Should Levetiracetam or Phenytoin Be Used for Posttraumatic Seizure Prophylaxis? A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-analysis.

Background: Posttraumatic seizure (PTS) is a significant complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare levetiracetam with phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis in patients diagnosed with severe TBI.

Methods: An inclusive search of several electronic databases and bibliographies was conducted to identify scientific studies that compared the effect of levetiracetam and phenytoin on PTS.

Whole Chromosome 7 Gain Predicts Higher Risk of Recurrence in Pediatric Pilocytic Astrocytomas Independently From KIAA1549-BRAF Fusion Status.

The most frequent genetic alteration identified in pediatric pilocytic astrocytomas and pilomyxoid variant is the KIAA1549-BRAF fusion, which typically results from a 2.0 Mb tandem duplication in chromosome band 7q34. Less frequent abnormalities include fusion genes,BRAF, FGFR, KRAS, and NF1 point mutations, and whole chromosome gains.

Spring-mediated sagittal craniosynostosis treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: technical notes and literature review.

OBJECT Sagittal craniosynostosis has been treated using both cranial remodeling techniques and modification of the sagittal strip craniectomy. A more recent technique is to implant springs in conjunction with a suturectomy to transversely expand the parietal bones to accommodate the growing brain. In this paper the authors describe and evaluate several modifications to the spring-mediated cranioplasty (SMC) technique, most notably use of an ultrasonic scalpel to limit dural dissection and maximize opening of the stenosed suture by placement of multiple spring devices.