Combined arginine and glutamine decrease release of de novo synthesized leukotrienes and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in activated human intestinal mast cells.

Purpose: Glutamine and arginine modulate inflammatory responses of epithelial cells and monocytes. Here, we studied the response of human mast cells to pharmacological doses of arginine and glutamine.

Methods: Mast cells isolated from intestinal tissue were incubated with physiological doses of arginine (0.

[Surgery of brain angioma (hemangioblastoma cerebelli) during the 31st week of pregnancy].

The course of treatment of 28-years old pregnant woman by reason of the tumour of the left cerebellum hemisphere was presented. The urgent operation was performed in 31-st week of pregnancy because of increase of intracranial pressure. The tumour 5 cm in diameter was removed totally.

[Late growth of supratentorial meningioma after radiotherapy of cerebellar tumor].

The authors report a case of supratentorial meningioma of the brain developing after radiotherapy for cerebellar astrocytoma. On the basis of a survey of the literature and own speculations the authors try to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between radiotherapy and meningioma development.

[Extent of fenestration in one-level operations for lateral herniation of the intervertebral disk of the lumbar segment of the spine].

In the years 1969-1986 operations were carried out in 1650 cases of lateral prolapse of the lumbar nucleus pulposus at one level, they accounted for 75% of patients operated on for symptomatic sciatic pains. The operations were done in lateral recumbent position. In 29% of cases it was necessary to extend the typical fenestration by reducing the size of one or two halves of the vertebral arches, and in 12% of cases full hemilaminectomy was done.

[Intradural herniation of the intervertebral disk of the cervical segment of the spine].

The authors treated surgically a case of intradural herniation of the nucleus of the C5-6 disc. In the available literature only 3 similar cases were found. On the basis of this case and those reported in the literature the authors call attention to certain characteristic signs of this condition: onset after trauma, beginning in the 5th or 6th decade of life, degenerative changes of lower spinal part, massive signs of cervical spinal cord damage occurring after varying time after trauma (from several hours to one month in the cases reported by others, and 5 months in this case), incomplete regression of signs after operation and rehabilitation treatment.

[Intradural herniation of the intervertebral disk of the lumbar segment of the spine].

The authors present 11 cases of intradural lumbar disc herniations selected from 2030 patients treated surgically for intervertebral disc prolapse. In the light of these cases and a survey of pertinent literature the authors consider that the frequency of intradural disc rupture is very low, it is most often found at LIV-LV space, mainly in men. In these cases the preoperative diagnosis of this condition should be suspected when there is a history of significant chronic low-back pain followed by an acute episode of cauda equina syndrome and presence of a complete or nearly complete block on myelography.

[Lumbar intervertebral disk herniation in adolescents].

The authors present 28 patients aged 15-19 years selected from 1600 cases treated surgically for intervertebral disc prolapse. In the light of these cases and a survey of the pertinent literature the authors consider that disc prolapse is not always a consequence of injury. Certain differences of the clinical picture could be observed in younger patients.

[Case of epidural tuberculosis of the vertebral canal].

A patient aged 16 years was admitted to a neurological departement for flaccid paresis of lower extremities. Contrast radiological examination demonstrated obliteration of the vertebral canal between Th12 and L3, without coexistent changes in the bone parts of the vertebral column on plain films. During the operation a tumour situated epidurally and compressing the dural sac posteriorly and laterally from both sides at the level Th12--L3 was removed.

[Diagnosis of 3-level lumbar nucleus pulposus prolapse].

Clinical investigations and plain film of the spine are not sufficient for diagnosis of three-level lumbar nucleus pulposus prolapse. Contrast investigations, especially radiculography with television monitoring, are particularly suitable for demonstration of multiple prolapses. In a material of 730 cases two-level prolapse was found in about 12% of cases and three-level prolapse in about 0.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in a case of severe craniocerebral injury caused by an electric injury and a fall].

The authors describe a 37-year-old man suffering electric shock caused by high-voltage current 3 000 Volt. The shock caused a fall with severe craniocerebral injury with fracture of occipital squama and subacute epidural haematoma in the posterior cerebral fossa. The injury was associated with vascular disturbances of the brain and brain stem which caused difficulties in disclosing typical signs of epidural heaematoma.