Regional distribution and effects of postmortal delay on endocannabinoid content of the human brain.

Tissue levels of anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) have been determined in 16 regions and nuclei from human brains, using liquid chromatography/in-line mass spectrometry. Measurements in brain samples stored at -80 degrees C for 2 months to 13 years indicated that endocannabinoids were stable under such conditions. In contrast, the postmortal delay had a strong effect on brain endocannabinoid levels, as documented in brain samples microdissected and frozen 1-6 h postmortem, and in neurosurgical samples 0, 5, 30, 60, 180 and 360 min after their removal from the brain. The tissue levels of AEA increased continuously and in a region-dependent manner from 1 h after death, increasing about sevenfold by 6 h postmortem. In contrast, concentrations of 2-AG, which were 10-100 times higher in human brain regions than those of AEA, rapidly declined: within the first hour, 2-AG levels dropped to 25-35% of the initial ('0 min') value, thereafter they remained relatively stable. As analyzed in samples removed 1-1.5 h postmortem, AEA levels ranged from a high of 96.3 fmol/mg tissue in the nucleus accumbens to a low of 25.0 fmol/mg in the cerebellum. 2-AG levels varied eightfold, from 8.6 pmol/mg in the lateral hypothalamus to 1.1 pmol/mg in the nucleus accumbens. Relative levels of AEA and 2-AG varied from region to region, with the 2-AG:AEA ratio being high in the sensory spinal trigeminal nucleus (140:1), the spinal dorsal horn (136:1) and the lateral hypothalamus (98:1) and low in the nucleus accumbens (16:1) and the striatum (31:1). The results highlight the pitfall of analyzing endocannabinoid content in brain samples of variable postmortal delay, and document differential distribution of the two main endocannabinoids in the human brain.

1H nuclear magnetic resonance study of intervertebral discs. A preliminary report.

In vitro 1H pulse nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on human intervertebral disc tissues were performed to establish the characteristics of relaxation processes. The spin-lattice relaxation time, bound water and dry matter content were measured. Biopsy material from fresh cadavers was taken from different discs along the spinal column and from different sectors of some single discs. It is suggested that the measured parameters correlate with the biomechanical behavior of discs, which in turn is influenced by function, by exposure to physical stresses, or by aging.

[Ultrasonic examination of the brain (through an opening in the skull)]. / Az agy postoperativ ultrahang vizsgálata (csonthiányon át).

Post-operative neurosonography - through calvarial defect. 9 patients were examined by post-operative high resolution real-time ultrasound, using an operative calvarial defect. The findings of 2 patients are analysed in details. The authors have found good agreement with computed tomography, with other imaging methods and pathology as well. They suggest sonographic examination as a first step in the follow-up control of the pathological processes in patients with burr holes.

[Management of craniofacial fractures with titanium mini-plate osteosynthesis and primary bone transplantation]. / Craniofacialis törések ellátása titán minilemezes osteosynthesissel és primer csonttranszplantációval.

The frontobasal traumatic lesions are often combined with several type of midface fractures therefore the authors adopted the craniofacial injury definition. In the years 1995-1997, 534 patients with head trauma were operated on by maxillofacial surgeon and neurosurgeon of which 35 (6.5%) cases showed concomitant combined frontonaso-orbital-skull base involvement. In the complex management of the severe craniofacial lesions the cooperative team-work of maxillofacial surgeon, neurosurgeon, otolaryngologist and ophthalmologist is required. Stabilized midface and the "watertight" dura closure or plasty are basically important conditions for the ceasing of cerebrospinal fluid leak. In the instance of optic nerve lesion the exploration and decompression within the eight hours is mandatory by transcranial-subcranial approach. At their cases authors preferred the early, definitive one-stage management with step-by step titanium miniplate reconstructive osteosynthesis and primary bone grafting correct bony restoration could be achieved. According their experiences of new treatment method with definitive one-stage management of complex craniofacial injuries they decreased the incidence of postoperative complications, the time of hospitalisations obtained optimal functional and cosmetic results.

Significance of fundal hemorrhage in predicting the state of the patient with ruptured intracranial aneurysm.

The authors have elaborated the data of 201 patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. In 49 cases (24.6%) they found fundal hemorrhages (FH) uni- or bilaterally. They have classified FH according to their sites and shapes of appearance. They emphasize that the presence of FH indicates a bad prognosis in patients with SAH. This is why FH should always be regarded as an additional risk factor. They discuss the possible ways of the development of FH which acoompanies SAH.

In vitro 1H NMR "mapping" of human intervertebral discs.

Human intervertebral discs were investigated by 1H NMR in vitro. The measured parameters of samples differently located in discs give the "maps" of discs. The spin-lattice relaxation-time maps show similar structure to dry matter and bound water maps, which might mean the future possibility to detect certain disc processes via accurate T1 images.