Emergency Neurologic Life Support: Spinal Cord Compression.

There are many causes of acute myelopathy including multiple sclerosis, systemic disease (SD), and acute spinal cord compression (SCC). SCC should be among the first potential causes considered given the significant permanent loss of neurologic function commonly associated with SCC. This impairment can occur over a short period of time, and may be avoided through rapid and acute surgical intervention.

Safety and pharmacokinetic analysis of methotrexate administered directly into the fourth ventricle in a piglet model.

We have developed a piglet model to assess chemotherapy administration directly into the fourth ventricle as a potential treatment for medulloblastoma and other malignant posterior fossa tumors. The objective of this study was to assess safety and pharmacokinetics after methotrexate infusions into the fourth ventricle. Catheters were inserted into the fourth ventricle and lumbar cistern in five piglets.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of etoposide distribution after administration directly into the fourth ventricle in a piglet model.

We hypothesize that infusion of chemotherapeutic agents directly into the fourth ventricle potentially may play a role in treating malignant posterior fossa brain tumors. Accordingly, we used a piglet model developed in our laboratory to test the safety of etoposide infusions into the fourth ventricle and to study the pharmacokinetics associated with these infusions. In 5 piglets, closed-tip silicone catheters were inserted into the fourth ventricle and lumbar cistern.

Traumatic injury activates MAP kinases in astrocytes: mechanisms of hypothermia and hyperthermia.

Hyperthermia is common following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and has been associated with poor neurologic outcome, and hypothermia has emerged as a potentially effective therapy for TBI, although its mechanism is still unclear. In this study we investigated the effects of temperature modulations on astrocyte survival following traumatic injury and the involved MAPK pathways. Trauma was produced by scratch injury of a monolayer of confluent astrocytes in culture, followed by incubation at hypothermia (308 degree C), normothermia (378 degree C), or hyperthermia (398 degree C).

Postreceptor crosstalk on PI3K/Akt between GH and insulin in non-catch-up growth rats born small for gestational age.

Background/aims: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk for short stature and type 2 diabetes mellitus as a result of growth hormone (GH) resistance and insulin resistance. The mechanisms of multiple hormone resistance remain unclear. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between GH resistance and insulin resistance in non-catch-up growth (NCU-SGA) rats, and how their signaling pathways are related based on their crosstalk on the insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (IRS-1-PI3K) pathway.

Chemotherapy administration directly into the fourth ventricle in a new piglet model. Laboratory Investigation.

Object: The authors hypothesized that chemotherapy infusions directly into the fourth ventricle may potentially play a role in treating malignant posterior fossa tumors. In this study the safety and pharmacokinetics of etoposide administration into the fourth ventricle was tested using an indwelling catheter in piglets.

Methods: A closed-tip silicone lumbar drain catheter was inserted into the fourth ventricle via a posterior fossa craniectomy and 5 daily infusions of etoposide (0.

Post traumatic brain perfusion SPECT analysis using reconstructed ROI maps of radioactive microsphere derived cerebral blood flow and statistical parametric mapping.

Background: Assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) by SPECT could be important in the management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) because changes in regional CBF can affect outcome by promoting edema formation and intracranial pressure elevation (with cerebral hyperemia), or by causing secondary ischemic injury including post-traumatic stroke. The purpose of this study was to establish an improved method for evaluating regional CBF changes after TBI in piglets.

Methods: The focal effects of moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) by SPECT cerebral blood perfusion (CBP) imaging in an animal model were investigated by parallelized statistical techniques.

New pediatric model of ischemic stroke in infant piglets by photothrombosis: acute changes in cerebral blood flow, microvasculature, and early histopathology.

Background And Purpose: The etiology and pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke in children differ greatly from those in adults. The purpose of this study was to establish a new pediatric model of ischemic stroke in infant piglets for use in future studies of the response of the developing brain to focal ischemic injury.

Methods: Ischemic stroke was produced in male infant piglets (2 to 4 weeks old) by photothrombotic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.

Snoezelen: a controlled multi-sensory stimulation therapy for children recovering from severe brain injury.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Snoezelen therapy on physiological, cognitive and behavioural changes in children recovering from severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: An observational study was conducted to assess the physiological, cognitive and behavioural changes of children recovering from severe TBI while receiving Snoezelen therapy. Fifteen subjects completed the pre- and post-Snoezelen treatment measurements computed over 10 consecutive sessions.

Computer phantom study of brain PET glucose metabolism imaging using a rotating SPECT/PET camera.

Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F] fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) provides information about glucose metabolism and is used to measure tissue glucose kinetics in the brain. The recent interest in hybrid SPECT/PET systems emerged as a practical approach to reduce the high cost of purchasing a dedicated ring-detector PET system. We have implemented interpolation methods for processing the projection data that could potentially reduce artifacts when reconstructing a dynamic imaging sequence in a PET study from a dual-head rotating SPECT/PET system.

Reversal of acute tacrolimus-induced renal vasoconstriction by theophylline in rats.

Objective: To determine whether theophylline, a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, reverses the acute declines in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate induced by high-dose tacrolimus in rats.

Design: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled experimental study.

Setting: University-based basic science research laboratory.

Epidermal growth factor reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat small intestine.

Objective: To measure the effect of pre-ischemic administration of intraluminal epidermal growth factor on the changes in intestinal permeability induced by 30 mins of superior mesenteric artery occlusion, followed by 2 hrs of reperfusion.

Design: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled experimental study.

Setting: University basic science research laboratory.