Utility of image-guided external ventriculostomy: analysis of contemporary practice in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Objective: Freehand external ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is associated with a high rate of catheter misplacement. Image-guided EVD placement with neuronavigation or ultrasound has been proposed as a safer, more accurate alternative with potential to facilitate proper placement and reduce catheter malfunction risk. This study aimed to determine the impact of image-guided EVD placement on catheter tip position and drain functionality.

Open access availability of anatomy papers presented at meetings of the American and British Associations of Clinical Anatomists.

Introduction: Dissemination of research depends on published work being accessible. In many disciplines open access (OA) research is more frequently cited, although this has never before been demonstrated amongst anatomy publications. The objective of this study was to assess a selection of published anatomy papers to determine the effect of gold and bronze OA availability on citation rates.

Isolated Intracranial Rosai-Dorfman Disease: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare idiopathic benign proliferative disorder of histiocytes, predominantly affecting the lymph nodes. RDD can also present in extranodal tissues and is occasionally found within the central nervous system.

Case Description: We report the case of a 52-year-old man presenting with a short episode of dizziness.

Anatomy, radiology, and practical procedure education for foundation doctors in England: A National Observational Study.

There are concerns regarding the anatomy knowledge amongst medical school graduates and foundation doctors. Clinical procedures performed without relevant anatomical knowledge could result in serious harm to patients. The aim of this quantitative study was to assess education provision in the domains of anatomy, radiology and practical procedures for foundation year doctors during their first two years of training (FY1, FY2).

Does early surgical decompression in cauda equina syndrome improve bladder outcome?

Study Design: We analyzed retrospectively whether early surgery for cauda equina syndrome (CES) within 24, 48, or 72 hours of onset of autonomic symptoms made any difference to bladder function at initial outpatient follow-up.

Objective: CES potentially causes loss of autonomic control including bladder dysfunction, resulting in significant disability. There is significant debate regarding appropriate timing of surgery.

Esophageal cancer related gene-4 is a choroid plexus-derived injury response gene: evidence for a biphasic response in early and late brain injury.

By virtue of its ability to regulate the composition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the choroid plexus (CP) is ideally suited to instigate a rapid response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) by producing growth regulatory proteins. For example, Esophageal Cancer Related Gene-4 (Ecrg4) is a tumor suppressor gene that encodes a hormone-like peptide called augurin that is present in large concentrations in CP epithelia (CPe). Because augurin is thought to regulate senescence, neuroprogenitor cell growth and differentiation in the CNS, we evaluated the kinetics of Ecrg4 expression and augurin immunoreactivity in CPe after CNS injury.