Neurosurgery
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The molecular mechanism of brain arteriovenous malformation (BAVM) is largely unknown. Intracranial venous hypertension (VH) may enhance focal angiogenesis and promote BAVM development and progression. A rat VH model effectively simulates the hemodynamic microenvironment of this disease. ⋯ Our findings indicate that MMP-3 plays an important role in VH-related angiogenesis and the promotion of vascular remodeling. Suppression of MMP-3 overexpression by doxycycline may provide a potential strategy for inhibiting BAVM development.
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Thirty per cent of cancer patients develop spine metastases with a substantial number leading to spinal cord compression and neurological deficits. Many demonstrate a propensity toward metastasis to the posterior third of the vertebral body. The dura, the outer layer of the meninges, lies in intimate contact with the posterior border of the vertebral body and has been shown to influence adjacent bone. The effects of the dura on bone marrow and cancer cells have not been examined. Understanding the biology of spinal metastasis will provide insights into mechanisms of cancer growth and allow for new treatment strategies. ⋯ Factors released by primary dural cells induce proliferation of tumor cells and alter bone marrow to create a fertile environment for tumor growth. The dura therefore may play an important role in the increased incidence of metastases to adjacent bone.