The pattern of periodic sharp wave complexes (PSWC) was widely accepted as the most characteristic electroencepalographic(EEG) abnormality in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) although it may be lacking in prodromal and terminal stages. The EEG abnormalities are often asymmetric. We compared PSWC with 18F-FDG PET and brain MRI finding to know the signifcance of PSWC. All the patients had typical clinical courses and symptoms of CJD. Three patients were pathologically verified. Three patients were in full stage and two in terminal stage of CJD. We analysed PSWC in digital EEG and compared the regions of maximal PSWC amplitudes with 18F-FDG PET and brain-MRI finding in regard to lateralization and localization. Regarding lateralization, the maximal amplitudes of PSWC were observed over left frontal area in two patients and over right frontal region in three. Three patients in full stage had PET hypometabolism in the same hemisphere as PSWC were lateralized. Their brain MRI showed abnormal basal ganglia intensities but no sever brain atrophy. Two patients in terminal stage had PSWC lateralized in right frontal region but in PET one had left frontoparietal and the other bilateral global hypometabolism. Their brain-MRI showed severe cortical atrophy in the same hemisphere as PET hypometabolism was observed. Regarding all patients in full or terminal stage had maximal PSWC in frontal region, which were not consistent with PET and MRI findings. Cortical lesions in MRI were well corresponding with PET hypometabolism but not with PSWC. These results suggest that PSWC could reflect the hemisphere with more CJD activities in full stage, but could not localize the region where PET and MRI showed abnormalities, suggesting that the generation of PSWC could be related with the involvement of subcortical structures in CJD.
Atrophy ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome* ; Electroencephalography ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: Sufficient surgical resection is necessary for effective tumor control, but is usually limited for vertebral tumors, especially in the cervical spine in small animal neurosurgery. Objective: To evaluate the primary stability and safety of customized three-dimensional (3D)-printed implants for cervical spine reconstruction after total vertebrectomy. Methods: Customized guides and implants were designed based on computed tomography (CT) imaging of five beagle cadavers and were 3D-printed. They were used to reconstruct C5 after total vertebrectomy. Postoperative CT images were obtained to evaluate the safety and accuracy of screw positioning. After harvesting 10 vertebral specimens (C3–C7) from intact (group A) and implanted spines (group B), implant stability was analyzed using a 4-point bending test comparing with groups A and C (reconstituted with plate and pins/ polymethylmethacrylate after testing in Group A). Results: All customized implants were applied without gross neurovascular damage. In addition, 90% of the screws were in a safe area, with 7.5% in grade 1 (< 1.3 mm) and 2.5% in grade 2 (> 1.3 mm). The mean entry point and angular deviations were 0.81 ± 0.43 mm and 6.50 ± 5.11°, respectively. Groups B and C significantly decreased the range of motion (ROM) in C3– C7 compared with intact spines (p = 0.033, and 0.018). Both groups reduced overall ROM and neutral zone in C4–C6, but only group B showed significance (p = 0.005, and 0.027). Conclusion Customized 3D-printed implants could safely and accurately replace a cervical vertebra in dog cadavers while providing primary stability.

OBJECTIVE: The authors examine the characteristics of primary cell culture of central neurocytomas to discern the clues concerning the tumor origin. METHODS: Tumor cells of central neurocytomas from nine patients were cultured in 10% Dulbeco's Modified Essential Medium(DMEM)(eight) and in M21 media including basic Fibroblast Growth Factor(bFGF) and Epidermal Growth Factor(EGF)(one). The cultured cells had been stored in liquid nitrogen at the end of each passage, which were thawed and subcultured in one to three months. Morphological changes were chron-ologically examined under a phase contrast microscope. Immunocytochemical(ICC) stainings and Electron Microscopic(EM) examinations were performed in the early and late phases of the cultures to characterize the biological properties of the cultured cells. RESULTS: Within one to three days of primary culture, sprouting of cytoplasmic processes was observed with the size of the cells and the cytoplasmic processes increased. The cells stored from the liquid nitrogen showed the similar morphology to their original one before the storage within two to three days after thawing. ICC stainings of the cells cultured in 10% DMEM demonstrated dual differentiation. The cultured cells were positive for neuronal markers in the early stages and gial markers in the late stages. An EM study demonstrated both neuronal and glial differentiation regardless of the culture stages. The cells cultured in M21 including bFGF & EGF generated neurospheres and expressed the early neuronal protein, BIII-tubulin and a glial marker, GFAP. CONCLUSION: The central neurocytoma might therefore be a neoplasm of ventricular zone neural stem cells, multipotential when removed in vitro.
Cells, Cultured ; Cytoplasm ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurocytoma* ; Neurons ; Nitrogen ; Primary Cell Culture*