Tumor growth under rhGM-CSF application in an orthotopic rodent glioma model.

Regulation of the host immune response serves a pivotal role in the persistence and progression of malignant glioma. To date, cytotoxic cluster of differentiation (CD)-8+ T and natural killer cells are considered the main cellular components of host tumor control. The influence of macrophages in an orthotropic C6 tumor implantation model was investigated and the aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of systemic macrophage-activation on glioma growth by using the granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF).

Vestibular Schwannoma Resection in a Consecutive Series of 502 Cases via the Retrosigmoid Approach: Technical Aspects, Complications, and Functional Outcome.

Objective: Outcome in vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery has improved enormously over the last decades. Surgical positioning remains a matter of discussion. A standardized protocol for diagnostics and management has been applied and evaluated for complications and functional outcome.

3D rotational fluoroscopy for intraoperative clip control in patients with intracranial aneurysms--assessment of feasibility and image quality.

Background: Mobile 3D fluoroscopes have become increasingly available in neurosurgical operating rooms. In this series, the image quality and value of intraoperative 3D fluoroscopy with intravenous contrast agent for the evaluation of aneurysm occlusion and vessel patency after clip placement was assessed in patients who underwent surgery for intracranial aneurysms.

Materials And Methods: Twelve patients were included in this retrospective analysis.

MB3W1 is an orthotopic xenograft model for anaplastic medulloblastoma displaying cancer stem cell- and Group 3-properties.

Background: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and can be divided in different molecular subgroups. Patients whose tumor is classified as a Group 3 tumor have a dismal prognosis. However only very few tumor models are available for this subgroup.

Detection of Cerebral Vasospasm Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Using Motor Evoked Potentials.

Background: Early detection of vasospasm (VS) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is vital to trigger therapy and to prevent infarction and subsequent permanent neurological deficit. Although motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are a well-established method for intraoperative detection of cerebral VS and cerebral ischemia during aneurysm surgery, there are no studies investigating the diagnostic value of MEPs for detecting delayed VS following aSAH in an intensive care unit.

Objective: A prospective study was conceived to assess the diagnostic accuracy of MEPs in comparison with digital subtraction angiography.

Primary Spinal Glioblastoma Multiforme with Secondary Manifestation as a Cerebral "Angioglioma." Literature Review and Case Report.

Primary intramedullary spinal glioblastoma multiforme (sGBM) with a secondary cerebral manifestation is a very rare entity with a poor outcome. Case studies show a mean average of survival of 10 months after diagnosis. These tumors tend to develop at a young age.

Behavioral disorders and cognitive impairment associated with cerebellar lesions.

In the last decade evidence has accumulated that suggests that the cerebellum is involved not only in motor but also in behavioral and cognitive functions. A myriad of anatomical, clinical and imaging studies support that assumption. The lengthened survival of patients with cerebellar tumors has also brought an increased awareness of neurocognitive deficits to the neurooncological community.

Intraoperative cerebral angiography by intravenous contrast administration with 3-dimensional rotational fluoroscopy in patients with intracranial aneurysms: a feasibility study.

Background: Intraoperative imaging of cerebral aneurysms may be desirable in emergency situations with large space-occupying hematomas or to visualize vessels after clip placement. Mobile 3-dimensional fluoroscopes are available in a number of neurosurgical departments and may be useful in combination with simple image postprocessing to depict cerebral vessels.

Objective: To assess whether intracranial aneurysms are detectable with appropriate image quality with intraoperative 3-dimensional fluoroscopy with intravenous contrast administration.

Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential recovery following opening of the fourth ventricle during posterior fossa decompression in Chiari malformation: case report.

The most appropriate surgical technique for posterior fossa decompression in Chiari malformation (CM) remains a matter of debate. Intraoperative electrophysiological studies during posterior fossa decompression of Type I CM (CM-I) aim to shed light on the entity's pathomechanism as well as on the ideal extent of decompression. The existing reports on this issue state that significant improvement in conduction occurs after craniotomy in all cases, but additional durotomy contributes a further improvement in only a minority of cases.

Long-term tumor control of spinal dissemination of cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme by combined adjuvant bevacizumab antibody therapy: a case report.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme located in the posterior fossa is extremely rare with a frequency up to 3.4%. Compared with glioblastoma of the hemispheres the prognosis of infratentorial glioblastoma seems to be slightly better.

Intraoperative 3D rotational angiography: an emergency tool for the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms.

It was the objective of this report to present a case of recurrent aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in which an MCA aneurysm was detected by 3D rotational fluoroscopy in an emergency situation. A 44-year-old woman was admitted from an external department after repeated SAH and temporal ICH. Due to progressive anisocoria and cardiocirculatory instability, she was transferred to the operating room without angiography.

Expression-analysis of the human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K in human astrocytic tumors.

Background: The human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) has been acquired by the genome of human ancestors million years ago. It is the most complete of the HERVs with transcriptionally active gag, pol and env genes. Splice variants of env, which are rec, 1.

Impact of MACC1 on human malignant glioma progression and patients' unfavorable prognosis.

Background: Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) has been established as an independent prognostic indicator of metastasis formation and metastasis-free survival for patients with colon cancer and other solid tumors. However, no data are available concerning MACC1 expression in human astrocytic tumors. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent primary brain tumor of adulthood, and due to its invasive and rapid growth, patients have unfavorable prognoses.

Value of transcranial Doppler, perfusion-CT and neurological evaluation to forecast secondary ischemia after aneurysmal SAH.

Introduction: This study was conducted to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic value of detailed neurological evaluation, transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and Perfusion-CT (PCT) to predict delayed vasospasm (DV) and delayed cerebral infarction (DCI) within the following 3 days in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: A total of 61 patients with aneurysmal SAH were included in the study. All patients were amenable for neurological evaluation throughout the critical phase to develop secondary ischemia after SAH.

Hypoxia induced CA9 inhibitory targeting by two different sulfonamide derivatives including acetazolamide in human glioblastoma.

HIF-1α regulated genes are mainly responsible for tumour resistance to radiation- and chemo-therapy. Among these genes, carbonic anhydrase isoform IX (CA9) is highly over expressed in many types of cancer especially in high grade brain cancer like Glioblastoma (GBM). Inhibition of the enzymatic activity by application of specific chemical CA9 inhibitor sulphonamides (CAI) like Acetazolamide (Aza.

Magnesium treatment for neuroprotection in ischemic diseases of the brain.

This article reviews experimental and clinical data on the use of magnesium as a neuroprotective agent in various conditions of cerebral ischemia. Whereas magnesium has shown neuroprotective properties in animal models of global and focal cerebral ischemia, this effect could not be reproduced in a large human stroke trial. These conflicting results may be explained by the timing of treatment.

Value of Perfusion CT, Transcranial Doppler Sonography, and Neurological Examination to Detect Delayed Vasospasm after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background. If detected in time, delayed cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may be treated by balloon angioplasty or chemical vasospasmolysis in order to enhance cerebral blood flow (CBF) and protect the brain from ischemic damage. This study was conceived to compare the diagnostic accuracy of detailed neurological examination, Transcranial Doppler Sonography (TCD), and Perfusion-CT (PCT) to detect angiographic vasospasm.

Exophytic glioblastoma arising from the cerebellum: case report and critical review of the literature.

Exophytic glioblastoma arising from the cerebellar tonsil is an extremely rare variant within the possible anatomical presentations of the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We report the case of a 55-year-old woman who presented with a tumor located at the cranio-cervical junction with compression of the medulla oblongata and consecutive hydrocephalus. Due to the radiological presentation, the first tentative diagnosis was a meningioma.

Urokinase plasminogen activator, uPAR, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in the C6-glioblastoma rat model.

Background: In glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the serine protease urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), and matrix metalloproteases (MMP-2/MMP-9) contribute to its invasive growth pattern, which is the major obstacle to successful surgical treatment.

Materials And Methods: The expression of uPA was determined in monolayers and spheroids of the rodent GBM cell line C6 by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The longitudinal expression of proteases was studied in orthotopically implanted spheroids by semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) in Sprague Dawley rats (n=40).

A complete compilation of matrix metalloproteinase expression in human malignant gliomas.

Glioblastomas are characterized by an aggressive local growth pattern, a marked degree of invasiveness and poor prognosis. Tumor invasiveness is facilitated by the increased activity of proteolytic enzymes which are involved in destruction of the extracellular matrix of the surrounding healthy brain tissue. Elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were found in glioblastoma (GBM) cell-lines, as well as in GBM biopsies as compared with low-grade astrocytoma (LGA) and normal brain samples, indicating a role in malignant progression.

Brain edema formation correlates with perfusion deficit during the first six hours after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats.

Background: Severe brain edema is observed in a number of patients suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Little is known about its pathogenesis and time-course in the first hours after SAH. This study was performed to investigate the development of brain edema and its correlation with brain perfusion after experimental SAH.

Prolonged survival when temozolomide is added to accelerated radiotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate accelerated radiotherapy with and without temozolomide (TMZ) for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Methods: This retrospective analysis evaluated 86 patients with histologically proven GBM who were treated with accelerated radiotherapy of 1.8 Gy twice daily to a total dose of 54 Gy within 3 weeks.

The cohesin-interacting protein, precocious dissociation of sisters 5A/sister chromatid cohesion protein 112, is up-regulated in human astrocytic tumors.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent, highly malignant, invasive and difficult-to-treat primary brain tumor in adults. At the genetic level, it is characterized by a high degree of chromosomal instability and aneuploidy. It has been shown that defects in the mitotic spindle checkpoint could lead to the development of aneuploidy as well as tumorigenesis.

Comparative expression pattern of Matrix-Metalloproteinases in human glioblastoma cell-lines and primary cultures.

Background: Glioblastomas (GBM), the most frequent malignant brain tumors in adults, are characterized by an aggressive local growth pattern and highly invasive tumor cells. This invasion is facilitated by expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases. They mediate the degradation of protein components of the extracellular matrix.

Favorable outcome in the elderly cohort treated by concomitant temozolomide radiochemotherapy in a multicentric phase II safety study of 5-ALA.

The primary objective of this augmental, prospective, uncontrolled phase II multicentre trial was to assess adverse events (AE) associated with malignant glioma resection using 5-aminolevulinic (5-ALA). During accrual, the standard of adjuvant therapy changed to concomitant radiochemotherapy with adjuvant temozolomide (RT/TMZ). Thus, this study also provided a platform for investigating the influence of RT/TMZ on survival in patients with fluorescence-guided resections.