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Neuroscience 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, China. Electronic address:

This study aimed to explore the mechanisms of acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) in the modulation of tooth mechanical hyperalgesia induced by tooth movement. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, closed coil springs were ligated between mandibular incisors and molars to mimic orthodontic tooth movement. Bite force was assessed to evaluate tooth mechanical hyperalgesia. Read More

Lupus 2020 Jun 26:961203320935169. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Trigeminal trophic syndrome occurs secondary to trigeminal nerve injury, leading to anaesthesia and paraesthesia, with consequent vigorous facial skin manipulation and lesion production, simulating other facial diseases such as ulcerative discoid lupus erythematosus, tumours and other artificially produced lesions. Ulceration and destruction of the ala nasi is a typical feature besides scratching end excoriations in the cutaneous segment affected. In this series, we present the features of five patients with trigeminal trophic syndrome, highlighting possible confusion with cutaneous lupus. Read More

Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2020 Sep 25;7(5). Epub 2020 Jun 25.

From the Department of Neurological Therapeutics (T.F., N.I.), Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka; Department of Neurology (R.Y., Y.M., K.I., Y.H., T.M., J.K.), Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka; Translational Neuroscience Center (J.K.), Graduate School of Medicine, and School of Pharmacy at Fukuoka, International University of Health and Welfare, Ookawa, Fukuoka; and Department of Neurology (J.K.), Brain and Nerve Center, Fukuoka Central Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Chuou-ku, Japan.

Objective: To determine whether anti-Plexin D1 antibody (Plexin D1-immunoglobulin G [IgG]), which is associated with limb and trunk neuropathic pain (NP) and binds to pain-conducting small unmyelinated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, exists in patients with idiopathic painful trigeminal neuropathy (IPTN) and whether Plexin D1-IgG binds to trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons.

Methods: We enrolled 21 consecutive patients with IPTN and 35 age- and sex-matched controls without NP (25 healthy persons and 10 with neurodegenerative diseases). We measured serum Plexin D1-IgG using a mouse DRG tissue-based indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and by Western blotting (WB) using a recombinant human Plexin D1 (rhPlexin D1) accompanied by immunoadsorption tests with rhPlexin D1. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jun 22;21(12). Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Biology, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channel-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD), 9160000 Santiago, Chile.

TRPM8 is the main molecular entity responsible for cold sensing. This polymodal ion channel is activated by cold, cooling compounds such as menthol, voltage, and rises in osmolality. In corneal cold thermoreceptor neurons (CTNs), TRPM8 expression determines not only their sensitivity to cold, but also their role as neural detectors of ocular surface wetness. Read More

Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2020 Jun 7. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

Department of Head and Skin, Upper Airway Research Laboratory (URL), Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: Pain is a major symptom of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). It is mainly associated with CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and has a major impact in the decision to move on to surgery. Patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) are characterized by trigeminal hypoesthesia and suffer from less pain. Read More

Stomatologiia (Mosk) 2020 ;99(2):85-90

Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia.

The aim of the study was to summarize literature data on oral and maxillofacial manifestations of neurofibromatosis I (NFI) and to analyze clinical case in with dentist had the leading role in proper diagnosis of the disease. Literature review showed main oral alterations in NFI to be: neurofibroma formation seen in 8-14% of children and adolescents, dysplastic «orthodontic» phenotype with shortened mandible, maxilla and sphenoid bones; radiologic signs including alveolar nerve canal and mental foramen widening in almost one third of patients; lesions of cranial nerves (mainly trigeminal, facial and glossopharyngeal), with non-specific paralysis clinic. These symptoms, however, develop gradually throughout the life and may be evident only in late adolescents. Read More

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2019 Nov-Dec;33(6 Suppl. 2):155-169

Pham Ngoc Thac University of Medicine, Department of Histology, Embryology and Genetics, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The rarely diagnosed persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) originates from the posterior bend or lateral wall of the intracavernous carotid artery and is the most common occurring type of remnant primitive fetal arteries. Even if PTA is uncommon, information and awareness about it could be of great help for clinicians dealing with cranial vascular imaging and operating this region. In addition, it could give a supporting response to the presence of a wide range of idiopathic and unresponsive disturbs that sometimes are erroneously interpreted and treated. Read More

Spec Care Dentist 2020 May 8;40(3):303-307. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Restorative Dentistry, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.

Aim: The present study aimed to report a case of orofacial pain secondary to acoustic neuroma (AN).

Methods And Results: A 66-year-old female presented with unilateral facial pain and odontalgia. The pain was described as throbbing, dull, and constant. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Apr;99(16):e19710

The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province.

Introduction: Classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) is a kind of trigeminal neuralgia which is due to neurovascular compression. The common neurological treatment CTN drug called carbamazepine is the main measure, although it usually has side effects and a high-rate of relapse. As a critical alternative therapy, electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to benefit for neuropathic pain. Read More

Taiwan J Ophthalmol 2020 Jan-Mar;10(1):13-21. Epub 2020 Mar 4.

R&D Department, TissueTech Inc., Miami, FL, USA.

Neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a degenerative disease caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve, abolishes both tearing and blinking reflexes, thus causing the most severe forms of dry eye disease (DED). Conversely, the increasing severity of DED also leads to progressive loss of corneal nerve density, potentially resulting in NK. Both diseases manifest the same spectrum of corneal pathologies including inflammation and corneal epithelial keratitis, which can progress into vision-threatening epithelial defect and stromal ulceration. Read More

Swiss Dent J 2020 04;130(4):321-327

Abteilung Myoarthropathien/ Orofazialer Schmerz, Klinik für Oral Health & Medicine, Universitäres Zentrum für Zahnmedizin Basel, Schweiz

Acute pain has a warning function and is necessary to survive. Conversely, chronic or recurrent pain is a pathological entity itself and has tremendous impact on the quality of life of the patients . Facial pain is very common and can have various causes. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2020 Mar;100(12):938-941

Department of Rheumatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100044, China.

The aim of present study is to analyze clinical and laboratory features of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)-associated trigeminal neuropathy (TN). Clinical records of 12 cases of MCTD complicated with TN diagnosed in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2008 to October 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The present study included 12 cases, 1 males and 11 females, average age was(40±13)years. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2020 03 30;16(3):e1008445. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.

Herpesviral encephalitis caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) is one of the most devastating diseases in humans. Patients present with fever, mental status changes or seizures and when untreated, sequelae can be fatal. Herpes Simplex Encephalitis (HSE) is characterized by mainly unilateral necrotizing inflammation effacing the frontal and mesiotemporal lobes with rare involvement of the brainstem. Read More

Cancer Radiother 2020 Apr 24;24(2):166-173. Epub 2020 Mar 24.

Département de neurochirurgie, centre hospitalier universitaire Gabriel-Montpied, 58, rue Montalembert, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a non-invasive technique that enables to create brain focal lesions with a high precision and localization. Thus, functional brain disorders can be treated by SRS in case of pharmacoresistance or inoperability. To date, treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is the most described and known indication. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 04;136:435-436

Institute of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.

World Neurosurg 2020 04;136:433-434

Department of Neurosurgery, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Neurosurgery, Cannizzaro Hospital, Trauma Center, Gamma Knife Center, Catania, Italy. Electronic address:

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2020 Feb;100(7):527-532

Department of Pain Management, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China.

To compare the effect of different supraorbital foramen variations on the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia V1. The clinical data of 62 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (V1 branch) from February 2011 to August 2017 in the first hospital of Jiaxing were analyzed retrospectively. According to the shape of supraorbital foramen, the patients were divided into foramen group (28) and incisional group (34). Read More

Psychiatr Danub 2019 Dec;31(Suppl 5):724-731

School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

In this paper the authors present neuroanatomical and neurophysiological arguments against the microvascular compression in the root entry zone of trigeminal nerve nerve as an ethiopathogenetic factor of ITN. Clinical experience has proven that compression of mixed sensorymotor nerve (peripheral or central one), cannot provoke paroxysmal neuralgic pain. The authors conclude that the well known fact that dental pulp has only pain sensory modality brings up the question what might be consequence of tooth extraction where neural fibers are broken in the innervation areas of maxillar and mandibular nerve. Read More

Acta Pharm Sin B 2020 Mar 22;10(3):383-398. Epub 2019 Jun 22.

Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a neurotropic herpes virus, is able to establish a lifelong latent infection in the human host. Following primary replication in mucosal epithelial cells, the virus can enter sensory neurons innervating peripheral tissues nerve termini. The viral genome is then transported to the nucleus where it can be maintained without producing infectious progeny, and thus latency is established in the cell. Read More

Br Dent J 2020 02;228(4):227

, Cambridge, UK.

J Oral Rehabil 2020 Jun 29;47(6):775-781. Epub 2020 Feb 29.

Department of Oral Health Sciences and Department of Dentistry, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Toothache represents the most common example of oro-facial pain. Its origin is mostly odontogenic, but several other conditions may mimic dental pain or present themselves as such. Well-known examples are myofascial pain, trigeminal neuropathies like neuralgia and painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain, oro-facial neurovascular pains, cardiac pain and sinus disease. Read More

Clin Oral Investig 2020 Mar 12;24(3):1137-1149. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

Department of Surgery, Stomatology, Pathology and Radiology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil.

Objectives: The current dentistry scenario is showing an increase in the availability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in dental offices. Oral surgeons are using three-dimensional information as an additional tool to assess preoperative data for lower third molar (LTM) removal in moderate and high-risk cases of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury diagnosed through the panoramic radiography (PR). The aim of this study is to identify whether CBCT examination reduces neurosensoric disturbances (ND) following the removal of the LTM when compared to PR. Read More

J Pain Res 2020 10;13:25-37. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: This rat experiment aims to demonstrate the efficacy of electrical acupuncture in preventing migraine attacks by stimulating the acupoint GB20.

Introduction: Migraine, which takes 2ed at level four causes of GBD's disease hierarchy, becomes a public health issue. It is important for physicians to supplement their knowledge of its treatment and consider alternative methods of therapy, such as acupuncture. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Jan;99(3):e18873

Department of Neurosurgery, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.

Rationale: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is frequently associated with compression at the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve by an aberrant loop of an artery, tributaries of the petrosal vein, tumors, aneurysm, and vascular malformation. TN associated with a cerebellar pial arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) has not been described previously.

Patient Concerns: A 65-year-old man presented with right-sided TN. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2020 Jan 11;8(1):219-220. Epub 2019 Dec 11.

Department of Cardiology North Zealand Hospital Hillerød Denmark.

A 77-year-old woman presented with ophthalmic zoster and nasal tip involvement, consistent with Hutchinson's sign. Ocular examination disclosed a swollen upper eyelid, chemosis, conjunctival injection, pus, and mild corneal endothelial decompensation. The presence of Hutchinson's sign requires urgent consultation with an ophthalmologist due to the high risk of ocular complications. Read More

Yonsei Med J 2020 Feb;61(2):111-119

Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic disorder of the trigeminal nerve characterized by repeated electrical shock-like sensations on one side of the face. It can cause severe pain in the face and disrupt or impair quality of life in patients. Options for the management of TN consist of pharmacological and surgical treatments, including Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). Read More

Cancer Radiother 2020 Feb 21;24(1):11-14. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Ghent University Hospital department of Radiation Oncology, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent, Belgique.

Two prior surveys were carried out in 1995 and 1999 to evaluate the use of radiotherapy in the treatment of non-malignant disease. In 2016, the same questionnaire was used and sent to the 24 centers of the country: 22 responded. A major decrease was observed in the number of patients treated: 360 in 2016 in contrast to 954 in 1999 and 1113 in 1995. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2020 Mar/Apr;31(2):e205-e208

Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China.

Parry-Romberg syndrome is a rare craniofacial disorder characterized by progressive hemifacial atrophy with systematic manifestations. The combination with hemimasticatory spasm is rare, with only 9 patients reported before. In this study, a study of a young male patient with Parry-Romberg syndrome and hemimasticatory spasm on his left side was presented. Read More

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2020 24;54(1):28-32. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Department of Neurology, Medical University of Silesia, School of Health Sciences, Ziołowa 45/47, 40-635 Katowice, Poland.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is one of the most common cranial neuropathies. Pathologies located alongside the long nerve can also cause its mechanical compression or secondary involvement in the inflammatory process, and thus cause pain. TN is characterised by severe paroxysmal unilateral facial pain in the innervation area of branches I-III of the nerve V when provoked by light touch or slight movement. Read More

Infect Immun 2020 03 23;88(4). Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

, a common cause of sepsis and bacterial meningitis, infects the meninges and central nervous system (CNS), primarily via paracellular traversal across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. is often present asymptomatically in the nasopharynx, and the nerves extending between the nasal cavity and the brain constitute an alternative route by which the meningococci may reach the CNS. To date, the cellular mechanisms involved in nerve infection are not fully understood. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Apr 17;136:e559-e566. Epub 2020 Jan 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China. Electronic address:

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) has been the most effective long-term surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, the risk factors for poor pain control after MVD are not fully understood.

Methods: A total of 184 patients with typical TN who had undergone MVD at our institution from January 3, 2008 to January 3, 2016 were enrolled in the present study. Read More

J Photochem Photobiol B 2020 Mar 10;204:111785. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Postoperative sensory disturbances of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) are major challenges in dental procedures. We aimed to investigate the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) with 810 nm and 980 nm diode lasers on behavioral and immunological factors in a rat IAN crush model. Seventy-two rats were randomly assigned to the four groups of 810 nm laser (crush injury+810 nm laser; 6 J/cm, 15 sessions, every 48 h), 980 nm laser (crush injury+980 nm laser; same protocol), control (crush injury without irradiation), and sham surgery (no crush injury and no irradiation). Read More

Brain Res 2020 Mar 14;1730:146670. Epub 2020 Jan 14.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Introduction: Acupuncture has become a relevant complementary and alternative treatment for acute migraine; however, the neurophysiological mechanism (C-fibers) underlying this effect remains unclear. C-fibers play a crucial role for diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC) at wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the trigeminocervical complex (TCC) in migraine attacks, and we supposed that this may be the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia. This study aimed to examine the neurophysiology of acupuncture intervention in an acute migraine rat model. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Apr 9;136:187-192. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Seoul, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background: The anterior surgical approach to the cervical spine is known to be safe, and damage to the hypoglossal nerve and trigeminal pathway after the surgery is uncommon. However, once damage to those nerves occurs, the patient's quality of life can be severely impaired by discomfort and disability.

Case Description: We report the case of a 59-year-old male with concomitant and irreversible hypoglossal nerve and trigeminal system dysfunction after cervical spine surgery by the anterior approach confirmed by an electrodiagnostic study. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Dec 27;19(1):341. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

Department of Neurosurgery, the Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital, No.16 Tuanjie South Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) in reducing hypertension (HTN) in hypertensive patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Methods: The clinical data of 58 cases of neurogenic HTN with TN treated in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative MR revealed abnormal blood pressure in the left rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the posterior cranial nerve root entry zone (REZ). Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Mar 23;135:252. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Electronic address:

The retrosigmoid approach for microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve (TN) is an established and highly effective technique for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia due to vascular compression. It is common to place a pledget or other cushion material between the source of vascular compression, typically the superior cerebellar artery (SCA), and the TN after vessel mobilization and decompression. A previous study demonstrated the use of a tentorial sling on the SCA to maintain decompression of the TN, with encouraging results. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Apr 23;136:e165-e170. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is highly effective in managing the neuropathic facial pain of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Its utility in patients with TN and concurrent multiple sclerosis (MS) has been a subject of debate. The goal of this study was to identify demographic and perioperative variables associated with favorable outcome after MVD over the past 20 years in patients from our institution. Read More

Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg 2019 Dec;37(12):837-861

Radiation Sciences Research Center, Laser Research Center in Medical Sciences, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

To provide a review of the literature about the photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) dental treatment protocols in oral medicine based on validated clinical studies that have been published so far. The lack of effective therapies for the treatment of various types of oral diseases or the presence of invasive therapeutic methods along with the use of a wide range of medications has had a significant impact on the quality of life of these patients. PBMT as a noninvasive and nondrug method can play an influential role in the treatment of oral diseases. Read More

Behav Neurol 2019 21;2019:8685954. Epub 2019 Nov 21.

Department of Neurology, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic secondary pain condition, which is a consequence of peripheral or central nervous (somatosensory) system lesions or diseases. It is a devastating condition, which affects around 7% of the general population. Numerous etiological factors contribute to the development of chronic neuropathic pain. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Dec 17;20(24). Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Department of Physiology, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo 101-8310, Japan.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is upregulated in the injured peripheral nerve bundle and controls nociceptive neuronal excitability associated with peripheral nerve injury. Here, we examined the involvement of IGF-1 signaling in orofacial neuropathic pain following infraorbital nerve injury (IONI) in rats. IONI promoted macrophage accumulation in the injured ION, as well as in the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion (TG), and induced mechanical allodynia of the whisker pad skin together with the enhancement of neuronal activities in the subnucleus caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus and in the upper cervical spinal cord. Read More

Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019 12 3;7(1):191. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Department of Genetics, Rouen University Hospital and Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245, Normandy Centre for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, F76000, Rouen, France.

The contribution of mosaic alterations to tumors of the nervous system and to non-malignant neurological diseases has been unmasked thanks to the development of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies. We report here the case of a young patient without any remarkable familial medical history who was first referred at 7 years of age, for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) of Asperger type, not associated with macrocephaly. The patient subsequently presented at 10 years of age with multiple nodular lesions located within the trigeminal, facial and acoustic nerve ganglia and at the L3 level. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2019 ;119(10):62-66

Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Simferopol, Russia.

The article presents in detail the history of the discovery of the trigeminal ganglion in the context to name it Gasserian ganglion. The historical, formal and logical methods of research, along with system analysis were used in the work. An in-depth research of little-known literature sources, which included scientific, publicistic and fiction components, was conducted. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 May 29;137:e34-e42. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.

Background: Seven-Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated value for evaluating a variety of intracranial diseases. However, its utility in trigeminal neuralgia has received limited attention. The authors of the present study applied ultra-high field multimodal MRI to two representative patients with secondary trigeminal neuralgia due to epidermoid tumors to illustrate the possible clinical and surgical advantages of 7T compared with standard clinical strength imaging. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Mar 30;135:e230-e236. Epub 2019 Nov 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, USA. Electronic address:

Background: We have been using computed tomography (CT) guidance for percutaneous glycerol rhizotomy (PGR) for the last 7 years. As a quality improvement exercise, we recently began using general anesthesia (GA) with the use of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) because of our perception that the procedure went faster and that there was less radiation exposure because of less patient movement. We aim to compare PGR radiation exposure and procedural time between patients receiving local anesthetic with sedation and those receiving GA/LMA. Read More

Neurochem Int 2020 02 28;133:104613. Epub 2019 Nov 28.

Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. Electronic address:

Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) remains a tremendous clinical challenge due to its elusive mechanisms. Previous studies showed that peripheral nerve injury facilitated a selective GABAergic neuronal apoptosis in the superficial dorsal horn and contributed to the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. It has also demonstrated that downregulation of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome(APC/C) and its coactivator Cdh1 contribute to neuronal apoptosis in diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Nov 29;19(1):303. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Department of Neurology, Headache Center North-East, University Medical Center Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, 18147, Rostock, Germany.

Background: Numb Chin Syndrome (NCS), which is also characterized as sensory neuropathy of the mental nerve, describes a mostly unilateral numbness of the chin and lower lip. Benign and malignant diseases are known to cause this circumscribed symptom, which can easily be overlooked or misdiagnosed. In this article we present the very rare case of a clinical NCS caused by thalamic lacunar infarction. Read More

Pain Physician 2019 11;22(6):E635-E647

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburg, PA.

Background: Thalamic pain is a neuropathic pain syndrome that occurs as a result of thalamic damage. It is difficult to develop therapeutic interventions for thalamic pain because its mechanism is unclear. To better understand the pathophysiological basis of thalamic pain, we developed and characterized a new rat model of thalamic pain using a technique of microinjecting cobra venom into the ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) of the thalamus. Read More

Pain Physician 2019 11;22(6):E609-E614

Department of Neurology, Lianshui People's Hospital, Huaian, Jiangsu, China.

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation through the foramen rotundum (FR) is a new approach for the treatment of V2 trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the FR approach with that of the foramen ovale (FO) approach.

Study Design: Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Feb 19;134:e1001-e1007. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Objective: The role of trainee involvement in lesioning procedures for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) has not yet been investigated in reported studies. The objective of the present study was to compare the complications and efficacy of percutaneous glycerol rhizotomy (GR) when performed by staff neurosurgeons and trainees.

Methods: A retrospective medical record analysis of 165 patients with medically refractory TN who had undergone 293 GR procedures by either a staff attending (n = 156) or trainee (n = 137) from 2007 to 2018 was performed. Read More

Neurosurgery 2020 03;86(3):E355-E356

Department of Neurological Surgery Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, Tennessee.