Intraparenchymal Chordoma in the Brain Stem: A Review of Surgical Management and Case Highlight.

We present a rare case of an intraparenchymal chordoma in the brain stem of a 69-year-old male with a history of multiple chordoma recurrences. Chordomas are uncommon tumors that originate from notochordal remnants, with intraparenchymal presentations in the brain stem being particularly rare. A 69-year-old male with a history of clival chordoma three years after primary endoscopic resection and adjuvant proton-beam radiotherapy and a recurrence one year postoperatively for which he underwent a second surgery, presented with severe headaches, weakness, diaphoresis, and difficulty ambulating.

Complex Morphologic Analysis of Cerebral Aneurysms Through the Novel Use of Fractal Dimension as a Predictor of Rupture Status: A Proof of Concept Study.

Background: Aneurysm morphology has been correlated with rupture. Previous reports identified several morphologic indices that predict rupture status, but they measure only specific qualities of the morphology of an aneurysm in a semiquantitative fashion. Fractal analysis is a geometric technique whereby the overall complexity of a shape is quantified through the calculation of a fractal dimension (FD).

Association between underlying autoimmune disease and small aneurysm size at rupture.

Objective: Although the role of inflammation in the development of aneurysms is established, less is known about the development of intracranial aneurysms in the setting of underlying autoimmune disease. The underlying systemic inflammatory characteristics of disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome may influence the development of intracranial aneurysms through common inflammatory pathways. The authors hypothesized that there is an association between underlying autoimmune disease and aneurysm growth and rupture.

Exclusively endoscopic management of complicated pineal cysts in young children: Definitive treatment through single burr-hole technique.

Background: The management of complicated symptomatic pineal cysts in the pediatric population is challenging and variable. Surgical management may include treatment of hydrocephalus alone, or direct treatment of the cyst with or without direct hydrocephalus management. This is typically done through craniotomy-based microsurgical approaches to the pineal region or an endoscopic transventricular approach.

Super-Pedicle Osteotomy for Correction of Focal Thoracolumbar Kyphosis.

Background: Focal thoracolumbar kyphotic deformities require operative correction through osteotomies to restore normal spinal balance. Traditional osteotomies, such as the pedicle subtraction osteotomy, that are often used in the lumbar spine are less useful in the thoracolumbar region. The super-pedicle osteotomy is a pedicle-sparing wedge osteotomy that can be used for correction of kyphosis in patients with thoracolumbar deformities.

Differential Induction of Cytoplasmic Vacuolization and Methuosis by Novel 2-Indolyl-Substituted Pyridinylpropenones.

Because many cancers harbor mutations that confer resistance to apoptosis, there is a need for therapeutic agents that can trigger alternative forms of cell death. Methuosis is a novel form of non-apoptotic cell death characterized by accumulation of vacuoles derived from macropinosomes and endosomes. Previous studies identified an indole-based chalcone, 3-(5-methoxy-2-methylindol-3-yl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (MOMIPP), that induces methuosis in human cancer cells.

Synthesis and evaluation of indole-based chalcones as inducers of methuosis, a novel type of nonapoptotic cell death.

Methuosis is a novel caspase-independent form of cell death in which massive accumulation of vacuoles derived from macropinosomes ultimately causes cells to detach from the substratum and rupture. We recently described a chalcone-like compound, 3-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (i.e.