World Neurosurg
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The purpose of this study was to determine reference values for the sagittal plane alignment of the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) in a young adult Korean population. ⋯ This study provides reference values with a wide physiologic range for the sagittal alignment of the TLJ of the spine in a young adult Korean population.
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that play important roles in tumor development and progression. miR-20a acts as an oncogene in many cancers; however, the underlying role of miR-20a in human glioma remains unknown. ⋯ Collectively, these results suggest a critical role for miR-20a in glioma cell apoptosis, proliferation, and invasion via the direct targeting of CELF2 and indicate its potential application in cancer therapy.
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Case Reports
Intraoperative ultrasound guided posterior cervical laminectomy for degenerative cervical myelopathy.
We present our experience with routine intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS)-guided posterior cervical laminectomy (PCL) in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), describe the technique used, and describe relevant IOUS findings that may impact the surgical procedure. ⋯ IOUS is a poorly described yet easy-to-use and very effective tool for guidance and confirmation of adequate posterior decompression of the cervical spinal cord and nerve roots during PCL. Routinely using IOUS-guided decompression for PCL in patients with myelopathy will help avoid residual compression of neural elements and might be beneficial for functional outcome.
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Apparently similar intra-axial pontine lesions may demand distinct surgical approaches. Selecting the optimal approach reduces unnecessary manipulation of tracts and nuclei. This study aims to reveal a quantitative analysis of main surgical corridors dealing with intrinsic pontine pathology. ⋯ In addition to producing similar areas and angles of attack, the retrolabyrinthine yields a more orthogonal trajectory to lateral pons than the retrosigmoid approach. Adding a tentorial cut and anterior petrosectomy significantly increased areas and lengths of exposure of a regular subtemporal approach. The combined approach significantly increased angles of attack to both the supratrigeminal and lateral pontine safe zones.
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Voice alteration as a presenting symptom in cases with Chiari formation is analyzed, as well as outcome after atlantoaxial fixation. ⋯ Such critical symptoms of voice disturbance and inadequate breathing and the possibility of rapid postoperative recovery have not been recorded earlier in the literature.