Cerebral cavernous malformation is a neurovascular abnormality that can cause seizures, focal neurological deficits and intracerebral hemorrhage. Familial forms of this condition are characterized by de novo formation of multiple lesions and are autosomal-dominantly inherited via CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/MGC4607 and CCM3/PDCD10 mutations. We identified three truncating mutations in KRIT1 from three Japanese families with CCMs: a novel frameshift mutation, a known frameshift mutation and a known splice-site mutation that had not been previously analyzed for aberrant splicing.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) may require sacrifice of the superior petrosal vein (SPV), with potential risks of ischemia and hemorrhagic complications due to impaired venous return. OBJECTIVE: To investigate methods for safely sacrificing the SPV. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 cases in 346 consecutive microvascular decompression surgeries for TN. They were intraoperatively identified as SPV and its tributaries being the offending vessels causing TN and were intentionally sacrificed. RESULTS: The transverse pontine vein (TPV) was sacrificed in 10 patients. The main trunk of the SPV was sacrificed using the TPV as a collateral flow pathway in 10 patients. No complications occurred related to impaired venous return. CONCLUSION: The venous flow conversion technique can be applied to safely sacrificing the SPV and its tributaries with the TPV acting as a collateral blood flow pathway to prevent postoperative impaired venous return.

To determine the length of the gait initiation phase before achieving steady state walking in healthy young adults, to provide a source of perspective on assessments of walking in narrow circumstances such as at home. [Methods] The average step length and speed of 10-m maximal walking were measured for 10 subjects. Simultaneously, the variability of step length and speed during the first seven steps from walking initiation were analyzed using a video motion analysis system. Then, the distance to achieve steady state walking speed and step length was calculated and analyzed statistically. [Results] The coefficient of variance of step length and walking speed decreased to a level of 0.01 after step 3 and step 4, respectively, during the first seven steps, and it appeared to become constant. [Conclusion] The average distance of the first 4 steps was 3.27 m, suggesting that an indicative distance for achieving constant walking speed and step length may be 3.5 m.

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