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A novel single base deletion at codon 434 (1301delT) of the DAX1 gene associated with prepubertal testis enlargement.

We have identified a novel DAX1 frameshift mutation (1301delT) at codon 434 in a patient with primary adrenal insufficiency. This 11-day-old boy was admitted to the hospital with hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and suspected congenital adrenal abnormality. He exhibited severe hypoglycemia, pallor of the skin, buccal and genital hyperpigmentation, hypotension (90/45 mm Hg), anemia, and diarrhea. Although basal gonadotropins were low, and responded minimally to exogenous GnRH, the size of his testes began to increase at age 4 and reached 4.5 mL at the age of 9 years and 8 months. Testosterone levels were prepubertal. These findings further emphasize the variable clinical presentation in children with DAX1 gene mutations and indicate the value of genetic testing in boys with primary adrenal insufficiency.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Ischemic neuromyopathy due to peripheral arterial embolization of an adenocarcinoma in a cat.

A case of peripheral arterial tumor embolization in a cat is described. The cat presented with signs of aortic thromboembolism, including decreased peripheral pulse quality, pallor, and coolness of the distal limbs, as well as proprioceptive deficits. Thoracic radiographs revealed a cavitary lung mass; echocardiography was unremarkable. Cytologic evaluation of aspirates of the mass suggested malignancy. The left hindlimb was amputated, and histopathology confirmed embolization of an adenocarcinoma. Although rare, peripheral arterial tumor embolization should be considered as a differential in cats presenting with signs of thromboembolic disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pediatric visceral leishmaniasis in Albania.

OBJECTIVE: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in children is endemic in southern Europe but has not been previously reported from Albania. This prospective study reports the clinical and laboratory findings in 50 children with visceral leishmaniasis, the value of a direct agglutination test (DAT), and the result of treatment with meglumine antimonate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sera obtained from 50 children with VL confirmed by bone marrow examination, 40 household contacts, and 30 hospitalized children with other infections were examined using DAT. RESULTS: Clinical features included fever (100%), hepatosplenomegaly (100%), pallor (100%), weight loss (98%), vomiting (68%), diarrhea (32%), and bleeding disorders (8%). Laboratory findings were anemia (94%), neutropenia (85%), hypergammaglobulinemia (70%), and thrombocytopenia (22%). Thirty children who developed secondary bacterial infections had significantly lower hemoglobin and neutrophil counts (P<0.0001). Direct agglutination test had a sensitivity of 98%, a specificity of 100%, and a positive predictive value of 100%. One child with severe generalized bleeding died within 48 hours of admission before receiving treatment. CONCLUSION: The direct agglutination test was highly valuable in diagnosis of VL in this series. Meglumine antimonate was an effective therapeutic agent. Post-treatment bone marrow examination confirmed recovery in all patients. There were no relapses of VL during one-year follow up.

Agglutination Tests↗

Diagnosis and pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy: morphological aspects.

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is classified by morphologic changes in the intrapapillary and parapapillary region of the optic nerve head and the retinal nerve fibre layer. These changes can be evaluated using descriptive optic nerve head variables which are the size and shape of the optic disc; size, shape and pallor of the neuroretinal rim; size of the optic cup in relation to the area of the disc; configuration and depth of the optic cup; cup-to-disc diameter ratio and cup-to-disc area ratio; position of the exit of the central retinal vessel trunk on the lamina cribrosa surface; presence and location of splinter-shaped haemorrhages; occurrence, size, configuration and location of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy; diffuse and/or focal decrease of the diameter of the retinal arterioles; and visibility of the retinal nerve fibre layer. Assessment of these variables is useful for the early detection of glaucomatous optic nerve damage, to follow-up patients with glaucoma, to differentiate various types of the chronic open-angle glaucomas, and to get hints for the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic nerve fibre loss.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Benign paroxysmal torticollis of infancy: four new cases and linkage to CACNA1A mutation.

Benign paroxysmal torticollis of infancy (BPTI) is a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of head tilt secondary to cervical dystonia. Attacks are often accompanied by vomiting, pallor, and ataxia, settling spontaneously within hours or days. Episodes begin within the first 12 months of life and resolve by 5 years. We report four patients with BPTI. Symptoms started from 3 months of age, with head tilting lasting between 10 minutes and 2 months; the shorter episodes were followed by vomiting, apathy, and unsteadiness. Head tilt became less prominent after infancy, replaced by vertigo and eventually by migraine headaches. Two patients came from a kindred with familial hemiplegic migraine linked to CACNA1A mutation. BPTI may be regarded as a migraine aura equivalent. The syndrome poses interesting questions regarding varying phenotypic expression of calcium channelopathies at different stages of development.

Adolescent↗

Studies on the production of middle-ear effusion in the experimental animal.

Middle-ear effusions have been produced following eustachian tube obstruction in guinea pigs. This was achieved by plugging the pharyngeal office of the tube by an atraumatic lateral transpalatal incision. General anaesthesia was used throughout the entire procedure. The presence of fluid in the middle-ear cavity was determined by observing: (a) The appearance of pallor of the drum. (b) Retraction of the tympanic membrane. (c) Cloudiness of the tympanic bullae on radiographs obtained at weekly intervals, confirmed by: (d) Subsequent myringotomy. Serial smears of the induced effusions showed an absence of chronic inflammatory cells except in the case of one animal which developed bacterial otitis media. The presence of secretory cells was demonstrated in the actual epithelial layer and lamina propria but no discrete glands were found. Squamous metaplasia of the lining of the middle-ear cleft was noted. The fluid from the tympanic cavity appeared watery, faintly turbid and non-mucoid, and resembled the serious type of effusion found in man.

Animals↗

Responses in skin microcirculation to vestibular stimulation before and during motion sickness.

BACKGROUND: Observation of physiological changes during motion sickness is required to quantify the degree of sickness. The review of the literature does not show unifying results. An objective symptom of motion sickness is facial pallor. It reflects changes in skin microcirculation which have not been measured so far. METHODS: Eleven healthy volunteers susceptible to motion sickness were subjected to eccentric vertical axis rotation. The dynamics and the correspondence of the changes in skin blood flow in two segments, forehead and finger, were measured by laser Doppler flowmeter. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The difference in the microcirculatory skin blood flow across the phases of motion sickness is significant for the forehead but not for the fingertip: the established dynamics of the forehead blood flow during motion sickness will be of benefit in quantifying the degree of sickness; there is no correlation between the blood flow changes in both measured areas; the rhythmic blood flow fluctuation increases during motion sickness; there is a difference between the blood flow responses to vestibular stimulation before the appearance of motion sickness and in the course of the sickness. Laser Doppler flowmetry is a reliable method in quantifying the degree of motion sickness.

Adult↗

Dementia following treatment of brain tumors with radiotherapy administered alone or in combination with nitrosourea-based chemotherapy: a clinical and pathological study.

A retrospective clinical and pathological study of 4 patients who developed the syndrome of radiation induced dementia was performed. All patients fulfilled the following criteria: (1) a history of supratentorial irradiation; (2) no evidence of symptomatic recurrent tumor; (3) no other cause of progressive cerebral dysfunction and dementia. The clinical picture consisted of a progressive "subcortical" dementia occurring 3-12 months after a course of cerebral radiotherapy. Examination revealed early bilateral corticospinal tract involvement in all patients and dopa-resistant Parkinsonian syndrome in two. On CT scan and MRI of the brain, the main features consisted of progressive enlargement of the ventricles associated with a diffuse hypodensity/hyperintensity of the white matter best seen on T2 weighted images on MRI. The course was progressive over 8-48 months in 3 patients while one patient had stabilization of his condition for about 28 years. Treatment with corticosteroids or shunting did not produce sustained improvement and all patients eventually died. Pathological examination revealed diffuse white matter pallor with sparing of the arcuate fibers in all patients. Despite a common pattern on gross examination, microscopic studies revealed a variety of lesions that took two basic forms: (1) a diffuse axonal and myelin loss in the white matter associated with tissue necrosis, particularly multiple small foci of necrosis disseminated in the white matter which appeared different from the usual "radionecrosis"; (2) diffuse spongiosis of the white matter characterized by the presence of vacuoles that displaced the normally-stained myelin sheets and axons. Despite a rather stereotyped clinical and radiological course, the pathological substratum of radiation-induced dementia is not uniform. Whether the different types of white matter lesions represent the spectrum of a single pathological process or indicate that the pathogenesis of this syndrome is multifactorial with different target cells, remains to be seen.

Adolescent↗

Preliminary observations on experimental Ruta graveolens toxicosis in Nubian goats.

We present the first reported study of Ruta graveolens toxicity in 7-8-month-old Nubian goats. Oral administration of 5 g/kg bw per day of R. graveolens leaves caused tremor, dyspnoea, frequent urination, incoordination of movement, ataxia and recumbency, with death after 1-7 days. In goats receiving oral doses of 1 g/kg bw per day of the leaves, the course of toxicity was prolonged and the animals had pallor of the visible mucous membranes and loss in condition; one died on day 17, the others being slaughtered on days 41 and 46. The clinical effects were correlated with pathological changes in various organs, alterations in serum aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, total protein, cholesterol, urea and other serum constituents, haematological values and the concentrations in the tissues of copper, iron, zinc, manganese, calcium and phosphorus.

Administration, Oral↗

Multifocal ERG and full-field ERG in patients on long-term vigabatrin medication.

PURPOSE: To examine the retinal function with different electrophysiological methods in twelve Swedish patients on long-term treatment (2-10 years) with the anti-epileptic drug vigabatrin. METHODS: Ophthalmological examination of twelve consecutive patients included testing of visual acuity, fundus inspection and fundus photography, kinetic perimetry, full-field ERG and multifocal ERG. RESULTS: All patients had a visual acuity of 0.7 or better. Fundus inspection revealed no pathology except in one patient who had a pallor of the optic disc. All patients had a normal appearance of the macula. The result of kinetic perimetry was normal in five patients while seven patients had a concentric defect of the visual field. The 30 Hz flicker cone b-wave amplitude in the full-field ERG was abnormal in all of the seven patients with a visual field defect. None of the patients with normal visual fields had a reduction of the 30 Hz flicker cone b-wave amplitude. Six of the twelve patients had a reduced multifocal ERG response but without any correlation with visual field defect. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with vigabatrin seems to selectively reduce retinal cone function. The visual field defects in patients taking vigabatrin correlate with pathology in the full-field ERG (reduction of the cone b-wave amplitude). The results from this study indicate that electroretinography can be used for monitoring patients taking vigabatrin in a more objective manner than with visual field testing.

Adult↗

A review of primary hereditary optic neuropathies.

The primary inherited optic neuropathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders that result in loss of retinal ganglion cells, leading to the clinical appearance of optic atrophy. They affect between 1:10,000 to 1:50,000 people. The main clinical features are a reduction in visual acuity, colour vision abnormalities, centro-caecal visual field defects and pallor of the optic nerve head. Electrophysiological testing shows a normal flash electroretinogram, absent or delayed pattern visually evoked potentials suggestive of a conduction deficit and N95 waveform reduction on the pattern electroretinogram, consistent with a primary ganglion cell pathology. The primary inherited optic neuropathies may be sporadic or familial. The mode of inheritance may be autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked recessive or mitochondrial. Within each of these groups, the phenotypic characteristics vary in such features as the mode and age of onset, the severity of the visual loss, the colour deficit and the overall prognosis. A number of different genes (most as yet unidentified) in both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, underlie these disorders. The elucidation of the role of the encoded proteins will improve our understanding of basic mechanisms of ganglion cell development, physiology and metabolism and further our understanding of the pathophysiology of optic nerve disease. It will also improve diagnosis, counselling and management of patients, and eventually lead to the development of new therapeutic modalities.

Chromosomes, Human, X↗

Porcine circovirus as a possible cause of postweaning wasting in pigs in Switzerland.

Postweaning wasting is a major worldwide problem in pig production, particularly with respect to the disease termed postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). In addition to wasting, PMWS symptoms include respiratory distress, diarrhoea, pallor and occasional cases of jaundice. The causative agent is porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2). The objective of the present study was to determine the significance of PMWS and similar conditions in Switzerland. A total of 72 weaned piglets from 26 farms showing wasting were examined for the presence of PCV-2 by immunohistochemical and histological analysis and 57 piglets from 21 farms were examined serologically. Possible causes for wasting other than PCV-2 were investigated by macroscopic, histological and bacteriological methods. PCV-2 antigen was identified immunohistochemically in the lymphatic organs in 11 of these 72 piglets. However, only 4 animals showed histological changes typical of PMWS. PCV-2 antibodies were found in 70% of the piglets. Piglets with wasting syndrome not associated with PCV-2 infection suffered from conditions including porcine proliferative enteropathy, gastric ulcers, polyserositis and polyarthritis. The most frequent condition was chronic enteritis not associated to circovirus infection. The results from the serological analyses indicate a wide distribution of PCV-2 in the Swiss pig population. However, confirmed cases of PMWS were rare in the investigated piglets.

Animals↗

Vasospasm of the scrotum--a manifestation of Raynaud's phenomenon?

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is characterized by local artery vasoconstriction in response to cold exposure or emotional stress. RP appears as attacks of blanching or cyanosis of digits, or both, followed by a hyperaemic phase. Usually the digits of the hands or less commonly of the feet are affected. Other sites such as nose, ears could also be affected. We report a patient who has been suffering for long time of cold induced sensitivity associated with well demarcated pallor of the scrotum.

Adult↗

Non motor off in Parkinson's disease.

Besides the classic motor swings, many non motor fluctuations may occur in Parkinson's disease, but the clinical spectrum and the frequency of these symptoms are not well recognized. A total of 47 parkinsonian outpatients were questioned about any symptoms associated with off state. Nine patients had no fluctuations, 16 referred only to motor fluctuations and 22 to motor fluctuations associated with non motor symptoms. Overall, these patients referred to 54 symptoms (average 2.3/patients, range 1-6). These symptoms were classified as: autonomic (3 difficulty in swallowing, 7 hot, 11 sweat, 2 cold, 1 pallor, 1 abdominal bloating, 1 abdominal pain, 1 abdominal and genital pain, 5 bladder dysfunction, 2 feet oedema); sensory (7 sensory dyspnoea, 1 pain in lower limbs, 1 internal tremor); cognitive (3 depression, 4 anxiety, 2 panic, 1 drowsiness, 1 confusion). In patients without off periods, the length, severity and the average dosages of levodopa were fewer than in patients with fluctuations. No significant differences were found between patients with motor off and patients with associated non motor off regarding age (71.2+/-9.6 years vs 71.6+/-10.7 years), length of the disease (83.2+/-38.5 months vs 95.9+/-58.1 months), the Hoehn-Yahr (3.06+/-0.96 vs 3.02+/-0.96) and Webster (15.5+/-6.99 vs 15.1+/-5.9) scale, the dosages of levodopa (680.9+/-238.9 mg/die vs 679.7+/-289.6 mg/die), the number (2.3+/-1.7 vs 2.8+/-1.5) and length (6.8+/-5.2 h vs 7.2+/-7.1 h) of motor off. The non motor fluctuations were recognized in about 60% of patients with motor fluctuations: usually they were mild and less important than motor off, but sometimes these problems were disabling and led to unnecessary tests and therapies.

Aged↗

Ocular toxicity in low-dose tamoxifen: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To look at the incidence, symptomatology, course and reversibility of low-dose tamoxifen ocular toxicity. METHODS: Sixty-five women with breast cancer, on tamoxifen oral therapy (20 mg/day), and a totally normal eye examination, were prospectively followed up. A full ophthalmic evaluation was done every 6 months, for a median of 30 months (range 4-79 months). Any sign of toxicity in the cornea, lens, retina or optic nerve was looked for, whether associated with a change in visual acuity or not. RESULTS: Ocular toxicity was documented in 8 patients, giving an incidence of 12%. Seven patients had keratopathy in the form of subepithelial deposits, whorls and linear opacities. Three of these patients had a concurrent symptomatic bilateral pigmentary retinopathy that warranted discontinuation of therapy. One patient developed bilateral optic neuritis that left her with optic nerve pallor and a decrease in vision. The patients who had the toxicity had a significantly higher tamoxifen cumulative dose (p = 0.03), and were longer on treatment (p = 0.04), than the non-affected ones. The keratopathy changes were reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. CONCLUSION: Prompt reporting of symptoms and yearly ophthalmic examinations are mandatory in patients on tamoxifen to detect toxic effects while these are still reversible.

Adult↗

Ocular manifestations of hindbrain-related syringomyelia and outcome following craniovertebral decompression.

PURPOSE: To analyse and evaluate associated ocular symptoms and signs in hindbrain-related syringomyelia and their response to treatment. METHODS: From a database of 275 patients treated in a single institution for hindbrain hernia and syringomyelia, 39 patients (14%) had ocular symptoms and signs. Only 31 patients were included in this study; the remainder were excluded due to inadequate follow-up information. All patients had confirmed evidence of hindbrain-related syringomyelia with MRI scan or CT myelogram. Treatment included craniovertebral decompression or ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. The mean follow-up was 23 months. RESULTS: In addition to the well-recognised sign of downbeat nystagmus, classically associated with foramen magnum abnormalities, a number of other ophthalmic features were identified. Symptoms included diplopia, oscillopsia, tunnel vision and difficulty in lateral gaze. Signs included nystagmus (downbeat, horizontal, rotatory, and combinations), strabismus, disc pallor, anisocoria, ptosis and field defect. Patients were categorised into two groups depending on whether the ocular features were manifest at first presentation (group 1, n = 14) or developed later in the course of the disease (group 2, n = 17). The delay in diagnosis from first presentation was 5 and 6 years respectively. All patients underwent surgery. Craniovertebral decompression was performed in 13 patients in group 1 and in 15 patients in group 2. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was inserted in 1 patient in group 1 and in 3 patients in group 2, for the associated hydrocephalus. Following surgery, 100% of patients in group 1 and 82% of patients in group 2 had complete or partial resolution of their ocular symptoms and signs. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of unexplained ophthalmic features such as nystagmus or oscillopsia should alert one to the potential diagnosis of hindbrain-related syringomyelia. Delay in diagnosis is often associated with poorer outcome. Surgical treatment can offer excellent results for these patients.

Adolescent↗

Vigabatrin-associated visual field defects in children.

PURPOSE: Vigabatrin (Sabril), a drug that blocks GABA transaminase, has been used in the treatment of epilepsy since 1989. There have been reports of irreversible constriction of the visual field in adult patients related to vigabatrin (VGB) therapy, resulting in reduced VGB usage in adults. Although used as a second or third line agent in adults, in children it is often considered as a first line treatment for several subgroups of seizures in spite of there being no way, in the majority of cases, to monitor visual fields. Some of these children have a pre-existing visual field defect as part of their primary disorder. We aimed to identify whether visual field loss due to VGB was occurring in our hospital. METHODS: We have studied the results of ophthalmic examination in 14 children on VGB at Great Ormond Street Hospital who were able to perform Goldmann visual fields. RESULTS: Ten of the 14 patients had constriction of their visual fields attributed to VGB. In addition there were 2 patients with suspicious visual field defects thought to be due to VGB. There was pre-existing visual pathway damage in 4 cases and in 2 of these optic disc pallor increased in association with constricted visual fields. However, the optic discs were normal in 7 patients in spite of visual field constriction. Visual acuity was generally normal in spite of gross visual field constriction. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that VGB should be used with great caution where there is pre-existing visual pathway damage. In other cases the benefits should be considered in relation to the risks, which include irreversible visual field damage. At present visual fields can only be monitored by perimetry, which is often not possible in children with epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

Why are infant gerbils more resistant than adults to cerebral infarction after carotid ligation?

Younger gerbils have been found to be more resistant than adults to cerebral infarction after carotid ligation. In this study, the perfused cerebral area after bilateral common carotid occlusion was evaluated in infant, young, and adult Mongolian gerbils by the carbon black perfusion method to assess the existence and significance of collateral blood vessels between the vertebrobasilar and carotid circulations. Nineteen gerbils were divided into three groups (i.e., infant, young and adult gerbils aged 3-4, 5-7, and 10-17 weeks, respectively). After bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, carbon black was injected directly into the left ventricle by cardiac puncture through the closed thorax. In five of eight infant gerbils, the whole brain was perfused by carbon black, while in the remaining three, only the cerebellum and brainstem were stained well, and marked bilateral cerebral pallor was observed. On the other hand, carbon black did not perfuse the brain region supplied by the carotid arteries, both in young and adult gerbils (11 animals in total). These results suggest that infant gerbils might have a more highly developed network of collateral blood vessels between the vertebrobasilar and carotid circulations, and the existence of such a significant network might be the basis for the fact that infant gerbils are resistant to cerebral infarction following carotid ligation. We propose that gerbils should be used as a stroke model only when they are 5 weeks old or older.

Aging↗