Temozolomide radiochemotherapy for high-grade glioma patients with hemodialysis: a case series of 7 patients.

Background: The pharmacokinetics of temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with severe renal impairments (creatinine clearance, <36 mL/min/m) or in hemodialysis (HD) patients has not been investigated. TMZ and its metabolic products are mainly excreted in urine, as retention of these in the body may result in increased adverse events in HD patients.

Methods: Seven HD patients with high-grade gliomas from 6 institutions were included in the study.

[Clinicopathological Study of Pilomyxoid-Spectrum Astrocytomas:An Analysis of the BRAF Gene. Report of Two Cases].

In contrast to pilocytic astrocytomas(PAs), pilomyxoid astrocytomas(PMAs)demonstrate monophasic piloid cells with angiocentric distribution and a more aggressive clinical course. Recently, several reports have described combined histological features of both subtypes;accordingly, these were termed intermediate pilomyxoid tumors(IPTs). The KIAA1549-BRAF fusion gene has been found in approximately 70% of PAs, but is reportedly rare in PMAs.

[Gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia: analysis of a multi institutional study].

A multi-institutional study was conducted to evaluate the results of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Eleven hundred and thirty-five patients at 39 centers were analyzed. Three hundred and sixty-nine patients had undergone percutaneous nerve block and 173 patients had undergone microvascular decompression (MVD) prior to GKRS.

Clinicopathologic study of pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation.

Objective: Pineal parenchymal tumors of intermediate differentiation (PPTID) are extremely rare tumor entities, and only limited data are available regarding their pathologic features and biologic behaviors. Because grading criteria of pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) have yet to be established, the treatment strategy and prognosis of PPTIDs remain controversial. We describe the clinicopathologic study of six patients with PPTID and compare responses for the treatment and prognosis with cases of pineocytoma (PC) and pineoblastoma (PB).

Expression of O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and immunohistochemical analysis of 12 pineal parenchymal tumors.

Pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) are rare neoplasms which occupy less than 1% of primary CNS tumors. Because of their rare incidence, previous reports on PPTs are limited in number and the useful molecular markers for deciding histological grading and even selecting chemotherapy are undetermined. In this study, we conducted immunohistochemical analysis of 12 PPT specimens, especially for expression of O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) to assess whether temozolomide (TMZ) could serve as a possible alternative therapy for PPTs.

A high dose of dexmedetomidine using the BIS monitor™ for diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization in a toddler with congenital heart disease.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) for sedation in diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization (DICC) has been reported to require other drugs or rescue drugs because of its insufficient sedative effect when used alone. We administered DEX and adjusted its dose according to the bispectral index (BIS) monitor™ for DICC in a toddler; consequently, a high dose of DEX had to be administered. The patient was a 1-year and 4-month-old boy who was scheduled to undergo DICC after intracardiac repair.

Radiation-induced osteosarcomas after treatment for frontal gliomas: a report of two cases.

Most radiation-induced osteosarcomas of the skull are reported to arise in the facial bone or paranasal sinus after radiotherapy for retinoblastoma and/or pituitary adenoma. Here we report two cases of radiation-induced osteosarcoma in the paranasal sinus after treatment for frontal glioma. Case 1 was a 56-year-old woman who underwent surgical resection of a left frontal tumor in October 1990.

Long-term prognostic assessment of 185 newly diagnosed gliomas: Grade III glioma showed prognosis comparable to that of Grade II glioma.

Objective: We evaluated the prognoses of newly diagnosed gliomas through WHO Grades II, III and IV to assess the overall tendency of treatment results for glioma in our institute. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed to determine factors influencing the prognosis.

Methods: A total of 185 newly diagnosed glioma patients were operated on from 2000 to 2006.