Coil embolization of vertebro-vertebral arteriovenous fistula: a case report.

Background: Vertebro-vertebral arteriovenous fistulas (VVFs) are not uncommon, but they usually present with benign symptoms such as neck murmur. We report a case of VVF presenting with myelopathy which was successfully treated by embolization with detachable coils.

Case Presentation: A 72-year-old woman was admitted with complaint of bilateral leg weakness.

Evaluation of intra-aneurysmal blood flow by digital subtraction angiography: blood flow change after coil embolization.

Background: The natural course of cerebral aneurysms is related to many factors, and it is very important that intra-aneurysmal blood flow is considered. Our group developed a method that allowed the simultaneous evaluation of blood flow in human cerebral aneurysms using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) with no special devices. The intra-aneurysmal blood flow measurement would also be very useful for coil embolization.

[A chronic intracerebral hematoma for which corticosteroid was effective: case report].

Chronic intracerebral hematoma is rare. Computerized tomography almost consistently demonstrates ring-shaped lesions with mass effect and perifocal edema. All patients in published studies have been treated surgically.

Function of aberrant EGFR in malignant gliomas.

The most common alteration of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in human malignant gliomas is an in-frame deletion of exon 2-7 from the extra-cellular domain. To study the relationship between the expression of this aberrant EGFR and cell proliferation, as well as apoptosis in malignant gliomas, we have developed U-87MG cell transfectants that express the aberrant (mutant-type) or normal (wild-type) EGFR. We analyzed cell number, tumor volume, and MIB-1 positive rate as proliferation markers, and found that in tissue culture, tumors derived from U-87 MG cells (mutant-type) have the same proliferative activity as those derived from U-87 MG cells (wild-type).

An antisense EGFR oligodeoxynucleotide enveloped in Lipofectin induces growth inhibition in human malignant gliomas in vitro.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the progression of malignancy in gliomas. We studied the growth inhibition of the malignant glioma cell lines using an antisense EGFR oligodeoxynucleotide enveloped with Lipofectin. At a concentration of 5 microM of the antisense EGFR oligodeoxynucleotide enveloped with Lipofectin, the proliferation of three malignant glioma cell lines was significantly inhibited (p < 0.

Measurement of cell kinetic parameters in meningiomas.

Cell kinetic parameters were measured in four cases of meningioma showing regrowth. The cell cycle time (Tc) and tumor doubling time (Td) were established by histological evaluation of the biopsy specimens and calculation of the growth curve based on computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance (MR) images. MIB-1 mouse monoclonal antibody, which recognizes an epitope of the Ki-67 antigen, was used to establish the MIB-1 staining index (SI) (MIB-1-positive nuclei/5000 tumor cells) for each tumor.

The reliability of the differential polymerase chain reaction compared to restriction fragment length polymorphism for the detection of gene loss in primary tumors.

The loss of genetic information from a number of specific regions of the genome has been documented in human tumors in vivo. To estimate the frequency with which IFN beta 1 gene loss occurs in human gliomas, both restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, using the IFN-gamma gene as a reference, were used and the results obtained with the two methods were compared. The relative intensity of PCR bands (IFN beta 1/IFN gamma) in the gliomas with loss of heterozygosity for the IFN beta 1 was significantly different (P < 0.

["Disproportionately large, communicating fourth ventricle" due to membranous obstruction of Magendie's foramen].

A case of disproportionately large, communicating fourth ventricle (DLCFV) with the entire ventricular system dilated symmetrically due to membranous obstruction of Magendie's foramen is reported. A 20-year-old female complained of headache and nausea. Slight papilledema was found in both eyes.

Basic fibroblast growth factor messenger RNA is expressed strongly at the acute stage of cerebral contusion.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has a neurotrophic effect both in vitro and in vivo, and is considered to play an important role in the maintenance of neuronal functions in the normal brain. Neural damage in brain contusion progresses after the primary injury of trauma because of cerebral hemodynamic and metabolic impairment including intracranial hemorrhage and/or brain swelling. Northern blot analysis of bFGF mRNA was performed in rats after cerebral contusion produced by our modified fluid percussion device.

Frequency of IFN beta 1 gene loss in 47 primary human gliomas.

Loss of genetic information from a number of specific regions of the genome has been documented in primary human gliomas. Recently loss of heterozygosity or nullizygosity of the IFN beta 1 gene has been found in glioblastomas. We used Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in order to screen the frequency of the loss of this genes in glial tumors of malignancy grades I-IV.

Amplified and rearranged epidermal growth factor receptor genes in human glioblastomas reveal deletions of sequences encoding portions of the N- and/or C-terminal tails.

This study describes genomic rearrangements near the 3' end of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in eight glioblastomas displaying coamplification and expression of both normal and rearranged EGFR. In four of these cases, it was possible by PCR to amplify tumor EGFR cDNA, which allowed sequence determination of the 3' transcript alterations associated with the rearrangements. Such analysis revealed that the four cases have in common a deletion of 255 bases that encode a portion of the receptor's cytoplasmic domain.

Identification of twelve new RFLP-markers on chromosome 22q11-qter.

We have previously identified and regionally localized 195 chromosome-22-specific DNA markers. We now report restriction fragment length polymorphisms detected by 9 phage markers mapped to 22q11-q12, two cosmid clones mapped to 22q12-q13 and one plasmid mapped to 22q13-qter. These markers may be useful tools for mapping disease genes such as the NF2 locus, on chromosome 22.

Identical splicing of aberrant epidermal growth factor receptor transcripts from amplified rearranged genes in human glioblastomas.

The epidermal growth factor receptor gene has been found to be amplified and rearranged in human glioblastomas in vivo. Here we present the sequence across a splice junction of aberrant epidermal growth factor receptor transcripts derived from corresponding and uniquely rearranged genes that are coamplified and coexpressed with non-rearranged epidermal growth factor receptor genes in six primary human glioblastomas. Each of these six tumors contains aberrant transcripts derived from identical splicing of exon 1 to exon 8 as a consequence of a deletion-rearrangement of the amplified gene, the extent of which is variable among these tumors.

Isolation of anonymous, polymorphic DNA fragments from human chromosome 22q12-qter.

A series of 195 random chromosome 22-specific probes, equivalent to approximately 1% of the size of this chromosome, have been isolated from a chromosome 22-specific bacteriophage lambda genomic library. These probes were mapped to four different regions of chromosome 22 on a panel of five somatic cell hybrids. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms were detected by 28 of the probes mapping to 22q12-qter.

[A case of transorbital intracranial foreign bodies due to windshield impact].

A case of transorbital intracranial foreign bodies due to windshield impact was reported. A 17-year-old man was admitted to our department after he had his face injured in a traffic accident. He was fully conscious, and had no neurological deterioration except for a disturbance in his left external ocular movement.