Paraoxonase 1 Activity and Phenotype Distribution in Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients.

AIM: To compare the Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and phenotype distribution between lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients and healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research included 40 LDH patients and 42 healthy individuals. Spectrophotometric assays were performed to determine the serum PON1 and arylesterase activities. The PON1 ratio, which represents the salt-stimulated PON/ arylesterase level, demonstrated a trimodal distribution. This ratio was applied to identify the different phenotypes; QQ, QR, and RR of each subject. RESULTS: The LDH patients had lower PON1 activity than the healthy individuals (p < 0.05). LDH patients had a statistically significant QQ phenotype compared to the healthy subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: LDH patients had statistically lower PON1 activity, suggesting that the low PON1 activity and PON1 QQ phenotype may be a risk factor for LDH occurrence.

Comparison of Single Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections for Treatment of Early and Late Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation.

AIM: To compare the results of fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TESI) for pain reduction in ipsilateral early recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH) with ipsilateral late RLDH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 738 patients complaining of radicular pain due to ipsilateral early and late RLDH were assessed. Of these, TESI was administered to 390 subjects for ipsilateral early RLDH and 346 for ipsilateral late RLDH. TESIs were performed based on radicular leg pain; all subjects were followed up and reexamined after 12 weeks of the therapy. Pre- and postprocedural visual analog scale (VAS) scores and all complications were recorded for the study. RESULTS: For radicular pain, the mean pre-, and postprocedural VAS scores for ipsilateral early RLDH were 85.44 ± 6.85 and 20.16 ± 3.77 respectively. For late RLDH, the mean pre-, and postprocedural VAS scores were 72.82 ± 5.12 and 30.87 ± 4.17, respectively. A significant statistical difference for pre- and postprocedural VAS scores were observed between ipsilateral early and late recurrent disc herniation TESI groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TESI was more effective for early RLDH than for late RLDH during the 12-week follow-up period.

Discoidin domain receptor 1 as a promising biomarker for high-grade gliomas.

Background: Two fundamental challenges in the current therapeutic approach for central nervous system tumors are the tumor heterogeneity and the absence of specific treatments and biomarkers that selectively target the tumor tissue. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential relationship between discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) expression and the prognosis and characteristics of glioma patients. Materials and Methods: Tissue and serum samples from 34 brain tumor patients were evaluated for DDR1 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in comparison to 10 samples from the control group, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis has performed. Results: DDR1 expression was observed in both tissue and serum samples of the patient and control groups. DDR1 expression levels in tissue and serum samples from patients were higher in comparison to the control group, although not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A significant correlation between tumor size and DDR1 serum measurements at the level of 0.370 was reported (r = 0.370; P = 0.034). The levels of DDR1 in serum showed a positive correlation with the increasing size of tumor. The results of the 5-year survival analysis depending on the DDR1 tissue levels showed a significantly higher survival rate (P = 0.041) for patients who have DDR1 tissue levels above cutoff value. Conclusions: DDR1 expression was significantly higher among brain tumor tissues and serum samples and its levels showed a positive correlation with the increased size of tumor. This study can be a starting point, since it investigated and indicated, for the first time, that DDR1 can be a novel therapeutic and prognostic target for aggressive high-grade gliomas.

Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Pain in Foraminal and Paramedian Lumbar Disc Herniations.

AIM: To compare the effect of fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections on radicular pain in foraminal and paramedian lumbar disc herniations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included patients who did not benefit from previous medical treatments or are not suitable for surgery. Transforaminal epidural steroid injections for the treatment of foraminal and paramedian lumbar disc herniation were performed in 370 and 1262 patients, respectively. Every group’s preprocedural visual analogue scale (VAS) and 12-week postprocedural VAS scores were recorded, and statistical analysis was performed. The complications noted were also recorded. RESULTS: The preprocedural and postprocedural mean VAS scores for radicular pain in foraminal disc herniation were 67.11 ± 4.28 and 34.78 ± 3.64, respectively. However, the preprocedural and postprocedural mean VAS scores in paramedian disc herniation were 62.16 ± 6.65 and 19.07 ± 4.50, respectively. Statistical analysis of the varying preprocedural and postprocedural VAS scores showed that transforaminal epidural steroid injections were more effective for paramedian disc herniation than for foraminal disc herniation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transforaminal epidural steroid injections were more effective for paramedian lumbar disc herniation than for foraminal disc herniation, 12 weeks after the procedure.

Successful Application of the Ventriculo-Gallbladder Shunt: A Salvage Procedure.

Ventriculo-gallblader shunt is very rarely used in the treatment of hydrocephalus. A 44-year-old male with ventriculoatrial shunt dysfunction was evaluated. His ventriculoatrial shunt was not working. His medical history revealed that his hydrocephalus was treated five times by venrtriculoperitoneal shunt, and four times by ventriculoatrial shunt. Another trial for ventriculoperitoneal or ventriculoatrial shunting was not considered feasible. A ventriculo-gallbladder shunt was placed to the patient as a potential salvage procedure. Remarkably, the patient benefited from the ventriculo-gallbladder shunt and was discharged from the hospital. We think that ventriculo-gallbladder shunting is a safe and effective treatment for hydrocephalus as the last resort in complicated cases of shunt dysfunction.

Comparison of the Effect of Single Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections for the Treatment of L4-5 and L5-S1 Paramedian Disc Herniation.

AIM: To compare the outcomes of fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections between L4-L5 paramedian disc herniation and L5-S1 paramedian disc herniation for the treatment of radicular pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 593 patients treated by transforaminal epidural steroid injections for the treatment of L4-5 paramedian disc herniation and 504 patients treated by transforaminal epidural steroid injections for the treatment of L5-S1 paramedian disc herniation were included in the study. All the patients were regularly followed up for 12 weeks. Preprocedural Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, 12-week post-procedural VAS scores and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The mean preprocedural and postprocedural VAS scores for L4-5 paramedian disc herniation were 63.09 ± 5.37 and 15.81 ± 3.58, respectively, and the mean preprocedural and postprocedural VAS scores for L5-S1paramedian disc herniation were 61.15 ± 5.45 and 27.06 ± 3.62, respectively, for radicular pain. There was a statistically significant difference between preprocedural and postprocedural VAS scores for L4-5 and L5-S1 paramedian disc herniation (p < 0.05). Transforaminal epidural steroid injections for L4-5 paramedian disc herniation were more effective than transforaminal epidural steroid injections for L5-S1 paramedian disc herniation. CONCLUSION: This study showed that transforaminal epidural steroid injections for L4-5 paramedian disc herniation were more effective than transforaminal epidural steroid injections for L5-S1 paramedian disc herniation in the 12-week follow-up period.

Evaluation of Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Epidural Fibrosis by Immunohistochemical Staining for CD105 and Osteopontin.

AIM: To evaluate bevacizumab for epidural fibrosis (EF) treatment in an experimental rat model using histopathology as well as immunohistochemical staining for CD105 and osteopontin (OPN). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixteen Wistar Albino rats underwent either laminectomy alone to induce EF (group I, control) or laminectomy plus local bevacizumab treatment (group II). The degree of EF was compared between groups using the current histopathological grading method as well as immunohistochemistry for CD105 and OPN. In addition, the consistency of EF staging using CD105 and OPN expression was compared to that using histopathology. RESULTS: The grade of EF was significantly lower in group II than in group I based on the fibroblast count and fibrosis density determined using histopathology, as well as by CD105 expression determined using immunohistochemistry. In contrast, OPN expression was not a reliable marker for EF evaluation because it did not show a significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab prevents EF development as assessed using both histopathology and CD105 expression. CD105 is a potentially reliable marker for the immunohistochemical grading of EF, in contrast to OPN.

Comparison of Single-Level and Multilevel Decompressive Laminectomy for Multilevel Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify whether multiple compressions of nerve roots resulted in poorer surgical outcome when patients were treated with single-level decompressive laminectomy or multilevel decompressive laminectomy. To reach this we compared preoperative and postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, and walking duration of multilevel lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients treated with single-level and multilevel decompressive laminectomy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 112 consecutive patients undergoing lumbar decompressive surgery without arthrodesis for LSS between March 2010 and September 2013. Forty-eight patients were treated with single-level laminectomy and 64 patients were treated with multilevel laminectomy. ODI scores, VAS scores, and walking duration were measured for all patients preoperatively and 30 months after decompressive surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 64.41 ± 13.4 years. The ODI scores, VAS scores, and walking duration difference between patients treated with single-level laminectomy and multilevel laminectomy were statistically significant and higher for the first group (P < 0.05). There were more operative complications in patients treated with multilevel decompressive laminectomy; however, there was no statistically significant difference between single-level and multilevel decompressed patients regarding complications (P = 0.119). Four of the patients treated with multilevel decompressive laminectomy experienced postoperative spondylolisthesis needing posterior instrumented fusion. CONCLUSION: Recovery in terms of ODI scores, VAS scores, and walking duration was better in LSS patients undergoing single-level laminectomy than in those undergoing multilevel laminectomy. Also, the rates of operative complications and postoperative follow-up spondylolisthesis were higher in patients treated with multilevel laminectomy.

The Correlation of SCL-90-R Anxiety, Depression, Somatization Subscale Scores with Chronic Low Back Pain.

AIM: To investigate the correlation of the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) anxiety, depression, and somatization subscale scores with chronic low back pain (LBP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients who were admitted with the complaint of chronic LBP (patient group) and 75 healthy persons (control group) were evaluated. SCL-90-R anxiety, depression, and somatization subscale scores of patients having chronic LBP and healthy persons were measured. The mean values were paired and using two tailed t test they were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: The difference between SCL-90-R anxiety subscale subscores of patients having chronic LBP and healthy persons was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The difference between SCL-90-R depression subscale subscores of patients having chronic LBP and healthy persons was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The difference between SCL-90-R somatization subscale subscores of patients having chronic LBP and healthy persons was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SCL-90-R somatization subscale subscores are higher in patients with low back pain. The treatment of low back pain can be more successful when combined with the treatment of somatization.

Spontaneous Resolution of a Sylvian Arachnoid Cyst in a Child: A Case Report.

We report the case of a 7-year-old boy with an incidentally diagnosed left sylvian arachnoid cyst. At a clinical follow-up of 2 years, cranial computed tomography scans found the cyst to be totally resolved. The mechanism of this rare spontaneous resolution of an arachnoid cyst is discussed.

The effect of copper on vasospastic femoral artery in rats.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of copper, which is the cofactor and regulator of the superoxide dysmutase enzyme, on preventing experimental peripheral vasospasm in rats through antioxidative mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four female Wistar-Albino rats were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n=8), control group; group 2 (n=8), vasospasm group; and group 3 (n=8), vasospasm + copper treatment group. Morphometric measurements of wall thickness and lumen diameter of femoral arteries were performed. RESULTS: Statistical comparison of groups 1 and 2, regarding thickness of vascular walls, revealed a significant increase in group 2 (p=0.037) and regarding lumen diameters, revealed a significant decrease in group 2 (p=0.043). Comparison of diameters of the vascular lumen of groups 1 and 3 showed no significant difference (p=0.19), whereas the comparison of the thicknesses of the vascular walls displayed a significant increase in group 3 (p=0.028). Comparison of groups 2 and 3 regarding diameter of vascular lumens showed a significant decrease in group 2 (p=0.042), whereas group 3 displayed a significant decrease, in terms of thickness of the vascular walls (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: This study showed quantitatively that copper could prevent the development of experimental peripheral vasospasm in rats.

Diagnosis and treatment of ossified cephalhematoma.

Ossified cephalhematoma is a rare clinical entity. Even though cephalhematoma is frequently encountered, ossified cephalhematoma occurs only sporadically. We report a 13-week-old boy who was admitted to neurosurgery clinic with deformity of the skull. A plain skull radiograph showed radiolucent areas in the right parietal region. CT scan of the head showed thickened right parietal bone and a low-density lesion between bony layers. 3D CT of the skull showed bony protrusion of the right parietal bone. A cosmetic surgical procedure was performed for the patient, and biopsy of the bony lesion confirmed ossified cephalhematoma. We discuss diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of ossified cephalhematoma.

Unilateral hyperplasia of lamina and spinous process of C6 vertebra: case report.

We report a 20-year-old male patient who was admitted to our emergency clinic after a traffic accident and who suffered from neck pain. Radiographic examination of the cervical spine showed hypertrophy of the left lamina and hypertrophy and elongation of the left spinous process of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6). A computed tomography scan revealed the associated schisis of the spinous process at the same level. Magnetic resonance imaging scan demonstrated no abnormality of the neural elements. The patient underwent a surgical operation due to persistent neck pain and the local aesthetic abnormality.