Narrative review of roles of astrocytes in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background And Objective: Astrocytes play an important role in healthy brain function, including the development and maintenance of blood-brain barrier (BBB), structural support, brain homeostasis, neurovascular coupling and secretion of neuroprotective factors. Reactive astrocytes participate in various pathophysiology after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) including neuroinflammation, glutamate toxicity, brain edema, vasospasm, BBB disruption, cortical spreading depolarization (SD).

Methods: We searched PubMed up to 31 May, 2022 and evaluated the articles for screening and inclusion for subsequent systemic review.

PHIL and Squid Embolization of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation: A Retrospective Case Series of 23 Patients.

Precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid (PHIL; MicroVention, Aliso Viejo, CA, USA) and Squid (Balt, Irvine, CA, USA) are 2 newer liquid embolic agents used in endovascular embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM). This study aims to investigate and compare the effectiveness and safety profile of the 2 newer liquid embolic agents in the embolization of cerebral AVM. This is a retrospective study on all patients diagnosed with cerebral AVM undergoing endovascular embolization with liquid embolic agents PHIL and Squid admitted to the Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery in Prince of Wales Hospital from January 2014 to June 2021.

Rethinking the initial changes in subarachnoid haemorrhage: Focusing on real-time metabolism during early brain injury.

Over the last two decades, neurological researchers have uncovered many pathophysiological mechanisms associated with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), with early brain injury and delayed cerebral ischaemia both contributing to morbidity and mortality. The current dilemma in SAH management inspired us to rethink the nature of the insult in SAH: sudden bleeding into the subarachnoid space and hypoxia due to disturbed cerebral circulation and increased intracranial pressure, generating exogenous stimuli and subsequent pathophysiological processes. Exogenous stimuli are defined as factors which the brain tissue is not normally exposed to when in the healthy state.

Univariate and Multivariable Analyses on Independent Predictors for Cervical Spinal Injury in Patients with Head Injury.

Objective: This study aims to identify independent factors associated with cervical spinal injuries in head-injured patients. The extent of injuries to other body parts was assessed by the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and was included in the analysis.

Methods: Consecutive head-injured patients admitted via the emergency department from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.

ABC/2 formula for "bedside" postoperative pneumocephalus volume measurement.

Background: Postoperative pneumocephalus is associated with a higher risk of recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). However, there is no verified simple way to measure the pneumocephalus volume at the bedside for daily clinical use. The ABC/2 method was shown to be a simple and reliable technique to estimate volumes of intracranial lesions, such as intracranial hematomas.

A Continuum Robotic Cannula With Tip Following Capability and Distal Dexterity for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation.

Objective: This paper aims to investigate a new continuum robot design and its motion implementation methods appropriate for a minimally invasive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) evacuation.

Methods: We propose a continuum robotic cannula, consisting of a precurved body and a 2-degree-of-freedom (DoF) flexible tip, monolithically fabricated. Kinematic model with cable elongation model, and a dedicated design optimization and motion planning algorithm were developed to enable the follow-the-leader (FTL) motion of the cannula.

Microglia activation, classification and microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory modulators in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a devastating disease with significant mortality and morbidity, despite advances in treating cerebral aneurysms. There has been recent progress in the intensive care management and monitoring of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, but the results remain unsatisfactory. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are increasingly recognized as playing a significant role in neurological diseases, including subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Establishment and characterization of meningioma patient-derived organoid.

Meningioma is a central nervous system tumor originated from arachnoid cells. 2D cell culture is widely used as a platform for tumor research as it enables us to culture cells in in vitro and a controlled environment. However, in 2D culture condition, 3D architecture of in vivo tumor mass is lost and phenotypic change may occur.

Tracheostomy decannulation outcomes in 131 consecutive neurosurgical patients.

Objectives: This study was a retrospective study to investigate factors related to difficult tracheostomy decannulation, and to evaluate outcomes of tracheostomized neurosurgical patients.

Methods: All consecutive tracheostomized neurosurgical patients in the Prince of Wales Hospital between 1st September 2016 and 31st August 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were grouped into easy decannulation and difficult decannulation groups using 3 months as cut-off time.

Predictive factors for bleeding carotid artery pseudoaneurysms in patients with previous radiations for head and neck cancers.

Background: Bleeding from carotid artery pseudoaneurysms is an emergency condition with high morbidity and mortality. We aimed to identify risk factors predicting pseudoaneurysmal bleeding as the cause of profuse epistaxis in irradiated head and neck cancer patients with suspect carotid blowout or pseudoaneurysms.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with history of radiation therapy for head and neck cancers and with nasal, oral or ear bleeding requiring in-patient treatment from hospital database.

Integrated analysis of gait parameters and gene expression profiles in a murine model of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Gait analysis has been widely used to examine the behavioral presentation of numerous neurological disorders. Thorough murine model evaluation of the subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-associated gait deficits is missing. This study measures gait deficits using a clinically relevant murine model of SAH to examine associations between gait variability and SAH-associated gene expressions.

Chronic subdural haematoma during the COVID-19 lockdown period: late presentation with a longer interval from the initial head injury to the final presentation and diagnosis.

Background: The COVID-19 novel coronavirus is contagious, and the mortality is higher in the elderly population. Lockdown in different parts of the world has been imposed since January 2020. Chronic subdural haematoma (cSDH) has a unique natural history in which symptoms can be non-specific, and the onset is insidious.

Depression after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.

Background And Purpose: Depression is common and debilitating illness accompanying many neurological disorders including non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this systematic review was to identify and critically appraise all published studies that have reported the frequency, severity and time course of depression after SAH, the factors associated with its development and the impact of depression on patients' quality of life after SAH.

Methods: The PubMed database was searched for studies published in English that recruited at least 40 patients (>18 years old) after SAH who were also diagnosed with depression.

The Dynamics of Microglial Polarization Reveal the Resident Neuroinflammatory Responses After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Microglia, as the resident immune cells, orchestrate neuroinflammation distinctly in neurological diseases with different polarization statuses. However, microglial polarizations in the neuroinflammatory responses after SAH are not fully understood.

Topically applied adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment in experimental focal cerebral ischemia.

In this study, the neuro-modulation effect of topical mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was tested in a rodent middle carotid artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Twenty-four hours after MCAO, craniotomy was made and 0.8 × 10 GFP-MSCs were topically applied to the exposed parietal cortex.

Development of a Delayed Cerebral Infarction Load Scoring System (DCI Score).

Delayed cerebral infarction (DCI) is related to unfavorable outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). There lacks a clear understanding how the DCI load affects cognitive function after SAH. We conducted a literature review on the clinical classification systems on brain hemorrhages and cerebral infarction and devised a Delayed Cerebral Infarction Load Scoring System (DCI Score).

The neuroprotection of hypoxic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in experimental traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. At present there is no effective treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated that topical application of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells can improve functional recovery in experimental traumatic brain injury.

Simulation in medical education.

Simulation is a method or technique to produce an experience without going through the real event. There are multiple elements to consider for a simulation programme, and technology is only one of the many dimensions. The ultimate goal is to engage learners to experience the simulated scenario followed by effective feedback and debriefing.

Virtual reality and augmented reality in the management of intracranial tumors: A review.

Neurosurgeons are faced with the challenge of planning, performing, and learning complex surgical procedures. With improvements in computational power and advances in visual and haptic display technologies, augmented and virtual surgical environments can offer potential benefits for tests in a safe and simulated setting, as well as improve management of real-life procedures. This systematic literature review is conducted in order to investigate the roles of such advanced computing technology in neurosurgery subspecialization of intracranial tumor removal.

Plasma and CSF miRNA dysregulations in subarachnoid hemorrhage reveal clinical courses and underlying pathways.

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is fatal and detrimental to quality of life. Clinically, options for monitoring are often limited, potentially missing subtle neurological changes especially in low-grade patients. This article reviewed miRNA dysregulation in SAH and analyzed their functional and clinical relevance.