Cryosurgical Retraction in the Removal of Intracranial Vascular Tumors : Technical Note

We describe a technique using a cryoprobe as a retractor in the removal of intracranial vascular tumors. This simple method is safe and effective especially for the extraction of tumor embedded in the brain tissue

A Case of Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting as Acute Subdural Hematoma

Dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) presenting with subdural hematoma is relatively rare. We report a case of dural AVF presenting as acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and provide a review of the literature. A 56-year-old man presented with disturbance of consciousness. Computed tomography demonstrated a right ASDH and a small right occipital subcortical hematoma. Cerebral angiography showed a dural AVF on the occipital convexity draining into the cortical veins. Emergent endovascular embolization was immediately performed and the shunt flow disappeared. Hematoma removal and external decompression were safely conducted. Combined therapy successfully recovered the patient's consciousness level. This rare case of dural AVF presenting with ASDH was treated with combined treatments of endovascular and open surgery

Antiproliferative Effect of Multiple Autocrine Loop Blockade in Human Malignant Glioma Cell Lines

The effects of specific antibodies against growth factors and receptors on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in two established human glioma cell lines, A172 and TM-1, were examined. Anti-platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), anti-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) antibodies inhibited thymidine incorporation by both cell lines in serum-free medium. Antibody specific to transforming growth factor-α only slightly suppressed DNA synthesis by both cell lines. Although the antiproliferative effects of anti-PDGF and anti-bFGF antibodies decreased in serum-supplemented medium, the effect of anti-EGF-R antibody was little changed. The combination of anti-PDGF, anti-bFGF, and anti-EGF-R antibodies significantly inhibited thymidine incorporation by the two cell lines even in serum-supplemented medium. This preliminary study suggests that simultaneous blockade of multiple autocrine loops may provide a new approach to the treatment of human malignant gliomas. 成長因子と成長因子受容体に対する特異的抗体を用いて、ヒト培養グリオーマ細胞2株(A172, TM-1)の増殖抑制作用を検討した。抗PDGF、抗bFGF、抗EGF-Rは、単独で両グリオーマ細胞の無血清培地中におけるDNA合成を抑制した。これら抗体のDNA合成抑制作用は、前2者では血清添加培地中では減弱したが、抗EGF-Rの作用は変わらなかった。抗TGF-αのDNA合成抑制作用は弱く、血清添加培地中ではその作用は認められなかった。抗PDGF、抗bFGF、抗EGF-Rの3抗体を同時に作用させると両細胞のDNA合成は、血清添加培地中においても著しく抑制された。複数のオートクリンループを遮断することは、培養グリオーマ細胞の増殖抑制には有意義な手段であると考えられた

Elevated Plasma Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Brain Tumor Patients

We attempted to determine whether the plasma concentration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was elevated in brain tumor patients. The plasma concentration of bFGF was measured in 55brain tumor patients and 17 normal subjects by enzyme immunoassay. Upper limit of plasma bFGF in the normal subjects was 1.6 pg/ml. Elevated plasma bFGF levels were observed in 28 patients including 13 of 17 glioma patients, eight of 19 benign tumor patients, and seven of 19 malignant tumor patients. Twelve of 14 malignant glioma patients had elevated plasma bFGF levels. There was a good correlation (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) between the elevated plasma bFGF level and the tumor volume. Further studies are needed to determine whether the plasma bFGF level is a clinically useful diagnostic and prognostic marker for patients with brain tumors. 脳腫瘍患者の血漿中にbasic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)が上昇しているかどうか検討した。対象は55例の脳腫瘍患者で、17名の健康成人をコントロールとした。健康成人の血漿bFGF値の上限は1.6pg/mlであり、脳腫瘍患者でこの値を超えたのは28例(51%)であった。これらの内訳は、グリオーマ患者17例中13例、良性腫瘍19例中8例、悪性腫瘍19例中7例で、特に悪性グリオーマでは14例中12例と高頻度であった。これら脳腫瘍患者では血数bFGF値とMRIから計測した腫瘍体積とはよく相関した。以上、血槃bFGF値は脳腫瘍患者の過半数で上昇していたが、腫瘍マーカーとしての有用性を示すためにはさらに検討が必要と考えられた