Molecular landscape and clinical correlates of olfactory groove meningiomas: a multi-institutional study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the clinical and radiological characteristics of olfactory groove meningiomas (OGMs) and their molecular profiles.

Methods: The authors performed targeted next-generation and whole-genome sequencing in 123 OGM samples collected from 4 international institutions, focusing on known meningioma-driver genes. They compared the molecular data with the clinical and radiographic features of the tumors.

Predictive factors for post-therapeutic biochemical discordance in acromegaly: a monocentric analysis of 156 cases.

Purpose: Biochemical remission is the primary treatment goal in acromegaly. However, some patients experience biochemical discordance between growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels following multimodal therapy, complicating disease assessment and management. This study aims to identify predictive factors associated with post-therapeutic biochemical discrepancy.

Patient reported outcomes after navigated minimally invasive hybrid lumbar interbody fusion (nMIS-HLIF) using cortical bone trajectory screws.

Prospective observational study. To evaluate patient-reported outcomes after navigation-guided minimally invasive hybrid lumbar interbody fusion (nMIS-HLIF) for decompression and fusion in degenerative spondylolisthesis (Meyerding grade I-II). Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) are well-known standard procedures for lumbar spinal fusion.

Prospective surgical solutions in degenerative spine: spinal simulation for optimal choice of implant and targeted device development.

Objectives: The most important goal of surgical treatment for spinal degeneration, in addition to eliminating the underlying pathology, is to preserve the biomechanically relevant structures. If degeneration destroys biomechanics, the single segment must either be surgically stabilized or functionally replaced by prosthetic restoration. This study examines how software-based presurgical simulation affects device selection and device development.

Do statins reduce the rate of revision surgery after chronic subdural hematoma drain?

Background: With chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), surgery is the therapeutic mainstay for large or symptomatic cases. Statins are reported to be effective as the primary therapy of CSDH to obviate the need for surgery. However, the effect of statins on the postoperative course of CSDH is largely unclear.

Olfactory bulb volume changes associated with trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery.

Objective: The trans-sphenoidal approach is most frequently used for pituitary adenoma (PA) enucleation. However, effects of this surgery on neighboring structures have received little attention so far. In particular, no investigations on olfactory bulb (OB) anatomy after trans-sphenoidal surgery have been reported.

Endoscopic and Microscopic Segmental Decompression via Translaminar Crossover Spinal Approach in Elderly Patients.

Objective: For effective minimally invasive lumbar decompression, we changed the routine of segmental decompression. Using a high-speed drill or an ultrasound knife, we created a working channel, starting at the base of the spinous process of the upper vertebra slightly above the disc level, to target and decompress the contralateral recess, and termed it the translaminar crossover decompression (TCD). We evaluated the feasibility and compared the outcomes of a navigation-guided endoscopic translaminar crossover approach for segmental decompression (eTCD) in elderly patients with microscopic decompression using the same approach (mTCD).

Adjustable Polyurethane Foam as Filling Material for a Novel Spondyloplasty: Biomechanics and Biocompatibility.

Objective: To investigate the biomechanics and biocompatibility of polyurethane (PU) foam with adjustable stiffness as a filling material for a novel spondyloplasty that is designed to reduce the risk of postoperative adjacent level fractures.

Methods: Sixty individual porcine lumbar vertebrae were randomly split into 4 groups: A, B, C, and D. Group A served as unmodified vertebral body controls.

Intratumoral heterogeneity and promoter mutations in progressive/higher-grade meningiomas.

Background: Recent studies have reported mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter (p) in meningiomas. We sought to determine the frequency, clonality and clinical significance of telomere gene alterations in a cohort of patients with progressive/higher-grade meningiomas.

Methods: We characterized 64 temporally- and regionally-distinct specimens from 26 WHO grade III meningioma patients.

ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator in multiple sclerosis: a new indication.

OBJECTIVE Direct stimulation of the peroneal nerve by the ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator is a potent therapy that was described previously for stroke-related drop foot. The authors report here successful long-term application of the ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Six patients with MS and 2 years of persisting central leg paresis received an implantable ActiGait drop foot stimulator after successful surface test stimulation.

Restoration of ankle movements with the ActiGait implantable drop foot stimulator: a safe and reliable treatment option for permanent central leg palsy.

OBJECT The ActiGait drop foot stimulator is a promising technique for restoration of lost ankle function by an implantable hybrid stimulation system. It allows ankle dorsiflexion by active peroneal nerve stimulation during the swing phase of gait. In this paper the authors report the outcome of the first prospective study on a large number of patients with stroke-related drop foot.

A five year-old child with clear cell petro-clival meningioma: case report with clinical and histopathological long-term follow-up.

Background: Only a few cases have been previously published about clear cell meningiomas in children, the majority of them in the location of the spine. We describe an unusual case of clear cell meningioma occurring at the petro-clival region in a 5-year-old child. We further seek to determine the impact of several growth factors as well as the AKT1 mutation on the tumor growth pattern.

Radio-chemotherapy improves survival in IDH-mutant, 1p/19q non-codeleted secondary high-grade astrocytoma patients.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations are beginning to drive decisions on therapy for glioma patients. Here we sought to determine the impact of adjuvant treatment in patients with IDH-mutant, 1p/19q non-codeleted secondary high-grade astrocytoma (sHGA) WHO grades III/IV. Clinical data of 109 sHGA patients grades III/IV, in addition to IDH mutation-, 1p/19q-codeletion- and MGMT-promoter methylation status-were retrospectively analyzed.

Hemicraniectomy in older patients with extensive middle-cerebral-artery stroke.

Background: Early decompressive hemicraniectomy reduces mortality without increasing the risk of very severe disability among patients 60 years of age or younger with complete or subtotal space-occupying middle-cerebral-artery infarction. Its benefit in older patients is uncertain.

Methods: We randomly assigned 112 patients 61 years of age or older (median, 70 years; range, 61 to 82) with malignant middle-cerebral-artery infarction to either conservative treatment in the intensive care unit (the control group) or hemicraniectomy (the hemicraniectomy group); assignments were made within 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Retractor-endoscopic nerve decompression in carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes: outcomes in a small series.

Objective: To present midterm to long-term results obtained in carpal tunnel release, in situ decompression, and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve using the retractor integrated endoscope.

Methods: During the period 2000-2010, 145 patients underwent endoscopic carpal tunnel releases (n = 47), endoscopic in situ decompression of the ulnar nerve (n = 55), and endoscopic anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve (n = 52). Bilateral surgery was performed in 9 patients.

Label-free differentiation of human pituitary adenomas by FT-IR spectroscopic imaging.

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging has been used to characterize different types of pituitary gland tumors and normal pituitary tissue. Freshly resected tumor tissue from surgery was prepared as thin cryosections and examined by FT-IR spectroscopic imaging. Tissue types were discriminated via k-means cluster analysis and a supervised classification algorithm based on linear discriminant analysis.

Frequent loss of the CDKN2C (p18INK4c) gene product in pituitary adenomas.

Genomic alterations of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors have been demonstrated in a variety of tumor types including brain tumors. Among them, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A or p16(INK4a)) gene has been shown to be frequently deleted or inactivated in astrocytic tumors. The CDKN2C (p18(INK4c)) gene is functionally related to CDKN2A.

A novel minimally occlusive microvascular anastomosis technique using a temporary intraluminal shunt: a prospective technique to minimize brain ischemia time during superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery bypass.

Objective: To describe a new technique of suturing microvessels with persistent perfusion via a temporary intraluminal microshunt.

Methods: Experiments were conducted in Wistar rats. Abdominal aorta grafts were explanted from donor rats.

Telecanthus and hypertelorism in frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles and the surgical correction of these conditions: Part II. A novel surgical approach in the treatment of telecanthus.

Frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles (MEC) are frequently associated with telecanthus (TC) and seldom with hypertelorism (HT). The correction of these orbital dysmorphisms are undertaken in the same setting as the surgical treatment of MEC. During several charity missions to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the authors developed a simple surgical technique for the correction of TC that has not been described before.

Telecanthus and hypertelorism in frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles and the surgical correction of these conditions: Part I. An orbital anthropomorphometric evaluation of the Khmer subpopulation of Cambodia.

This is the first of the two parts of a paper concerning a novel method on the surgical treatment of orbital dysmorphisms, especially telecanthus (TC) and hypertelorism (HT). The normal orbital values of a given ethnic group is an essential factor in determining the degree of correction intended in that patient population. We did not find any data related to the normal orbital values in Khmer-Cambodians in whom we performed the corrective surgeries.

Ultrasound aided pin fixation of biodegradable osteosynthetic materials in cranioplasty for infants with craniosynostosis.

Aim: Biodegradable osteosynthesis materials are often used for fixation of bone fragments when repairing craniosynostoses. When compared with titanium plates they have the disadvantage of difficult handling and time-consuming thread cutting. A new method of using resorbable pins inserted with the aid of ultrasound (bone welding) and not requiring thread cutting was applied in patients for the first time.