Nitro-fatty acids suppress ischemic ventricular arrhythmias by preserving calcium homeostasis.

Nitro-fatty acids are electrophilic anti-inflammatory mediators which are generated during myocardial ischemic injury. Whether these species exert anti-arrhythmic effects in the acute phase of myocardial ischemia has not been investigated so far. Herein, we demonstrate that pretreatment of mice with 9- and 10-nitro-octadec-9-enoic acid (nitro-oleic acid, NO-OA) significantly reduced the susceptibility to develop acute ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Development of evidence-based quality indicators for deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson's disease and first year experience of implementation of a nation-wide registry.

Introduction: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a complex, invasive and cost-intensive therapy that requires a high level of expertise. To date, data on quality of DBS in clinical routine in the German health care system are lacking.

Methods: The development of evidence-based QIs for DBS in PD patients was performed following a standardized process by a multidisciplinary board between 2014 and 2016.

Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery without Sedation.

Background: Sedatives and opioids used during deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery interfere with optimal target localization and add to side effects and risks, and thus should be minimized.

Objective: To retrospectively test the actual need for sedatives and opioids when cranial nerve blocks and specific therapeutic communication are applied.

Methods: In a case series, 64 consecutive patients treated with a strong rapport, constant contact, non-verbal communication and hypnotic suggestions, such as dissociation to a "safe place," reframing of disturbing noises and self-confirmation, were compared to 22 preceding patients under standard general anaesthesia or conscious sedation.

Deep brain stimulation: custom-made silicone-coated pulse-generator implantation after allergic reaction to generator compounds.

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease has become an established treatment option in recent years. The method and its application in clinical practice has proved to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, procedure-related and hardware-related complications occur.

Educational attainment and motor burden in advanced Parkinson's disease - The emerging role of education in motor reserve.

Objective: To explore the relationship of motor burden and educational attainment in patients with advanced stage PD.

Materials And Methods: We included 102 consecutive patients who underwent a complete evaluation for DBS surgery, including detailed neuropsychological testing and UPDRSIII in a standardized Levodopa challenge. Years of education (YoE) were calculated as the highest grade attained in secondary school plus years for post-secondary training.

Myeloperoxidase Mediates Postischemic Arrhythmogenic Ventricular Remodeling.

Rationale: Ventricular arrhythmias remain the leading cause of death in patients suffering myocardial ischemia. Myeloperoxidase, a heme enzyme released by polymorphonuclear neutrophils, accumulates within ischemic myocardium and has been linked to adverse left ventricular remodeling.

Objective: To reveal the role of myeloperoxidase for the development of ventricular arrhythmias.

Distance between Active Electrode Contacts and Dentatorubrothalamic Tract in Patients with Habituation of Stimulation Effect of Deep Brain Stimulation in Essential Tremor.

 Some patients under thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) for essential tremor (ET) experience habituation of tremor reduction. The nucleus ventralis intermedius (Vim) is the current main target side for ET in DBS. However, the dentatorubrothalamic tract (DRTT) is considered the relevant structure to stimulate.

Underutilization of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease? A survey on possible clinical reasons.

Background: Only 10% of the up to 15% of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) eligible for deep brain stimulation (DBS) are referred to specialized centers. This survey evaluated the reasons for the reluctance of patients and referring physicians regarding DBS.

Methods: Two different questionnaires containing multiple choice and open verbalized questions were developed, one for neurologists and one for patients with PD.

The risk of hypotension and seizures in patients receiving prophylactic anti-epileptic drugs for supratentorial craniotomy.

Background: Perioperative seizure prophylaxis with antiepileptic drugs (AED) has been advocated in patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy. The practice remains controversial. The reasoning presupposes that the possibility of an adverse drug reaction from the AED is lower than the probability of harm from a seizure.

Intravenous lacosamide in clinical practice-Results from an independent registry.

Purpose: This non-interventional study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of intravenous lacosamide (LCM-iv) under routine conditions in daily clinical practice as a prospective registry.

Methods: Patients with any type of seizure or epilepsy syndrome were recruited in 16 neurological and neuropediatric centers in Germany if the treating physician decided to administer LCM-iv for any reason. Observation time per patient was 10 days with daily documentation of LCM-iv administration, type and frequency of seizures, currently used drugs and doses, and adverse events.

Urgent discectomy: Clinical features and neurological outcome.

Background: To evaluate the clinical features and outcome of patients with progressive neurological deficits due to disc herniation who were treated surgically within 24 h.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who were admitted between 2004 and 2013 via the Emergency Department. Records were screened for presenting symptoms, neurological status at admission, discharge, and 6-week follow-up.

47 patients with FLNA associated periventricular nodular heterotopia.

Background: Heterozygous loss of function mutations within the Filamin A gene in Xq28 are the most frequent cause of bilateral neuronal periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH). Most affected females are reported to initially present with difficult to treat seizures at variable age of onset. Psychomotor development and cognition may be normal or mildly to moderately impaired.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Reduces Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Single Patient.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a frequent gastrointestinal disorder that is difficult to treat. We describe findings from evaluation of a woman (55 years old) with obsessive compulsive disorder, which was treated with bilateral deep brain stimulation in the anterior limb of the internal capsule, and IBS. After the brain stimulation treatment she reported substantial relief of her IBS symptoms.

DTI-based deterministic fibre tracking of the medial forebrain bundle.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) was reported to reduce symptoms in psychiatric disorders. The aim of our study was to find standardised parameters for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based fibre tracking to reliably visualise the MFB.

Methods: Twenty-two cerebral hemispheres in 11 patients were investigated.

Deep brain stimulation for essential tremor: targeting the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract?

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of the stimulation site relative to the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRTT) on the alleviation of tremor in deep brain stimulation.

Methods: Ten DRTTs in five patients were investigated using preoperative diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Regions of interest for fiber tracking were located in the cerebellar dentate nucleus, the superior cerebellar peduncle and the contralateral red nucleus.

The variability of atlas-based targets in relation to surrounding major fibre tracts in thalamic deep brain stimulation.

Background: In essential tremor (ET), the main target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) is the thalamic ventralis intermedius nucleus (Vim). This target cannot be identified on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, targeting depends on probabilistic coordinates derived from stereotactic atlases.

Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease: motor effects relative to the MRI-defined STN.

This study aims to evaluate the improvements of cardinal motor symptoms depending on the stimulation site relative to a standardized, reconstructed three-dimensional MRI-defined subthalamic nucleus (STN.) This retrospective, clinical study includes 22 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, who consecutively underwent bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Intraoperative microelectrode recording and clinical testing were performed.

Sodium fluorescein-guided resection under the YELLOW 560 nm surgical microscope filter in malignant brain tumor surgery--a feasibility study.

Objective: In glioma surgery, the extent of resection (EOR) is one important predictor of progression-free survival. In 2006, fluorescence-guided surgery using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) was shown to improve the EOR in malignant gliomas. However, the use of 5-ALA is complex and causes certain side effects.

The influence of intraoperative microelectrode recordings and clinical testing on the location of final stimulation sites in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.

Background: The goal of our study was to investigate the influence of intraoperative microelectrode recordings and clinical testing on the location of the final stimulation site in deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease.

Methods: In 22 patients with Parkinson's disease we compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based and atlas-based targets with the adjusted stimulation sites after intraoperative, multitrack microelectrode recording (MER) and intraoperative and postoperative clinical testing. The investigation included 176 target/stimulation sites in 44 subthalamic nuclei (STNs), which were related to a standardised three-dimensional, MRI-defined STN.

Predictors of facet joint syndrome after lumbar disc surgery.

Postoperative facet joint syndrome (pFJS) requiring intervention is a common problem following lumbar disc surgery (LDS). The aim of this retrospective study was to identify possible predictors, surgical aspects or individual characteristics that may contribute to the development of pFJS and may allow prevention of this frequent postoperative problem. We included 509 patients who underwent open, microsurgical discectomy in our neurosurgical department between 2006 and 2009 and who presented to our outpatient clinic for follow-up.

Discrepancies between the MRI- and the electrophysiologically defined subthalamic nucleus.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate discrepancies between the electrophysiologically and MRI-defined subthalamic nucleus (STN) in order to contribute to the ongoing debate of whether or not microelectrode recording (MER) provides additional information to image-guided targeting in deep brain stimulation.

Methods: Forty-four STNs in 22 patients with Parkinson's disease were investigated. The three-dimensional MRI-defined STN was derived from segmentations of axial and coronal T2-weighted images.

A single neurosurgical center's experience of the resolution of cervical radiculopathy after dorsal foraminotomy and ventral discectomy.

Monosegmental cervical disc herniation can be removed either by dorsal foraminotomy and sequesterectomy (Frykholm's method) or by a ventral approach with extensive removal of the affected disc with subsequent segmental fusion (modified Cloward's method). The choice of method largely depends on the surgeon's individual preference and experience. We evaluated the neurological outcomes of both surgical methods in a retrospective series of 100 consecutive patients (50 male, 50 female; mean age=47.