Beauveria brongniartii subjected to spray-drying in a composite carrier matrix system.

The negative aspects of chemical pesticides are of growing concern to the public. Thus, there is a strong effort to exploit environmentally friendly possibilities for pest management. One strategy is the application of biocontrol agents such as the fungus Beauveria brongniartii.

Microsurgical management of postoperative disc space infection.

We analysed seventeen patients with septic postoperative spondylodiscitis (POD) who were managed by early microsurgical removal of the infected necrotic tissue, application of a closed suction-irrigation system (for a mean of 6.7 days), and early mobilisation. The POD was diagnosed clinically by elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP) values and radiographically by computerised tomography scanning or magnetic resonance imaging.

Microsurgical anterior cervical foraminotomy (uncoforaminotomy) for unilateral radiculopathy: clinical results of a new technique.

Background: The authors report the clinical application of a new microsurgical technique. The cervical anterior foraminotomy (uncoforaminotomy), which is used for the surgical treatment of unilateral cervical radiculopathy secondary to posterolateral disc herniations or spondylotic foraminal stenoses.

Method: Between June 2000 and May 2001, 34 patients (16 men and 18 women with a mean age of 43.

Clinico-radiological spectrum of giant intracranial aneurysms.

A review of a series of 56 patients with a giant intracranial aneurysm showed that 28 presented with signs related to the mass effect and 19 with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Additional clinical signs observed were seizures, ischemia, and endocrinological disturbances. Fourty-five aneurysms involved the carotid artery territory and eleven the vertebrobasilar system.

The effect of steroids on gentamicin delivery to brain after blood-brain barrier disruption.

Osmotic modification of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) provides an experimental model of vasogenic edema, is totally reversible, and does not cause any structural damage. In the present communication, the effect of corticosteroids on drug delivery to normal rat brain was evaluated in this model. Intraperitoneal dexamethasone was administered at doses ranging from 12 to 48 mg/sq m for 3 days; gentamicin delivery to the brain was then evaluated after either intravenous or intracarotid administration in both control and BBB-modified animals.

[Hemodynamic effects of an osmotic bolus for the reversible opening of the blood-brain barrier].

Reversible opening of the blood-brain barrier before administration of watersoluble cytoreductive agents constitutes a new tool in the treatment of central nervous malignancies. In this study a volume of 172 ml mannitol 25% has been injected into one of the cerebral arteries within 30 seconds. 5 minutes later the osmolality had augmented from 286 to 303 mosmol/kg and the plasma volume by 15%.

Blood brain barrier modification and chemotherapy. Interventional neuroradiology in the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Postoperative interventional neuroradiology was performed in patients with malignant gliomas to increase target efficacy of chemotherapy. In 8 glioma patients the blood brain or blood tumor barrier was reversibly opened by intraarterial injection of hyperosmolar fluid (Mannitol 25%). One additional patient had primary lymphoma of the central nervous system.

Problems of surgical technique for the treatment of supratentorial midline tumors in children.

In this presentation the authors describe briefly their thoughts on microsurgical management of certain typical brain tumors arising from within and adjacent to the third ventricle the surgical treatment of which has for many years been essentially conservative, not infrequently without histological verification of the type of the tumor or even of the presence of a real neoplasm.

Statistics of intracranial midline tumors in children.

Of the 1,280 pediatric brain tumors seen at the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Vienna, until December 1984 57% involved the midline. Midline tumors were supratentorial in 40% of cases and infratentorial in 60%. The distribution of different tumor types in the various anatomical regions follows the known sites of predilection of brain tumors.

[Subperiostal hematoma of the orbit].

A case of traumatic subperiostal hemorrhage is described. Progressive clinical symptoms of increased intraorbital pressure were the indication for surgical intervention. Through a transfrontal approach the orbital roof was resected.