Publications by authors named "Thomas Simjian"
Purpose: Glioblastomas, the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults, still hold poor prognosis. Corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, are usually prescribed to reduce peritumoral edema and limit neurological symptoms, although potential detrimental effects of these drugs have been described. The present meta-analysis aimed to explore the association of dexamethasone with overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery (OS) in treating cauda equina syndrome (CES).
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted, searching relevant databases for studies investigating MIS and/or OS in treating CES. Pooled outcomes and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were meta-analyzed via random-effects models.
Pituitary prolactinomas in women often lead to amenorrhea, galactorrhea, or infertility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) in restoring fertility in women with proloactinomas. A systematic search of the literature was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines through 6/13/2017.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Dexamethasone has been used to treat cerebral edema associated with brain abscess. Whereas some argue that dexamethasone might aid antibiotic treatment, others believe that because of its immunosuppressive characteristics, it might have a negative impact on outcomes. How corticosteroid use affects overall mortality of brain abscess patients remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome could be a powerful prognostic factor for acute stroke; yet, a prognostic role for low T3 has not been given enough importance in stroke management. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether low T3 among acute stroke patients could be used as a prognostic biomarker for stroke severity, functional outcome, and mortality.
Methods: Studies that investigated low T3 prognostic roles in acute stroke patients were sought from PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases through 11/23/2016.
Background: Open microsurgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms has long been the gold standard, yet advancements in endovascular coiling techniques have begun to challenge the status quo.
Objective: To compare endovascular coiling with microsurgical clipping among adults with unruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms (MCAA) by conducting a meta-analysis.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted from January 2011 to October 2015 to update a previous meta-analysis.