Iwao Nishiura

Successful removal of a huge falcotentorial meningioma by use of the laser

Abstract The successful removal of a huge falcotentorial meningioma in a 49-year-old woman is reported, with emphasis on the following points: multiplanar CT enabled three-dimensional localization of the tumor; a CO 2 laser unit provided easy hemostasis in deep portions of the tumor; and a two-stage operation was advantageous.

A high molecular weight inhibitor of Ca2+ -dependent neutral protease in rat brain.

An endogenous, heat-stable inhibitor of high mol. wt (approximately 3×105) was found to be present in rat brain, which inhibited Ca2+-dependent neutral protease specifically but not due to its binding of Ca2+ in the medium.

Ossification of the Yellow Ligament Combined with Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament at the Cervicothoracic Junction

BACKGROUND Both ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL) and the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament are relatively rare clinical entities. We report a extremely rare case of the spinal canal stenosis because of OYL, OPLL and listhesis at the cervicothoracic junction. CASE DESCRIPTION A 69-year-old man had progressive pain over his bilateral axillar portion and right lower extremity for 1 year. Radiology showed cervical canal stenosis with ossification of OYL, OPLL, and listhesis at the cervicothoracic junction. Posterior decompression therapy was performed, and he recovered entirely from his symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Triple factors of OYL, OPLL and listhesis contributed the cervical canal stenosis limited at cervicothoracic junction. Early diagnosis and surgical therapy is recommended for the good prognosis of this pathologic condition, as well as careful long-term follow-up for the early detection of its recurrence.