Neurological research
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Peroxynitrite, a reactive oxidant formed by the reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide at sites of inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS), is capable of damaging tissues and cells. Uric acid, a natural scavenger of peroxynitrite, reduces inflammatory demyelination in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. ⋯ Serum uric acid levels could be used as a biomarker for monitoring disease activity in MS. Therapeutic strategies aimed at raising serum uric acid levels may have a glial/neuroprotective effect on MS patients.
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Neurological research · Mar 2006
Identifying regions of compromised hemodynamics in symptomatic carotid occlusion by cerebrovascular reactivity and oxygen extraction fraction.
Oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) are both proven predictors of stroke risk in symptomatic patients with carotid occlusion. Accordingly, hemispheric comparisons of CVR and OEF are significantly correlated. However, there was also substantial disagreement: hemispheres identified as compromised by CVR were normal by OEF. Our aim was to determine whether regional comparisons could resolve the CVR-OEF discordance. We also studied the relationship between white matter (WM) infarction and hemodynamic compromise. ⋯ Regional comparison of CVR and OEF reduced the discordance compared with hemispheric analysis, especially for the AWS territory. Despite the persistence of some regions with compromised CVR and normal OEF, CVR is able to identify all regions with elevated OEF making it a useful screening technology. Future studies are needed to understand whether those remaining regions with compromised CVR are also at increased stroke risk despite normal OEF.
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Neurological research · Mar 2006
Case ReportsFactors affecting rapid growth of unruptured cerebral aneurysms during the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Several unruptured cerebral aneurysms have been reported to grow and rupture. To determine which factors affect the growth of these aneurysms during the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a retrospective review was performed. ⋯ Short term follow-up angiography is thus important for patients with untreated unruptured cerebral aneurysms after the acute stage of SAH.
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Neurological research · Mar 2006
Long term follow-up of unilateral occlusion of the internal carotid artery including repeated tests of vasomotor reactivity by transcranial Doppler.
Early study on pathological flow pattern in the ophthalmic artery (OA), connected with impaired vasomotor reactivity (VMR) and low pulsatility index (PI) in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) on the occluded side, suggested collateral exhaustion. We undertook this study to evaluate whether the occurence of new strokes is predicted by special haemodynamic features. ⋯ During the follow up, new strokes had appeared on both sides and in vertebrobasilar territory and were connected with pathological flow pattern in the OA and low MV in the MCA at the first examination.
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Neurological research · Mar 2006
Case ReportsEarly combined cranioplasty and programmable shunt in patients with skull bone defects and CSF-circulation disorders.
This study assesses the clinical outcome after early combined cranioplasty (own frozen bone) and shunt implantation (Codman-Medos programmable VP shunt) in patients with skull bone defects and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation disorders. ⋯ The early reimplantation of the patient's own skull bone combined to the employment of a programmable shunt system allowed us a dynamic adjustment of the intracranial pressure (ICP) changes. The combined treatment reduced the number of required surgical procedures, complications and unsatisfactory patient outcomes.