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The article discusses the use of abdominal free fat grafts for the improvement of cosmetic results and prevention of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in supratentorial skull base surgery to address the temporal deformity caused by the wasting of the temporalis muscle. The authors found abdominal free fat to be able to provide a source of malleable, autologous material for enhancing cosmesis or supratentorial skull base closures, prevent CSF leaks, and with low incidence of infection.

Vasospasm after resection of skull base tumors is a rare complication that often produces serious ischemic sequelae. In four of the authors' recent cases, vasospasm complicated the patient's post-operative course. A review of the literature produced a number of cases that can help determine possible causes of vasospasm after tumor resection, ways to prevent it, and methods to evaluate it when it occurs. The cause appears to be multifactorial and the surgical approach may contribute to the pathogenesis of vasospasm. Physicians must have a high degree of suspicion to detect vasospasm at an early stage of skull base surgery. Cerebral blood flow measurement and transcranial Doppler are useful monitoring tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematoporphyrin derivative (Hpd) localizes selectively in malignant and rapidly metabolizing tissues and undergoes a cytotoxic reaction when exposed to light of a specific wavelength. Hpd has been studied extensively with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of tumors but not with regard to bactericidal activity. This investigation assessed the effect of light-activated Hpd on various microorganisms, on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and on the interactions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and bacteria. Light-activated Hpd was 99.9% bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis, Streptococcus M-G intermedius, Streptococcus mutans, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Peptococcus magnus, and Clostridium perfringens, but did not affect Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Candida albicans. Photoactivation of Hpd rendered 98% of polymorphonuclear leukocytes inviable. Combinations of light-activated Hpd and polymorphonuclear leukocytes had a 4-log (99.99%) bactericidal effect on both intra- and extracellular S. aureus. The ability of Hpd to localize in inflammatory tissues may have therapeutic applications in the treatment of abscesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the case of a 72 year old Asian man was transferred to our institution for work-up of hyponatraemia and an intrasellar mass. The patient had been exposed to ill children and reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection a week before presentation. Lumbar puncture findings were normal. Computed tomography of the head done at that point showed a 2.1 cm sellar mass with suprasellar extension, elevating the optic chiasm. The neuro-ophthalamic evaluation revealed bitemporal visual field defects with no papilloedema.