Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialMagnesium sulfate therapy after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Vasospasm remains a significant source of neurological morbidity and mortality following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), despite advances in current medical, surgical, and endovascular therapies. Magnesium sulfate therapy has been demonstrated to be both safe and effective in preventing neurological complications in obstetrical patients with eclampsia. Evidence obtained using experimental models of brain injury, cerebral ischemia, and SAH indicate that Mg may also have a role as a neuroprotective agent. The authors hypothesize that MgSO4 therapy is safe, feasible, and has a beneficial effect on vasospasm and, ultimately, on neurological outcome following aneurysmal SAH. ⋯ Administration of high-dose MgSO4 following aneurysmal SAH is safe, and steady Mg++ levels in the range of 4 to 5.5 mg/dl are easily maintained. This treatment does not interfere with neurological assessment, administration of anesthesia during surgery, or other aspects of clinical care. We observed a trend in which a higher percentage of patients obtained GOS scores of 4 or 5 in the group treated with MgSO4, but the trend did not reach a statistically significant level. A larger study is needed to evaluate this trend further.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2002
Review Case ReportsPrimary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the dura mimicking the presentation of an acute subdural hematoma. Case report and review of the literature.
The authors present the case of a 64-year-old woman who experienced a left hemiparesis. An initial diagnosis of subdural hematoma was made based on results of computerized tomography scanning. ⋯ The authors outline the natural history of central nervous system lymphomas and of MALT lymphomas in other tissues. They review seven previously reported cases and emphasize the importance of recognizing these tumors as a distinct clinicopathological entity.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Mar 2002
Apoptosis of T lymphocytes invading glioblastomas multiforme: a possible tumor defense mechanism.
The goal of this study was to investigate whether apoptosis occurs in T lymphocytes that invade Fas ligand (FasL)-expressing glioblastomas multiforme (GBMs) and if its induction could be mediated by Fas. ⋯ On the basis of the data presented in this paper, the authors suggest that GBM cells that express FasL can induce apoptosis in invading immune cells. This phenomenon may play an important role in these tumors' maintenance of immune privilege and evasion of immune attacks. Awareness of this phenomenon should be helpful for the development of novel strategies for treatment of malignant gliomas.