Background: Although neurologic manifestations often complicate the course of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), direct central nervous system invasion is rare.Objective: To describe the neurologic symptoms and signs, imaging, cerebrospinal fluid findings, and the clinical course of patients with central nervous system myeloma invasion, all of whom had leptomeningeal myelomatosis.Design and Participants: Review of 23 patients with MM and leptomeningeal myelomatosis proven by malignant plasma cells in their cerebrospinal fluid.Setting: Tertiary-care university medical center.Results: Twenty-one patients had advanced-stage MM. Leptomeningeal myelomatosis was diagnosed up to 29 months (median, 13 months) after diagnosis of MM.
An impairment of prefrontal cortical functioning in schizophrenia ('hypofrontality') has been suggested by clinical, neuroimaging, and postmortem brain tissue studies. We used Western immunoblot and Northern hybridization analyses of postmortem brain tissue obtained from 14 schizophrenic patients and 12 control patients of similar ages to measure tissue levels of synaptophysin (a structural synaptic vesicle protein) and of SNAP-25 (a 25-kDa presynaptic protein), and their encoding mRNAs, in Brodmann's area 10 of prefrontal cortex. There were significant decreases in tissue levels of both of these proteins in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients relative to controls. In contrast, tissue levels for the mRNAs encoding these proteins were not decreased in schizophrenic patients. Subsequent labeling of the same Western immunoblots showed no difference in tissue levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in schizophrenic and control patients. Similarly, subsequent hybridization of the same Northern hybridization membranes showed no difference in tissue levels of GFAP mRNA or of 28S rRNA in schizophrenic and control patients. These alterations in tissue levels of synaptophysin and SNAP-25 are consistent with the idea that the clinically observed 'hypofrontality' of schizophrenia arises from abnormalities of synaptic number or structural integrity in prefrontal cortex.
Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) by multiple myeloma, defined by the detection of malignant plasma cells in the cerebrospinal fluid in the presence of suggestive symptoms, is considered extremely rare. We present the characteristics of 25 such patients (18 previously reported) intended to receive high-dose treatment at the University of Arkansas over the last 12 years; an extensive review of the published literature since 1968, including 71 patients, is also presented. In both patient groups, high tumor burden was overwhelmingly present while circulating plasma cells were detected in a significant proportion of cases. We also observed a strong association of CNS involvement with unfavorable cytogenetic abnormalities (especially translocations and deletion of the chromosome 13), plasmablastic morphology and additional extramedullary myeloma manifestations. The presence of these features should alert clinicians to the possibility of CNS involvement. The prognosis of such patients is poor despite aggressive systemic and local treatment and reflects the underlying disease biology. Application of allogeneic transplantation and administration of prophylactic CNS treatment are also discussed. Further elucidation of the factors predisposing patients with high-risk disease features to CNS myeloma involvement is needed.
Objections to the use of topical nasal anesthesia (TNA) during fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) with sensory testing (FEESST) have been raised, primarily because of the possibility of desensitizing the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa and affecting both the sensory and motor aspects of the swallow. Furthermore, it has been suggested that TNA is not necessary during FEES as it does not improve patient comfort or make the procedure easier for the endoscopist. The purpose of this double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover clinical trial was to determine how gel TNA during flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing affects sensation, swallowing, and comfort rating scores in healthy nondysphagic participants. Laryngopharyngeal sensory thresholds and swallowing durations were compared between two conditions: TNA and sham. Transition duration decreased statistically significantly during the TNA condition compared to the sham for 10 ml only (p < 0.05). All other swallowing measures did not change between the conditions. Laryngopharyngeal sensory thresholds and perceptions did not change between conditions. No change was observed for subject comfort scores, ease of exam, or quality of view. Future studies should evaluate TNA administration variables, including concentration, dosage amount, and method of application, to determine the optimal strategy for providing comfort while avoiding altered swallowing.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.