Neurosurgery
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Surgery for the very elderly is a progressively important paradigm as life expectancy continues to rise. Patients with glioblastoma multiforme often undergo surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy (CT) to prolong overall survival (OS). However, the efficacy of these treatment modalities in patients aged 80 years and older has yet to be fully assessed in the literature. ⋯ Very elderly patients are less likely to receive GTR, RT, or CT when compared with elderly counterparts despite use of these therapies conferring improved OS. Selected very elderly patients may benefit from more aggressive attempts at surgical and adjuvant treatment.
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The influence of the age at which complete corpus callosotomy (CC) surgery is performed on seizure outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the age-dependent aspects of long-term seizure outcomes after complete CC. ⋯ Complete CC is an excellent surgical option based on favorable seizure outcomes and acceptable complications in our present study.
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The "July Effect" hypothesizes increased morbidity and mortality after the addition of inexperienced physicians at the beginning of an academic year. However, the impact of newer members on neurosurgical teams managing patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) has yet to be examined. This study conducted a nationwide analysis to evaluate the existence of the "July Effect" in the setting of patients with TBI. ⋯ The findings suggested that there is no "July Effect" on patients with TBI treated at teaching hospitals in the United States.
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Inflammation is a key pathomechanism for growth and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Anti-inflammatory mechanisms may reduce rupture of intracranial aneurysms and the incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight exposure induces systemic anti-inflammatory responses through immunosuppressive mechanisms. We studied whether SAH incidence is associated with UV radiation. ⋯ The incidence of SAH is inversely associated with UV radiation. Further studies should assess the actual UV exposure in relation to SAH incidence and potential biological explanations for the relation we found.