Hemispherotomy for hemisphericepilepsy: outcome and early follow up for complications / 基础医学与临床

Objective To investigate the results and complications of hemispherotomy for drug resistant hemispheric epilepsy.Methods The authors reviewed 5 patients who were diagnosed as drug resistant hemispheric epilepsy and operated in the neurosurgery department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2011 to 2013.All the 5 patients were underwent hemispherotomy after carefully multidisciplinary pre-operation evaluation.Results All patients tolerated the procedure well and the postoperative course was smooth.All the 5 patients didn`t have seizure in the period of following up of 46 to 69 months.Conclusions According to literatures and the authors` experience, hemispherotomy is as safe and efficient for hemispheric epilepsy as hemispherectomy.It is most important advance for hemispherectomy.The procedure of hemispherotomy is complex but not very difficult, illustrating a good prospect of application and extension.

The effect of all-trans retinoic acid on gap junctional intercellular communication and connexin 43 gene expression in glioma cells / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To illuminate the regulating effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and connexin 43 (Cx43) gene expression in glioma cells, which is tissue- and organ-specific.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rat C6 glioma cells were exposed to ATRA at a concentration of 1, 10, 100 micromol/L and the GJIC function of the cells was examined with scrape-loading dye transfer assay 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after ATRA treatment. The effect of ATRA on Cx43 gene expression was measured with semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 24 hours after ATRA exposure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The GJIC function of C6 glioma cells was significantly increased by ATRA at each concentration applied. The dye passed 4 to 5 rows of cells from the scraping edge in ATRA treated cells, but only 1 or 2 rows in the control. The augment effect was observed 24 hours after each concentration ATRA treatment, and lasted till 72 hours after treatment with 1 micromol/L and 10 micromol/L ATRA. Forty-eight hours after exposed to 100 micromol/L ATRA, the enhancement of GJIC was less obvious. There was no significant increase induced by ATRA on the transcription of Cx43 gene, as demonstrated by semiquantitative RT-PCR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ATRA turned out to be a potent enhancer on GJIC function in C6 glioma cells, andthe enhancement effect was most probable at post-transcriptional level.</p>

Microsurgical treatment of Nelson's syndrome / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the etiology, diagnostic criteria and treatment of Nelson's syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three patients with Nelson's syndrome who were treated in our department over the last 19 years were analyzed retrospectively. Removal of adenoma by the transsphenoidal approach was done in 21 patients and by transfrontal craniotomy in 2. The follow-up period ranged from six months to nine years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of Nelson's syndrome was 7.7% in a series of 300 patients with Cushing's disease treated by microsurgery in the same period. Hyperpigmentation was relieved and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels decreased in all patients after tumor excision. Eight patients with visual disturbance improved after surgery. The curative and remission rates were 56.5% and 26.1%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Transsphenoidal microsurgical removal of pituitary ACTH adenoma is the first choice in the prevention and treatment of Nelson's syndrome. Regular follow-up examinations should be performed over a long time.</p>