World Neurosurg
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The purpose of this study is to explore the high-risk pathogenic driver genes for the occurrence and development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) based on the bioinformatics method at the molecular level, to further elaborate the molecular mechanism of the pathogenesis of AS, and to provide potential biological targets for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical AS. ⋯ In this study, weighted gene coexpression network analysis, an efficient system biology algorithm, was used to analyze the high-risk pathogenic driver gene of AS. We provide new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical AS and new ideas for further study.
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There is a lack of definite anatomical landmarks for the inferior extension of the standard retrosigmoid approach. In this study, we evaluated whether the posterior condylar emissary vein (PCEV) can be used as an intraoperative landmark for optimizing the surgical corridor. ⋯ The PCEV near its bony canal proved to be an easy, straightforward, safe, and effective operative landmark with which the surgeon can extend the soft tissue dissection and bony exposure towards the foramen magnum. This maneuver provides ample access to the cisterna magna for cerebrospinal fluid drainage and increases visibility and surgical maneuverability to the entire cerebellopontine angle.
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Case Reports
Microsurgical Treatment for a Ruptured PICA Aneurysm. A 3-Dimensional Surgical Video and Anatomical Landmarks Review.
Aneurysms are the most frequent issue for the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). PICA aneurysms account for 1.4% to 4.5% of all intracranial aneurysms.1-3 Although the majority of PICA aneurysms arise from their junction with the vertebral artery, they can be found in any of 5 segments.4,5 Although PICA is more prone to form nonsaccular aneurysms than other intracranial arteries, ruptured aneurysms are usually saccular.6 Nearly all PICA aneurysms are located intracranially, above the foramen magnum. Extracranial PICA aneurysms are rare, with few reports in literature.7 Microsurgical clipping remains a good treatment alternative for these aneurysms. ⋯ Microsurgical clipping of the aneurysm was performed without any complications (Video 1). Postoperatively, the patient was discharged without neurologic deficits. We present the first surgical video of the necessary steps in order to perform a microsurgical clipping of an extracranially located caudal loop PICA aneurysm through a midline suboccipital craniotomy with C1 laminectomy.
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Women have historically been underrepresented in academic medicine, particularly in surgical subspecialties. This study investigated potential associations between gender and promoting practices in academic neurosurgery. ⋯ While significantly more men hold leadership positions in U.S. academic institutions, after controlling for contributing variables, there did not appear to be an association between gender and full professorship, division leadership, chair, or program directorship in academic neurosurgery. While the field still has significant work to do to achieve gender equity, these results may serve as encouragement to women who are looking to advance their careers in academic neurosurgery.
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Quantitative analysis of the financial hardship faced by patients with brain tumors is lacking. The present study sought to conduct a longitudinal analysis of responses to the National Health Interview Survey by patients diagnosed with brain tumors and characterize the impact of demographic factors on financial hardship indices. ⋯ Given this variation in self-reported financial burden, demographics clearly have an impact on a patient's holistic experience after a brain cancer diagnosis. Therefore, by using the comparisons in this study, we hope that medical institutions and neurosurgical societies can more accurately predict which patients are most susceptible to significant financial stress and distribute resources accordingly.