Association of Bypass Surgery and Mortality in Moyamoya Disease.

Background: Patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) have a high risk of stroke or death. We investigated whether extracranial to intracranial bypass surgery can reduce mortality by preventing strokes in patients with MMD.

Methods And Results: This nationwide retrospective cohort study encompassed patients with MMD registered under the Rare Intractable Diseases program via the Relieved Co-Payment Policy between 2006 and 2019, using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Comparison of treatment outcomes and complications of coil embolization in elderly and very elderly patients with cerebral aneurysms: a propensity score matching analysis.

Purpose: This single center study aims to compare the treatment outcomes and procedure-related complications of coil embolization in elderly patients (60-79 years) and very elderly patients (aged 80 years or older) with cerebral aneurysms.

Methods: Data was collected from 504 elderly patients aged 60 years or older who underwent coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms from 2018 to 2021. The study evaluated patient-related and anatomical factors and assessed various outcomes, comparing results between groups using statistical analysis and propensity score matching.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Good Neovascularization After Indirect Bypass Surgery: A Two-center Retrospective Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze factors affecting good neovascularization after indirect bypass surgery.

Methods: From August 2000 to July 2020, postoperative image results and medical records of 132 patients (159 hemispheres) who underwent EDAS of indirect bypass surgery at two institutions were reviewed retrospectively. Based on DSA results, angiogenesis after indirect bypass was divided into "good" or "poor" according to the Matsushima criteria.

A Comparison of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes Between Target 360 Nano and Microplex Hypersoft 3D Used as Finishing Coil.

Aim: To compare the clinical outcomes of Target 360 nano (TG) and Microplex hypersoft 3D (MH) used as a finishing coil (FC).

Material And Methods: From January 2018 to December 2020, we retrospectively reviewed 243 coil embolization procedures performed using TG (n=152) and MH (n=91) coils of 1mm x 2 cm the same size as FC. Further, the clinical and radiographic results were compared by matching the propensity score between the two groups.

Is a small coil more effective as a finishing coil for the embolization of intracranial aneurysms? Outcomes using GALAXY G3™ MINI micro-coils as finishing coils in a single center.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of coil embolization using a 0.009 inches primary outer diameter coil as finishing coil (FC) to that of 0.01 inches.

Direct Bypass Versus Indirect Bypass in Adult Moyamoya Angiopathy with Symptoms or Hemodynamic Instability: A Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

Background: It remains controversial which bypass methods are optimal for treating adult moyamoya angiopathy patients. This study aimed to analyze the literature about whether different bypass methods affect differently outcome results of adult moyamoya patients with symptoms or hemodynamic instability.

Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases was performed for articles published between 1990 and 2015.

Spontaneous Thrombolysis of Multiple Thrombi at Distal Region of Hypoplastic Vertebral Artery After Stent-assisted Angioplasty on Vertebral Artery Origin Stenosis: Angiographic Follow-up.

Vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH) can be easily overlooked if the contralateral side vertebral artery is intact, because of compensation by the contralateral artery or cerebral collateral network. The clinical relevance and hemodynamic impact of VAH is still controversial. However, VAH has recently been considered a risk factor for posterior circulation ischemia.

Thirteen-year Experience of 44 Patients with Adult Hemorrhagic Moyamoya Disease from a Single Institution: Clinical Analysis by Management Modality.

Our objective was a retrospective assessment of the management modalities that provided the most beneficial treatment in hemorrhagic moyamoya disease during the last 13 years at our institution. The clinical results of 44 patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease were investigated, comparing revascularization surgery (direct, indirect, and combined bypass) or conservative treatment. Angiographic features, rebleeding, and clinical outcome were investigated.

Early superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass in acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the effects and safety of superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis in the early stage after an acute ischemic event and the improvement of present symptoms in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic occlusive disease with stroke/stroke in progress.

Methods: From 2006 to 2010, 20 patients (15 males and five females) with atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease were treated with an STA-MCA bypass. All of the patients presented with an acute ischemic stroke or stroke in progress despite maximal medical treatment.

Surgical treatment of moyamoya disease in adults: combined direct and indirect vs. indirect bypass surgery.

Combined superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis and encephalo-duro-arterio-galeo-synangiosis (EDAGS) were retrospectively compared with indirect bypass, EDAGS with or without inversion, in 134 hemispheres of 96 adult patients with non-hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (MMD) in terms of angiographic findings, perioperative complications, and clinical outcome. Angiographic revascularization seemed to be better in the combined bypass group compared with the EDAGS group (p = 0.045), but perioperative complication tended to be slightly more common in the combined bypass group.

Long-term follow-up results in 142 adult patients with moyamoya disease according to management modality.

Background: To clarify the most beneficial treatment of the management modality based on our experience with adult moyamoya disease (MMD).

Methods: From 1998 to 2010, clinical results of 142 patients (ischemic, 98; hemorrhagic, 44) with adult MMD were investigated according to management modality. Revascularization surgery (direct, indirect, and combined bypass) was performed in 124 patients.

CXC chemokine receptor 1 enhances the ability of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells to migrate toward gliomas.

In this study, we showed that knocking-down interleukin-8 (IL-8) in glioma cells, or its receptor, CXC chemokine receptor 1 (CXCR1) in hUCB-MSCs reduced hUCB-MSC migration toward glioma cells in a Transwell chamber. In contrast, CXCR1-transfected hUCB-MSCs (CXCR1-MSCs) showed a superior capacity to migrate toward glioma cells in a Transwell chamber compared to primary hUCB-MSCs. Furthermore, these transfected cells also demonstrated the same ability to migrate toward tumors in mice bearing intracranial human gliomas as shown by histological and in vivo imaging analysis.

Ischaemic stroke after acute intracranial haemorrhage in patients with moyamoya disease: six new cases and a short literature review.

Background: We report six new cases of ischaemic stroke after cerebral haemorrhage in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) and analyse their clinical and radiological characteristics, together with cases reported in the literature, to deduce the mechanism of cerebral infarct.

Methods: Six (2%) of 246 patients with MMD who were admitted to our hospitals between 1993 and 2009 suffered cerebral infarct after intracranial haemorrhage. Ten patients identified in the literature with the PubMed search engine were also included in this study.

Irradiation enhances the tumor tropism and therapeutic potential of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-secreting human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells in glioma therapy.

Irradiation is a standard therapy for gliomas and many other cancers. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is one of the most promising candidates for cancer gene therapy. Here, we show that tumor irradiation enhances the tumor tropism of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) and the therapeutic effect of TRAIL delivered by UCB-MSCs.

Galectin-3 secreted by human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells reduces amyloid-beta42 neurotoxicity in vitro.

In this study, we found that expression and secretion of galectin-3 (GAL-3) were upregulated by amyloid-beta42 (Abeta42) exposure in human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) without cell death. Abeta42-exposed rat primary cortical neuronal cells co-treated with recombinant GAL-3 were protected from neuronal death in a dose-dependent manner. hUCB-MSCs were cocultured with Abeta42-exposed rat primary neuronal cells or the neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y in a Transwell chamber.

Risk factors and surgical treatment for symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration after lumbar spine fusion.

Objective: The present study analyzed the risk factors, prevalence and clinical results following revision surgery for adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in patients who had undergone lumbar fusion.

Methods: Over an 8-year period, we performed posterior lumbar fusion in 81 patients. Patients were followed a minimum of 2 years (mean 5.

Ruptured right posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm associated with hypoplasia of the right vertebral artery and both internal carotid arteries.

The authors report an extremely rare case of a ruptured saccular aneurysm of the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) associated with hypoplasia of bilateral internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and the right vertebral artery (VA). The aneurysm was successfully treated by clipping of the aneurysm itself using a lateral suboccipital approach. The aetiology of hypoplastic ICAs and right VA is uncertain, but the associated distal aneurysm from the right PICA appears to have developed most likely due to a coexistent congenital vessel wall anomaly of the cerebral arterial structure.

Effect of single growth factor and growth factor combinations on differentiation of neural stem cells.

Objective: The effects on neural proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSC) of basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (bFGF), insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) were assessed. Also, following combinations of various factors were investigated : bFGF+IGF-I, bFGF+BDNF, bFGF+NGF, IGF-I+BDNF, IGF-I+NGF, and BDNF+NGF.

Methods: Isolated NSC of Fisher 344 rats were cultured with individual growth factors, combinations of factors, and no growth factor (control) for 14 days.

Comparison of the effect of decompressive craniectomy on different neurosurgical diseases.

Background: Many previous studies have reported that decompressive craniectomy has improved clinical outcomes in patients with intractable increased intracranial pressure (ICP) caused by various neurosurgical diseases. However there is no report that compares the effectiveness of the procedure in the different conditions. The authors performed decompressive craniectomy following a constant surgical indication and compared the clinical outcomes in different neurosurgical diseases.

Overexpression of CXC chemokine receptors is required for the superior glioma-tracking property of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Our observations indicate that umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) have a strong migration capacity toward the human glioma cell line, U-87 MG, LN18, U138, and U251, when compared to several other cancer cell lines. In order to identify soluble factors that function to attract UCB-MSCs, we used cytokine antibody arrays to screen changed cytokines in conditioned media from U-87 MG cells. Among these, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and growth-related oncogene (GRO-alpha) enhanced UCB-MSC migration.

Immunological properties of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for developing cell therapies for intractable diseases. To assess the feasibility of transplantation with human umbilical cord blood (hUCB)-derived MSCs, we analyzed the ability of these cells to function as alloantigen-presenting cells (APC) in vitro. hUCB-MSCs were strongly positive for MSC-related antigens and stained positively for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-AB and negatively for HLA-DR.

Cranioplasty effect on the cerebral hemodynamics and cardiac function.

Background: Cranioplasty is usually performed for aesthetic, protective and patient comfort reasons. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of cranioplasty on the cerebral hemodynamics and cardiovascular system.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients who had undergone cranioplasty after extensive skull bone removal to prevent uncontrollable intracranial hypertension were included in this study.

Efficient intracytoplasmic labeling of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells with ferumoxides.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells found in several adult tissues; they have the capacity to differentiate into mesodermal, ectodermal, and endodermal tissues in vitro. There have been several reports that MSCs have therapeutic effects in a variety of diseases. Therefore, using a cell labeling technique, monitoring their temporal and spatial migration in vivo, would be useful in the clinical setting.

Pituitary abscess in a pregnant woman.

Pituitary abscess is a rare and potentially lethal condition. Pituitary abscess in a pregnant woman has not been previously described. A 38-year-old pregnant woman (34 weeks gestation) with a pituitary mass complained of a progressive headache and sudden visual impairment.

Simple excision and periosteal reattachment for the treatment of calcified cephalhematoma. Technical note.

Until now, calcified cephalhematoma has been treated by excision of the lesion and the use of an onlay autograft. The authors report their use of a less complicated alternative, simple excision and periosteal reattachment, in a 3-month-old male infant. They excised the calcified cap of cephalhematoma and reattached the periosteum to the exposed bone surface instead of using an onlay autograft technique.