Cell kinetic investigations in brain tumors studied by serial stereotactic biopsy.

Between July 1983 and July 1986, 109 consecutive patients affected by brain tumors and selected for stereotactic biopsy underwent in vitro investigation of cell kinetics. The potential proliferative activity of these different neoplasms, evaluated as in vitro 3H-thymidine labeling index (LI), has been determined in 46 mature astrocytomas, 19 anaplasic astrocytomas, 25 glioblastomas, 5 cystic craniopharyngiomas, 6 metastatic tumors, 4 primary C.N.

Computer-assisted planning of stereotactic neurosurgical procedures.

To extend the advantages of stereotactic localization to open procedures, a computational device with a graphic output is introduced. It is designed to be used in the operating room, where it processes neuroradiological information (CT, MR, and angiography) acquired under stereotactic conditions. The surgeon can interact with neuroanatomical data, extracting borders of structures of surgical relevance.

Sympatho-adrenal and cardiovascular responses during hand-grip in human hypertension.

Circulating norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were correlated with echocardiographic indices of cardiovascular function during isometric exercise (hand-grip at 30% of maximum force for 3 minutes) in 19 patients with mild essential hypertension and 9 normotensive subjects. At the end of the third minute of exercise, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine, blood pressure and heart rate, increased significantly and similarly in both groups of patients. In contrast, peripheral resistance tended to increase in hypertensives but tended to decrease in normotensives.

Long term efficacy and toxicity of amiodarone in the treatment of refractory cardiac arrhythmias.

Amiodarone has remarkable efficacy, but it also has a high incidence of severe side effects. Nevertheless, it is extensively used. The findings of an amiodarone treatment follow-up period of one to 72 months (mean 19 +/- 17) in 95 patients with recurrent life threatening arrhythmias resistant to other antiarrhythmic drugs are described.

Mitochondrial genome in animal cells. Structure, organization, and evolution.

In the past decade, the development of new DNA, RNA, and protein technologies has greatly incremented the knowledge about the organization and expression of mitochondrial DNA. The complete base sequence of mitochondrial DNA of several animals is known and many data are rapidly accumulating on the mitochondrial genomes of other systems. Here we discuss the results so far obtained that disclosed unexpected features of mitochondrial genetics.

Predictive accuracy of cell kinetics data in glial tumors investigated by serial stereotactic biopsy.

The prognostic accuracy of cell kinetics investigations in patients affected from glial tumors, submitted to serial stereotactic biopsy is reported. The methodology is described and the results obtained in 103 patients are discussed with particular regard to mature and anaplastic astrocytoma series. In conclusion the value of the procedure has been clearly demonstrated in glial tumors different form glioblastoma.

Computer assisted analysis of neuroradiological data in planning neurosurgical procedures.

A surgical graphic console is presented. It allows the display of multimodal images (CT, MR and digital angiography), and the identification of tridimensional outlines of structures of surgical relevance, within a surgical reference system, together with the trajectory of surgical approach.

Demonstration of hysteresis in refractoriness of canine ventricular myocardium.

The properties and determinants of hysteresis during ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) measurements by an extrastimulus technique were determined in 15 anesthetized open-chest dogs as well as in isolated ventricular muscle (n = 6). VERP was determined both by decreasing the S1-S2 interval and also by increasing S1S2. Hysteresis was then calculated by subtracting the VERP obtained with the decreasing S1S2 from the VERP obtained with the increasing S1S2.

PQRST isoarea maps from patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: an index for global alterations of ventricular repolarization.

Isoarea maps during the PQRST sequence were computed in 22 healthy subjects and 48 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Thirty-eight patients with WPW were on no medication and 10 were treated with class I, II, or III antiarrhythmic drugs. Seventeen isoarea maps were recorded before and 17 were recorded after accessory pathway ablation.

Lysosomal enzymes in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: time course and evidence of the source.

The lysosomal enzymes acid proteinase and beta-glucuronidase, were assayed in spinal cords of rats during the course of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Histological and histochemical examination was carried out versus controls, in selected areas of the same cords biochemically assayed, to look at the distribution of the lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase. The biochemical assay showed a significant increase of the enzyme activities during the disease and the increase was significantly correlated with the intensity of the disease.

Serial stereotactic biopsy of brain stem expanding lesions. Considerations on 45 consecutive cases.

Fourty-five patients affected by brain stem expanding lesions underwent serial stereotactic biopsy between 1978 and 1986. The definitive histological diagnosis allowed the definitive treatment of extrinsic tumours and non-neoplastic lesions. In patients affected from glial tumours the serial stereotactic biopsy allowed the histological grading and the definition of the growth modalities at the superior boundaries of the tumours.

Suppression of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by retinoic acid.

Administration of retinoic acid (RA) prevented the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats. RA suspended in corn oil was given for 3 days before the expected onset of the disease to rats immunized with myelin and to controls. The drug suppressed the neurological symptoms as well as the perivascular infiltrates observed in vehicle-treated animals.

[Treatment of septicemias and skin infections in burn patient by teicoplanin. Study of its skin diffusion].

In this study, teicoplanin was administered to burnt patients by IV and IM route in monotherapy or in association with other antibiotics. 12 cases of septicaemia and 8 severe cutaneous cocci Gram + infections were treated. Dosage varied from 5 mg/kg to 14 mg/kg.

[Teicoplanin and Gram-positive coccus infections. Results of a multicenter study on 66 cases].

Sixty-six cases of Gram positive infections were treated with teicoplanin in an open multicenter study, comprising 7 centers in Eastern France. There were 38 male patients and 28 females. Teicoplanin was given at a dose of 400 mg daily for a mean duration of 18.

[Methodology and prognostic reliability of stereotaxic biopsy in tumors of glial origin].

Between 1978 and 1984, 227 patients affected from glial tumors underwent serial stereotactic biopsy. Correct prognostic indications have been obtained in 85% of the entire series. In 10.

Computer-assisted analysis of functional anatomy of human ventrolateral thalamus.

A three-dimensional map was created by a computer-assisted analysis of functional and somatotopic organization of the target area in the human ventrolateral thalamus. Stimulation in the target area mostly elicited increased tone in skeletal muscles, with a concomitant decrease or stop of tremor. Despite averaging of all responses, no clear somatotopic organization could be demonstrated for the tonifying stimulation effects.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of neuroradiological data within a stereotactic frame of reference for surgery of visible targets.

Three-dimensional information obtained with neuroradiological exams performed under stereotactic conditions is displayed on a surgical console within the graphic reconstruction of the geometry of stereotactic frames. Planning of convenient probe trajectories can be carried out taking into account all data derived from different diagnostic techniques.

Stereotactic neurosurgery in the treatment of tremor.

The results of stereotactical thalamotomy in 40 adult patients suffering from tremor of different etiology are presented. A combination of lesions of VOA-VOP-ZI seems to be optimal. Early results have been excellent in 63%, good in 23%, fair in 6% and poor in 8%.

3-D reconstruction of cerebral angiography in stereotactic neurosurgery.

A method is described, that enables the surgeon to appreciate the three-dimensional distribution of cerebral vessels within the stereotactic space.