descSPIM: an affordable and easy-to-build light-sheet microscope optimized for tissue clearing techniques.

Despite widespread adoption of tissue clearing techniques in recent years, poor access to suitable light-sheet fluorescence microscopes remains a major obstacle for biomedical end-users. Here, we present descSPIM (desktop-equipped SPIM for cleared specimens), a low-cost ($20,000-50,000), low-expertise (one-day installation by a non-expert), yet practical do-it-yourself light-sheet microscope as a solution for this bottleneck. Even the most fundamental configuration of descSPIM enables multi-color imaging of whole mouse brains and a cancer cell line-derived xenograft tumor mass for the visualization of neurocircuitry, assessment of drug distribution, and pathological examination by false-colored hematoxylin and eosin staining in a three-dimensional manner.

Blueprints from plane to space: outlook of next-generation three-dimensional histopathology.

Here, we summarize the literature relevant to recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) histopathology in relation to clinical oncology, highlighting serial sectioning, tissue clearing, light-sheet microscopy, and digital image analysis with artificial intelligence. We look forward to a future where 3D histopathology expands our understanding of human pathophysiology and improves patient care through cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation.

Consulting a neurosurgeon upon initial medical assessment reduces the time to the first surgery and potentially contributes to improved prognosis for glioblastoma patients.

Background: The neurological status of glioblastoma patients rapidly deteriorates. We recently demonstrated that early diagnosis and surgery within 3 weeks from the initial symptoms are associated with improved survival. While glioblastoma is a semi-urgent disease, the prehospital behaviors and clinical outcomes of glioblastoma patients are poorly understood.

Volumetric Analysis of Glioblastoma for Determining Which CpG Sites Should Be Tested by Pyrosequencing to Predict Temozolomide Efficacy.

The aim of the present study was to determine which individual or combined CpG sites among O-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase CpG 74-89 in glioblastoma mainly affects the response to temozolomide resulting from CpG methylation using statistical analyses focused on the tumor volume ratio (TVR). We retrospectively examined 44 patients who had postoperative volumetrically measurable residual tumor tissue and received adjuvant temozolomide therapy for at least 6 months after initial chemoradiotherapy. TVR was defined as the tumor volume 6 months after the initial chemoradiotherapy divided by that before the start of chemoradiotherapy.

Early Diagnosis and Surgical Intervention Within 3 Weeks From Symptom Onset Are Associated With Prolonged Survival of Patients With Glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a rapidly growing and most life-threatening malignant brain tumor. The significance of early treatment to the clinical outcomes of patients with GBM is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether early diagnosis and surgery improve the preoperative and postoperative Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and prognosis of patients with GBM.

Case Report: Spontaneous Postpartum Quadruple Cervicocephalic Arterial Dissection With a Heterozygous Variant of Unknown Significance.

Pregnancy-associated cervicocephalic arterial dissection is rare, and its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Despite the hypothesized contribution to pathogenesis, connective tissue diseases and genetic factors are rarely identified in clinical cases. We describe a case of postpartum arterial dissection involving all four cervicocephalic arteries resulting in acute cerebral infarction.

Clinical Application of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Tests for Diffuse Gliomas.

Next-generation sequencing-based comprehensive genomic profiling test (CGPT) enables clinicians and patients to access promising molecularly targeted therapeutic agents. Approximately 10% of patients who undergo CGPT receive an appropriate agent. However, its coverage of glioma patients is seldom reported.

MGMT gene promoter methylation by pyrosequencing method correlates volumetric response and neurological status in IDH wild-type glioblastomas.

Purpose: Although the usefulness of O-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation analysis for predicting response to chemoradiotherapy and the prognosis of patients with glioblastoma has been widely reported, there is still no consensus regarding how to define MGMT promoter methylation percentage (MGMTpm%) cutoffs by pyrosequencing method. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal cutoff value of MGMT promoter methylation status using volumetric analysis focused on the tumor volume ratio (TVR) measured by MRI.

Methods: This retrospective study included newly diagnosed IDH wild-type glioblastoma patients with residual tumor after surgery, followed by local radiotherapy with temozolomide.

Liquid biopsy of cerebrospinal fluid for MYD88 L265P mutation is useful for diagnosis of central nervous system lymphoma.

The current standard of diagnosing central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is stereotactic biopsy, however the procedure has a risk of surgical complication. Liquid biopsy of the CSF is a less invasive, non-surgical method that can be used for diagnosing CNS lymphoma. In this study, we established a clinically applicable protocol for determining mutations in MYD88 in the CSF of patients with CNS lymphoma.

Cerebral Hyperperfusion Syndrome After a Burr Hole Drainage Surgery for Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

Background: Although chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) has a good prognosis after classical minimally-invasive drainage surgery, severe complications still occur at a substantial rate. Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS), which is a common severe complication after carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting for cervical carotid artery stenosis, is rare after drainage surgery for a CSDH.

Case Description: We describe the case of an 82-year-old woman who presented with ipsilesional symptoms including contralateral hemiparesis and dysarthria, progressively worsening consciousness, and status epilepticus after a burr hole drainage surgery for CSDH.

Continuous veno-venous hemodialysis and filtration for extensive burn with severe hypernatremia.

Case: A 51-year-old man presented with severe burns, with a burn index of 33.5. Relaxation incisions were made in the trunk and right arm.