Intraspinal penetrating stab injury to the middle thoracic spinal cord with no neurologic deficit.

The annual incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury worldwide is estimated to be 35 patients per million. Nonmissile penetrating spinal injuries most commonly occur in the thoracic region, and the majority has neurologic deficits on admission. The management of patients who lack neurologic deficits is controversial due to the risk of neurologic status alteration intraoperatively.

Potential Role of Thymosin-alpha1 Adjuvant Therapy for Glioblastoma.

Glioblastomas are high-grade, malignant CNS neoplasms that are nearly always fatal within 12 months of diagnosis. Immunotherapy using proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-2 or IL-12 may prolong survival with glioblastoma. Thymosin-alpha1 (Talpha1) is a thymic hormone and immunemodulator that increase IL-2 production and T-cell proliferation.

Cerebrospinal fluid (vascular endothelial growth factor) and serologic (recoverin) tumor markers for malignant glioma.

Background: Clinically useful tumor markers have yet to be identified for malignant glioma. We report on two potential novel tumor markers, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and recoverin (protein A). VEGF is a highly specific endothelial cell activator that induces angiogenesis both in vivo and in vitro.

Pediatric intracranial aneurysm: a diagnostic dilemma solved with contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

Childhood intracranial aneurysms are exceedingly uncommon. Diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms in infancy may be difficult because of their infrequency and confusing clinical presentation. Findings with routine radiographic methods may be misleading and difficult to interpret.

Vertebrobasilar thrombosis in children: report of two cases and recommendations for treatment.

Two consecutive cases of children with vertebrobasilar thrombosis (VBT) were treated with high-dose intra-arterial urokinase within 4 h of presenting to the emergency room, after full evaluation by CT scan, MRI and MR angiography. Complete resolution of neurologic symptoms was achieved in both cases. Based on our limited pediatric experience, previous treatment of VBT at our institution and a review of the relevant literature, the authors suggest that VBT be specifically ruled out at initial diagnosis, and if present, full consideration be given to immediate treatment with intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy.