Yu Okuma

Anti–high mobility group box-1 antibody therapy for traumatic brain injury

High mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1) plays an important role in triggering inflammatory responses in many types of diseases. In this study, we examined the involvement of HMGB1 in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and evaluated the ability of intravenously administered neutralizing anti‐HMGB1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to attenuate brain injury.

Mannitol enhances therapeutic effects of intra-arterial transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells into the brain after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in a traffic accident or a fall is a major cause of death that affects a broad range of ages. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of intra-arterial transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) combined with hypertonic glycerol (25%) or mannitol (25%) in a TBI model of rats. TBI models were produced with a fluid percussion device. At 24h after TBI, MSCs (1×10(6)cells/100μl) with glycerol or mannitol were administered via the right internal carotid artery. Rats were evaluated behaviorally and immunohistochemically, and hyperpermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) induced by hypertonic solutions was explored. Compared to PBS or glycerol, the administration of mannitol resulted in increased BBB disruption. The mannitol-treated rats showed significant improvement in motor function. Intra-arterial transplantation of MSCs caused no thromboembolic ischemia. Immunohistochemically, more MSCs were observed in the injured brain tissues of mannitol-treated rats than in glycerol or PBS-treated rats at 24h after transplantation. Intra-arterial transplantation of MSCs combined with mannitol is an effective treatment in a TBI model of rats. This technique might be used for patients with diseases of the central nervous system including TBI.

Regenerative Medicine for Epilepsy: From Basic Research to Clinical Application

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder, which presents with various forms of seizures. Traditional treatments, including medication using antiepileptic drugs, remain the treatment of choice for epilepsy. Recent development in surgical techniques and approaches has improved treatment outcomes. However, several epileptic patients still suffer from intractable seizures despite the advent of the multimodality of therapies. In this article, we initially provide an overview of clinical presentation of epilepsy then describe clinically relevant animal models of epilepsy. Subsequently, we discuss the concepts of regenerative medicine including cell therapy, neuroprotective agents, and electrical stimulation, which are reviewed within the context of our data.

Responding to Arterial Perforation during Endovascular Neurosurgery

During endovascular neurosurgery, various devices, such as catheters, are passed through the intracranial arteries to access target vessels; the arteries can thereby be perforated. Even though such incidents are serious and should be dealt with appropriately, few case reports or standard procedures have been published. Herein, we report two cases of arterial perforation that occurred recently in our hospital. In the first case, the patient had been treated preoperatively using feeder occlusion of an arteriovenous malformation; the microcatheter perforated the feeder, which branched from the middle cerebral artery. The feeder and perforation site were occluded by injection of n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) through the same microcatheter, and complete hemostasis was thereby achieved. The second case occurred during an embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) to treat a refractory chronic subdural hematoma;the microcatheter perforated a branch of the MMA. Both the perforation and the artery were embolized using platinum coils and by injecting NBCA, and hemostasis was achieved. Considering the anatomical and pathological properties of the injured vessels, favorable results were achieved with appropriate intervention.

Ischemic complications of anterior choroidal artery aneurysm treatment

Ischemic stroke of the anterior choroidal artery(AChA)is the most common and serious complication after AChA aneurysm treatment. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate and compare the treatment-related ischemic complications after surgical clipping and endovascular coiling of AChA aneurysms. Between June 2006 and March 2013, 32 patients with 34 AChA aneurysms were treated in our hospital by surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. There were 12 cases of ruptured aneurysms, seven cases of unruptured aneurysms, and 15 cases of incidentally identified unruptured aneurysms. Of the 34 aneurysms, 19 were managed with surgical clipping and 15 were managed with endovascular coiling. No rebleeding or retreatment occurred in any case during 4-84 months(median, 25 months)of follow-up, and no significant differences in clinical outcome were seen between clipping and coiling cases. Although there were four cases(11.8%;surgical clipping in three;endovascular coiling in one)of postoperative AChA infarction, we believe that we preserved the blood flow of the AChA during the procedure. The occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage and premature rupture during surgical clipping were significantly correlated with AChA infarction.