Efficacy of DiscoGel in Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease: A Prospective 1-Year Observation of 67 Patients.

Patients with degenerative disc disease may suffer from chronic lumbar discogenic (DP) or radicular leg (RLP) pain. Minimally invasive DiscoGel therapy involves the percutaneous injection of an ethanol gel into the degenerated disk's nucleus pulposus. This paper compares the 1-year outcome of such treatment in DP and RLP patients.

Increase in activity of neutrophils and proinflammatory mediators in rats following acute and prolonged focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Purpose: It has been proposed that the immune system is activated during ischemic cerebral events and that brain damage caused by ischemia is increased by this immune activity. Neutrophils (PMNs) are one of the first factors in the chain of reactions of the immune system during focal cerebral ischemia. Experimental and clinical studies have emphasized the important role of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha), in addition to vasoactive peptide and endothelin-1 (ET-1), in the formation of cerebral ischemia.

Increase of the IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels in CSF in patients with vasospasm following aneurysmal SAH.

Cytokines play a key role in mutual influence of the immunological, endocrine and CNS systems. It has been proven that proinflammatory ILs may intensify the cascade of biochemical changes in ischemic brain damage. Vasospasm, which may accompany SAH and often coexists with symptoms of DINDs, is the cause of ischemic changes in the brain.

Surgical strategies in the removal of malignant tumors and benign lesions of the anterior skull base.

The choice of surgical approaches to the tumors of the anterior skull base is determined by the location, dimensions of such lesions and their relations to the surrounding structures. Furthermore, the need for the reconstruction of the dura and skull base structures has an important influence on the decision about the surgical procedure. Transfacial approaches provide limited exposure, especially when tumors damage the floor of the anterior cranial fossa and involve the frontobasal dura and brain.

[Trans-facial and cranio-facial approach and resection of the skull base tumors].

The paranasal sinus cancers comprise about 10% of all head and neck neoplasms. There are 80% of SCC among them. Paranasal sinus cancer is difficult to treat with surgery due to the anatomic integration of sinuses into the cranial base.