Recurrence of parasagittal meningioma in the dural sinuses – a neurosurgical challenge.

Conference (2009, March)

The Gilliatt-Summer hand: an ill-know clinical picture from cervical ribs. Report of 5 operated cases

Conference (2009, March)

Post-Mortem, high resolution (9.4 Tesla) MRI of spinal cord injury in the rat, correlated with histology

Conference (2008, March 12)

Recruitment of preserved spinal cord parenchyma after spinal cord injury in order to increase locomotor recovery

Poster (2008, March 08)

Rapid, postmortem 9.4 T MRI of spinal cord injury: correlation with histology and survival times.

in Journal of Neuroscience Methods (2008), 174(2), 157-67

High field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been increasingly used to assess experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). In the present investigation, after partial spinal cord injury and excision of the ... [more ▼]

High field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been increasingly used to assess experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). In the present investigation, after partial spinal cord injury and excision of the whole spine, pathological changes of the spinal cord were studied in spinal cord-spine blocks, from the acute to the chronic state (24 h to 5 months). Using proton density (PD) weighted imaging parameters at a magnetic field strength of 9.4 tesla (T), acquisition times ranging from <1 to 10 h per specimen were used. High in-plane pixel resolution (68 and 38 microm, respectively) was obtained, as well as high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which is important for optimal contrast settings. The quality of the resulting MR images was demonstrated by comparison with histology. The cord and the lesion were shown in their anatomical surroundings, detecting cord swelling in the acute phase (24 h to 1 week) and cord atrophy at the chronic stage. Haemorrhage was detected as hypo-intense signal. Oedema, necrosis and scarring were hyper-intense but could not be distinguished. Histology confirmed that the anatomical delimitation of the lesion extent by MRI was precise, both with high and moderate resolution. The present investigation thus demonstrates the precision of spinal cord MRI at different survival delays after compressive partial SCI and establishes efficient imaging parameters for postmortem PD MRI. [less ▲]

Cerebral subarachnoid blood migration consecutive to a lumbar haematoma after spinal anaesthesia

in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica (2008), 52

Acquired tonsillar herniation and syringomyelia after pleural effusion aspiration: case report.

in Neurosurgery (2008), 62(5), 1172-31173

OBJECTIVE: We present a case of brachial plexus avulsion and reconstructive surgery with cerebrospinal fluid leak between the cervical subarachnoid space and the pleural cavity responsible for tonsillar ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: We present a case of brachial plexus avulsion and reconstructive surgery with cerebrospinal fluid leak between the cervical subarachnoid space and the pleural cavity responsible for tonsillar herniation and syringomyelia. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 17-year-old man presented with headaches when he was positioned upright, simultaneously with a persistent right pleural effusion for about 4 months after reconstructive surgery for a right brachial plexus avulsion. In addition, the headaches had worsened considerably after two aspirations of the pleural effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated signs of chronic intracranial hypotension and tonsillar herniation with a presyrinx cavity from vertebral level C1 to C7. None of those abnormalities were seen on the MRI scan obtained a few days after the initial trauma 7 months previously. Plexus brachial MRI confirmed the presence of a cerebrospinal fluid leak between the avulsed root of C8 and the pulmonary apex. INTERVENTION: The leak was treated by surgical closure of the dural tear of the C8 root. Postoperatively, the patient's headaches immediately resolved, and MRI 4 months later showed resolution of cerebellar tonsil herniation and regression of the syrinx. CONCLUSION: Resolution of acquired tonsillar herniation and syringomyelia can be achieved by closure of the dural tear responsible of the cerebrospinal fluid leak. [less ▲]

Delayed GM-CSF treatment stimulates axonal regeneration and functional recovery in paraplegic rats via an increased BDNF expression by endogenous macrophages

in FASEB Journal (2006), 20(8), 12391241

Macrophages (monocytes/microglia) could play a critical role in central nervous system repair. We have previously found a synchronism between the regression of spontaneous axonal regeneration and the ... [more ▼]

Macrophages (monocytes/microglia) could play a critical role in central nervous system repair. We have previously found a synchronism between the regression of spontaneous axonal regeneration and the deactivation of macrophages 3-4 wk after a compression-injury of rat spinal cord. To explore whether reactivation of endogenous macrophages might be beneficial for spinal cord repair, we have studied the effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the same paraplegia model and in cell cultures. There was a significant, though transient, improvement of locomotor recovery after a single delayed intraperitoneal injection of 2 mu g GM-CSF, which also increased significantly the expression of Cr3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF) by macrophages at the lesion site. At longer survival delays, axonal regeneration was significantly enhanced in GMCSF-treated rats. In vitro, BV2 microglial cells expressed higher levels of BDNF in the presence of GM-CSF and neurons cocultured with microglial cells activated by GM-CSF generated more neurites, an effect blocked by a BDNF antibody. These experiments suggest that GM-CSF could be an interesting treatment option for spinal cord injury and that its beneficial effects might be mediated by BDNF.-Bouhy, D., Malgrange, B., Multon, S., Poirrier, A. L., Scholtes, F., Schoenen, J., Franzen, R. Delayed GM-CSF treatment stimulates axonal regeneration and functional recovery in paraplegic rats via an increased BDNF expression by endogenous macrophages. [less ▲]

Initial outcome and efficacy of kyphoplasty in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Conference (2006, March)

Correlation of postmortem 9.4 tesla magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistopathology of the human thoracic spinal cord 7 months after traumatic cervical spine injury.

in Neurosurgery (2006), 59(3), 671-8671-8

OBJECTIVE: To correlate high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with immunohistopathology in the injured human spinal cord. METHODS: Postmortem MRI scans at a field strength of 9.4 T, as well as ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: To correlate high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with immunohistopathology in the injured human spinal cord. METHODS: Postmortem MRI scans at a field strength of 9.4 T, as well as standard histology and immunohistochemistry, were performed on an excised specimen of human high thoracic spinal cord, obtained 7 months after the initial trauma, several segments below a severe spinal cord lesion (C5). RESULTS: A precise correlation is described between MRI and immunohistochemistry of the long white matter tracts undergoing Wallerian degeneration and of an extension of the cervical lesion into the high thoracic cord. CONCLUSION: MRI, the only imaging technique that currently provides useful information on the spinal cord parenchyma after trauma, is rapidly evolving. High-field scanners of up to 9.4 T are being clinically tested. The present postmortem investigation of an isolated spinal cord specimen demonstrates the precise correlation that can be achieved between imaging and pathology. In future investigations, this type of technique can lead to a more precise description of spinal cord injuries and their consequences in remote tissue. Translation into the clinical setting will improve diagnosis and follow-up of spinal cord injured patients. [less ▲]