Kombinirano liječenje rupturirane aneurizme srednje moždane arterije praćene subarahnoidnim krvarenjem i akutnim subduralnim hematomom u višestrukoj aneurizmatskoj bolesti krvnih žila mozga: prikaz slučaja

Aneurysms of blood vessels at the base of the brain are pathological focal outpouchings, usually found at the branching points of the arteries. Aneurysm can remain silent for life. Clinical presentation is due to rupture and bleeding. In only 1.3% of cases it results in subdural hematoma, which is associated with direct interaction of the aneurysm with the basal arachnoid membrane. Multiple aneurysms are present in 15% to 33% of cases with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Assessment of these patients is more complicated, as there are no specific signs to pinpoint/detect the aneurysm that has ruptured. This report presents a 44-year-old female patient suffering from multiple cerebral aneurysm disease, who was urgently treated after rupture by both endovascular (for multiple aneurysms) and surgical (for acute subdural hematoma) approach in the same act under general anesthesia, which resulted in complete recovery of the patient.Aneurizme krvnih žila na bazi mozga su žarišna patološka proširenja koja se obično nalaze na račvanju arterija. Mogu ostati klinički nijeme cijelog života. Klinička slika nastaje zbog rupture i krvarenja. Samo u 1,3% slučajeva rezultira pojavom subduralnog hematoma, što je u vezi s izravnom interakcijom aneurizme i bazalne arahnoidne membrane. Višestruke aneurizme su prisutne u 15% do 33% bolesnika sa subarahnoidnim krvarenjem. Pristup ovakvim bolesnicima je složen, jer ne postoje specifični znaci koji bi ukazali na ili otkrili aneurizmu koja je rupturirala. Ovaj prikaz opisuje bolesnicu u dobi od 44 godine s višestrukom aneurizmatskom bolešću mozga koja je nakon rupture hitno podvrgnuta endovaskularnom (zbog višestrukih aneurizma) i kirurškom (zbog akutnog subduralnog hematoma) terapijskom zahvatu u istom aktu u općoj anesteziji, što je rezultiralo njezinim potpunim oporavkom

Dietary fatty acids as a new binding partner of C - phycocyanin: a fluorimetric study

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a phycobiliprotein from cyanobacteria, where it harvests light energy that is then transferred to chlorophylls during photosynthesis. It has an intense blue color due to a covalently bonded tetrapyrrole chromophore, and owing to this property is used in the food industry as a good natural alternative for food coloring. In addition to its coloring properties, C-PC has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and immune-enhancing effects that qualify it as a dietary supplement already included in various formulations, mainly Spirulina extract powders. Since it is used as a food colorant and as a dietary supplement, it may interact with food ingredients, affecting its stability, digestibility, or antioxidant properties. Palmitic acid and linoleic acid (which can be metabolized to linolenic acid) are abundant in meat, milk, and edible oils, so that they could interact with C-PC. C-Phycocyanin isolated from the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) was incubated with increasing concentrations of these three fatty acids, and its fluorescence intensity was monitored. Incubation resulted in a fluorescence quenching effect, indicating that binding had occurred. The binding equations indicated that the association constants were of the same order of magnitude and that the number of approximate binding sites was more than one (Ka = 4.64 x 10⁴ M-¹, n = 1.5 for linoleic acid; Ka = 2.88 x 10⁴ M–¹, n = 1.9 for linolenic acid; Ka = 0.44 x 10⁴ M–¹, n = 0.8 for palmitic acid). This moderate interaction between C-PC and fatty acids could influence its behavior as a nutraceutical and food colorant

Examining fatty acid interactions with Arthrospira platensis-derived C-phycocyanin

Cultured meat requires less land and water and is less polluting, but still costly. The critical challenge in cultivated meat science is identifying and developing bovine serum albumin alternatives as the key component in cell media. Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from micro- and macroalgae are promising candidates for albumin replacement due to their high abundance and well-known excellent antioxidative and metal-binding activities of covalently attached tetrapyrrole chromophores. Considering the importance of fatty acids (FA) binding by albumin for cell cultivation, the additional prerequisites for developing PBPs as albumin replacement components is their validation for the ability to bind FA. This study aims to examine the ability of C-phycocyanin (C-PC), the major PBP of microalgae Arthrospira platensis, to bind seven fatty acids (stearic, palmitic, oleic, elaidic, linoleic, linolenic and docosahexaenoic acid). For this purpose, we employed various optical spectroscopy techniques (fluorescence, CD, and VIS absorption spectroscopy). The protein fluorescence quenching approach demonstrated FA binding affinities ranging from 0.42 to 2.4 x 105 M−1, with the ability of FA to bind at different sites on C-PC. Fatty acid binding induces substantial changes in the VIS absorption spectra of C-PC, indicating the FA are attached in the vicinity of C-PC chromophores. On the other hand, CD spectroscopy did not show significant effects of FA binding on C-PC secondary structure content. Overall, this study revealed C-PC's significant potential in binding FA, the critical prerequisite to replacing albumin for developing animal-free cell media for meat cultivation

Examining fatty acid interactions with Arthrospira platensis-derived C-phycocyanin

Cultured meat requires less land and water and is less polluting, but still costly. The critical challenge in cultivated meat science is identifying and developing bovine serum albumin alternatives as the key component in cell media. Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from micro- and macroalgae are promising candidates for albumin replacement due to their high abundance and well-known excellent antioxidative and metal-binding activities of covalently attached tetrapyrrole chromophores. Considering the importance of fatty acids (FA) binding by albumin for cell cultivation, the additional prerequisites for developing PBPs as albumin replacement components is their validation for the ability to bind FA. This study aims to examine the ability of C-phycocyanin (C-PC), the major PBP of microalgae Arthrospira platensis, to bind seven fatty acids (stearic, palmitic, oleic, elaidic, linoleic, linolenic and docosahexaenoic acid). For this purpose, we employed various optical spectroscopy techniques (fluorescence, CD, and VIS absorption spectroscopy). The protein fluorescence quenching approach demonstrated FA binding affinities ranging from 0.42 to 2.4 x 105 M−1, with the ability of FA to bind at different sites on C-PC. Fatty acid binding induces substantial changes in the VIS absorption spectra of C-PC, indicating the FA are attached in the vicinity of C-PC chromophores. On the other hand, CD spectroscopy did not show significant effects of FA binding on C-PC secondary structure content. Overall, this study revealed C-PC's significant potential in binding FA, the critical prerequisite to replacing albumin for developing animal-free cell media for meat cultivation

Evaluation of omentomyelopexy effects on segmental and conductive functions of the injured spinal cord

Povrede kičmene moždine predstavljaju jednu od retkih oblasti u kojoj ne postoji metoda lečenja, koja bi dovela do potpunog ili bar zadovoljavajućeg oporavka. Samim tim, postoji potreba da se utvrdi metod koji bi ovim pacijentima, čiji tretman stoji u mestu već dugi niz godina, omogućio lečenje koje će imati i rezultate u funkcionalnom smislu.Injuries of the spinal cord are one of the rare surgical fields in which there is no treatment options, which would lead to complete or at least satisfactory recovery. Therefore, there is a need to determine a method that would allow these patients, whose treatment has been in a standing place for many years, to provide treatment that will have results in a functional aspect

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of cortical changes in a low-grade glioma patient

Introduction. New methods for studying brain functions have provided the new insights into human brain. It is really possible to study a cortical adaptation in adults who have sustained injury. We reported cortical changes in a left frontal low-grade glioma patient during disease progression and after reoperation by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Case report. The use of fMRI exams for localisation of eloquent motor and language areas were performed three times in a period of 15 months: seven years after initial tumor resection, eleven months later and three months after the reoperation. The first fMRI demonstrated cortical activation for motor tasks in the expected location of primary motor area while later examinations showed activations of both primary motor areas for right hand movement. The first exam language evaluation showed the left hemisphere dominance for both language tasks, while the second fMRI demonstrated the right hemisphere dominance for complex word generation task, but the left hemisphere remained dominant in simple language task. After the reoperation, language mapping revealed the left hemisphere dominance for both language tasks. Conclusion. fMRI evaluation of cortical changes in low-grade glioma patients may additionally optimize and individualize neurosurgical treatment

Treatment of degenerative chronic low back pain with fluoroscopically guided epidural procaine-corticosteroid injection

Background/Aim. Low back pain is one of the most common painful conditions in the modern age. Therefore, it is very important to establish the most effective protocol for the treatment of this condition. The aim of this study was to find out if fluoroscopically, guided epidural procainecorticosteroid injection is effective in the treatment of degenerative chronic low back pain. Methods. This prospective cohort study was performed in the Military Medical Academy from September 2005 to June 2006 and included 60 patients of both sexes, 34-85 years of age. Degenerative changes of lumbosacral spine were determined by magnetic resonance imaging. The intensity of low back pain was evaluated by subjective (Roland's scale) and objective parameter (Lazarevic sign). Epidural procaine-corticosteroid injection was applied in the patients with low back pain not responding to conservative therapy. After the application of injection, effects of the therapy were followed up. Results. In 92% of the patients there was a reduction of pain intensity for three months, in 4.8% a reduction for a month, but after another injection they felt pain reduction for the next three months. One patient (2.3%) had pain reduction for one month. Conclusion. In the treatment of degenerative chronic low back pain, not responding to conservative therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, epidural procaine-corticosteroid injection have a satisfactory short-term as well as a long-term analgesic effect

Combined treatment of ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm followed by subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute subdural hematoma in multiple aneurysm disease of cerebral blood vessels: case report

Aneurysms of blood vessels at the base of the brain are pathological focal outpouchings, usually found at the branching points of the arteries. Aneurysm can remain silent for life. Clinical presentation is due to rupture and bleeding. In only 1.3% of cases it results in subdural hematoma, which is associated with direct interaction of the aneurysm with the basal arachnoid membrane. Multiple aneurysms are present in 15% to 33% of cases with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Assessment of these patients is more complicated, as there are no specific signs to pinpoint/detect the aneurysm that has ruptured. This report presents a 44-year-old female patient suffering from multiple cerebral aneurysm disease, who was urgently treated after rupture by both endovascular (for multiple aneurysms) and surgical (for acute subdural hematoma) approach in the same act under general anesthesia, which resulted in complete recovery of the patient

Cranial reconstruction with prefabricated 3D implant after a gunshot injury: A case report

Introduction. Complex defects of skull bones with different etiology, still present the challenge in reconstructive surgery. The goldstandard for cranioplasty is the autologous calvarial bone graft removed during surgery which cannot be always applied, especially in gunshot wounds for sometimes complete bone destruction. Autologous reconstruction with split calvarial, rib bones or iliac bone graft is also possible. Materials routinely used for reconstructions like titanium mesh, polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA), and other have numerous disadvantages and limitations. Case report. We presented a patient with gunshot injury to the head with residual large bone defect in the frontal region, with involvement of the skull base, and open frontal sinus. After conservative treatment, six months after the injury, reconstruction of the residual bone defect was performed. The chosen material was computerdesigned PEEK-OPTIMA® implant, manufactured on the basis of MSCT scan. This material has not been used in this region so far. The postoperative and follow-up period of the next 12 months passed without surgical complications, neurological deficit, with satisfactory functional and aesthetic results. Conclusion. Implanted bone replacement was designed and manufactured precisely according to the skull defect, and we found it suitable for the treatment of complex defects of the cranium. Early results are in favor of this cranioplasty method over standardized materials. Therefore, this material is expected to become a method of choice for reconstructive surgery of bony defects of the face and skull especially in complex cases