Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, New York, USA

Objective: There is a paucity of literature investigating the clinical course of patients with spinal intramedullary cavernous malformations (ISCMs). We present a large case series of ISCMs to describe clinical presentation, natural history and outcomes of both surgical and conservative management.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of patients diagnosed with ISCMs at our institution between 1995 and 2016. Read More

Int J Biol Sci 2019 1;15(2):277-286. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200065, China.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced neuronal apoptosis is a crucial pathological process of spinal cord injury (SCI). In our previous study, icariin (ICA) showed neuroprotective effects in SCI. However, the relationships between ER stress and ICA in SCI are unclear yet. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Radiology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Electronic address:

Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in stratification of spinal cord non-ependymal gliomas.

Methods: Forty-one patients (mean age, 29.9 ± 16. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Hospital and Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Introduction: A 26-year-old man presented with acute quadriparesis owing to a traffic accident. A computed tomography scan revealed a hangman fracture and locking of the left facet joint at C2-3. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a high signal change of the spinal cord on T2-weighted image and hemorrhage in the C2-3 level. Read More

Pharmacotherapy 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.

Optimal blood pressure management is controversial in neurocritically ill patients due to conflicting concerns of worsening ischemia with decreased blood pressure versus cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure with elevated blood pressure. In addition, there is a lack of high-quality evidence regarding optimal blood pressure goals in patients with most of these conditions. This review summarizes guideline recommendations and examines the literature for blood pressure management in patients with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2019 Mar 17;57(2):319-339. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Room M779, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Brain and Spinal Injury Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.

T2-weighted (T2W) imaging is the most important sequence for detection of acute traumatic spinal cord pathology in clinical practice. Intramedullary hemorrhage on T2W imaging is associated with some component of irreversible injury and arguably the most robust MR imaging predictor of injury severity. The MR imaging appearance of the injured spinal cord in the early stages of injury is highly dynamic, and the time delay from injury to imaging must be considered in image interpretation. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2019 Mar 15;57(2):307-318. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Neuroradiology Division, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, 30 North, 1900 East, #1A071, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2140, USA.

Vascular disorders of the spine are more rare than cerebral vascular entities but can result in significant morbidity. These lesions frequently demonstrate distinguishing characteristics by imaging that are imperative for the radiologist to recognize to properly guide diagnosis and treatment. We review distinguishing imaging characteristics for spinal vascular malformations, spinal emergencies, and spinal vascular masses. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 May;14(5):886-895

School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University; Department of Spinal and Neural Function Reconstruction, China Rehabilitation Research Center; Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; China Rehabilitation Science Institute; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Injury and Rehabilitation, Beijing, China.

Intramedullary pressure increases after spinal cord injury, and this can be an important factor for secondary spinal cord injury. Until now there have been no studies of the dynamic changes of intramedullary pressure after spinal cord injury. In this study, telemetry systems were used to observe changes in intramedullary pressure in the 72 hours following spinal cord injury to explore its pathological mechanisms. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Maimonides Medical Center, Division of Neurosurgery, 948 48th St, Brooklyn, NY 11219, Brooklyn, New York, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Although rare, spinal meningiomas may cause motor and sensory deficits or difficulty with bladder or bowel function due to spinal cord compression. While hemorrhage of intracranial meningiomas is well documented, there are very few cases of hemorrhage or hematoma associated with spinal meningiomas in the literature. Spinal meningiomas have been reported to be associated with subdural, epidural, intratumoral, and subarachnoid hemorrhage and usually in the setting of inciting event such as lumbar puncture or anti-coagulation therapy. Read More

Mol Neurobiol 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons and grim prognosis. Over the last decade, studies on neurodegenerative diseases pointed on the role of glia in supporting the proper function of neurons. Particularly, oligodendrocytes were shown to be essential through myelin production and supplying axons with energy metabolites via monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). Read More

Neurochem Int 2019 Mar 18;124:181-192. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Age-Related and Brain Diseases Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

After spinal cord injury (SCI), blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) disruption and hemorrhage lead to blood cell infiltration and progressive secondary injuries including inflammation. Inflammatory response is one of the major events resulting in apoptosis, scar formation and neuronal dysfunction after SCI. Here, we investigated whether protocatechuic acid (PCA), a natural phenolic compound, would attenuate BSCB disruption and hemorrhage, leading to functional improvement after SCI. Read More

Nat Neurosci 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA.

The clearance of damaged myelin sheaths is critical to ensure functional recovery from neural injury. Here we show a previously unidentified role for microvessels and their lining endothelial cells in engulfing myelin debris in spinal cord injury (SCI) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We demonstrate that IgG opsonization of myelin debris is required for its effective engulfment by endothelial cells and that the autophagy-lysosome pathway is crucial for degradation of engulfed myelin debris. Read More

Neuroradiology 2019 Jan 20. Epub 2019 Jan 20.

Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, College of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea.

Purpose: Diffuse midline glioma with histone H3 K27M mutation is a new entity described in the 2016 update of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics to predict the presence of H3 K27M mutation in spinal cord glioma using a machine learning-based classification model.

Methods: A total of 41 spinal cord glioma patients consisting of 24 H3 K27M mutants and 17 wild types were enrolled in this retrospective study. Read More

Headache 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Neuroradiology Division, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.

J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2019 Jan 31;62(1):106-113. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: The efficacy of preoperative embolization for hypervascular metastatic spine disease (MSD) such as renal cell and thyroid cancers has been reported. However, the debate on the efficacy of preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD still remains unsettled. The purpose of this study is to determine whether preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD decreases perioperative blood loss. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Jan 8;14(1). Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Surgery, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, 5 Weigla street, 50-981, Wroclaw, Poland.

Introduction: One of the most severe complications after TEVAR is ischemic stroke and spinal cord ischemia (SCI) resulting in severe disability. These complications can be fatal up to 30% of cases, so it is very important to define risk factors associated with the occurrence of such events. The aim of this study was to define the causes and risk factors associated with the occurrence of neurological complications in patients after TEVAR. Read More

Arch Craniofac Surg 2018 Dec 27;19(4):270-274. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Background: Nasal bone fractures occur frequently because the nasal bone is located at the forefront of the face. The goal of this study was to examine the cause, change in severity, change in incidence, and demographics of nasal bone fracture according to today's lifestyle.

Methods: A total of 2,092 patients diagnosed as having nasal bone fractures at our department between 2002 and 2017 were included in this study. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2018 4;9:250. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Intramedullary hemorrhages involving spinal hemangioblastomas are rare. They are frequently associated with devastating neurologic outcomes, despite with emergent surgical intervention. Here, we presented an example of an intramedullary hemorrhage occurring in a spinal hemangioblastoma, where the patient markedly improved with surgery. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Dec 26. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Neurosurgery, United States. Electronic address:

This case report describes a 48-year old female who presented with altered mental status, lower extremity weakness, low back pain and a recent history of subjective fevers and night sweats found to have posterior parieto-occipital and spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage on imaging. Further work-up revealed vasculitic changes in the intracranial vasculature and the external carotid artery on angiography. She also demonstrated positivity for perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic (p-ANCA) antibodies overall consistent with ANCA associated central nervous system vasculitis (AAV). Read More

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2018 12 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia - Okanagan.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are highly prevalent in spinal cord injury (SCI) and peripheral vascular dysfunction might be a contributing factor. Recent evidence demonstrates that exposure to heat stress can improve vascular function and reduce the risk of CVD in uninjured populations. We therefore aimed to examine the extent of vascular dysfunction in spinal cord injury (SCI) and the acute effects of passive heating. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2018 Dec 19. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Perimedullary fistulae of the spinal cord are rare vascular lesions that can present with different clinical patterns: hemorrhage, progressive myelopathy due to arterial steal and/or venous congestion, or symptoms due to compression of neural structures by engorged vessels. Treatment consists of surgical excision, endovascular embolization, or a combination of the two. If complete obliteration of the nidus exposes the patient to undue risk of permanent neurological deficits, incomplete obliteration with reduction of the vascular supply is a reasonable compromise to improve clinical symptomatology. Read More

J Biosci 2018 Dec;43(5):897-909

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,

The outcomes of compressed spinal cord injury (CSCI) necessitate radical treatment. The therapeutic potential of neuroectodermal stem cells (NESCs) in a rat model of CSCI in acute and subacute stages was assessed. White Wistar rat were divided into control, sham-operated, CSCI untreated model, CSCI grafted with NESCs at 1 day after CSCI, and at 7 days after CSCI. Read More

Semin Ultrasound CT MR 2018 Dec 19;39(6):551-569. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Department of radiology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.

Spinal emergencies and urgent conditions must be recognized early so that the diagnosis can be quickly confirmed and treatment can be instituted to possibly prevent permanent loss of function. The American College of Radiology provides guidelines for recognition of patients presenting with myelopathy or acute low back pain who require further evaluation for suspicion of more serious problems and contribute to appropriate imaging utilization. Spinal emergencies include spinal cord compression secondary to vertebral fracture or space occupying lesion, spinal infection or abscess, vascular or hematologic damage, severe disc herniation, and spinal stenosis. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Neurosurgery, Trauma Center Murnau, Professor-Küntscher Straße 8, 82418, Murnau, Germany.

Background: Decompressive craniectomy is a commonly performed procedure. It reduces intracranial pressure, improves survival, and thus might have a positive impact on several neurosurgical diseases and emergencies. Sometimes primary skin closure is not possible due to cerebral herniation or extensive skin defects. Read More

Cureus 2018 Sep 27;10(9):e3375. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Surgery, Harlem Hospital Center, New York, USA.

Aortic occlusion is used during trauma resuscitation for patients with profound shock and cardiac arrest. Aortic occlusion increases coronary and cerebral perfusion permitting time for interventions in an attempt to salvage moribund patients. Resuscitative endovascular occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a less invasive method of aortic occlusion and its indications are being defined, but it is used primarily for noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(48):e13414

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University.

Rationale: Spontaneous intramedullary spinal cord hemorrhage (hematomyelia) is a rare disease and most cases have specific etiologies such as cavernous malformations and tumor. Most reported cases are about surgical treatment of intramedullary spinal cord hemorrhage, but there are no reports of rehabilitation effectiveness reported. This case reports the first case with positive effect of rehabilitation on a patient with intramedullary spinal cord hemorrhage, who did not undergo surgery. Read More

J Vasc Surg 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Vascular Medicine, German Aortic Center, University Heart Center, Hamburg, Germany.

Objective: Whereas open repair is the "gold standard" for most aortic arch diseases, a subgroup of patients might benefit from an endovascular approach. The introduction of branched stent grafts with dedicated design to address the challenges of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch has opened an entirely new area of treatment for these patients. We investigated the early outcomes of branched thoracic endovascular aortic repair (b-TEVAR) in various types of disease of the aortic arch. Read More

Neuroradiology 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Radiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1, Fujishiro-dai, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan.

Purpose: The reliability of assessment of the artery of Adamkiewicz before the aortic repair is highly dependent on the display of the continuity of this artery with the aorta, mainly around the vertebral pedicle, by computed tomography angiography (CTA). We hypothesized that the sharp filter kernel can improve visualization of this continuity of the vessel structure because of its edge enhancement and high-spatial resolution. This study was performed to compare the subjective and objective image quality of spinal CTA reconstructed with sharp and smooth filter kernels. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2018 7;5:275. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.

Our objective was to determine the efficacy of manual cervical dislocation vs. a mechanical cervical dislocation device for on-farm killing of poults and young turkeys. Forty-two 1- and 3-week old turkeys were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups: awake manual cervical dislocation (CD), anesthetized manual cervical dislocation (aCD), or anesthetized mechanical cervical dislocation (MCD). Read More

Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2018 ;24(4):379-423

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, Washington, DC.

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2019 Mar 13;210:148-158. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

Confocal Raman microspectral imaging (CRMI) in combination with multivariate analysis was used to study pathological progression after spinal cord injury (SCI). By establishing moderate contusion in rat models, ex vivo longitudinal spinal cord tissue sections were prepared for microspectroscopic analysis. Comparative studies were then performed to determine the pathological distinctions among before injury (BI), one day post-injury (1 DPI), seven days post-injury (7 DPI), and 14 days post-injury (14 DPI) groups. Read More

J Vasc Access 2018 Nov 16:1129729818809907. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

5 Department of Surgery and Liver Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background And Purpose:: The best access for hemodialysis is an autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The most helpful way for vasodilation in the upper limb is stellate ganglion block. We aim to evaluate the effect of stellate ganglion block on outcome of vascular access for dialysis. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Sep;10(9):5376-5383

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Aortic Disease Center, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing Engineering Research Center of Vascular Prostheses, Beijing 100029, China.

Background: Several methods of arch vessel reconstruction, such as (island) and branched graft techniques, have been proposed to treat aortic arch pathologies during total arch replacement (TAR). We seek to review our experience with modified en bloc technique and left subclavian (LSCA)-left carotid artery (LCCA) transposition in TAR and frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure for chronic type A aortic dissection (CTAAD).

Methods: From September 2010 to September 2016, 35 consecutive patients with CTAAD underwent modified arch reconstruction with LSCA-LCCA transposition during TAR and FET procedure. Read More

Lupus 2018 Dec 4;27(14):2292-2295. Epub 2018 Nov 4.

1 Department of Neurology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INNSZ), Mexico City, Mexico.

Background: Nontraumatic acute transverse myelitis (ATM) can occur in response to infectious, inflammatory and vascular triggers; 1% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop ATM, but the mechanism remains unknown.

Objective: The objective of this case report is to describe a case of intrathecal formation of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) during SLE-related ATM.

Methods: A single patient analysis was conducted. Read More

Fluids Barriers CNS 2018 Nov 5;15(1):31. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

MVZ Neurologie, Constance, Constance, Germany.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a crucial method in the diagnostic process for suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), especially when cerebral imaging is negative or inconclusive. CSF cytology (detection of erythrophages or siderophages) is used to determine whether a bloodstained CSF resembles a genuine SAH. Whether erythrophages may develop in vitro after a traumatic puncture in case of delayed CSF analysis is unclear. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Feb 1;220(2):193.e1-193.e12. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Biostatistics Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.

Background: Complicated operative vaginal deliveries are associated with high neonatal morbidity and maternal trauma, especially if the procedure is unsuccessful and a cesarean delivery is needed. The decision to perform an operative vaginal delivery has traditionally been based on a subjective assessment by digital vaginal examination combined with the clinical expertise of the obstetrician. Currently there is no method for objectively quantifying the likelihood of successful delivery. Read More

Asian J Surg 2018 Oct 27. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Aortic Disease Center, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To compare the outcomes of the en bloc and branched graft techniques for supra-aortic vessel reconstruction in total arch replacement (TAR) for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: In 53 ATAAD patients with intact supra-aortic arch vessels undergoing TAR, the arch vessels were reconstructed using the branched graft technique in 35 patients and en bloc technique in 18, i.e. Read More

BMC Complement Altern Med 2018 Oct 29;18(1):291. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Orthopaedics, Hanil General Hospital, 308 Uicheon-ro, Dobong-Gu, Seoul, 132-703, South Korea.

Background: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is an uncommon disease, but it can lead to acute cord compression with disabling consequences. Identifiable reasons for spontaneous hemorrhage are vascular malformations and bleeding disorders. However, SSEH after taking herbal medicines has not been described yet. Read More

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 2018 Oct;43(10):674-7

Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040.

Brain plasticity is referred to the ability of the brain to change in structure and functional activities from microscopic aspects (synapses) in individual neurons to larger-scale aspects such as cortical remapping, neuronal remodeling, etc. in response to injury. Acupuncture has a positive effect in the treatment of cerebral diseases, thus leading to an increasing research on its underlying mechanisms in regulating brain plasticity. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 24;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Medicine (Neurology), School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Acute bacterial meningitis is not an uncommon central nervous system infection. In severe cases, it can be associated with various neurological or systemic complications. However, acute spinal cord dysfunction rarely occurs. Read More

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2019 Jan 11;42(1):19-27. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Vascular Surgery, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair (f-TEVAR) using physician-modified stent grafts (PMSGs) in zone 0 and zone 1 for aortic arch diseases.

Methods: f-TEVAR using PMSGs in Z0 and Z1 was performed on ten high-risk patients for open surgery from November 2015 to September 2017. Indications were complicated acute type B dissection (ABAD) with retrograde dissection involving the mid-arch (n = 1), distal arch aneurysms (n = 3), mid-arch aneurysms of the inner arch curvature (n = 3) and penetrating aortic ulcer located in the mid- or proximal arch (n = 3). Read More

NMC Case Rep J 2018 Oct 13;5(4):105-109. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.

Concurrent multiple tumors developing in the spinal cord are rare, except for in genetic disorders, such as neurofibromatosis and von Hippel-Lindau disease. Furthermore, concurrent tumors arising in the same spinal level with discrete histopathology are much rarer. We report two such cases. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2018 Dec 13;58:210-212. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

University of California San Francisco, Department of Neurological Surgery, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Importance: Advances in minimally invasive (MIS) and mini-open surgical approaches have led to reductions in perioperative morbidity without compromising rates of resection of non-degenerative intradural spinal pathologies. Whether these approaches may be adapted for the surgical resection for intramedullary vascular malformations - such as cavernous malformations (CMs) - has yet to be reported. The authors describe a mini-open transspinous approach to resect a ruptured intramedullary CM of the conus medullaris. Read More

Neuropharmacology 2019 01 13;144:37-42. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Faculty of Pharmacy with the Laboratory Medicine Division, Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland; Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension and Vascular Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

Mice selected for high (HA) and low (LA) swim stress-induced analgesia (SSIA) are a unique model for studying the genetic background of this phenomenon. HA and LA miceshow substantial differences in the magnitude of the antinociceptive response to stress and when treated with exogenous opioids. However, the direct cause underplaying this distinctive feature has not yet been identified. Read More

Orphanet J Rare Dis 2018 Oct 1;13(1):175. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Reference Centre for Lysosomal Diseases (CRML), Department of Pediatric Neurology, and Sorbonne Université, GRC n°19, Pathologies Congénitales du Cervelet-LeucoDystrophies, AP-HP, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, F-75012, Paris, France.

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal lipid storage disease caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 genes. The clinical presentation and evolution of NP-C and the effect of miglustat treatment are described in the largest cohort of patients with adolescent/adult-onset NP-C studied to date.

Methods: Observational study based on clinical chart data from adult patients with NP-C (> 18 year old) diagnosed in France between 1990 and 2015. Read More

J Neurotrauma 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

1 The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami , Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.

Neuroimaging facilitates the translation of animal pre-clinical research to human application. The large porcine spinal cord is useful for testing invasive interventions. Ideally, the safety and efficacy of a delayed intervention is tested in pigs that have recovered sufficiently after spinal cord injury (SCI) to allow either deterioration or improvement of function to be detected. Read More

Leuk Res 2018 Nov 26;74:14-20. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan. Electronic address:

The RUNX1-EVI1 gene generated by the t(3;21) translocation encodes a chimeric transcription factor and is a causative gene in the development of de novo acute megakaryoblastic leukemia and leukemic transformation of hematopoietic stem cell tumors. Heterozygous RUNX1-EVI1 knock-in mice die in utero due to hemorrhage in the central nervous system and spinal cord and complete abolishment of definitive hematopoiesis in the fetal liver. On the other hand, the chimeric knock-in mouse develops acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. Read More

Exp Neurol 2019 Jan 27;311:115-124. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Cellular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. Electronic address:

In humans, spinal cord injury (SCI) is often accompanied by additional tissue damage (polytrauma) that can engage pain (nociceptive) fibers. Prior work has shown that this nociceptive input can expand the area of tissue damage (secondary injury), undermine behavioral recovery, and enhance the development of chronic pain. Here, it is shown that nociceptive input given a day after a lower thoracic contusion injury in rats enhances the infiltration of red blood cells at the site of injury, producing an area of hemorrhage that expands secondary injury. Read More

Biomaterials 2018 Dec 19;185:284-300. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

InVivo Therapeutics Corporation, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Severe spinal cord injury leads to hemorrhage, edema and elevated tissue pressures that propagate ischemia. Liquefactive necrosis of damaged tissue eventually results in chronic cavities due to a wound healing process lacking adhesive contractile cells. Biomaterials can potently influence wound healing responses. Read More