Turkish neurosurgery最新文献

Aim: To demonstrate if the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome, that is involved in the pathogenesis of gliomas, is part of the genomic DNA of glioma cells or not.

Material and methods: The study included U87MG glioblastoma cell culture and tumor samples from glioma patients. The genomic DNA of tumor samples and U87MG cells were extracted and real-time quantitative PCR was used to assess the presence of the human cytomegalovirus genomic DNA.

Results: Consequently, HCMV positivity was not detected in the tumor and cell line genomic DNA under the aforementioned experimental conditions.

Conclusion: We found that the genomic DNA of all the samples was negative for HCMV genomic DNA. Thus, HCMV could not be detected in human glioma tumors and we put forward that HCMV genomic DNA was not incorporated into the genomic DNA of glioma cells. Thus, total viral DNA is not involved in the pathogenesis of glioma; however, small viral particles or specific genes might be incorporated into the genomic DNA of glioma cells, leading to cancer development. This prompts further studies for verification.

Aim: To evaluate outcome of patients with hemifacial spasm surgically treated by microvascular decompression without the use of neuromonitoring and fix retraction.

Material and methods: Of the 78 patients with hemifacial spasm operated by the senior author of this study between 2016 and 2020, 60 patients who were followed up were included and retrospectively investigated. The female:male ratio was 32:28, and the mean age was 42.5 ± 11.5 years (range 23?71 years). All the patients were operated via the lateral retrosigmoid suboccipital infrafloccular approach, and no permanent retractor was employed during the procedures. Additionally, intraoperative neuromonitoring was not performed for any of the patients.

Results: Single vessel compression was observed in 77% of the patients, whereas 16% and 6% experienced compression in two and three vessels, respectively. Immediate recovery was achieved in 70% of the patients. Half of the remaining 30% fully recovered within 6 months?2 years. Furthermore, the complaints of 5% of the patients were alleviated, whereas no improvement was observed in 10% of the patients. One patient developed a recurrence.

Conclusion: Microvascular decompression is a highly effective method for the treatment of hemifacial spasm. In this study, we did not resort to intraoperative neuromonitoring and observed that our postoperative complication rates were consistent with the existing literature.

Aim: To analyze the demographic and clinical data of preterm or low birth weight newborns with periventricular hemorrhage.

Material and methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a Bahcesehir University School of Medicine-Affiliated Hospital due to preterm birth or low birth weight between June 1, 2012, and April 30, 2021. Categorical values were evaluated by Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The Mann-Whitney U test compared continuous values between the groups. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the factors that affected permanent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion.

Results: The study finally evaluated 180 newborns. Ninety-one newborns (50.5%) had grade I, 18 (10%) had grade II, 22 (12.2%) had grade III, and 49 (27.2%) had grade IV hemorrhage. One hundred and forty-nine patients (82.8%) were delivered by cesarean section, and 31 (17.2%) were delivered vaginally. All patients with low-grade hemorrhage who needed temporary CSF diversion eventually required permanent CSF diversion. For high-grade hemorrhage, 15 (grade III, 1; grade IV, 14) of 51 (29.4%) patients with ventricular access device (VAD) insertion required permanent CSF diversion. Fifteen (grade III, 6; grade IV, 9) of these 51 (29.4%) patients did not need permanent CSF diversion; thus, their VADs were removed.

Conclusion: The permanent CSF diversion rate was significantly higher in the high-grade hemorrhage group, which had significantly lower weight and gestational age at birth. Moreover, only weight at VAD insertion had minimal effect on the need for permanent CSF diversion.

Aim: To assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with parasagittal meningiomas (PSM), and to identify the risk factors for different levels of QoL.

Material and methods: Patients were contacted and interviewed via telephone. A total of 136 patients with PSM underwent surgery at our institution between 1984 and 2020. Among them, 45 had agreed to participate in the research. The scales utilized included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General (FACT-G), Brain (FACT-Br), and Meningioma (FACT-MNG). Medical records were also reviewed.

Results: The mean KPS was 93.3 (70-100). Overall, the mean scores for the FACT-G, FACT-Br, and FACT-MNG scales were 98.4/108 (55-108; SD: 12.9), 179.3/200 (98-200; SD: 22.4), and 219.3 (119-248; SD: 29.7). Considerable variability in scales scores was observed among those with the same KPS score. Preoperative KPS score was significantly associated with both FACT-Br [-21.64; 95% CrI (-34.04, -9.59)] and FACT-MNG [-31.88; 95% CrI (-47.24, -15.25)]. Preoperative KPS was identified as a risk factor for QoL impairment.

Conclusion: Variability in the scale scores among those with the same KPS score highlights the importance of structured assessment. Moreover, KPS may overlook impairments in QoL. To date, this has been the first study to assess QoL in PSM patients.

Aim: To analyze changes in the lumbosacral angle in children with tethered cord syndrome before and after spinal cord untethering surgery, and to determine the clinical value of such changes at the last follow-up.

Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 23 children over 5 years old who were treated with spinal cord untethering in our hospital from January 2010 to January 2021 and who had complete medical data. X-rays were used to examine the child's spine preoperatively, postoperatively, and at follow-up with frontal and lateral radiographs, and lumbosacral angle data were measured and analyzed.

Results: A total of 23 children aged 5-14 years had their lumbosacral angles measured and analyzed with a postoperative followup of 12-48 months. The mean preoperative lumbosacral angle was 70.30 ± 9.04°, the mean postoperative lumbosacral angle was 63.34 ± 5.60°, and the mean lumbosacral angle at the last follow-up was 61.61 ± 9.14°. There was a statistically significant reduction in the lumbosacral angle in the children postoperatively and at the last follow-up compared to the preoperative period (p=0.002; p=0.001).

Conclusion: Spinal cord untethering can improve the inclination of the lumbosacral angle in children older than 5 years with tethered cord syndrome.

Aim: To identify the prognostic factors associated with cancer-specific survival in medulloblastoma (MB), and to use them for establishing a nomogram model to predict cancer-specific survival.

Material and methods: In total, 268 patients with MB were included; they were rigorously respectively screened from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1988 to 2015 and statistically analyzed in R language. This study focused on cancer-specific death and used the cox regression analysis for variable filtering. The model was calibrated using C-index, area under the curve (AUC), and calibration curve.

Results: As per our findings, it was determined that extension (localized: hazard ratio [HR]=0.5899, p=0.00963; further extension: indicator) and treatment modality (radiation after surgery chemotherapy sequence unknown: HR=0.3646, p=0.00192; no surgery: indicator) were statistically significant in the prognosis of MB and were finally utilized to construct a nomogram model for predicting the condition. The AUC values were 0.649, 0.629, and 0.64 at 2, 3, and 5 years, respectively.

Conclusion: Tumor extension and treatment modality were independent prognostic factors for MB.

Aim: To present the best housekeeping genes including clival/sacral based chordoma, and the nucleus pulposus cells.

Material and methods: We investigated 13 candidate reference genes in public chordoma array transcriptome datasets, validated these genes by using RT-PCR, and evaluated their stability with NormFinder, geNorm, and Bestkeeper.

Results: YWHAZ, TBP and PGK1 genes were identified as the most stable reference genes as confirmed with three different approaches. Conversely, KRT8, KRT19 and GAPDH genes are less stable and not appropriate for use in chordoma research.

Conclusion: For normalization of RT-PCR experiments in gene profiling of chordoma, we recommend the use of the stable genes YWHAZ, TBP and PGK1.

Aim: To investigate the relationship among the modified Rankin scores of patients who had intracerebral hematomas at discharge, demographic characteristics of the patients, and the characteristics of the hematoma.

Material and methods: In this study, patients diagnosed with intracerebral hematoma and treated at the Ministry of Health Ankara Training and Research Hospital Neurosurgery Clinic between January 2010 and December 2020 were examined retrospectively. The age, gender, comorbidity, anticoagulant?antiaggregant use, and Glasgow Coma Scale score of the patients were obtained from hospital records. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to assess patients at discharge.

Results: Herein, a total of 114 patients with supratentorial intracerebral hematoma were evaluated. The modified Rankin score ranged from 0 to 6, with a mean score of 3.47 ± 2.26. When the patients were evaluated based on their discharge status, the mortality rate was 33.3% (n=38). Fifty percent of the patients who used anticoagulant?antiaggregant died. High mRS scores were seen more frequently in advanced age. Among the other diseases of the patients, hypertension and the use of anticoagulant? antiaggregant were found to be statistically significant with high mRS scores (p < 0.001). Patients with low Glasgow Coma Scale score at the time of admission had significantly higher mRS scores (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Patients with advanced age, hypertension, and anticoagulant?antiaggregant use had a higher mRS score after hematoma formation. Preventable risk factors for spontaneous intraparenchymal hematomas are among the leading causes of disability, and early detection and treatment of underlying diseases are critical for hematoma prevention. Awareness about risk factors should be the priority to improve early diagnosis and reduce treatment disability rates.

Aim: To assess clinical and radiological characteristics of simultaneous acute supra- and infratentorial epidural hematomas.

Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological data of 18 patients with a concomitant acute supra- and infratentorial epidural hematoma, who were treated and followed up at our hospital.

Results: The Glasgow Coma Score was 3-8 in four patients, was 9-12 in seven, and was 13-15 in seven patients. While the concomitant supra- and infratentorial hematoma did not cross the midline in 15 of the patients, it did in three of them. The dural venous sinus rupture was repaired in five of the patients. Functional healing was observed in 14 of the 18 patients. Two of the patients died during the postoperative period.

Conclusion: A simultaneous supra- and infratentorial epidural hematoma rarely occurs in neurosurgical practice. Mortality and morbidity rates are high if these are not addressed in time. The radiological images of patients should be evaluated carefully preoperatively. In patients with a concomitant infra- and supratentorial hematoma, transverse sinus damage, which is a surgical challenge, should be considered. Herein, we describe a surgical technique (supra- and infratentorial craniotomy leaving the bone bridge over the transverse sinus) for draining a concomitant supra- and infratentorial epidural hematoma; this technique is an effective surgical choice in select patients.

Aim: To explore the relationship between the retroperitoneal vasculature and anterior surface of the lower spine, and to establish values for aiding in prediction of the pertinence of anterior approach at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral discs.

Material and methods: The study included 13 fresh human cadavers. After exploration of the abdominal cavity and removal of the visceral organs, the vasculature, and anterior spinal surface were revealed beneath the lower extension of the perirenal fascia. Morphometric measurements of the great vessels and the intervertebral discs were obtained. All measurements were analyzed and presented as mean and standard deviation. Differences in the values between sexes were assessed.

Results: The anterior height of the L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral disc was 6.8 ± 0.81 mm and 6.7 ± 0.99 mm, respectively. The widths of the aorta, inferior vena cava, right and left common iliac arteries, and right, and left common iliac veins were 16.4 ± 3.58, 20.6 ± 3.36, 11.5 ± 2.32, 11.5 ± 2.43, 14.7 ± 3.13, and 15.5 ± 3.27 mm, respectively. The mean aortic bifurcation angle was 45.5°. The aortic bifurcation was located above the lower endplate of the L4 vertebrae in 53.8% of the cadavers. The area of the interarterial and interiliac trigones was 14.6 ± 5.33 cm < sup > 2 < /sup > and 7.1 ± 4.35 cm2, respectively. No statistically significant differences were noted between the sexes.

Conclusion: An elaborate radiological examination of the vasculature should be performed prior to surgery to avoid unwanted vascular complications during the anterior approach. Knowing the area of the interarterial and interiliac triangles and the aortic bifurcation location could be aid in assessing the safe working zone.