Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
The neurosurgery applicant's "arms race": analysis of medical student publication in the Neurosurgery Residency Match.
Neurosurgery is consistently one of the most competitive specialties for resident applicants. The emphasis on research in neurosurgery has led to an increasing number of publications by applicants seeking a successful residency match. The authors sought to produce a comprehensive analysis of research produced by neurosurgical applicants and to establish baseline data of neurosurgery applicant research productivity given the increased emphasis on research output for successful residency match. ⋯ The authors found that the temporal trend toward increased total research products over time in neurosurgery applicants was driven mostly by increased nonindexed research (abstracts, presentations, chapters) rather than by increased peer-reviewed publications. While we also identified applicant-specific factors (MD/PhDs and applicants from the Western US) and an outcome (matching at research-focused institutions) associated with increased applicant publications, further work will be needed to determine the emphasis that programs and applicants will need to place on these publications.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
Intratumoral spatial heterogeneity of BTK kinomic activity dictates distinct therapeutic response within a single glioblastoma tumor.
Despite significant recent efforts applied toward the development of efficacious therapies for glioblastoma (GBM) through exploration of GBM's genome and transcriptome, curative therapeutic strategies remain highly elusive. As such, novel and effective therapeutics are urgently required. In this study, the authors sought to explore the kinomic landscape of GBM from a previously underutilized approach (i.e., spatial heterogeneity), followed by validation of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) targeting according to this stepwise kinomic-based novel approach. ⋯ This study identifies significant heterogeneity in kinase activity both within and across distinct GBM tumors. The study findings indicate that BTK activity is elevated in the classically therapy-resistant GBM tumor core. Given these findings, targeting GBM's resistant core through BTK may potentially provide therapeutic benefit for patients with GBM.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
Endoscopic transorbital approach to the infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal space: a cadaveric study.
The infratemporal fossa (ITF) and parapharyngeal space are anatomical regions that can be challenging to access without the use of complex, cosmetically disfiguring approaches. With advances in endoscopic techniques, a new group of surgical approaches to access the intracranial space through the orbit has been recently referred to as transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES). The objective of this study was to establish a transorbital endoscopic approach utilizing the inferior orbital fissure (IOF) to gain access to the ITF and parapharyngeal space and provide a detailed endoscopic anatomical description of this approach. ⋯ The transorbital endoscopic approach provides excellent access to the ITF and parapharyngeal space compared to previously described complex and morbid transfacial or transcranial approaches. Using the IOF is an important and useful landmark that permits a wide exposure.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Dec 2020
Cerebrospinal fluid macrophage migration inhibitory factor: a potential predictor of cerebral vasospasm and clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
In patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), poor outcomes have been shown to be correlated with subsequent cerebral vasospasm (CV) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). The identification of novel biomarkers may aid in the prediction of which patients are vulnerable to developing vasospasm, cerebral ischemia, and neurological deterioration. ⋯ Preliminary evidence from this study suggests that CSF concentrations of MIF are correlated with CV and DCI. These results, however, could be confounded in the presence of clinical infection. A study with a larger patient sample size is necessary to corroborate these findings.