Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2014
Blunt traumatic occlusion of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries.
The stroke rate, management, and outcome after blunt cerebrovascular occlusion (Biffl Grade IV injury) is not well defined, given the rarity of the disease. Both hemodynamic failure and embolic mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of subsequent stroke after blunt cerebrovascular occlusion. In this study, the authors evaluated their center's experience with Biffl Grade IV injuries, focusing on elucidating the mechanisms of stroke and their optimal management. ⋯ At the authors' institution, traumatic ICA occlusion is rare but associated with a high stroke rate. Robust collateral circulation may mitigate its severity. Embolic monitoring with TCD ultrasonography and prophylactic antiplatelet therapy should be used in all ICA Biffl Grade IV injuries. Unilateral VA Biffl Grade IV injury is the most common type of traumatic occlusion and is associated with significantly less morbidity. Embolic monitoring using TCD and prophylactic antiplatelet therapy do not appear to be beneficial in patients with traumatic VA occlusion.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2014
Association of Kallikrein gene polymorphisms with sporadic intracranial aneurysms in the Chinese population.
Variants of Kallikreins have been shown to be risk factors for intracranial aneurysm (IA) in a Finnish population. In the present study, the authors investigated the correlation between polymorphisms in the Kallikrein gene cluster and IAs in the Chinese population. ⋯ The variant rs1722561 of Kallikreins might reduce the risk of sporadic IAs among individuals of Chinese Han ethnicity. This study confirms the association between Kallikreins and IAs.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2014
Comparative StudyShould ventriculoatrial shunting be the procedure of choice for normal-pressure hydrocephalus?
Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunting is rarely used for patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), likely due to surgeon technical preference and case reports indicating cardiopulmonary complications. However, these complications have typically been limited to adults in whom VA shunts had been placed when they were children. Few studies have directly compared VA shunting to ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting in cases of NPH. ⋯ The authors found no significant differences in complication rates between VA and VP shunting, and VA shunting was not associated with any cardiopulmonary complications. Thus, in the authors' experience, VA shunting is at least as safe as VP shunting for treating NPH.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2014
Comparative StudyTransorbital endoscopic amygdalohippocampectomy: a feasibility investigation.
Resection of the hippocampus is the standard of care for medically intractable epilepsy in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis. Although temporal craniotomy in this setting is highly successful, the procedure carries certain immutable risks and may be associated with cognitive deficits related to cortical and white matter disruption. Alternative surgical approaches may reduce some of these risks by preserving the lateral temporal lobe. This study examined the feasibility of transorbital endoscopic amygdalohippocampectomy (TEA) as an alternative to open craniotomy in cadaveric specimens. ⋯ TEA permits hippocampectomy comparable to standard surgical approaches without disrupting the lateral temporal cortex or white matter. This novel approach is feasible in cadaveric specimens and warrants clinical investigation in carefully selected cases.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2014
Radiosurgery inhibition of the Notch signaling pathway in a rat model of arteriovenous malformations.
Notch signaling has been suggested to promote the development and maintenance of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), but whether radiosurgery inhibits Notch signaling pathways in AVMs is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine molecular changes of Notch signaling pathways following radiosurgery and to explore mechanisms of radiosurgical obliteration of "nidus" vessels in a rat model of AVMs. ⋯ Radiosurgery inhibits endothelial Notch1 and Notch4 signaling pathways in nidus vessels while inducing thrombotic occlusion of nidus vessels in a rat model of AVMs. The underlying mechanisms of radiosurgery-induced AVM shrinkage could be a combination of suppressing Notch receptor signaling in blood vessel endothelial cells, leading to a reduction in nidus vessel size and thrombotic occlusion of nidus vessels.