Gray matter injury associated with periventricular leukomalacia in the premature infant

Neuroimaging studies indicate reduced volumes of certain gray matter regions in survivors of prematurity with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). We hypothesized that subacute and/or chronic gray matter lesions are increased in incidence and severity in PVL cases compared to non-PVL cases at autopsy. Forty-one cases of premature infants were divided based on cerebral white matter histology: PVL (n = 17) with cerebral white matter gliosis and focal periventricular necrosis; diffuse white matter gliosis (DWMG) (n = 17) without necrosis; and

Gastrite associée au Campylobacter pylori: Essai thérapeutique en double-insu amoxycilline versus placebo

A double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment study was performed in adults with antral gastritis associated with C. pylori. Patients received 20 ml of a placebo or an amoxycillin suspension (1g) two times daily for 8 days. Twenty-two patients received amoxycillin and twenty-three received a placebo. At the end of therapy 91 % (20/22) of patients treated with amoxycillin demonstrated clearance of the organism from the antrum compared to 16 % (4/23) in the placebo group (p < 0.001). Active antral gastritis resolved in 68 % (15/22) of patients in the amoxycillin group versus only 9 % (2/23) in the placebo group (p < 0.001). No significant improvement was observed in the assessment of clinical symptoms and endoscopic appearance. Reappearance of C. pylori and significant aggravation of the histological score was observed after 2 weeks in 100 % (19/19) of patients who demonstrated bacterial clearance after 8 days and had then received placebo for 14 days. Conversely, eighteen patients (not cleared from their bacteria after 8 days) received amoxycillin in single blind for 14 days. CLearance of bacteria associated with improvement or resolution of active gastritis was observed in 72 % (13/ 18) of patients. In this subgroup, 100 % (8/8) of patients observed at follow-up 1 month after stopping therapy were recolonized with C. pylori and again had histological active gastritis. These results indicate that amoxycillin suspension 2 g daily for 1 or 2 weeks is effective in treating active antral gastritis associated with C. pylori, but not in preventing relapses, which occur in all patients within one month after therapy. © 1987 Springer-Verlag.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Co-55-PET in stroke:relation to bloodflow, oxygen metabolism and gadolinium-MRI

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown the feasibility of Co-isotopes (Co-55 and Co-57) in imaging of neuronal damage in stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral tumors and trauma. These studies indicate that Co-isotopes allow visualization of brain pathology related to inflammatory processes, reactive gliosis and cell death. Until now, it is not clear if Co-55 accumulation occurs in the core of infarction or in the penumbra. Therefore, in the present study, we compared Co-55-PET with functional parameter such as cerebral bloodflow (rCBF) using (CO2)-O-15, oxygen metabolism (rCMRO(2)) using O-15(2) and cerebral bloodvolume (CBV) using (CO)-O-15 in PET and with the anatomical parameter Gd-MRI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients (11 male; 6 female) age 43 to 84 (mean 69) with middle cerebral artery (mca) stroke, as proven by CT or MRI, were examined with Co-55-PET (0.5-1.0 mCi (CoCl2)-Co-55), (CO2)-O-15-, O-15(2)- and (CO)-O-15-PET in one session 0-30 days after stroke-onset. Regions of infarction were defined by rCMRO(2) being smaller than 65% or rCBF below 45% of the contralateral value and were subsequently superimposed on the cobalt scan. To compare the Cobalt uptake with the Gd-MRI, a realignment program was used that matches the MRI with the blood-flow images. Clinical status was established using the Orgogozo stroke scale at admission and at discharge (at least 6 weeks after admission) and the Barthel index. RESULTS: Eight patients showed a positive Co-PET scan and were used for further analysis. It appeared that Co accumulates in areas with a diminished oxygen metabolism and with a preserved bloodflow. We found Co-uptake in only a part of the Gd enhanced brain tissue with a tendency to be located peripherally or outside the Gd demarcated brain tissue. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that Co accumulates into infarcted brain tissue with a rather preserved flow independently of blood-brain barrier breakdown