Journal of neurosurgical sciences最新文献

Background: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), the neutrophil-monocyte ratio (NMR) and the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) are associated with clinical outcomes in oncological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, infectious / inflammatory diseases, endocrinological, pulmonary and brain injuries. Here, we investigate its association with hospital mortality in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) who were treated in our department between January 2015 and December 2020. NLR, PLR, NMR, LMR and SII data were collected between admission and day 3, as well as other indicators related. The relationship between hematological ratios and in-hospital mortality were analyzed.

Results: A total of 96 patients were included in study, hospital mortality was 40.6% (N.=39). The levels of NLR on admission (D0), NLR day 1 (D1), NLR day 2 (D2), NLR day 3 (D3), NMR day 1 (D1) and NMR day (2) remained significantly higher in patients with death intra-hospital (P=0.030; P=0.038; P=0.016; P=0.048; P=0.046 and P=0.001, respectively). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that higher NLR values at admission and day 2 NMR were associated with in-hospital mortality (OR=1.120, P=0.037; and OR=1.307, P=0.004, respectively). Analysis of the recipient operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the NLR on admission had a sensitivity of 59.0% and a specificity of 66.7% (area under the curve 0.630, P=0.031, Youden's Index 0.26) and the NMR of day 2 had a sensitivity of 67.7% and a specificity of 70.4% (area under the curve 0.719, P=0.001, Youden's index 0.38) to predict mortality intra-hospital based on the best threshold.

Conclusions: Our analysis indicates that higher NLR levels on admission and day 2 NMR are independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with sTBI.

Tuberculum sellae meningiomas (TSM) are challenging tumors due to their proximity to vital neurovascular structures. We propose a new classification system based on anatomical and radiological parameters. All patients treated for TSM, between January 2003 and December 2016, have been retrospectively reviewed. A systematic research was performed in PubMed database to review all studies comparing the performance of transcranial (TCA) and transphenoidal (ETSA) approaches. Overall, 65 patients were included in the surgical series. Gross total removal (GTR) was achieved in 55 patients (85%) and near total resection in 10 (15%). 54 patients (83%) showed a stability or an improvement of visual functions and 11 (17%) worsened. Postoperative complications were observed in seven patients (11%): CSF leak in one patient (1.5%); diabetes insipidus in two (3%); hypopituitarism in two (3%) third cranial nerve paresis and subdural empyema in one (1.5%). For the literature review, data about 10,833 patients (TCA N.=9159; ETSA N.=1674) were recorded; GTR was achieved in 84.1% (range 68-92%) of TCA and in 79.1% (range 60-92%) of ETSA; visual improvement (VI) occurred in 59.3% of TCA (range 25-84%) and in 79.3% of ETSA (range 46-100%); visual deterioration (VD) was registered in 12.7% of TCA (0-24%) and in 4.1% of ETSA (range 0-17%); a CSF-leak was observed in 3.8% of TCA (range 0-8%) while in ETSA in 18.6% of patients (range 0-62%); vascular injuries was reported in 4% (range 0-15%) of TCA and in 1.5% (range 0-5%) of ETSA. In conclusion, TSMs represent a unique category of midline tumors. The proposed classification system provides an intuitive and reproducible method in the choice of the most suitable approach.

Background: The impact of baseline frailty status versus that of chronological age on surgical outcomes of metastatic brain tumor patients remains largely unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate this relationship for preoperative risk stratification using a large national database.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to extract data of metastatic brain tumor patients who underwent surgery between 2015 and 2019 (N.=5943). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effect of age and modified Frailty Index-5 on mortality, major complications, unplanned readmission and reoperation, extended length of stay (eLOS), and non-home discharge.

Results: Both univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that frailty status was significantly predictive of 30-day mortality, major complications, eLOS, and non-home discharge. Although increasing age was also a significant predictor of eLOS and discharge to non-home destination, effect sizes were smaller compared with frailty.

Conclusions: The present study, based on analysis of data from a large national registry, shows that frailty, when compared with age, is a superior predictor of postoperative outcomes in metastatic brain tumor patients. A future prospective study, namely a randomized controlled trial, would be beneficial in helping to corroborate the findings of this retrospective study.

Background: Glioblastoma is one of the most common malignant brain tumors in adults with poor prognosis. Neovascularization is one of the characteristics of these tumors, which is associated with overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Accordingly, single nucleotide polymorphisms of this gene could play an important role in structural and functional alterations leading to overexpression of this gene in GBM.

Methods: A total number of 49 patients with GBM and 50 healthy controls were included in the current study. The Genomic DNA was extracted from brain tumor/tissue samples, and after purification assessment, the alleles, and genotypes of rs3025039 and rs2010963 polymorphisms of the VEGF gene were investigated using T-ARMS-PCR.

Results: The "T" allele of rs3025039 was 2.79 times more frequent in GBM patients compared to controls (P=0.01). Moreover, the "CT" genotype was 2.83 times more common among patients (P=0.015), while the "CC" was more frequent in controls (P=0.009). The mean overall survival was significantly different between three genotypes of rs3025039, with the longest survival time in "CT" genotype (15.10±5.21, P=0.041). Besides, rs2010963, was significantly associated with GBM occurrence, with the "G" allele being 1.96 times more frequent in patients (P=0.01), as well as the "GG" genotype, which was 7.87 times more common in patients (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Polymorphisms of VEGF could potentially play a role in pathogenesis of GBM, as the allele and genotype distributions of rs3025039 and rs2010963 SNPs were significantly associated with GBM occurrence.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine whether preoperative facet fluid on MRI can help predict segmental instability (SI) after decompression surgery.

Methods: We analyzed 34 patients (14 men and 20 women, a total of 37 segments) who underwent decompression for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis from June 2011 to August 2019 at a single institution. Mean age at the time of operation was 67.8. Postoperative assessment was performed uniformly 12 months (11~15 months) after the surgery. Preoperative facet fluid on MRI, pre- and postoperative slip percentage, and segmental motion on lumbar lateral neutral and flexion-extension (LFE) radiographic images were measured. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and necessities of interventional procedure or medication was also assessed for clinical outcomes.

Results: No significant association was found between preoperative facet fluid indices and pre- or postoperative slip percentage (P=0.134) and segmental motion (P=0.936). There were no significant association also between facet fluid indices and VAS of back or leg (P=0.997 and P=0.437 respectively).

Conclusions: Preoperative facet fluid is not a predictive index of postoperative segmental instability or clinical outcome. Without segmental instability on LFE radiographic images, the presence of facet fluid in MRI is not an absolute indication for fusion.

"The only history is a mere question of one's struggle inside oneself. But that is the joy of it. One need neither discover Americas nor conquer nations, and yet one has as great a work as Columbus or Alexander to do," said David H. Lawrence. In this historical vignette, we look at the lives of certain western giants of neuroanatomy from the past. To understand the origin of today's advancements and successes in neurosurgery, a strong foothold on the path taken by anatomical greats is necessary. What curiosity inspired them to search the meaning of the human nervous system? Learning this from the paths of Herophilus, Galen, Franciscus Sylvius, Thomas Willis, Alexander Monro secundus, Luigi Rolando, François Magendie, and Martin Rathke, will propel us to create a better future for our successors.

Background: Awake craniotomy (AC) is standard of care for lesions of eloquent brain areas. One important complication during AC is occurrence of intraoperative seizure (IOS), reported to occur among 3.4-20% of the patients. In this study, we report our experience with IOS during AC for resection of gliomas of the language eloquent regions and evaluate the predisposing factors and consequences.

Methods: Patients who underwent AC for language related regions of the dominant hemisphere from August 2018 to June 2021 were enrolled. The rate of IOS during AC and relationship between predisposing factors and IOS were evaluated.

Results: Sixty-five patients were enrolled (mean age: 44.4±12.5 years). Among 6 patients with IOS (9.2%), only one needed conversion to general anesthesia (GA) due to repeated seizures; while in the remaining 5, AC accomplished successfully despite one seizure attack in the awake phase. Tumor location (especially premotor cortex lesions, P=0.02, uOR:12.0, CI: 1.20-119.91), higher tumor volume (P=0.008, uOR: 1.9, CI: 1.06-1.12) and a functional tumor margin during surgery (P=0.000, uOR: 3.4, CI: 1.47-12.35) were significantly linked with IOS.

Conclusions: Occurrence of IOS was associated with a longer ICU stay after surgery and worse immediate neurological outcome, but had no impact on the late neurological status. IOS can usually be managed during AC without need to converting to GA. Those with larger tumors, frontal premotor lesions and positive brain mapping are susceptible to IOS. Early neurological deterioration observed after IOS, seems to be transient with no major long-term consequence on the neurological outcome.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent glioma in adults. The prognosis of GBM is very poor and new prognostic biomarkers are in urgent need to better select high-risk patients and guide the individual treatments.

Methods: In our study, we compared the expression of interleukin-17 receptor D (IL17RD) between GBMs and normal tissues from TCGA database, and detected IL17RD mRNA in 17 fresh GBM pairs with qPCR. With immunohistochemistry, we investigated the expression of IL17RD in 156 GBM tissues and further evaluated its clinical significance. The associations between IL17RD and clinicopathological factors were assessed by Chi-square test. The prognostic significance of IL17RD was evaluated by univariate analysis with Kaplan-Meier method, and by multivariate analysis with Cox-regression Hazard model.

Results: The TPMs and mRNAs of IL17RD in GBM were substantially lower than those in normal brain tissues. The rates of low or high expression of IL17RD accounted for 41.67% and 58.33% respectively. IL17RD was significantly associated with higher survival rates of GBM. The 3-year overall survival rates of patients with low and high IL17RD were 7.2% and 19.5% respectively. In the Cox-regression model, the IL17RD expression was defined as an independent prognostic biomarker of GBM. Patients with high IL17RD expression had a more favorable outcome than those with low IL17RD.

Conclusions: High IL17RD expression was an independent prognostic indicator of GBM, suggesting a more favorable prognosis. Our results suggested that IL17RD detection may help find the high-risk patients which may receive more severe surveillance and more individual treatments.