CT perfusion illustrated reversal of uncal herniation after placement of an external ventricular drain

Compression of the PCA in the context of uncal herniation is usually deducted in retrospect only with presence of a demarcated infarction in the respective territory. In this particular case with early recovery of oculomotor nerve function after CSF drainage, additional CT perfusion was able to directly document both significant compromise of the PCA as well as effective reversal of uncal herniation with restitution of perfusion within the PCA territory

How DMSO, a widely used solvent, affects spinal cord injury

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate whether dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) has protective effects on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. New Zealand rabbits were enrolled in the study. In addition to the control group, the study group received 0.1 mL/kg DMSO prior to ischemia. Blood samples were taken to obtain nitrite-nitrate levels during the surgical procedure. After neurological evaluation at 24 hr of reperfusion, lumbar spinal cords were removed for electron microscopic evaluation and malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase measurements. The mean Tarlov score of the DMSO group was higher than that of the control group. Electron microscopic examination was carried out with tissue samples at 24 hr of reperfusion. The DMSO group had better preservation with the electron microscopic scoring compared to the control group. Malonclialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels were decreased in the DMSO group compared to the control group. Nitrite-nitrate levels were also lower in the DMSO group compared to control at 5 and 30 min of reperfusion. This study demonstrates a considerable neuroprotective effect of DMSO on neurological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses during periods of spinal cord I/R injury in rabbits. Although there was a difference between the DMSO and control groups in all measured parameters in our study, this was not statistically significant. DMSO deserves further investigation related with spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion. We should also consider the effect of DMSO when we use it as a solvent or vehicle during experimental I/R models

Coronary atherosclerosis distribution and the effect of blood glucose level on operative mortality/morbidity in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a single center experience

Objective: The study aim was to investigate the effect of blood glucose level on atherosclertotic lesion distribution and the contribution to the operative mortality/morbidity in diabetic patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Levosimendan for ischemic preconditioning in thoracic aortic aneurysm repair

Background and Aim: Postoperative neurologic deficit is the most devastating complication after surgical thoracic aorta repair. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage and some medications are used for spinal cord protection during and after the operation. Methods: A 25-year-old patient applied to our clinic with a traumatic descending aortic aneurysm. We performed a surgical repair for the aneurysm but could not achieve to place a lumbar catheter to provide cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Levosimendan was chosen for spinal cord ischemic preconditioning because of its vasodilatory effects. Results: Postoperative course was uneventful. Hemodynamic and neurologic complication was not observed, and the patient was discharged from the hospital in the postoperative 5th day. Conclusions: Levosimendan can be used for preconditioning and spinal cord protection from ischemic injury during descending aorta repair. We clearly benefit from the vasodilator peculiarity of the drug for improving spinal cord perfusion

Can in-vitro chemoresponse assays help find new treatment regimens for malignant gliomas?

Various in-vitro chemosensitivity and resistance assays (CSRAs) have been demonstrated to be helpful decision aids for non-neurological tumors. Here, we evaluated the performance characteristics of two CSRAs for glioblastoma (GB) cells. The chemoresponse of fresh GB cells from 30 patients was studied in vitro using the ATP tumor chemoresponse assay and the chemotherapy resistance assay (CTR-Test). Both assay platforms provided comparable results. Of seven different chemotherapeutic drugs and drug combinations tested in vitro, treosulfan plus cytarabine (TARA) was the most effective, followed by nimustine (ACNU) plus teniposide (VM26) and temozolomide (TMZ). Whereas ACNU/VM26 and TMZ have proven their clinical value for malignant gliomas in large randomized studies, TARA has not been successful in newly diagnosed gliomas. This seeming discrepancy between in vitro and clinical result might be explained by the pharmacological behavior of treosulfan. Our results show reasonable agreement between two cell-based CSRAs. They appear to confirm the clinical effectiveness of drugs used in GB treatment as long as pharmacological preconditions such as overcoming the blood-brain barrier are properly considered

The effects on myocardial improvement using ATP-MgCl2 during the ischemia reperfusion period; An in vitro study

We investigated the effect of ATP-MgCl2 on myocardial hemodynamics and ultrastructure