DARPP32, STAT5 and STAT3 mRNA expression ratios in glioblastomas are associated with patient outcome.

Based on recent developments in glioblastoma subtyping, we examined DARPP32 (PPP1R1B), a neuronal marker against STAT5 and STAT3 that are pro-oncogenic in glioblastoma. mRNA ratios of DARPP32, STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A and STAT5B were assessed in routinely diagnosed gliomas s including a series of glioblastomas from patients (n = 67) treated with chemoradiotherapy (temozolomide), out of which 88 % had sequencing validated IDH-negative disease. DARPP32/STAT1 (p = 0.

Brain scintigraphy with 99mTc-tetrofosmin for the differential diagnosis of a posterior fossa tumor.

A 60-year-old woman harbouring a tumour in the cerebellum. Anatomic brain imaging by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were not conclusive of the lesion's nature. Imaging by (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission tomography (SPET) showed increased radiotracer accumulation in the lesion, indicating a vascular supply, membrane permeability and cellular metabolic activity, which is suggested to facilitate tracer uptake by lesions located in the posterior fossa.

Rapidly progressing glioblastoma resembling brain abscess in leukemia.

A 63-year-old man with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a prosthetic aortic valve was hospitalized because of a mastoiditis, complicated by meningitis and epileptic seizures. Two weeks later he developed a lesion in the right temporal lobe. A brain abscess was suspected.

Evaluation of meningioma aggressiveness by (99m)Tc-Tetrofosmin SPECT.

Objectives: Although meningiomas usually have a benign clinical course, atypical and malignant types of this brain tumor are associated with high recurrence rates and poor outcome; thus, DNA ploidy and S-phase -- as determined by DNA flow cytometry -- are useful indicators of their biological behavior. Brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has been suggested as a potentially useful modality for the metabolic assessment of various brain tumors. This study evaluated whether (99m)Tc-Tetrofosmin ((99m)Tc-TF) uptake correlates with meningioma proliferative activity, as assessed by flow cytometry analysis.

(99m)Tc-Tetrofosmin brain SPECT in the assessment of meningiomas-correlation with histological grade and proliferation index.

Meningiomas account for about 30% of all intracranial tumors. Evaluation of their proliferation rate is useful for assessing their biological behavior. We evaluated prospectively whether (99m)Tc-Tetrofosmin ((99m)Tc-TF) uptake in meningiomas correlates with cellular proliferative activity and with tumor grade.

The efficacy of erythropoietin on acute spinal cord injury. An experimental study on a rat model.

Introduction: The accumulated knowledge of erythropoietin (EPO) interaction in neural injury has led to potentially novel therapeutic strategies. Previous experimental studies of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) administration have shown favorable results after central and peripheral neural injury. In the present study we used the aneurysmal clip model to evaluate the efficacy of two different regimes of rhEPO administration on the functional outcome after severe acute spinal cord injury (ASCI).

Evaluation of brain tumor recurrence by (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin SPECT: a prospective pilot study.

Objective: The differentiation between brain tumor recurrence and post-irradiation injury remains an imaging challenge. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cannot always distinguish between the two. Although glioma cell line studies substantiated a plausible imaging superiority of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin ((99m)Tc-TF) over other radiopharmaceuticals, little has been reported on its in vivo imaging properties.

Brain metastasis of unknown primary: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.

The diagnosis of a brain metastasis is usually made during the routine follow up examinations of patients with known cancer, who are under the care of oncology departments. The involvement of the neurosurgeon depends on the philosophy and referral patterns of each oncology group. Patients with brain metastases of unknown primary (BMUP) are much more likely to seek the help of a neurosurgeon or a neurologist before contacting an oncologist, because the presenting clinical features originate from the brain.

Cauda equina paraganglioma: a review.

Although rare, cauda equina paraganglioma (CEP) is definitely established in the table of cauda equina tumours. There are no particular investigations to document its preoperative diagnosis, unless a vasomotor amine syndrome is present to guide the differential diagnostic spectrum. Magnetic resonance imaging is the examination of choice for the presurgical assessment, but there are still overlapping findings, mainly among CEP, ependymoma, schwannoma, and hemangioblastoma.