Determinants of Overall and Readmission-Free Survival in Patients with Metastatic Epidural Spinal Cord Compression.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcomes and survival of patients surgically treated for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC), with a specific focus on identifying factors that influence overall survival and readmission-free survival.

Methods: All patients who underwent surgery for spine metastases at our department in the period 2018-2022 were included in the study.

Results: A total of 175 patients (n = 71 females, median age 67.

Subthalamic Stimulation Improves Short-Term Satisfaction with Life and Treatment in Parkinson's Disease.

The effect of subthalamic stimulation (STN-DBS) on patients' personal satisfaction with life and their Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment is understudied, as is its correlation with quality of life (QoL). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that STN-DBS for PD enhances satisfaction with life and treatment. In a prospective, multicenter study with a 6-month follow-up involving 121 patients, we measured the main outcomes using the Satisfaction with Life and Treatment Scale (SLTS-7).

The long non-coding RNA NEAT1 contributes to aberrant STAT3 signaling in pancreatic cancer and is regulated by a metalloprotease-disintegrin ADAM8/miR-181a-5p axis.

Purpose: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers and several studies demonstrate that STAT3 has critical roles throughout the course of PDAC pathogenesis.

Methods: TCGA, microarray, and immunohistochemistry data from a PDAC cohort were used for clinical analyses. Panc89 cells with ADAM8 knockout, re-expression of ADAM8 mutants, and Panc1 cells overexpressing ADAM8 were generated.

Augmented Reality in Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery.

: Epilepsy surgery for extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE) is challenging, particularly when MRI findings are non-lesional and seizure patterns are complex. Invasive diagnostic techniques are crucial for accurately identifying the epileptogenic zone and its relationship with surrounding functional tissue. Microscope-based augmented reality (AR) support, combined with navigation, may enhance intraoperative orientation, particularly in cases involving subtle or indistinct lesions, thereby improving patient outcomes and safety (e.

Extended Reality-Based Head-Mounted Displays for Surgical Education: A Ten-Year Systematic Review.

Surgical education demands extensive knowledge and skill acquisition within limited time frames, often limited by reduced training opportunities and high-pressure environments. This review evaluates the effectiveness of extended reality-based head-mounted display (ExR-HMD) technology in surgical education, examining its impact on educational outcomes and exploring its strengths and limitations. Data from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, WorldCat, and Google Scholar (Year: 2014-2024) were synthesized.

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (Osler's Disease): Systemic, Interdisciplinary, Relatively Common—and Often Missed.

Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Rendu- Osler-Weber disease, or Osler's disease for short) is a systemic disease that can severely impair the quality of life and that requires interdisciplinary treatment. Among rare diseases, it is relatively common, with a prevalence of approximately 1/5000.

Methods: This review is based on publications retrieved by a selective literature search, including the two international guidelines on clinically relevant aspects of HHT.

Single-Center Experience in Microsurgical Resection of Acoustic Neurinomas and the Benefit of Microscope-Based Augmented Reality.

: Microsurgical resection with intraoperative neuromonitoring is the gold standard for acoustic neurinomas (ANs) which are classified as T3 or T4 tumors according to the Hannover Classification. Microscope-based augmented reality (AR) can be beneficial in cerebellopontine angle and lateral skull base surgery, since these are small areas packed with anatomical structures and the use of this technology enables automatic 3D building of a model without the need for a surgeon to mentally perform this task of transferring 2D images seen on the microscope into imaginary 3D images, which then reduces the possibility of error and provides better orientation in the operative field. : All patients who underwent surgery for resection of ANs in our department were included in this study.

Surgical Treatment of Calcified Thoracic Herniated Disc Disease via the Transthoracic Approach with the Use of Intraoperative Computed Tomography (iCT) and Microscope-Based Augmented Reality (AR).

: The aim of this study is to present our experience in the surgical treatment of calcified thoracic herniated disc disease via a transthoracic approach in the lateral position with the use of intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) and augmented reality (AR). All patients who underwent surgery for calcified thoracic herniated disc via a transthoracic transpleural approach at our Department using iCT and microscope-based AR were included in the study. : Six consecutive patients (five female, median age 53.

Enabling Navigation and Augmented Reality in the Sitting Position in Posterior Fossa Surgery Using Intraoperative Ultrasound.

Despite its broad use in cranial and spinal surgery, navigation support and microscope-based augmented reality (AR) have not yet found their way into posterior fossa surgery in the sitting position. While this position offers surgical benefits, navigation accuracy and thereof the use of navigation itself seems limited. Intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) can be applied at any time during surgery, delivering real-time images that can be used for accuracy verification and navigation updates.

Predictors of short-term anxiety outcome in subthalamic stimulation for Parkinson's disease.

The effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on anxiety in Parkinson's disease (PD) are understudied. We identified clinical predictors of STN-DBS effects on anxiety in this study. In this prospective, open-label, multicentre study, we assessed patients with anxiety undergoing STN-DBS for PD preoperatively and at 6-month follow-up postoperatively.

Microstructure predicts non-motor outcomes following deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease.

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) effectively treats motor and non-motor symptoms in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). As considerable interindividual variability of outcomes exists, neuroimaging-based biomarkers, including microstructural metrics, have been proposed to anticipate treatment response. In this prospective open-label study, we sought to detect microstructural properties of brain areas associated with short-term non-motor outcomes following STN-DBS.

Single-Center Experience of Resection of 120 Cases of Intradural Spinal Tumors.

Background: Our study presents a single-center experience of resection of intradural spinal tumors either with or without using intraoperative computed tomography-based registration and microscope-based augmented reality (AR). Microscope-based AR was recently described for improved orientation in the operative field in spine surgery, using superimposed images of segmented structures of interest in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional mode.

Methods: All patients who underwent surgery for resection of intradural spinal tumors at our department were retrospectively included in the study.

A Novel Approach for Glioblastoma Treatment by Combining Apoptosis Inducers (TMZ, MTX, and Cytarabine) with E.V.A. (Eltanexor, Venetoclax, and A1210477) Inhibiting XPO1, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1.

Adjuvant treatment for Glioblastoma Grade 4 with Temozolomide (TMZ) inevitably fails due to therapeutic resistance, necessitating new approaches. Apoptosis induction in GB cells is inefficient, due to an excess of anti-apoptotic XPO1/Bcl-2-family proteins. We assessed TMZ, Methotrexate (MTX), and Cytarabine (Ara-C) (apoptosis inducers) combined with XPO1/Bcl-2/Mcl-1-inhibitors (apoptosis rescue) in GB cell lines and primary GB stem-like cells (GSCs).

Status epilepticus in patients with brain tumors and metastases: A multicenter cohort study of 208 patients and literature review.

Objective: Brain tumors and metastases account for approximately 10% of all status epilepticus (SE) cases. This study described the clinical characteristics, treatment, and short- and long-term outcomes of this population.

Methods: This retrospective, multi-center cohort study analyzed all brain tumor patients treated for SE at the university hospitals of Frankfurt and Marburg between 2011 and 2017.

Structural connectivity of low-frequency subthalamic stimulation for improving stride length in Parkinson's disease.

Background: A reduction in stride length is considered a key characteristic of gait kinematics in Parkinson's disease (PD) and has been identified as a predictor of falls. Although low-frequency stimulation (LFS) has been suggested as a method to improve gait characteristics, the underlying structural network is not well understood.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the structural correlates of changes in stride length during LFS (85 Hz).

The Feasibility and Accuracy of Holographic Navigation with Laser Crosshair Simulator Registration on a Mixed-Reality Display.

Addressing conventional neurosurgical navigation systems' high costs and complexity, this study explores the feasibility and accuracy of a simplified, cost-effective mixed reality navigation (MRN) system based on a laser crosshair simulator (LCS). A new automatic registration method was developed, featuring coplanar laser emitters and a recognizable target pattern. The workflow was integrated into Microsoft's HoloLens-2 for practical application.

Correlation of MR-Based Metabolomics and Molecular Profiling in the Tumor Microenvironment of Temozolomide-Treated Orthotopic GL261 Glioblastoma in Mice.

The tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma (GB) is considered to be "cold", i.e., the fraction of cytotoxic T cells, for instance, is low.

Stratifying quality of life outcome in subthalamic stimulation for Parkinson's disease.

Background: Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) improves quality of life (QoL), motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS). However, in previous studies, 43%-49% of patients did not experience clinically relevant postoperative QoL improvement. To inform individualised prediction of postoperative QoL improvement, we developed a stratification analysis of QoL outcomes based on preoperative non-motor total burden, severity of motor progression and motor response in levodopa challenge tests.

Proteometabolomics of initial and recurrent glioblastoma highlights an increased immune cell signature with altered lipid metabolism.

Background: There is an urgent need to better understand the mechanisms associated with the development, progression, and onset of recurrence after initial surgery in glioblastoma (GBM). The use of integrative phenotype-focused -omics technologies such as proteomics and lipidomics provides an unbiased approach to explore the molecular evolution of the tumor and its associated environment.

Methods: We assembled a cohort of patient-matched initial (iGBM) and recurrent (rGBM) specimens of resected GBM.

Case report: Unilateral GPi DBS in secondary myoclonus-dystonia syndrome after acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established and effective therapy for movement disorders. Here, we present a case of secondary myoclonus-dystonia syndrome following acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in childhood, which was alleviated by DBS. Using a patient-specific connectome analysis, we sought to characterise the fibres and circuits affected by stimulation.

Implementation and Assessment of a Laparotomy-Assisted Three-Port Fetoscopic Spina Bifida Repair Program.

Open spina bifida (OSB) is a congenital, non-lethal malformation with multifactorial etiology. Fetal therapy can be offered under certain conditions to parents after accurate prenatal diagnostic and interdisciplinary counseling. Since the advent of prenatal OSB surgery, various modifications of the original surgical techniques have evolved, including laparotomy-assisted fetoscopic repair.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 22 activates integrin β1 through its disintegrin domain to promote the progression of pituitary adenoma.

Background: Approximately 35% of pituitary adenoma (PA) display an aggressive profile, resulting in low surgical total resection rates, high recurrence rates, and worse prognosis. However, the molecular mechanism of PA invasion remains poorly understood. Although "a disintegrin and metalloproteinases" (ADAMs) are associated with the progression of many tumors, there are no reports on ADAM22 in PA.

Changes in calpain-2 expression during glioblastoma progression predisposes tumor cells to temozolomide resistance by minimizing DNA damage and p53-dependent apoptosis.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by an unfavorable prognosis for patients affected. During standard-of-care chemotherapy using temozolomide (TMZ), tumors acquire resistance thereby causing tumor recurrence. Thus, deciphering essential molecular pathways causing TMZ resistance are of high therapeutic relevance.