Comparison of dopamine agonists in the treatment of hyperprolactinemic syndromes: a multicenter study.

Thirty-one patients with hyperprolactinemia were admitted for protocol study. Twenty-one of these patients had no findings of prolactinoma by computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning; 10 had documented tumor by CAT scan. The patients were assigned to either Parlodel or Pergolide treatment on the basis of random numbers tables.

Periodic alternating nystagmus associated with periodic alternating skew deviation.

A 34-year-old man had both periodic alternating nystagmus and periodic alternating skew deviation. Neurologic examination and cranial computed tomography supported the diagnosis of cerebellar degeneration. Pathophysiologic mechanisms of these motility disturbances are discussed briefly.

Computed tomography in the evaluation of the optic chiasm.

Computed tomography (CT) is the procedure of choice for initial evaluation of patients suspected of having chiasmal or perichiasmal lesions. Over 1000 patients were examined with high resolution CT, using axial and coronal scans, contrast enhancement, multiplanar reformations, and, when indicated, metrizamide CT cisternography. The normal anatomic appearance of the chiasm and neighboring structures are: (1) symmetric or asymmetric enlargement of the chiasm; (2) areas of abnormal density, without or with contrast enhancement, in the chiasm or perichiasmal region; (3) alteration of the suprasellar cistern; and (4) distortion of the anterior-inferior third ventricle.

Bilateral intracavernous carotid aneurysms mimicking a prolactin-secreting pituitary tumor.

The triad of hyperprolactinemia, ophthalmoplegia, and radiologic abnormalities of the sell turcica suggest a tumor in the area of the pituitary gland. A new association--bilateral intracavernous carotid aneurysms--is presented. Two elderly women had extraocular muscle palsies and elevated serum prolactin levels of 71 and 32 ng/ml (normal: less than 20 ng/ml).

Characterization of androgen uptake by purified nuclei from an androgen-dependent and two androgen-independent cell lines of the Shionogi mouse mammary carcinoma.

Properties of androgen uptake by nuclei prepared from an androgen-dependent tumour cell line occurred after 2 h incubation at 20 degrees C; 2. Nuclei from three tumour cell lines displayed similar affinity for DHT but the two androgen-independent cell lines had less than one-quarter the number of uptake sites; 3. Loss of label from nuclei which had been pre-incubated with [3H]-DHT for 18 h at 20 degrees C was greater from the AD cell line nuclei than from the androgen-independent cell lines; 4.

The Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.

Painful ophthalmoplegia due to idiopathic granulomatous inflammation of the cavernous sinus/superior orbital fissure has been termed Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS). This report is based upon 146 patients with this syndrome published in the English literature. The clinical profile, natural history, diagnostic evaluation, pathologic findings, differential diagnosis, and therapy of THS are presented.

Characterization of Fc receptors for IgE on human alveolar macrophages.

Human alveolar macrophages (aM phi) isolated from lung lavages performed during bronchoscopy and after surgical removal of pulmonary lobes were analysed for Fc receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon R) and IgG (Fc gamma R) by rosette assays. A mean+/-s.d.

Visual evoked response in transient monocular visual loss.

The pattern-reversal visual evoked response (VER) was recorded in 2 patients during transient monocular visual reduction. In both cases the VER was initially abolished. With recovery of vision there was gradual return of amplitude over a 3- to 8-minute period, while latencies remained unchanged from preattack values.

Computed tomographic evaluation of the cavernous sinus.

In evaluating over 300 patients with sellar and parasellar lesions, the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the cavernous sinus was studied. Optimal visualization of the cavernous sinus was obtained with continuous contrast enhancement of both axial and coronal tomograms. The coronal projection and reformatted views provided imaging of the cranial nerves within the cavernous sinus.

Bilateral choroidal osteomas associated with fatal systemic illness.

An 11-year-old black boy complained of intermittent occipital headaches with nausea and projectile vomiting. Previous skin and lung biopsy specimens were interpreted as histiocytosis X. Cranial computed tomographic scanning disclosed a mass lesion in the region of the choroid plexus of the left lateral ventricle.

Television-induced formed visual hallucinations and cerebral diplopia.

A 65-year-old man with ischaemic encephalomalacia following surgery for an aortic arch aneurysm experienced episodes of stereotyped formed visual hallucinations uniquely provoked by television viewing. In addition he noted vertical diplopia of cerebral origin. These symptoms are discussed in the light of what is known about visual hallucinations, television-induced epilepsy, and cerebral polyopia.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama, School of Medicine, Birmingham.

Evaluation of over 255 patients with sellar and parasellar lesions allowed study of the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the cavernous sinus. Optimal visualization of the cavernous sinus was obtained with continuous contrast enhancement of both axial and coronal tomograms. The coronal projection provided imaging of cranial nerves with the cavernous sinus.

Bilateral abducens nerve palsies from clivus chordoma.

An 87-year-old male complaining of horizontal diplopia of five months duration was found to have bilateral abducens nerve palsies. The remainder of the neurologic examination was unremarkable, but neuroradiologic investigation disclosed a lesion involving the sella and sphenoid sinus, with erosion of the upper aspect of the clivus. A large chordoma was found at trans-sphenoidal surgery.

Computed tomographic sellar and perisellar evaluation. Use of high-dose continuous contrast infusion.

Contrast enhancement provides valuable information in cranial computed tomography. We report the use of high-dose continuous contrast infusion as a means of consistently demonstrating major perisellar cerebral vasculature. This method was utilized in examining 73 patients, and three illustrative cases are presented.

Partial purification of RNase P from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Ribonuclease P from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was partially purified using DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose column chromatography. The yeast RNase P enzyme cleaves Escherichia coli tRNATyr precursor to give tRNATyr containing its mature 5' end. The enzyme activity is inhibited after treatment with nucleases; this indicates the requirement of a nucleic acid component for activity.

The effect of calcitonin on calcium uptake in mouse molars in vitro.

Mouse maxillary second molars were removed at either 24 or 96 h of age and maintained in vitro. Half of the teeth, of each age group, were treated with 50 m-units of synthetic salmon calcitonin. By comparing the initial and final calcium concentrations in the medium, the net uptake or release of calcium was inferred.

Ophthalmoplegia and ptosis in congenital fiber type disproportion.

Bilateral ophthalmoplegia and ptosis is reported for the first time in a patient with a rare neuromuscular disorder, congenital fiber type disproportion (CFTD). The importance of limb muscle biopsy in the diagnostic evaluation is emphasized. A summary is presented of other congenital neuromuscular diseases which may have associated ophthalmoplegia.

Dorsal midbrain syndrome in multiple sclerosis.

Complaining only of vertical diplopia, a 34-year-old woman had pupillary light-near dissociation, upward gaze paresis, convergence-retraction nystagmus, and skew deviation. Cranial computerized tomography excluded a space-occupying lesion. Additional history and examination established the diagnosis of clinically definite multiple sclerosis.

Parasellar epidermoid tumor presenting as painful ophthalmoplegia.

In 1964, a 51-year-old man experienced a right abducens nerve palsy, which resolved spontaneously. In 1978, he developed painful ophthalmoplegia on the right with paresis of the right oculomotor and trigeminal nerves. Neuroradiographic evaluation was reported unremarkable, and the painful ophthalmoplegia was attributed to the Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.