[Chondroblastoma of the temporal bone: a case report].

A 30-year-old male had been suffering from left temporalgia of six months duration and then developed left hearing disturbance. Craniogram and bone window CT revealed a well defined osteolytic lesion in the left temporal bone. CT scan showed an expansile heterogenous mass with calcification. Both T1 and T2 weighted MRI demonstrated a well lobulated mixed intensity mass, but no evidence of dural or intracranial invasion. The tumor exhibited homogenous enhancement on CT and MRI. Angiogram revealed a well marked staining supplied by the left middle meningeal and deep temporal arteries. Subtotal removal of the tumor was carried out with cranioplasty. Histologically, this tumor was composed of round or polygonal chondroblasts, scattered osteoclast-like giant cells with a foci of cartilage in the stroma. Many reports describe giant cell tumor can be differentiated by immunohistochemical demonstration of S100 protein. Although in our case, histological findings simulated those of eosinophilic granuloma, it was diagnosed as chondroblastoma because of the foci of cartilage in the stroma. Because this tumor is usually benign, recurrence of the tumor is rare after surgical resection. Post-operative irradiation has been reported to be effective in decreasing the recurrence of the tumor. But it should be carefully observed because of possible sarcomatous change in such tumors.

Transcallosal interforniceal approach for a posteriorly projecting high basilar bifurcation aneurysm. Case report.

A transcallosal interforniceal approach was used for treatment of a posteriorly projecting high basilar bifurcation aneurysm with a neck located 30 mm above the posterior clinoid process. The aneurysm was successfully clipped via the third ventricle with minimal neurological deficits. This approach appears to be appropriate for basilar bifurcation aneurysms located more than 20 mm above the posterior clinoid process when the fundus projects posteriorly, and permits direct visualization of the aneurysmal neck and vital perforators with minimal brain retraction.

[Analysis of water content in young rats brain edema by Raman spectroscopy].

Cerebral edema, classified into vasogenic edema and cytotoxic edema, has long been studied and recognized to be complicated. The authors studied the cerebral edema models of young rats suffered from cryo-injury and triethyl tin chloride (TET) injury by Raman spectroscopy which can physiologically evaluate the cerebral water content (%) of very restricted area. The cryo-injury model was conducted in the following manner. A cryo-probe (-196 degrees C) was contacted to the exposed cranium for 20 seconds in an anesthetized 4-5-week-old Sprague-Dawley young rat. A coronal section of the injured brain covered with a slide glass and wrapped by Parafilm was obtained 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours after the cryo-injury in order to measure the water content by Raman spectroscopy employed by Tashibu and Huizinga. TET injury model was obtained by intraperitoneal administration of TET (4.5 mg/Kg). The water content was observed by the same manner as for the cryo-injury model. Subsequent to the cryo-injury, the water content of the white matter which seemed to be higher than in adult rats increased rapidly and persisted in the same condition within 72 hours. Subsequent to TET injury, the water content of the white matter increased more rapidly than that of the gray matter, however, in adult rats the water content of the gray matter showed more rapid increase than that of the white matter. Increased water content followed by TET injury was higher in adult rats than in young rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Investigation of postmortem functional changes in human cerebral arteries.

This study demonstrated the time-dependent changes in postmortem responses of isolated human middle cerebral artery strips to vasodilators. The relaxation induced by prostaglandin (PG) I2 or nitroglycerin remained stable for 24 h postmortem. In arterial strips precontracted with PGF2 alpha, substance P and bradykinin both elicited relaxation that was almost completely abolished by removal of the endothelium. The endothelium-dependent response to both peptides was significantly degraded in strips obtained > 12 h postmortem. These results indicate a selective functional or anatomical vulnerability of the vascular endothelium compared with that of the vasodilator mechanisms of the smooth muscle in the postmortem period. However, cerebral arteries isolated from human cadavers within 12 h postmortem should be adequate for studies of both smooth muscle and endothelial reactivity to vasodilators.

[The pattern of neurological deterioration and the mechanism of neurological deficit in syringomyelia].

Sixty-five cases of syringomyelia were evaluated. The cases were classified into two groups: group 1 (56 cases) was patients who presented with hind-brain related syringomyelia and group 2 (9 cases) was patients who presented with primary spinal syringomyelia. Group 1 was further divided into two subgroups, group 1a and group 1b: group 1a (46 cases) consisted of patients with hind-brain related syringomyelia without basal arachnoiditis and group 1b (10 cases) consisted of patients with hind-brain related syringomyelia with basal arachnoiditis. The most common initial symptom of group 1a patients was abnormal motor function of an upper limb (14 cases), followed by pain in an upper limb (12 cases), and dissociated sensory loss (10 cases). In group 1b, motor symptoms of an upper limb were also the most common initial symptom, again followed by pain in an upper limb. Paraplegia was the most common initial symptom in group 2. About 80% of patients in groups 1a and 1b had both sensory and motor deficits at the time of examination and the majority of group 1b patients also had brain stem signs and/or pain. Brain stem signs were not commonly seen in group 1a patients, however. The neurologic deficits of group 1b patients were generally more severe than those of group 1a patients. Most group 2 patients also had sensory and motor deficits of both lower limbs. The progression of neurological deficits in groups 1a and 1b was classified into four stages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Near-infrared FT-Raman spectra of the rat brain tissues.

Near-infrared Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy was applied to brain tissues in situ. The spectra were obtained from the cerebral cortex, white matter of the cerebrum, caudate-putamen, thalamus, synaptosomal fraction, and myelin fraction. High-quality Raman spectra in the 400 to 2940 cm-1 range were measured without interference of autofluorescence. Common spectral bands were assigned. The ratios of the intensity at 1664 (amide I), 1442 (CH2 deformation), 2885 (CH2 asymmetric stretching), 2938 cm-1 (CH3 symmetric stretching) could be used for differentiation between the gray and white matters.

Two undesirable results of wrapping of an intracranial aneurysm.

This article presents a rare case in which we experienced two undesirable results following wrapping of an internal carotid artery aneurysm. First, a muscle piece used for wrapping was absorbed completely and, therefore, could not prevent enlargement of the aneurysm. And second, muslin gauze wrapping induced a foreign-body granuloma at the site (parasellar region), and resulted in development of oculomotor palsy.

[Analysis of water content in rat brain using Raman spectroscopy].

Laser Raman spectroscopy has not been applied to brain tissue. However, this method can possibly analyze the constituent elements of living tissue of cellular and molecular level easily, and this might be essential for further brain research. I attempted to analyze the water content of brain tissues, which was measured by Raman spectrum of CH and OH groups, in normal and edematous rat brain tissues. The experimental results indicated that the peak intensity of CH group originated from protein, 2935 cm-1 in wave number, was constant in normal, dried and edematous brain tissue. Therefore it could be used as internal standard. As the peak intensity of OH group, 3390 cm-1 in wave number, was originated from water, the relative amount of water content in the brain tissues could be evaluated by OH/CH value. The OH/CH value was not significantly different between the cortex and the thalamus, but it was significantly higher in the gray matter (thalamus) than in the white matter (pons). The OH/CH value was decreased in dried specimens. In experimental edematous brain tissues, which was produced by intraperitoneal injection of organic tin, the OH/CH value was evidently increased in the thalamus but not much changed in the pons. This results were well compatible with cytotoxic edema, which was reported to be produced by organic tin. It is suggested that laser Raman spectroscopy can be used for brain edema research as one of the strong weapon, in analyzing water content of brain tissues on a cellular level.