Lactate dehydrogenase and aspartete transaminase of the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with brain tumours, congenital hydrocephalus, and brain abscess. (1/457)

The diagnostic value of CSF lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate transaminase in cases of brain tumours (except for CSF AST in the benign tumours), congenital hydrocephalus, and brain abscess is established. Tumour cyst fluids show a higher enzymatic activity than does the CSF. The two enzyme estimations do not help in differentiating the supratentorial from the infratentorial tumours. CSF AST is superior to CSF LD in discriminating the malignant and benign tumours, in so far as the AST is increases selectively in malignancy. Estimates of CSF LD are slightly superior to those of CSF AST, both in incidence of abnormality and the degree of their rise.  (+info)

Abscess of bovine brain stem diagnosed by contrast MRI examinations. (2/457)

A 3-month-old, female Japanese Black calf that showed signs of neurological dysfunction soon after birth was twice examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Survey MR images showed changes in a hydrocephalus from mild to severe and the existence of a mass above the brain stem that could be distinguished from the surrounding cerebral parenchyma. Contrast MRI examinations using Gd-DO3A-butriol showed the mass to have a doughnut-like form. As the mass changed, the clinical signs aggravated. We diagnosed a brain stem abscess, which we confirmed pathologically. To our knowledge there are no other reports of the use of contrast MRI to examine cattle.  (+info)

In vivo proton MR spectroscopy of untreated and treated brain abscesses. (3/457)

MR spectroscopy was performed in three patients with brain abscesses. In two patients, MR spectroscopy revealed end-products of bacterial breakdown (acetate, succinate, amino acids, lactate) in the abscess cysts. In one of these, the spectrum was reversed to a single lactate peak after treatment. In the third patient, MR spectroscopy was performed only after treatment and showed a single nonspecific lactate peak. MR spectroscopy is a potential tool for noninvasive diagnosis of brain abscess and might be useful for evaluating changes after treatment.  (+info)

Use of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in differential diagnosis between intracerebral necrotic tumors and cerebral abscesses. (4/457)

The differential diagnosis between intracerebral necrotic tumors and cerebral abscesses is frequently impossible with conventional MR imaging. We report two cases of cerebral abscesses that showed high signal on diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging and a strongly reduced apparent diffusion coefficient. This appearance was not present in our cases of necrotic/cystic gliomas (eight cases) and necrotic metastases (two cases). We believe that diffusion-weighted MR imaging may be a diagnostic clue in cases of cerebral "ring-enhancing" masses.  (+info)

Neuroimaging findings of the development and resolution of solitary brainstem abscess: characteristics of neuroimagings in the early stage of brainstem abscess and importance of surgical management for brainstem abscess--case report. (5/457)

A 64-year-old female presented with a solitary brainstem abscess. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography demonstrated the development and resolution of the brainstem abscess with an unusual and fluctuating clinical course over several months. Serial neuroimaging examinations are required to detect a brainstem abscess in the early stage to establish the optimum treatment.  (+info)

Cerebral abscesses produced by bacterial implantation and septic embolisation in primates. (6/457)

The degree of brain abscess encapsulation is positively related to surgical mortality and methods to enhance capsule wall formation, therefore, have therapeutic relevance. Two primate models are described which may be useful in the investigation of encapsulation of traumatic and metastatic brain abscesses. Direct intracerebral inoculation induces abscesses displaying more prominent inflammatory responses and encapsulation than does septic embolisation, despite similar abscess age and size. Cerebral ischaemia surrounding metastatic suppurative foci may retard capsule wall formation.  (+info)

In vivo antibacterial activity of FK041, a new orally active cephalosporin. (7/457)

The therapeutic activities of orally administered FK041 were evaluated in mouse models of systemic and local infections with a variety of bacteria and were compared with those of cefdinir (CFDN) and cefditoren pivoxil (CDTR-PI). FK041 exhibited potent therapeutic activity against lethal systemic infections induced by intraperitoneally inoculated Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae with 50% effective doses (ED50) in the range of 0.20 to 0.36 mg/kg and was more active than CFDN and CDTR-PI. This result correlated well with its in vitro activity. The therapeutic effects of FK041 and reference drugs on murine local infections were evaluated in an in vivo pharmacokinetic model simulating human plasma concentrations for oral administration of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg. Against murine subcutaneous abscess induced by S. aureus, FK041 was as effective as CFDN and significantly more effective than CDTR-PI in reducing the number of recoverable viable bacteria in the skin at the infection sites. The efficacy of FK041 against murine pneumonia with H. influenzae was comparable to that of CDTR-PI and was superior to that of CFDN in reducing viable bacteria activity in the lungs. These results strongly suggest that FK041 has potential for clinical use against various bacterial infections.  (+info)

Pyogenic brain abscess managed by repeated elective aspiration. (8/457)

37 cases of capsular stage of brain abscess based upon CT scan staging were treated by repeated elective aspiration through a burr hole and intracavitary application of antibiotics on alternate days, till two consecutive negative aspirations were obtained. A combination of furosemide and antibiotics in multiple doses were also given. The mortality rate was 2.7% and the morbidity rate 8.3%. Corticosteroids were not used in the management of brain abscess. Thus, repeated elective aspiration was found to be an effective mode of surgical management of brain abscess.  (+info)