Diagnosis of CNS lymphoma using immunofluorescent phenotyping of CSF mononuclear cells.

We describe the use of a panel of monoclonal antibodies, directed against leukocyte surface antigens to characterize CSF mononuclear cells with regard to malignancy when cytopathology was inconclusive. Cytocentrifuged preparations from three patients in which traditional modalities had not yielded a diagnosis were studied, utilizing a panel of antibodies for B and T cell antigens. All three patients were found to have B cell lymphoma of the CNS.

Choreoathetosis in multiple sclerosis.

Extrapyramidal symptoms are extremely rare in multiple sclerosis. We examined a patient with a ten year history of multiple sclerosis, who developed choreoathetoid movements of both upper extremities. To our knowledge this is the second case report of this association.

Effects of the methylxanthine derivative pentoxifylline on benzodiazepine and muscarinic binding sites in rat cerebral cortex.

The subcutaneous injection of the methylxanthine derivative pentoxifylline (3,7, dimethyl-1-(5-oxo-hexyl)-xanthine) was able to induce, 3 h later, a significant reduction of benzodiazepine binding sites in rat cerebral cortex. When tested in vitro, pentoxifylline displaced 3H-flunitrazepam from specific binding sites in a competitive manner. For this effect pentoxifylline was about 10 times more potent than caffeine.

Third ventricular lymphoma: CT findings.

Apparent intrathird ventricular masses were the only CT manifestations in four patients with central nervous system lymphoma. Involvement of the third ventricular region by lymphoma may not be as unusual as previously described in the literature. When lymphoma involves the third ventricle, its CT appearance may mimic other more common third ventricular masses.

Changes in rat hippocampal benzodiazepine receptors and lack of changes in muscarinic receptors after fimbria-fornix lesions.

The binding of [3H] L-quinuclidinylbenzilate to muscarinic receptors and [3H] flunitrazepam to benzodiazepine receptors were studied in the rat hippocampus after lesion of the fimbria-fornix. While the muscarinic receptors showed no change, the benzodiazepine receptors did change considerably at various time intervals. Two days after the lesion the specific [3H] flunitrazepam binding decreased 38%, while at 5 days it increased 65%.