Histopathological efficacy of tacrolimus in an experimental head trauma study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of tacrolimus (FK506), an immunosuppressive agent, on secondary brain damage in rats with experimental head trauma. METHODS: 40 Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 10-12 weeks and weighing 250-350 g, were used without gender selection. The subjects that were divided into five groups of 8 rats per group (sham control, negative control, positive control, vehicle control, and treatment) were sacrificed 1 month after head trauma was induced under appropriate conditions, their brains were then removed en bloc and evaluated histopathologically. Secondary brain injury was evaluated with the immunoreactive score (IRS) after Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein staining of gliosis that would occur in brain tissue. RESULTS: The evaluation of the histopathological IRS values of all groups showed significant statistical differences between all groups. The pairwise group comparison revealed the highest increase in IRS value in the treatment group (p<0.05), with no statistical significance despite the increase in the negative control, positive control, and vehicle control groups. The sham group had the lowest rate of severe histopathological reaction score. CONCLUSION: It was observed that the group treated with FK506 had a statistically significant increase in gliosis in the traumatic area compared to the other control groups. This shows that FK506 cannot prevent and even increase gliosis by a mechanism that has not yet been clarified. In conclusion, it is obvious that the FK506 immunosuppressive agent does not reduce post-traumatic brain injury; on the contrary, it increases gliosis.

Role of early decompressive craniectomy in traumatic brain injury: Our clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of death, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. Diffuse edema in the damaged cerebral tissue as a result of trauma and the subsequent increase in intracranial pressure cause signifi-cant neurological deterioration. Consequently, decompressive craniectomy (DC) is performed as the surgical treatment of TBI. The aim of this study is to evaluate the post-operative mortality and morbidity rates of patients who underwent DC for TBI in our clinic. METHODS: The data of 57 cases of TBI were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical, radiological and surgical features of these cases were reviewed. The rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as main indicators of mortality were investigated. RESULTS: Twenty-five (43.8%) patients were female and 32 (56.1%) were male. The mean age was 54.5 years. Fourteen (24.5%) patients were presented with subdural hematoma, 5 (8.7%) with epidural hematoma, 18 (31.5%) with intracerebral hematoma, 13 (22.8%) with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 7 (12.2%) with other radiological findings. DC was performed in all cases as soon as pos-sible after admission. Twelve (21.1%) patients died in the first 3 days postoperatively and 7 (12.2%) patients in the postoperative 3-15 days due to progressive cerebral damage and secondary infections. Six (10.5%) patients recovered completely and were discharged. Thirty-two (56.1%) patients were transferred to palliative care clinics and physical therapy clinics after the surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: DC, which is performed in the early period of treatment in TBI, is as important as the degree of intracerebral damage at the time of admission and the high Glasgow coma scale score. Post-operative results are more satisfactory in patients who underwent DC at an earlier stage of treatment.

Pituitary apoplexy: An emergent and potential life-threatening complication of pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary apoplexy is an emergent and potential life-threatening complication of pituitary adenomas if not managed properly. The aim of our study is to present our series of pituitary adenomas and to focus on the clinical, radiological, and surgical characteristics of this rare complication. METHODS: In this study, a total of 143 patients with pituitary adenoma underwent surgical treatment between 2016 and 2018. All patients were operated using endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal (EET) technique. The data of pituitary apoplexy cases were recorded. Resection rates, hormonal results, and visual outcomes of patients with pituitary apoplexy were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 143 patients, 8 (5.59%) were presented with the symptoms and radiological findings of pituitary apoplexy. The mean age was 26.75 years, and 4 (50%) of them were male and 4 were female. Pre-operative mean Knosp grading score was 2.1 All of eight patients underwent emergent surgical intervention and total resection was achieved in 75% of patients with apoplexy. Hormone levels were significantly decreased after surgery (p<0.05), except prolactin (p>0.05). Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in one pa-tient. None of the patient with pituitary apoplexy died in our series. CONCLUSION: Pituitary apoplexy is an important complication of pituitary adenomas. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention provide excellent ophthalmological and hormonal outcomes. Emergent EET approach is crucial for patients with ophthalmological findings and macroadenomas.

Outcome in pituitary apoplexy patients, stratified by delay between symptom appearance and surgery: A single center retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are surgical and conservative management strategies in pituitary apoplexy patients. The use of both methods may lead to delayed surgery in the treatment of pituitary apoplexy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical indications and outcomes of a series of patients with pituitary apoplexy according to delay between surgery and symptom onset. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 2711 cases with sellar pathologies treated with endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery in a single centre. Inclusion criteria were histopathological confirmation of haemorrhage or necrosis, acute onset and at least one of the following: symptoms of endocrine dysfunction; visual impairment; ophtalmoplegia; headache; or altered consciousness. Patients were divided into three groups based on the number of days from initial symptoms to surgery: early (1-7 day), delayed (8-21 days) and late (>21 day). The indication for and outcome of surgery was reviewed according to symptoms and timing of surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients with pituitary apoplexy underwent surgery. The median time from ictus until surgery was 16 days (1-120 days). Headache was the most common presenting symptom. Visual impairment and ophtalmoplegia were found in 26.4% and 23.1% of patients, respectively. Surgical intervention was successful in treatment of headache in 82 (97,6%) patients. In patients in the early or delayed groups a significant improvement was found between pre- and post-operative headache, ocular palsy, visual impairment, and hormone deficiencies. Patients in the late group also had a significant improvement in headache and visual symptoms after surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgery was sufficient in headache, endocrine, and neuro-ophthalmic outcomes at first 21 days (early and delayed groups). Beyond 21 days (late group), surgery was not effective on recovery of pituitary function.

Foramen Magnum Meningiomas: A Report of 10 Cases and Literature Review.

AIM: To present the findings and surgical results of foramen magnum meningioma surgeries performed by the authors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten patients operated between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of age, gender, neurological examination, and postoperative status. The female-to-male (F/M) ratio of the patients was 6/4, and the age range was 19?70 years (mean = 59). All patients presented with occipitocervical pain and were operated using the midline lateral suboccipital approach. RESULTS: One of the operated patients died in the intensive care unit due to upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Additionally, one patient had paresis in the early postoperative period, which resolved in the third follow-up month. CONCLUSION: Foramen magnum meningiomas are operated safely by microsurgical methods using the midline lateral suboccipital approach after suboccipital triangle and vertebral artery are exposed.

Multicentric Dentigerous Dermoid Cyst with an Unusual Location in the Central Nervous System.

Dermoid cysts are benign and congenital ectodermal inclusions. Their occurrence in an intracranial location is quite rare. They constitute 0.1 to 0.7% of all intracranial tumors. Their occurrence in the fourth ventricle and their multicentric feature are extraordinary. A 12-year-old boy was admitted to our clinic with a dermoid cyst with sixth cranial nerve involvement. He had symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. This case is the first dermoid cyst in the literature at this unusual location; a mature tooth structure was found within the cyst, which extended over the cervical subsegments. There was a second dermoid cyst in the thoracic spine (multicentric). Our aim is to present an atypical dermoid cyst along with radiodiagnostic characteristics and macroscopic findings.

Early cyclosporin A treatment retards axonal degeneration in an experimental peripheral nerve injection injury model.

Injury to peripheral nerves during injections of therapeutic agents such as penicillin G potassium is common in developing countries. It has been shown that cyclosporin A, a powerful immunosuppressive agent, can retard Wallerian degeneration after peripheral nerve crush injury. However, few studies are reported on the effects of cyclosporin A on peripheral nerve drug injection injury. This study aimed to assess the time-dependent efficacy of cyclosporine-A as an immunosuppressant therapy in an experimental rat nerve injection injury model established by penicillin G potassium injection. The rats were randomly divided into three groups based on the length of time after nerve injury induced by cyclosporine-A administration (30 minutes, 8 or 24 hours). The compound muscle action potentials were recorded pre-injury, early post-injury (within 1 hour) and 4 weeks after injury and compared statistically. Tissue samples were taken from each animal for histological analysis. Compared to the control group, a significant improvement of the compound muscle action potential amplitude value was observed only when cyclosporine-A was administered within 30 minutes of the injection injury (P < 0.05); at 8 or 24 hours after cyclosporine-A administration, compound muscle action potential amplitude was not changed compared with the control group. Thus, early immunosuppressant drug therapy may be a good alternative neuroprotective therapy option in experimental nerve injection injury induced by penicillin G potassium injection.