Expanded specific T cells to hypomutated regions of the SARS-CoV-2 using mRNA electroporated antigen-presenting cells.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused about seven million deaths worldwide. Preventative vaccines have been developed including Spike gp mRNA-based vaccines that provide protection to immunocompetent patients. However, patients with primary immunodeficiencies, patients with cancer, or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients are not able to mount robust immune responses against current vaccine approaches.

mRNA-based precision targeting of neoantigens and tumor-associated antigens in malignant brain tumors.

Background: Despite advancements in the successful use of immunotherapy in treating a variety of solid tumors, applications in treating brain tumors have lagged considerably. This is due, at least in part, to the lack of well-characterized antigens expressed within brain tumors that can mediate tumor rejection; the low mutational burden of these tumors that limits the abundance of targetable neoantigens; and the immunologically "cold" tumor microenvironment that hampers the generation of sustained and productive immunologic responses. The field of mRNA-based therapeutics has experienced a boon following the universal approval of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Reducing the Gap in Neurosurgical Education in LMICs: A Report of a Non-Profit Educational Program.

Introduction: Central to neurosurgical care, neurosurgical education is particularly needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where opportunities for neurosurgical training are limited due to social and economic constraints and an inadequate workforce. The present paper aims (1) to evaluate the validity and usability of a cadaver-free hybrid system in the context of LMICs and (2) to report their learning needs and whether the courses meet those needs via a comprehensive survey.

Methods: From April to November 2021, a non-profit initiative consisting of a series of innovative cadaver-free courses based on virtual and practical training was organized.

Bioconjugated liquid-like solid enhances characterization of solid tumor - chimeric antigen receptor T cell interactions.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has demonstrated remarkable success as an immunotherapy for hematological malignancies, and its potential for treating solid tumors is an active area of research. However, limited trafficking and mobility of T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) present challenges for CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors. To gain a better understanding of CAR T cell function in solid tumors, we subjected CD70-specific CAR T cells to a challenge by evaluating their immune trafficking and infiltration through a confined 3D microchannel network in a bio-conjugated liquid-like solid (LLS) medium.

Needs, Roles, and Challenges of Young Latin American and Caribbean Neurosurgeons.

Background: Barriers to neurosurgery training and practice in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) have been scarcely documented. The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Young Neurosurgeons Forum survey sought to identify young neurosurgeons' needs, roles, and challenges. We present the results focused on Latin America and the Caribbean.

mRNA aggregates harness danger response for potent cancer immunotherapy.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) has emerged as a remarkable tool for COVID-19 prevention but its use for induction of therapeutic cancer immunotherapy remains limited by poor antigenicity and a regulatory tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we develop a facile approach for substantially enhancing immunogenicity of tumor-derived mRNA in lipid-particle (LP) delivery systems. By using mRNA as a molecular bridge with ultrapure liposomes and foregoing helper lipids, we promote the formation of 'onion-like' multi-lamellar RNA-LP aggregates (LPA).

mRNA challenge predicts brain cancer immunogenicity and response to checkpoint inhibitors.

To prospectively determine whether brain tumors will respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we developed a novel mRNA vaccine as a viral mimic to elucidate cytokine release from brain cancer cells in vitro. Our results indicate that cytokine signatures following mRNA challenge differ substantially from ICI responsive versus non-responsive murine tumors. These findings allow for creation of a diagnostic assay to quickly assess brain tumor immunogenicity, allowing for informed treatment with ICI or lack thereof in poorly immunogenic settings.

Three-Dimensional Bioconjugated Liquid-Like Solid (LLS) Enhance Characterization of Solid Tumor - Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell interactions.

Cancer immunotherapy offers lifesaving treatments for cancers, but the lack of reliable preclinical models that could enable the mechanistic studies of tumor-immune interactions hampers the identification of new therapeutic strategies. We hypothesized 3D confined microchannels, formed by interstitial space between bio-conjugated liquid-like solids (LLS), enable CAR T dynamic locomotion within an immunosuppressive TME to carry out anti-tumor function. Murine CD70-specific CAR T cells cocultured with the CD70-expressing glioblastoma and osteosarcoma demonstrated efficient trafficking, infiltration, and killing of cancer cells.

Evolution and Revolution of Imaging Technologies in Neurosurgery.

We understand only a small fraction of the events happening in our brains; therefore, despite all the progress made thus far, a whole array of questions remains. Nonetheless, neurosurgeons invented new tools to circumvent the challenges that had plagued their predecessors. With the manufacturing boom of the 20th century, technological innovations blossomed enabling the neuroscientific community to study and operate upon the living brain in finer detail and with greater precision while avoiding harm to the nervous system.

CAR T Cell Locomotion in Solid Tumor Microenvironment.

The promising outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in hematologic malignancies potentiates its capability in the fight against many cancers. Nevertheless, this immunotherapy modality needs significant improvements for the treatment of solid tumors. Researchers have incrementally identified limitations and constantly pursued better CAR designs.

Effects of immune checkpoint blockade on antigen-specific CD8 T cells for use in adoptive cellular therapy.

Adoptive T-cell therapies have been successfully used as prophylaxis or treatment for immunocompromised patients at risk of viral infections or advanced cancers. Unfortunately, for some refractory cancers, they have failed. To overcome this, checkpoint inhibitors are used to rescue immune antitumor responses.

Big data in the healthcare system: a synergy with artificial intelligence and blockchain technology.

In the last decades big data has facilitating and improving our daily duties in the medical research and clinical fields; the strategy to get to this point is understanding how to organize and analyze the data in order to accomplish the final goal that is improving healthcare system, in terms of cost and benefits, quality of life and outcome patient. The main objective of this review is to illustrate the state-of-art of big data in healthcare, its features and architecture. We also would like to demonstrate the different application and principal mechanisms of big data in the latest technologies known as blockchain and artificial intelligence, recognizing their benefits and limitations.

Women in Neurosurgery: First Neurosurgeon in Latin America and Current Mexican Leaders.

Background: History has taught us that Mexican culture has been largely supported by women, despite gender prejudice from the society. Neurosurgery has not been the exception. Therefore, we investigated the challenges and influence of female neurosurgeons in Mexico.

An Affordable and Feasible Technique for Minimally Invasive Tubular Lumbar Discectomy.

Background: The benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery are attainable only if hospitals have the financial resources to acquire essential equipment. We present a surgical approach readily available to countries where unacceptably expensive materials are the main limitation for use of minimally invasive spine surgery.

Methods: This retrospective study included 30 patients who underwent minimally invasive spine surgery using syringes as dilators and retractors for posterior lumbar approaches.

A Dual Approach for the Management of Complex Craniovertebral Junction Abnormalities: Endoscopic Endonasal Odontoidectomy and Posterior Decompression with Fusion.

Background: Ventral brainstem compression secondary to complex craniovertebral junction abnormality is an infrequent cause of neurologic deterioration in pediatric patients. However, in cases of symptomatic, irreducible ventral compression, 360° decompression of the brainstem supported by posterior stabilization may provide the best opportunity for improvement in symptoms. More recently, the endoscopic endonasal corridor has been proposed as an alternative method of odontoidectomy associated with less morbidity.

Lazy Glass Microsurgical Trainer: A Frugal Solution for Microsurgical Training.

Background: The art of surgery is becoming increasingly complex and dependent on scopes, screens, and technology, inviting a complex learning curve and development of hand-eye coordination and dexterity among other skills. We introduce an affordable, do-it-yourself microsurgical simulator that can be set up using a smartphone and a pair of reflective prism glasses. The glasses employ periscopic prisms on either side that reflect light perpendicularly.

Astrocytic Tumors in Mexico: An Overview of Characteristics and Prognosis in an Open Reference Center for Low-Income Population.

Objective: The authors aimed to analyze the current epidemiology of high- and low-grade gliomas, follow-up strategies, and prognosis in a national reference center of a developing country.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of patients diagnosed with intracranial gliomas from January 2012 to January 2016 were reviewed. Data were classified by age, symptoms, Karnofsky functional scale (KFS), tumor location, extent of resection (EOR), histopathology, hospital stay, Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), adjuvant treatments, overall survival (OS), and mortality.

Suprasellar and recurrent pediatric craniopharyngiomas: expanding indications for the extended endoscopic transsphenoidal approach.

OBJECTIVE The expanded endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal approach has become increasingly used for craniopharyngioma surgery in the pediatric population, but questions still persist regarding its utility in younger children, in recurrent and irradiated tumors, and in masses primarily located in the suprasellar region. The narrow corridor, incomplete pneumatization, and fear of hypothalamic injury have traditionally relegated this approach to application in older children with mostly cystic craniopharyngiomas centered in the sella. The authors present a series of consecutive pediatric patients in whom the endonasal endoscopic approach was used to remove craniopharyngiomas from patients of varied ages, regardless of the location of the tumor and previous treatments or surgeries, to ascertain if the traditional concerns about limitations of this approach are worth reevaluating METHODS Eleven consecutive pediatric patients (age ≤ 18 years) underwent surgery via an endoscopic transsphenoidal approach at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center from 2007 to 2016.

Double pituitary adenomas are most commonly associated with GH- and ACTH-secreting tumors: systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Double adenomas in the pituitary gland are a rare occurrence. The ability to cure a hormone-producing adenoma with surgery is dependent on the ability to identify and completely remove the correct adenoma. The relative frequency of each subtype of hormone-secreting adenomas confirmed with magnetic resonance image (MRI), surgery and immunohistochemistry is not defined.