Acute histopathological responses and long-term behavioral outcomes in mice with graded controlled cortical impact injury.

While animal models of controlled cortical impact often display short-term motor dysfunction after injury, histological examinations do not show severe cortical damage. Thus, this model requires further improvement. Mice were subjected to injury at three severities using a Pin-Point-controlled cortical impact device to establish secondary brain injury mouse models.

Endoscopic Fenestration of Twenty-Six Patients With Middle Fossa Arachnoid Cyst.

Middle fossa arachnoid cyst (MFAC) is the most common kind of arachnoid cyst. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of endoscopic fenestration for MFACs. The authors report 26 patients of MFAC with variety symptoms such as macrocrania, epilepsy, headache, and development delay.

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II gene knockout attenuates oxidative stress and cortical apoptosis after traumatic brain injury.

Background: Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) inactivates the peptide co-transmitter N-acetylaspartylglutamate following synaptic release. Inhibition of GCPII elevates extracellular levels of the peptide, inhibits glutamate release and is neuroprotective in an animal model of traumatic brain injury. GCPII gene knockout mice were used to examine the cellular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective efficacy of this transmitter system.

Improved neurite outgrowth on central nervous system myelin substrate by siRNA-mediated knockdown of Nogo receptor.

Purpose: To investigate the in vitro effect of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against Nogo receptor (NgR) on neurite outgrowth under an inhibitory substrate of central nervous system (CNS) myelin.

Methods: Three siRNA sequences against NgR were designed and transfected into cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) to screen for the most effcient sequence of NgR siRNA by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining. NgR siRNA sequence 1 was found the most efficient which was then transfected into the CGCs grown on CNS myelin substrate to observe its disinhibition for neurite outgrowth.

Mice lacking glutamate carboxypeptidase II develop normally, but are less susceptible to traumatic brain injury.

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) is a transmembrane zinc metallopeptidase found mainly in the nervous system, prostate and small intestine. In the nervous system, glia-bound GCPII mediates the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) into glutamate and N-acetylaspartate. Inhibition of GCPII has been shown to attenuate excitotoxicity associated with enhanced glutamate transmission under pathological conditions.

Endoscopic versus microscopic transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma surgery: a meta-analysis.

Background: Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery has gradually come to be regarded as a preferred option in the treatment of pituitary adenomas because of its advantages of improved visualization and its minimal invasiveness. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the outcomes and complications of endoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal surgery in the treatment of pituitary adenomas.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and the Web of Science between January 1992 and May 2013.

Intramedullary conus medullaris metastasis from prostate carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCMs) are rare and account for 4-8.5% of central nervous system metastases. Only one case of biopsy-proven ISCM due to prostate cancer has previously been reported.

Blockade of N-acetylaspartylglutamate peptidases: a novel protective strategy for brain injuries and neurological disorders.

The peptide neurotransmitter N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) is reported to suppress glutamate release mainly through selective activation of presynaptic Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 3 (mGluR3). Therefore, strategies of inhibition of NAAG peptidases and subsequent NAAG hydrolysis to elevate levels of NAAG could reduce glutamate release under pathological conditions and be neuroprotective by attenuating excitotoxic cell injury. A series of potent inhibitors of NAAG peptidases has been synthesized and demonstrated efficacy in experimental models of ischemic-hypoxic brain injury, traumatic brain injury, inflammatory pain, diabetic neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and phencyclidine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors.

Intracranial choriocarcinoma occurrence in males: Two cases and a review of the literature.

Choriocarcinomas generally develop in females. Non-gestational choriocarcinoma in males is extremely rare. The present study describes two cases of young males who were diagnosed with intracranial choriocarcinoma.

Neuroprotective effects of ischemic postconditioning on global brain ischemia in rats through upregulation of hippocampal glutamine synthetase.

Brain ischemic postconditioning is the induction of brief periods of ischemia-reperfusion during the early stages following ischemia, and it has been shown to produce neuroprotective effects. The mechanisms underlying these neuroprotective effects are poorly understood. Glutamate excitotoxicity is one cause of postischemic neuronal death.

Involvement of Glutamate transporter-1 in neuroprotection against global brain ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by postconditioning in rats.

Ischemic postconditioning refers to several transient reperfusion and ischemia cycles after an ischemic event and before a long duration of reperfusion. The procedure produces neuroprotective effects. The mechanisms underlying these neuroprotective effects are poorly understood.

The up-regulation of voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 expression following fluid percussion traumatic brain injury in rats.

Background: The influx of Na and the depolarization mediated by voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) is an early event in traumatic brain injury (TBI) induced cellular abnormalities and is therefore well positioned as an upstream target for pharmacologic modulation of the pathological responses to TBI. Alteration in the expression of the VGSC alpha-subunit has occurred in a variety of neuropathological states including focal cerebral ischemia, spinal injury, and epilepsy.

Objective: In this study, changes in Nav1.

Bilateral decompressive craniectomy for patients with malignant diffuse brain swelling after severe traumatic brain injury: a 37-case study.

Abstract In this study we retrospectively analyzed the outcome of bilateral decompressive craniectomy (BDC) for 37 patients with bilateral malignant diffuse brain swelling following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our 37 patients (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Our experience of transsylvian-transinsular microsurgical approach to hypertensive putaminal hematomas.

Background: There are different reports about operative methods for the treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hematomas. Our experience of transsylvian-transinsular microsurgical approach to hypertensive putaminal hematomas was analyzed.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 28 consecutive patients with hypertensive intracerebral hematomas who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, from January 2004 to December 2007.

Effects of dose-response of topical administration of nimodipine on cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.

Background: To explore the dose-response effects of topical administration of nimodipine on cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rabbits.

Methods: The CVS model was established by injection of fresh autologous nonheparinized arterial blood into the subtemporal area of basilar cisterns. The 24 CVS animals were randomly divided into 4 groups, group I (n=7): nimodipine original stock solution/normal saline=1/19 (0.

Extracranial microanatomic study of supraorbital keyhole approach.

Objective: The extracranial microanatomic features and tissue protection for supraorbital keyhole approach are described in detail to achieve less invasiveness, which has scant reports and is important for craniofacial surgeons.

Methods: Ten formalin-fixed human cadaveric heads were used in 20 sides, by means of an operating microscopic, with microinstruments and magnification ranging from 3x to 16x. The relationship between concerned nerves, muscles, and bone window was identified and measured.

The expression of glutamate transporters in chest compression-induced audiogenic epilepsy: a comparative study.

Background: This study was conducted to compare the expression of three glutamate transporter subtypes (GLAST, GLT-1 and EAAC1) in rats undergoing chest compression-induced global cerebral ischemia in the presence and absence of cerebral ischemia-related epilepsy.

Material And Methods: A reliable rat model of global cerebral ischemia-related epilepsy was established. The rats were divided into the following groups: sham surgery group (Group S), global cerebral ischemia without epilepsy (Group I) and global cerebral ischemia with epilepsy (Group E).

Surgical management of anterior clinoidal meningiomas: a 26-case report.

Background: Resection of anterior clinoidal meningiomas remains a major neurosurgical challenge. We determine the surgical technique for removal of tumor and improvement of patient's outcome.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 26 consecutive patients with anterior clinoidal meningiomas who underwent surgical resection at the Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, from January 1999 to August 2006.

Effect of long-term mild hypothermia or short-term mild hypothermia on outcome of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

To compare the effect of long-term mild hypothermia versus short-term mild hypothermia on the outcome of 215 severe traumatic brain injured patients with cerebral contusion and intracranial hypertension. At three medical centers, 215 patients aged 18 to 45 years old with an admission Glasgow Coma Scale < or =8 within 4 h after injury were randomly divided into two groups: long-term mild hypothermia group (n = 108) for 5+/-1.3 days mild hypothermia therapy and short-term mild hypothermia group (n = 107) for 2+/-0.

[Influence of elemene on the expression of Bcl-2 family genes in rat C6 glioma cells].

Objective: To observe the effects of elemene on the induction of apoptosis in rat C6 glioma cells and its influence on expression of Bcl-2 family genes.

Methods: Rat C6 glioma cells were cultured. Elemene of the concentrations of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 microg/ml were added for 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours respectively.

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 22 in sporadic schwannoma and its relation to the proliferation of tumor cells.

Background: Schwannoma is the tumor arising mainly from the cranial and spinal nerves. Bilateral vestibular schwannoma is the hallmark of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). The NF2 gene has been cloned with comprehensive analysis of its mutations in schwannoma.

Molecular genetics alterations and tumor behavior of sporadic vestibular schwannoma from the People's Republic of China.

Objectives: To analyze the molecular genetic alteration of sporadic vestibular schwannomas from the People's Republic of China and to correlate these alterations with the tumor behaviors.

Methods: Four highly polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers were used to observe the frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in chromosome 22. The NF2 gene mutations were detected by Polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing.