Patient-Specific Characteristics Associated with Favorable Response to Vagus Nerve Stimulation.

Objective: The expansion in treatments for medically refractory epilepsy heightens the importance of identifying patients who are likely to benefit from vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Here, we identify predictors with a positive VNS response.

Methods: We present a retrospective analysis of 158 patients with medically refractory epilepsy.

Correlation between social media utilization by academic neurosurgery departments and higher online patient ratings.

Objective: Patients increasingly utilize online physician review websites (PRWs) and social media to inform healthcare-related decisions. This provides neurosurgeons with opportunities for increased patient engagement. And despite the growing use of social media among neurosurgeons, the relationship between social media utilization and online reviews remains unknown.

Treatment Outcomes of Intracranial Myeloid Sarcomas: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Intracranial myeloid sarcomas (IMS) are rare central nervous system manifestations of malignant hematopoietic neoplasms of myeloid origin such as acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. Reported cases in the literature are limited to primarily case reports. We present a systematic review of this rare central nervous system tumor, characterizing the clinical presentation, tumor location, histopathology, and available treatment modalities.

Diffuse astrocytic glioma, IDH-Wildtype, with molecular features of glioblastoma, WHO grade IV: A single-institution case series and review.

Objective: In 2018, cIMPACT-NOW update 3 concluded that WHO grade II/III IDH-wildtype diffuse astrocytomas that contain TERT promoter mutations, chromosome 7 gain/10 loss, and/or EGFR amplification, correspond to a WHO grade IV diagnosis and should be classified as Diffuse astrocytic glioma, IDH-wildtype, with molecular features of glioblastoma, WHO grade IV (DAG-G). We present a single-institution series of patients with DAG-G and IDH-mutant astrocytomas and compare their clinical, molecular, and radiographic characteristics.

Methods: Patient data was retrospectively extracted from the EMR for all patients undergoing surgical biopsy/resection of a diffuse astrocytoma at our institution from 2018 to 2020.

Brain Metastasis Recurrence Versus Radiation Necrosis: Evaluation and Treatment.

Radiation necrosis (RN) occurs in 5% to 25% of patients with brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery. RN must be distinguished from recurrent tumor to determine appropriate treatment. Stereotactic biopsy remains the gold standard for identifying RN.

Subarachnoid fat dissemination secondary to intrathecal pump.

Implantable intrathecal infusion pumps (ITPs) are an effective pain management modality for patients who have failed non-operative options. We present the first report of asymptomatic intracranial subarachnoid fat dissemination secondary to an ITP. A 39-year-old who underwent implantation of an ITP for intractable pelvic pain developed altered mental status.

Differences in statin utilization and lipid lowering by race, ethnicity, and HIV status in a real-world cohort of persons with human immunodeficiency virus and uninfected persons.

Background: Risks for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and stroke, are elevated in people with HIV infection (PWH). However, no trials of statin utilization with clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) end points have been completed in PWH, and there are sparse real-world data regarding statin use and lipid-lowering effectiveness. We therefore used a unique cohort of PWH and uninfected controls to evaluate (1) differences in statin types used for PWH versus uninfected persons; (2) lipid lowering achieved by statin use for PWH versus uninfected persons; and (3) racial and ethnic disparities in appropriate statin use among PWH and uninfected persons.