Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Omnidirectional retractor-supporting ring as a new device for carotid endarterectomy.
In carotid endarterectomy (CEA), the traditional retractors are often difficult to use because they tend to obstruct surgical manipulations, especially in the deep operative field on the rostral side. The authors have invented a new omnidirectional retractor-supporting ring (OD ring) to solve the problems of traditional retractors. The OD ring has an ellipsoid-shaped frame (major axis: 275 mm, minor axis: 192 mm) with 22 equally spaced outward protrusions. ⋯ Furthermore, because of its simpler shape, angiorrhaphy could be conducted more smoothly, with less tangled thread during closure of the arteriotomy. There were no technical complications related to the OD ring. As a new retractor system for CEA, the OD ring is less obstructive and provides a flatter surgical field than traditional retractors, thereby facilitating surgical manipulations in the deep operative field around the distal ICA.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Nerve transfers for elbow and finger extension reconstruction in midcervical spinal cord injuries.
The objective of this study was to report the results of elbow, thumb, and finger extension reconstruction via nerve transfer in midcervical spinal cord injuries. ⋯ Nerve transfers are effective at restoring elbow, thumb, and finger extension in patients with a midcervical spinal cord injury, which occurs in the majority of patients with a peripheral type of palsy with muscle denervation in their upper limbs. Efforts should be made to perform operations in these patients within 12 months of injury.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Myelin-forming cell-specific cadherin-19 is a marker for minimally infiltrative glioblastoma stem-like cells.
Glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) exhibit stem-like properties, are highly efficient at forming tumor xenografts, and are resistant to many current therapies. Current molecular identifiers of GSCs are scarce and controversial. The authors describe differential cell-surface gene expression profiling to identify GSC-specific markers. ⋯ Gene expression profiling of GSCs has shown CDH19 to be an exciting new target for drug development and study of GBM tumorigenesis.