Hemangiopericytomas of the spine: case report and review of the literature

We describe a rare case of a primary intracranial meningeal hemangiopericytoma (HPC) with late metastasis to the cervical spine. A 36-year-old woman had a left occipital lesion that was histopathologically identified as HPC. Fourteen years after resection, the tumor recurred and was treated with radiotherapy. Three years later, CT imaging showed a large mass in the liver consistent with metastatic HPC, and MRI of the cervical spine showed an extensive lesion of the C3 vertebral body. The patient underwent C3 corpectomy with en-bloc tumor removal and follow-up radiation with no local recurrence or other spinal metastasis for the following 4 years. Regardless of the subtype of spinal HPC, complete surgical removal and radiotherapy appear to be treatment of choice

Polyamines and cancer: old molecules, new understanding

The amino-acid-derived polyamines have long been associated with cell growth and cancer, and specific oncogenes and tumour-suppressor genes regulate polyamine metabolism. Inhibition of polyamine synthesis has proven to be generally ineffective as an anticancer strategy in clinical trials, but it is a potent cancer chemoprevention strategy in preclinical studies. Clinical trials, with well-defined goals, are now underway to evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of inhibitors of polyamine synthesis in a range of tissues

Clinical effect of buprenorphine in ureteral colic

1)尿管結石による疼痛発作患者21例において, Buprenorphine 0.2 mgを筋注後のIVPで, 腎盂尿管像が描出され, 結石の位置の確認が容易であった.2) 19例で疼痛が改善された.3)重篤な副作用はなく, 6例に軽度のふらつきが認められたが安静にて軽快したBuprenorphine, a new analgesic, was administered at a dose of 0.2 mg by intramuscular injection to 21 patients with acute ureteral colic. The patients consisted of 14 males and 7 females with a mean age of 42. In all cases, the diagnosis was confirmed based on intravenous urography performed after the treatment. In 19 of the 21 patients, colicky pain was reduced at least within one hour after the administration of buprenorphine. No significant changes in the pulse or blood pressure were observed. In 6 patients, mild dizziness or nausea was observed, and none of the patients required withdrawal of the treatment. Clinical use of buprenorphine was considered to the effective and safe in patients with ureteral colic