Solving problems at the cath lab.

We describe a case of aortic rupture following transcatheter aortic valve implantation that was managed percutaneously.

Complex Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Using the Novel Amplatzer Steerable Delivery Sheath.

Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion has emerged as an al- ternative to oral anticoagulation in non-valvular atrial fibril- lation. The success rate is high, but we are still facing some challenging LAA anatomies that may increase the risk of sub- optimal results. These images show that the Amplatzer steer- able sheath is useful for LAA occlusion, especially in cases with challenging anatomies.

Two-year clinical outcome from the Iberian registry patients after left atrial appendage closure.

Aims: The aim of this study was to observe the percentage of thromboembolic and haemorrhagic events over a 2-year follow-up in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) undergoing closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) with an occlusion device. Observed events and CHADS2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, stroke history), CHA2DS2-VASc (also adding: vascular disease and sex) and HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal liver/renal function, stroke history, bleeding predisposition, labile international normalised ratios, elderly, drugs/alcohol use)-predicted events were compared.

Methods: LAA closure with an occlusion device was performed in 167 NVAF patients contraindicated for oral anticoagulants and recruited from 12 hospitals between 2009 and 2013.

Surgical results and complications in a series of 71 consecutive cervical spondylotic corpectomies.

Background: Cervical corpectomy is a common procedure in spondylosis. It is normally a well-tolerated surgery and clinical improvement is widely described. However, it is associated with potential risky complications (subsidence, clinical deterioration, vertebral artery injury.

Opposite changes in cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor expression in human gliomas.

Gliomas are the most important group of malignant primary brain tumors and one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. During the last years, several studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids induce apoptosis of glioma cells and inhibit angiogenesis of gliomas in vivo. As the effects of cannabinoids rely on CB(1) and CB(2) receptors activation, the aim of the present study was to investigate both receptors protein expression in cellular membrane homogenates of human glial tumors using specific antibodies raised against these proteins.

DNA copy number variation and gene expression analyses reveal the implication of specific oncogenes and genes in GBM.

To understand the pathogenesis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) we used high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization arrays and gene expression microarrays to identify DNA copy number alterations and gene expression changes in comparable sets of GBM samples. Gains were detected at chromosomes 1, 2, 7, 9, 12, 19, and 20 and losses at 6, 9, and 10. Gene expression analyses identified specific genes overexpressed in GBM mapping at amplified chromosomal regions.

Outcome of bilateral deep brain subthalamic stimulation in patients carrying the R1441G mutation in the LRRK2 dardarin gene.

Objective: Deep brain subthalamic stimulation provides symptomatic relief to patients with Parkinson's disease. The present study analyzes the postoperative outcome of deep brain subthalamic stimulation in patients carrying the R1441G mutation in the leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) (dardarin) gene.

Methods: Five of the 48 patients treated in our unit carried a mutation in the LRRK2 (dardarin) gene.

Monoamine oxidase B activity is increased in human gliomas.

Glial tumours are the most common type of brain neoplasm in humans. Tumour classification and grading represent key factors for patient management. However, current grading schemes are still limited by subjective histological criteria.

Electrophysiological characterization of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in partially lesioned rats: effects of subthalamotomy and levodopa treatment.

Progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta is the main histopathological characteristic of Parkinson's disease. We studied the electrophysiological characteristics of the spontaneous activity of substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurons in rats with a partial, unilateral, 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway. In addition, the effects of subthalamotomy and prolonged levodopa treatment on the activity of dopaminergic neurons were investigated.

Parkinson's disease-like presentation of multiple system atrophy with poor response to STN stimulation: a clinicopathological case report.

We report on a clinicopathological case of multiple system atrophy with good response to levodopa and subsequent development of motor complications. Because the subject complied with all the inclusion criteria (Core Assessment Program for Surgical Interventional Therapies in Parkinson's Disease), bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation electrodes were implanted.