Towards the Development, Maintenance, and Standardized Phenotypic Characterization of Single-Seed-Descent Genetic Resources for Common Bean.

The optimal use of legume genetic resources represents a key prerequisite for coping with current agriculture-related societal challenges, including conservation of agrobiodiversity, agricultural sustainability, food security, and human health. Among legumes, the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is the most economically important for human consumption, and its evolutionary trajectories as a species have been crucial to determining the structure and level of its present and available genetic diversity. Genomic advances are considerably enhancing the characterization and assessment of important genetic variants.

The "Skull Flap" a new conceived device for decompressive craniectomy experimental study on dogs to evaluate the safety and efficacy in reducing intracranial pressure and subsequent impact on brain perfusion.

Background: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a procedure performed increasingly often in current neurosurgical practice. Significant perioperative morbidity may be associated to this procedure because of the large skull defect; also, later closure of the skull defect (cranioplasty) may be associated to post-operative morbidity as much as any other reconstructive operation. The authors present a newly conceived/developed device: The "Skull Flap" (SF).

Vertebral artery loop--a cause of cervical radiculopathy.

Objective: To report a case of cervical radiculopathy caused by an anomalous vertebral artery (VA) and illustrate the efficacy of microvascular decompression by the anterolateral approach.

Methods: A 50-year-old woman was referred because of an 8-year history of progressive left C6 radiculopathy refractory to other forms of treatment, including C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy. Clinical and radiologic evaluation showed an abnormally tortuous loop of V2 causing direct neurovascular compression.

Combined endoscopic transsphenoidal-transventricular approach for resection of a giant pituitary macroadenoma.

Objectives: Sellar lesions, such as pituitary adenomas, even when extended to the suprasellar space may be usually removed through a trans-sphenoidal approach. Larger lesions extending well beyond the edges of the sellar diaphragm such as giant adenomas are best controlled with craniotomy and/or a combined approach that implies both, transphenoidal and transcranial route. Currently, the availability of more sophisticated endoscopes in this type of surgery has provided optimal angles of view and rendered the trans-sphenoidal route less invasive yet, more effective.

Combined internal uncusectomy and decompressive craniectomy for the treatment of severe closed head injury: experience with 80 cases.

Objectives: Transtentorial brain herniation is a major cause of morbidity and death following severe closed head injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of selective uncoparahippocampectomy and tentorial splitting as an adjuvant method of treating otherwise uncontrollable elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) while attempting to prevent or minimize the devastating consequences caused by transtentorial herniation.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed data from a series of 80 consecutive cases of severe closed head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score < 8) treated in their neurosurgical unit.