Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Myelin-forming cell-specific cadherin-19 is a marker for minimally infiltrative glioblastoma stem-like cells.
Glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) exhibit stem-like properties, are highly efficient at forming tumor xenografts, and are resistant to many current therapies. Current molecular identifiers of GSCs are scarce and controversial. The authors describe differential cell-surface gene expression profiling to identify GSC-specific markers. ⋯ Gene expression profiling of GSCs has shown CDH19 to be an exciting new target for drug development and study of GBM tumorigenesis.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jan 2015
Review Meta AnalysisCost-consequence analysis of antibiotic-impregnated shunts and external ventricular drains in hydrocephalus.
Despite multiple preventive strategies for reducing infection, up to 15% of patients with shunt catheters and 27% of patients with external ventricular drains (EVDs) may develop an infection. There are few data on the cost-effectiveness of measures to prevent hydrocephalus catheter infection from the hospital perspective. The objective of this study was to perform a cost-consequence analysis to assess the potential clinical and economic value of antibiotic-impregnated catheter (AIC) shunts and EVDs compared with non-AIC shunts and EVDs in the treatment of hydrocephalus from a hospital perspective. ⋯ The current value analysis demonstrates that evidence supports the use of AICs as effective and potentially cost-saving treatment.