A study about neck pain on active population who visit Primary Health Centers.

Background: Cervical pain is very common among population and several methods have been used until now in order to evaluate it. The main aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of non-specific neck pain and the special features of it through its relation to demographic agents, habits and physiology parameters. Additionally, this study aims to select the most valid and objective methods for neck pain evaluation, which could also be useful in Primary Health Care and could give new prospectives.

Specific neck pain algometric measurements and their relation to heart rate and skin humidity.

Cervical pain is very common in general population but only few methods have been used to evaluate it with objectiveness. There are only few studies which use algometer as a means of neck pain assessment. Studies have shown that algometer could be used in pain evaluation but more studies are necessary to support this.

Topiramate promotes neurological recovery in a new model of traumatic brain injury in rats.

The aim of this study is to investigate the neuroprotective effects of the anticonvulsant topiramate in a new model of traumatic brain injury in rats. A new model of traumatic brain injury, based on the weight-drop technique, was developed for the purpose of this study. Seventy-five male Wistar rats weighing 320-470 g were studied.

Long-term follow-up of a non-infantile desmoplastic ganglioglioma.

Desmoplastic gangliogliomas are mixed cerebral tumors traditionally reported in infants. However, a few non-infantile cases have been documented. A case of a desmoplastic ganglioglioma in a 16-year male is presented.

Lumbar nerve root compression due to extradural, intraforaminal lipoma. An underdiagnosed entity?

Intraspinal extradural lipomas, not associated with spinal dysraphism, are rare lesions. True adult lipomas have to be distinguished from angiolipomas and from epidural lipomatosis. The authors report a unique case of a patient with unilateral lumbar nerve root compression caused by extradural, intraforaminal, true adult lipoma.

Lumbar spinal epidural angiolipoma.

Spinal angiolipomas are rare benign tumours most commonly found in the thoracic spine. A case of an extradural lumbar angiolipoma in a 47-year-old female is described. She had a recent history of lower back pain accompanied by sciatica.

Solid cerebral echinococcosis mimicking a primary brain tumor.

Solitary brain affection is rare in echinococcosis. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman presenting with symptomatic grand-mal epilepsy due to a right frontal, partially cystic space-occupying lesion. Pre-operative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested a cystic astrocytoma.

Spinal manifestation of metastasizing leiomyosarcoma.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: To provide additional information on possible relations between uterine and spinal manifestations of leiomyosarcoma.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal metastases and primary spinal manifestation of leiomyosarcoma and other malignant smooth muscle tumors are rarely observed.

Acute nontraumatic spinal epidural hematomas. An important differential diagnosis in spinal emergencies.

Study Design: The clinical data of five patients with spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) were reviewed.

Objectives: To assess the clinical outcome of patients with SSEH after surgical decompression.

Summary Of Background Data: The outcome in SSEH is essentially determined by the timing of the operation.

Surgical indications and prognosis in spinal metastases.

Based on the catamnestic evaluation of our own case material and the compilation of recent series from the literature, the indication for surgical intervention in spinal metastases is considered in the light of factors influencing the prognosis of the underlying malignant disease.

[Autonomic dysfunction and the development of secondary brain death syndrome].

Vegetative disturbances were observed in 88 out of 102 patients, 86%, after a primary brain lesion during onset of brain death. Tachycardia was most common in 64%, hypotonia below 80 mm Hg and hypertonia above 170 mm Hg were present in about half of all cases. Hyperthermia above 40 degrees C was noted in 25%, hypothermia below 36 degrees C was observed in 31%.