Neurological research
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Neurological research · Mar 1991
Pathological changes in experimental saccular aneurysms in the carotid artery of the rat.
Although the reason for development of saccular aneurysms in humans has still not been elucidated, the process might be observed and explained using a reproducible aneurysm model in vivo. In this paper, a sequential pathological study of the experimental saccular aneurysms was made. ⋯ The imbalance of the degeneration and regeneration processes during the development of these experimental aneurysms is discussed according to the pathological findings in different periods. Haemodynamic stress and different regenerative speeds in different arterial tissues must be responsible for the saccular aneurysm formation and growth.
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Neurological research · Mar 1991
Measurement of regional cerebrovascular haemoglobin oxygen saturation in cats using optical spectroscopy.
We describe the use of optical spectroscopy in the near infra-red light range to non-invasively measure regional cerebral haemoglobin oxygen saturation (rSHbO2) in cats during progressive cerebral hypoxia. This technique differs from spectroscopic techniques previously described in that the concentration ratio--percentage haemoglobin: oxygen saturation--is quantified. This saturation is the weighted summation of saturation in the cerebrovascular system: arterial, venous, and capillary beds. ⋯ During hypoxia spectroscopic indexed oxygen extraction (iOE) and cerebral arterial-venous difference in oxygen content were simultaneously measured. A least-squares positive linear correlation between these two parameters was noted [AVDO2 = iOE (0.05) + 4.4] (n = 40, r = 0.6, s = 1.2). Objective measurement of 'regional cerebrovascular haemoglobin saturation' and an index of cerebral oxygen extraction are possible using optical spectroscopy.
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Ninety-four patients with hydrocephalus following subarachnoid haemorrhage were investigated. Fourteen of these patients had temporary ventricular drains inserted, 19 had drains that were later converted to ventricular-peritoneal shunts, and 61 patients had shunts only. All patients were analysed with respect to their grade on admission, the distribution of blood on CT scan, their Glasgow Coma Score, their intracranial pressure, and the presence or absence of vasospasm on angiography. ⋯ Vasospasm was not more common in patients requiring a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, nor did early shunting in patients with hydrocephalus affect the incidence of vasospasm. The majority of patients were either shunted in the first three days or after 30 days post-SAH. The outcome was better in those patients shunted at a later date.
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Neurological research · Mar 1987
Retrogasserian glycerol injection or percutaneous stimulation in the treatment of typical and atypical trigeminal pain.
Of 164 patients with trigeminal neuralgia treated by percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol injections, we have studied the long-term outcome (one to four years) of 72 patients. 51 patients suffered from idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, and of these 92% were freed from pain by the operation. 21 patients suffered from symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia due to multiple sclerosis or of traumatic or infectious origin. Of these, only 38% became free of pain. A further 8 patients with facial deafferentation pain who underwent treatment by retrogasserian neurostimulation with a permanently implanted electrode were included in this study. 4 of these patients were rendered free of pain by this procedure.
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Neurological research · Dec 1986
The pituitary as a target of antalgic treatment of chronic cancer pain: a possible mechanism of pain relief through pituitary neuroadenolysis.
Surgical hypophysectomy performed in 18 cases with hormone-dependent carcinoma resulted in tumour regression in 38.8% of the cases, and pain relief in 88%. Neuroadenolysis performed 170 times on 130 cases resulted in pain relief in 94% with hormone-dependent carcinoma, and 70% with non-dependent carcinoma. ⋯ Increase of beta-endorphin in CSF was very brief. Though the exact physiological activity in pain sensation of those peptides other than endorphins still remains obscure, increase of the peptides which are mainly synthesized in the hypothalamopituitary axis, along with suppressed pituitary function, is considered to exert a long-lasting suppressive effect on the mediation and perception of cancer pain through C-fibres and the central nervous system.