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Aim: Primary traumatic spinal cord injury is defined as the injury occurring at the time of the trauma. The metabolic and biochemical processes lead to the secondary trauma in the following hours after the primary trauma. Free radicals and ischemic reperfusion injury are two factors which play role in secondary injury. An iron chelating agent deferoxamine has treatment effect on secondary injury mechanisms by binding free iron ion. This study is based on these effects of deferoxamine. Material and Methods: The experimental spinal cord injury model was applied on 26 rats. In control group I, 10 rats were sacrificed to provide normal spinal cord histopathology and biochemical baseline values. In group II, 6 rats underwent six segment laminectomy and spinal cord injury was produced by extradural compression of the exposed cord by aneurysm clip. Same procedures were performed in 10 rats in group III, but they also received 100mg/kg/day intraperitoneal injection of deferoxamine. Group II and III were sacrificed at 48 hours after the trauma. The effect of deferoxamine on superoxide dismutase and histopathological findings were studied. Results: Superoxide dismutase values of the treatment group were found to decrease significantly when compared to the trauma group. The histopathological evaluation revealed the preservation of spinal cord structure in the treatment group. Conclusion: Results showed that deferoxamine, might reduce secondary injury in damaged rat spinal cord tissue, by a possible mechanism of decreasing the production of free radicals. © 2015, Ege University Press. All rights reserved.

Objective: Collision tumors are defined as two separate lesions which developed simultaneously either in close proximity to each other or even within the same growth. In cases of very heterogeneous lesions they might be misdiagnosed as collision tumors, but the final diagnosis is only made if there [for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 65. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC)

Objective: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a reversible vessel contraction in response to subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). D-penicillamin (D-pen) catalyses a variety of metals. Therefore it is used treating heavy metal intoxications, Wilson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Iatrogenic myasthenia[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 65. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC)

This paper summarizes key findings and identifies the main lessons learnt from a 5-year (2002-2008) coordinated research project (CRP) on "Assessing the effectiveness of soil conservation measures for sustainable watershed management and crop production using fallout radionuclides" (D1.50.08), organized and funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency through the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The project brought together nineteen participants, from Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vietnam, involved in the use of nuclear techniques and, more particularly, fallout radionuclides (FRN) to assess the relative impacts of different soil conservation measures on soil erosion and land productivity. The overall objective of the CRP was to develop improved land use and management strategies for sustainable watershed management through effective soil erosion control practices, by the use of 137Cs (half-life of 30.2 years), 210Pb ex (half-life of 22.3 years) and 7Be (half-life of 53.4 days) for measuring soil erosion over several spatial and temporal scales. The environmental conditions under which the different research teams applied the tools based on the use of fallout radionuclides varied considerably - a variety of climates, soils, topographies and land uses. Nevertheless, the achievements of the CRP, as reflected in this overview paper, demonstrate that fallout radionuclide-based techniques are powerful tools to assess soil erosion/deposition at several spatial and temporal scales in a wide range of environments, and offer potential to monitor soil quality. The success of the CRP has stimulated an interest in many IAEA Member States in the use of these methodologies to identify factors and practices that can enhance sustainable agriculture and minimize land degradation. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Missile injuries to the head account for the majority of penetrating wound of the brain. Low-velocity penetrating cranial injuries excluding gunshot wound are seen infrequently in civilian practice. Most cases result from industrial accidents, criminal assaults and self-inflicted injury. This report deals with an interesting type of craniocerebral trauma and the literature related to these unusual cases is reviewed.

This report is of a patient with an isolated sellar tuberculoma with suprasellar extension in association with thickening of the pituitary stalk who presented with signs and symptoms of hypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a sellar mass with suprasellar extension associated with thickening of the pituitary stalk. Endocrinological parameters indicated hypopituitarism. The patient underwent a transsphenoidal procedure. The pathological diagnosis was of a typical structure of tuberculoma. If a pituitary tumor with suprasellar extension in association with the thickening of the pituitary stalk is suspected, the possibility of sellar tuberculoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of nonsecreting sellar masses, even when no history of tuberculosis exists.

The ventriculoperitoneal shunt is accepted as the simplest and most effective treatment for hydrocephalus. The major problem with these devices is obstruction of the proximal end of the tubing. In this study, we examined deposits in the proximal ends of Codman shunts from 20 of our patients whose catheter failed. Light microscopic examination revealed that the deposited material contained fibrin, other proteinaceous material, erythrocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, eosinophils, leukocytes, giant cells, and evidence of neovascularization. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of fibrin, other proteinaceous material, many phagocytic cells, giant cells, and bacteria within the cytoplasm of these two types of cells. Immunohistochemically, the deposited material stained intensely for IgA, moderately for IgG, and weakly for IgM. This report discusses on ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure and the types of deposits that accumulate at the proximal end of the catheter, and reviews the relevant literature. The authors conclude that such deposits do cause shunt failure.

Surgical procedures designed to decompress and stabilize unstable trauma-related thoracolumbar fractures are primarily anterior or posterior operative approaches combined with anterior or posterior instrumentation. Our goal is to identify patients that are likely to benefit from either fixation system. Two treatment groups were studied. The first group of 20 patients underwent posterior instrumentation and fusion. Also, eighteen patients with evidence of neural compression were treated with posterior decompressive surgery. The second group, consisting of 10 patients with neurological deficits, was managed with single-stage anterior decompression, interbody strut grafting, and anterior instrumentation. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to postoperative neurological outcome (Mann-Whitney U, P>0.05), pain assessment and ability to return to work (Chi-square, P>0.05), rate of instrument failure (Chi-square, P>0,05), rate of solid fusion (Chi-square, P>0,05) and loss of reduction (Mann-Whitney U, P>0.05). When surgery is indicated, the operative approach (anterior or posterior) and type of instrumentation used (anterior or posterior) are determined by the location and characteristics of the fracture (e.g., neural compression and instability) and the surgeon's familiarity with the various techniques. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that posterior spinal instrumentation is as effective as anterior instrumentation in the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar fractures.

WOS: 000078715800013 PubMed ID: 10068192 Intracranial dissecting and giant serpentine aneurysms are rare vascular anomalies. Their precise cause has not yet been completely clarified, and the radiological appearance of such lesions can be different in each case according to the effect of hemodynamic stress on a pathologic vessel wall. For berry aneurysms, available evidence overwhelmingly favors their causation by hemodynamically induced degenerative vascular disease and there is an obvious need to determine the hemodynamic parameters most likely to induce the precursor atrophic lesions. In this study, a case of a giant dissecting aneurysm angiographically mimicking serpentine aneurysm of the right ophthalmic artery is reported and the relevant literature is reviewed to investigate the pathological characteristics and pathogenesis of this lesion. In the present case, radiological investigation of the lesion suggested a serpentine aneurysm, but the diagnosis was corrected to dissecting aneurysm subsequent to the pathological examination of the resected aneurysm. A giant dissecting aneurysm angiographically mimicking serpentine aneurysm and developing as the result of a circumferential dissection located between the internal elastic lamina and media is of particular interest when the etiology of these aneurysms is considered. To our knowledge this is the first report on intracranial dissecting aneurysm mimicking serpentine aneurysm angiographically Our case illustrates the importance of careful serial section studies for a better understanding of the vascular pathology underlying the processes involved in intracranial serpentine aneurysms. We conclude that serpentine, dissecting and berry aneurysms may all arise by way of similar pathophysiological mechanisms.

[No abstract available]

Successful results in well selected patients have been reported following percutaneous laser discolysis in the treatment of herniated intervertebral disc disease. Two groups with four pigs in each were formed. First four pigs were used as the control group and the second four was used as the treatment group. Intervertebral disc spaces of the treatment group was hydrated with 0, 1 cc saline. Intervertebral disc spaces of each pig in both groups have been irradiated with Nd:YAG laser of 1318 nm wavelength and designated energy level. Macroscopic and microscopic findings of the lesions formed have been evaluated. As a result we can say that percutaneous discolysis can be more successful especially in the young patients due to our observation obvious evaporation in the hydrated group.

PubMedID: 1484299 [No abstract available]

Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) and Interleukin-2 (IL-2) values were determined in 44 intracranial tumour patients pre- and postoperatively and compared with the values in 20 healthy persons and 14 with Behcet's disease, who were used as the control group. There was no significant difference in IL-2 values of the control group and preoperative values of the tumour group except for meningioma and acustic neurinoma. We think that macrophages and glycoaminogaycans which encapsulate the tumour prevent stimulation of T helpers by the tumour antigens, so IL-2 is not secreted from the T helpers. Probably for the same reason we could not find significant TNF values between the control group and the preoperative tumour group. Postoperative decrease in IL-2 is considered to be the result of corticosteroids used for 7 days. Increased TNF values in the postoperative tumour group can be due to the breakdown of the glycoaminoglycan barrier and stimulation of macrophages by the tumour antigens.

[No abstract available]

[No abstract available]

In all of the 54 patients with cervical dislocations, reduction is performed by Crutchfield skeletal traction; between these patients 33 had undergone Cloward's anterior approach. In 3 of them posterior fusion was chosen. As for complications: in 1 case perforation of the oesophagus was reported; in another one, neurological deficit caused by the callus growing into the canal occurred. In 7 cases gastrointestinal bleeding appeared, and 14 patients died. The clinical condition of our patients were not as good as the ones in the literature. Obviously this condition had negative effects on the prognosis. Since the mechanism of trauma is the same in all of the accidents, this was thought to be due to the lack of qualified personnel who are to take care of such patients until they are hospitalized.