World Neurosurg
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Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is an endemic infectious disease in developing countries, and it can become a serious illness in children. Treatment of TBM is more difficult and prone to failure than treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. TBM causes hydrocephalus, cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure, global ischemia, and neurologic deficits, which disturb cellular metabolism and increase lactate levels. A reliable, widely available clinical indicator of TBM severity is needed. Successful treatment of TBM is assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). ⋯ Examination of plasma and CSF lactate levels should be included in routine examinations to determine extent of cellular damage and GOS score in patients with TBM and acute hydrocephalus who have undergone fluid diversions.
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Intracranial and intraspinal clear cell meningiomas (CCMs) are rarely reported because of their extremely low incidence, and the current understanding of CCM is poor. The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence and the clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and prognostic features of intracranial and intraspinal CCMs. ⋯ CCM is a rare subtype of World Health Organization grade II meningioma. CCM typically involves young patients and shows a female predilection and high recurrence rate. When possible, total resection is the primary and most suitable treatment for CCM. For patients with primary tumors, radiotherapy is recommended after the initial operation regardless of the extent of resection. For patients with disease recurrence, secondary surgery combined with radiotherapy might serve as an effective treatment.
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Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a severe cerebrovascular accident with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between level of inflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of aSAH patients, the severity of aSAH, and the outcome of aSAH patients. ⋯ The levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α in CSF were elevated in aSAH patients and were positively associated with cerebral edema and acute hydrocephalus. Our findings suggest that CSF inflammatory cytokines might be biomarkers to assess severity and predict outcomes.
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Soccer, bicycling, and horseback riding are sports most commonly associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Germany. The latter 2 sports activities are commonly practiced with helmets, and data on helmet use and usefulness vary widely. ⋯ We gained important epidemiologic data on pediatric TBI in our region. Despite the descriptive nature of the data, a trend toward reduced odds of loss of consciousness was seen in the helmet wearers. Nevertheless, serious injury can occur despite helmet use.
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The surgical Simpson grade, introduced in 1957, is the standard measure for meningioma resection and prediction of recurrences. We used an magnetic resonance (MR)-based grading system for the radiologic extent of resection, and assessed agreement of the extent of resection between the surgical Simpson grade and the MR-based scale. ⋯ Agreement for extent of meningioma resection between both scales was good in terms of the ICC. When the surgical Simpson grade is unclear, MR imaging at 3 months after surgery may be used as a baseline for further follow-up. In a substantial portion of cases, the extent of resection was less favorable on the early postoperative MR imaging than the surgeon's Simpson grade. The predictive value of the radiologic extent of resection for the risk of long-term recurrences is a subject for further research.