Umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stromal cells in microcarrier based industrial scale culture sustain the immune regulatory functions.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been isolated from numerous sources and are potentially therapeutic against various diseases. Umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) are considered superior to other tissue-derived MSCs since they have a higher proliferation rate and can be procured using less invasive surgical procedures. However, it has been recently reported that 2D culture systems, using conventional cell culture flasks, limit the mass production of MSCs for cell therapy.

[Transcranial motor evoked potentials monitoring for cerebral aneurysm surgery].

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of transcranial motor evoked potential(MEP)monitoring for aneurysm surgery.

Methods: Sixty-four patients undergoing aneurysm surgery were included in the study. We recorded MEP responses at craniotomy, when dissecting the aneurysm and surrounding tissue, after clipping, and during temporary clipping of the parent artery.

Long-term follow-up of intra-aneurysmal coil embolization for unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms.

Objectives: The selection of therapeutic modalities, including endovascular coil embolization and surgical clipping, for management of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms, remains controversial. Detailed long-term outcome data for endovascular coil embolization of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms are still lacking. Thus, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of coil embolization of unruptured paraclinoid aneurysms.

Flow impairment during filter-protected carotid artery stent placement: frame-by-frame evaluation of digital subtraction angiography images.

Objective: To evaluate quantitatively flow impairment of contrast medium on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) performed before and after filter retrieval following carotid artery stent (CAS) placement with distal filter protection.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of 55 CAS placement procedures with distal filter protection in 51 patients. From a qualitative analysis, the operators determined if there was flow reduction of contrast medium on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) before filter retrieval.

Routine aspiration method during filter-protected carotid stenting: histological evaluation of captured debris and predictors for debris amount.

Background: A routine aspiration method in filter-protected carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been reported recently in which the proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) blood column was aspirated using an aspiration catheter after postdilatation regardless of flow state on digital subtraction angiography. We examined the debris particles captured by this method.

Methods: The routine aspiration method was used in 71 CAS procedures.

Obstruction of pores in distal protection filters and angiographically-documented flow impairment during carotid artery stenting.

Purpose: To determine any relationship between angiographically documented flow impairment associated with the Angioguard XP cerebral protection filter during carotid artery stenting (CAS) and the condition of the pores in the retrieved filter.

Methods: To obtain baseline characteristics of the Angioguard XP, an unused filter was fully expanded and examined photographically from the cephalad end of the device to determine the structure of the pores in the filter basket. Ten pores assembled in a hexagonal pattern made up a pore group, several of which were arranged in 4 concentric rings surround a central hub that did not have any pores.

Change in cortical vein appearance on susceptibility-weighted MR imaging before and after carotid artery stenting.

Objectives: Susceptibility-weighted (SW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a sensitive test to detect intravenous deoxygenated blood. On SW images, dilated appearing draining veins in tissue with perfusion impairment occur due to an increase in intravenous deoxyhemoglobin levels, and could indicate poor perfusion areas in which there is an elevated oxygen extraction fraction. In this study, patients with possible chronic ischemia caused by internal carotid artery stenosis underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS).

Hematoma in the splenium of the corpus callosum in the subacute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage--three case reports.

Three patients developed hemorrhage in the splenium of the corpus callosum 2 weeks after the onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with acute hydrocephalus. Computed tomography performed a few days after the onset showed a low density area in the splenium of corpus callosum in all three patients, and preventive measures against symptomatic vasospasm were begun, including vasodilator administration. Computed tomography showed hemorrhage in the splenium of the corpus callosum 17 to 22 days after onset of SAH, manifesting as mental deterioration or headache.

Three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography in evaluation of vertebro-basilar artery dissections: comparison with 2D DSA.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify characteristic findings on three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and to investigate diagnostic usefulness of 3D DSA in vertebro-basilar dissections (VBD).

Methods: In 25 consecutive patients with VBD, two-dimensional (2D) DSA, and 3D DSA findings were evaluated by a scoring system. The effects of 3D DSA results on diagnosis were scored in comparison with 2D DSA results.

Low birth weight as a risk factor for seizure following acute subdural hematoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the factors associated with posttraumatic seizure in patients under 2 years old with acute subdural hematoma (ASDH).

Methods: Twenty-one patients under 2 years old (15 males and six females) with ASDH, who were admitted to our hospital between January 2002 and September 2008, were studied retrospectively. Clinical findings including birth weight and gestational age were defined.

Myxoid chondrosarcoma in the pineal region.

The authors report a case of a myxoid chondrosarcoma of the pineal region in a 37-year-old woman who presented with an intratumoral hemorrhage. Partial removal of the tumor in an initial surgery resulted in failure to establish a definitive diagnosis. The residual tumor enlarged after a second intratumoral hemorrhage 14 months after the onset of the first symptoms, and gross-total resection of the tumor was achieved in a second surgery.

Unusual giant cerebral venous varix associated with brain abscess: variant of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia--case report.

A 35-year-old man suffered secondary generalized tonic-clonic convulsions due to a large brain abscess. Neuroimaging incidentally revealed another tumor-like lesion. Cerebral angiography confirmed that the lesion was an unusual giant venous varix associated with a high-flow pial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and showed one more small arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

Evaluation of the stability of aneurysms after embolization using detachable coils: correlation between stability of aneurysms and embolized volume of aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: The long-term outcome of aneurysmal coil embolization has not been determined. We retrospectively analyzed the results of our cases treated with detachable coils and evaluated the long-term stability of embolized aneurysms.

Methods: This study involved 100 aneurysms in 93 patients who underwent follow-up angiography > or = 3 months after initial treatment between December 1993 and December 1999.