Cerebral blood flow and histological analysis for the accurate differentiation of infiltrating tumor and vasogenic edema in glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is characterized by neovascularization and diffuse infiltration into the adjacent tissue. T2*-based dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MR perfusion images provide useful measurements of the biomarkers associated with tumor perfusion. This study aimed to distinguish infiltrating tumors from vasogenic edema in glioblastomas using DSC-MR perfusion images.

Ophthalmic Artery Feeders in Meningioma Reduce the Effectiveness of Transarterial Embolization With n-Butyl Cyanoacrylate.

Background: N-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) is often used for preoperative transarterial embolization (TAE) of meningiomas. However, factors affecting the embolization effect with n-BCA remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the factors associated with the embolization rate after TAE using n-BCA in meningioma, from the aspect of feeder architecture.

Dynamic susceptibility contrast‑enhanced perfusion magnetic resonance imaging parameters for predicting promoter methylation and prognostic value in newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma.

O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation is an important clinical biomarker of newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Previous radiological studies using dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) perfusion have aimed to predict methylation status non-invasively in gliomas with radiological characteristics. The possibility of predicting methylation status using DSC-MRI perfusion with a radiological approach remains controversial.

Awake surgery for a deaf patient using sign language: A case report.

Background: Although awake surgery is the gold standard for resecting brain tumors in eloquent regions, patients with hearing impairment require special consideration during intraoperative tasks.

Case Description: We present a case of awake surgery using sign language in a 45-year-old right-handed native male patient with hearing impairment and a neoplastic lesion in the left frontal lobe, pars triangularis (suspected to be a low-grade glioma). The patient primarily communicated through sign language and writing but was able to speak at a sufficiently audible level through childhood training.

Automated volumetry of meningiomas in contrast-enhanced T1-Weighted MRI using deep learning.

Background: Meningiomas are among the most common intracranial tumors. In these tumors, volumetric assessment is not only important for planning therapeutic intervention but also for follow-up examination.However, a highly accurate automated volumetric method for meningiomas using single-modality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not yet been reported.

Association of Plasma Claudin-5 with Age and Alzheimer Disease.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays pivotal roles in synaptic and neuronal functioning by sealing the space between adjacent microvascular endothelial cells. BBB breakdown is present in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD). Claudin-5 (CLDN-5) is a tetra-spanning protein essential for sealing the intercellular space between adjacent endothelial cells in the BBB.

Identification of glioblastoma-specific antigens expressed in patient-derived tumor cells as candidate targets for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

Background: New therapies for glioblastoma (GBM) are urgently needed because the disease prognosis is poor. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy that targets GBM-specific cell surface antigens is a promising therapeutic strategy. However, extensive transcriptome analyses have uncovered few GBM-specific target antigens.

Cerebellopontine angle metastasis of a neuroendocrine tumor mimicking vestibular schwannoma: A case report.

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are uncommon neoplasms arising from neuroendocrine cells and are rarely associated with intracranial metastases.

Case Description: We discuss the case of a 74-year-old woman with a right CPA tumor. She had a history of retroperitoneal NET, but was diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma due to a right-sided hearing loss and a right CPA tumor along the VII and VIII nerves.

Modifying the blood-brain barrier by targeting claudin-5: Safety and risks.

The blood-brain barrier is a major obstacle to the delivery of drugs to the central nervous system. In the blood-brain barrier, the spaces between adjacent brain microvascular endothelial cells are sealed by multiprotein complexes known as tight junctions. Among the many components of the tight junction, claudin-5 has received the most attention as a target for loosening the tight-junction seal and allowing drugs to be delivered to the brain.

How Much Tumor Volume Is Responsible for Development of Clinical Symptoms in Patients With Convexity, Parasagittal, and Falx Meningiomas?

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial neoplasms and clinical symptom appearance depends on their volume and location. This study aimed to identify factors that influence clinical symptoms and to determine a specific threshold tumor volume for the prediction of symptomatic progression in patients with convexity, parasagittal, and falx meningiomas. We retrospectively studied patients with radiologically suspected convexity, parasagittal, or falx meningiomas at our institution.

Distinct difference in tumor-infiltrating immune cells between Wilms' tumor gene 1 peptide vaccine and anti-programmed cell death-1 antibody therapies.

Background: Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) peptide vaccine and anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibody are expected as immunotherapies to improve the clinical outcome of glioblastoma. The aims of this study were to clarify how each immunotherapy affects tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIIs) and to determine whether the combination of these two therapies could synergistically work.

Methods: Mice were transplanted with WT1 and programmed cell death-ligand 1 doubly expressing glioblastoma cells into brain followed by treatment with WT1 peptide vaccine, anti-PD-1 antibody, or the combination of the two, and survival of each therapy was compared.

Safety and efficacy of an anti-claudin-5 monoclonal antibody to increase blood-brain barrier permeability for drug delivery to the brain in a non-human primate.

Claudin-5 (CLDN-5) is an essential component of the tight junction seal in the blood-brain barrier. Previously, we showed that CLDN-5 modulation in vitro via an anti-CLDN-5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) may be useful for increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier for drug delivery to the brain. Based on these findings, here we examined the safety and efficacy of the anti-CLDN-5 mAb in a non-human primate.

Determination of brain tumor recurrence using C-methionine positron emission tomography after radiotherapy.

We conducted a prospective multicenter trial to compare the usefulness of C-methionine (MET) and F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) for identifying tumor recurrence. Patients with clinically suspected tumor recurrence after radiotherapy underwent both C-MET and F-FDG PET. When a lesion showed a visually detected uptake of either tracer, it was surgically resected for histopathological analysis.

The Impact of 5-Year Tumor Doubling Time to Predict the Subsequent Long-Term Natural History of Asymptomatic Meningiomas.

Objective: Meningiomas are the most frequent primary brain tumors. The long-term natural history of asymptomatic meningiomas remains unclear and difficult to predict accurately, however. The purpose of this study was to determine the subsequent course of asymptomatic meningiomas preceded by 5 years of no treatment.

A case of meningolacrimal artery aneurysm associated with meningioma.

Background: Intraorbital aneurysms are rare, and most of them originate from the ophthalmic arteries. Herein, we report a case of meningolacrimal artery aneurysm associated with a meningioma.

Case Description: A 55-year-old woman had a frontal convexity meningioma identified by brain magnetic resonance imaging during a checkup.

Successful neurosurgical separation of conjoined spinal cords in pygopagus twins: illustrative cases.

Background: Conjoined twins represent a rare congenital malformation. Pygopagus twins are fused at the sacrum and perineum, with union of the spine. The authors report a successful separation of a unique case of pygopagus twins sharing a U-shaped spinal cord, which the authors identified through aberrant nerves by intraoperative physiological spinal root examination.

Impact of Inversion Time for FLAIR Acquisition on the T2-FLAIR Mismatch Detectability for -Mutant, Non-CODEL Astrocytomas.

The current research tested the hypothesis that inversion time (TI) shorter than 2,400 ms under 3T for FLAIR can improve the diagnostic accuracy of the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign for identifying mt, non-CODEL astrocytomas. We prepared three different cohorts; 94 MRI from 76 mt, non-CODEL Lower-grade gliomas (LrGGs), 33 MRI from 31 LrGG under the restriction of FLAIR being acquired with TI < 2,400 ms for 3T or 2,016 ms for 1.5T, and 112 MRI from 112 patients from the TCIA/TCGA dataset for LrGG.

Overview of the Premarketing and Postmarketing Requirements for Drugs Granted Japanese Conditional Marketing Approval.

For drugs that are intended to fill unmet medical needs, such as the treatment of rare diseases or a subtype of cancer, it can take a long time to conduct confirmatory clinical trials due to limited patient availability. Delayed access to these drugs increases the risk of mortality of patients with these diseases. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan has decided to implement the Conditional Early Approval System with issuing the Ministry Notification in 2017.

The Roadmap to Approval under Japan's Two-Track Regulatory System: Comparing Six Regenerative Medical Products.

The Japanese conditional and time-limited (CTL) approval framework, a tiered system for regenerative medical products, was initiated in 2014. Here, we compare the dossiers of six regenerative medical products with either direct full approval or CTL approval, and we discuss the regulatory considerations for obtaining approval under the CTL approval framework.

Feasibility of Salvage Re-irradiation With Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Recurrent Glioma Using CyberKnife.

Aim: To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of re-irradiation with salvage stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for recurrent glioma using CyberKnife.

Patients And Methods: This study retrospectively investigated 35 patients with 48 recurrent grade 2-4 gliomas who received SRT between 1998 and 2011. Six patients (17.

Voxel-based lesion mapping of meningioma: a comprehensive lesion location mapping of 260 lesions.

OBJECTIVE In the present study the authors aimed to determine preferred locations of meningiomas by avoiding descriptive analysis and instead using voxel-based lesion mapping and 3D image-rendering techniques. METHODS Magnetic resonance images obtained in 248 treatment-naïve meningioma patients with 260 lesions were retrospectively and consecutively collected. All images were registered to a 1-mm isotropic, high-resolution, T1-weighted brain atlas provided by the Montreal Neurological Institute (the MNI152), and a lesion frequency map was created, followed by 3D volume rendering to visualize the preferred locations of meningiomas in 3D.