Impact of surgical treatment on the performance status of patients with high-grade gliomas.

Objectives: The objective of our study is to evaluate the impact of neurosurgical operative treatment on the performance status assessed by the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) in patients with HGG for the first, for the second intervention and for the different age groups.

Methods: A group of 425 patients operated consecutively for high-grade gliomas were included in this study. The performance status was evaluated preoperatively and 15 days postoperatively with the KPS.

IDH1/IDH2 but not TP53 mutations predict prognosis in Bulgarian glioblastoma patients.

Mutations in genes encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase isoforms 1 (IDH1) and 2 (IDH2) have been associated with good prognosis for patients with brain neoplasias and have been commonly found together with mutated TP53 gene. To determine the prevalence of IDH1, IDH2, and TP53 mutations and their impact on overall survival 106 glioblastoma patients were analysed. IDH1 mutations were detected in 13 and IDH2 mutation in one patient.

[Late metastases from breast cancer--report of two cases].

Introduction: Breast cancer is amongst the commonest reasons for brain metastases involving 15-20% of the patients. Metastases discovered 10 or more years after the initial diagnosis of breast cancer are defined as late metastases and present a rare event. We present two cases of late brain metastases of breast cancer discovered 15 and 17 years after initial diagnosis.

[The role of matrixmetalloproteinases in the tumor growth and metastasis].

Many authors have described the role ofmatrixmetalloproteinases (MMP) in tumor invasion. MMPs are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases, which through degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the basal membrane induce tumor spread and metastasis. There are more than 20 enzymes classified into 6 groups: Collagenases (MMP-1,-8,-13 and -18), Gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9, Stromelysins (MMP-3,-7,-10,-11,-26,-27), Elastases (MMP-12), Membrane type specific MMPs (MMP-14,-15,-16,-17,-24 H -25) and other MMPs (MMP-19,-20,-28,-21,-22,-23).

[Sciatic xeuropathy secondary to compression by a heterotopic ossification due to myositis ossificans traumatica. (Case report and review of the literature)].

We describe a case of sciatic nerve entrapment neuropathy due to a posttraumatic heterotopic ossification (myositis ossificans traumatica). A 52 y.o.