Reduction of gyrification index in the cerebellar vermis in schizophrenia: a post-mortem study.

Objectives: In schizophrenia, alterations of the gyrification index (GI) have been measured in cortical brain regions and are related to neurodevelopmental disturbances. Cerebellar regions have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia; however, the GI has not been investigated here so far.

Methods: Hence, in a post-mortem study we investigated the GI separately from the vermis, left and right hemisphere of the medial posterior cerebellum in nine schizophrenia patients and 10 healthy controls.

Retinal pigment epithelial change and partial lipodystrophy.

Cuticular drusen and retinal pigment epithelial changes were found incidentally in a 27 year old Lebanese woman during assessment of partial lipodystrophy. Her vision was normal despite involvement of both maculae. The patient had hypocomplementaemia, but serum C3 nephritic factor was absent and renal function was normal.

Cerebral microembolism during cardiopulmonary bypass. Retinal microvascular studies in vivo with fluorescein angiography.

To observe microembolic events in the central nervous system during cardiopulmonary bypass, we subjected 21 patients undergoing elective coronary operations to retinal fluorescein angiograms 5 minutes before cardiopulmonary bypass was discontinued. Patients with diabetes or clinically evident cerebrovascular disease were excluded. Bubble oxygenation and nonpulsatile perfusion were used for bypass.