World Neurosurg
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Predicting future hemorrhage risk may allow better selection of patients with cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) who will likely benefit from treatment. In this study, we sought to identify predictors of CCM hemorrhage, and to compare subsequent symptomatic hemorrhage risks between patients with and without previous hemorrhage. ⋯ Previous hemorrhage is a predictor of subsequent symptomatic hemorrhage in CCMs. Compared with CCMs without previous hemorrhage, those with prior hemorrhage have a significantly higher risk of future symptomatic hemorrhage.
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Glioblastoma is the most common intracranial malignancy in adults and carries a poor prognosis. Chemotherapeutic treatment figures prominently in the management of primary and recurrent disease. However, the blood-brain barrier presents a significant and formidable impediment to the entry of oncotherapeutic compounds to target tumor tissue. ⋯ Focused ultrasonography is one such treatment modality, using acoustic cavitation of parenterally administered microbubbles to mechanically effect disruption of the vascular endothelium. We review and discuss the preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the biophysical basis for, and efficacy of, focused ultrasonography in the enhancement of oncotherapeutic agent delivery. Further, we provide some perspectives regarding future directions for the role of focused ultrasound in facilitating and improving the safe and effective delivery of oncotherapeutic agents in the treatment of glioblastoma.
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Multicenter Study
Current training status of neurosurgical residents in South Korea: A Nationwide multicenter survey.
In South Korea, special legislation was introduced in December 2016 to limit residents' training time to a maximum of 80 hours per week. The aim of this study was to survey the current training system and environment of neurosurgical residents and to find ways to improve the quality of neurosurgical training. ⋯ The major reason that neurosurgical residents are dissatisfied with the current training system and environment is the excessive time spent on it. These survey results are expected to be used as the basis for improvement of the residents' training system and work environment in South Korea.
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The psoas muscle (PS), 1 of the paravertebral core muscles, is associated with sarcopenia. It also has clinical relevance in lateral-access spinal surgery (LASS) as a determinant structure affecting the operative window. We aimed to identify age-related patterns of PS degeneration, and we propose that our results be used to evaluate the operative window in LASS. ⋯ In patients without sagittal imbalance, the PS showed significant imaging characteristics. Our detailed data may aid the identification of degeneration patterns and specific preoperative planning regarding the operative window for LASS.
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To explore the performance of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) in grading gliomas and to evaluate the cellular proliferation. ⋯ NODDI is a promising method in grading gliomas and predicting cellular proliferation. These results may be of great significance for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of gliomas.