Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialSurgery for glioblastomas in the elderly: an Association des Neuro-oncologues d'Expression Française (ANOCEF) trial.
The role of surgery in the treatment of malignant gliomas in the elderly is not settled. The authors conducted a randomized trial that compared tumor resection with biopsy only-both followed by standard therapy-in such patients. ⋯ This study suggests that debulking surgery is safe, and-compared to biopsy-is associated with a less severe deterioration of quality of life and autonomy, as well as a significant although modest improvement of PFS in elderly patients suffering from newly diagnosed malignant glioma. Although resection does not provide a significant survival benefit in the elderly, the authors believe that the risk/benefit analysis favors an attempt at optimal tumor resection in this population, provided there is careful preoperative geriatric evaluation. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02892708 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2023
Gene expression analysis during progression of malignant meningioma compared to benign meningioma.
Meningioma is the most common primary intracranial neoplasm. Only 1%-3% of meningiomas are malignant according to the 2016 WHO criteria (WHO grade III). High-grade meningiomas present specific gene expression signatures indicating aggressive growth or recurrence. However, changes in gene expression and in neuroinflammatory gene expression signatures in WHO grade III meningiomas and during progression from WHO grade I or II to grade III are unknown. ⋯ The authors found gene expression changes in low-grade meningiomas that predated histological transformation to grade III meningiomas. Neuroinflammation genes distinguished grade III from grade I meningiomas.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2023
Nerve transfers for brachial plexus injuries: grading of volitional control.
After brachial plexus injuries (BPIs), nerve transfers are used to restore lost muscle function. Brain plasticity underlies the process of regaining volitional control, which encompasses disconnection of the original donor nerve-related programs and reconnection to acceptor nerve programs. To the authors' knowledge, the levels of disconnection and reconnection have never been studied systematically. In this study, the authors developed a novel 4-point plasticity grading scale (PGS) and assessed the degree of volitional control achieved, identifying clinical correlations with this score. ⋯ Just around 20% of the authors' patients developed a complete disconnection of the donor program along with complete independent control over the reinnervated muscle. Incomplete disconnection was present in the vast majority of the patients, and the level of disconnection and control was poor in approximately 15% of patients. Brain plasticity underlies patient ability to regain volitional control after a nerve transfer, but this capacity is limited.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · May 2023
Historical ArticleThe Pierre Wertheimer Neurological and Neurosurgical Hospital in Lyon: history of its development and contributions to neurosurgery.
At the end of the 1950s, at the direction of Pierre Wertheimer, the first French professor of neurosurgery, the treatment of neurological and neurosurgical diseases for Lyon's 2 million people was concentrated in a single center functioning as not only a hospital but also a campus for neuroscience. The ideas behind the structure revolve around concepts such as spatial unity, comprehensive specialized fields, a critical mass of patients, a structured training program, and essential cross-communication between areas in the same field. Through several generations of doctors, researchers, and professors, the Pierre Wertheimer Neurological and Neurosurgical Hospital in Lyon (NHL) has had an important impact on clinical practice, fundamental neuroscientific research, and specialist training. ⋯ Typically, these contributions were the result of the collaboration of separate teams, ultimately laying the groundwork for a neuroscientific doctoral school. The large mass of patients treated at the NHL provided opportunities for other, more isolated insights, such as the classification of pineal tumors and contributions to interventional neuroradiology. The present work endeavors to illustrate the contributions of the NHL to neuroscience and discuss the background allowing for their occurrence.