E. Sehrbundt Viale

Mobile neurinoma of the cauda equina. Case report.

SummaryA mobile neurinoma arising from a redundant nerve root of the cauda equina is reported. The abnormal length of the nerve root allowed the neoplasm to move in the cranio-caudal direction along two segments of the spine.

Effect of omental transposition to the brain on protein synthesis in experimental cerebral ischaemia.

SummaryOcclusion of the middle cerebral artery severely affects the uptake of labelled leucine into various subcellular fractions from rabbit brain. Previous transposition of pedicled omentum to the cerebral surface maintains to a large extent the protein synthetic activity of the brain following arterial occlusion. The role of the transposed omentum in providing an effective collateral circulation and minimizing the occurrence of irreversible ischaemic lesions is stressed.

Cerebral Water and Electrolytes in Experimental Ischaemia Following Omental Transposition to the Brain

SummaryOcclusion of the middle cerebral artery induces a local decrease in percentage of tissue dry weight in rabbit brain, associated with flux of sodium and potassium in reciprocal directions. Cortical swelling occurs also in remote non-ischaemic areas. Previous transposition of the omentum majus to the brain minimizes the onset of oedema consequent on occlusion of a major cerebral artery. Increasing experimental evidence points to the role of omental transposition in providing an effective source of collateral circulation, thus strongly affecting the threshold for infarction.

Omental transposition or transplantation to the brain and superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis in preventing experimental cerebral ischaemia

SummaryTransposition of lengthened omentum to the brain surface, transplantation of an omental graft, or superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis were performed in dogs prior to transcranial occlusion of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery at its origin, including the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery. Both omentum and by-pass were able to reduce the changes in cerebral blood flow, somatosensory evoked responses, cerebral water and electrolyte content, consequent to the ischaemic insult. In the experimental conditions adopted in this study, the effect of omental transposition in maintaining high levels of flow throughout the entire occluded hemisphere was more marked compared to that resulting from the other methods, while the onset of ischaemic cerebral oedema was affected approximately at the same degree by all procedures. The results point to the role of the transposed omentum in providing an effective collateral circulation to the ischaemic brain.

Cerebral blood flow in minor cerebral contusion

Seventeen patients with minor cerebral contusion were selected from a series of patients with head injuries of various severity, who had undergone repeat evaluations of the regional cerebral blood flow. The mean global flow (expressed as mean global initial slope index) on early examination was found to be significantly lower, compared with that recorded in healthy volunteers. A tendency towards the recovery of higher flow values was apparent in repeat evaluations that were performed several weeks after the injury. Interhemispheric asymmetries of flow were a common occurrence, with lower perfusion and reduced attenuation values on computed tomography scans being, however, in good agreement only in approximately half of the cases.

Effect of Omental Transposition on to the Brain on the Cortical Content of Norepinephrine, Dopamine, 5-Hydroxytryptamine and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in Experimental Cerebral Ischaemia

SummaryLocal cerebral ischaemia causes a significant decrease in norepinephrine, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine in the cortical brain tissue of rabbits, associated with an increase in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Previous transposition of the omentum on to the brain surface maintains, to a large extent, physiological levels of these metabolites. This study stresses the role of the transposed omentum in reducing the effects of experimental occlusion of a major cerebral artery.

Surgical removal of a pontine haematoma associated with a cryptic angioma. Case report.

SummaryA further case of successful removal of an intrapontine haematoma related to a cryptic angioma is described. With a CT scan, the most accurate anatomical localization of the lesion may be obtained.

Redundant nerve roots of the cauda equina

The authors have critically reviewed 8 cases which have come under their observation of a lumbosciatic syndrome due to redundant nerve roots of the cauda equina. Some of the clinical and myeloradiculographic features appear to be characteristic of this rare syndrome. Surgical intervention by decompressing the nerve roots of the cauda equina offers a very favourable prognosis.

Unusual appearance of an acoustic neurinoma in CT scans

SummaryA large cystic neurinoma of the cerebellopontine angle is reported. This case is unusual in that the clinical history, CT patterns and plain radiological findings were rather misleading for the differential preoperative diagnosis.

Aminoacid incorporation into polyribosomes of ischaemic and reperfused gerbil brain

SummaryAminoacid incorporation into polyribosomes from the gerbil brain in a cell-free system is strongly affected by experimental ischaemia. Progression of the impairment of the protein synthesis in vitro occurs even following early reperfusion.