Glioblastoma cells potentiate the induction of the Th1-like profile in phosphoantigen-stimulated γδ T lymphocytes.

Purpose: γδ T lymphocytes are non-conventional T cells that participate in protective immunity and tumor surveillance. In healthy humans, the main subset of circulating γδ T cells express the TCRVγ9Vδ2. This subset responds to non-peptide prenyl-pyrophosphate antigens such as (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP).

Neurochips: Considerations from a neurosurgeon's standpoint.

A neurochip comprises a small device based on the brain-machine interfaces that emulate the functioning synapses. Its implant in the human body allows the interaction of the brain with a computer. Although the data-processing speed is still slower than that of the human brain, they are being developed.

[Horizon of artificial intelligence and neurosciences. About robots, androids and cyborgs].

Artificial intelligence permits cerebral processes to be analyzed like computing processes. We can recognize two disturbing lines we can call: The Robot Project, android when is anthropomorphic, and The Cyborg Project. Robots are destined to perform repetitive, risky or accurate tasks in which they can surpass human limitations.

[Relevance of histopathological diagnosis in the treatment of brainstem lesions in adults].

Brainstem tumors are uncommon beyond childhood. Controversies arise regarding the need of histological diagnosis in this eloquent area of the brain, weighting the benefits of a reliable diagnosis against the disadvantages of invasive procedures. There are scant publications about the surgical management of brainstem tumors in adults, all of them involving small retrospective cohorts.

[When to consult the institutional bioethics committee? The deliberative method for resolving possible dilemmas].

In healthcare, an ethical concern that arises during the decision making process is considered to be a bioethical dilemma. It is often the case that in the absence of proper deliberation, the problem is transferred to a bioethics committee, not even representing precisely a dilemma. Bioethics emerged as a discipline in the mid-20th century.

Assessment of accessibility to the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors in Argentina: Preliminary results.

Background: As far as public health is concerned, brain tumors burden is significant despite their low incidence, because they comprise high direct costs (specific diagnostic resources, high complexity treatments, and rehabilitation) and high-unforeseen costs (labor leave, family, and social issues). Although the Argentine's Health System is supposed to provide healthcare to all the population, it would not guarantee equity of access for brain tumors treatment. In order to analyze this hypothesis we decided to carry out a survey to obtain data on access, availability and resources for tumor management in Argentina.

Extent of resection and postoperative functional declination of Klekamp's type A intramedullary tumors in adult patients.

Background: The most commonly primary intramedullary spinal cord tumors (ISCT) in adults are the noninfiltrative lesions, corresponding to Klekamp's type A classification. There are few reports exclusively considering this type of lesions, their resectability and postoperative functional declination risk, and to our knowledge, none from Latin America. This led us to evaluate our results to provide information that might contribute to the decision making process in our region.

Hemangioblastoma located in the posterior incisural space mimicking a tentorial meningioma: a case report.

Background: The most common type of vascularized tumor located in the posterior incisural space in older patients is the falcotentorial meningioma. Solid hemangioblastomas are rarely found in this particular area of the brain. To the best of our knowledge, the case of only one patient harboring a hemangioblastoma not associated with Von Hippel-Lindau disease has been previously reported in the literature in this anatomic region.

Surgical Application of the Suboccipital Subtonsillar Approach to Reach the Inferior Half of Medulla Oblongata Tumors in Adult Patients.

Medulla oblongata (MO) tumors are uncommon in adults. Controversies about their treatment arise regarding the need for histological diagnosis in this eloquent area of the brain, weighing benefits of a reliable diagnosis, and the potential disadvantages of invasive procedures. As a broader variety of pathological findings could be found in this localization, the accurate histopathological definition could not only allow an adequate therapy but also can prevent the disastrous consequences of empiric treatments.

Neuroethics scope at a glance.

The term neuroethics defines the bioethics field that deals with the dilemmas arising from the development of the neurosciences. Why are we so sensitive to ponder on neuroethics? Because it involves the brain, the organ responsible for our perceptions, our thoughts, and our conscience; and its knowledge and/or manipulation entail the most genuine and nontransferable aspects of the human being. Since 2002, neuroethics has been recognized as a new discipline that offers an area of consideration for neuroscientific knowledge and the actions regarding human beings as individuals, and the society as an organization.

[Update on interventional treatment of acute ischemic stroke].

New options have been developed for the prevention and treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the last 20 years, such as carotid endarterectomy and intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator. Scientific evidence has supported their use in developed countries, while there is an evident delay in their use among emerging countries. Other promising modalities require the conclusion of ongoing randomized, controlled trials.

Pituitary tumors: our experience in the prevention of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks after transsphenoidal surgery.

The objective was to analyze the management of intraoperative CSF leaks in transsphenoidal surgeries to prevent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Sixty-three pituitary tumors were operated by transnasal approach. In presence of arachnoidal opening, a fat graft was placed into the sellar cavity, followed by collagen sponge layer and fibrin glue.

Intraparenchymal intracranial pressure monitoring in patients with acute liver failure.

Background: Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is a common cause of death in acute liver failure (ALF) and is determinant for decision-making regarding the timing of liver transplantation. The recommended type ICP monitoring device is controversial in ALF patients. Epidural devices had less risk of hemorrhagic complications, but they are less reliable than intraparenchymal ones.

Atlantoaxial joint synovial cyst: diagnosis and percutaneous treatment.

Synovial cysts at the atlantoaxial level are found uncommonly. Lumbar symptomatic cases are treated by percutaneous cyst aspiration with or without corticoid injection or by surgical resection, but synovial cysts at the C1-C2 level are usually treated by surgery. We report here a 92-year-old woman with a retro-odontoid synovial cyst producing spinal cord compression that was treated by percutaneous aspiration of the cyst under CT guidance.

Factors related to surgical complications and their impact on the functional status in 236 open surgeries for malignant tumors in a Latino-American hospital.

Background: There are not many studies that address the selection of patients harboring malignant brain tumors for open surgery. It is necessary, especially in developing countries, to establish the standards because of their impact not only on the efficacy but also on the cost-effectiveness of surgery. With the concern to add information that may help in future studies about the decision making, we proposed to analyze factors associated with surgical complications and evaluate their influence on the functional status at 30 days after surgery.

Ectopic growth hormone-releasing hormone secretion by a metastatic bronchial carcinoid tumor: a case with a non hypophysial intracranial tumor that shrank during long acting octreotide treatment.

Ectopic acromegaly represents less than 1% of the reported cases of acromegaly. Although clinical improvement is common after treatment with somatostatin (SMS) analogs, the biochemical response and tumor size of the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-producing tumor and its metastases are less predictable. Subject A 36-year-old male was referred because of a 3-year history of acromegaly related symptoms.