Prospective randomized evaluation of therapeutic decompressive craniectomy in severe traumatic brain injury with mass lesions (PRECIS): study protocol for a controlled trial.

Background: For cases of severe traumatic brain injury, during primary operation, neurosurgeons usually face a dilemma of whether or not to remove the bone flap after mass lesion evacuation. Decompressive craniectomy, which involves expansion of fixed cranial cavity, is used to treat intra-operative brain swelling and post-operative malignant intracranial hypertension. However, due to indefinite indication, the decision to perform this procedure heavily relies on personal experiences.

A Potential Polymorphism in the Promoter of Let-7 is Associated With an Increased Risk of Intracranial Aneurysm: A Case-Control Study.

Let-7 family plays a key role in the progression of atherosclerosis and intracranial aneurysm (IA). We hypothesized that rs10877887 and rs13293512 polymorphisms in the promoters of let-7 family may be associated with the susceptibility of IA. We genotyped the 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 305 patients with IA and 401 healthy controls.

Enhanced antitumor effects by docetaxel/LL37-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel nanoparticles in peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal cancer.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy was explored in clinical trials as a promising strategy to improve the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy. In this work, we developed a biodegradable and injectable drug-delivery system by coencapsulation of docetaxel (Doc) and LL37 peptide polymeric nanoparticles (Doc+LL37 NPs) in a thermosensitive hydrogel system for colorectal peritoneal carcinoma therapy. Firstly, polylactic acid (PLA)-Pluronic L35-PLA (PLA-L35-PLA) was explored to prepare the biodegradable Doc+LL37 NPs using a water-in-oil-in-water double-emulsion solvent-evaporation method.

Method for determination of levoglucosan in snow and ice at trace concentration levels using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A method is developed for determination of levoglucosan at trace concentration levels in complex matrices of snow and ice samples. This method uses an injection mixture comprising acetonitrile and melt sample at a ratio of 50/50 (v/v). Samples are analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography system combined with triple tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).

Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota With Reduced Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Level in Patients With Large-Artery Atherosclerotic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Background: Gut microbiota has been suggested to play a role in almost all major diseases including cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. A possible mechanism is the transformation of dietary choline and l-carnitine into trimethylamine by gut bacteria. This metabolite is further oxidized into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) in liver and promotes atherogenesis.

Effect of ATorvastatin On Chronic subdural Hematoma (ATOCH): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common disease that is more prevalent in older people. Surgical intervention is a safe treatment of choice. However, the recurrence rate is relatively high and the outcome is not always satisfactory among surgically treated patients.

Role of Endoglin Insertion and rs1800956 Polymorphisms in Intracranial Aneurysm Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis.

Endoglin is an essential molecule during angiogenesis, vascular development, and integrity. Till now, many studies have investigated the association between endoglin polymorphisms and intracranial aneurysm (IA) risk, with the results remained inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to summarize the possible association.

Aberrant membranous expression of β-catenin predicts poor prognosis in patients with craniopharyngioma.

The objective of this study is to investigate β-catenin expression in craniopharyngioma patients and determine its significance in predicting the prognosis of this disease. Fifty craniopharyngioma patients were enrolled in this study. Expression of β-catenin in tumor specimens collected from these patients was examined through immunostaining.

Cyclooxygenase-2 and Prostaglandin E2 are Associated with Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion and Hemorrhage in Patients with Moyamoya Disease.

Some inflammatory proteins, such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin (PG) E2 are hypothesized to be implicated in the development of moyamoya disease (MMD). However, the functional roles of COX-2/PGE2 in the pathogenesis of MMD remain elusive. In this study, tiny pieces of middle cerebral artery (MCA) and superficial temporal artery (STA) were surgically harvested from 18 adult MMD patients and 5 surgical control patients.

Does Early Postsurgical Temozolomide Plus Concomitant Radiochemotherapy Regimen Have Any Benefit in Newly-diagnosed Glioblastoma Patients? A Multi-center, Randomized, Parallel, Open-label, Phase II Clinical Trial.

Background: The radiochemotherapy regimen concomitantly employing temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) 4 weeks after surgery, followed by 6 cycles of TMZ is a common treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). However, its median overall survival (OS) is only 14.6 months.

The value of intraoperative intracranial pressure monitoring for predicting re-operation using salvage decompressive craniectomy after craniotomy in patients with traumatic mass lesions.

Background: The risk factors of predicting the need for postoperative decompressive craniectomy due to intracranial hypertension after primary craniotomy remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the value of intraoperative intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in predicting re-operation using salvage decompressive craniectomy (SDC).

Methods: From January 2008 to October 2014, we retrospectively reviewed 284 patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) who underwent craniotomy for mass lesion evacuation without intraoperative brain swelling.

Convexity dural cavernous haemangioma mimicking meningioma: A case report.

Dural cavernous haemangiomas are rare, and they do not display a classical ring of haemosiderin on MRI as parenchymal cavernous haemangiomas. Sometimes, they are misinterpreted as meningiomas with a dural tail sign. In this short report, a 37-year-old woman was diagnosed with a convexity cavernous haemangioma, and the tumour was totally resected.

Hemorrhagic Epidermoid Cyst in Cerebellar Vermis.

Intracranial epidermoid cysts are usually located in the paramedian regions with characteristic imaging features. Intracystic hemorrhage is rarely reported with most in the cerebellopontine angle area. We described a case of hemorrhagic epidermoid cyst in cerebellar vermis.

Increased prevalence of autoimmune disease in patients with unilateral compared with bilateral moyamoya disease.

OBJECT This study explored whether there were differences between the autoimmune disease prevalence rates in unilateral and bilateral moyamoya disease (MMD). METHODS The authors performed a retrospective review of data obtained from the medical records of their hospital, analyzing and comparing the clinical characteristics and prevalence rates of all autoimmune diseases that were associated with unilateral and bilateral MMD in their hospital from January 1995 to October 2014. RESULTS Three hundred sixteen patients with bilateral MMD and 68 with unilateral MMD were identified.

Quantitative Study of Posterior Fossa Crowdedness in Hemifacial Spasm.

Objective: To quantitatively study the degree of posterior fossa crowdedness (PFC) in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS) and to further investigate whether overcrowding in posterior fossa affects the efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression.

Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study of patients diagnosed with HFS and sex- and age-matched healthy control patients. All subjects underwent high-resolution, 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging, and posterior fossa crowdedness index (PFCI) and cerebrospinal fluid volume (CSFV) were measured.

Factors associated with seizure occurrence and long-term seizure control in pediatric brain arteriovenous malformation: a retrospective analysis of 89 patients.

Background: Few studies have examined seizures in pediatric brain arteriovenous malformation. In our study, risk factors associated with seizure occurrence and long-term seizure control outcomes after different treatments in pediatric arteriovenous malformation patients were investigated.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted with clinical data from a cohort of 89 pediatric brain arteriovenous malformation patients acquired between 2008 and 2013.

High dosage of cannabidiol (CBD) alleviates pentylenetetrazole-induced epilepsy in rats by exerting an anticonvulsive effect.

The study was designed to investigate the effect of various concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD) in rats with chronic epilepsy. The chronic epilepsy rat model was prepared by intraperitoneally injecting pentylenetetrazole to the rats pre-treated with CBD (10, 20 and 50 mg/kg) for 28 consecutive days. Behavioral measurements of convulsion following pentylenetetrazole treatment and morphological changes of the hippocampal neurons with hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to observe the epileptic behaviour.

Radical surgery versus standard surgery for primary cytoreduction of bulky stage IIIC and IV ovarian cancer: an observational study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival benefit of radical surgery with additional extensive upper abdominal procedures (EUAS) for the treatment of stage IIIC and IV ovarian cancer with bulky upper abdominal disease (UAD).

Methods: An observational study was conducted between 2009 and 2012 involving two different surgical teams. Team A was composed of the "believers" in EUAS and Team B the "non-believers" in EUAS.

Surgical Resection of a Complex Multiple Scalp Avf without Preoperative Embolization: A Case Report.

Complex multiple arteriovenous fistula (AVF) of the scalp is an extremely rare disease and the traditional treatment is either endovascular embolization or surgical resection with preoperative endovascular embolization. Here, a 34-year-old male with pulsating mass and multiple tortuous vessels in front of the left tragus and scalp who was diagnosed as complex multiple arteriovenous fistula of the scalp is presented. Nearly total surgical resection of the lesion without preoperative intervention was performed.

Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering on Intracerebral Hemorrhage Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Aim: Elevation of blood pressure (BP) is common after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Early BP treatment may be beneficial after ICH, but the effect of intensive BP lowering on ICH outcomes is not known and no systematic review or meta-analysis was published regarding this issue.

Material And Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effect of more versus less intensive BP targets on clinical outcomes in patients with ICH.

Is Alpha-1 Antichymotrypsin Gene Polymorphism a Risk Factor for Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage? A Case-Control Study and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Alpha-1 antichymotrypsin (ACT) signal peptide A/T polymorphism has been suggested to play a role in various brain diseases with arterial wall pathology. We conducted a case-control study and a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between this polymorphism and risk of primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

Material And Methods: A total of 188 patients and 200 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in our case-control study.

Surgical management of medulla oblongata hemangioblastomas in one institution: an analysis of 62 cases.

Object: Hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system are highly vascularized benign tumors. When the tumors are located in the medulla oblongata, intraoperative bleeding can make the surgical procedure very difficult. Preoperative embolism has been performed in cases of hemangioblastoma in recent decades.