Hydrogel-mediated local delivery of dexamethasone reduces neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury.

Excessive and prolonged neuroinflammation leads to neuronal cell death and limits functional recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dexamethasone (DX) is a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent that is known to attenuate early expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with activated microglia/macrophages. In this study, we investigated the effect of dexamethasone-conjugated hyaluronic acid (HA-DXM) incorporated in a hydrolytically degradable, photo-cross-linkable poly (ethylene) glycol-bis-(acryloyloxy acetate) (PEG-bis-AA) hydrogel on the inflammatory response, apoptosis, and functional recovery in a controlled cortical impact (CCI) rat TBI model.

Innovation, Royalties, and Introduction of the Patent Hirsch Index within U.S. Academic Neurosurgery.

Background: Historically, practicing neurosurgeons have been key drivers of neurosurgical innovation. We sought to describe the patents held by U.S.

Immediate results of right internal thoracic artery and radial artery as the second arterial graft in myocardial revascularization.

Objective: We sought to compare early clinical outcomes in patients receiving a right internal thoracic artery or a radial artery as the second arterial graft in myocardial revascularization.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 58 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and received both a left internal thoracic artery graft and either a right internal thoracic artery (n=20) or a radial artery graft (n=38), between January 2004 and March 2006. Hospital mortality, pleural drainage, operative time and postoperative complications were analyzed.