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A case of suprasellar granular-cell tumour (GCT), presenting with intraventricular haemorrhage is described. The authors emphasize the exceptional character of spontaneous haemorrhage for a GCT, although haemorrhagic state during surgery has often been reported and may hinder total removal. Preoperative arteriography discloses a suprasellar blush in half of the cases. This facilitates the preoperative diagnosis. By taking special preoperative and operative precautions against haemorrhage complete removal can be carried out provided there is no encasement of the optic chiasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family caregivers play a crucial role in maintaining older adults in the community, often at great cost to themselves. We discuss a program serving ethnically-diverse caregivers in New York, offering, on average, 11 case-management hr per client. Participants reported statistically significantly reduced stress and burden. Respite was the most requested service, belying an assumption underlying policies and services that families, particularly among minority populations, can and will care for their older members. Thus, services must be carefully tailored to meet actual caregiver needs, including provision of alternatives that reduce caregiver involvement. We discuss practice and policy implications.

We discuss a program designed collaboratively by eight community-based agencies and a school of social work to serve ethnically-diverse caregivers of older adults in an under-resourced area of New York City. The program offered comprehensive assessments, referrals and information, and respite care to maximize use of existing resources and build a stronger web of support for caregivers. Social work and nursing students participated in all aspects of the project, including development, implementation, and evaluation. This level of involvement facilitates a deep understanding of the interconnections among practice, research, policy, and education, and fosters an interest in and commitment to working with older adults and their families.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to optimize the evaluation of the exposure to N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in synthetic leather factories by diffusive samplers. The DMF exposure was monitored in synthetic leather factories by two sampler types: active and diffusive., Methods: Air measurements were carried out using two different personal air samplers, a diffusive and an active one. The diffusive sampling method, TK200 with charcoal filters, was examined in comparison with pumping through NIOSH silica gel tubes workplace air as with the currently available "gold standard". The evaluation was carried out, in two different years but in the same season, for all the duration of the shift, i.e. 8 h on workers employed in five different factories in the district of Florence and Prato (Italy)., Results: The statistical and graphical analysis of data show a good correlation between active and passive samplers (r = 0.96, P < 0.001, n = 91), a good linear regression (DMF(diffusive )= 0.95 DMF(active) + 0.15, R (2) = 0.92), a not statistically significant difference between data (tested by paired t test and non-parametric Wilcoxon test). Moreover, all these results are confirmed for data lower and higher than TLV-TWA, in particular we found a significant Pearson correlation (r = 0.92, P < 0.001, n = 83; r = 0.92, P < 0.05, n = 8, respectively) and a significant linear regression (DMF(diffusive )= 0.88 DMF(active) + 0.73, R (2 )= 0.86; DMF(diffusive )= 0.90 DMF(active) + 3.76, R (2 )= 0.85). Besides, the analysis of graphical representations confirmed the previous evidences. Finally, we can not find a significant difference between different types of job., Conclusions: Due to the good agreement between the two groups of data, the TK200 samplers can be considered as a simpler approach than the pump for screening worker exposures to DMF.

Giant cerebral aneurysms may be untreatable by conventional neurosurgical techniques. Early attempts to use circulatory assistance and deep hypothermia were abandoned due to hemorrhagic complications. More recently, interest in circulatory support for complex neurosurgical procedures has been renewed. A consecutive series of 8 patients were operated on for giant cerebral aneurysms with the combined use of deep hypothermia. The protocol included careful preoperative cardiovascular assessment, perfect intraoperative synergy between neurosurgical and cardiac teams, minimally invasive peripheral vascular access including two femoral vein (21 F) and single arterial (17 F) femoral cannulation, use of total Carmeda coating on BioMedicus pumps in closed circuits, and reduced heparinization without Protamine reversal. All cerebral aneurysms were successfully treated through deep hypothermia (15-18 degrees C) as assessed by intraoperative fluoroscopic controls and Doppler vascular assessment. Mean circulatory support time was 174.2 +/- 29.6 min. Circulatory arrest period was 20 +/- 12 min. All patients survived and were extubated within 48 h. No major deficit was observed clinically or on postoperative CT scan. No hemorrhagic complications occurred (mean transfusions was 2.2 blood units). This work supports an extensive use of heparin-coated surfaces for complex circulatory assist techniques, either for cardiac or extra cardiac complex procedures.

Following a right capsulo-lenticular hematoma, a 35-year-old man developed left sensory motor hemiplegia. Three years later, he still describes the existence of a supernumerary phantom limb. Mood disturbances, hypersexuality and attentional left hemineglect were also present.

Some controversy has existed regarding the nosology of meningeal hemangiopericytoma. In the WHO's classification of 1979 these tumours were included as a subgroup of meningiomas, but for some authors, they should not be classified as meningiomas. Cytogenetic studies on meningioma demonstrate monosomy or partial deletion of chromosome 22 in 60% of these tumors. There have been few cytogenetic studies about meningeal hemangiopericytoma. We present here the results of cytogenetic studies and fluorescence in situ hybridization in six cases of meningeal hemangiopericytoma. In these tumours we have never found monosomy 22, but all six cases were hyperdiploid. These cytogenetic data might provide additional evidence to differenciate the meningeal hemangiopericytoma from the meningioma.

Due to the current use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), angiographic occult vascular malformations (AOVM) located in the brain stem are frequently reported in the last ten years. The term AOVM is ambiguous and controvers. For, most of these lesions presented with MRI pattern of a cavernous angioma, but only few cases received pathological confirmation. In this location, the operative treatment while worthwhile could be hazardous indeed, so a conservative management is more commonly discussed first. However, the potential risk of rebleeding or poor clinical condition sometimes encourage a more aggressive decision. We report our experience in 25 patients (4 children and 21 adults) admitted between 1982 and 1994 with an AOVM located in the brain stem. In 17 patients, the cryptic vascular lesion was removed surgically. A cavernous angioma was strictly confirmed in only 8 cases. Conversely, 8 patients were managed conservatively. In the surgically treated group of patients, 10 improved their neurological deficit postoperatively, 2 patients remained unchanged, 3 patients worsened, and 2 patients died. The final outcome in 14 patients was evaluated after 51 months of mean follow-up (17 to 70 months). In 5 cases (35.7%) the result was excellent (no symptoms), 5 cases had a good result (normal activity with minimal residual disability), and 4 cases (28.5%) remained with severe permanent disability. In the non-surgically treated group of patients, the final outcome was evaluated after a mean follow-up period of 67 months (from 1 to 120 months). One patient experienced a rebleeding and remained severely disabled. Another patient had two bleeding episodes leaving only a minor facial numbness. Four patients were symptom-free, and the last case was lost for follow-up.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that non-glycosylated prolactin (NG-PRL) increased more markedly than glycosylated hormone (G-PRL) after TRH or metoclopramide stimulation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether such results could be extended to opioid-induced PRL stimulation., Design: Open and prospective study. Using a newly developed IRMA specific for NG-PRL, we determined G-PRL and NG-PRL immunoreactivities after administration of 0.8-1.2 mg of the opioid drug phenoperidine as part of an anaesthesia., Patients: Ten male patients anaesthetized for surgical treatment of a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc., Measurements: Samples were obtained hourly pre and post-operatively, and every 15 minutes during operation for determination of plasma PRL, NG-PRL and G-PRL. Plasma cortisol, ACTH and GH levels were measured in an attempt to differentiate the respective roles of stress and opiate agonists in the variations of PRL levels during surgery., Results: A dramatic increase in PRL levels was observed in all patients from an average of 300 +/- 90 to 1200 +/- 330 mU/l (mean + SEM) 30 minutes after drug administration. The proportion of G-PRL immunoreactivity was not significantly different when basal (25.2%) and stimulated (27%) values were compared (P > 0.05), and when mean increments of NG-PRL and G-PRL were compared (345 and 348%, respectively). The opioid drug induced a significant decrease in cortisol levels after injection and during operation (from 585 +/- 63 to 99 +/- 51 nmol/l) with a concomitant decrease in ACTH levels. GH levels were not significantly altered during anaesthesia but were significantly greater (P < 0.05) after than before surgery (5.0 +/- 1.3 vs 0.98 +/- 0.54 mU/l, respectively)., Conclusions: We conclude from the present and from previous data that opioid induced anaesthesia is accompanied by an increase in both glycosylated and non-glycosylated PRL and that different PRL secretagogues may induce distinct responses in terms of PRL molecular forms.

A patient presented with an atypical left lateral medullary syndrome (LMS) mimicking a stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a tumour in the left dorsolateral part of the medulla. Biopsy revealed a grade II astrocytoma. The patient died two weeks after surgery. Nine pathologically verified previous cases of LMS caused by a tumour are reviewed. LMS is invariably atypical because of associated supratentorial or extensive brainstem symptomatology. Onset is usually progressive but stroke-like onset has been occasionally reported. Glial tumours as a cause of LMS are less frequent than metastasis. Successful treatment has been reported in a case of low grade astrocytoma.

A 55-year-old French man was admitted with acute retention of urine. Three days before admission he developed back pain, lower limb pain and weakness. He had last been in Nigeria 2 years previously. Schistosoma mansoni ova were identified on rectal mucosal biopsy. Our patient showed spontaneous clinical improvement. He was treated with Praziquantel and corticosteroids. The clinical manifestations of spinal schistosomiasis can be diverse, and there should be a high index of suspicion for all patients from endemic areas. Currently, praziquantel and corticosteroids are the drug of choice for Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Objectives: Aetiologies of cerebral ischemic events in young adults are various and often contraversial: atherosclerosis plays a role after age 35 years, cardioembolism is often recognized as the major cause, and numerous new predisposing conditions have been described. To evaluate very premature cerebral infarction, we studied prospectively 52 consecutive patients (34 women and 18 men) aged 16-35 years (mean 28.6 +/- 5.6 years) admitted over a 6-year period for an arterial cerebral infarct identified on CT, on MRI or both., Methods: All patients were investigated using a standard protocol including cerebral angiography, transthoracic echocardiography, 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring, coagulation inhibitors levels, lupus anticoagulant testing, HIV and syphilitic serologies. Additional investigations were performed in a majority of patients: transesophageal echocardiography in 33, contrast echocardiography in 50, and anticardiolipin antibodies levels in 38., Results: The arterial distribution of infarction did not differ from that of overall stroke patients. Sixteen cases were classified as certain aetiologies, including cardiac diseases with high embolic risk (n = 9), spontaneous arterial dissection (n = 4), moya-moya disease (n = 1), atherosclerosis (n = 1), and inherited antithrombine III deficiency (n = 1). Eighteen cases were classified as possible aetiologies including cardiac diseases with low embolic risk (n = 11) such as mitral valve prolapse or atrial septal aneurysm, miscellaneaous arteriopathies (n = 3) such as arterial dysplasia, antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome (n = 1) and migrainous stroke (n = 3). The 18 last cases were classified as unknown aetiologies, despite all patients but one had at least one vascular risk factor: this group significantly differed from the formers in that the patients were more frequently women using oral contraceptive associated with tobacco consumption, hypercholesterolemia, or both. Two patients died acutely and the survivors were followed 31 +/- 18 months. Three patients experienced recurrent stroke. Functional outcome was assessed using the Rankin scale on admission and 6 to 12 months after the onset of stroke: patients evaluated < or = 2 (no to mild handicap) were 31% on admission and 82% after recovery. Twenty six p. cent remained unable to resume a work., Conclusion: Despite extensive evaluation, identification and classification of aetiologies of cerebral infarction in young adults should be cautious because the risk as well as the pathogenesis of many potential causes still need to be defined.

Quantitative imaging of estrogen receptors (ER's), progesterone receptors (PR's), estrogen-regulated protein (pS2), and growth fraction (Ki67) immunocytochemical assays were performed in 52 meningiomas. The results were correlated with clinical (age, sex, hormonal status, and tumor volume and location) and morphological (histological types and grades) data. The authors observed a lack of ER's in all meningiomas but the presence of PR's in 53% of these meningiomas. The immunoreactivity was restricted to tumor cell nuclei. The PR immunocytochemical assay was correlated with tumor location, histological type, histological grade, and pS2 immunocytochemical assay, but not with Ki67 immunocytochemical assay; high PR content was observed in cisternae, transitional, meningothelial, and low-grade meningiomas. Only 11 meningiomas showed more than 1% Ki67 immunoreactive nuclei. These meningiomas were usually located in the convexity and were of high histological grade. Estrogen-regulated protein immunoreactivity was observed in 34 meningiomas but the number of immunoreactive nuclei was low. The pS2 immunocytochemical assay was not related to clinicopathological features but was preferentially observed in PR-negative meningiomas. The results of this study are compared with those previously reported, and the function and regulation of PR's in meningiomas is discussed. The results indicate that 1) regulation of PR's and pS2 proteins in meningiomas differs from regulation in estrogen-dependent tissues such as breast or endometrium; 2) interruption of hormonal therapy in women presenting with a meningioma is not absolutely necessary; 3) meningiomas have different biological properties according to their clinicopathological features; and 4) future studies of hormonal clinical trials should be performed on well-defined meningioma subgroups.

We have retrospectively studied 11 cases of solitary cavernous and arteriovenous malformations of the spinal epidural space. The acute or subacute onset of symptoms was found in all cases, with a neurological deficit in five cases. A plain x-ray study revealed abnormal calcification in one case. Hyperdensity with no iodine enhancement was found on computed tomographic scans in all cases. Magnetic resonance imaging studies showed ovoid or round lesions with isosignal and gadolinium enhancement on T1-weighted images and hypersignal on T2-weighted images, except in one case with hypersignal on T1 and T2 before the administration of a contrast medium. Four lumbar cases were localized in the posterior vertebral ligament; all the thoracic cases were posterior with foraminal extension. The other cases were anterolateral. The surgical findings revealed a dark vascularized epidural lesion associated in two cases with a localized epidural hematoma. A pathological examination revealed seven cavernous angiomas and four arteriovenous malformations. These arteriovenous malformations were all lumbar, and two of four localized within the posterior ligament. The pathophysiology of these vascular malformations is discussed. In light of the good postoperative prognosis of these lesions, surgical removal is recommended for all the symptomatic cases.

Objectives: To determine the outcome of oxygen consumption (VO2) and energy expenditure after cessation of sedation in severe head-injured patients and to assess its usefulness as a predictor of neurologic severity., Design: Prospective, descriptive study., Setting: Neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital., Patients: Fifteen severe head-injured patients with tracheostomies and who were mechanically ventilated and sedated at the time of the study., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: VO2 and energy expenditure were measured, using indirect calorimetry during and after discontinuation of sedation. After the measurement period, the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included patients who were completely weaned from sedation; group 2 included patients who had to be sedated again using predetermined criteria. In both groups, energy expenditure was close to basal energy expenditure during sedation, and increased to 150% of basal energy expenditure during the recovery period, with maximum hourly values 80% above basal energy expenditure. In group 1, VO2 and energy expenditure changed from 284 +/- 44 mL/min and 1833 +/- 261 kcal/day during sedation to 390 +/- 85 mL/min and 2512 +/- 486 kcal/day for the period without sedation. During this period, there was a significant correlation between VO2 and mean arterial pressure. For the recovery period, there was no difference in mean or maximum VO2 between the two groups of patients. At 24 and 48 hrs after cessation of sedation, VO2 and energy expenditure decrease to 30% above basal energy expenditure. These changes may be due to the recovery of muscular activity, weaning from mechanical ventilation, or an increase in the amount of circulating catecholamines., Conclusion: In severe head-injured patients, during the first 12 hrs after the discontinuation of sedation, the patients experienced a large increase in VO2, energy expenditure, and mean arterial pressure. Although these changes have no prognostic value in our study, they have potential deleterious effects in head-injured patients. Methods that blunt these changes which have proven efficacious in anesthesia may be effective for intensive care patients.

We report the case of a patient with a nasopharyngeal craniopharyngioma. The presenting symptoms included a diminished visual acuity, a dysmorphic syndrome, and impaired endocrine function. The computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans showed a partially cystic tumor that had destroyed most of the craniofacial sinus and anterior part of the cranial base. The patient was operated on through a rhinoseptal approach. We found 14 similar cases in the available neurosurgical and otorhinolaryngologic literature. The pathogenesis of this tumor and more especially its origin from Rathke's pouch remnants or pharyngeal hypophysis are discussed.

The authors present eleven cases of middle fossa floor meningiomas. They describe the anatomical and clinical features of these tumors in this rare localisation. They emphasize the strait anatomical relations with the cranial base, eight cases were inserted above the superior surface of the petrous bone, two above the endocranial face of the horizontal part of the greater sphenoid wing, one above the horizontal part of the temporal squama. Headache (6 cases) and memory loss (4 cases) are the most frequent clinical feature, seizures (2 cases) and neuropsychologic troubles were probably undervalued. Auditory signs were present in three cases. There was no visual defect and cranial nerve impairment. They insist on the necessity to obtain a complete preoperative temporal bone CT scan exploration. They think that a well advised surgical act is sufficient for these meningiomas inserted above weak structures and with good prognosis: there's no recurrence in this study with a follow up from 12 to 132 months.