Journal of neurosurgery
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
Neuroendovascular-specific engineering modifications to the CorPath GRX Robotic System.
The aim of this study was to evaluate new, neuroendovascular-specific engineering and software modifications to the CorPath GRX Robotic System for their ability to support safer and more effective cranial neurovascular interventions in a preclinical model. ⋯ The robotic system was originally designed to navigate and manipulate devices for cardiac and peripheral vascular intervention. The current modifications described here improved its utility for the more delicate and tortuous neurovascular environment. This will set the stage for the development of a neurovascular-specific robot.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
Gender disparities in academic rank achievement in neurosurgery: a critical assessment.
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there are disparities in academic rank and promotion between men and women neurosurgeons. ⋯ Data analysis of the top neurosurgery programs suggests that although there are fewer women than men holding positions in academic neurosurgery, faculty rank attainment does not seem to be influenced by gender.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
Single- versus 2-session Gamma Knife surgery for symptomatic midsize brain metastases: a propensity score-matched analysis.
Two-session Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has recently been demonstrated to be an effective and less-invasive alternative for large brain metastases not treatable by microsurgical resection. This raises the clinical question of whether the 2-session GKS strategy further improves treatment outcomes for patients with symptomatic midsize brain metastases (2-10 cm3) as compared to single-session GKS. The present study aimed to compare the local therapeutic effects and toxicities of single-session and 2-session GKS for treating these lesions. ⋯ Two-session GKS achieved more durable local tumor control and greater functional improvement than single-session GKS for patients with symptomatic midsize brain metastases, although there was no OS advantage.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
High-throughput metabolite profiling: identification of plasma taurine as a potential biomarker of functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Metabolite profiling (or metabolomics) can identify candidate biomarkers for disease and potentially uncover new pathways for intervention. The goal of this study was to identify potential biomarkers of functional outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). ⋯ Elevated plasma taurine levels following aneurysmal SAH predict a good 90-day functional outcome. While experimental evidence in animals suggests that this effect may be mediated through downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, additional studies are required to validate this hypothesis in humans.