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This study evaluated the hypoglycaemic, antihyperglycaemic and anti-lipid peroxidative activity of Persea americana peel in experimental rats. 60 male wistar rats were used for this study which lasted for 42 days. The animals were randomly grouped as: A-Normal control (feed + distilled water), B- Glibenclamide 0.6mg/kg/day, C- Avocado peel extract 50mg/kg, D- Diabetic, E- Diabetic + glibenclamide 0.6mg/kg/day, F- Diabetic + avocado peel extract 50mg/kg. Fasting blood glucose and blood level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) were assayed for. With standard protocols, the heart and kidney of each animal was collected for tissue homogenization. Biochemical analysis of tissue homogenates includes Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and isoprostanes (F2isoP). This study revealed a possible link between oxidative stress and hyperglycaemia in diabetic conditions. Avocado peel, dose and time-dependently reduced blood glucose level below normal as well as products of lipid peroxidation. Determination of the possible mechanisms by which avocado peel affects these biomarkers may be indispensible to medicinal research. This study revealed further therapeutic potential of avocado peel.

Neuroimmune alterations have important implication in the neuropsychiatric symptoms and biochemical changes associated with lead-induced neurotoxicity. It has been suggested that inhibition of neuroinflammatory-mediated lead-induced neurotoxicity by phytochemicals enriched with antioxidant activities would attenuate the deleterious effects caused by lead. Hence, this study investigated the neuroinflammatory mechanism behind the effect of Ginkgo biloba supplement (GB-S) in lead-induced neurotoxicity in mice brains. Mice were intraperitoneally pretreated with lead acetate (100 mg/kg) for 30 min prior the administration of GB-S (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (50 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 consecutive days. Symptoms of neurobehavioral impairment were evaluated using open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and tail suspension test (TST) respectively. Thereafter, mice brain hippocampi were sectioned for myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) estimation and inflammatory protein (NF-κB) expression. Furthermore, histomorphormetric studies (Golgi impregnation and Cresyl violet stainings) were carried out. GB-S (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly restores neurobehavioral impairments based on improved locomotion, reduced anxiety- and depressive-like behavior. Moreover, GB-S reduced the MPO activity, inhibits TNF-α, IL-6 release, and downregulates NF-κB immunopositive cell expression in mice hippocampus. Histomorphometrically, GB-S also prevents the loss of pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus. The endpoint of this findings suggest that GB-S decreases neuropsychiatric symptoms induced by lead acetate through mechanisms related to inhibition of release of pro-inflammatory mediators and suppression of hippocampal pyramidal neuron degeneration in mice.

Introduction: Lead (Pb) is a transition metal and a known male reproductive toxicant that induces its effects mainly through oxidative stress. This study investigated the effects of L-Citrulline (Cit) supplement on reproductive functions and antioxidant activities in Lead acetate treated male rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty male rats (180-200 g) were grouped into four and treated as follows; Group 1 (Control), given distilled water, Group 2 was given Pb acetate (2.25mg/kg), Group 3 was co-treated with Pb acetate (2.25mg/kg) and Cit (900mg/kg) and Group 4 was given Cit (900mg/kg) only. All administrations were done orally for thirty days. Caudal sperm, serum hormone levels and testicular antioxidant activities and Nitric oxide levels were evaluated at the end administrations. Results: Results showed decrease (p

Background: The extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa commonly known as Sobo is widely consumed for its nutritional and health benefits. This study investigated the effect of aqueous leaf extract of H. sabdariffa on anemic condition caused by phenylhydrazine in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty (30) rats used for this study were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Group 1 received distilled water and served as control. Group 2 received phenylhydrazine (40 mg/kg, i.p.). Group 3 was treated with phenylhydrazine (40 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 minutes prior to administration of (200 mg/kg, p.o.) aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa (Sobo) once daily for 14 days. At the end, 2 ml blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture into clean sample bottles containing ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) for hematological analyses. Results: Sobo significantly increased (P

Geochemical studies of weathering profiles around Kitibi-Iwoye revealed redistribution of elements from parental pegmatite to the regolith. Geological mapping showed that the pegmatite intrudes diorite and migmatite gneiss. Weathered samples from B-horizon were air-dried, pulverised and analysed using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) in the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Weathering Index of Parker (WIP), Mass balance calculation and Al2O3 – CaO+Na2O – K2O (A–CN–K) ternary plot were employed to determine elemental mobility and distribution caused by weathering. SiO₂ (74.2 and 43.4 wt %), CaO (0.43 and 0.03 wt. %), Na2O (7.14 and 0.04 wt. %), K2O (1.90 and 0.67 wt. %), MnO (0.11 and 0.03 wt. %) and P2O5 (0.20 and 0.05wt. %) displayed depletion from parent rock to the regolith respectively. But Al₂O₃ (15.5 wt. % and 33.5 wt. %), Fe2O3 (0.39 and 3.40 wt. %), TiO2 (0.04 and 0.35 wt. %) and MgO (0.08 and 0.11 wt. %) showed enrichment from parent rock to the regolith respectively. Fe₂O₃ (3.19) is the most enriched whereas Na2O (-99.8), CaO (-98.9), P2O5 (-95.3), K2O (-89.5), SiO2 (-81.9), MgO (-73.1), MnO (-64.5) and Al2O3 (-23.6) are progressively depleted. Mean CIA value of 97.8 revealed that weathering has almost reached its completion whereas CIA of 62.1 for the pegmatite suggested that the parent rock is at incipient stage of weathering. Pegmatite had a WIP of 110.5 whereas the weathered samples with WIP ranging from 2.66, 3.88, 6.03, 6.23, 6.92, 8.08, 9.08, 9.76 and 14.6 respectively showed decreasing trend of weathering. This study confirmed contrasting behaviour of CIA and WIP. A-CN-K diagram suggested strongly weathered samples plotted at the apex of Al2O3 field whereas pegmatite plots along the A-CN line.

Free radicals generated in a variety of biological systems have been implicated in mechanisms of aging and age-related pathologies. This study strategically revealed the varying levels of carbonylated proteins in 3 different tissues of 40 wistar rats of varying ages. Their ages include 25-30, 45-50 and 65-70 days. The brain, heart and kidney tissue homogenates were prepared and biochemically analyzed for products of protein oxidation using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones and autoantibodies against carbonylated proteins. This study revealed a direct proportional relationship between age and protein carbonylation in brain, heart and kidney tissue homogenates. The level of carbonylated proteins were significantly (P≤0.05) increased in the assayed tissues as all test groups advanced in age. Oxidative modification of proteins in brain and kidney tissues showed similar trend. This age-related biochemical manifestation may be as a result of increased generation of free radicals at mitochondrial level or decreased anti-oxidant defenses as living organisms advance in age.

The aim of this research was to assess the distribution, sources, contamination status, ecological risk, and human health risk of heavy metals (HMs) in soil and sediments of a used-automobile spare part market in Nigeria. Forty-three (43) soil samples were collected within a spare part market section (SPMS-17 samples), market-residential section (MRES-10 samples), traffic section (TRAS-10 samples), and non-market residential section (NMRS- 6 samples). Fifteen (15) stream sediments were collected within and around SPMS. Based on average concentrations, HMs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Pb, and Zn) had their highest values in SPMS, and their minimum values were observed in NMRS. The high concentration was as a result of contributions from anthropogenic activities such as the direct discharge of used-lubricant oil, scrap metals, tire wear, and traffic emission in the environment. However, Al, Co, and Mn were derived from the geology of the area. The same trend was observed in the stream sediment section (STSS), except that in addition to Al, Co and Mn in soils, Cr was also sourced from geogenic activity. There were moderate to high enrichment/contamination factors of the anthropogenically sourced HMs, especially in the soil of SPMS, MRES, TRAS and stream sediments (STSS). Similarly, high potential ecological risk (Er

Summary: Effect of honey on reproductive functions of male rats exposed to nicotine was examined in this study. Thirty-two adult male wistar rats (n=8/Group) were grouped as Control (distilled water), Nicotine (1.0mg/kg bwt), Honey (100mg/kg bwt) and Nicotine with Honey. The animals were orally treated for 35 days consecutively. Epididymis sperm motility, viability, morphology and counts were estimated, serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Leutinizing Hormone (LH) and Testosterone were assayed using ELISA method and testicular histology were also assessed. Significant reduction in percentage sperm motility, viability, morphology and counts were observed in nicotine group (p

The patho-physiology of pre-eclampsia is not fully understood. This study determined the plasma levels of markers of oxidative stress, thyroid hormones, nitric oxide, C-reactive protein, and nutritional profiles in pre-eclamptic patients. Thirty-two pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 40 women with normal pregnancy (controls) participated in this study. The pre-eclamptics were recruited after 20 weeks of gestation. They presented with hypertension (systolic pressure = 169 ± 26.0 mmHg, diastolic pressure = 102 ± 11.0 mmHg), significant proteinuria (368 ± 39 mg/24 h), severe headache, abdominal pain and vomiting. The plasma levels of total antioxidant potential (TAP), total plasma peroxides (TPP), total cholesterol (TC), total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, nitric oxide (NO), C-reactive protein (CRP), total tri-iodotyronine (TT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined in them using spectrophotometry, radial immunodiffusion and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, respectively. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated as the percent ratio of TPP and TAP. The weight and body mass index of pre-eclamptics increased significantly (p

The erythrocytic parameters during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in bitches were studied and compared in 8 bitches aged 2 -3 years and weighing 10-12 kg. Blood samples were collected from the bitches before mating, during the three trimesters of pregnancy and the post partum period. The packed cell volume (PCV %), haemoglobin concentration (Hb gm/dl), red blood cell count(x10(6)/µl) were determined using standard methods. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were then calculated. Six of the bitches were pregnant and 2 were pseudopregnant. The results showed that in pregnant bitches, the PCV decreased significantly from the premating values of 51.37+0.94% to 34.00+8.04% during the third trimester of pregnancy (P0.05). There was also a significant decrease in Hb values (P0.05) from the premating period (16.30 ± 0.20gm/dl) to the third trimester of pregnancy (11.25±1.80gm/dl). The values of Red blood cells (RBCx10(6)/μl) during the premating period (12.70+3.15) were not significantly different from the values during the first second and third trimesters (11.13+3.87, 10.38+4.54 and 12.24+3.15, respectively). The trend of decrease in PCV and Hb values were not observed in the bitches with pseudopregnancy. This shows that these erythrocytic parameters can be used to detect and differentiate between pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in bitches as early as the first 20 days post mating.

Two cases of cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) one in association with a saccular aneurysm of the internal carotid artery and another with intraventricular ependymoma are reported. Not only is CVG rare, its association with intracranial aneurysms has not been reported in the literature. This paper documents those rare associations and gives a short review of CVG.

Computerized tomographic scanning of the brain was performed in 26 infants with Infantile spasms. Majority of the patients, 18 (69%) had some abnormality. Changes noted were cerebral atrophy in 12, calcifications in 5 and dysgenesis of the corpus callosum in 3 patients. One infant each had porencephaly, hydrocephalus and cavum septum pellucidum. Five patients had more than one abnormality simultaneously. Three infants had progressively worsening atrophy on ACTH therapy. Patients with infantile spasms, without any physical or neurological abnormality, are unlikely to have any abnormalities on brain CT scanning (p = less than 0.005).

Bilateral and symmetrical non-space occupying lesions in the basal ganglia of 27 cases were studied. Nine cases had low attenuation lesions while the remaining 18 had high attenuation lesions due to bleeding or calcifications. The clinical presentations and final diagnosis were collated and related to these changes. In the low-attentuation cases, definite hypoxic-ischaemic insults were the aetiological basis for low attenuation lesions in 3 cases; and hypothesised to be the basis in the remaining six. Amongst the high attenuation group, bleeding was noted in 4 cases with trauma or cardiac arrest. The remainder had calcifications. It is suggested that a hypoxic-ischaemic pathophysiological phenomenon might have also accounted for some of these calcifications. The co-existence of both low and high attenuation lesions in the same patients in some of our cases tends to lend credence to this hypothesis.

The carotid angiographic studies performed in a teaching hospital (King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh) in Saudi Arabia were reviewed, and the incidence of lesions demonstrated was analysed. Intracranial tumours accounted for 50% of the lesions, with meningiomas being 40%, whilst arteriovenous malformations accounted for 5.9% of lesions. It was noted that the incidence of atherosclerosis and arteritis was low, and the examination was almost without complications. Some lesions supplied by vertebral arteries were missed. In view of this, vertebral angiography is advocated in those cases with suspected supratentorial tumour especially when the carotid angiograms are normal.

The sonographic manifestations of 20 childhood abdominal biopsy-proved lymphomas were presented. Thirteen cases showed positive renal sonographic findings such as renomegaly, hyperechoic renal cortex, focal hypoechoic mass and hydronephrosis. The incidence of renal involvement was high in lymphoma detected by ultrasound. There was no difference between sonographic findings of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The ultrasound findings may be confirmed with gallium scanning. Ultrasound was more accurate in detecting renal lesions in lymphoma than computed tomography.

The roentgenologic features of 160 cases of tuberculosis of the abdomen are reviewed. The 3 standard examinations of the gastrointestinal tract (plain film abdominal roentgenography, barium meal and follow-through studies, and barium enema examinations) are required to provide useful pointers towards the diagnosis. In plain film roentgenography of the abdomen, the triad of ascites, absence of gas shadows in the right iliac fossa, and segmental dilatation of the terminal ileum demonstrates features which are very suspicious of intestinal tuberculosis. In the barium meal studies showing disordered small bowel patterns, tuberculosis of the abdomen should be considered when this pattern is associated with fixation of bowel loops on supine and erect roentgenograms, spiculation and the presence of multiple strictures in the small bowel. Although the duodenojejunal and ileocecal regions are the commonest sites involved, lesions are not confined to these sites alone, but may also involve any part of the alimentary canal such as the esophagus and the small and large bowel. However, no anorectal lesions were encountered in this study.

The CT findings in 120 cerebral palsied children are analysed. The 72.5% positive findings are correlated with the clinical types, as well as the aetiological basis for the cerebral palsy. The spastic type, 83.3% of the total number of children, had the highest positive findings. The yield was increased in children with seizures (91.3%) and those in the postnatal group (90%), as well as those with birth trauma and neonatal asphyxia (94%). The findings were those of atrophy in 30.8%, hydrocephalus, in 10%, infarct in 11.6%, porencephaly in 8.3% and others. The atropic changes and their patterns are explained. Treatable lesions, such as tumour, hydrocephalus, subdural haematoma, porencephaly and hygroma were identified in 22.5% of cases. It is concluded that CT scan is definitely efficacious in the management of cerebral palsied children.

Six patients with scrotal brucellosis were ultrasonically examined. All cases were of acute onset. Concomitant involvement of testes and epididymes were noted in all cases except one in which the epididymis was spared. Abnormal sonographic findings consisted of enlargement of the testes and epididymes, nonhomogenous hypoechoic diffuse, or focal echo patterns in all cases and a hydrocele in one case.

Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head accounted for 75 (28.2%) of the 266 major skeletal complications seen in 207 patients with sickle-cell disease in a 66-month period. Forty-five (60%) of the 75 patients were males. The onset of symptoms occurred between the ages of 10 and 29 years in 60 (80.0%) of the patients, and the mean age at onset was 20.8 (range 8-54) years. There were 37 patients with sickle-cell anaemia (SS) with 46 hips affected by necrosis, and 38 patients with sickle-cell haemoglobin C with 40 affected hips. Perthes-like changes occurred in 40 hips, osteochondritis dissecans-like lesion in one hip and severe hip deformity in 45 hips. Four of the five hips with Perthes-like necrosis which were treated by rotation upper femoral osteotomy had partial reconstitution of the femoral head, and all five were symptom-free. The other hips were treated conservatively with generally poor results.

A rare case of lumbosacral plexus avulsion studied with computerized tomography (CT) in a 5-year old Saudi involved in a vehicular accident with resultant left lower limb monoparesis is presented. Myelography and CT were superior to electromyographic findings in this case. Such cases should be closely followed and surgical exploration and decompression offered if any evidence of cauda equina compression develops.

Summary Four cases of severe osteolysis of bones subsequent to camel bite are described. The first had osteolysis of the ribs with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. Two cases had similar appearances of gross osteolysis of the shafts of the radius and ulna, whilst one had osteolysis of the humeral shaft. The similarities in the radiological appearances especially of the gross osteolysis at the site of trauma are noted. The complications following mammal bites are discussed.

Described are 26 cases of arachnoid cysts. Of these cysts, 54% were in the sylvian cistern, three (1.2%) were in the suprasellar cistern, and the rest were over the cerebral sulci. There were symptoms of seizures at presentation in 30.8%, and in 23% there were symptoms of hydrocephalus and compression of the brain. A total of 61.5% presented with mental retardation and/or cerebral palsy. Trauma and infection accounted for 35% of these cysts. Associated porencephaly were present in five cases. There was a male preponderance. Left-sided lesions accounted for 61.5% of the lesions. The radiologic appearances, especially of suprasellar cysts, and the differential diagnoses of these lesions are discussed. Their recognition and the role of surgery are stressed.

A retrospective analysis of the computer tomographic scans (CT) in 68 patients with juvenile hemiplegia was clone. There was predominance of males (60%) over females, as well as left-sided lesions (57%). The CT findings were normal in 15% with atrophic changes in 34%, low attenuation areas of fluid density in 46% and 2.9% (two cases) with tumours. Typical areas of infarction following vascular injuries could be identifieD in 15% of cases. Six out of 8 calcifications were associated with tuberculoma of the brain. It is noted that cystic changes are the end-results of most infarctions, infections and other diseases within the brain. Therefore. CT as a diagnostic tool is efficacious in determining the anatomical site of lesion, but incapable of elucidating the aetiological basis of such a lesion.

A case of tumoral calcinosis in a 7 year old Nigerian boy is presented. The clinical and roentgenologic features are described.The symmetric scapular lesions showed fluid levels on the erect posteroanterior roentgenogram of the chest; no gas or contrast medium had been introduced.This appearance correlates well with the macroscopic appearance of the lesion which is an encapsulated mass with multiple cysts, each cyst containing fluid with debris of calcific structures.Biochemical alterations were present. These are discussed, especially the high values of the serum phosphorus which has been observed by others. This and other evidence suggest that tumoral calcinosis is a dystrophic calcification in areas of chronic trauma in patients who may have an error of metabolism.

Twenty cases of tuberculous ileo-colitis with radiographic changes seen in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, are reviewed and the clinical features and radiographic patterns examined. The intestinal lesions in all cases were secondary to healed and active pulmonary tuberculosis. Although the ileo-caecal region is the commonest site of involvement, lesions also occurred in the distal part of the colon and the entire colon was sometimes involved. Rare occurrences, such as the diverticular type, enterolithiasis, tuberculosis presenting as intussusception and as an appendicular mass, are also reported. Four principal radiological types of colonic change emerged from the study, namely, the hyperplastic, the ulcerative, the mixed ulcero-hyperplastic, and the carcinoma-like types. The salient features in the differential diagnosis of ileo-colonic lesions in a tropical setting are discussed.

A proven case of Canavan's disease (spongy degeneration of Van Bogaert-Bertrand type) of the brain is presented with sonography and computed tomography (CT) scans and histological findings. This is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of the sonographic features of Canavan's disease of the brain. This very rare condition can sonographically mimic a number of brain cystic leucomalacias. The patient, a 3-month-old girl, was referred for investigations of convulsions, macrocephaly and delayed milestones. She was the only child of parents who were first cousins. She was delivered at full term with no immediate or late neonatal complications. On examination, she had macrocephaly and the head circumference, at 45 cm, was above the 90th percentile. The anterior fontanelle was bulging and the cranial sutures were separated.

A rare case of large cystic acoustic neurinoma with fluid level is described. The pathogenesis of the lesion and its differential diagnosis, particularly from meningioma, are briefly discussed.

A rare case of lumbosacral plexus avulsion studied with computerized tomography (CT) in a 5-year old Saudi involved in a vehicular accident with resultant left lower limb monoparesis is presented. Myelography and CT were superior to electromyographic findings in this case. Such cases should be closely followed and surgical exploration and decompression offered if any evidence of cauda equina compression develops.

Eight cases of intestinal amebiasis are described: 4 with ameboma (one of which was annular in type simulating a carcinoma, and another presenting as intussusception); 2 with toxic dilatation; 2 with multiple strictures; and 1 with pseudodiverticula.Intussusception and multiple strictures are rare in amebiasis. Pseudodiverticula are unknown in amebiasis. These changes are reported in this series.One case presenting with toxic dilatation demonstrated the radiologic progression from the initial ulcerative type of the disease to the late chronic stage of the disease with the classical "pipe-stem" colon. Another fulminating case demonstrated that fibrosis could occur in areas of severe mucosal changes within 2 weeks of treatment.The disease involved the cecum in all cases, the entire colon in 5 cases, and the rectum in 4 cases.The close similarities in the radiologic appearances of intestinal amebiasis and nonspecific chronic ulcerative colitis are emphasized.The lack of involvement of the terminal ileum in a...

Two hundred and sixteen patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were reviewed. Childhood and adult patterns of tuberculosis as noted in other countries were recognised. However, some children were seen with an adult pattern most probably due to a reinfection. There were also adults with the childhood pattern most probably due to a failure in the localisation of the primary intra-pulmonary parenchymal lesions with subsequent haematogenous spread. The prognosis in children with the adult pattern, and in adults with the childhood pattern was poor. The lesions (noted in this study) were severe and widespread, and with a high incidence of complications such as adenopathy and exudative lesions. The high incidence of associated diseases such as measles and malnutrition would account for the severity of tuberculosis and the high percentage of negative tuberculin tests in these patients. No lobes were exempted from involvement. But the upper lobes especially the right were the most affected. Negative tuberculosis tests make repeated sputa examinations imperative in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in this environment. The high predominance of male patients among those with miliary tuberculosis in our study remains unexplained. The genotype distribution amongst our patients shows no statistical difference between them and that of the population.

The clinical and angiographic findings in 5 consecutive patients with congestive cardiac failure are presented to illustrate the pitfalls in the clinical diagnosis of endomyocardial fibrosis. In one patient the clinical diagnosis was confirmed at angiography while another patient who had angiographic evidence of early right ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis was diagnosed clinically as mitral stenosis. In 2 patients the clinical diagnosis was erroneous, there being no evidence of endomyocardial fibrosis on angiography. The fifth patient, who had angiographic evidence of idiopathic cardiomegaly, was diagnosed clinically as either idiopathic cardiomegaly or advanced left ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis. In tropical countries, where endomyocardial fibrosis, rheumatic heart disease, and idiopathic cardiomegaly are common, accurate clinical diagnosis of endomyocardial fibrosis is often difficult and angiographic studies are essential for confirmation.

The radiological features of 27 cases of osteopetrosis were analysed retrospectively. The common features of generalized sclerosis of bones; with metaphyses showing characteristic widening, multiple transverse striations, cortical thickening and medullary calcifications as well as fractures, are seen in most cases. In addition to these changes, a number of rare features of osteopetrosis are seen, viz: medial and symmetrical metaphyseal cortical defects in the long bones (5 cases), excessive diaphyseal radiodense periosteal new bone formation (5 cases), bone-in-bone appearances (5 cases), and the presence of intracerebral and meningeal calcifications in 7 cases. The significance of these intracranial calcifications as a component of a particular autosomal recessive syndrome in which renal tubular acidosis and carbonic anhydrase II deficiency may co-exist, is discussed.

The clinical diagnosis of intramedullary lipoma, an uncommon cause of spinal cord compression, is difficult pre-operatively. The lesion may mimic any cause of spinal cord compression including malignancy. The distinction from these other disease processes is so important regarding the prognosis. We report here such a case unsuspected pre-operatively and review the management, especially the possible role of computerized tomography (CT), in the diagnostic work-up prior to surgery.

A case of haemangiopericytoma (HPC) in a 50-year-old male occurring in the orbit and the adjoining anterior and middle cranial fossa, studied by ultrasound, angiography and computed tomographic scans, is presented. A short review of the radiological features is given. This is the first case of this rare tumor studied by all the three aforementioned radiodiagnostic modalities; and one of the few reports of its computed tomographic (CT) appearances in the literature. The marked and persistent enhancement of this tumour with the polycyclic nature of its well-defined margins as seen on CT is emphasized. It is suggested that dynamic scanning may assist in differentiating this tumour from meningioma with which it is often confused.

A study of the clinical and aetiological patterns of finger clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy was carried out over a 15-year period. 116 patients were studied. Pain is not a common symptom in patients with finger clubbing and osteoarthropathy in Nigerians, contrary to what has been reported in the literature. The cause of finger clubbing is predominantly pulmonary in origin, being responsible in 84 per cent of cases. The commonest cause in bronchiectasis, followed by empyema thoracis, bronchial carcinoma and lung abscess. Among the nonpulmonary causes are infective endocarditis, endomyocardial fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is found in 15 cent of the patients with finger clubbing, the commonest cause being carcinoma of the bronchus.

One hundred and fifteen children with seizures only were studied with Computed Tomography (CT) scan at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eighty percent of the children had normal CT scan; 8.7% showed cerebral atrophy and in only 11.3% was there a specific abnormality; such as infarction, porencephalic cysts, and arachnoid cysts. These specific type of abnormalities belong to partial and combined types of seizures and were treated medically. Fifty-seven cases of generalized type of seizures showed only 6 cases of abnormal CT scan and that is only brain atrophy. Based on these findings, we believe that CT scan should not be a part of the routine investigations of children with seizures only, especially those of generalized type.

The vesicourachal diverticulum in association with other urological anomalies is a rare condition. It is easily demonstrated by ultrasound examination. We report a rare case of vesicourachal diverticulum in association with a large posterior bladder diverticulum; the latter obstructing the trigone of the bladder, and with the ureter of a right solitary ectopic and hydronephrotic kidney draining into it. Diagnosis was initially made by ultrasound and later confirmed by cystography. A CT examination was also supplementary. The literature on vesicourachal diverticulum is briefly reviewed.