Antioxidative effects of alpha-lipoic acid in spinal cord injury An experimental rat model.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic and ischemic injuries of the spinal cord are effective in the development of neurological dysfunction of tissue damage caused by primary and secondary mechanisms. Free radical changes are effective in the development of early ischemia and progressive tissue ischemia is the main cause of secondary damage. Delaying ischemia is the basis of treatment. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the presence of neuroprotective effects of alpha-lipoic acid in comparison with methylprednisolone. METHODS: 50 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 10) and spinal cord trauma was created by the method, described by Rivlin and Tator. Group 1: Laminectomy group, Group 2: Laminectomy + spinal cord injury (SCI), Group 3: Laminectomy + SCI + alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) (100 mg / kg), Group 4: Laminectomy + SCl + Methyl-prednisolone (30 mg / kg), Group 5: Laminectomy + SCl + ALA + Methyl-prednisolone. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Rats with spinal cord injury were found to be paraplegic. There was no significant change in motor function between the groups. When the antioxidant values were compared in the groups, there was a statistically significant difference between Group 2 and Group 3. Oxygen radicals decreased significantly between ALA and Methylprednisolone. The most striking difference was between the monotherapy group and the combined treatment group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that alpha lipoic acid given after spinal cord trauma in rats decreases anti-oxidant formation. KEY WORDS: Alpha-lipoic acid, Methyl-prednisolone, Oxygen radicals, Spinal cord injury.

Cervical intramedullary granuloma of Brucella: a case report and review of the literature.

The aim of this study was to present a unique case of intramedullary brucellar granuloma (IBG) and to discuss the diagnosis and management. To our knowledge, only one case of thoracic IBG has been reported previously, and our case is the first in cervical spine. A 35-year-old female patient was admitted with headache, pain and weakness in her four extremities. She had no gastrointestinal symptoms and fever. She had been diagnosed with Brucella meningitis 3 months ago and a triple therapy of doxycyclin, rifampicin and trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol (TMP/SMZ) had been started. Medical history revealed that she had ingested raw cheese and taken her medication improperly. Loss of strength was detected in her four extremities, which led us to assume the formation of a mass lesion at cervical level. Therefore, we performed a magnetic resonance imaging scan and found enhancement of an intramedullary mass lesion at cervical 1-2 level. Diagnosis of neurobrucellosis was confirmed by titer of >1/160 Brucella antibodies both in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Based on these findings, brucellar granuloma of cervical spine was diagnosed and a combination therapy of doxycyclin, TMP/SMZ and rifampicin was administered for additional 6 months. At the ninth month of treatment, the patient recovered both radiologically and clinically. Our case is unique, in terms of cervical IBG formation. The excellent response to antimicrobial therapy in our patient suggests that, a trial of medical treatment for 6 months may be effective in such cases.

Effect of nimodipine on histological alterations in basilar artery following the bilateral common carotid artery ligation (preliminary study).

BACKGROUND: The blood supply to tissues is reduced as a result of arterial occlusions. Angiogenesis, collateral circulation and reverse flow mechanisms go into operation to restore a continued adequate supply of blood. Ca++ channels undertake the major part of this function. As a result of the increasing tension on the arterial walls, vascular autonomy is affected, and ischemia and even necrosis are observed. METHOD: Adult 100 male hybrid rabbits were used in this study. The bilateral carotid arteries were ligated at the carotid bifurcation. The rabbits were divided into 2 main groups: treatment and control, and then both groups were further divided into 5 subgroups consisting of 10 rabbits each. The rabbits were sacrificed between the first day and the end of 8 weeks for histopathological examination of the basilar artery in two groups. RESULTS: In control groups, after 24 hours of the occlusion partial swelling and minor endothelial damage were observed in histopathological sections of the basilar artery. Luminal flattening started to decrease, and expanding of the diameter continued. The increase in the diameters of the basilar artery was higher in animals treated by nimodipine, and that difference was statistically significant (P=0,000). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the intimal and medial alterations arising from the increased blood flow rate in the basilar artery might be lessened and even partially prevented by the use of nimodipine.

Spinal cord compression by primary amyloidoma of the spine.

In this report, we presented a case of solitary spine amyloidoma, its clinical and radiological findings and management, and a review of the literature on vertebral amyloidosis.