Successful antibiotic treatment for subdural empyema and seizure due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a complication of halo orthosis usage: a case report.

Halo orthosis is used for cervical spine fixation after spinal surgery or injury. Although superficial infection at pin sites occurs frequently, intracranial development of infection, including brain abscesses, is very rare. We experienced subdural empyema due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) caused by intracranial penetration of halo pins.

Human growth plate contains aggrecan fragments that can be generated by m-calpain.

Growth plate is a cartilaginous structure responsible for longitudinal growth and calcification of long bones. Aggrecan is initially expressed within the growth plate but is lost during the course of calcification. Calcium-activated proteinases are believed to play a primary role in aggrecanolysis.

Total spondylectomy of a symptomatic hemangioma of the lumbar spine.

A vertebral hemangioma with dural compression and neurological deficit is rare. We report a symptomatic lumbar vertebral hemangioma which was successfully managed with total spondylectomy. The patient was a 31-year-old man whose chief complaint was low back pain.

G1-G2 aggrecan product that can be generated by M-calpain on truncation at Ala709-Ala710 is present abundantly in human articular cartilage.

To elucidate the specific function of m-calpain in the metabolism of aggrecan in human articular cartilage, the prevalence and localization of a large glycosaminoglycan-bearing aggrecan product generated by m-calpain in human osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage were investigated. Extracts of human OA articular cartilage were analysed by immunostaining using new polyclonal anti-VPGVA antiserum that detects the COOH terminal neoepitope IVTQVVPGVA(709) generated by m-calpain-related cleavage within the keratan sulphate rich region of human aggrecan. Immunoblotting analyses of aggrecan populations in guanidine hydrochloride-extracts showed that OA cartilages contained anti-VPGVA positive aggrecan products with the COOH terminal neoepitope .

Cervical clear cell meningioma mimicking a vertebral metastasis.

Cervical vertebral involvement of clear cell meningioma is very rare. We report a case of clear cell meningioma in the cervical vertebral body in a 72-year old male. Seven years prior to this presentation, the patient underwent palliative surgery and posterior instrumentation for a cervical vertebral tumor at C5, which had been diagnosed as a metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Keratinocytes can differentiate into eccrine sweat ducts in vitro: involvement of epidermal growth factor and fetal bovine serum.

Background: in addition to formation of an epidermal sheet and dermal substitution, reconstruction of skin that possesses functionality is an important goal for dermatologists.

Objective: we attempted to regenerate eccrine sweat glands in vitro.

Methods: we constructed skin equivalent models with various combination of normal human keratinocytes and fibroblasts and also examined the effect of various growth factors.