13^th International Conference on Neurology and Neurosurgery June 19-21, 2017 Paris, France

Biography:

Walter Bini has completed his Diploma at Westminster School, Simsbury Conn. USA and Post-graduate degree at Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Medicina, Zaragoza-Spain. In 2014, he was the Middle East Chairman of ISLASS. He was Head of Neurosurgery at Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital, UAQ-UAE from 2014-2016. Currently, he is Consultant Neurosurgeon in Orthopedic department, spine section of Lanzo Hospital COF, Lanzo d’Intelvi in Italy and also Visiting Consultant Neurosurgeon in Orthopedic department at Healthpoint Hospital, UAE.

Abstract:

Lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) poses an ongoing challenge as far as treatment options and alternatives, especially when considering younger patients. Over 80% of the adult population presents with one or more episodes of ongoing-progressive low-back pain (LBP). The primary cause is associated with degeneration of the intervertebral disc and which is triggered by a decrease of the nucleus pulposus cell population, as evidenced in histological studies. Definitely, in the presence of a black disc without profusion and neurological compromise, microsurgery or even fusion surgery should not be contemplated. Numerous percutaneous techniques have been propagated as proper way to treat this condition throughout the literature in the past years. They have been primarily focused on the treatment of the pain generated by the involved disc and the subsequent segmental insufficiency, without addressing the degeneration of the disc and this have had limited success and remain as pain management tools. Some significant trials in the past (i.e. Chondrocyte transplantation trial) and the increasing recent research and achievements with more biological strategies as far as tissue regeneration have motivated the development of a new treatment concept initially applicable to the lumbar spine which will be presented and discussed. Advancements have led to a significant improvement in the understanding of the cell environment and tissue transplantation at a molecular, cellular and immunobiological level. Adipose tissue has already become a central source of clinical and research work involving adipose tissue derived progenitor cells. Endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue are being considered and used in an array of clinical conditions and seem to have clear therapeutic benefits for many disease conditions including those affecting bone, cartilage and muscle. The use of an accessible source with abundant cells which have a high potential for regeneration clearly is superior in comparison to the chondrocyte option for the lumbar disc. Mesenchymal cells have a high self-renewal capacity and a potential for multi lineage differentiation. For this, adipose tissue derived MSCs (ADMSCs) are optimal candidates for tissue regeneration and can be obtained from the patient in a one-step procedure-treatment. 

Biography:

Karin Wuertz-Kozak was born in 1978 in Germany. She received her degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Regensburg, Germany in 2003 and her Ph.D. in Human Biology from the University of Ulm, Germany in 2006, based on her work in intervertebral disc cell mechanobiology. She was a Researcher at the University of Vermont, USA from 2006 to 2007 before joining and shortly thereafter taking over the Spine Research Unit at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. After having had a dual affiliation between xxx and xxx, she was promoted to a full-time research position at the ETH Zurich, Switzerland, one of the leading universities worldwide. In the subsequent years, she complemented her educational profile with an ETH habilitation as well as an MBA degree. Since July 2016, she is Assistant Professor for Immunoengineering & Regenerative Medicine at the ETH Zurich, with a focus on the pathophysiology and treatment of degenerative disc disease.

Abstract:

As a major weight bearing structure with limited nutritional support, the intervertebral disc is prone to degenerative changes early in life and contributes to the development of low back pain. Disc degeneration and low back pain are amongst the most relevant musculoskeletal disorders, resulting in high direct and indirect costs for our health care systems. As current treatment options are not satisfactory, the field of intervertebral disc regeneration has gained increasing importance amongst researchers as well as in the view of the World Health Organization.

This workshop will first provide a brief introduction to the biological processes occurring during intervertebral disc degeneration and will explain the molecular mechanisms that are hypothesized to contribute to pain development. Thereafter, various approaches to counteract degeneration and pain development will be explained. For each of the discussed novel treatments, the current state of the art as well as pitfalls that may hinder, limit and at least delay translation into clinical practice will be highlighted. Novel regenerative treatment examples to be demonstrated will include (1) tissue engineering of intervertebral disc (using a variety of modern techniques), (2) stem cell treatment (including an illustration on the use of fat-derived stem cells obtained directly in the OR) and (3) the use of biologics that have the potential to interfere with disc-typical pathological mechanisms.

Biography:

Abstract:

Iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) is widely accepted as the gold standard for spinal fusion but is associated with donor site morbidities including hematoma, infection and prolonged chronic pain up to years after graft harvest. Bone graft substitutes and add-on biologics have been developed in an effort to combat these drawbacks of ICBG, but most have not considered the impact of their mechanical, biological and biochemical profiles on the process of osteogenesis. This presentation will highlight the signaling pathways associated with osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and how those signaling pathways can be encouraged or inhibited by the properties of bone graft materials.

Biography:

Mohamed Gaber Abdel Tawab is currently working as a Lecturer of Neurosurgery department at Fayoum University, Egypt. He completed his Residency of Neurosurgery at Cairo University Hospital in Egypt

Abstract:

Objective: Retrospective study of 222 patients was done to determine the long-term outcome of microdiscectomy on relief of sciatic pain.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of 222 patients who underwent microdiscectomy for sciatic pain during the period 2011 to 2013 at Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. All patients were physically examined and interviewed. Recurrent procedures, multiple level discs were excluded from analysis. All procedures were done by same surgeon.

Results: Microdiscectomy yielded immediate complete pain relief in 215 patients. In seven patients, it yielded partial pain relief. Follow up to three years postoperatively, 205 patients remained absolutely pain free. Pain recurred in three patients after one year and in six patients during the first three years. Pain recurred in the same leg in eight patients, in the contralateral leg in two patients, and in both legs in one patient. One case presented with foot drop preoperative showed improvement. New neurological deficits developed postoperatively in one case in the form of foot drop and improved during follow up period.

Conclusions: Microdiscectomy provided immediate pain relief in about 96% of cases, and the long-term outcome of microdiscectomy has a very good satisfactory result.

Biography:

Abstract:

Introducton: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most abundant malignant tumor in adults (McDowell et al., 2011, Bush et al., 2016) with an incidence of 3.19 cases per 100,000 person/year (Dolecek et al., 2012). GBM is the most aggressive brain neoplasm, with a high probability of recurrence. The pattern of growth of GBM is highly infiltrative which minimize chances for total resection of tumor. The traditional treatment for glioblastoma includes surgical removal followed by chemotherapy and

radiotherapy depending on clinical condiUon (Stupp et al., 2005). However, the recurrence rate is high and oXen resistance to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy ensues. In addition, it may affect the deeper brain tissues, thus preventing surgical option as an initial step for treatment (Weller et al., 2013). Therefore, new therapeutic tools are needed.

Aim of the study: The current study aims at assessing the effect on the human U87 glioma cell line of novel substances, synthesized by Prof. Zago<o’s laboratory, that can be used as promising therapeutic agents. The substances were chosen for showing some similarity in their structure with a component of the bee’s propolis and some plants, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which has been shown to have some effect in different cancer types (Chung et al. 2004).

Materials & methods:

• Cell culture techniques according to lab protocol

• Cells were treated for 24 or 72 hours with one of the 10 substances (see below)

• Wright staining, count cells to determine the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells

• Measurement of cell migration by In Vitro Scratch Assay (wound healing experiment)

• Statistical analysis: t-test, each treatment vs. control (DMSO at the same concentration used for treatments).

Results: Among 10 different novel substances tested, substances 5, 7, 8 and 9 showed variable effects, indicated by morphological and molecular evaluation. Effect ranges from apoptosis, necrosis and cytostatic effect on GBM cells.

Conclusions & future works: In conclusion, an initial screening of 10 substances, different in their molecular properties, highlighted a promising scaffold that will be explored in future works. More information will be added from ongoing experiments on the expression of various proteins

Biography:

Abstract:

Recent studies suggest that CNS lymphatic drainage pathway to extracranial lymph compartments may play an important role in the removal of substances in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). After the onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), large amount of macromolecular substances, such as cellular lysates, proteins, peptides, were accumulated in the brain tissue and CSF, which contribute to cerebral vasospasm and cerebral injury. The present experiment was carried out to investigate the possible role of cerebral lymphatic drainage pathway in the development of cerebral vasospasm and related cerebral injury and the influence of Ginkgo biloba extract. Wistar rats were used in the experiment and animals were divided into different groups. SAH models were replicated by double cisternal injection of autologous arterial hemolysate. In some animals the main cerebral lymphatic drainage way out being blocked (cerebral lymphatic blockade, CLB). Two different constituents, Ginkgolides and Ginkgo flavone, were given as interventions. It was found that SAH reduced the drainage of Evans blue-labeled albumin (EBA) from the brain to the olfactory bulbs, cervical lymph nodes and abdominal paraaortic lymph nodes. A kinetic analysis of 125I-labeled human serum albumin (125I-HSA), a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tracer, showed that the clearance rate of macromolecules in the CSF was significantly reduced after SAH. Furthermore, SAH reduced the diameters of basilar artery (BA) and increased thickness of BA. Prominent cerebral injury was found after induction of SAH. The spasm of BA and cerebral injury were partially antagonized by Ginkgolides and Ginkgo flavone. It was concluded that cerebral lymphatic drainage pathway exerts intrinsic protective effects against cerebral vasospasm and cerebral injury by removal of macromolecular substances in the brain and subarachnoid spaces. Ginkgolides and Ginkgo flavone may alleviate the exacerbated cerebral vasospasm and cerebral injury following SAH by CLB.

Key words: subarachnoid hemorrhage; lymphatic drainage; cerebral vasospasm; cerebral injury; Ginkgolides; Ginkgo flavone

Biography:

Abstract:

Undoubtedly, the greatest contribution of nanobiotechnology will be at neuroscience which still having a cloak of secrecy over and waiting to be discovered millions of issue to be clarified. Neuropharmacology and nanobiotechnological developments in the field of tissue engineering will provide the foundation stone in the development of neuroscience.

Get nutrients, dietary supplements and many drugs do not cross the blood brain barrier. The presence of this barrier, restricts medical interventions in the treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.

Besides, preventing several brain diseases or intervention to psychiatric conditions, prevents showing antioxidant properties of molecules and also allows us to improve and slowing down the aging brain.

The aim of our study is, molecules that can pass through the barrier at high rates, to increase the success of the production of new agents in the treatment of neural diseases. The first phase of our project is completed, it is intended to activate the cholinergic system using nanotechnology. Cholinergic system, increases awareness by activating visual, audial, and almost all the senses.

The R&D project that we realized by support of Ministry of Science and Industry, we have developed a product that supports the functional antioxidant which is first and only developed in our country. The useful molecules in Rosmarinus officinalis and Olea Europaea are purified. Product of our study of the effect by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase was implicated microparticles using nanobiotechnologic methods. Microparticles are in no way affected by gastric acid and protecting all the bioactive molecules from gastric acid content. The impact of the product over Central Nervous System, investigated over 22 channels of 100 volunteers and evaluated with Electroencephalogram recording system plus program. The ASA program was used for analysis.

The results obtained up to this time, the nanoparticle products, most notably frontal-temporal region, caused the increase in almost all parts of my brain alpha and beta frequency.

It has been monitored that nanobiotechnological products we obtained in our study, were able to pass the blood brain barrier and the effect lasted up to 24 hours. Changes in the frequency of brain waves in the frontal and temporal regions showed that, it is effective in gathering concentration of the product and attention. The results indicate the center of nanotechnology products could be used in evaluating the bioavailability of neuronal oscillations in the central nervous system.