Herpes Simplex Oncolytic Viral Therapy for Malignant Glioma and Mechanisms of Delivery.

The authors present a comprehensive review on the history and development of oncolytic herpes simplex viral therapies for malignant glioma with a focus on mechanisms of delivery in prior and ongoing clinical trials. This review highlights the advancements made with regard to delivering these therapies to a highly complex immunologic environment in the setting of the blood brain and blood tumor barrier in a safe and effective manner.

Minimally Invasive Far Lateral Lumbar Discectomy With Modified Technique: Symptomatic Relief and Intersegmental Stability Study.

Objective: To evaluate the use of a modified minimally invasive surgery (MIS) technique for far lateral lumbar discectomy (FLDH) that minimizes the degree of bony drilling required for nerve root decompression, increasing postoperative pain reduction rate with reduced risk of iatrogenic spinal instability.

Summary Of Background Data: FLDH accounts for approximately 10% of all lumbar disc herniations and is increasingly recognized in the era of advanced imaging techniques. These disc herniations typically result in extra-foraminal nerve root compression.

The Validity of the Koos Classification System With Respect to Facial Nerve Function.

Background: The Koos classification of vestibular schwannomas is designed to stratify tumors based on extrameatal extension and compression of the brainstem. Our prior study demonstrated excellent reliability. No study has yet assessed its validity.

Reserved Bed Program Reduces Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit Capacity Strain: An Implementation Study.

Background: Neurosciences intensive care units (NICUs) provide institutional centers for specialized care. Despite a demonstrable reduction in morbidity and mortality, NICUs may experience significant capacity strain with resulting supraoptimal utilization and diseconomies of scale. We present an implementation study in the recognition and management of capacity strain within a large NICU in the United States.

Use of MRI in diabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy: case report and review of the literature.

Diabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy is often confused with radiculopathy in the context of spinal degenerative disc disease including spinal stenosis. Accuracy in diagnosis may prevent unnecessary interventional procedures including selective nerve root blocks or epidural steroid injections or even surgery in selected cases. Our patient with known diabetes and lumbar disc disease presented with acute onset of pain in L5-S1 distribution of the left lower extremity.

Koos Classification of Vestibular Schwannomas: A Reliability Study.

Background: The Koos classification of vestibular schwannomas is designed to stratify tumors based on extrameatal extension and compression of the brainstem. While this classification system is widely reported in the literature, to date no study has assessed its reliability.

Objective: To assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the Koos classification system.

Pineal cysts and other pineal region malignancies: determining factors predictive of hydrocephalus and malignancy.

OBJECTIVE Cystic lesions of the pineal gland are most often uncomplicated benign lesions with typical MRI characteristics. The authors aimed to study pineal lesion characteristics on MRI to better distinguish benign pineal cysts from other pineal region malignancies as well as to determine which characteristics were predictive of the latter malignancies. They also aimed to study risk factors predictive of hydrocephalus or malignancy in patients harboring these lesions.