Methotrexate Encephalopathy: Two Cases in Adult Cancer Patients, Who Recovered with Pathophysiologically Based Therapy

Background/Objectives: Neurotoxicity is a serious and sometimes fatal adverse effect that can occur following methotrexate treatment. We describe two adult patients with hematological malignancies with methotrexate encephalopathy who recovered with dextromethorphan therapy. Results: Case 1 : A 24-year-old male with acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed the acute onset of bilateral facial weakness and slurred speech after his first treatment with high-dose intravenous methotrexate. The clinical scenario and a head magnetic resonance imaging supported a diagnosis of methotrexate encephalopathy. Treatment with dextromethorphan was coincident with recovery. Case 2 : A 65-year-old female with recurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was treated with high- dose intravenous methotrexate. Two weeks after a cycle, she developed hypoactive delirium, marked lethargy, ocular ataxia, and a right-sided facial weakness. Within 2 days of starting dextromethorphan, there was improvement with clinical recovery. Conclusions: These two cases suggest that N -methyl d -aspartate receptor activation by homocysteine may play an important role in the pathogenesis of methotrexate neurotoxicity

Speech Communication

Contains reports on five research projects.C.J. Lebel FellowshipNational Institutes of Health (Grant 5 T32 NSO7040)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 R01 NS04332)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 R01 NS21183)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 P01 NS13126)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 PO1-NS23734)National Science Foundation (Grant BNS 8418733)U.S. Navy - Naval Electronic Systems Command (Contract N00039-85-C-0254)U.S. Navy - Naval Electronic Systems Command (Contract N00039-85-C-0341)U.S. Navy - Naval Electronic Systems Command (Contract N00039-85-C-0290)National Institutes of Health (Grant RO1-NS21183), subcontract with Boston UniversityNational Institutes of Health (Grant 1 PO1-NS23734), subcontract with the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmar

Speech Communication

Contains reports on five research projects.C.J. Lebel FellowshipNational Institutes of Health (Grant 5 T32 NS07040)National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 R01 NS04332)National Science Foundation (Grant 1ST 80-17599)U.S. Navy - Naval Electronic Systems Command Contract (N00039-85-C-0254)U.S. Navy - Naval Electronic Systems Command Contract (N00039-85-C-0341)U.S. Navy - Naval Electronic Systems Command Contract (N00039-85-C-0290

Drift Corrected Trends and Periodic Variations in MIPAS IMK/IAA Ozone Measurements

Drifts, trends and periodic variations were calculated from monthly zonally averaged ozone profiles. The ozone profiles were derived from level-1b data of the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) by means of the scientific level-2 processor run by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK). All trend and drift analyses were performed using a multilinear parametric trend model which includes a linear term, several harmonics with period lengths from 3 to 24 months and the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). Drifts at 2-sigma significance level were mainly negative for ozone relative to Aura MLS and Odin OSIRIS and negative or near zero for most of the comparisons to lidar measurements. Lidar stations used here include those at Hohenpeissenberg (47.8° N, 11.0 ° E), Lauder (45.0 ° S, 169.7 ° E), Mauna Loa (19.5 ° N, 155.6 ° W), Observatoire Haute Provence (43.9 ° N, 5.7 ° E) and Table Mountain (34.4 ° N, 117.7 ° W). Drifts against the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) were found to be mostly insignificant. The assessed MIPAS ozone trends cover the time period of July 2002 to April 2012 and range from -0.56 ppmv decade-1 to +0.48 ppmv decade-1 (-0.52 ppmv decade-1 to +0.47 ppmv decade-1 when displayed on pressure coordinates) depending on altitude/ pressure and latitude. From the empirical drift analyses we conclude that the real ozone trends might be slightly more positive/ less negative than those calculated from the MIPAS data, by conceding the possibility of MIPAS having a very small (approximately within -0.3 ppmv decade-1 negative drift for ozone. This leads to drift-corrected trends of -0.41 ppmv decade-1 to +0.55 ppmv decade-1 (-0.38 ppmv decade-1 to +0.53 ppmv decade-1 when displayed on pressure coordinates) for the time period covered by MIPAS Envisat measurements, with very few negative and large areas of positive trends at mid-latitudes for both hemispheres around and above 30 km (similar to 10 hPa). Negative trends are found in the tropics around 25 and 35 km (similar to 25 and 5 hPa), while an area of positive trends is located right above the tropical tropopause. These findings are in good agreement with the recent literature. Differences of the trends compared with the recent literature could be explained by a possible shift of the subtropical mixing barriers. Results for the altitude-latitude distribution of amplitudes of the quasi-biennial, annual and the semi-annual oscillation are overall in very good agreement with recent findings

Slow Molecules Produced by Photodissociation

A simple method to control molecular translation with a chemical reaction is demonstrated. Slow NO molecules have been produced by partially canceling the molecular beam velocity of NO$_2$ with the recoil velocity of the NO photofragment. The NO$_2$ molecules were photodissociated using a UV laser pulse polarized parallel to the molecular beam. The spatial profiles of NO molecules showed two peaks corresponding to decelerated and accelerated molecules, in agreement with theoretical prediction. A significant portion of the decelerated NO molecules stayed around the initial dissociation positions even several hundred nanoseconds after their production.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

Comparison of spatial orientation skill between real and virtual environment

AbstractVirtual reality (VR) is a promising tool and is increasingly used in many different fields, in which virtual walking can be generalized through detailed modeling of the physical environment such as in sports science, medicine and furthermore. However, the visualization of a virtual environment using a head-mounted display (HMD) differs compared to reality, and it is still not clear whether the visual perception works equally within VR. The purpose of the current study is to compare the spatial orientation between real world (RW) and VR. Therefore, the participants had to walk blindfolded to different placed objects in a real and virtual environment, which did not differ in physical properties. They were equipped with passive markers to track the position of the back of their hand, which was used to specify each object’s location. The first task was to walk blindfolded from one starting position to different placed sport-specific objects requiring different degrees of rotation after observing them for 15 s (0°, 45°, 180°, and 225°). The three-way ANOVA with repeated measurements indicated no significant difference between RW and VR within the different degrees of rotation (p &gt; 0.05). In addition, the participants were asked to walk blindfolded three times from a new starting position to two objects, which were ordered differently during the conditions. Except for one case, no significant differences in the pathways between RW and VR were found (p &gt; 0.05). This study supports that the use of VR ensures similar behavior of the participants compared to real-world interactions and its authorization of use.</jats:p

A microcomputer-based sleep system: Data acquisition and system calibration programs

A data acquisition program is described for the Apple II series of microcomputers that allows for continuous, direct monitoring of electrographic elements from cortical, hippocampal and muscle leads from rats. The program detects cortical delta waves and sigma activity, hippocampal theta activity and electromyographic activity. The detected elements are counted and stored in memory at 15 second intervals (bins). Every three hours, the data are transferred to disks for permanent storage and off-line analysis. © 1988