Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits peridural fibrosis following laminectomy through the inactivation of TGF-β1, PDGF, PAI-1 and IL-6 expressions.

Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the antifibrotic effect of parenteral administration of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), which has been reported to reduce fibrosis in the liver, oral mucosa, and peritoneum, in laminectomized rabbits as a potential candidate for the prevention of peridural fibrosis.

Material And Methods: Twelve adult New Zealand white male rabbits were divided into control (n=6) and ALA treatment groups (n=6). Laminectomy of the lumbar spine was performed in all animals, and ALA was administered intramuscularly in six rabbits composing the treatment group.

Scoliosis-Associated Cervical Spine Pathologies.

Study Design: A total of 126 scoliosis patients admitted to the hospital were screened for concomitant cervical pathologies.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of cervical spine pathologies and the clinical relevance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of patients with neuromuscular, congenital, syndromic, and idiopathic scoliosis.

Background Summary: With the development of MRI, upper neural axis abnormalities such as syringomyelia and Chiari malformation are increasingly being found in patients with scoliosis, but no report in the literature describes other pathologies in the cervical area seen concomitant with different scoliosis types.

Preoperative and postoperative evaluation of somatosensorial evoked potentials of upper extremities in cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

This study aims to determine the dysfunction caused by existing pathological condition in structures involved in the transfer of sensory functions of the neural system in cervical disc herniation, and to establish whether or not the level and degree of this anatomical damage can be anticipated by SEP (Somatosensorial Evoked Potentials). We compared the obtained SEP values for statistical significance using the Friedman Variation Analysis. In parameters with statistical significance, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to identify when significant improvements occurred.

Alpha-lipoic acid reduces peridural fibrosis after laminectomy of lumbar vertebrae in rabbits.

Background: Peridural fibrosis is an inevitable healing process causing failed back surgery syndrome after lumbar spinal operations. In this study, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), reported to reduce fibrosis in liver, oral mucosa, and peritoneum, investigated as a potential candidate for prevention of peridural fibrosis.

Method: Twelve adult New Zealand white male rabbits were divided into control (n = 5) and ALA groups (n = 7).

[A case of posttraumatic intracranial meningioma].

Several etiologic factors have been proposed in the development of meningiomas, including trauma, radiation, oncogenic viruses, chromosomal abnormalities, and hormonal factors. We presented a 71-year-old female patient who had undergone an operation for a head trauma 27 years ago. Brain computed tomography scans showed a contrast-enhancing intracranial mass lesion, 5 x 4 x 4 cm in size, leading to diffuse edema in the left frontal region.

Induction of glioblastoma multiforme in nonhuman primates after therapeutic doses of fractionated whole-brain radiation therapy.

Object: To determine the acute and long-term effects of a therapeutic dose of brain radiation in a primate model, the authors studied the clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, molecular, and histological outcomes in rhesus monkeys that had received fractionated whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT).

Methods: Twelve 3-year-old male primates (Macaca mulatta) underwent fractionated WBRT (350 cGy for 5 days/week for 2 weeks, total dose 3500 cGy). Animals were followed clinically and with laboratory studies and serial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.