenous retro bulbar formation that caudally compresses and exceeds the optic-nerve. The mass lesion from the right orbit was afterwards partially removed by neurosurgical excision. The general treatment was initiated with steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in repetitive cures, under protection of antibiotics and anti-secretory drugs, the response to treatment being unfavorable. In time, the exophthalmia increased progressively, fact that imposed right de-compressive orbitotomy, with the surgical ablation of the lateral orbital wall. About 1 year after the neurosurgical intervention the initial clinical symptoms insidiously reinstalled throughout 3 - 4 years. The ultrasound, completed by the cranium CT and MRI examinations have identified the bilateral presence of myositis. DEBATES: Regardless of all the therapeutical means applied in time, not only the medical treatment (the systemic corticotherapy), but also the surgical one (with palliative effect), the patient's evolution was unfavorable; the axial exophthalmia persists, it is painful and irreducible. The evolution is aggravated also by the fact that both orbits have been affected; the specialty literature mentions cases with frequent unilateral involvement. CONCLUSIONS: In the case presented the axial exophthalmia is irreversible; it is determined by an inflammatory pseudotumor of both orbits, that represents a chronic inflammatory, idiopathic disease, with unpredictable clinical evolution. The diagnosis is usually one of exclusion, the complementary imaging examinations being necessary to rule out other pathologies of the orbit.

Multiple malignant tumors of the orbit.

The retinoblastoma is the most frequent malign tumor of the children, starting with the maximum frequency between the ages of one to three years. It is part of the categories of rare diseases, whose frequency is estimated at 1:15.000-1:20.000 newborn babies. It is a tumor of the neuroblast-type placed at the retina level. The retinoblastoma can be unifocal, when a single tumor is present, or multifocal, when it is about more tumors at the level of the same eye or with extension to both eyes. The retinoblastoma can have at the basis two mechanisms of appearance, thus distinguishing two types: the hereditary and the sporadic, non-hereditary. In approximately 40% of the cases, the children affected have the hereditary type of the illness; this includes the cases of the children with bilateral retinoblastoma and approximately 5% of those with tumor at a single eye. The hereby paper presents two clinical cases (mother and daughter) with the histopathological diagnosis of retinoblastoma, followed up on a period of four years. The first case, that of a 4-year-old child, with the histopathological diagnosis of bilateral retinoblastoma with left intra-orbital invasion, to which enucleation has been made to the right eye and left orbit exenteration (on three years interval). The second clinical case is that of a 30-year-old woman who shows up at the clinic with a left intra-orbital tumor recidivation; it is significant to reveal the fact that the first surgical intervention (left eye enucleation) took place 29 years ago and the histopathological diagnosis settled post-operation was that of retinoblastoma. The histopathological diagnosis of the tumor recidivation was of squamous carcinoma. The clinical and histopathological aspects of the two clinical cases presented are being debated, the appearance of a tumor formation in the same topographic area after a long period and the importance of the genetic advice in the families diagnosed with retinoblastoma.

Intraorbital Penetrating and Retained Foreign Bodies - A Neurosurgical Case Series.

AIM: To present the particularities of the intraorbital foreign bodies from a neurosurgical perspective by summarizing the findings of a case series. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted including a consecutive series of 30 patients with intraorbital foreign bodies treated between 1999 and 2017. Statistical analysis was performed in order to characterize the factors that influence the location of the foreign bodies and the clinical signs. RESULTS: The orbital trauma occurred mostly in working accidents. Multiple intraorbital foreign bodies were found in 23.3% of the patients. Metallic foreign bodies were seen in 66.6%, and 30% had wooden foreign bodies. Nonmetallic foreign bodies were significantly associated with displacement of the eyeball, palpebral oedema and upper lid ptosis. Posterior orbit location was associated with displacement of the eyeball and conjunctival hemorrhage. Intraconal location was associated with mydriasis and conjunctival hemorrhage. The posterior orbit was occupied by foreign bodies in 63% of the patients. The foreign bodies were in the extraconal compartment in 55.55% of the cases. Small foreign bodies tend to be retained in the anterior orbit while large ones tend to be retained in the posterior orbit. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and management of intraorbital foreign bodies must be tailored according to their type and location and to the clinical aspect of the patient.

The Geometry of the Circle of Willis Anatomical Variants as a Potential Cerebrovascular Risk Factor.

AIM: To correlate the anatomical variants of the circle of Willis with their effects on the hemodynamic and geometrical parameters responsible for the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The circle of Willis and the proximal segments of the main arteries were dissected and measured on ten formalin-fixed human brains. The anatomical variants were systematized using descriptive statistics. The mathematical models for brain perfusion and wall shear stress were developed by optimally approximating resistance to flow, vascular conductance, and branching. RESULTS: Eighty percent of the brains presented asymmetries, especially in the posterior communicating (70%) and anterior cerebral (40%) arteries. The posterior circulation had more variations (65.21%). Nine hypoplastic vessels were found in 7 brains. Atypical origins were observed in eight specimens. According to the mathematical models, which integrated each anatomical change in the global circle of Willis anatomy, the circle of Willis' geometry could represent a risk factor for intracranial aneurysms and atherosclerosis, mostly when hypoplastic arteries are present, due to high resistance to flow and imbalanced bifurcation geometry. Accessory vessels are less associated with cerebrovascular risk. CONCLUSION: We described anatomical variants of both the anterior and posterior circulations and their specific effects on the hemodynamic balance of cerebral blood flow.

Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Used in Cataract Management.

Cataract is the leading reason of blindness worldwide and is defined by the presence of any lens opacities or loss of transparency. The most common symptoms of cataract are impaired vision, decreased contrast sensitivity, color disturbance, and glare. Oxidative stress is among the main mechanisms involved in the development of age-related cataract. Surgery through phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation is the most effective method for cataract treatment, however, there are chances of serious complications and irreversible loss of vision associated with the surgery. Natural compounds consisting of antioxidant or anti-inflammatory secondary metabolites can serve as potential leads for anticataract agents. In this review, we tried to document medicinal plants and plant-based natural products used for cataract treatment worldwide, which are gathered from available ethnopharmacological/ethnobotanical data. We have extensively explored a number of recognized databases like Scifinder, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus by using keywords and phrases such as "cataract", "blindness", "traditional medicine", "ethnopharmacology", "ethnobotany", "herbs", "medicinal plants", or other relevant terms, and summarized the plants/phytoconstituents that are evaluated in different models of cataract and also tabulated 44 plants that are traditionally used in cataract in various folklore medical practices. Moreover, we also categorized the plants according to scientific studies carried out in different cataract models with their mechanisms of action.

[Abducens nerve palsy in a posterior communicating artery aneurysm]. / Pareza de nerv abducens într-un caz de anevrism de artera comunicanta posterioara--prezentare de caz clinic.

We are reporting a case with decrease vision of the left eye, convergent strabismus of the left eye and diplopia. The neuro-ophthalmologic exam shows palsy of the left sixth cranial (abducens) nerve. The cerebral angiography exam reveals an aneurysm of the left communicating artery. After the neurosurgical approach and the clipping of the aneurysm, the vision significantly improved and the palsy of the abducens nerve disappears. This is a very uncommon clinical correlation between the abducens nerve palsy and the posterior communicating artery aneurysm.

[Anterior optic neuropathy in Lyme disease, monosymptomatic form]. / Neuropatie optica anterioara unilaterala în cadrul bolil Lyme, forma monosimptomatca--prezentare de caz.

We present the case of a patient (a 21-year-old woman) with acute and complete loss vision of the left eye, and severe periodic left ocular and left orbital pain. Visual, acuity right eye = 20/20. Under steroid and nonsteroid general and local treatment, the visual acuity was improved (VA left eye = 0, 1,n.c.) and a central scotoma was developed. Ophthalmoscopic analysis of the left eye showed elevated and blurred optic disk margins, retinal hemorrhages, venous congestion. The diagnosis of borreliosis was based on clinical and ocular findings and determinations of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analysis, the detection of DNA of B.burgdorferi by polymerase chain reaction and exclusion of other infectious and inflammatory causes (tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, syphilis and sarcoidosis were excluded). The commonly used blood, urine and spinal fluid tests, cerebral MRI and angiofluorography were also done. The patient received oral ceftriaxone 2gr/daily for 4 weeks, 2 cures and Doxycycline 2 gr/daily, 21 days. Under the treatment, the clinical signs had significantly improved (VA left eye = 20/20), but the central scotoma remained. The case is unusual because only one eye was affected (typically decreased visual acuity occurs on both eyes), other signs of the disease were absent, and the recovery under the antibiotic treatment was excellent.

Anatomy of the Limbic White Matter Tracts as Revealed by Fiber Dissection and Tractography.

BACKGROUND: The limbic tracts are involved in crucial cerebral functions such as memory, emotion, and behavior. The complex architecture of the limbic circuit makes it harder to approach compared with other white matter networks. Our study aims to describe the 3-dimensional anatomy of the limbic white matter by the use of 2 complementary study methods, namely ex vivo fiber dissection and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging-based tractography. METHODS: Three fiber dissection protocols were performed using blunt wooden instruments and a surgical microscope on formalin-fixed brains prepared according to the Klingler method. Diffusion tensor imaging acquisitions were done with a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance scanner on patients with head and neck pathology that did not involve the brain. Fiber tracking was performed with manually selected regions of interest. RESULTS: Cingulum, fornix, the anterior thalamic peduncle, the accumbofrontal bundle, medial forebrain bundle, the uncinate fasciculus, the mammillothalamic tract, ansa peduncularis, and stria terminalis were dissected and fiber tracked. For each tract, location, configuration, segmentation, dimensions, dissection and tractography particularities, anatomical relations, and terminations are described. The limbic white matter tracts were systematized as 2 concentric rings around the thalamus. The inner ring is formed by fornix, mammillothalamic tract, ansa peduncularis, stria terminalis, accumbofrontal fasciculus, and medial forebrain bundle and anterior thalamic peduncle, and the outer ring is formed by the cingulum and uncinate fasciculus. CONCLUSIONS: This paper proposes a fiber-tracking protocol for the limbic tracts inspired and validated by fiber dissection findings that can be used routinely in the clinical practice.