Contact endoscopy as a novel technique for intra-operative identification of normal pituitary gland and adenoma.

Intraoperative distinction of pituitary adenoma from normal gland is critical in maximizing tumor resection without compromising pituitary function. Contact endoscopy provides a noninvasive technique that allows for real-time in vivo visualization of differences in tissue vascularity. Two illustrative cases of endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) for resection of pituitary adenoma illustrate the use of contact endoscopy in identifying tumor from gland and differentiating a thin section of normal gland draped over the underlying tumor, thereby allowing for safe extracapsular tumor resection.

Comparison of a Handheld Device vs Endotracheal Tube-Based Neuromonitoring for Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Stimulation.

Objective: To measure the effect of thyroidectomy difficulty on intraoperative neuromonitoring false loss of signal (LOS) and to compare intraoperative endotracheal tube-based neuromonitoring (ETNM) and Checkpoint palpation-based direct stimulation (pDS) signals with postoperative laryngoscopy. We hypothesized that pDS has higher a positive predictive value for postdissection confirmation of recurrent laryngeal nerve function than ETNM and that this difference is accentuated with increasing thyroidectomy difficulty.

Study Design: Prospective single-arm cross-sectional study comparing ETNM and pDS for patients undergoing hemi-, total, or completion thyroidectomy from July 2018 to March 2020.

Epistaxis and pituitary apoplexy due to ruptured internal carotid artery aneurysm embedded within pituitary adenoma.

Epistaxis due to ruptured internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm embedded within a pituitary adenoma (PA) has seldom been reported in the literature. Here we want to elaborate the incidence, mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and treatment strategy for this condition. The first survived case of a patient with epistaxis and pituitary apoplexy due to ruptured aneurysm embedded within PA was reported and the literature was reviewed.

CD147 is increased in HCC cells under starvation and reduces cell death through upregulating p-mTOR in vitro.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the standard of care for treatment of intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, key molecules involved in HCC cell survival and tumor metastasis post-TACE remain unclear. CD147 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that is overexpressed on the surface of HCC cells and is associated with malignant potential and poor prognosis in HCC patients. In this study, using an Earle's Balanced Salt Solution medium culture model that mimics nutrient deprivation induced by TACE, we investigated the regulation of CD147 expression on HCC cells under starvation conditions and its functional effects on HCC cell death.

EMMPRIN regulates tumor growth and metastasis by recruiting bone marrow-derived cells through paracrine signaling of SDF-1 and VEGF.

EMMPRIN, a cell adhesion molecule highly expressed in a variety of tumors, is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Mechanistically, EMMPRIN has been characterized to contribute to tumor development and progression by controlling the expression of MMPs and VEGF. In the present study, by using fluorescently labeled bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs), we found that the down-regulation of EMMPRIN expression in cancer cells reduces tumor growth and metastasis, and is associated with the reduced recruitment of BMDCs.

Novel microcatheter-based intracarotid delivery approach for MCAO/R mice.

The intra-arterial (IA) model by microcatheter administration was an effective way to deliver drugs or cells to the brain. All of these models were carried out introduced in rat rather than mice for the difficult and technically challenging due to their small caliber. In 2014, Alejandro Santillan first introduced this model in mice and we found that most of the operational steps were similar with the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) model.