Post-Injury Neuroprotective Effects of the Thalidomide Analog 3,6'-Dithiothalidomide on Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Long-term deficits after TBI arise not only from the direct effects of the injury but also from ongoing processes such as neuronal excitotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is known to contribute to these processes.

Visual-spatial memory may be enhanced with theta burst deep brain stimulation of the fornix: a preliminary investigation with four cases.

Memory loss after brain injury can be a source of considerable morbidity, but there are presently few therapeutic options for restoring memory function. We have previously demonstrated that burst stimulation of the fornix is able to significantly improve memory in a rodent model of traumatic brain injury. The present study is a preliminary investigation with a small group of cases to explore whether theta burst stimulation of the fornix might improve memory in humans.

Deep brain stimulation: new directions.

The role of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of movement disorders is well established, but there has recently been a proliferation of additional indications that have been shown to be amenable to this technology. The combination of innovative approaches to neural interface technology with novel target identification based on previously discovered clinical effects of lesioning procedures has led to a fundamental paradigm for new directions in the application of DBS. The historical use of neurosurgical lesioning procedures in the treatment of psychiatric diseases such as obsessive compulsive disorder provided an initial opportunity to expand the use of DBS.

Pathology of ilioinguinal neuropathy produced by mesh entrapment: case report and literature review.

Ilioinguinal neuropathy is a well-described complication of mesh inguinal herniorrhaphy. We report the first human case, to our knowledge, of ilioinguinal nerve mesh entrapment with neuropathological changes that suggest an inflammatory cause for this chronic pain syndrome.