Targeted gene inactivation of calpain-1 suppresses cortical degeneration due to traumatic brain injury and neuronal apoptosis induced by oxidative stress.

Calpains are calcium-regulated cysteine proteases that have been implicated in the regulation of cell death pathways. Here, we used our calpain-1 null mouse model to evaluate the function of calpain-1 in neural degeneration following a rodent model of traumatic brain injury. In vivo, calpain-1 null mice show significantly less neural degeneration and apoptosis and a smaller contusion 3 days post-injury than wild type littermates.

Role of intraoperative cholangiography in detecting rare bile duct anomalies.

A case of an anomalous extrahepatic biliary system is reported in which the right hepatic duct was found to enter the infundibulum of the gallbladder. In this case, a selective intraoperative cholangiography has prevented a possible major iatrogenic injury.