James Franklin Osman Adewale Ishola Mustaffah: Ghana's First Neurosurgeon.

Background: This historical narrative examines the early life of Dr. James Franklin Osman Adewale Ishola Mustaffah and his pivotal role in laying the foundations and advancing the field of neurosurgery in Ghana.

Methods: The creation of this project was driven by the exploration of original scientific and bibliographical works concerning Dr.

The impact of historical redlining on neurosurgeon distribution and reimbursement in modern neighborhoods.

Background: This study examines the lasting impact of historical redlining on contemporary neurosurgical care access, highlighting the need for equitable healthcare in historically marginalized communities.

Objective: To investigate how redlining affects neurosurgeon distribution and reimbursement in U.S.

MR Imaging-based Biomarker Development in Hemorrhagic Stroke Patients Including Brain Iron Quantification, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and Phenomenon of Ultra-early Erythrolysis.

This review article discusses the role of MR imaging-based biomarkers in understanding and managing hemorrhagic strokes, focusing on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. ICH is a severe type of stroke with high mortality and morbidity rates, primarily caused by the rupture of small blood vessels in the brain, resulting in hematoma formation. MR imaging-based biomarkers, including brain iron quantification, ultra-early erythrolysis detection, and diffusion tensor imaging, offer valuable insights for hemorrhagic stroke management.

History and Current State of Neurosurgery in the Gambia.

Background: Despite global efforts to improve surgical care access, many low- and middle-income countries, especially in neurosurgery, face significant shortages. The Gambia exemplifies this, with only 1 fully qualified neurosurgeon serving its population of 2.5 million people.

The Role of County-Level Persistent Poverty in Stroke Mortality in the USA.

Stroke is a major health concern in the USA, disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. This study investigates the link between persistent poverty and stroke mortality rates in residents aged 65 and above, positing that sustained economic challenges at the county level correlate with an increase in stroke-related deaths. Persistent poverty refers to a long-term state where a significant portion of a population lives below the poverty threshold for an extended period, typically measured over several decades.

Influence of socioeconomic status on clinical outcomes of diffuse midline glioma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

Objective: Given the lack of a definitive treatment and the poor prognosis of patients with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), socioeconomic status (SES) may affect treatment access and therefore survival. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between SES and treatment modalities, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in children with DMG/DIPG.

Methods: A retrospective, single-institution review was conducted of medical records of patients ≤ 18 years of age who had DMG or DIPG that was diagnosed between 2000 and 2022.

Case of postoperative mitral and tricuspid valve repair with large vessel occlusion ischaemic stroke: successfully treated with mechanical thrombectomy extracting subocclusive thrombus containing foreign material.

A woman in her 60s with a history of prior ischaemic stroke developed acute onset slurring of speech, left-sided facial droop and left-sided weakness and was found on CT angiography to have a subocclusive thrombus multiple days after undergoing mitral and tricuspid valve repair surgery. A stent retriever and aspiration catheter were used to successfully remove the subocclusive material which was identified as 'foreign material' on histology. Ultimately, the patient demonstrated clinical improvement.

The interplay among a dental procedure, infective endocarditis, and an acute ischemic stroke.

Background: This case report highlights the rare association among a dental procedure, infective endocarditis, and an acute ischemic stroke.

Case Description: A 54-year-old woman who experienced an acute ischemic stroke 5 weeks after a tooth extraction is described. The initial symptoms of this patient included mild to moderate word-finding difficulty and right facial droop.

Optimal Frequency in Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Management of Chronic Pain: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to be effective for pain modulation in a variety of pathological conditions causing neuropathic pain. The purpose of this study is to conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized control trials to identify the most optimal frequency required to achieve chronic pain modulation using rTMS.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of rTMS for chronic pain management.

Racial and gender disparities in traumatic brain injury clinical trial enrollment.

Objective: Despite the increasing number of women and racial/ethnic minorities sustaining traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), they are underrepresented in TBI clinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate gender and racial diversity in enrolled cohorts of TBI clinical trials to identify trends and predictors of increased disparity over time.

Methods: The authors reviewed TBI clinical trials with reported results registered on the website ClinicalTrials.

Ventriculoatrial and ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction and infection in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Objective: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus are both conditions that can affect preterm infants. The peritoneum is the preferred terminus for shunt placement, but another terminus is sometimes used due to subjective concerns about infection and complications related to NEC. The aim of this study was to examine the rates of ventriculoatrial (VA) and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection and failure in pediatric patients with a history of NEC.

Successful retrieval of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) from the left middle cerebral artery during preoperative embolization of a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA).

Preoperative embolization of a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) using ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) is an effective adjunctive treatment prior to surgical resection. While liquid embolic agents are safe to use, we present a unique case involving the migration of EVOH into the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) through an external carotid artery-internal carotid artery (ECA-ICA) collateral during preoperative embolization using a dual-lumen balloon catheter. A 16-year-old male presented with left-sided nasal congestion, new nasal intonation in voice, and epistaxis.

Alexa Irene Canady: First Female African American Neurosurgeon of the United States.

Background: This historical account reviews the course and lasting impact of Dr. Alexa Irene Canady in neurosurgery.

Methods: The writing of this project was sparked by the discovery of original scientific and bibliographical information about Alexa Canady, the first female African-American neurosurgeon in the nation.

Racial Disparities in Employment Status After Moderate/Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries in Southeast Michigan.

Objective: To examine the progress made in recent decades by assessing the employment rates of Black and non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI), controlling for pre-TBI employment status and education status.

Design: Retrospective analysis in a cohort of patients treated in Southeast Michigan at major trauma centers in more recent years (February 2010 to December 2019).

Setting: Southeastern Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS): 1 of 16 TBIMSs across the United States.

Emanuel Olatunde Alaba Olanrewaju Odeku (1927-1974): First African Neurosurgeon Trained in the United States and Establisher of the National and West African Postgraduate Medical Colleges.

Background: In this comprehensive historical account, the authors delve into the remarkable trajectory of Dr. Latunde E. Odeku, a pioneering figure in neurosurgery.

Conjunctival fibrosis and the innate barriers to Chlamydia trachomatis intracellular infection: a genome wide association study.

Chlamydia trachomatis causes both trachoma and sexually transmitted infections. These diseases have similar pathology and potentially similar genetic predisposing factors. We aimed to identify polymorphisms and pathways associated with pathological sequelae of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infections in The Gambia.

Analysis of costs and benefits of the Gambian Eye Care Program.

Objective: To estimate the net benefit of the Gambian Eye Care Program (GECP) using a limited definition of benefits from a societal perspective.

Methods: The number of cases of blindness avoided was modeled using population projections, population-based blindness survey estimates from 1986 and 1996, and reported blindness-related mortality differences. Benefits were measured as lifetime productivity gains that resulted from the cases of blindness avoided between the surveys.

Role of flies and provision of latrines in trachoma control: cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Eye-seeking flies have received much attention as possible trachoma vectors, but this remains unproved. We aimed to assess the role of eye-seeking flies as vectors of trachoma and to test provision of simple pit latrines, without additional health education, as a sustainable method of fly control.

Methods: In a community-based, cluster-randomised controlled trial, we recruited seven sets of three village clusters and randomly assigned them to either an intervention group that received regular insecticide spraying or provision of pit latrines (without additional health education) to each household, or to a control group with no intervention.