Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2013
Controlled Clinical TrialTransplantation of Schwann cells in a collagen tube for the repair of large, segmental peripheral nerve defects in rats.
Segmental nerve defects pose a daunting clinical challenge, as peripheral nerve injury studies have established that there is a critical nerve gap length for which the distance cannot be successfully bridged with current techniques. Construction of a neural prosthesis filled with Schwann cells (SCs) could provide an alternative treatment to successfully repair these long segmental gaps in the peripheral nervous system. The object of this study was to evaluate the ability of autologous SCs to increase the length at which segmental nerve defects can be bridged using a collagen tube. ⋯ The technique of adding SCs to a guidance channel significantly enhanced the gap distance that can be repaired after peripheral nerve injury with long segmental defects and holds promise in humans. Most importantly, this study represents some of the first essential steps in bringing autologous SC-based therapies to the domain of peripheral nerve injuries with long segmental defects.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2013
Sphenoid sinus anatomy and suprasellar extension of pituitary tumors.
As tumors enlarge, they generally grow along paths of least resistance. For pituitary macroadenomas, extrasellar extension into the suprasellar region, cavernous sinus, or sphenoid sinus may occur. The sphenoid sinus is known to have a variable anatomical configuration, and the authors hypothesize that certain anatomical factors may resist tumor expansion into the sphenoid sinus, thereby directing tumor growth into the suprasellar space. In this paper the authors' goal was to determine if sphenoid anatomy influences pituitary tumor growth. ⋯ Certain aspects of the sphenoid sinus anatomy may function to resist pituitary tumor growth into the sphenoid sinus. Progressive enlargement of pituitary macroadenomas may extend in a suprasellar direction, in part, as a consequence of the sphenoid sinus anatomy.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Sep 2013
Combination of hypoglossal-facial nerve surgical reconstruction and neurotrophin-3 gene therapy for facial palsy.
Facial nerve injury results in facial palsy that has great impact on the psychosocial conditions of affected patients. Reconstruction of the facial nerve to restore facial symmetry and expression is still a significant surgical challenge. In this study, the authors assessed a hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis method combined with neurotrophic factor gene therapy to treat facial palsy in adult rats after facial nerve injury. ⋯ Results demonstrated that hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis facilitates innervation of paralyzed facial muscle via hypoglossal motoneurons without sacrificing ipsilateral hemitongue function. Neurotrophin-3 treatment through gene therapy could effectively improve such innervation, even after delayed reconstruction. These findings suggest that the combination of surgical reconstruction and NT-3 gene therapy is promising for its potential application in treating facial palsy in humans.