Findings Consistent with a Breast Implant-associated Somatic System Disorder (BIA-SSD) Among Patients Self-reporting Breast Implant Illness.

Background: Self-reported breast implant illness (BII) has been found to be associated with anxiety as well as medically diagnosed anxiety and depression. Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a relatively common mental health condition that includes anxiety and somatic symptoms, often without a clear cause.

Methods: We evaluated patients with BII symptoms, with or without a history of an anxiety disorder, for findings consistent with SSD.

Correlation Between Medically Diagnosed Anxiety and Depression Disorder and Self-Reported Breast Implant Illness.

Background: Anxiety disorders, both with and without comorbid depression, are widespread globally. In this study we investigate the intersection of anxiety, depression, and self-reported breast implant illness (BII) in females undergoing aesthetic breast surgery.

Objectives: The objective of our research was to enhance understanding about mental health history, psychotropic medication use, and its relation to BII symptoms.

The Safety of Abdominal Contouring in the Presence of a Gastric Band.

Background: Gastric bands, specifically the Lap-Band, have been widely used for weight loss. However, little is known about the complications associated with abdominal contouring procedures in patients with Lap-Bands. This study aimed to determine the complication rates and consent processes for these procedures.

En Plaque Meningiomas: A Narrative Review.

 En plaque meningiomas are a rare subtype of meningiomas that are frequently encountered in the spheno-orbital region. Characterized by a hyperostotic and dural invasive architecture, these tumors present unique diagnostic and treatment considerations.  The authors conduct a narrative literature review of clinical reports of en plaque meningiomas to summarize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and treatment considerations in treating en plaque meningiomas.

Analysis of academic publishing output among 1634 successful applicants in the 2011-2018 neurosurgery residency match.

Background: Research productivity is a key criterion for applicant selection reported by residency program directors. Research volume reported on neurosurgery residency applications has risen steadily over the past decade.

Objective: Perform retrospective bibliographic searches of successful applicants who matched into U.

Bioengineered recombinant vault nanoparticles coupled with NY-ESO-1 glioma-associated antigens induce maturation of native dendritic cells.

Purpose: Glioblastoma prognosis remains grim despite maximal, multimodal management. Recent literature has demonstrated an increase in research devoted to experimental treatments, particularly those relying on the foundations of active immunotherapy with promising results. We hypothesize that the utilization of bioengineered recombinant vault nanoparticles coupled with glioma-associated antigens, such as the NY-ESO-1 peptide, may be capable of stimulating native dendritic cell (DC) maturation and inducing an anti-tumor response.

Intratumor injection of CCL21-coupled vault nanoparticles is associated with reduction in tumor volume in an in vivo model of glioma.

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary adult brain tumor. Current care includes surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. Recent clinical trials for GBM have demonstrated extended survival using interventions such as tumor vaccines or tumor-treating fields.

United States Medical Licensing Examination step 2 scores do not predict American Board of Neurological Surgery scores: A single-institution experience.

Objectives: The neurosurgery residency match is becoming increasingly competitive, with numerous factors being considered as part of the application. We aim to determine whether USMLE Step 2 scores were a significant predictor of neurosurgery board performance.

Patients And Methods: Residents who entered a neurological surgery residency program at a single academic institution during 2000-2017 provided scores for all ABNS attempts, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores.

Racial Differences in Hospital Stays among Patients Undergoing Craniotomy for Tumour Resection at a Single Academic Hospital.

Background: Racial differences in American patients undergoing brain tumour surgery remain poorly characterized within urban medical centres. Our objective was to assess racial differences in operative brain tumour patients at a single academic hospital in Los Angeles, California.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of adult patients undergoing craniotomy for tumour resection from March 2013 to January 2017 at UCLA Medical Centre.

Patient Safety Analysis in Radiation Burden of Head Computed Tomography Imaging in 1185 Neurosurgical Inpatients.

Objective: We performed a retrospective analysis in a cohort of 1185 patients at our institution who were identified as undergoing ≥1 head computed tomography (CT) examinations during their inpatient stay on the neurosurgery service, to quantify the number, type, and associated radiation burden of head CT procedures performed by the neurosurgery service.

Methods: CT procedure records and radiology reports were obtained via database search and directly validated against records retrieved from manual chart review. Next, dosimetry data from the head CT procedures were extracted via automated text mining of electronic radiology reports.

Timing of adjuvant radiation therapy and survival outcomes after surgical resection of intracranial non-small cell lung cancer metastases.

Objective: To investigate if delay of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) beyond 6 post-operative weeks affects survival outcomes in patients undergoing craniotomy or craniectomy for resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) intracranial metastases.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 28 patients undergoing resection of intracranial metastases and ART at our institution from 2001 to 2016. We assessed survival outcomes for patients who received delayed versus non-delayed ART, as well as associated risk factors.

Relationship between middle cerebral parent artery asymmetry and middle cerebral artery aneurysm rupture risk factors.

Objective: The exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cerebral aneurysm formation remain unclear. Asymmetrical local vascular geometry may play a role in aneurysm formation and progression. The object of this study was to investigate the association between the geometric asymmetry of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the presence of MCA aneurysms and associated high-risk features.

Systemic Antimicrobial Prophylaxis and Antimicrobial-Coated External Ventricular Drain Catheters for Preventing Ventriculostomy-Related Infections: A Meta-Analysis of 5242 Cases.

Background: External ventricular drain (EVD) placement is essential for the management of many neurocritical care patients. However, ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI) is a serious complication, and there remains no well-established protocol guiding use of perioperative or extended antibiotic prophylaxis to minimize risk of VRI.

Objective: To analyze published evidence on the efficacy of extended prophylactic antimicrobial therapy and antibiotic-coated external ventricular drains (ac-EVDs) in reducing VRI incidence.

Red Blood Cell Transfusions Following Resection of Skull Base Meningiomas: Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes.

 This article identifies risk factors for and investigates clinical outcomes of postoperative red blood cell transfusion in patients with skull base meningiomas.  Retrospective cohort study.  Single academic medical center.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Neurosurgical Patients: A Historical Review and Current Perspectives.

Today, stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective therapy for a variety of intracranial pathology that were treated solely with open neurosurgery in the past. The technique was developed from the combination of therapeutic radiation and stereotactic devices for the precise localization of intracranial targets. Although stereotactic radiosurgery was originally performed as a partnership between neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists, this partnership has weakened in recent years, with some procedures being performed without neurosurgeons.

Impact of Cochlear Dose on Hearing Preservation following Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma.

 The objective of this study was to examine the effect of cochlear dose on hearing preservation in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (fSRT) for vestibular schwannoma (VS).  This is a retrospective case-control study.  This study was completed at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, a university-affiliated tertiary care center.

The Meningioma Vascularity Index: a volumetric analysis of flow voids to predict intraoperative blood loss in nonembolized meningiomas.

Objective: Meningiomas that appear hypervascular on neuroimaging could be amenable to preoperative embolization. However, methods for measuring hypervascularity have not been described, nor has the benefit of preoperative embolization been adjudicated. The objective of this study was to show a relationship between flow void volume (measured on MRI) and intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL) in nonembolized meningiomas.

Dermoid Cyst of the Prepontine Cistern and Meckel's Cave: Illustrative Case and Systematic Review.

 Dermoid cysts are benign, congenital malformations that account for ∼0.5% of intracranial neoplasms. The authors describe a 42-year-old female with a prepontine dermoid cyst who underwent apparent gross total resection (GTR) but experienced cyst recurrence.

Neuroglial ectopia of the vestibular nerve masquerading as a vestibular schwannoma: A case report.

Neuroglial ectopia is a rare entity of undetermined clinical significance. Here, we report a unique case of neuroglial ectopia of the vestibular nerve. A 27-year-old pharmacy student with a previous radiological diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma presented to our clinic for surgical evaluation.

Survival Outcomes After Intracranial Hemorrhage in Liver Disease.

Background: Survival outcomes for patients with liver disease who suffer an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) have not been thoroughly investigated.

Objective: To understand survival outcomes for 3 groups: (1) patients with an admission diagnosis of liver disease (end-stage liver disease [ESLD] or non-ESLD) who developed an ICH in the hospital, (2) patients with ESLD who undergo either operative vs nonoperative management, and (3) patients with ESLD on the liver transplant waitlist who developed an ICH in the hospital.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed hospital charts from March 2006 through February 2017 of patients with liver disease and an ICH evaluated by the neurosurgery service at a single academic medical center.

Planned Subtotal Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma Differs from the Ideal Radiosurgical Target Defined by Adaptive Hybrid Surgery.

Objective: To retrospectively compare ideal radiosurgical target volumes defined by a manual method (surgeon) to those determined by Adaptive Hybrid Surgery (AHS) operative planning software in 7 patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS).

Methods: Four attending surgeons (3 neurosurgeons and 1 ear, nose, and throat surgeon) manually contoured planned residual tumors volumes for 7 consecutive patients with VS. Next, the AHS software determined the ideal radiosurgical target volumes based on a specified radiotherapy plan.

Risk factors for platelet transfusion in glioblastoma surgery.

The objectives of this study are to identify risk factors for and to evaluate clinical outcomes of platelet transfusion in glioblastoma surgery. The medical records of adult patients who underwent craniotomy for glioblastoma resection at a single academic medical center were retrospectively reviewed. We stratified patients into 2 groups: those who were transfused at least 1 unit of platelets intraoperatively or postoperatively (no more than 7 days after surgery), and those who were not transfused with platelets.

End-Stage Liver Disease in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage Is Associated with Increased Mortality: A Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine if end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with increased mortality.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included 53 patients (33 in ESLD cohort and 20 in non-ESLD cohort) who received neurosurgical care between 2006 and 2017. ESLD was defined clinically as severely impaired liver function and at least 1 major complication of liver failure.