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J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2019 Apr 24. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

Department of Neurosurgery, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

Objective:  The aim of the study was to compare two techniques for external ventricular drainage (EVD) placement with respect to their complication rates.

Methods:  A retrospective descriptive study was performed to analyze all patients who had undergone EVD implantation for acute hydrocephalus between January 2010 and December 2013 with a focus on surgical technique and rate of complications. The burr hole technique (BHT) was used in one group and the twist-drill technique (TDT) in the other. Read More

NMC Case Rep J 2019 Apr 21;6(2):65-70. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Neurosurgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan.

We report a rare autopsy case in which the patient received gastrectomy after an endoscopic diagnosis of early gastric cancer, and had deteriorated due to exclusive metastatic cerebellar tumors identified 14 months after surgery. A 65-year-old male was diagnosed as having a 0-IIc-type early gastric cancer on the posterior wall of the upper stomach by gastrointestinal endoscopy in search of a cause of epigastralgia, and thus received proximal gastrectomy and pyloroplasty. Although the tumor was in the early stages and limited within the mucosal layer, adjuvant chemotherapy was started by using S-1 80 mg daily due to evidence of metastasis into lymph node #3 at the lesser curvature. Read More

NMC Case Rep J 2019 Apr 21;6(2):47-50. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Chiba, Japan.

The reported growth rate of vestibular schwannoma varied widely in the literature. However, emergence of vestibular schwannoma remains unsolved. We presented three patients who had undergone previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming the absence of tumor and were diagnosed with a unilateral vestibular schwannoma with a diameter of 18-30 mm, 6-9 years after the initial MRI. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 9;31:97. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Service de Neurochirurgie CHU Yopougon, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

This case study presents an unusual pathogenic association among several cranioencephalic lesions characterized by the association of osteitis of the cranial vault, due to Aspergillus fumigatus, with underlying thrombophlebitis complicated by intracranial hypertension resulting from hydrocephalus. The study involved a 43-year old HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) negative man with multi-recurrent infection of the frontal scalp. The patient was successfully treated with cerebrospinal fluid diversion (CFD), Ketoconazole and low molecular weight heparin. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 TiantanXili, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address:

Objective: The fourth ventricular meningiomas (FVMs) are extremely rare. Here, we present a series of eleven cases at one single institution. A comprehensive literature analysis is conducted. Read More

Neurology 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

From the Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology (S.S.), University of California, San Francisco; School of Medical and Health Sciences (S.M.L.), Edith Cowan University, Australia; and School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (S.M.L.), Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Australia.

Neurology 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

From the Departments of Neuropsychiatry (Y.M., N.Y., H.O.) and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (C.S.), Unit of Translation Medicine, and Department of Human Genetics (S.Y., A.K., H.M., K.-i.Y., S.O.), Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Tumor and Diagnostic Pathology, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute (K.M., M.N.), Central Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) (M.S.), and Gene Research Center, Center for Frontier Life Sciences (T.K.), Nagasaki University; Department of Infectious Diseases (T.T.) and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Community Partnership Unit (A.I.), Nagasaki University Hospital; Department of Cell Pathology (Y.K.), Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University; and Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine (N.K.), Kagawa University, Takamatsu, Japan.

Objective: To identify genes related to normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) in one Japanese family with several members with NPH.

Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on a Japanese family with multiple individuals with NPH and identified a candidate gene. Then we generated knockout mouse using CRISPR/Cas9 to confirm the effect of the candidate gene on the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Apr 19:1-6. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

3Department of Neurosurgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.

OBJECTIVEPlacement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is a common and potentially life-saving neurosurgical procedure, but the economic aspect of EVD management and the relationship to medical expenditure remain poorly studied. Similarly, interinstitutional practice patterns vary significantly. Whereas some institutions require that patients with EVDs be monitored strictly within the intensive care unit (ICU), other institutions opt primarily for management of EVDs on the surgical floor. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Apr 19:1-6. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) is a potentially fatal cause of sudden cardiogenic dysfunction due to an acute neurological event, most commonly aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in adults. Only two pediatric cases of hydrocephalus-induced NSM have been reported. Here the authors report a third case in a 14-year-old boy who presented with severe headache, decreased level of consciousness, and shock in the context of acute hydrocephalus secondary to fourth ventricular outlet obstruction 3 years after standard-risk medulloblastoma treatment. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Apr 19:1-9. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

1Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway; and.

OBJECTIVEReduced intracranial volume (ICV) and raised intracranial pressure (ICP) are assumed to be principal pathophysiological mechanisms in childhood craniosynostosis. This study examined the association between ICV and ICP and whether ICV can be used to estimate the ICP.METHODSThe authors analyzed ICV and ICP measurements from children with craniosynostosis without concurrent hydrocephalus and from age-matched individuals without craniosynostosis who underwent diagnostic ICP measurement. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Apr 19:1-6. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

1Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville.

OBJECTIVEAt failure of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) with choroid plexus cauterization (CPC), the ETV ostomy may be found to be closed or open. Failure with a closed ostomy may indicate a population that could benefit from evolving techniques to keep the ostomy open and may be candidates for repeat ETV, whereas failure with an open ostomy may be due to persistently abnormal CSF dynamics. This study seeks to identify clinical and radiographic predictors of ostomy status at the time of ETV/CPC failure. Read More

Neurosurgery 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Front Neurol 2019 3;10:172. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.

To review current knowledge of the perception of verticality, its normal function and disorders. This is based on an integrative graviceptive input from the vertical semicircular canals and the otolith organs. The special focus is on human psychophysics, neurophysiological and imaging data on the adjustments of subjective visual vertical (SVV) and the subjective postural vertical. Read More

J Neurosci Rural Pract 2019 Apr-Jun;10(2):342-345

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gandhi Medical College and Associated, Kamla Nehru and Hamidia Hospitals, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

A 10-year-old boy was admitted with chest wall infection around the implanted ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) catheter of 5 days. He had received a right-sided, medium pressure, whole-length VPS for hydrocephalus, following tubercular meningitis at the age of 3 years. Seven years, 9 months following VPS implantation, he was admitted with shunt tract infection at the chest area for 5 days. Read More

Brain Dev 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and clinical importance of brain gliomas - optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) and especially gliomas outside the optic pathway (GOOP) for children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), additionally, to assess the causes of obstructive hydrocephalus in NF1 children with an emphasis on cases caused by idiopathic aqueduct stenosis.

Subjects And Methods: We analysed data from 285 NF1 children followed up on our department from 1990 to 2010 by the same examination battery.

Results: We have found OPGs in 77/285 (27%) children and GOOPs in 29/285 (10,2%) of NF1 children, of who 19 had OPG and GOOP together, so the total number of brain glioma was 87/285 (30,5%). Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, PR China. Electronic address:

The ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a gold standard procedure to treat hydrocephalus. However, shunt malfunction is the common complications after surgery. In this study, we utilize phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance imaging (PC cine MRI) to improve the diagnosis of VP shunt malfunction. Read More

Dev Neurosci 2019 Apr 18:1-10. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Introduction: Hydrocephalus is a multifactorial disease, affecting the dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and leading to severe neurological impairment in children; in spite of the recent advances in hydrocephalus research, it has many physiopathological aspects that still remain poorly understood, especially after treatment.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical, radiological, histopathological, and biochemical aspects of kaolin-induced hydrocephalus in an experimental model, both in the acute phase and after shunt treatment, by means of behavioral tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, histopathological studies, and level of inflammatory interleukins in the CSF.

Methods: Seven-day-old Wistar rats were used and subdivided into three subgroups: treated hydrocephalic (n = 24), untreated hydrocephalic (n = 17), and controls (n = 5). Read More

Braz J Microbiol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Small Animal Internal Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinics, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.

This report presents the pathologic findings associated with disseminated infection due to Cladosporium halotolerans in a dog that was simultaneously infected with canine adenovirus-1 (CAdV-1) and canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2). A 12-year-old, mixed breed dog, with a clinical history of neurological manifestations was submitted for routine autopsy due to poor prognosis. The principal pathologic findings were mycotic necrotizing nephritis, hepatitis, and splenitis with embolic dissemination to the brain resulting in mycotic necrotizing meningoencephalitis, ventriculitis, choroid plexitis, and obstructive hydrocephalus associated with intralesional and intravascular septate pigmented fungi. Read More

Paediatr Child Health 2019 May 28;24(2):122-124. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Departments of Pediatrics and Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Influenza has been associated with neurological complications. We describe the case of a toddler who presented with symptoms and signs of acute encephalopathy and hydrocephalus. Neuroimaging demonstrated cerebral edema and multifocal diffusion restriction in the thalamus and splenium of the corpus callosum. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 17;9(1):6196. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the brain ventricles is critical for brain development. Altered CSF flow dynamics have been implicated in congenital hydrocephalus (CH) characterized by the potentially lethal expansion of cerebral ventricles if not treated. CH is the most common neurosurgical indication in children effecting 1 per 1000 infants. Read More

Neurology 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

From the Departments of Neurological Surgery (C.L.N., S.O., L.R., G.L.) and Neurology (E.F.W., A.A.R.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Objective: To define the in-hospital course, complications, short- and long-term functional outcomes of patients with angiographically negative subarachnoid hemorrhage (anSAH), particularly those with aneurysmal-pattern anSAH (aanSAH).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), aanSAH, and perimesencephalic-pattern anSAH (panSAH) treated at a single tertiary referral center between January 2006 and April 2018. Ninety-nine patients with anSAH (33 aanSAH and 66 panSAH) and 464 patients with aSAH were included in this study. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 14. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongshan city people's hospital, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.

Background: Hydrocephalus is a common complication following decompressive craniectomy (DC). Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) was required for some patients before receiving cranioplasty (CP). Presence of a VPS is regarded as a risk factor for overall CP complications. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 14. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Zhongshan Road 321, Nanjing, 210008 Jiangsu Province PR China. Electronic address:

Background: and Purpose Serum hyperglycemia and hypophosphatemia were reported to be common in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This study was aimed to explore whether admission serum glucose-phosphate ratio was associated with the severity and prognosis of aSAH.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 198 patients with aSAH who were admitted within 24 hours of hemorrhage occurrence to a single academic hospital from June 2016 to September 2017. Read More

Neuroimage Clin 2019 Mar 18;22:101787. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States; Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States.

Preterm infants are at high risk for brain injury during the perinatal period. Intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia, the two most common patterns of brain injury in prematurely-born children, are associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. The hippocampus is known to be critical for learning and memory; however, it remains unknown how these forms of brain injury affect hippocampal growth and how the resulting alterations in hippocampal development relate to childhood outcomes. Read More

Neurosurgery 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Clinical outcomes and biological behavior of papillary tumors of the pineal region (PTPR) are still under investigation. The best therapeutic strategy has not been defined.

Objective: To perform a comprehensive patient-level analysis of all PTPR cases and identify their clinical features, treatment options, and prognostic factors. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Apr 14;12(4). Epub 2019 Apr 14.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.

We report the case of a 10-month-old boy with an enlarged head circumference and severe motor developmental delay. MRI showed a vein of Galen malformation (VGAM) with a heavily dilated median prosencephalic vein. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed a mural type VGAM with three feeding arteries arising from the posterior cerebral arteries. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 29;10:262. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Translational Medicine Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) with comorbid vascular dementia (VD) often have poor response to ventriculo-peritoneal (V-P) shunt. Here, three patients over the age of 60 came to the hospital with the similar clinical symptoms, Evan index over 0.3, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score <27, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure under 200 mmHO. Read More

Ochsner J 2019 ;19(1):54-58

Department of Neurosurgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA.

Intraventricular lesions present a surgical challenge because of the complexity of the ventricular anatomy, various perforating arteries, and eloquent brain areas surrounding the system. The ventricular atrium is particularly challenging because of the cingulate gyrus, corpus callosum, optic pathways, and significant vascular structures. We present the case of a patient for whom we used a new surgical approach to reach a lesion in the ventricular atrium. Read More

Emerg Med Australas 2019 Apr 14. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: The aims of the present study were to derive and validate a clinical decision rule (CDR) to rule out the need for computed tomography of the brain (CTB) in non-traumatic patients who present to the ED.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of non-traumatic patients who presented to the EDs in two urban hospitals and received CTB from January 2014 to December 2016. Data from one hospital were used to develop a CDR for clinically significant CTB findings. Read More

Neurosurgery 2019 May;84(5):E271

Introduction: External ventricular drain (EVD) placement is the gold standard for managing acute hydrocephalus. Freehand EVD, using surface anatomical landmarks is performed for ventricular cannulation due to its simplicity and efficiency. This study evaluates accuracy and reason(s) for misplacements as few studies have analyzed the accuracy of freehand EVD insertion. Read More

Neurogenetics 2019 May 13;20(2):91-98. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, 20037, DC, USA.

Genetic mutations associated with brain malformations can lead to a spectrum of severity and it is often difficult to determine whether there are additional pathogenic variants contributing to the phenotype. Here, we present a family affected by a severe brain malformation including bilateral polymicrogyria, hydrocephalus, patchy white matter signal changes, and cerebellar and pontine hypoplasia with elongated cerebellar peduncles leading to the molar tooth sign. While the malformation is reminiscent of bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria (BFPP), the phenotype is more severe than previously reported and also includes features of Joubert syndrome (JBTS). Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. Electronic address:

Background: and Importance: Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage is associated with high mortality (30-40%) and morbidity with long-term physical, neurologic and/or psychologic impairments; most of which are patients presenting with high initial Hunt & Hess grade. In view of the great need for efficacious therapies for high grade SAH, recent animal studies have demonstrated improved outcomes with administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a potential neuroregenerative strategy. We present the first case of human intravenous administration of MSCs after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Read More

Clin Chem Lab Med 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Background Brevican, neurocan, tenascin-C and tenascin-R are extracellular matrix proteins present in brain that show increased expression in experimental animal models of brain injury. However, little is known about the dynamics of these proteins in human body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aims of this study were to investigate if matrix proteins in CSF and serum are associated with functional outcome following traumatic brain injury, if their concentrations change over time and to compare their levels between brain injured patients to controls. Read More

Int J Cancer 2019 Apr 13. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Childhood Cancer Research Group, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Large, comprehensive studies of the risk for neurologic disorders among long-term survivors of non-central nervous system (CNS) childhood cancers are lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the lifetime risk of Nordic non-CNS childhood cancer survivors for neurologic disorders. We identified 15,967 five-year survivors of non-CNS childhood cancer diagnosed in Denmark, Iceland, Finland, and Sweden in 1943-2008, and 151,118 matched population comparison subjects. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Apr 12:1-10. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

OBJECTIVEAugmenting brain perfusion or reducing intracranial pressure (ICP) dose is the end target of many therapies in the neuro-critical care unit. Many present therapies rely on aggressive systemic interventions that may lead to untoward effects. Previous studies have used a cardiac-gated intracranial balloon pump (ICBP) to model hydrocephalus or to flatten the ICP waveform. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Apr 12:1-6. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

1Department of Neurological Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.

OBJECTIVERemoval of colloid cysts of the third ventricle using a purely endoscopic method has been established as a safe and advantageous technique. It is hypothesized that endoscopic removal in recurrent cases might pose more technical challenges and result in less success. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and outcomes of using a purely endoscopic approach for the management of recurrent colloid cysts compared to primary cysts. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Apr 12:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

2Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

OBJECTIVEObjective assessment tests are commonly used to predict the response to ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Whether subjective reports of improvement after a lumbar drain (LD) trial can predict response to VP shunting remains controversial. The goal in this study was to compare clinical characteristics, complication rates, and shunt outcomes of objective and subjective LD responders who underwent VP shunt placement. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Background: Hippocampal avoidance has been suggested as a strategy to reduce short-term memory decline in adults receiving whole-brain radiation therapy (RT). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the hippocampal dose in children and adolescents undergoing RT for low-grade glioma (LGG) was associated with memory, as measured by verbal recall.

Methods: Eighty patients aged at least 6 years but less than 21 years with LGG were treated with RT to 54Gy on a phase II protocol. Read More

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

From the Departments of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology (T.S., J.K.F., S.D., G.G., M.W., O.N.).

Background And Purpose: Periventricular caps are a common finding on MR imaging and are believed to reflect focally increased interstitial water content due to dysfunctional transependymal transportation rather than ischemic-gliotic changes. We compared the quantitative water content of periventricular caps and microvascular white matter lesions, hypothesizing that periventricular caps associated with increased interstitial fluid content display higher water content than white matter lesions and are therefore differentiable from microvascular white matter lesions by measurement of the water content.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective study, we compared the water content of periventricular caps and white matter lesions in 50 patients using a quantitative multiple-echo, gradient-echo MR imaging water-mapping sequence. Read More

Trends Mol Med 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale-Rockefeller NIH Centers for Mendelian Genomics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address:

Tripartite motif 71 (Trim71)/lineage defective 41 (lin-41) is the primary target of the ancient lethal 7 (let-7) miRNA that is essential for survival and development across animal phylogeny. Recent work identified Trim71 as a critical regulator of mammalian neural stem cell (NSC) fate and a bona fide human disease gene in congenital hydrocephalus (CH). Studying TRIM71 as a paradigm of NSC involvement in CH is a remarkable opportunity to better understand the mechanisms that regulate the timing of brain development and the pathogenesis of the most common pediatric neurosurgical disorder. Read More

Fetal Diagn Ther 2019 Apr 11:1-9. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Introduction: Documentation of histologic findings associated with congenital hydrocephalus in the fetal lamb model is a critical step in evaluating the efficacy of ventriculoamniotic shunting in the human fetus.

Methods: Four fetal sheep had hydrocephalus induced at approximately 95 days' gestation. Two co-twins remained as controls. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Clearpoint Smartframe® is an MRI compatible stereotactic system often used to perform MRI-guided biopsies. The system is typically mounted on the scalp through screws that pierce the skin and penetrate the outer-table of the cranium. However, the frame can also be configured to be mounted directly onto the skull. Read More

Mult Scler 2019 Apr 10:1352458519843055. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital and University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Background: Teriflunomide is contraindicated in pregnancy. Some pregnancies have occurred despite guidance to use effective contraception.

Objectives: To report outcomes of pregnancies occurring in teriflunomide clinical trials and the post-marketing setting. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

Fluids Barriers CNS 2019 Apr 10;16(1). Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Brain Barriers Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Medical Sciences Building, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.

The fine balance between the secretion, composition, volume and turnover of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is strictly regulated. However, during certain neurological diseases, this balance can be disrupted. A significant disruption to the normal CSF circulation can be life threatening, leading to increased intracranial pressure (ICP), and is implicated in hydrocephalus, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, brain trauma, brain tumours and stroke. Read More

Gynecol Obstet Invest 2019 Apr 9:1-5. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, William Beaumont Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Introduction: X-linked recessive mutations predominantly affect male fetuses with milder or no abnormalities in female siblings. Most reports show only one affected member in the family. We are reporting a family affected with hydrocephalus, stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, and Xp22. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Salamanca, Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.

Background: Diagnosis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is based in clinical data, radiological variables and invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing, such the lumbar infusion test. Several neuroimaging findings are inconclusively related with improvement after CSF shunt surgery. On the other hand, the CSF tests are annoying for the patients and have complications. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R.China. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study intended to investigate the risk factors in the development of pneumonia and its impact on outcome after PIVH.

Methods: This is a single center retrospective study including consecutive patients with PIVH admitted to West China Hospital from 2010 to 2016. Pneumonia was defined according to the modified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria within 7 days after PIVH onset. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Department of Neurosurgery.

Background: The relationship between non-contrast computed tomography (CT) markers, which predict the expansion of Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) under conservative treatment, and postoperative rebleeding (PR) following treatment by directly removing the sICH is unknown. The present study investigated the relationship between non-contrast CT markers and PR in sICH patients treated by endoscopic surgery.

Methods: The study population comprised 92 patients with available data who underwent endoscopic surgery for sICH at our institution from January 2010 to September 2018. Read More

Acta Neuropathol 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Sheikh Zayed Tower, Room M2101, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that presents with variable phenotypes as a result of mutations in the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene and subsequently, abnormal function of the protein product, neurofibromin. Patients with NF1 are at increased risk for central nervous system (CNS) manifestations including structural, functional, and neoplastic disease. The mechanisms underlying the varied manifestations of NF1 are incompletely understood, but the loss of functional neurofibromin, resulting in sustained activation of the oncoprotein RAS, is responsible for tumorigenesis throughout the body, including the CNS. Read More