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Biomedical subjects

N Carp

Publications and source records attributed to N Carp.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Contribution of patient history to the glutathione S-transferase activity of human lung, breast and colon tissue.

Overexpression of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and their involvement in the detoxification of anticancer agents has prompted numerous investigations of the enzyme activity of human tumor tissue. This study represents an in-depth evaluation of the contribution of patient history and pathological status to the GST activity of various human tissues. GST activity was elevated significantly in tumors of the lung, breast and colon as compared to unmatched and matched normal tissue from the same organ. The GST activity of primary breast tumors varied significantly with the stage of the tumor. Breast tumors previously treated with both radiation and chemotherapy had significantly lower levels of GST activity than untreated tumors. Neither progesterone nor estrogen receptor content was associated with the GST activity in primary breast tumors. Colon metastases possessed higher levels of GST activity than primary colon tumors but enzyme activity was independent of the Duke's classification of the tumor. Only tumors of the left colon had levels of GST activity that were higher than those of adjacent normal mucosa. No relationship was evident between either age or sex and the GST activity of any of the tissues examined. GST activity levels may reflect the site-specific ability of tissues to provide cellular protection against xenobiotics.

Biomarkers, Tumor

Spinal dissemination following operation on cerebral oligodendroglioma.

This paper concerns two cases of cerebral oligodendroglioma (intraventricular in one case, right temporal in the other), with spinal dissemination (cervical and upper thoracic respectively), manifested clinically 2 years and 14 months respectively after removal of the cerebral tumour. Anatomical examination confirmed the diagnosis of disseminated oligodendroglioma in the leptomeninges in both cases and also in the parenchyma in the second case.

Adult

Spinal dermoid tumours.

The present work is a detailed analysis of 12 cases of spinal dermoid tumours operated on between 1935 and 1976. Of these 11 were medullary (3 intramedullary and 8 subdural extramedullary), representing an incidence of 0-80% of medullary tumours, and 1 was an extraspinal coccygeal tumour. Most of the tumours were located in the spinal canal and conus. Good results were obtained following total ablation in 7 cases and partial removal of the tumour in 5 cases.

Adolescent

Cerebral dermoid tumours.

Four cases of cerebral dermoid tumour with an intraventricular, occipital and sellar location are reported, representing 0.04% of the verified cerebral tumours in the authors' statistics. A recurrence occurred after one year in the first case of intraventricular dermoid tumour; after the second operation aseptic meningitis developed and the patient died. In the second case microscopic examination revealed aspects of malignant transformation of the tumour. The symptoms did not differ from those of other cerebral tumours. Operations should be radical whenever possible, avoiding dispersion of the tumour contents in order to prevent a recurrence or aseptic meningitis.

Adult

Intracranial ganglioneuromas in children.

Two cases of tumours of the sellar and suprasellar region in children, manifested clinically by visual and endocrine disturbances, are reported. In both cases surgical removal of the intracranial tumour was performed. The histological diagnosis was central ganglioneuroma, an extremely rare tumour in children. Also worthy of note was the altogether exceptional location in these children of central ganglioneuromas in the sellar and suprasellar region.

Brain Neoplasms

Intrasellar abscess.

A case of intrasellar abscess in a 31-year-old male, with pituitary insufficiency, visual field and acuity disturbances, is reported. In the pus extracted at surgery E. coli and Staphylococcus haemolyticus were identified. The patient died 20 days after the operation. Necropsy revealed the fibrous capsule of an abscess in the hypophyseal region and putriform tissue at the level of the hypothalamus, with three small tumours one of which proved to be a craniopharyngioma.

Adult

Giant cell tumors of the calvaria.

The authors report and discuss four rare cases of primary, giant cell tumor of the cranial vault, a usually benign tumor that develops in young patients and has an extremely low rate of latent malignancy. The authors believe the preferred treatment to be total surgical removal of the tumor; only in rare cases of malignancy when the tumor is impossible to remove totally should this be combined with radiotherapy. Associated minor trauma played only a tumor-revealing role and was not involved in the etiology.

Adult

Dermoid tumour of the fourth ventricle with hyperdense aspect demonstrated on CT scan. Case report.

The authors describe the case of a 37-year-old patient, who, after a minor craniocerebral trauma suffered in 1970, was admitted to hospital because of progressive headache, unsteady gait and balance disturbances, deglutition disorders and diplopia. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large median hyperdense tumour of posterior fossa with the fourth ventricle involvement. Operation under microscope was performed to remove a considerably large cystic tumour, occupying the fourth ventricle and cisterna magna, displacing the cerebellar lobes and pushing the vermis upward. The tumour was waxy and grey, whereas the cystic liquid had the colour and consistency of oily fluid. The capsule was occluded with the CO2 laser. Postoperative course was good.

Adult

Ectopic pinealoma in the region of the optic chiasma.

The authors report the case of a 31-year-old female patient who 10 years earlier had displayed diabetes insipidus and hyperglycemia and for 4 years galactorrhea and amenorrhea. Since one year her visual acuity had gradually declined to blindness. CT-scan revealed the presence of a tumoural formation in the optic chiasma and hypothalamic region. The histological examination of the operative-removed tumour showed that it was a type B pinealoma. The postoperative course was good for 42 hrs after which the patient died suddenly. Necropsy disclosed the presence of a myocardial infarct. The authors distinguish three categories of ectopic pinealoma: 1. tumours of the pineal gland with an aberrant development at the level of the 3rd ventricle, 2. metastatic pinealoma, and 3. ectopic pinealomas with an independent development in patients with normal pineal gland. The case reported below is of the 3rd category which is also the most veridical.

Adult

The prognostic value of ventricular rupture in cerebral hemorrhage.

Analysis of 41 cerebral hemorrhage cases associated or not with intraparenchymatous hematoma and ventricular rupture shows the role played by these associated phenomena in the evaluation and prognosis of these patients. The death rate was 56.25% in simple cerebral hemorrhage, 100% in hemorrhage associated with hematoma, 30.76% in hemorrhage associated with ventricular rupture and 80% in hemorrhage associated with hematoma and ventricular rupture. The authors point out that the mere presence of ventricular rupture is not a really aggravating factor. A particular severity resulting from association of hemorrhage with hematoma seems to be due to the extension of the cerebral lesion produced by the two conditions associated.

Adult