Effect of Waste PET Fiber on the Mechanical Properties and Chloride Ion Penetration of Emergency Repair Concrete for Road Pavement.

This study evaluated the effects of adding waste PET fibers on the mechanical properties and chloride ion penetration of latex-modified ultra-rapid hardening cement concrete used for emergency road pavement repairs. The primary experimental variable was the content of waste PET fibers. The mechanical properties of the concrete were evaluated through compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength tests.

Catalyst-Controlled C-H Allylation and Annulation of 2-Aryl Quinazolinones with 2-Methylidene Cyclic Carbonate.

The site-selective modification of quinazolinone as a privileged bicyclic N-heterocycle is an attractive topic in medicinal chemistry and material science. We herein report the ruthenium(II)-catalyzed C-H allylation of 2-aryl quinazolinones with 2-methylidene cyclic carbonate. In addition, tandem C-H allylation and annulation are achieved under rhodium(III) catalysis, resulting in the formation of tetracyclic quinazolinones including a tertiary carbon center.

Feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic transorbital optic canal decompression for meningiomas causing compressive optic neuropathy.

Objective: The endoscopic transorbital approach (ETOA) and transorbital anterior clinoidectomy have been suggested as novel procedures through which to reach the superolateral compartments of the orbit, allowing optic canal decompression. However, there is limited literature describing the technical details and surgical outcomes of these procedures. In this study, the authors aimed to analyze the feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic transorbital decompression of the optic canal through anterior clinoidectomy for compressive optic neuropathic lesions.

Mechanical and Durability Properties of Latex-Modified Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Roller-Compacted Rapid-Set Cement Concrete for Pavement Repair.

This study evaluated the mechanical properties and durability performance of latex-modified hybrid fiber-reinforced roller-compacted rapid-set cement concrete (LMHFRCRSC) for emergency repair of concrete pavement. Experimental parameters included the blend ratio of the hybrid fiber, which comprised natural jute fiber (0-0.2 vol.

Clinical, Hormonal, and Neuroradiological Characteristics and Therapeutic Outcomes of Prolactinomas in Children and Adolescents at a Single Center.

A prolactinoma is the most common pituitary adenoma, but it is relatively rare in childhood and adolescence. There is only limited research about the clinical spectrum, treatment, and outcomes of prolactinomas in childhood and adolescence. In this single-center cohort study, we assessed the clinical, hormonal, and neuroradiological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of children and adolescents with prolactinomas.

Reliable manifestations of increased intracranial pressure in patients with syndromic craniosynostosis.

Purpose: Systematic examination of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is important during the follow-up period after surgical repair of syndromic craniosynostosis. In these patients, postoperative progress can be unclear due to the involvement of multiple sutures and the high incidence of relapse due to the progressive nature of the disease and to genetic variability. In this study, we investigated the clinical manifestations of increased ICP in syndromic craniosynostosis patients before and after surgery.

Determining the fate of cranial sutures after surgical correction of non-syndromic craniosynostosis.

Purpose: "Secondary craniosynostosis" (SCS) refers to a loss of sutures after corrective vault reconstruction. There are no prior studies that comprehensively review SCS in various types of non-syndromic craniosynostosis. We assessed idiopathic and iatrogenic SCS using 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT).

Craniosynostosis in Growing Children : Pathophysiological Changes and Neurosurgical Problems.

Craniosynostosis is defined as the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures resulting in skull deformity. Characteristically, this disorder can cause diverse neurosurgical problems, as well as abnormal skull shape. Intracranial hypertension, hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation and neuropsychological dysfunction are the major neurosurgical concerns in children with craniosynostosis.

A Korean patient with glutaric aciduria type 1 with a novel mutation in the glutaryl CoA dehydrogenase gene.

Mutations in the glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase gene can result in Glutaric aciduria type 1(GA 1) by accumulation of glutaric acid, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid (3-OH-GA), and glutarylcarnitine (C5DC). GA 1 is characterized by macrocephaly, subdural hemorrhage (SDH), and dystonic movement disorder after acute encephalopathic crisis. We report a Korean patient with GA1 and a novel mutation.

Identification of TSC1 and TSC2 mutations in Korean patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the genes TSC1 or TSC2. Studies of these mutations are very rare in Korean populations. A previous study identified mutations in only 30% of patients by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography with sequencing.

Microsurgical resection of deep-seated lesions using transparent tubular retractor: pediatric case series.

Background: To facilitate effective resection of deep-seated brain lesions without causing significant trauma to the overlying cortex, the authors used a transparent plastic tubular retractor to approach these lesions.

Methods: Between July 2009 and January 2011, we used an 11-mm diameter transparent plastic tubular retractor in combination with a frameless stereotactic navigation system to remove 18 deep lesions.

Results: Gross total resection of the lesions was achieved in 14 of 18 patients, and subtotal removal occurred in four patients.

Thoracic pediatric intramedullary schwannoma: report of a case.

Schwann cells are generally present in the nerve root, not in the spinal cord. Therefore, intramedullary schwannomas are rare and correct preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. To date, less than 50 cases of intramedullary schwannoma with no sign of neurofibromatosis have been reported in the English literature, of which 5 occurred in children.

Retrospective analysis on 76 cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformations treated by gamma knife radiosurgery.

Objective: Outcome of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) in the consecutive 100 cases with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) was analyzed.

Methods: Data from initial 100 patients treated with GKS in the authors' institute were reviewed retrospectively. Spetzler-Martin grade at diagnosis were I in 18 patients, II in 27, III in 36, IV in 11, and V in 8.

Congenital cerebellar mixed germ cell tumor presenting with hemorrhage in a newborn.

We report here on a neonate with congenital cerebellar mixed germ cell tumor, and this initially presented as cerebellar hemorrhage. Postnatal cranial ultrasonography revealed an echogenic cerebellar mass that exhibited the signal characteristics of hemorrhage rather than tumor on MR images. The short-term follow-up images also suggested a resolving cerebellar hemorrhage.

Atypical basal ganglia germinoma presenting as cerebral hemiatrophy: diagnosis and follow-up with 11C-methionine positron emission tomography.

Objects: Some basal ganglia germinomas are difficult to diagnose in early stage of disease due to vague initial presentation without discernable mass lesion on brain imaging. We performed this study to determine the usefulness of 11C-methionine positron emission tomography (MET PET) for the diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity.

Materials And Methods: MET PET was performed in three consecutive patients; they presented with cerebral hemiatrophy without definite mass lesions on brain image.

Metronomic treatment of temozolomide inhibits tumor cell growth through reduction of angiogenesis and augmentation of apoptosis in orthotopic models of gliomas.

Glioblastoma is a highly angiogenic tumor with a dismal prognosis. Temozolomide (TMZ), a methylating agent is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents against glioblastoma. To overcome the problem that most of these tumors become resistant to chemotherapeutic regimens within a year, we investigated the antitumor efficacy of metronomic administration of low-dose TMZ in in vitro cell proliferation/cytotoxicity assay and in vivo rat and nude mouse orthotopic glioma model.

Cytotoxicity of rat marrow stromal cells against malignant glioma cells.

Objects: Marrow stromal cells (MSCs) have been shown to have the capacity of orthodox and unorthodox plasticity. In this study, the authors tried to access in vitro cytotoxicity of MSCs from rat and also to differentiate MSCs into immune effector cell.

Methods: Rat MSCs (rMSCs) were isolated by standard methodology and were activated by interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-15 (IL-15), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, and combinations, which were effector cells.

Lymphokine activated killer cells from umbilical cord blood show higher antitumor effect against anaplastic astrocytoma cell line (U87) and medulloblastoma cell line (TE671) than lymphokine activated killer cells from peripheral blood.

Objects: The aims of this study were to assess the cytotoxic capability of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB), to compare them with those of peripheral blood (PB)-derived cells against anaplastic astrocytoma cell line (U87) and medulloblastoma cell line (TE671), and to identify which mechanism and genes were involved in cytotoxicity.

Methods: The effector cells were generated by interleukin-2 from UCB and PB. The antitumor property of effector cells against the target cells (U87, TE671) were estimated using a visual survival cell assay.

Intracranial inhibition of glioma cell growth by cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib.

Higher cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is clinically associated with more aggressive gliomas and is a strong predictor of poor survival. To determine whether oral administration of a COX-2-specific inhibitor can inhibit glial tumors, we analyzed the effect of celecoxib on the growth of 9L rat gliosarcoma cells that were orthotopically transplanted into rat brains. Oral administration of celecoxib beginning 1 day after implantation of 5 x 10(4) 9L rat gliosarcoma cells into rat brain reduced the incidence and size of tumors significantly.

MR imaging of glioblastoma in children: usefulness of diffusion/perfusion-weighted MRI and MR spectroscopy.

Background: Glioblastoma is relatively uncommon in childhood and maybe difficult to differentiate from other brain tumors such as primitive neuroectodermal tumor, ependymoma, or benign astrocytoma.

Objective: To describe the characteristic MR features in children with glioblastoma and to evaluate the usefulness of diffusion and perfusion MR imaging and MR spectroscopy in pediatric glioblastoma.

Materials And Methods: MR imaging in 11 children (12 tumors) with biopsy-proven glioblastoma was reviewed retrospectively.

Stereotactic aspiration of intracerebral haematoma: significance of surgical timing and haematoma volume reduction.

We reviewed 63 patients with primary intracerebral haemorrhage (PICH) in basal ganglia treated by computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic aspiration to evaluate the impact of surgical timing and degree of haematoma volume reduction on neurological outcome evaluated with Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS). In 19 patients operation was performed within 24h from the symptom onset with more than 60% of haematoma volume reduction. At 3 weeks 11 patients (58%) achieved a favorable outcome (GOS 4 or 5).

Suprasellar retinoblastoma in a 5-month-old girl.

Trilateral retinoblastoma is the association of bilateral retinoblastomas and an intracranial primitive neuroectodermal tumour. Bilateral retinoblastomas with a pineal tumour are typical manifestations of this association. However, there may be variants, including unilateral retinoblastoma with intracranial tumour.

"Ivy sign" in childhood moyamoya disease: depiction on FLAIR and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images.

Purpose: To compare contrast material-enhanced T1-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) images with or without gadolinium in depicting the leptomeningeal ivy sign in children with moyamoya disease.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine sets of FLAIR and postcontrast T1-weighted MR images were available in 19 consecutive children with primary moyamoya disease confirmed with conventional and MR angiography. Contrast-enhanced FLAIR MR images also were available in 15 sets.