Functionalization of Alginate Hydrogels with a Multifunctional Peptide Supports Mesenchymal Stem Cell Adhesion and Reduces Bacterial Colonization.

Hydrogels with cell adhesive moieties stand out as promising materials to enhance tissue healing and regeneration. Nonetheless, bacterial infections of the implants represent an unmet major concern. In the present work, we developed an alginate hydrogel modified with a multifunctional peptide containing the RGD cell adhesive motif in combination with an antibacterial peptide derived from the 1-11 region of lactoferrin (LF). The RGD-LF branched peptide was successfully anchored to the alginate backbone by carbodiimide chemistry, as demonstrated by 1H NMR and fluorescence measurements. The functionalized hydrogel presented desirable physicochemical properties (porosity, swelling and rheological behavior) to develop biomaterials for tissue engineering. The viability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the peptide-functionalized hydrogels was excellent, with values higher than 85 % at day 1, and higher than 95 % after 14 days in culture. Moreover, the biological characterization demonstrated the ability of the hydrogels to significantly enhance ALP activity of MSCs as well as to decrease bacterial colonization of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative models. Such results prove the potential of the functionalized hydrogels as novel biomaterials for tissue engineering, simultaneously displaying cell adhesive activity and the capacity to prevent bacterial contamination, a dual bioactivity commonly not found for these types of hydrogels.

Cirugía endoscópica endonasal durante la pandemia COVID-19: protocolo de actuación / Endoscopic endonasal surgery during COVID-19 pandemic: Management guideline

La actual pandemia por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 está planteando una serie de desafíos al modo en que ejercemos la actividad médica y quirúrgica. En concreto, dentro de la neurocirugía se ha visto que los abordajes endoscópicos endonasales suponen un elevado riesgo de contagio para el personal sanitario que interviene en la misma, por lo que, inicialmente, la recomendación fue evitar dichas cirugías. Dado que la pandemia se ha extendido en el tiempo y desconocemos cuándo se podrá controlar, se deben proponer nuevas soluciones para continuar con la realización de dichos abordajes de manera segura. Ante la falta de protocolos establecidos, planteamos el siguiente, en el que se establecen, de modo conciso, las medidas a tomar tanto en cirugía urgente como programada, además de la descripción de un nuevo dispositivo de protección-aspirado (Maskpirator) AU)

Current SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic is challenging medical and surgical activities. Specifically, within neurosurgery, endoscopic endonasal approaches pose a high risk of contagion for healthcare personnel involved in it. Initially, the recommendation was to avoid such surgeries. However, the pandemic has dragged on and new solutions must be proposed to continue carrying out these approaches safely. Given the lack of established protocols, we propose the following one, which concisely establishes the measures to be taken in both urgent and scheduled surgery. In addition, a new protecti (AU)n-aspiration device (Maskpirator) is described.

A rare case of a secondary pituitary abscess arising in a craniopharyngioma with atypical presentation and clinical course.

Pituitary abscesses are very uncommon. They are divided into primary, arising within a healthy gland, and secondary, observed with an underlying pre-existing lesion. Here we present the eighth case reported of a secondary abscess within a craniopharyngioma. A 59-year-old-woman presented with a 3-week history of headache, and fever. Physical examination was unremarkable. An Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed a pituitary lesion suggestive of a chronic inflammatory process. She was diagnosed with lymphocytic meningitis with hypophysitis and she was treated with corticosteroids. Two months later she presented with headache and fever again. Control MRI showed enlargement of the pituitary lesion. Therefore, a transsphenoidal biopsy was performed. During the procedure, purulent material was released. Histological study demonstrated a craniopharyngioma and meningeal inflammation. Empiric antibiotics were started. Three months post-operatively, a follow-up MRI showed a suspect minimal residual mass. Secondary pituitary abscesses are rare. The key to successful management is a high index of suspicion. Transsphenoidal surgical evacuation plus antibiotics is the mainstay of treatment. Although most symptoms resolve, endocrinopathies improve only rarely.

Endoscopic endonasal surgery during COVID-19 pandemic: Management guideline.

Current SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic is challenging medical and surgical activities. Specifically, within neurosurgery, endoscopic endonasal approaches pose a high risk of contagion for healthcare personnel involved in it. Initially, the recommendation was to avoid such surgeries. However, the pandemic has dragged on and new solutions must be proposed to continue carrying out these approaches safely. Given the lack of established protocols, we propose the following one, which concisely establishes the measures to be taken in both urgent and scheduled surgery. In addition, a new protection-aspiration device (Maskpirator) is described.

[Endoscopic endonasal surgery during COVID-19 pandemic: Management guideline]. / Cirugía endoscópica endonasal durante la pandemia COVID-19: protocolo de actuación.

Current SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic is challenging medical and surgical activities. Specifically, within neurosurgery, endoscopic endonasal approaches pose a high risk of contagion for healthcare personnel involved in it. Initially, the recommendation was to avoid such surgeries. However, the pandemic has dragged on and new solutions must be proposed to continue carrying out these approaches safely. Given the lack of established protocols, we propose the following one, which concisely establishes the measures to be taken in both urgent and scheduled surgery. In addition, a new protection-aspiration device (Maskpirator) is described.

Invisible compression, anterior fossa tumor causing trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to posterior and middle fossae tumors, whether ipsilateral or contralateral, has been well described. However, this disabling disease has never been reported in the context of anterior fossa neoplasms. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 75-year-old female with right hemifacial pain was diagnosed with an anterior clinoid meningioma. Despite neuroimaging did not show any apparent anatomical or neurovascular conflict, a detailed MRI analysis revealed a V3 hyperintensity. Not only symptoms completely resolved after surgical resection but also this radiological sign disappeared. Nowadays, the patient remains asymptomatic and V3 hyperintensity has not reappeared during her follow-up. CONCLUSION: A surgical definitive treatment can be offered to patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia secondary to lesions adjacent to Gasserian ganglion or trigeminal branches. In this respect, posterior and middle fossae tumors are well-reported etiologies. Nevertheless, in the absence of evident compression, other neoplasms located in the vicinity of these critical structures and considered as radiological findings may be involved in trigeminal pain. Microvascular and pressure gradient changes could be an underlying cause of these symptoms in anterior skull base lesions. Here, we report the case of a patient with uncontrollable hemifacial pain resolved after anterior clinoid meningioma removal.

A rare case of a secondary pituitary abscess arising in a craniopharyngioma with atypical presentation and clinical course.

Pituitary abscesses are very uncommon. They are divided into primary, arising within a healthy gland, and secondary, observed with an underlying pre-existing lesion. Here we present the eighth case reported of a secondary abscess within a craniopharyngioma. A 59-year-old-woman presented with a 3-week history of headache, and fever. Physical examination was unremarkable. An Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed a pituitary lesion suggestive of a chronic inflammatory process. She was diagnosed with lymphocytic meningitis with hypophysitis and she was treated with corticosteroids. Two months later she presented with headache and fever again. Control MRI showed enlargement of the pituitary lesion. Therefore, a transsphenoidal biopsy was performed. During the procedure, purulent material was released. Histological study demonstrated a craniopharyngioma and meningeal inflammation. Empiric antibiotics were started. Three months post-operatively, a follow-up MRI showed a suspect minimal residual mass. Secondary pituitary abscesses are rare. The key to successful management is a high index of suspicion. Transsphenoidal surgical evacuation plus antibiotics is the mainstay of treatment. Although most symptoms resolve, endocrinopathies improve only rarely.

Epidermoid Cyst Extending Along Trigeminal Nerve Pathway with Unusual Imaging Findings.

Epidermoid cysts (ECs) are benign extraaxial tumors. They frequently occur at the cerebellopontine angle and parasellar regions. However, they rarely occur in the Meckel's cave. Typically, ECs appear as a hypointense mass on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hyperintense on T2-weighted MRI. However, ECs may occasionally present as hyperintense on T1-weighted imaging and hypointense on T2-weighted imaging. When this occurs, they are known as white epidermoid cysts. We present a case of a 25-year-old woman with a 3-month history of hypoesthesia in the distribution of the right trigeminal nerve. MRI showed a lesion located within the Meckel's cave. The MRI signal was heterogeneous, with hyperintense areas on T1-weighted images, being hypointense on T2-weighted imaging. Preoperative suspicion was trigeminal schwannoma with unusual radiologic features. Finally, the pathologic diagnosis was epidermoid cyst. Therefore to establish a proper preoperative diagnosis, one should be aware that ECs can occur in Meckel's cave and with unusual radiologic features, as occurred in the case described earlier.