Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Inflammasome proteins in cerebrospinal fluid of brain-injured patients as biomarkers of functional outcome: clinical article.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), the third most common CNS pathology, plagues 5.3 million Americans with permanent TBI-related disabilities. To evaluate injury severity and prognosis, physicians rely on clinical variables. Here, the authors seek objective, biochemical markers reflecting molecular injury mechanisms specific to the CNS as more accurate measurements of injury severity and outcome. One such secondary injury mechanism, the innate immune response, is regulated by the inflammasome, a molecular platform that activates caspase-1 and interleukin-1β. ⋯ NALP-1 inflammasome proteins are potential biomarkers to assess TBI severity, outcome, and the secondary injury mechanisms impeding recovery, serving as adjuncts to clinical predictors.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Biography Historical ArticleRaymond de Vieussens and his contribution to the study of white matter anatomy: historical vignette.
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the study of white matter anatomy, both with the use of postmortem dissections and diffusion tensor imaging tractography. One of the precursors in the study of white matter anatomy was Raymond de Vieussens (1641-1716), a French anatomist born in Le Vigan. He studied medicine at the University of Montpellier in southern France, one of the most ancient and lively schools of medicine in Europe. ⋯ Although neglected, Vieussens' contribution to the study of white matter is relevant. His pioneering work showed that the white matter is not a homogeneous substance, but rather a complex structure rich in fibers that are interconnected with different parts of the brain. These initial results paved the way to advancements observed in later centuries that eventually led to modern hodology.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Patterns of pain-free response in 497 cases of classic trigeminal neuralgia treated with Gamma Knife surgery and followed up for least 1 year.
The goal of this study was to establish whether clear patterns of initial pain freedom could be identified when treating patients with classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) by using Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). The authors compared hypesthesia and pain recurrence rates to see if statistically significant differences could be found. ⋯ A substantial number of patients (169 cases, 37.2%) became pain free within the first 48 hours. The rate of hypesthesia was higher in patients who became pain free more than 30 days after GKS, with a statistically significant difference between patient groups (p = 0.014).
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Risks of history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and other factors related to radiation-induced changes following Gamma Knife surgery for cerebral arteriovenous malformations.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension may be associated with complications following fractionated radiotherapy. To date no studies have determined the risk of radiation toxicity in patients with DM or hypertension who have undergone Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The goal of the present study was to determine associations between DM or hypertension and other factors in the development of radiotoxicity, as measured by radiation-induced changes (RICs) on MR images following radiosurgery for AVM. ⋯ Vascular factors such as hypertension, patient sex, and tobacco use did not convey additional risks of radiotoxicity, but DM remained a possible cardiovascular risk factor in the development of RICs.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2012
Clinical TrialThe subthalamic nucleus at 3.0 Tesla: choice of optimal sequence and orientation for deep brain stimulation using a standard installation protocol: clinical article.
Reliable visualization of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is indispensable for accurate placement of electrodes in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The aim of the study was to evaluate different promising new MRI methods at 3.0 T for preoperative visualization of the STN using a standard installation protocol. ⋯ For 3.0-T MRI, T2*-FLASH2D (particularly the coronal view) provides optimal delineation of the STN using a standard installation protocol.