No abstract

A new modified technique of cervical open-door laminoplasty described herein offers some solutions to the problems associated with conventional techniques of cervical laminoplasty.

Apoptosis occurs spontaneously in a wide variety of neoplasms. However, it is difficult to detect apoptotic cells in routine histological sections because the cells undergoing apoptosis die singly and are then rapidly phagocytosed. Since DNA fragmentation is an important hallmark of apoptosis, visualization of DNA strand breaks in tissue sections provides the means for readily identifying apoptotic cells in situ. We have applied an in situ DNA strand break staining procedure for the quantitative estimation of apoptotic cells in surgical specimens of 62 different brain tumours. Positively stained apoptotic cells were observed in 25 (40.3%) cases and their percentage (apoptotic index) ranged from 0.1 to 8.9. Both fragmented and condensed nuclei of apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies were stained. In addition, we assessed the proliferative activity of each specimen by immunostaining with the MIB-1 antibody (MIB-1 index) which detects the cell cycle phase-dependent Ki-67 antigen. Brain tumours with higher MIB-1 indices showed a tendency to higher apoptotic indices. The results of this study indicate that apoptosis occurs spontaneously in various brain tumours.

Surgical resection of 13 operatively obscure arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) was accomplished with the assistance of intraoperative angiography, which was performed stereographically to provide three-dimensional orientation and was repeated until total resection of the AVM was confirmed. All films obtained were subtracted to improve clarity. The method presented here may be useful for the resection of all types of AVM. Only two patients had residual AVM after the initial operation. No complications attributable to angiography were noted.

✓ The authors describe a rare case of diaphragmatic paralysis caused by cervical spondylosis. A 64-year-old man presented with dyspnea as well as cervical radicular pain and left-sided upper-extremity motor weakness. Chest radiography revealed elevation of both sides of the diaphragm. All symptoms were ameliorated immediately after cervical laminoplasty, and spirometry revealed improvement of ventilatory function 6 months after surgery. Cervical spondylosis should be considered a factor that can cause respiratory dysfunction.