Membranous lipodystrophy: MR imaging appearance of the brain
Article Abstract:
Membranous lipodystrophy (ML) is a very rare disease of the fat tissue of the brain; it appears to be inheritable. Symptoms usually begin early in adulthood with initial complaints of pain in the extremities. Neuropsychiatric symptoms normally appear around the age of 30 followed by dementia and death by age 40. Both bone and brain tissue are affected by the disease; in some cases the disease is predominant in one type of tissue, in some cases the other, and in some cases bone and brain tissues are affected equally. This report describes magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in five patients with ML. All patients were in their 30s and all had one or more bone lesions. The effect that ML had on the mental state of each patient was determined and categorized as either mild or marked. Three patients had mild and two had marked mental disorders. In three patients, there was evidence of a family history of ML. Atrophy or decreased size of brain white matter was detected in all five patients by MR imaging; it was marked in two patients and mild in three. Signal intensities were increased for white matter and decreased for the thalamus, caudate nucleus, and the globus pallidus in all patients. Bone lesions were severe in one patient, moderate in two patients, and mild in two patients. Although the MR images of the brains of the ML patients were similar to findings seen with other diseases, both the combination of the various brain abnormalities and the accompanying symptoms are unique to ML. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Radiology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0033-8419
Year: 1991
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Developmental changes in tolerance to transient intrauterine ischemia in rat cerebral mitochondria
Article Abstract:
The mitochondria in the brains of premature fetuses are more resistant to ischemia than mitochondria of fetuses born at term. Ischemia is the medical term for decreased blood flow to an organ. Ischemia may damage the brain by stimulating the production of free radicals.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 2001
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Gasless laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy during pregnancy: comparison with laparotomy
Article Abstract:
Gasless laparoscopic surgery on ovarian cysts in pregnant women appears to be very effective. Normally, laparoscopic surgeons inject carbon dioxide gas into the abdomen during the procedure, but this could have adverse effects on both mother and baby.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1999
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