Neurosurgery
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This is a retrospective study to identify risk factors for failure in the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). ⋯ The risk of failure increases with intracerebral infection, likely because of obliteration of cerebrospinal fluid pathways.
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Human gliomas are known to be immunosuppressive. Recent reports have suggested novel strategies to overcome this immunosuppression, including immunogene therapy. We examined expression of 10 immunologically important molecules by human gliomas in vitro, and we discuss the implications for immunogene therapy. ⋯ Class I MHC and Fas expression suggests that human glioma cells may be susceptible to Class I MHC-dependent cytotoxic T cell recognition and Fas-mediated killing. Unfortunately, transforming growth factor beta2 and prostaglandin E2 probably impair T cell activation, and IL-6 may shift immunity to less effective humoral (T helper 2) responses. Proinflammatory gene expression (B7-2, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and/or IL-12) is lacking. Together, these results suggest that modifying glioma cells via proinflammatory gene transfer or immunoinhibitory gene suppression might stimulate immune responses that are effective against unmodified tumors.
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Biography Historical Article
Library: historical perspective. Ernest Sachs (1879-1958).