Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2017
Functional connectivity networks for preoperative brain mapping in neurosurgery.
OBJECTIVE Resection of focal brain lesions involves maximizing the resection while preserving brain function. Mapping brain function has entered a new era focusing on distributed connectivity networks at "rest," that is, in the absence of a specific task or stimulus, requiring minimal participant engagement. Central to this frame shift has been the development of methods for the rapid assessment of whole-brain connectivity with functional MRI (fMRI) involving blood oxygenation level-dependent imaging. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Resting-state fMRI can reliably and rapidly detect common functional connectivity networks in patients with glioblastoma and also has sufficient sensitivity for identifying patterns of network alterations. Mapping of functional connectivity networks offers the possibility to expand investigations to less commonly explored neuropsychological processes, such as executive control, attention, and salience. Changes in these networks may allow insights into mechanisms underlying the functional consequences of tumor growth, surgical intervention, and patient rehabilitation.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2017
Effectiveness of minocycline in acute white matter injury after intracerebral hemorrhage.
OBJECTIVE Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a fatal disease with high morbidity and mortality, which may be followed by white matter injury (WMI) due to the local oxidizing reaction induced by iron (Fe). In this study, the authors examined the effect of the tetracycline antibiotic minocycline on Fe-induced WMI and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in rats. METHODS Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an intracaudate injection of saline, Fe, or Fe + minocycline. ⋯ Protein levels of phosphorylated-JNK were increased after Fe injection, and could be suppressed by minocycline treatment. In the autologous blood-injection group, β-APP and dMBP/MBP levels increased in the ipsilateral site compared with the contralateral site, which could be suppressed by 7 days of minocycline intervention. CONCLUSIONS Iron plays a critical role in WMI after ICH, which can be suppressed by minocycline through reducing the damage induced by Fe.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2017
Association of collagen architecture with glioblastoma patient survival.
OBJECTIVE Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant primary brain tumor. Collagen is present in low amounts in normal brain, but in GBMs, collagen gene expression is reportedly upregulated. However, to the authors' knowledge, direct visualization of collagen architecture has not been reported. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Collagen architecture can be directly visualized and is different in focal versus invasive GBMs. The authors also demonstrate that collagen signature is associated with patient survival. These findings suggest that there are collagen differences in focal versus invasive GBMs and that collagen is a survival marker for GBM.