Brief Electrical Stimulation Promotes Nerve Regeneration Following Experimental In-Continuity Nerve Injury.

Background: Brief electrical stimulation (ES) therapy to the nerve may improve outcome in lacerated, repaired nerves. However, most human nerve injuries leave the nerve in continuity with variable and often poor functional recovery from incomplete axon regeneration and reinnervation.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of brief ES in an experimental model for neuroma-in-continuity (NIC) injuries in rodents.

Metastatic thymoma presenting as spontaneous epidural lumbar haematoma.

We report the case of a 44-year-old man who was found to have metastatic thymoma to his lumbar spine presenting as a spontaneous epidural haematoma. The man presented with back pain and cauda equina like symptoms in the absence of trauma, antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents. Following a laminectomy and excision of the epidural collection he made a full neurological recovery.

Spinal intradural myxoid chondrosarcoma.

The authors present a rare case of intradural extramedullary spinal chondrosarcoma. This 38-year-old man presented with urinary retention and lower-limb weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a thoracic intradural extramedullary spinal tumor, which was resected.

Molecular responses of brain endothelial cells to radiation in a mouse model.

Although most small arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are curable, over 90% of large lesions are untreatable with current surgery or radiosurgery. Endothelial cells (EC) are believed to be pivotal in the resulting vascular changes after AVM are irradiated, although their role is not fully understood. Elucidating the molecular effects of radiation on EC may allow development of new therapies that modulate the response of AVM to radiation.

Endothelial cells in the context of brain arteriovenous malformations.

A subset of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM) cannot be treated using today's treatment paradigms. Novel therapies may be developed, however, as the underlying pathophysiology of these lesions becomes better understood. Endothelial cells (EC) are the subject of new biological therapies, such as radiosensitisation and vascular targeting.

Treatment of a pontine neuroepithelial cyst by placement of a cystocisternal grommet.

We describe an 8-year-old girl who presented with cranial nerve compression due to a brainstem cyst adjacent to the fourth ventricle and describe the first documented insertion of a grommet to form a conduit between a neuroepithelial cyst and ventricle. The patient presented with diplopia and headaches and was found to have the cystic lesion in the right pons. The patient underwent craniotomy, aspiration and fenestration with subsequent recurrence 8 months later.

Resolution of hydrocephalus-associated sensorineural hearing loss after insertion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

The authors present a pediatric patient with severe hearing loss due to communicating hydrocephalus. This is the first clearly documented case of de novo sensorineural deafness caused by hydrocephalus, with subsequent improvement in hearing after shunt insertion. The patient initially presented with otitis media and was found to have hearing loss.