Repurposing Penfluridol in Combination with Temozolomide for the Treatment of Glioblastoma.

Despite the presence of aggressive treatment strategies, glioblastoma remains intractable, warranting a novel therapeutic modality. An oral antipsychotic agent, penflurido (PFD), used for schizophrenia treatment, has shown an antitumor effect on various types of cancer cells. As glioma sphere-forming cells (GSCs) are known to mediate drug resistance in glioblastoma, and considering that antipsychotics can easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier, we investigated the antitumor effect of PFD on patient-derived GSCs.

Extraocular Pressure Measurements to Avoid Orbital Compartment Syndrome in Aneurysm Surgery.

Background: Orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is a rare but devastating complication following pterional craniotomy. Although the causes of OCS are unclear, external compression of the orbit by a myocutaneous flap is commonly mentioned as a major factor. We evaluated the ocular influence of external compression using an extraocular pressure monitor.

Factors Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is an uncommon type of intracerebral hemorrhage. Owing to its rarity, the clinical and radiological factors affecting outcomes in patients with PIVH have not been widely studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 112 patients (mean age 53 years) treated for PIVH at our institution from January 2004 to December 2014.

World Health Organization Grade II Oligodendroglioma Occurring after Successful Treatment for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

When treating childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), secondary neoplasms are a significant long term problem. Radiation is generally accepted to be a major cause of the development of secondary neoplasms. Following treatment for ALL, a variety of secondary tumors, including brain tumors, hematologic malignancies, sarcomas, thyroid cancers, and skin cancers have been reported.

Phase III randomized trial of autologous cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma in Korea.

Purpose: Adoptive cell immunotherapy involves an ex vivo expansion of autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells before their reinfusion into the host. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of CIK cell immunotherapy with radiotherapy-temozolomide (TMZ) for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastomas.

Experimental Design: In this multi-center, open-label, phase 3 study, we randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma to receive CIK cell immunotherapy combined with standard TMZ chemoradiotherapy (CIK immunotherapy group) or standard TMZ chemoradiotherapy alone (control group).

Role of vincristine in the inhibition of angiogenesis in glioblastoma.

Objective: Vincristine, a microtubule-destabilizing drug, was found to exhibit anti-angiogenic effects and anti-tumoral activity. However, the precise mechanism by which vincristine inhibits angiogenesis in glioblastomas is not well understood. Our aim was to investigate whether vincristine affects vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in glioblastoma cells and determine whether it is mediated by the downregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α).

Reactive oxygen species production has a critical role in hypoxia-induced Stat3 activation and angiogenesis in human glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with hypoxia-associated morphologic features including pseudopalisading necrosis and endothelial hyperplasia. It has been known that hypoxia can activate signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and subsequently induce angiogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying hypoxia-induced Stat3 activation has not been defined.

Intrathecal transplantation of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treating spinal cord injury: A human trial.

Context: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause irreversible damage to neural tissues. However, there is currently no effective treatment for SCI. The therapeutic potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) has been emerged.

Quantitative analysis of tumor volume reduction after three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for intracranial meningiomas.

To provide radiobiological information on the inherent response of intracranial meningiomas after three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Quantitative tumor volume measurements were generated from 120 magnetic resonance images of a total of 24 patients. Gross tumor volumes were delineated on a series of contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance images by using commercial software.

Risk factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with brain abscesses.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors in patients with brain abscesses treated in a single institute during a recent 10-year period.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with brain abscesses who underwent navigation-assisted abscess aspiration with antibiotic treatment were included in this study. Variable parameters were collected from the patients' medical records and radiological data.

Romo1 is associated with ROS production and cellular growth in human gliomas.

Romo1 is a mitochondrial protein whose elevated expression is commonly observed in various types of human cancers. However, the expression status of Romo1 and its implication in the pathogenesis of human glioblastoma (GBM) remain largely undefined. To understand the role of Romo1 in the progression of GBM, we explored its expression in a series of GBM tissues and cell lines and determined its effect on ROS production, cell proliferation, and tumor growth.

Expression of astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) in human meningiomas and its roles in cell proliferation and survival.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) has recently been proposed to be involved in tumor development, invasion, and metastasis in several human cancers. However, the functional importance of AEG-1 expression in human meningioma has not been determined. We investigate the level of AEG-1 expression by quantitative reverse transcription PCR, immunohistochemistry analysis, and western blotting in various human meningioma tissues and cells.

Prognostic factors of clinical outcome after neuronavigation-assisted hematoma drainage in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: The prognostic factors that contribute to outcome after navigation-assisted drainage in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have not been defined. We compared the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with spontaneous ICHs who underwent neuronavigation-assisted hematoma drainage.

Methods: Forty-seven patients were enrolled from January 2004 to August 2013.

Risk factors of delayed surgical evacuation for initially nonoperative acute subdural hematomas following mild head injury.

Background: Although the majority of patients with minimal acute subdural hematomas (aSDHs) can be managed conservatively, some require delayed aSDH evacuation due to hematoma enlargement. This study was designed to determine the risk factors associated with delayed hematoma enlargement leading to surgery in patients with aSDHs who did not initially require surgical intervention.

Methods: From 2002 to 2012, 98 patients were treated for nonoperative aSDHs following mild head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 13-15).

Glioma mimicking a hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

Here, we report a rare case of an anaplastic astrocytoma masquerading as a hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage. A 69-year-old woman who had been under medical management for hypertension during the past 3 years suddenly developed right hemiparesis with dysarthria. Brain computed tomography (CT) scans with contrast and CT angiograms revealed an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the left basal ganglia, without an underlying lesion.

Isolated lateral sinus thrombosis presenting as cerebellar infarction in a patient with iron deficiency anemia.

As a rare cerebrovascular disease, cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is caused by various conditions including trauma, infection, oral contraceptive, cancer and hematologic disorders. However, iron deficiency anemia is not a common cause for CVT in adult. Posterior fossa infarction following CVT is not well demonstrated because posterior fossa has abundant collateral vessels.

Prediction of outcomes in young adults with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is rare in young adults and little is known about aneurysms in this subgroup. The effect of clinical and prognostic factors on the outcome based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores and the predictors of unfavorable outcomes were analyzed in young adults with aneurysmal SAH. A retrospective review of the clinical parameters, including age, sex, hypertension, smoking status, hyperlipidemia, location of the cerebral aneurysm, size of the aneurysm, multiplicity, perioperative complication such as hydrocephalus, vasospasm, and hematoma, and Hunt and Hess and Fisher grading on presentation, was conducted in 108 young adults (mean age 34.

Customized cranioplasty implants using three-dimensional printers and polymethyl-methacrylate casting.

Objective: The prefabrication of customized cranioplastic implants has been introduced to overcome the difficulties of intra-operative implant molding. The authors present a new technique, which consists of the prefabrication of implant molds using three-dimensional (3D) printers and polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) casting.

Methods: A total of 16 patients with large skull defects (>100 cm(2)) underwent cranioplasty between November 2009 and April 2011.

Coil embolization of a ruptured basilar tip aneurysm associated with bilateral cervical internal carotid artery occlusion: a case report and literature review.

We report here on a rare case of a ruptured basilar tip aneurysm that was successfully treated with coil embolization in the bilateral cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusions with abnormal vascular networks from the posterior circulation. A 43-year old man with a familial history of moyamoya disease presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated complete occlusion of the bilateral ICAs at the proximal portion and a ruptured aneurysm at the basilar artery bifurcation.

Comparison of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers between idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced chronic hydrocephalus: a pilot study.

Background: We examined the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) to investigate the pathophysiology and mechanism of communicating hydrocephalus compared to obstructive hydrocephalus.

Material/methods: We obtained CSF samples from 8 INPH, 10 SAH-induced hydrocephalus, and 6 unmatched patients with non-hemorrhagic obstructive hydrocephalus during their ventriculoperitoneal shunt operations. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and total tau in the CSF were analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Angiographic features and clinical outcomes of intra-arterial nimodipine injection in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced vasospasm.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the role of intra-arterial (IA) nimodipine injections for cerebral vasospasm secondary to ruptured subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and to investigate the factors that influence vasodilation and clinical outcomes.

Methods: We enrolled 29 patients who underwent aneurysm clipping for ruptured cerebral aneurysms between 2009 and 2011, and who received IA nimodipine after subsequently presenting with symptomatic vasospasm. The degree of vasodilation shown in angiography was measured, and the correlation between the degree of vasodilation and both the interval from SAH to cerebral vasospasm and the interval from clipping to cerebral vasospasm was determined.

The Correlation between Insertion Depth of Prodisc-C Artificial Disc and Postoperative Kyphotic Deformity: Clinical Importance of Insertion Depth of Artificial Disc.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the correlation between insertion depth of artificial disc and postoperative kyphotic deformity after Prodisc-C total disc replacement surgery, and the range of artificial disc insertion depth which is effective in preventing postoperative whole cervical or segmental kyphotic deformity.

Methods: A retrospective radiological analysis was performed in 50 patients who had undergone single level total disc replacement surgery. Records were reviewed to obtain demographic data.

Interferon regulatory factor 7 regulates glioma stem cells via interleukin-6 and Notch signalling.

Inflammatory microenvironment signalling plays a crucial role in tumour progression (i.e. cancer cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis and metastasis) in many types of human malignancies.

Usefulness of thallium-201 SPECT for prediction of early progression in low-grade astrocytomas diagnosed by stereotactic biopsy.

Objective: To establish the value of thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography ((201)Tl-SPECT) as a predictor of early progression in low-grade astrocytomas (LGAs).

Methods: We studied 57 consecutive patients who underwent 201 Tl-SPECT before stereotactic biopsy (n=33) or surgical resection (n=24). The value of radiologic and histopathological variables ((201)Tl index and MIB-1 index) in predicting progression free survival (PFS) was examined in each group of patients.

Analysis of multiple factors affecting surgical outcomes of proximal middle cerebral artery aneurysms.

Objective: We analyzed multiple factors including anatomical characteristics that influence the surgical outcomes of proximal middle cerebral artery (M1) aneurysms.

Methods: Between January 1999 and February 2007, 189 patients had middle cerebral artery aneurysms and 60 had M1 aneurysms. Eleven patients were excluded from this study.