Comparative analysis of linezolid, vancomycin, and hyperbaric oxygen therapies in a rat model of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.

Purpose: Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common causative microorganism of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections. This study aimed to compare linezolid and vancomycin treatments and to examine the effect of these antibiotics alone and combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the amount of bacterial colonies in the experimental S. epidermidis shunt infection model.

Super-enhancer hijacking drives ectopic expression of hedgehog pathway ligands in meningiomas.

Hedgehog signaling mediates embryologic development of the central nervous system and other tissues and is frequently hijacked by neoplasia to facilitate uncontrolled cellular proliferation. Meningiomas, the most common primary brain tumor, exhibit Hedgehog signaling activation in 6.5% of cases, triggered by recurrent mutations in pathway mediators such as SMO.

Pentoxifylline and Vitamin E Can Restrict Radiation Necrosis via Vascular Pathways, Experimental Study in an Animal Model.

Objective: Radiation necrosis (RN) is a long-term side effect of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery that may require surgical intervention. Pentoxifylline and vitamin E have previously been shown to be effective in the treatment of RN in the published literature, but there are no data on the prophylactic use of these molecules or, more importantly, whether prophylaxis is required.

Methods: The iatrogenic RN model included 50 Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes.

Safety and efficacy of flow diverter stents in the treatment of middle cerebral artery aneurysms: a single-center experience and follow-up data.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of flow diverters (FDs) in the treatment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms and share the follow-up (F/U) results.

Methods: The treatment and F/U results of 76 MCA aneurysms treated with the flow re-direction endoluminal device (FRED), FRED Jr., and pipeline embolization device (PED) FD stents were evaluated retrospectively.

A new method for quantification of frontal retrusion and complex skull shape in metopic craniosynostosis: a pilot study of a new outcome measure for endoscopic strip craniectomy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to propose a new skull outline-based method to objectively quantify complex 3D skull shapes and frontal and supraorbital retrusion in metopic craniosynostosis using 3D photogrammetry.

Methods: A standard section from 3D photogrammetry, which represents the trigonocephalic shape, was used in this study. From the midpoint of the area of this section, half diagonals were calculated to the skull outline at 5° increments in the anterior half of the head.

Modified endoscopic strip craniectomy technique for sagittal craniosynostosis: provides comparable results and avoids bony defects.

Purpose: This study describes a modified technique addressing bony defects and incomplete ossification after endoscopic strip craniectomy (ESC) for SC followed by postoperative helmet therapy (PHT). The study aims to delineate quantitative and qualitative outcomes of this modified ESC technique followed by PHT and discern the optimal duration of PHT following ESC. A secondary aim is to address the effects of the technique on bony defects.

Long-term results and comparison of flow re-direction endoluminal device and pipeline embolization device in endovascular treatment of intracranial carotid aneurysms.

Objective: This study aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of two flow diverters, i.e., pipeline embolization device and flow re-direction endoluminal device, in the treatment of distal carotid aneurysms.

Exome sequencing implicates genetic disruption of prenatal neuro-gliogenesis in sporadic congenital hydrocephalus.

Congenital hydrocephalus (CH), characterized by enlarged brain ventricles, is considered a disease of excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation and thereby treated with neurosurgical CSF diversion with high morbidity and failure rates. The poor neurodevelopmental outcomes and persistence of ventriculomegaly in some post-surgical patients highlight our limited knowledge of disease mechanisms. Through whole-exome sequencing of 381 patients (232 trios) with sporadic, neurosurgically treated CH, we found that damaging de novo mutations account for >17% of cases, with five different genes exhibiting a significant de novo mutation burden.

Voltage-guided ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation-favorable 1-year outcome and predictors.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) has a low success rate. A newer ablation concept targets left atrial (LA) low voltage zones (LVZ) which correlate with fibrosis and predict recurrence after PVI. We aimed to determine the success of combined PVI- and LVZ-guided ablation and to identify the predictors for LVZ and for ablation success.

Ear nose throat-related symptoms with a focus on loss of smell and/or taste in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: To determine the frequency and severity of general and ear nose throat (ENT)- related symptoms, especially smell and/or loss of sense of taste (STL) in COVID-19 disease, as well as to investigate the recovery process of STL.

Materials And Methods: Patients with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis were given a questionnaire consisting of general questions (age, sex, date of symptoms, smoking history, concomitant diseases), questions about the most obvious symptom at presentation (one option only), the severity and frequency of symptoms (general and ENT), and STL (recovery time and degree of recovery).

Results: The study population consisted of 172 patients, 18-65 years old (mean age, 37.

The effects of behind-the-ear and off-the-ear sound processors on speech understanding performance in cochlear implant users.

Objective: The first aim of this study was to compare speech understanding performance in adult cochlear implant users using behind-the-ear and off-the-ear sound processors in quiet and noise. Second, the impact of sound processor microphone location on speech understanding performance was compared.

Methods: Participants were tested with both types of sound processors in the free field with warble tones, and speech discrimination scores in quiet were obtained.

Prognostic factors in progressive high-grade glial tumors treated with systemic approach: A single center experience.

Purpose: Malignant high-grade gliomas are the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor, and the prognosis is generally extremely poor. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the outcome of systemic treatment in recurrent high-grade glioma patients and the impact of prognostic factors on survivals.

Methods: Data from 114 patients with recurrent high-grade glioma who received systemic treatment and followed in our clinic between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.

Preventing the recurrence of acute anorectal abscesses utilizing a loose seton: a pilot study.

Introduction: This pilot study aimed to document our results of treating anorectal abscesses with drainage plus loose seton for possible coexisting high fistulas or drainage plus fistulotomy for low tracts at the same operation.

Methods: Drainage plus fistulotomy were performed only in cases with subcutaneous mucosa, intersphincteric, or apparently low transsphincteric fistula tracts. For all other cases with high transsphincteric fistula or those with questionable sphincter involvement, a loose seton was placed through the tract.

Correlations between genomic subgroup and clinical features in a cohort of more than 3000 meningiomas.

Objective: Recent large-cohort sequencing studies have investigated the genomic landscape of meningiomas, identifying somatic coding alterations in NF2, SMARCB1, SMARCE1, TRAF7, KLF4, POLR2A, BAP1, and members of the PI3K and Hedgehog signaling pathways. Initial associations between clinical features and genomic subgroups have been described, including location, grade, and histology. However, further investigation using an expanded collection of samples is needed to confirm previous findings, as well as elucidate relationships not evident in smaller discovery cohorts.

Anterior third ventricular height and infundibulochiasmatic angle: two novel measurements to predict clinical success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the early postoperative period.

Objective: The authors sought to develop a set of parameters that reliably predict the clinical success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) when assessed before and after the operation, and to establish a plan for MRI follow-up after this procedure.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 77 patients who had undergone 78 ETV procedures for obstructive hydrocephalus between 2010 and 2015. Constructive interference in steady-state (CISS) MRI evaluations before and after ETV were reviewed, and 4 parameters were measured.

Investigations of the capacity fading mechanism of NaMnOvia ex situ XAS and magnetization measurements.

Na-ion batteries represent a promising complementary alternative to Li-ion batteries due to their high energy density and natural abundancy of Na. However, these batteries have short cycle life and extensive research activities on these batteries are required to understand the mechanism of such drawbacks. In this report, we investigate the capacity fading mechanism of NaMnOvia ex situ X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and magnetization measurements.

De Novo Mutation in Genes Regulating Neural Stem Cell Fate in Human Congenital Hydrocephalus.

Congenital hydrocephalus (CH), featuring markedly enlarged brain ventricles, is thought to arise from failed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis and is treated with lifelong surgical CSF shunting with substantial morbidity. CH pathogenesis is poorly understood. Exome sequencing of 125 CH trios and 52 additional probands identified three genes with significant burden of rare damaging de novo or transmitted mutations: TRIM71 (p = 2.

Acute Obstructive Hydrocephalus due to a Giant Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm in a Pediatric Patient.

Introduction: Intracranial aneurysms are very rare in children. Although subarachnoidal hemorrhage (SAH) is by far the most common presentation of aneurysms in the majority of the pediatric case series, it is not rare for an unruptured aneurysm to present with a mass effect. Acute hydrocephalus is a common finding following aneurysmal SAH.

In Vitro Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Various Agents on Apoptosis of Glioblastoma Cells.

Aim: To investigate a new anti-tumor treatment method using stem cells transfected with specific genes and proteins that induce apoptosis in tumor cells.

Material And Methods: We used glioblastoma (GBM) cells and human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) in this study. The AD-MSCs were transfected with the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).

Somatosensory evoked potentials as a screening tool for diagnosis of spinal pathologies in children with treatment refractory overactive bladder.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of somatosensory evoked potential as a screening tool for spinal pathologies in patients with treatment refractory overactive bladder.

Methods: This prospective study was performed between January 2011 and January 2014. Children >5 years old with treatment refractory overactive bladder were enrolled after exclusion of anatomical and neurological causes of incontinence.

Direct withdrawal of a knife lodged in the thoracic spinal canal in a patient with normal neurologic examination: is it safe?

Stab wound injuries to the spinal cord are rare, although they commonly cause complete or incomplete neurological deficits. Normal neurological examination with a knife traversing the spinal canal is extremely rare. Here we report on a patient with a knife lodged in the thoracic spine with normal neurological examination and describe direct withdrawal of the knife with excellent results that have not been reported to date.

Cerebrospinal fluid hypersecretion in pediatric hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus, despite its heterogeneous causes, is ultimately a disease of disordered CSF homeostasis that results in pathological expansion of the cerebral ventricles. Our current understanding of the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus is inadequate but evolving. Over this past century, the majority of hydrocephalus cases has been explained by functional or anatomical obstructions to bulk CSF flow.

Altered isotope charge distribution of acetylcholine neurotransmitter and Myasthenia Gravis.

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a central neurotransmitter that is used for signal transmission among neurons. For signal transmission in neurons, a neurotransmitter must bind to its receptor in order to produce an action potential. It is known that in Myasthenia Gravis (MG) cases, autoantibodies could block this binding.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia with recessive trait caused by mutation in KLC4 gene.

We report an association between a new causative gene and spastic paraplegia, which is a genetically heterogeneous disorder. Clinical phenotyping of one consanguineous family followed by combined homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing analysis. Three patients from the same family shared common features of progressive complicated spastic paraplegia.