World Neurosurg
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Assessing the academic impact and output of scientists and physicians is essential to the academic promotion process and has largely depended on peer review. The inherent subjectivity of peer review, however, has led to an interest to incorporate objective measures into more established methods of academic assessment and promotion. Journal impact factor has been used to add objectivity to the process but this index alone does not capture all aspects of academic impact and achievement. ⋯ This review critically analyzes indices that are currently available to evaluate the academic impact of scientists and physicians. These indices include the total citation count, the total number of papers, the impact factor, as well as the "h" index with eight of its most common variants. The analysis focuses on their use in the field of academic neurosurgery, and discusses means to implement them in current review processes.
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Conventionally, neuroendoscopic excision of intraventricular tumors has been difficult and time consuming because of lack of an effective decompression system that can be used through the working channel of the endoscope. ⋯ The NICO Myriad is a highly effective tumor decompression system that can be effectively used in a purely endoscopic approach to intraventricular lesions.
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Surgical treatment for severe circumferentially fixed cervical kyphosis has been challenging. Both anterior and posterior releases are necessary to provide the cervical mobility necessary for fusion in a corrected position. ⋯ Severe fixed cervical kyphosis was treated successfully by the use of circumferential osteotomy and pedicle screw fixation. The surgical sequence described in this report is a reasonable approach for severe circumferentially fixed cervical kyphosis and short segment fixation can be achieved using pedicle screws.
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To assess long-term efficacy of the gasket seal, a method for watertight closure of the cranial base using autologous fascia lata held in place by a rigid buttress, in a large case series. ⋯ Gasket seal closure is a reliable long-term effective method for achieving watertight closure of the cranial base. It can be used in association with an intracranial fat graft, NS flap, LD, and tissue sealants. In this series, none of these other factors were significant predictors of postoperative CSF leak.
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The aim of this study is to reveal inhibitory effect of gamma knife irradiation on angiogenesis of meningiomas using rat corneal angiogenesis assay. ⋯ For the first time, this study provides an experimental data to show the antiangiogenic effect of gamma knife irradiation on meningiomas.