[Angiographic findings of tentorial branches of the internal carotid artery in gliomas infiltrating the tentorium (author's transl)]

The tentorial branches, originating from the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery, showed pathological findings in two cases of brain tumors infiltrating the tentorium: a glioblastoma multiforme of the temporooccipital and basal regions and a medulloblastoma diffusely involving the cerebellar hemisphere, vermis brachium pontis and pons. The value and importance of the tentorial branches are emphasized in the diagnosis of glioma infiltrating the tentorium. The percentage of the visualization and the measurements of the visualized segment of these branches were described using selective internal carotid angiograms by the transfemoral catheter technic on 50 presumably normal adults. The percentage of the visualization of the tentorial branches was 24 percents and the average visualized segment measured 15 mm with a range of 5 to 30 mm on conventional angiograms.

Purification and properties of the intact form of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase from rabbit liver microsomes

NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase [EC 1.6.2.2] has been solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified to homogeneity from rabbit liver microsomes. The purified enzyme is essentially free of the detergent and phospholipids and exists in aqueous media as an oligomeric aggregate of about 13 S. Its monomeric molecular weight is about 33,000 and 1 mole of FAD is associated with 1 mole of the monomeric unit. The enzyme catalyzes the reductions by NADH of ferricyanide and 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol at an activity ratio of 1 : 0.09. Although the intact form of cytochrome b5 is a poorer electron acceptor than its hydrophilic fragment for the purified flavoprotein, electron transfer from the reductase to the intact cytochrome can be markedly stimulated by detergents or phospholipids, which also cause profound enhancement of the NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity reconstituted from the reducatse and cytochrome b5. Upon digestion with trypsin [EC 3.4.21.4], the ability of the reductase to form an active NADH-cytochrome c reductase system with the intact form of cytochrome b5 and Triton X-100 is rapidly lost. This loss of the reconstitution capability can be prevented by preincubation of the reductase with phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Trypsin digestion also results in the cleavage of the reductase molecule to a protein having a molecular weight of about 25,000 and a smaller fragment. The purified flavoprotein can bind to liver microsomes, liver mitochondria, sonicated human erythrocyte ghosts, and phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The reductase solubilized directly from liver microsomes by lysosomal digestion however, is devoid of membrane-binding capacity. It is concluded that the intact form of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase is an amphipathic protein and its hydrophobic moiety, which is removable by lysosomal digestion, is responsible for the tight binding of the reductase to microsomes and for its normal functioning in the membrane.

[Neuroradiologic diagnosis of trigeminal neurinoma originating from the gasserian ganglion (author's transl)]

Three cases of trigeminal neurinoma originating from the Gasserian ganglion were reported. The findings observed on plain roentgenograms, cerebral angiograms and pneumoencephalograms were described in detail. Neuroradiologic examinations used routinely our department for the diagnosis of the skull base tumors were as follows; (1) plain skull examinations, including lateral, straight posterior-anterior, anterior-posterior half axial (Towne), axial, Stenvers, optic canal as well as tomograms in frontal, sagittal and axial projections; (2) angiographies by transfemoral catheter technique including selective internal carotid, external carotid and vertebral angiograms, and orbital-cavernous sinus venography via frontal and femoral veins; (3) pneumoencephalography with tomography. Bone destruction of the middle fossa including foramen ovale, foraman spinosum and lateral aspect of the sella was seen in all cases. Superior orbital fissure, optic canal and anterior surface of the petrous bone were also eroded depending upon the extent of tumors. Sharply circumscribed erosion of the petrous apex was seen in one of 3 cases, indicating the tumor extention into the posterior fossa. A soft tissue mass in the sphenoid sinus and ethmoidal air cells was recognized in all cases. Selective internal and external carotid angiograms demonstrated tumor vessels in 2 of 3 cases. Orbital-cavernous sinus venography was helpful for the interpretation of the lesion extending to the cavernous sinus and its neighboring structures. Conventional gas encephalography showed elevation of the temporal horn, and the concave arch formed by the supracornual cleft and lateral cleft was directed basally and medially in all of the cases. Tomography was also useful in the more detailed analysis of temporal horn. It should be stressed that the plain skull features are most important for deciding which contrast examination should be performed further.

Antimicrobial properties of natural phenols and related compounds

Obtusastyrene (4-cinnamylphenol) displays effective antimicrobial activity in vitro against a variety of gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and molds. The activity of obtusastyrene is not appreciably affected by pH, and its minimal inhibitory concentrations, 12 to 25 mug/ml for bacteria and 12 to 100 mug/ml for fungi, compare favorably with those of a number of synthetic, phenolic antimicrobial agents.