Publications by authors named "Francesca M Cozzi"
Background And Purpose: Despite multimodal treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), recurrence beyond the initial tumor volume is inevitable. Moreover, conventional MRI has shortcomings that hinder the early detection of occult white matter tract infiltration by tumor, but diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a sensitive probe for assessing microstructural changes, facilitating the identification of progression before standard imaging. This sensitivity makes DTI a valuable tool for predicting recurrence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate empirical outcomes of studies in the literature that investigated effectiveness of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related spasticity (MSRS) based on various metrics. Since the first description of this route of baclofen delivery for MS patients by Penn and Kroin in 1984, numerous studies have contributed to the medical community's knowledge of this treatment modality. The authors sought to add to the literature a systematic review of studies over the last 2 decades that elucidates the clinical impact of ITB in treating MSRS with the following endpoints: impact on patient-centered outcomes, such as spasticity reduction (primary), complications (secondary), and dosing (secondary).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor in adults that is difficult to treat due to its ability to create an immune-suppressive environment, limiting the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
- The tumor promotes the formation of immune cells that support its growth, primarily through the action of molecules like IL-6, which recruits immunosuppressive macrophages and enhances overall immune suppression.
- Research suggests that primary cilia, cellular structures involved in signaling, may play a role in regulating IL-6 release, linking them to the tumor's ability to suppress the immune response and opening up avenues for further investigation into potential treatments.
Objective: The objective of this review was to describe the immunological changes that take place in the dura mater in response to metastatic disease that seeds the CNS. The authors hypothesized that the dura's anatomy and resident immune cell population play a role in enabling metastasis to the brain and leptomeninges.
Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted to identify evidence that supports the dura's participation in metastasis to the CNS.
Article Synopsis
- * The research examined four studies involving a total of 201 patients, revealing that using native dura with autologous fat grafts led to the lowest CSF leak rates, while utilizing artificial dura and fibrin glue resulted in higher leak rates.
- * The study indicates that the method of dural closure significantly affects the likelihood of CSF leaks post-surgery, although the findings are limited by the overall low quality of the included studies.