Increased expression of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 in astrocytomas of ascending grades.

Background: The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway controls the monitoring and degradation of important proteins and is involved in several cellular processes, such as development, differentiation, and transcriptional regulation. Recent evidence has shown that ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1), a member of the deubiquitinating enzyme family that removes ubiquitin from protein substrates, is overexpressed in many types of cancer.

Aim: This study thus examined the expression of UCH-L1 in human astrocytoma tissues.

The effects of steroids in traumatic thoracolumbar junction patients on neurological outcome.

Background: In this study, we aim to evaluate the potential effects of methylprednisolone on the neurological outcome of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with thoracolumbar junction (T10-L1) spine fractures.

Methods: The data from 182 SCI patients who sustained a thoracolumbar junction spine fracture were operated by us between September 2008 to January 2015 were analysed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 underwent methylprednisolone treatment in conjunction with early surgical intervention, while group 2 underwent only early surgical intervention without methylprednisolone treatment.

Neuroprotective Effects of Tocilizumab on Experimentally-Induced Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate neuroprotective effects of tocilizumab on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Our study design was an experimental rabbit spinal cord I/R injury model, and the setting was at the Animal Research Laboratory, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.

Methods: Twenty-four adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group 1, control group (n = 8); Group 2, I/R group, and Group 3 (n = 8) I/R injury + tocilizumab (4 mg/kg, ip) treatment group.

New Clues in the Malignant Progression of Glioblastoma: Can the Thioredoxin System Play a Role?

Aim: To evaluate and compare the expression of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) in primary and secondary glioblastoma samples.

Material And Methods: Surgically resected human glioblastoma samples from 40 patients who underwent surgery at our institution were extracted from their histopathological specimens and divided into three groups. Ten histopathologically regular cerebral tissue samples, acquired from the non-neoplastic portion of the specimens, were assigned as the control group.

Intratumoral hemorrhage-related differences in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and thioredoxin reductase 1 in human glioblastoma.

The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with and without intratumoral hemorrhage. Surgically resected human GBM samples from 20 patients who underwent surgery at our institute were extracted from the histopathological specimens and divided into two groups. A total of 10 samples from each type of GBM (World Health Organization grade IV, intratumoral hemorrhage-positive or -negative) were included in each group.

Telmisartan ameliorates oxidative stress and subarachnoid haemorrhage-induced cerebral vasospasm.

Objectives: Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress is one of the factors contributing to subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)-induced cerebral vasospasm. SAH-induced cerebral vasospam alters thioredoxin (Trx) cycle enzymes and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) as an important endogenous antioxidant system. In this study, we have explored the effects of telmisartan on the vascular morphological changes, endothelial apoptosis, tissue oxidative stress status and the level of Trx cycle enzymes/ TXNIP in a rabbit SAH model.

An experimental study: does the neuroprotective effect increase when hypothermia deepens after traumatic brain injury?

Background: Experimental approaches have been promising with the use of therapeutic hypothermia after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) whereas clinical data have not supported its efficacy.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether using selective deeper brain cooling correlates with a more neuroprotective effect on Intracranial Pressure (ICP) increments following TBI in rats.

Materials And Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (mean weight = 300 g; n = 25) were subjected to brain injury using a modified Marmarou method.

Endovascular management of a collateral network aneurysm in a patient with spontaneous internal carotid artery occlusion.

Spontaneous "non-moyamoya" arterial occlusion of the intracranial arteries is very unusual. Progressive occlusion of a major intracranial artery, independently from the etiology, can lead to the development of collateral arterial networks that supply blood flow to distal territories beyond the occlusion. These collateral arteries are typically small and conduct low flows, but the hemodynamic stress within them can lead to aneurysm formation within the collateral network.

Radiological anatomy of the C7 vertebra: Clinical implications in spine surgery.

Context: This study was designed to understand and define the special radio-anatomic morphometry of C7 vertebra by using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Aims: The major aim of the study was to detect the gender- and side-related morphometric differences of C7 vertebra among subjects.

Setting And Design: Our radiology unit database scanned for MDCT sections of the C7 vertebra.

Endovascular treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms by pipeline flow-diverter embolization device: a single-center experience.

Objective: Endovascular coil embolization has become an effective treatment modality for most intracranial aneurysms. However, complex aneurysms including large and giant aneurysms, fusiform shaped aneurysms, wide necked aneurysm, or small aneurysm that are unsuitable for coil embolization are still deterrent to be treated. Flow diversion is a novel concept that is applied in the treatment of these complex intracranial aneurysms.

Congenital carotid-jugular fistula in a child: a case report.

Congenital carotid-jugular (CJ) fistula of the neck is a very rare clinical entity that has various causes. The CJ fistulas are particularly prone to complications unlike other peripheral arteriovenous fistulas. The aim of this report is to present a case of a CJ fistula between the external carotid and the external jugular vein, which was successfully closed with detachable balloon by an endovascular approach.

The surgical management of traumatic c6-c7 spondyloptosis.

A case of traumatic spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at the C6-C7 level is reported. The patient was treated succesfully with a anterior-posterior combined approach and decompression. The patient had good neurological outcome after surgery.

Primary spinal hydatid cyst in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Spinal hydatid cyst is a serious and unusual infectious disease. There is little information on infections caused by cestodes in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although infrequent, infections by cestodes constitute a cause of disease in HIV-infected patients, especially in endemic areas.

Association of the polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor and aggrecan genes with degenerative disc disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and aggrecan genes and degenerative disc disease in young Turkish patients. Aggrecan and VDR proteins are the main components of bone and cartilage. In our study, the polymorphisms of the VDR and aggrecan genes were investigated in a total of 300 individuals regarding disc degeneration and herniation.

[Kyphoplasty method for the treatment of traumatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: case report].

The aim of the kyphoplasty method for the treatment of traumatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in geriatric patients is to improve the patient's quality of life. In this report we present two elderly patients who were suffering of traumatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and underwent successful kyphoplasties. Percutaneous kyphoplasty method for the surgical treatment of these fractures decreases the hospitalization, morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Differential diagnosis of dumbbell lesions associated with spinal neural foraminal widening: imaging features.

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reliably demonstrate typical features of schwannomas or neurofibromas in the vast majority of dumbbell lesions responsible for neural foraminal widening. However, a large variety of unusual lesions which are causes of neural foraminal widening can also be encountered in the spinal neural foramen. Radiologic findings can be helpful in differential diagnosis of lesions of spinal neural foramen including neoplastic lesions such as benign/malign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs), solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP), chondroid chordoma, superior sulcus tumor, metastasis and non-neoplastic lesions such as infectious process (tuberculosis, hydatid cyst), aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC), synovial cyst, traumatic pseudomeningocele, arachnoid cyst, vertebral artery tortuosity.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in an adolescent with Ewing sarcoma.

Background: Although thromboembolic complications are common in adult patients with malignant diseases, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis has been rarely described in cancer afflicted pediatric and adolescent population.

Case History: A 16-year-old adolescent girl referred for complaints of pain and swelling on her left leg. On physical examination, a solid tibial mass was discovered.

The effect of meperidine-impregnated autogenous free fat grafts on postoperative pain management in lumbar disc surgery.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical study.

Objective: To examine the effect of meperidine-impregnated autogenous free fat grafts (AFFGs) on postoperative pain management after 1-level, first-time lumbar disc surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Uncontrolled postoperative pain impedes patient recovery.

Primary lumbar vertebral hydatid cyst.

Spinal hydatid cyst is a serious and rare infectious disease. We report a case of spinal hydatid cyst at the second lumbar vertebra, and we discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis and surgical treatment of vertebral hydatid cyst.

Timing of thoracolomber spine stabilization in trauma patients; impact on neurological outcome and clinical course. A real prospective (rct) randomized controlled study.

Objective: Optimal timing of stabilization for spinal injuries is discussed controversially. The goal of this study is to investigate the neurological recovery and its influencing factors in thoracolumbar spine fractures after surgical decompression and stabilization within 8 h of spinal cord injury versus surgery which is performed between 3 and 15 days.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients undergoing thoracolumbar stabilization with neurological deficit for an acute thoracolumbar spinal injury at the level of Th8-L2 vertebra at Selcuk University between March 2004 and December 2006 were recorded.

The effect of aprotinin on brain ischemic-reperfusion injury after hemorrhagic shock in rats: an experimental study.

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the positive effects of the serine protease inhibitor aprotinin on neural ischemia-reperfusion injury and apoptosis in a rat model.

Methods: There were 18 rats divided into 3 groups: group A (sham, n = 6), group B (ischemia-reperfusion, n = 6), and group C (ischemia-reperfusion + aprotinin, n = 6). The systolic blood pressure of the group B and C rats was decreased to 40% to 50% of the normal level by taking blood from the femoral vein to develop hemorrhagic shock.

Primary spinal intradural extramedullary hydatid cyst in a child.

Background/objective: Spinal hydatid cyst is a serious form of hydatid disease affecting less than 1% of the total cases of hydatid disease. We present a case of pathologically confirmed primary intradural spinal cyst hydatid in an otherwise healthy patient who showed no other evidence of systemic hydatid cyst disease.

Case Report: An 8-year-old boy presented with back pain, left leg pain, and difficulty in walking.

The Evaluation of Protective Effects of FK-506 on Neural Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury: an Experimental Study.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to delineate the mode of neuroprotective action of FK-506, and demonstrated that FK-506 could decrease oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in an in vivo rat model of neural ischemia-reperfusion after hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Thirty rats were used as experimental subjects and divided into five equal groups. Group A rats (sham group, n = 6) were anesthetized and craniotomies were performed for collecting brain tissue samples.

Morphologic and quantitative analyses of leukocytes in patients with multiple system trauma.

Multiple system trauma can occur in accidents, natural disasters, and deliberate attacks, and vital areas of the body, such as the head, chest, and abdomen, may be affected. Investigators in the present study sought to examine morphologic and morphometric alterations of leukocyte responses in patients with multiple trauma during the first 4 h after a traumatic event. Venous blood samples were drawn from 51 patients, 30 male and 21 female, aged 16 to 59 y.