Diagnostic and prognostic performance and longitudinal changes in plasma neurofilament light chain concentrations in adults with Down syndrome: a cohort study.

Background: Adults with Down syndrome are at an ultra-high risk of Alzheimer's disease, but diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in this population is challenging. We aimed to validate the clinical utility of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) for the diagnosis of symptomatic Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome, assess its prognostic value, and establish longitudinal changes in adults with Down syndrome.

Methods: We did a multicentre cohort study, including adults with Down syndrome (≥18 years), recruited from six hospitals and university medical centres in France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and the USA, who had been assessed, followed up, and provided at least two plasma samples.

Comprehensive evaluation of treatment and outcomes of low-grade diffuse gliomas.

Background: Low-grade gliomas affect younger adults and carry a favorable prognosis. They include a variety of biological features affecting clinical behavior and treatment. Having no guidelines on treatment established, we aim to describe clinical and treatment patterns of low-grade gliomas across the largest cancer database in the United States.

Dose-dense temozolomide for recurrent high-grade gliomas: a single-center retrospective study.

There are limited treatment modalities after high-grade gliomas recurrence. MGMT depletion modulated by dose-dense temozolomide (ddTMZ) remains a debated therapy for initial TMZ responders. Patients were selected retrospectively from our practice with diagnosis of high-grade gliomas (WHO grade III or IV), and were followed since the start of ddTMZ until death or change of therapy.

Brain tumors associated with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: Case series.

Objective: The association of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) with primary or secondary brain tumors has not been well described in the literature. We aim to discuss their association, and their impact in brain tumor treatment.

Patients And Methods: We identified four patients retrospectively from our practice.

Surfer's myelopathy without surfing: a report of two pediatric patients.

Introduction: Surfer's myelopathy (SM) is a rare disorder described in subjects presenting with acute paraparesis while learning how to surf. It is thought to be secondary to spinal ischemia triggered by hyperextension. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows changes consistent with spinal cord ischemia on T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Refractory anaplastic astrocytoma responsive to PCV in combination with bevacizumab.

We present a patient with anaplastic astrocytoma who had recurrent disease after treatment with surgery, radiation, procarbazine, lomustine (CCNU) and vincristine (PCV) over one year followed by poor response to second line treatment with temozolomide, irinotecan with bevacizumab, Novocure TTF therapy successively over a four year period after her initial treatment who then responded to PCV in combination with bevacizumab as third line therapy. This is the first report demonstrating benefit of concurrent PCV and bevacizumab treatment in a highly treatment refractory tumor.

Epidemiologic and molecular prognostic review of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary central nervous system malignancy with a median survival of 15 months. The average incidence rate of GBM is 3.19/100,000 population, and the median age of diagnosis is 64 years.

Long-term treatment with temozolomide in malignant glioma.

Six months of maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) following concurrent TMZ chemotherapy and radiation therapy has become the standard of care in the treatment of glioblastoma. In addition, TMZ has also been used to treat other forms of glioma although less evidence of efficacy exists. TMZ administration longer than 6months is common in clinical practice, but it is unusual for the drug to be administered longer than 1 to 2years.

A case of mannitol hypersensitivity.

Mannitol is used for increased intracranial pressure and prevention of nephrotoxicity. We present a case report of a patient who experienced an anaphylactic response to mannitol and review the literature.

Phantosmia during radiation therapy: a report of 2 cases.

Phantosmia is an infrequently reported and poorly understood qualitative olfactory disorder characterized by the perception of a frequently unpleasant odor in the absence of an odorant stimulus. Peripheral phantosmia is hypothesized to involve abnormally active olfactory receptor neurons while central phantosmia is theorized to be the result of hyperactive neurons in the cortex. The authors present a case report that describes 2 patients with incomparable tumors and radiation fields who both experienced phantosmia featuring a halitosis-like odor during their courses of radiation therapy.