Intradural spinal arachnoid cyst contributing to sudden paraparesis.

Background: Spinal arachnoid cysts are cystic lesions filled with cerebrospinal fluid that contributes to neurological deficits depending on their size/location within the spinal canal. Here, we report a patient with a spinal subarachnoid cyst who suddenly developed paraparesis.

Case Description: A 37-year-old female with a thoracic spinal arachnoid cyst at the T7 level suddenly developed lower abdominal pain followed by immediate paraparesis.

Regrowth and progression of multiple calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis: Case report.

Background: Calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNONs) are clinically rare, nonneoplastic, noninflammatory-calcified lesions of the central nervous system. Resection of a lesion usually indicates good prognosis without recurrence. However, we experienced a unique case of CAPNON that repeatedly recurred after resection.

Usefulness of contralateral carotid angiography in revascularization therapy of acute internal carotid artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE The vascular lumen of an acutely occluded internal carotid artery (ICA) generally contains numerous thrombi. Therefore, carotid angiography on the affected side during revascularization therapy of acute ICA occlusion has a potential risk of causing distal embolization. In this study the authors propose the use of contralateral carotid angiography.

Transfemoral Stenting of Stenoses at the Common Carotid Artery Origin Using an Anchoring Technique With a Balloon Protection Device.

Background: Transfemoral stenting of stenoses at the common carotid artery (CCA) origin is technically difficult because of poor stability of the guiding catheter.

Objective: To describe an anchoring technique using a balloon protection device that provides excellent stability of the guiding catheter.

Methods: Four patients (5 stenotic lesions) with stenosis of the CCA origin underwent transfemoral stenting with a balloon protection device (PercuSurge GuardWire; Medtronic, Santa Rosa, California).

Training in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery using a skull model and eggs.

Background: Recently, endoscopic pituitary surgery is increasingly being used in pituitary surgery. Compared to conventional microscopic pituitary surgery, outcomes have been non-inferior, so endoscopic pituitary surgery has become an established surgical technique. However, this is a highly specialized surgery and sophisticated surgical techniques are required.

Fluorescence-guided surgery of metastatic brain tumors using fluorescein sodium.

We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of fluorescence-guided surgery of metastatic brain tumors using fluorescein sodium. The study comprised 38 patients with metastatic brain tumors who underwent tumor resection after intravenous injection of fluorescein sodium. The local recurrence rate was investigated in 36 of the 38 patients, and compared for patients who had undergone surgery only and surgery plus whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT).

Surgical technique for a cystic-type metastatic brain tumor: transformation to a solid-type tumor using hydrofiber dressing.

Background: Many metastatic brain tumors have a distinct border with normal brain tissue, which facilitates tumor removal. However, residual tumor tissue may be present after surgery when metastatic brain tumors are of cystic type. We have developed a method using hydrofiber dressing to transform cystic-type into solid-type tumors.

[Treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer].

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is a serious complication leading to a fatal outcome in patients with gastric cancer. We tried to treat leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer with intrathecal chemotherapy using methotrexate (MTX)and cytosine arabinoside(Ara-C). We described and discussed the therapeutic strategy.

[Effectiveness of intraoperative fluorescence for diagnosis of malignant lymphoma].

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is generally treated with radiochemotherapy, but surgical treatment can be used in combination with biopsy. We used fluorescein Na to provide intraoperative fluorescence during biopsy to improve the safety and accuracy of surgical treatment. After dural incision, fluorescein Na was administered intravenously at 20 mg/kg, which is double the usual dose, and appeared in the tumor after 10 to 15 minutes.

Upregulation of water channel aquaporin-4 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyeritis.

Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water channel protein that plays an important role in water movement in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, presence of anti-AQP4 antibody has been reported in the sera from patients with neuromyelitis optica. AQP4 is therefore a possible target for inflammatory mechanisms in CNS.

A case of lymphomatoid granulomatosis followed for 14 months on the basis of clinical and histological findings.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a systemic granulomatous disease characterized by B-cell proliferation of uncertain malignant potential. It most frequently affects the lungs but also occasionally affects the central nervous system. Its pathophysiology is unclear in numerous respects, thus making it difficult to diagnose and treat.

Modulation of capsaicin-evoked visceral pain and referred hyperalgesia by protease-activated receptors 1 and 2.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) 1 and 2 are expressed in capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons, being anti- and pro-nociceptive, respectively. Given the possible cross talk between PAR-2 and capsaicin receptors, we investigated if PAR-2 activation could facilitate capsaicin-evoked visceral pain and referred hyperalgesia in the mouse and also examined the effect of PAR-1 activation in this model. Intracolonic (i.

The regulation of liver regeneration by the plasmin/alpha 2-antiplasmin system.

Background/aims: The regeneration after liver injury is regulated by the release and activation of several growth factors. The role of the plasmin/alpha(2)-antiplasmin (alpha(2)-AP) system in liver regeneration was investigated.

Methods: CCl(4) was injected intraperitoneally into the mice deficient (-/-) in fibrinolytic factors: alpha(2)-AP-/-, plasminogen (Plg) -/-, and Plg-/-.

Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and the nitric oxide pathway in nociception/hyperalgesia elicited by protease-activated receptor-2 activation in mice and rats.

Activation of the peripheral protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) triggers nociceptive behaviour and thermal hyperalgesia in rats. The present study created a novel mouse model for PAR-2-triggered nociception, and then examined the roles of NMDA receptors and the nitric oxide (NO) pathway in nociceptive processing by PAR-2. Intraplantar administration of the PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH(2) elicited nociceptive responses in mice, an effect being more specific in mast cell-depleted mice.