Onyx Embolization Before the Surgical Treatment of Grade III Spetzler-Martin Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: Single-Center Experience and Technical Nuances.

Background: Grade III Spetzler-Martin brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are a specific set of AVMs with high variability in terms of site, size, angioarchitecture, flow dynamics, and involvement of eloquent areas. Surgery preceded by preoperative embolization has been reported as a useful treatment option for these lesions. The aim of this study is to report outcomes and personal experience of combined preoperative Onyx embolization and surgical resection on a consecutive series of grade III brain AVMs.

Hypoxia modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in human glioblastoma stem cells. Implications for therapy.

Gliobastoma (GB), the most common adult brain tumor, infiltrates normal brain area rendering impossible the complete surgical resection, resulting in a poor median survival (14-15 months), despite the aggressive multimodality treatments post-surgery, such as radiation and chemo-therapy. GB is characterized by hypoxic and necrotic regions due to a poorly organized tumor vascularization, leading to inadequate blood supply and consequently to hypoxic and necrotic areas. We have previously shown that, under hypoxia GB primary cells increased the expression of stemness markers as well as the expression of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and also the crucial role played by PPARs in mouse neural stem cells maintenance and differentiation.