Isolated cerebral mucormycosis that looks like stroke and brain abscess: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Cerebral mucormycosis is an infectious disease of the brain caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. These infections are rarely encountered in clinical practice and are often misdiagnosed as cerebral infarction or brain abscess. Increased mortality due to cerebral mucormycosis is closely related to delayed diagnosis and treatment, both of which present unique challenges for clinicians.

Prospective Comparison of Redo Microvascular Decompression and Percutaneous Balloon Compression as Primary Surgery for Recurrent Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Objective: To prospectively compare facial pain outcomes for patients having either a repeat microvascular decompression (MVD) or percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) as their surgery for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) recurrence.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of 110 patients with TN recurrence who had either redo MVD (n=68) or PBC (n=42) from July 2010 until September 2016. The mean follow-up was 45.

Correlation Between Tumor Location and Clinical Properties of Glioblastomas in Frontal and Temporal Lobes.

Background: Tumor location is a major prognostic factor in glioblastomas and may be associated with clinical properties. This study established and analyzed the correlation between tumor location and clinical properties of glioblastomas in frontal and temporal lobes.

Methods: This retrospective study determined the location of glioblastomas in the frontal lobe (FL) or temporal lobe (TL) based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

Topiramate attenuates early brain injury following subarachnoid haemorrhage in rats via duplex protection against inflammation and neuronal cell death.

Early brain injury (EBI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) insults contributes to the poor prognosis and high mortality observed in SAH patients. Topiramate (TPM) is a novel, broad-spectrum, antiepileptic drug with a reported protective effect against several brain injuries. The current study aimed to investigate the potential of TPM for neuroprotection against EBI after SAH and the possible dose-dependency of this effect.

Clinical significance of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for patients with severe craniocerebral injury.

Objective: To investigate the application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to patients with severe craniocerebral injury for the purpose of nutritional support therapy and pulmonary infection prevention.

Methods: A total of 43 patients with severe craniocerebral injury admitted to our department from January 2008 to December 2012 received PEG followed by nutritional therapy. There were other 82 patients who were prescribed nasal-feeding nutrition.

Left type I proatlantal artery with bilateral aberrant vertebral arteries and a ruptured aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature.

Persistent proatlantal artery is one rare kind of persistent primitive anastomoses between carotid and basilar vascular system. This case firstly introduces a type I proatlantal artery with complex vascular anomalies of bilateral vertebral arteries and a ruptured aneurysm, which is extremely uncommon. A 43-year-old female was hospitalised for SAH and ventricular hematocele.

Analysis of related factors affecting prognosis of shunt surgery in patients with secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Objective: The management of secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus (sNPH) is controversial. Many factors may affect the surgery effect. The purpose of this study was to identify the possible factors influencing prognosis and provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment of sNPH.

Influence of acute ethanol intoxication on neuronal apoptosis and Bcl-2 protein expression after severe traumatic brain injury in rats.

Objective: To study the influence and mechanism of acute ethanol intoxication (AEI) on rat neuronal apoptosis after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Ninety-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, AEI-only, TBI-only and TBI+AEI (n equal to 24 for each). Severe TBI model was developed according to Feeney's method.

Zero drift of intraventricular and subdural intracranial pressure monitoring systems.

Objective: To assess zero drift of intraventricular and subdural intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring systems.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted in patients who received Codman ICP monitoring in the neurosurgical department from January 2010 to December 2011. According to the location of sensors, the patients were categorized into two groups: intraventricular group and subdural group.

Which side of lateral ventricles to choose during external ventricular drainage in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage: ipsilateral or contralateral?

Background: We attempted to investigate the effect of external ventricular drainage (EVD) plus intraventricular fibrinolysis from ipsilateral or contralateral ventricle on clinical outcomes in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage.

Methods: We undertook a prospective controlled study. Patients with acute obstructive hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage were randomized to receive EVD from ipsilateral ventricle (ipsilateral group [IG]) or contralateral ventricle (contralateral group [CG]).

Application of ulinastatin in severe craniocerebral injuries.

Objective: To assess the therapeutic effect of ulinastatin on severe craniocerebral injuries and to explore its mechanism.

Methods: There were 87 cases of severe brain injury in this series and they were either treated by ulinastatin (treatment group, 41 cases) or not (control group, 46 cases) besides routine managements. We estimated C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, superoxide dismutase, and endothelin from plasmas of all the cases on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day after injury.