British journal of neurosurgery
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Percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy has shown encouraging results in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. An experimental study was undertaken using a rat sciatic nerve model to elucidate the mechanism of action of anhydrous glycerol and to study the acute changes which develop within one week. Extraneural glycerol was applied in 20 adult Wistar rats. ⋯ The sciatic nerve of the opposite limb in the same animals was used as a control. The nerve were examined with light and electron microscopy including a morphometric study to assess the type of fibres affected. The specific pattern of involvement of larger and medium sized myelinated fibres with relative preservation of unmyelinated fibres was noted.
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The cranial compartment contributed 37% and the spinal compartment 63% to the total compliance of the craniospinal space in the horizontal body position. In the erect position the values were almost reversed, the cranial compartment contributing 66% and the spinal compartment 34%. The total compliance was almost unaffected by body position. ⋯ The volume of CSF moving between the cranial and spinal compartments when sitting up and lying down, was about 3 ml. The pulsatile and postural flow rate of CSF may reach about 200 ml/min. High CSF flow velocity may impair the protective coating of CSF around the brain and thus contribute to herniation.
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A cell line, 497-P(1), derived from the VM spontaneous murine astrocytoma has been used to develop an in vitro in vivo model of human glioma. This paper describes the growth characteristics of tumours produced after intracerebral or subcutaneous inoculation of 497-P(1) cells into syngeneic VM mice. The results show that cell line 497-P(1) provides the basis for a reproducible animal model of glioma which fulfils many of the criteria required for experimental therapy studies.
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Case Reports Comparative Study
Comparative study of brain abscess by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging: report of two cases.
Two cases of cerebral abscess with different presentations are reported. The source of the abscess remained obscure in one case while in the other arose from infection of the right frontal sinus. While in one case a magnetic resonance image was obtained preoperatively, both cases underwent parallel monitoring in the postsurgery period by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The relative merits of these two imaging techniques in the diagnosis and monitoring of such lesions are discussed, and the literature is reviewed.
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In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ventriculo-pleural shunting as an alternative to conventional atrial and peritoneal procedures, we have carried out a retrospective study of 88 pleural shunting procedures. There was a 7% complication rate related to the use of the pleural space as the shunt terminus. Complications at the pleural end included shunt obstruction (functional or structural), pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and other technical problems. ⋯ The complications that are unique to this procedure are pneumothorax and pleural effusion. They were encountered infrequently in this series. Ventriculo-pleural shunting may be indicated when other routes are not available.