Immunoexpression of autophagy‑related proteins in a single‑center series of sporadic adult conventional clival chordomas.

Autophagy is a biological process that facilitates the degradation and removal of damaged structures and macromolecules. In neoplasms, autophagy has been proposed to play a dual role, functioning either as a tumor promoter or a tumor suppressor. To date, no comprehensive analysis of autophagy, primarily through immunohistochemical investigation of autophagy-related proteins (ATGs), has been conducted in chordomas (CHs), which are rare bone tumors that arise from remnants of the notochord.

Functional role of area 8A in the posterior dorsolateral frontal region of the human brain: A single case study.

Area 8A has traditionally been considered to be the frontal eye field (FEF), i.e. the area for the motor production of eye movements.

Immunohistochemical Profile of p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 in Human Low- and High-Grade Intracranial Meningiomas.

Among autophagic-related proteins, p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 represents a relevant actor in cellular proliferation and neoplastic growth. Although, recently, p62 expression has been analyzed in different neurodegenerative and glial neoplastic diseases, no available information have been reported in meningiomas, which have an high epidemiological relevance being the second most common category of intracranial tumors after gliomas. Generally meningiomas have a benign behavior, but their recurrence is not uncommon mainly when atypical or anaplastic varieties occur.

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis: Quantitative and qualitative score predicting outcome of extended lumbar drainage.

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Consensus-based recommendations for diagnosis and surgical management of cranioplasty and post-traumatic hydrocephalus from a European panel.

Introduction: Planning cranioplasty (CPL) in patients with suspected or proven post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) poses a significant management challenge due to a lack of clear guidance.

Research Question: This project aims to create a European document to improve adherence and adapt to local protocols based on available resources and national health systems.

Methods: After a thorough non-systematic review, a steering committee (SC) formed a European expert panel (EP) for a two-round questionnaire using the Delphi method.

Pilocytic astrocytoma: The paradigmatic entity in low‑grade gliomas (Review).

Among low-grade gliomas, representing 10-20% of all primary brain tumours, the paradigmatic entity is constituted by pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), considered a grade 1 tumour by the World Health Organization. Generally, this tumour requires surgical treatment with an infrequent progression towards malignant gliomas. The present review focuses on clinicopathological characteristics, and reports imaging, neurosurgical and molecular features using a multidisciplinary approach.

Neuronavigated Retropharyngeal Anterior Screw Fixation of the Odontoid for the Treatment of C2 Type II Fractures: Case Report.

Odontoid fractures, frequently observed in patients over the age of 70, often involve the base of the axis (Anderson-D'Alonzo type 2). For surgical treatment, posterior C1-C2 fixation is the traditional method, whose fusion rates range between 93 and 100%. However, morbidity and mortality rates are high.

Avoiding the Blinded Funnel: A Combined Single Piece Fronto-Temporo-Orbito-Zygomatic Craniotomy Endoscopic-Assisted Approach with Multimodal Assistance for an Epidermoid Tumor of Meckel's Cave-Case Report.

A Meckel's cave tumor poses a great challenge because of the peculiar neurovascular structure of the area and the deep location. Multiple surgical approaches have been designed for this area. In this report, we describe a case treated with a combined one step single piece fronto-temporo-orbito-zygomatic craniotomy (FTOZ) endoscopic-assisted approach for the treatment of an epidermoid tumor of Meckel's cave.

Potential Role of Carbon Nanomaterials in the Treatment of Malignant Brain Gliomas.

Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults up to an extent of 78% of all primary malignant brain tumors. However, total surgical resection is almost unachievable due to the considerable infiltrative ability of glial cells. The efficacy of current multimodal therapeutic strategies is, furthermore, limited by the lack of specific therapies against malignant cells, and, therefore, the prognosis of these in patients is still very unfavorable.

A novel 3D anatomical visualization system to avoid injuries of nerves in retrosigmoid approach.

The retro-sigmoid approach (RA), widely used during different neurosurgical procedures, is burdened by the risk of injuries of the nerves that cross that region contributing to possible postoperative complications. By using, anatomage table (AT), a novel 3D anatomical visualization system, we described the nerves passing through the retromastoid area including the great occipital nerve (GON), the lesser occipital nerve (LON) and the great auricular nerve (GAN), and their courses from the origins, till terminal branches. Moreover, using dedicated software, we measured distances between the nerves and well-recognizable bony landmarks.

Molecular Investigation of DKK3 in Cerebral Ischemic/Reperfusion Injury.

Dickkopf-3 (Dkk3) is an atypical member of the Dkk family of Wnt inhibitors, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. Its role in the mechanisms of cellular degeneration and protection is still unknown. The aim of our work is to investigate the endogenous activation of the DKK3 pathway in a model of transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats.

Surgical management of Glioma Grade 4: technical update from the neuro-oncology section of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINch®): a systematic review.

Purpose: The extent of resection (EOR) is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in adult patients with Glioma Grade 4 (GG4). The aim of the neuro-oncology section of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (SINch®) was to provide a general overview of the current trends and technical tools to reach this goal.

Methods: A systematic review was performed.

Minimally Invasive Surgery of Deep-Seated Brain Lesions Using Tubular Retractors and Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging Tractography Guidance: The Minefield Paradigm.

Background: Surgical treatment of deep-seated brain lesions is a major challenge for neurosurgeons. Recently, tubular retractors have been used to help neurosurgeons in achieving the targeting and resection of deep lesions.

Objective: To describe a novel surgical approach based on the combination of tubular retractors and preoperative mapping by navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) and nTMS-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography for the safe resection of deep-seated lesions.

Association between the morphological features of the central sulcus and the somatomotory representation: anatomo-functional evaluation of neuroplasticity through nTMS.

In recent years navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) has emerged as a useful tool for the preoperative mapping of brain cortical areas surrounding neoplastic tissues allowing for maximal safe tumor resection and minimizing new postoperative permanent neurological deficits. Three patients presenting with an intrinsic brain tumor (one metastasis from mammary carcinoma, one high-grade glioma, and one low-grade glioma) located within or in close relationship to the central sulcus were enrolled for this study. The MRI-based morphological and nTMS mapping of the central sulcus of the intact hemisphere was complemented by the examination of the contralateral region harboring the lesion.

Treatment of Chiari III Malformation in Infant with 4K 3D ORBEYE Exoscope.

Chiari malformation (CM)-III is the rarest anomaly among CMs. Treatment of choice is surgical repair, although poor outcome and postoperative mortality has been reported. Surgical timing is still debated.

The Role of Nanotechnology in Spinal Cord Tumors.

The efficacy of current multimodal therapeutic strategies in spinal cord tumors is limited by the lack of specific therapies. Importantly, sufficient amount of therapeutic materials should be concentrated in tumors in order to be efficient. Overcoming the blood-brain barrier is the major obstacle for chemotherapeutics, which cannot reach the tumor bed in efficacious doses.

The Role of Nanotechnologies in Brain Tumors.

The treatment of glioma remains one of the most interesting topics in neurooncology. Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive and prevalent malignant brain tumor. Nowadays, technologies and new tools are helping the neurosurgeons to define a tailored surgery.

Personalized surgery of brain tumors in language areas: the role of preoperative brain mapping in patients not eligible for awake surgery.

Objective: Awake surgery represents the gold standard for resection of brain tumors close to the language network. However, in some cases patients may be considered not eligible for awake craniotomy. In these cases, a personalized brain mapping of the language network may be achieved by navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS), which can guide resection in patients under general anesthesia.

Fluorescein-guided surgery for intradural spinal tumors: A single-center experience.

•Gross total removal has a pivotal role in surgical treatment of intradural spinal tumors.•Sodium fluorescein prevents vascular injuries also preserving pial vessels in posterior myelotomy.•Fluorescence before the durotomy helps to distinguishing tumor from healthy tissue in intradural lesions.

Immunoexpression of p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 in human primary and recurrent IDH1/2 wild-type glioblastoma: A pilot study.

p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 is an autophagic protein that serves a crucial role in cellular metabolism, proliferation and malignant growth. Notably, autophagy may influence the development and resistance to therapy of numerous types of human cancer. In the present pilot study, the immunohistochemical pattern of p62 was analyzed in a cohort of patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1/2 wild-type glioblastoma (GBM), in primary and recurrent samples, in order to verify the concordance or discordance between the primary and recurrent tumors.