Delayed tension pneumocephalus and pneumorrhacis after routine cervical spine surgery treated successfully without burr holes.

Tension pneumocephalus (TP) after spinal surgery is very rare with only a few cases reported in the English literature. Most cases of TP occur rapidly after spinal surgery. Traditionally, TP is managed using burr holes to relieve intracranial pressure.

Ossified lumbar ligamentum flavum in a caucasian - A case report and literature review.

To our best knowledge, this is the first reported case of ossified ligamentum flavum in the lumbar spine in a Caucasian patient from the United Kingdom. It is an important risk factor to recognise during spinal operation as it can significantly increase its difficulty and the rate of complications.

Skull base angiomatous leiomyoma: a case report and review of literature.

Leiomyomas, benign neoplasms of mesenchymal origin, are common in gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. They are comprised of well-differentiated smooth muscle cells with few mitotic figures. Leiomyomas should not exhibit metastatic potential, though metastasis has been reported.

Usefulness of antero-posterior radiograph and variability of management in non-major thoracolumbar injuries: a single centre pilot study and review of literature.

Background: Most adult trauma protocols suggest that where there has been a dangerous mechanism of injury or the patient exhibits abnormal physiology, CT scan is the primary radiological investigation. Other patients who may have suffered thoraco-lumbar (T-L) trauma initially have antero-posterior (AP) and lateral plain X-rays performed. Our clinical experience suggests AP views are not particularly useful in the management of these relatively low-velocity injuries.

Complication rates of external ventricular drain insertion by surgeons of different experience.

Introduction Insertion of external ventricular drain (EVD) is a widely accepted, routinely performed procedure for treatment of hydrocephalus and raised intracranial pressure. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a surgeon's experience affects the associated complication rate. Methods This retrospective study included all adult patients undergoing EVD insertion at a single centre between July 2013 and June 2015.

Characterization of hyaluronan cable structure and function in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Alteration in the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA) has been demonstrated in numerous renal diseases. We have demonstrated that renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTCs) surround themselves in vitro with HA in an organized pericellular matrix or 'coat', which is associated with cell migration, and also form pericellular HA cable-like structures which modulate PTC-mononuclear leukocytes interactions. The aim of this study was to characterize potential regulatory mechanism in the assembly of PTC-HA into pericellular cables.

Overexpression of hyaluronan synthase 2 alters hyaluronan distribution and function in proximal tubular epithelial cells.

The functional consequences of increased renal cortical hyaluronan that is associated with both acute injury and progressive scarring are unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize hyaluronan synthase-2 (HAS2)-driven HA synthesis and determine its effect on renal proximal tubular epithelial cell (PTC) function, because this is known to be the inducible form of HA synthase in this cell type. Overexpression of HAS2 mRNA increased HA generation, which in the supernatant predominantly was HA of large molecular weight, whereas there was an increase in low molecular weight HA in cell-associated fractions.

Bone morphogenic protein-7 inhibits monocyte-stimulated TGF-beta1 generation in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

It has been demonstrated that bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) stimulates formation of hyaluronan (HA)-based cables on the cell surface of renal proximal tubular cells and that these cables mediate monocyte binding. Furthermore, interaction of monocytes with proximal tubule cell (PTC) surface intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) stimulates the synthesis of TGF-beta1. This study examined the effect of BMP-7 on monocyte-stimulated TGF-beta1 synthesis under conditions of basal and stimulated ICAM expression.

Renal proximal tubular epithelial cell transforming growth factor-beta1 generation and monocyte binding.

With increasing awareness of the importance of renal cortical interstitial fibrosis, interest has focused on the mechanisms that stimulate generation of profibrotic factors including transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, by resident cells, such as proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTCs). Infiltration of monocytes, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of renal diseases, however, how interaction between monocytes and PTCs may affect the generation of TGF-beta1 by the resident cell is unknown. We demonstrate that monocytes stimulate TGF-beta1 transcription and protein synthesis by PTCs.

BMP-7 modulates hyaluronan-mediated proximal tubular cell-monocyte interaction.

Increased synthesis of hyaluronan (HA) in the renal corticointerstitium has been documented in renal injury, although the functional significance of this is unclear. The aim of the work presented in the current study was to examine the role of HA in monocyte binding by proximal tubular cells (PTC). Using the PTC line HK-2, the authors show that unstimulated cells formed pericellular HA cable-like structures that bound mononuclear leukocytes via their cell surface CD44.