Bifocal germinomas in the pineal region and hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal axis: Primary or metastasis?

Whether bifocal germinomas (BFGs) synchronously presenting within the pineal region and the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal axis (HNA) are primary germinomas of dual-origin remains to be elucidated. We analyzed MRI images and clinical features of 95 neurohypophyseal germinomas and 21 BFG patients and developed a tentative definition of the BFGs. We found dual-primary BFGs (true BFGs) do exist.

A radiopathological classification of dural tail sign of meningiomas.

Object: The completeness of meningioma resection depends on the resection of dura mater invaded by the tumor. The pathological changes of the dura around the tumor can be interpreted by evaluating the dural tail sign (DTS) on MRI studies. The goal of this study was to clarify the pathological characteristics of the DTSs, propose a classification based on the histopathological and radiological correlation, and identify the invasive range of tumor cells in different types of DTS.

[Pathological features and origin of primary pineal mixed germ cell tumors].

Objective: To investigate the origin of mixed germ cell tumors in the pineal region based on the image data, surgical findings and pathological examination of the tumor.

Methods: The preoperative CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and tumor specimens were retrospectively analyzed in 15 cases of pineal mixed germ cell tumors confirmed by postoperative histological examination between January 2000 and September 2010.

Results: Radiographic examination of the tumor revealed calcification in 12 cases, cystic changes in 10 cases, and the presence of lipid in 5 cases.

[Clinical study of pineal region tumors: experience with 132 patients].

Objective: To review the clinical manifestations, imaging, tumor markers, treatment methods, pathology results and clinical curative effects of pineal region tumors and to evaluate the characteristics and intervention strategies for those tumors.

Methods: The clinicopathological data of 132 patients with pineal region tumor treated in our department between January 2000 and May 2008 were retrospectively studied.

Results: A moderate predominance in males was presented.

Involvement of osteopontin as a core protein in craniopharyngioma calcification formation.

Matrix proteins are considered to be essential for biomineralization and to be important factors in cranioharyngioma calcification. Osteopontin (OPN) is a noncollagenous, acidic bone-matrix glycoprotein, which binds tightly to hydroxyapatite and appears to form an integral part of the mineralized matrix, probably important to the integrity of cell-matrix interactions. OPN is also a ligand for a cell membrane receptor, CD44v6, which is required for efficient OPN binding.

[Dynamic changes of serum interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in patients with acute traumatic brain injury and the clinical significance].

Objective: To explore the dynamic changes of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 in acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their correlations to the severity of brain injury and the condition of the patients.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with acute TBI were divided into two groups according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, clinical manifestations and the imaging data, namely patients with GCS score < or = 8 and those with GCS score between 9 and 12. Radioimmunoassay was employed to determine the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 at 6 different time points within 15 days after the injury in the two groups.

[Analysis of the factors contributing to diabetes insipidus after surgeries for craniopharyngiomas].

Objective: To analyze the factors contributing to the occurrence of diabetes insipidus after operations for craniopharyngiomas.

Methods: A total of 121 cases of diabetes insipidus following surgeries for craniopharyngiomas were retrospectively analyzed and the factors associated with postoperative diabetes insipidus were analyzed.

Results: The incidence of diabetes insipidus was 27.

[Predisposing factors for postoperative epilepsy in patients with gliomas].

Objective: To explore the predisposing factors for postoperative epilepsy in patients with gliomas.

Methods: A total of 258 glioma patients with complete clinical data receiving cranial surgeries were analyzed retrospectively. With gender, age, predominant symptoms, positive signs, history of preoperative epilepsy, time of epilepsy onset, tumor location, surgical approaches, cortical injury, arterial and venous injury, scope of tumor resection, postoperative edema, tumor pathology, tumor recurrence, number of operation, radiation therapy as the independent variables, the occurrence of postoperative epilepsy was analyzed as the dependent variable using logistic regression to identify the risk factors for postoperative epilepsy.

[Combined modality therapy for primary choriocarcinoma in the pineal region: report of two cases].

We report two rare cases of primary choriocarcinoma in the pineal region verified histologically. In both cases, the pre-operative serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was significantly elevated to 128-/+935.7 and 9 -/+088.

[Growth of craniopharyngioma involving the third ventricular floor in relation to the hypothalamus].

Objective: To investigate the growth of craniopharyngioma involving the third ventricular floor with regard to the hypothalamus by detecting expressions of leukocyte common antigen (CD45) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in the tumor tissue.

Methods: The expressions of CD45 and ICAM-1 proteins in 30 craniopharyngioma samples with third ventricular floor involvement were detected by SP immunohistochemistry.

Results: The inflammations labeled by CD45 were identified commonly in the craniopharyngioma tissues involving the third ventricular floor.

Radical microsurgical treatment of intramedullary spinal cord tumors.

Background: The surgical treatment of intramedullary spinal cord tumor aims at complete removal and minimal postoperative deficit. This study was undertaken to evaluate the microsurgical features of intramedullary spinal cord tumors and the time for surgery and prognosis.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumor who had been treated at Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, China since 2000 were studied retrospectively.

Association of epileptiform activity with neuronal death in the CA3 subfield of the hippocampus following focally evoked limbic seizures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationnship between epileptiform activity and cell death in the CA3 subfield of hippocampus following focally evoked limbic seizures through a quantitative study. METHODS: Wistar rats used in this study received intra-amygdaloid injection of kainic acid to induce type epileptiform activity of different duration with continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptotic cells.