Evaluating the efficacy of a cost-effective, fully three-dimensional-printed vertebra model for endoscopic spine surgery training for neurosurgical residents.

Study Design: A fused deposition modeling three-dimensional (3D)-printed model of the L4-5 vertebra for lumbar discectomy was designed. The model included separately printed dura mater, spinal cord, ligamentum flavum, intervertebral disc (from thermoplastic polyurethane), and bony structures (from polylactic acid), and the material cost approximately US$ 1 per model. A simple plumbing endoscope was used for visualization.

A Case of Carcinoma Metastasis of Unknown Primary Mimicking Spondylodiscitis in an HIV+ Patient.

In this case report, a case of carcinoma metastasis of unknown primary mimicking spondylodiscitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is presented. A 50-year-old AIDS patient presented with a history of mechanical falls from his own level one month ago and leg weakness for the last three days. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a compression fracture of the T4 vertebral body, spinal cord compression, and pathology compatible with spondylodiscitis.

Intrathecal Tigecycline in the Treatment of Hospital-Acquired Meningitis: A Review of Four Cases.

Carbapenem-resistant is a common cause of nosocomial meningitis, and it presents a challenge in terms of treatment because of limited therapeutic options. Intravenous tigecycline has been considered a potential salvage therapy against multi-drug-resistant . However, its effectiveness is limited by its poor ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Investigating the effects of PTEN mutations on cGAS-STING pathway in glioblastoma tumours.

Background: PTEN is a tumour suppressor gene and well-known for being frequently mutated in several cancer types. Loss of immunogenicity can also be attributed to PTEN loss, because of its role in establishing the tumour microenvironment. Therefore, this study aimed to represent the link between PTEN and cGAS-STING activity, a key mediator of inflammation, in tumour samples of glioblastoma patients.

Impact of the empirical therapy timing on the clinical progress of septic shock patients.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of timing of antimicrobial therapy on clinical progress of patients with septic shock.

Materials And Method: We included 204 adult patients diagnosed with septic shock according to Sepsis-3 criteria between March 2016 and April 2021. One-month survival was evaluated using univariate and logistic regression analysis.

Empirical cefepime+vancomycin versus ceftazidime+vancomycin versus meropenem+vancomycin in the treatment of healthcare-associated meningitis: results of the multicenter ephesus study.

Background: Herein, we analyzed the efficacy of main antibiotic therapy regimens in the treatment of healthcare-associated meningitis (HCAM).

Materials/methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in 18 tertiary-care academic hospitals Turkey, India, Egypt and Romania. We extracted data and outcomes of all patients with post-neurosurgical meningitis cases fulfilling the study inclusion criteria and treated with empirical therapy between December 2006-September 2018.

Tigecycline in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis: Results of the Ege study.

Objectives: In this study we retrospectively reviewed A. baumannii meningitis cases treated with tigecycline including regimens and evaluated the efficacy of tigecycline in the therapy.

Patients And Methods: Study was performed in seven tertiary-care educational hospitals from five cities of Turkey and one center from France.

Management of Calvarial Tumors: A Retrospective Analysis and Literature Review.

Aim: Tumors of various organs that metastasize to bone do not neglect calvarium as a target. The aim of this study was to characterize the calvarial tumors.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 45 consecutive patients operated for calvarial masses from January 2002 till May 2012 at our hospital.

Tigecycline in the management of post-neurosurgical spondylodiscitis: a review of eight cases.

Background: Tigecycline is a relatively new glycylcycline antimicrobial, active in vitro against a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. In this study we evaluated the outcomes of spondylodiscitis cases treated with tigecycline-including therapies retrospectively.

Methods: All adult (age >18 years) cases with a diagnosis of spondylodiscitis, who were treated with a tigecycline-including therapy between 2007 and 2011, were included in the study.

Vancomycin versus linezolid in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus meningitis.

Background: Vancomycin is the mainstay of treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis. However, successful outcomes with linezolid have not been reported in a large series of patients. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study to compare vancomycin with linezolid in the treatment of MRSA meningitis.

Vancomycin versus linezolid in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus meningitis in an experimental rabbit model.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the antibacterial efficacy of vancomycin and linezolid in a rabbit model of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis.

Material/methods: Meningitis was induced by intracisternal inoculation of ATCC 43300 strain. After 16 h incubation time and development of meningitis, the vancomycin group received vancomycin 20 mg/kg every 12 h.

Protective effects of edaravone on experimental spinal cord injury in rats.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults. Secondary injury mechanisms within the spinal cord (SC) are well known to cause deterioration after an acute impact. Free radical scavengers are among the most studied agents in animal models of SCI.

Linezolid in the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal post-neurosurgical meningitis: a series of 17 cases.

Background: Linezolid is a bacteriostatic antibiotic with good cerebrospinal fluid penetration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of linezolid in methicillin-resistant staphylococcal (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MRCoNS)) meningitis.

Methods: We extracted data and outcomes for all adult patients (age > 18 y) with culture-proven MRSA or MRCoNS meningitis treated with linezolid between January 2006 and September 2010 in our hospital.

[A case of cerebral abscess due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus which is treated with linezolid + rifampin combination].

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a rare cause of cerebral abscesses, however it is a relatively more common etiologic agent in post-neurosurgical abscesses and the main antibacterial therapy option is vancomycin. In this report, a case of brain abscess due to MRSA which did not respond neither to moxifloxacin + vancomycin nor vancomycin + rifampin combination therapies, and merely treated by linezolid + rifampin combination, has been presented. Fifty-one years old female patient who was operated 40 days ago for subarachnoid bleeding and aneurysm in middle cerebral artery bifurcation, was hospitalized due to purulent leakage from the operation area.

Meningitis due to Providencia stuartii.

In this report, we present a case of postneurosurgical meningitis due to Providencia stuartii, which was treated successfully with meropenem therapy lasting 21 days.

Reliability of diffusion weighted MR imaging in differentiating degenerative and infectious end plate changes.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the value of diffusion weighted MR imaging in the diagnosis of Modic type 1 change, which may be confused with the acute infectious spondylodiscitis on conventional MR imaging.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven patients with erosive intervertebral osteochondrosis, Modic type 1 and 18 patients with spondylodiscitis were included in this retrospective study. All images were acquired using on 1.

Protective effects of tadalafil on experimental spinal cord injury in rats.

Tadalafil is a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Nitric oxide (NO) functions as a retrograde neurotransmitter in the spinal cord, and postsynaptic structures respond to NO by producing cGMP. The concentrations of cGMP in the spinal cord are controlled by the actions of PDE.

Perfusion and diffusion MR imaging in enhancing malignant cerebral tumors.

Objective: Common contrast-enhancing malignant tumors of the brain are glioblastoma multiforme (GBMs), anaplastic astrocytomas (AAs), metastases, and lymphomas, all of which have sometimes similar conventional MRI findings. Our aim was to evaluate the role of perfusion MR imaging (PWI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differentiation of these contrast-enhancing malignant cerebral tumors.

Materials And Methods: Forty-eight patients with contrast-enhancing and histologically proven brain tumors, 14 AAs, 17 GBMs, nine metastases, and eight lymphomas, were included in the study.

Vancomycin versus teicoplanin in the therapy of experimental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis.

The aim of this study was to compare the antibacterial activity of teicoplanin and vancomycin in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meningitis using a rabbit meningitis model. The MRSA strain ATCC 43300 was used to infect the rabbits. The vancomycin group received 20 mg/kg vancomycin every 12h (q12h), the teicoplanin group received 6 mg/kg teicoplanin q12h and the control group did not receive any treatment.

Hemodynamic and electrolyte changes in patients undergoing neuroendoscopic procedures.

Objects: Intraoperative hemodynamic alterations and postoperative electrolyte disturbances related to endoscopic third ventriculostomy (E3V) have been reported. We aimed to evaluate prospectively those changes in patients undergoing neuroendoscopic procedures.

Methods: This study was carried out in 24 patients who underwent neuroendoscopic intervention.

Minimum apparent diffusion coefficients in the evaluation of brain tumors.

Objective: To determine whether diffusion-weighted imaging by using minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC(min)) values could differentiate various brain tumors including gliomas, metastases, and lymphomas.

Materials And Methods: We examined 65 patients with histologically or clinically diagnosed brain tumors (12 low-grade gliomas, 31 high-grade gliomas, 14 metastatic tumors, and 8 lymphomas) using a 1.5 T MR unit.

Rifampicin+ceftriaxone versus vancomycin+ceftriaxone in the treatment of penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis in an experimental rabbit model.

This study was planned to compare the efficacy of ceftriaxone+vancomycin with ceftriaxone+rifampicin in a rabbit model of penicillin and cephalosporin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Meningitis was induced by intracisternal inoculation of S. pneumoniae.

Craniopharyngiomas in children: Turkey experience.

Objectives: Craniopharyngiomas are the most frequently encountered suprasellar tumors in children. Although they have a benign histology, total resection without morbidity is very difficult.

Methods: We aimed to review the results of pediatric craniopharyngioma patients treated in eight institutions in Turkey.

Adverse effects of anesthesia in interventional radiology.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate adverse events related to the use of anesthesia and anesthetic procedures associated with interventional radiology.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 124 interventional radiological procedures performed with anesthesia within a one-year period. Patients were separated into four groups according to the duration of procedure, the type of procedure performed, anesthetic agents used, and complications associated with anesthesia.