Microsurgical anatomy and insular connectivity of the cerebral opercula.

Objective: Radiological, anatomical, and electrophysiological studies have shown the insula and cerebral opercula to have extremely high functionality. Because of this complexity, interventions in this region cause higher morbidity compared to those in other areas of the brain. In most early studies of the insula and white matter pathways, insular dissection was begun after the opercula were removed.

Evaluation of the Medicolegal Process in Neurosurgical Practice with A Scenario.

The main purpose of medicine is to protect humans from diseases and its complications. Patients may be at risk in the course of diseases or during medical and surgical treatments, which can have undesirable consequences, including death. These risks, which are accepted by all medical authorities and medical literature, are called "complications.

The historical evolution of the fornix and its terminology: a review.

The historical evolution of the fornix has not been sufficiently reviewed in the literature. In this article, we follow this evolution from the first mention of the fornix in animal dissections of the second century AD, to the legalization of cadaver dissection in the 1300 s, to the introduction of neural staining techniques and the microscope in the seventeenth century, to today. We summarize the focus of fornix studies on memory to reveal its relationship with the hippocampus.

Pulsatility and Resistance Indices of Uterine and Ovarian Arteries in Anovulatory Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

We aimed to compare the ovarian and uterine artery blood flow of anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with those of ovulatory women throughout the menstrual cycle using color Doppler ultrasound. Seventy-one women with PCOS, who were admitted to the infertility outpatient clinic of a training and research hospital, were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups as anovulatory (group 1, n = 23) and ovulatory (group 2, n = 37).

Does the third cervical vertebra need to be rimmed for odontoid screwing? A hypothetical study of anatomic landmarks.

Background: The superoanterior portion of the third cervical vertebra may need to be rimmed during anterior odontoid screw fixation procedures. We, therefore, retrospectively evaluated radiological data to analyze the anatomical relation between the second and third cervical vertebra of the patients who were operated by an anterior cervical approach with respect to the question if odontoid screw fixation would have been possible without rimming or not.

Patients And Methods: Patients in whom the anterior approach for cervical disc prolapse and/or cervical stenosis was used between 2008 and 2010 were included in this study.

Neuroprotective effects of gabapentin on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits.

Object: Extensive research has been focused on neuroprotection after spinal cord trauma to alleviate the effects of secondary injury. This study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of gabapentin in an experimental spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury.

Methods: Thirty-two adult male New Zealand white rabbits received spinal cord ischemic injury using the aortic occlusion model.

Complications of pediatric auditory brain stem implantation via retrosigmoid approach.

Objective: We aimed to present the complications of auditory brain stem implantations (ABI) in pediatric patients which were performed via retrosigmoid approach.

Methods: Between March 2007 and February 2010, five prelingually deaf children underwent ABI (Medel device) operation via retrosigmoid approach. All children had severe cochlear malformations.

Anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects of α-lipoic acid on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits.

Purpose: Radical oxygen species produced after injury counteracts antioxidant activity and frequently causes severe oxidative stress for the tissues. Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful metabolic antioxidant with immunomodulatory effects which provides neuroprotection. The aim of this study is to investigate the neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects of alpha-lipoic acid on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion.

Effect of a chloride channel inhibitor, 5-nitro-2- (3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate, on endothelin-1 induced vasoconstriction in rabbit basilar artery.

Aim: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of cerebral vasospasm. Chloride (Cl-) channels exist in vascular smooth muscle and activation of these channels leads to depolarization and contraction. The aim of the present study was to test the effect of 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB), a Cl- channel antagonist, on the ET-1-induced cerebral vasospasm in rabbit basilar artery and thus investigate the contribution of Cl- channels.

The role of FloSeal in reducing epidural fibrosis in a rat laminectomy model.

Background And Purpose: An increased amount of fibrosis formed after lumbar surgery may be the underlying cause of the failed back surgery syndrome in most cases. Various materials have been used to prevent epidural fibrosis, but only limited success has been achieved. In this study, the authors investigated the effect of FloSeal (a gelatine-containing thrombin-based haemostatic agent) on spinal epidural fibrosis in a rat laminectomy model.

The role of fibroblast growth factor-2 in healing the dura mater after inducing cerebrospinal fluid leakage in rats.

We conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of topically applied recombinant mouse fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in healing the dura mater in a rat with dura mater injury and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Laminectomies were performed in 32 rats at the level of the L2-L4 vertebrae, and a dura mater defect was created. Sixteen rats were treated postoperatively with locally applied recombinant mouse FGF-2, and 16 animals received normal saline.

A comparison of the effectiveness of waxed paper and Gore-Tex on the minimally invasive epidural fibrosis model.

Study Design: Experimental animal study.

Objective: The authors conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of waxed paper in preventing postlaminectomy epidural fibrosis in rats.

Summary Of Background Data: Extensive epidural fibrosis after lumbar surgery may be the underlying cause in most cases of failed back surgery syndrome.

Role of antifibrotic cytokine interferon-gamma in the prevention of postlaminectomy peridural fibrosis in rats.

Objective: Extensive peridural fibrosis after spinal surgery may be the underlying cause of failed-back syndrome in some cases. There is increasing evidence that generation of specific cytokine patterns by immune and structural cells and interactions among these cells mediate many of the key events involved in fibrogenesis. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) has several potential antifibrotic actions, including inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, promotion of fibroblast apoptosis, and inhibition of production and action of the fibrogenic cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta.

A cystic amelanotic melanoma metastasis to the brain: case report.

As far as we know, cyst formation in intracranial melanoma is rare, and only 15 cases of intracranial amelanotic melanoma have been reported until now. A yellowish mass was observed in the frontal lobe. The content of the cyst consisted of old hematoma, xanthochromic fluid and necrotic tissue, was evacuated and the cyst wall was totally resected.

Should we operate all extradural spinal arachnoid cysts? Report of a case.

Spinal canal extradural arachnoid cyst is an uncommon, expanding lesion which may communicate with the subarachnoid space. They may be either intra or extradural with intradural cysts being less common. Spinal arachnoid cysts are usually in the thoracic spine, and they may cause symptoms due to spinal cord compression.

A comparison of the local effectiveness of mitomycin C, aprotinin, and Adcon-L in experimental peridural fibrosis.

Background: Peridural fibrosis and leptomeningeal adhesion formation are among the common causes of FBSS. Various materials have been used to prevent the compressive effect of postoperative PF on neural structures. We investigated and compared the effects of 3 agents--aprotinin, mitomycin C, and Adcon-L--to PF after lumbar laminectomy in rabbits.

The effects of topical granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on dural healing in rats after induced cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

Object: Dural defects must be repaired to protect the central nervous system from contamination. Although there are various experimental and commercial substances available for this purpose, the ultimate method of watertight dural closure has yet to be discovered. In this study, the authors investigate the effects of topically applied recombinant mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on dural healing in a rat model of dural injury and cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

Ischemic stroke complicated by a brain abscess: a case report and review of the literature.

Ischemic stroke and brain abscess are life threatening, severe medical conditions requiring urgent and comprehensive evaluation. Brain abscess is a very rare and dangerous complication of ischemic stroke that can be treated successfully when diagnosed. Association of these two life threatening condition may cause catastrophic results.

Iniencephaly and long-term survival: a rare case report.

Introduction: Iniencephaly, a neural tube defect involving occiput and inion and combined with rachischisis of the cervical, thoracic spine, and retroflexion position of the head is a very rare congenital abnormality of the fetus-newborn with a 0.1-10 of 10,000 prevalence. This abnormality's prognosis is thought to be dismal.

Predisposing factors of restless legs syndrome in pregnancy.

The occurrence of restless legs syndrome in pregnancy is well known. However, the mechanism of this association is unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the factors that predispose women to have restless legs syndrome during pregnancy.

Frontal sinus osteoma associated with pneumocephalus.

The most common causes of intracranial air are head trauma and neurosurgical procedures. Less common etiologies include infection due to gas-forming organisms, mucoceles, tumours, congenital neuroenteric cysts, and dural defects. Here, we present a case of a frontal sinus osteoma associated with longstanding pneumocephalus.

Seven distinct coexistent cranial and spinal anomalies.

Unlabelled: Existence of multiple cranial and spinal anomalies in spina bifida is well known; however, coexistence of seven different severe anomalies is extremely rare. The location of the anomalies, the patient's age and presentation are other interesting aspects of the presented case.

Case Report: A 1-year-old girl with an enlarged head and big, infected lumbosacral myelomeningocele (MMC) was admitted to the emergency department in a comatose state.

Association of a sylvian arachnoid cyst and trigonocephaly in a developing child: importance and management.

Introduction: Trigonocephaly and arachnoid cysts are two different entities that may cause intracerebral pressure elevation: one by space occupying and the other by space restriction. The true incidence of association of trigonocephaly and sylvian arachnoid cyst is not known. We present a rare case of trigonocephaly associated with a sylvian arachnoid cyst in a patient that underwent forehead reconstruction and fenestration of the arachnoid cyst in the same operation.

Anterior thoracic myelomeningocele presenting as a retromediastinal mass. Case report.

Myelomeningocele presenting as a retromediastinal mass originating from the midline defect through the fused T-4, T-5, and T-6 VBs is described. An 11-year-old boy with a completely normal systemic and neurological examination suffering pulmonary problems such as effort dyspnea and severe kyphosis was evaluated and an anterior thoracic myelomeningocele was diagnosed. The boy underwent surgery for excision of the meningomyelocele sac and correction of kyphoscoliosis.