Solid Stress Estimations via Intraoperative 3D Navigation in Patients with Brain Tumors.

Purpose: Physical forces exerted by expanding brain tumors-specifically the compressive stresses propagated through solid tissue structures-reduce brain perfusion and neurologic function but heretofore have not been directly measured in patients in vivo. Solid stress levels estimated from tumor growth patterns are negatively correlated with neurologic performance in patients. We hypothesize that measurements of solid stress can be used to inform clinical management of brain tumors.

Optimal focused ultrasound lesion location in essential tremor.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy is an effective treatment for medically refractory essential tremor. We investigate ablation sites and potential tracts associated with optimal tremor control and side effects based on the analysis of 351 cases from three international hospitals. Lesions were segmented on day 1 thin-cut T2 axial images, mapped to standard Montreal Neurological Institute space, and used to derive probabilistic maps and tracts associated with tremor improvement and side effects.

Congress of Neurological Surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guidelines for the role of surgery in the management of patients with diffuse low grade glioma: update.

Target populationAdults with imaging suggestive of a WHO grade II diffuse gliomas (oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas)QuestionIn adults with imaging suggestive of a WHO grade II diffuse gliomas (oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas), does surgical resection improve overall survival compared to observation or biopsy?Updated Recommendation from the Prior Version of These Guidelines:Level III: In adults with imaging suggestive of a WHO grade II diffuse gliomas (oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas), surgical resection is suggested over observation or biopsy to improve overall survival.Question Q2In adults with imaging suggestive of a WHO grade II diffuse gliomas (oligodendrogliomas or astrocytomas), does maximal surgical resection improve progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to subtotal resection/biopsy?Unchanged Recommendations from the Prior Version of These GuidelinesLevel II It is recommended that GTR or STR be accomplished instead of biopsy alone when safe and feasible so as to decrease the frequency of tumor progression recognizing that the rate of progression after GTR is fairly high.Level III Greater extent of resection can improve OS in WHO grade II diffuse gliomas patients.

Solid stress estimations via intraoperative 3D navigation in patients with brain tumors.

Background: Physical forces exerted by expanding brain tumors - specifically the compressive stresses propagated through solid tissue structures - reduces brain perfusion and neurological function, but heretofore has not been directly measured in patients . Solid stress levels estimated from tumor growth patterns are negatively correlated with neurological performance in patients. We hypothesize that measurements of solid stress can be used to inform clinical management of brain tumors.

Cognitive outcomes after magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy in adolescent patients.

Surgical treatment of medication-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is associated with cognitive deficits. Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) for MTLE has been shown to result in superior cognitive outcomes in adults when compared to open surgical resection. However, data regarding postoperative cognitive outcomes in adolescent and pediatric patients is limited.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for essential tremor patients with low skull density ratio: a case-matched analysis.

Introduction: Skull density ratio (SDR) is the ratio between the mean Hounsfield units of marrow and cortical bone, impacting energy transmission through the skull. Low SDR has been used as an exclusion criterion in major trials of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy for medication-refractory essential tremor (ET). However, some studies have suggested that patients with low SDR can safely undergo MRgFUS with favorable outcomes.

Price Transparency for Cervical Spinal Fusion Among High-Performing Spine Centers in the United States.

Background And Objectives: As of January 1, 2021, all US hospitals are required by the Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule (HPTFR) to publish standard charges for all items and services, yet the state of price transparency for cervical spinal fusion is unknown. Here, we assess the nationwide price transparency landscape for cervical spinal fusion among high-performing spine centers in the United States.

Methods: In this cross-sectional economic evaluation, we queried publicly available price transparency websites of 332 "high-performing" spine centers, as defined by the US News and World Report.

Cavernous venous malformations in and around the central nervous system. Part 2: Intradural.

Cavernous venous malformations (CavVMs) account for a spectrum of lesions with a shared pathogenesis. Their anatomical location dictates their clinical features and surgical treatment. Extradural and dura-based CavVMs were discussed in Part 1 of this review.

Cavernous venous malformations in and around the central nervous system. Part 1: Dural and extradural.

Cavernous-type malformations are venous lesions that occur in multiple locations throughout the body, and when present in the CNS, they have canonically been referred to as cavernomas, cavernous angiomas, and cerebral cavernous malformations. Herein all these lesions are referred to as "cavernous venous malformations" (CavVMs), which is congruent with the current International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies classification system. Even though histologically similar, depending on their location relative to the dura mater, these malformations can have different features.

Neurological Surgery Residency Programs in the United States: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background And Objectives: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has approved 117 neurological surgery residency programs which develop and educate neurosurgical trainees. We present the current landscape of neurosurgical training in the United States by examining multiple aspects of neurological surgery residencies in the 2022-2023 academic year and investigate the impact of program structure on resident academic productivity.

Methods: Demographic data were collected from publicly available websites and reports from the National Resident Match Program.

Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor in Parkinson's Disease: Outcomes in a Large, Prospective Cohort.

Background: Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is United States Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (TdPD), but only limited studies have been described in practice.

Objectives: To report the largest prospective experience of unilateral MRgFUS thalamotomy for the treatment of medically refractory TdPD.

Methods: Clinical outcomes of 48 patients with medically refractory TdPD who underwent MRgFUS thalamotomy were evaluated.

Biophysical Principles and Computational Modeling of Deep Brain Stimulation.

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has revolutionized the treatment of neurological disorders, yet the mechanisms of DBS are still under investigation. Computational models are important in silico tools for elucidating these underlying principles and potentially for personalizing DBS therapy to individual patients. The basic principles underlying neurostimulation computational models, however, are not well known in the clinical neuromodulation community.

Utility of a Pilot Neurosurgical Operative Skills Boot Camp in Medical Student Training.

Objective: The neurosurgical sub-internship is a crucial step for prospective neurosurgeons. However, the expectations for sub-interns, particularly the technical skills required by residents and attendings, often are unclear. We present survey data on what medical students, residents, and attendings believe are important procedural proficiencies for neurosurgical sub-internships.

Surgical advances in the management of brain metastases.

As the epidemiological and clinical burden of brain metastases continues to grow, advances in neurosurgical care are imperative. From standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences to functional neuroimaging, preoperative workups for metastatic disease allow high-resolution detection of lesions and at-risk structures, facilitating safe and effective surgical planning. Minimally invasive neurosurgical approaches, including keyhole craniotomies and tubular retractors, optimize the preservation of normal parenchyma without compromising extent of resection.

Human immunocompetent Organ-on-Chip platforms allow safety profiling of tumor-targeted T-cell bispecific antibodies.

Traditional drug safety assessment often fails to predict complications in humans, especially when the drug targets the immune system. Here, we show the unprecedented capability of two human Organs-on-Chips to evaluate the safety profile of T-cell bispecific antibodies (TCBs) targeting tumor antigens. Although promising for cancer immunotherapy, TCBs are associated with an on-target, off-tumor risk due to low levels of expression of tumor antigens in healthy tissues.