Co-evolution of breast-to-brain metastasis and neural progenitor cells.

Brain colonization by metastatic tumor cells offers a unique opportunity to investigate microenvironmental influences on the neoplastic process. The bi-directional interplay of breast cancer cells (mesodermal origin) and brain cells (neuroectodermal origin) is poorly understood and rarely investigated. In our patients undergoing neurosurgical resection of breast-to-brain metastases, specimens from the tumor/brain interface exhibited increased active gliosis as previously described.

Lineage mapping and characterization of the native progenitor population in cellular allograft.

Background Context: The gold standard for bone grafting remains the autograft. However, the attractiveness of autograft is counterbalanced by donor site morbidity. To mimic autograft-and its fundamental properties of osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and osteogenicity-novel bone grafting materials such as cellular allograft (Osteocel Plus) are composed of allograft in which the progenitor cells are preserved.

Progenitor cells: role and usage in bone tissue engineering approaches for spinal fusion.

Advancement of in vitro osteogenesis, or the production of bone, is a complex process that has significant clinical implications. Surgical intervention of several spinal disorders entails decompression of the spinal cord and nerves which can lead to subsequent biomechanical instability of the spine. Spinal arthrodesis (fusion) is often required to correct this instability and necessary to eliminate the resulting pathological motion of vertebral segments.

Pediatric neurosurgery outreach: sustainability appraisal of a targeted teaching model in Kiev, Ukraine.

Purpose: This study evaluates the efficacy of operative skill transfer in the context of targeted pediatric outreach missions completed in Kiev, Ukraine. In addition the ability to create sustainable surgical care improvement is investigated as an efficient method to improve global surgical care.

Methods: Three 1-week targeted neurosurgical missions were performed (2005-2007) to teach neuroendoscopy, which included donation of the necessary surgical equipment, so the host team can deliver newly acquired surgical skills to their citizens after the visiting mission team departs.

Targeted neurosurgical outreach: 5-year follow-up of operative skill transfer and sustainable care in Lima, Peru.

Purpose: This study evaluates the efficacy of operative skill transfer in the context of targeted pediatric outreach missions. In addition, the ability to implement surgical care improvements that are sustainable is investigated.

Methods: Three 1-week targeted neurosurgical missions were performed (2004-2006) to teach neuroendoscopy, which included donation of the necessary equipment so newly acquired surgical skills could be performed by local neurosurgeons in between and after the departure of the mission team.

Biological horizons for targeting brain malignancy.

Though currently available clinical treatments and therapies have clearly extended the survival of patients with brain tumors, many of these advances are short lived, particularly with respect to high grade gliomas such as glioblastoma multiforme. The missing link to an efficacious treatment of high grade gliomas is a more complete understanding of the basic molecular and cellular origin of brain tumors. However, new discoveries of stem cell and developmental neurobiology have now borne the cancer stem cell hypothesis, drawing off of intriguing similarities between benign and malignant cells within the central nervous system.

Animal models of neurological disease.

The use of animal models to study human pathology has proved valuable in a number of fields. Animal models of neurological disease have successfully and accurately recreated many aspects of human illness allowing for in-depth study ofneuropathophysiology. These models have been the source of a plethora of information, such as the importance of certain molecular mechanisms and genetic contributions in neurological disease.

Ballistics for the neurosurgeon.

Craniocerebral injuries from ballistic projectiles are qualitatively different from injuries in unconfined soft tissue with similar impact. Penetrating and nonpenetrating ballistic injuries are influenced not only by the physical properties of the projectile, but also by its ballistics. Ballistics provides information on the motion of projectiles while in the gun barrel, the trajectory of the projectile in air, and the behavior of the projectile on reaching its target.