Neurological research
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Neurological research · Nov 2009
Carotid artery-hypoglossal nerve relationships in the neck: an anatomical work.
To review the surgical anatomy of the hypoglossal nerve in the neck, analyse its relationship to surrounding structures and offer landmarks to identify the nerve during carotid endarterectomy. ⋯ The relationship between the hypoglossal nerve and the carotid bifurcation is quite variable, and this explains the vulnerability of the nerve during carotid endarterectomy. The sternocleidomastoid artery is a good landmark for identifying the hypoglossal nerve. If there is exact anatomical knowledge about the relationship between the sternocleidomastoid artery and the hypoglossal nerve, the incidence of nerve injuries during carotid endarterectomy can be minimized.
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Neurological research · Nov 2009
Minimum apparent diffusion coefficient is significantly correlated with cellularity in medulloblastomas.
On diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, posterior fossa tumors may exhibit the various signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) reflecting their histology and cellularity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ADC and tumor cellularity in medulloblastoma and other posterior fossa tumors. ⋯ The low minADC value of medulloblastomas reflects the high tumor cellularity. Analysis of ADC values has high predictive value for the differentiation of medulloblastoma from other posterior fossa tumors.
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Neurological research · Nov 2009
Effect of magnesium, MK-801 and combination of magnesium and MK-801 on blood-brain barrier permeability and brain edema after experimental traumatic diffuse brain injury.
Glutamate antagonists are very attractive drugs in laboratory works to protect neural tissue against ischemia. In this work, the effects of magnesium, MK-801 and combination of magnesium and MK-801 on blood-brain barrier (BBB) and brain edema after experimentally induced traumatic brain injury are evaluated. ⋯ The present data demonstrate that treatment with magnesium, MK-801 and combination of magnesium and MK-801 can reduce formation of brain edema and can help restore BBB permeability after experimental diffuse brain injury.
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Neurological research · Nov 2009
Temporal profile of neurogenesis in the subventricular zone, dentate gyrus and cerebral cortex following transient focal cerebral ischemia.
In the adult mammalian brain, it is considered that neurogenesis persists in limited regions such as the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle. On the other hand, neurogenesis in the cortex after cerebral ischemia and its role in post-stroke recovery have not been clarified yet. In this study, we investigated neurogenesis in the cortex and the spatiotemporal profile of neural progenitors in SVZ and DG of rats subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia. ⋯ Neurogenesis was observed in the cerebral cortex and proliferation of neural progenitors occurred in SVZ and DG of rats subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia. Our data might indicate that endogenous dormant neural stem cells residing in the cortex were activated by ischemic insult to induce the proliferation of neural progenitors and differentiation into mature neurons.
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Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus. Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) is a mutual activator and can cause neuron injury during hyperglycemia. We investigated the role of TSP-1 in a model of diabetic rats in the development of SCI. ⋯ Our work provides experimental evidence that the elevated expression of TSP-1 can be detected in the injured segment of the spinal cord at 12 hours after injury in diabetic rats. It may contribute to severe damage in diabetic rats after SCI.