Neurosurgery
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To describe the use of perfusion computed tomography (PCT) in the study of hemodynamic disturbances associated with a case of a cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) with leptomeningeal venous drainage presenting with focal signs. ⋯ Perfusion computed tomography could help to identify the hemodynamic disturbances associated with DAVFs with leptomeningeal venous drainage.
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Although a dural or intramedullary arteriovenous fistula involving the conus medullaris and fed by the lateral sacral artery has been reported, a case of perimedullary fistula arising from an artery in the filum terminale has not been described in the literature. The authors report the first case of perimedullary arteriovenous fistula located in the filum terminale. ⋯ It must be noted that a fistula can be located in the filum terminale and can be successfully treated using multidisciplinary approaches.
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Bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are capable of localizing to gliomas after systemic delivery and can be used in glioma therapy. However, the mechanism underlying the tropism of hMSCs for gliomas remains unclear. In vitro studies suggest that platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) may mediate this tropism. However, a causal role of PDGF-BB has not been demonstrated in vivo. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that PDGF-BB mediates the attraction of hMSCs to gliomas in vitro and in vivo. ⋯ PDGF-BB increases the attraction of hMSCs for gliomas in vitro and in vivo, and this tropism is mediated via PDGF-beta receptors on hMSCs. These findings can be exploited for advancing hMSC treatment.
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Smoking and overeating are compulsory habits that are difficult to stop. Several studies have shown involvement of the nucleus accumbens in these and other addictive behaviors. In this case report, we describe a patient who quit smoking and lost weight without any effort, and we review the underlying mechanisms of action. ⋯ This study supports the idea of compulsivity with common circuitry in the processing of diverse rewards and suggests that deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens could be a possible treatment of patients with a dependency not responding to currently available treatments.
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Patients with intracranial aneurysms, both ruptured and unruptured, are frequently eligible for both open surgery ("clipping") and endovascular repair ("coiling"). Although results of randomized trials have informed this decision, the actual choice of clipping or coiling for individual patients remains complex. At the 2007 Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Annual Meeting, a novel active learning process called Integrated Medical Learning (IML) was applied to education about this critical treatment choice. ⋯ Using IML, we were able to study baseline knowledge and practice patterns for an important cerebrovascular treatment decision. Evidence suggested that expert presentations were effective in changing audience opinion, at least in cases where preexisting opinion was close to clinical equipoise.