Smoking As a Risk Factor for Postcraniotomy 30-Day Mortality.

Background: There is limited information on the impact of smoking on postcraniotomy mortality. In this study we used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) to examine this issue.

Methods: We identified 16,280 postcraniotomy patients in the ACS-NSQIP database.

An fMRI investigation of the neural correlates underlying the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR).

: The "autonomous sensory meridian response" (ASMR) is a neologism used to describe an internal sensation of deep relaxation and pleasant head tingling which is often stimulated by gentle sounds, light touch, and personal attention. : An fMRI-based methodology was employed to examine the brain activation of subjects prescreened for ASMR-receptivity (n=10) as they watched ASMR videos and identified specific moments of relaxation and tingling. : Subjects who experienced ASMR showed significant activation in regions associated with both reward (NAcc) and emotional arousal (dACC and Insula/IFG).

Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Suprasellar Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided biopsy is an emerging diagnostic technique that holds great promise for otherwise difficult to access neuroanatomy.

Case Description: Here we describe MRI-guided biopsy of a suprasellar lesion located posterior and superior to the pituitary stalk. The approach was implemented successfully in a 38-year-old woman who had developed progressive visual deterioration.

The Use of Cannabis for Headache Disorders.

Headache disorders are common, debilitating, and, in many cases, inadequately managed by existing treatments. Although clinical trials of cannabis for neuropathic pain have shown promising results, there has been limited research on its use, specifically for headache disorders. This review considers historical prescription practices, summarizes the existing reports on the use of cannabis for headache, and examines the preclinical literature exploring the role of exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids to alter headache pathophysiology.