Aluminium Chloride instead of Ferric chloride for inducing superior sagittal sinus thrombosis to reduce ferromagnetic artifacts on MRI-imaging in experimental models.

Using ferric chloride (FeCl3) to induce experimental superior sagittal sinus (SSS) thrombosis might interfere with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-assisted visualization and evaluation of the thrombus, the brain parenchyma, and the quality of the occlusion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced thrombosis of the SSS has comparable properties to those of FeCl3 without causing artifacts in MRI. SSS thrombosis was induced in 14 male Wistar rats by exposure of the SSS and subsequent topical application of a filter paper strip soaked in AlCl3 (n = 7) or FeCl3 (n = 7) over a period of 15 min.

Visual Hallucinations following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Prospective Study.

: After major heart surgery, some patients report visual hallucinations that cannot be attributed to psychosis or delirium. This study aimed to investigate the hallucination incidence in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting with (on-pump) and without (off-pump) extracorporeal circulation. : A total of 184 consecutive patients listed for elective on- or off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively enrolled into the study.

Age-related changes in oral sensitivity, taste and smell.

Oropharyngeal sensitivity plays a vital role in the initiation of the swallowing reflex and is thought to decline as part of the aging-process. Taste and smell functions appear to decline with age as well. The aim of our study was to generate data of oral sensitivity in healthy participants for future studies and to analyse age-related changes and their interdependence by measuring oral sensitivity, taste, and smell function.

Superficial siderosis as a rare cause of visual and auditory pseudohallucinations: a case report.

Background: Superficial siderosis is a rare disease involving hemosiderin deposits on the surface of brain or spinal cord that are thought to cause clinical symptoms, which usually consist of cranial nerve dysfunction, cerebellar ataxia, or myelopathy. Pseudohallucinations have been described as the patient being aware of the nonreality of hallucination-like phenomena. Data on pseudohallucinations of cerebral somatic origin are sparse.

Case Report: A Well-Hidden Cause for Myelopathy.

Sarcoidosis is a rare, systemic inflammatory disease and can involve multiple organs, especially the lungs and lymph nodes. The nervous system is affected in <10 percent of patients, which is called neurosarcoidosis. Neurosarcoidosis can cause a multitude of symptoms and can mimic various diseases.

A rare cause of stroke: fail-implanted venous port catheter system - a case report.

Background: We present the case of a 75-year-old female with acute embolic cerebral infarction caused by a fail-implanted venous port catheter system in the left subclavian artery.

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old woman presented to our emergency room after acute onset of a right-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria. Within 2 days after admission, she developed a left-sided hemiparesis, ataxia with concordant gait disturbance and incoordination of the left upper limb.

Neuroprotective mechanisms of erythropoietin in a rat stroke model.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the indirect neuroprotective properties of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) pretreatment in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Methods: One hundred and ten male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups receiving either 5,000 IU/kg rhEPO intravenously or saline 15 minutes prior to MCAO and bilateral craniectomy or sham craniectomy. Bilateral craniectomy aimed at elimination of the space-consuming effect of postischemic edema.

Inter- and intra-rater reliability of computer-assisted planimetry in experimental stroke research.

Background: Computer-assisted planimetry is widely used in experimental stroke research to assess the size of the ischemic lesion or hemispheric volume.

New Method: Only insufficient data exist on the training required to achieve sufficient reliability in planimetry. Therefore, planimetry was performed over 15 months by two blinded raters who were initially inexperienced in the method.

Psychosocial and psychoneuroendocrinal aspects of Takotsubo syndrome.

Great advances have been made in our understanding of Takotsubo syndrome in the past decade, but the aetiology of the condition remains incompletely understood. The most established theory, that catecholamine-mediated myocardial stunning is provoked by emotional or physiological stress, is supported by the presence of supraphysiological levels of plasma catecholamines in patients with Takotsubo syndrome. For this reason, the hyperexcitability of the autonomic nervous system under conditions of physical and emotional stress is often assessed in these patients.

Sonothrombolysis with BR38 Microbubbles Improves Microvascular Patency in a Rat Model of Stroke.

Background: Early recanalization of large cerebral vessels in ischemic stroke is associated with improved clinical outcome, however persisting hypoperfusion leads to poor clinical recovery despite large vessel recanalization. Limited experimental sonothrombolysis studies have shown that addition of microbubbles during treatment can improve microvascular patency. We aimed to determine the effect of two different microbubble formulations on microvascular patency in a rat stroke model.

The Relevance of Postoperative Cognitive Decline in Daily Living: Results of a 1-Year Follow-up.

Objectives: Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) has a perceivable influence on daily living and is noticed more often by close relatives than by patients themselves 3 months after aortic valve replacement. This study aimed to elucidate the longitudinal course of the subjective awareness of POCD.

Design: Follow-up of a prospective observational study.

Cortisol awakening and stress response, personality and psychiatric profiles in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Alterations in cortisol awakening and stress responses (CAR, CSR) are sensitive markers for the basal activity and responsiveness of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) in psychopathological conditions. We investigated whether patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) differ in these markers when compared with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients and healthy controls.

Methods: 19 female TTC patients were compared with 20 female NSTEMI patients and with 20 healthy women, matched by age and index event date.

Impact of bubble size in a rat model of cerebral air microembolization.

Background: Cerebral air microembolization (CAM) is a frequent side effect of diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. Besides reduction of the amount of bubbles, filter systems in the clinical setting may also lead to a dispersion of large gas bubbles and therefore to an increase of the gas-liquid-endothelium interface. We evaluated the production and application of different strictly defined bubble diameters in a rat model of CAM and assessed functional outcome and infarct volumes in relation to the bubble diameter.

Angioarchitectural changes in subacute cerebral venous thrombosis. A synchrotron-based micro- and nano-CT study.

It is well known that recanalization of thrombosed cerebral sinuses occurs early but without marked influence on the long-term outcome and on final venous infarct volume on magnetic resonance imaging. To better understand the possible microvascular mechanisms behind these clinical observations, we evaluated the sequels of subacute superior sagittal sinus (SSS) thrombosis in rats using micro- and nano-CT imaging of the same specimen to provide large volume and high resolution CT image data respectively. SSS thrombosis was induced in 11 animals which were euthanized after 6h (n=4) or 6 weeks (n=7).

Combined contrast-enhanced ultrasound and rt-PA treatment is safe and improves impaired microcirculation after reperfusion of middle cerebral artery occlusion.

In monitoring of recanalization and in sonothrombolysis, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is applied in extended time protocols. As extended use may increase the probability of unwanted effects, careful safety evaluation is required. We investigated the safety profile and beneficial effects of CEUS in a reperfusion model.

Evaluation of the middle cerebral artery occlusion techniques in the rat by in-vitro 3-dimensional micro- and nano computed tomography.

Background: Animal models of focal cerebral ischemia are widely used in stroke research. The purpose of our study was to evaluate and compare the cerebral macro- and microvascular architecture of rats in two different models of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion using an innovative quantitative micro- and nano-CT imaging technique.

Methods: 4h of middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed in rats using the macrosphere method or the suture technique.

In vitro evaluation of the sinus sagittalis superior thrombosis model in the rat using 3D micro- and nanocomputed tomography.

Introduction: Thrombosis of the cerebral veins and sinus are common causes of stroke. Animal models help us to understand the underlying pathophysiology of this condition. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate a well-established model for sinus sagittalis (SSS) thrombosis using micro- and nanocomputed tomography (CT) imaging.