Treatment strategies of ruptured intracranial aneurysms associated with moyamoya disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to present our experience in the management of ruptured intracranial aneurysms associated with moyamoya disease (MMD), and to discuss their treatment strategies and the timing of revascularization surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients who had ruptured intracranial aneurysms associated with MMD were enrolled in this study. Different treatment strategies were adopted based on the location of the aneurysms. Their clinical and radiologic features, treatment selection and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among the five patients with major artery aneurysms in anterior circulation, three were embolized and two clipped. Among the five patients with major artery aneurysms in posterior circulation, three were treated by endovascular coiling. Among the three peripheral aneurysms, one was treated by endovascular embolization, one by aneurysmectomy, and the other one by revascularization alone. For the patients whose aneurysms were treated by endovascular embolization or surgery, a staged revascularization was performed on day 28 to day 87 after the first operation. For the two patients with aneurysms untreated directly, the timing of revascularization was 20 days and 54 days after hemorrhage, respectively. During the follow-up recurrent intracranial hemorrhage occurred in a patient, but not caused by the previous aneurysm. No other patients suffered recurrent intracranial hemorrhage or ischemic stroke. Complete occlusion was achieved in all the 11 aneurysms that had been clipped or embolized. Of the remaining three aneurysms that had not been directly treated, one disappeared spontaneously, whereas the other two remained stable. The direct and indirect bypasses were confirmed patent in the 11 patients who had undergone revascularization. CONCLUSION: Our current treatment strategies and timing of revascularization may provide a benefit for the patients with MMD accompanied by ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Efficacy of microvascular decompression in patients with trigeminal neuralgia with negative neurovascular relationship shown by magnetic resonance tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical efficacy of microvascular decompression(MVD) when the recent magnetic resonance tomography angiography(MRA) is unable to determine the relationship between blood vessels and nerves in patients with trigeminal neuralgia(TN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MRI images of 146 patients with TN who underwent MVD from January 2016 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship between nerves and vessels was categorized as no contact, suspicious contact, and clear contact. Suspicious contact and clear contact were both defined as positive neurovascular relationship, whereas no contact was defined as negative neurovascular relationship. The efficacy of MVD in positive and negative groups was compared. RESULTS: 1. A total of 146 TN patients underwent MVD. Intraoperative examination revealed that out of 146, 143 patients exhibited contacts, including 110 cases with arterial contact, 22 cases with combined arterial and venous contact, and 11 cases with venous contact. Considering the surgical result as a gold standard, the sensitivity of three-dimensional time leap angiography (3D-TOF-MRA) in assessing vascular compression in TN was 74.0 %; and the sensitivity of three-dimensional steady-state precession rapid imaging sequence (3D-FIESTA) in determining vascular compression was 82.2 %. Out of a total of 17 cases demonstrating negative neurovascular relationship by 3D-TOF-MRA together with 3D-FIESTA, 14 cases were found to have vascular contact during the surgery, and the sensitivity was determined to be 88.4 %. 2.Among the 38 patients with a negative neurovascular relationship demonstrated by 3D-TOF, postoperative efficacy was noted as a cure: 30 cases, improved: 5 cases, no effect: 3 cases. 3D-FIESTA showed 26 cases of negative neurovascular relationship, among them, cured: 20 cases, improved: 3 cases, no effect: 3 cases. A total of 17 patients with negative neurovascular relationships were established by 3D-TOF-MRA together with 3D-FIESTA, and the postoperative effects were found to be cure: 13 cases, improvement: 2 cases, and no effect: 2 cases. There was no statistically significant difference between the negative group and the positive group (x2 test; p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: To conclude, 3D-TOF-MRA, together with 3D-FIESTA, can illustrate the large blood vessels surrounding the trigeminal nerve efficiently, and determine whether it is the offending blood vessel. The interpretation would help reproduce the local anatomical spatial structure of the site before surgery, yet it is impossible to assess the peripheral anatomical relationship of the trigeminal nerve cistern comprehensively and accurately. This hints that a perfect prediction of the surgical effect of MVD is not possible at present. Thus, typical symptoms of TN are the most critical indicators for MVD surgery.

Mucin O-glycosylating enzyme GALNT2 facilitates the malignant character of glioma by activating the EGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis.

N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 2 (GALNT2), the enzyme that regulates the initial step of mucin O-glycosylation, has been reported to play a role in influencing the malignancy of various cancers. However, the mechanism through which it influences gliomas is still unknown. In the current study, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to select genes. Data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of clinical specimens showed that increased GALNT2 expression levels were associated with an unfavorable prognosis and a higher tumor grade in human gliomas. Then, GALNT2 knockdown and overexpression were performed in glioma cell lines and verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Functional assays demonstrated that GALNT2 was closely related to glioma cell proliferation, cycle transition, migration and invasion. Western blot analysis and lectin pull-down assays indicated that GALNT2 knockdown decreased the level of phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the expression of the Tn antigen on EGFR and affected the expression levels of p21, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), cyclinD1, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) through the EGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. GALNT2 overexpression had the opposite effects. In vivo, the growth of orthotopic glioma xenografts in nude mice was distinctly inhibited by the expression of GALNT2 shRNA, and the tumors with GALNT2 shRNA exhibited less aggressiveness and reduced expression of Ki67 and MMP2. Overall, GALNT2 facilitates the malignant characteristics of glioma by influencing the O-glycosylation and phosphorylation of EGFR and the subsequent downstream PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis. Therefore, GALNT2 may serve as a novel biomarker and a potential target for future therapy of glioma.

Study on the Therapeutic Effects of Trigeminal Neuralgia With Microvascular Decompression and Stereotactic Gamma Knife Surgery in the Elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) and stereotactic gamma knife surgery (GKS) in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in the elderly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 137 elderly cases with TN underwent MVD, partial sensory rhizotomy (PR) treatment from August 2007 to March 2017 and 56 cases underwent GKS treatment from May 2014 to February 2017 was made, compared the efficacy of MVD and GKS in different age groups. RESULTS: In 125 patients of MVD alone, the responsible vessels included 60 cases of superior cerebellar artery, 55 cases of anterior inferior cerebellar artery, 4 cases of venous vascular compression, 13 cases of mixed arteriovenous compression and 3 cases of vertebral artery, and 2 cases of no responsible vessel. Operation methods: MVD 125 cases, MVD + PR 10 cases, PR 1 cases, simple exploration in 1 case. Results of MVD surgery: Among 125 patients of MVD alone, 95 cases were cured, 15 cases improved, and 15 cases were ineffective. Among 10 cases of MVD + PR, cured in 9 cases and improved in 1 case. PR and simple exploration in 2 cases got pain disappeared. Postoperative complications of MVD: No deaths, CSF leakage in 2 cases, intracranial infection in 3 cases, ipsilateral hearing loss in 1 case, and ipsilateral facial paralysis in 1 case, delayed intracranial hematoma in 2 cases. After GKS treatment, the shortest onset time was from 9 days up to 6 months, an average of 2.2 months. Among 56 patients, 30 cases were cured, accounting for 53.6%, 20 cases improved, accounting for 35.7%, 6 cases were ineffective, accounting for 10.7%. Postoperative complications were facial numbness and dysesthesia, 7 cases, the incidence was 12.5%. In the group of 60 to 70 years old and the group of 70 to 80 years old, the treatment effect of MVD was better than that of GKS (χ test, P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between MVD and GKS in >80 years old group (χ test, P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the therapeutic effect of TN underwent GKS among all age groups (χ test, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Microvascular decompression should be performed more prudently in elderly patients (>80 years old), and the indications for PR should be relatively relaxed. MVD + PR could improve the curative effect in patients with trigeminal neuralgia >80 years. Gamma knife treatment of trigeminal neuralgia had high safety, less complications, and positive curative effect, especially suitable for patients >80 years.

Does Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Need Rhizotomy in Neurovascular Decompression Surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the long-term efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression (MVD) and glossopharyngeal nerve roots rhizotomy (GNR) in the treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 37 patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia undergoing MVD alone and MVD + GNR from July 2004 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 22 were MVD alone and 15 were MVD + GNR. All patients underwent preoperative cocaine experiments to verify diagnoses, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging examinations to detect compressing vessels near the root entry zone of the glossopharyngeal nerve. Operation via retrosigmoid approach, keyhole craniotomy, and postoperative efficacy was followed up. RESULTS: Efficacy: In the 22 patients with MVD alone, 19 patients were cured and 3 patients improved. In the 15 patients with MVD + GNR, 14 patients were cured and 1 patient improved. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (χ test, P > 0.05). COMPLICATIONS: Postoperative complications in MVD group: 2 patients had short-term hoarseness and drinking cough, 1 patient with cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 1 patient with intracranial infection, 1 patient with ipsilateral hearing loss, and no deaths; postoperative complications in MVD + GNR group: permanent hoarseness in 2 patients, short-term drinking cough and hoarseness in 4 patients, ipsilateral facial paralysis in 1 patient, 1 patient with cerebrospinal fluid leakage, no intracranial infection and death. The incidence of postoperative hoarseness and drinking cough in MVD + GNR group was higher than that in MVD group (χ test, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MVD alone was a safe and effective method for the treatment of primary glossopharyngeal neuralgia, the efficacy was equivalent to MVD + GNR, and had low incidence of hoarseness and drinking cough.

Normal saline injection via lumbar puncture for the treatment of acute tonsillar herniation: a report of 45 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Current treatment of apnea attributable to acute tonsillar herniation often is inadequate. This study was undertaken to verify the clinical usefulness of normal saline injection via lumbar puncture for the treatment of apnea secondary to acute tonsillar herniation. METHODS: Between 1969 and 2009, 45 patients who had not regained spontaneous respiratory function after external ventricular drainage or removal of a supratentorial lesion via open craniotomy received an injection of normal saline via lumbar puncture. Patient data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven of the 45 patients regained spontaneous breathing and recovered fully (24.4%). Sixteen patients regained spontaneous breathing but died later (35.6%), and 18 patients did not regain spontaneous respiration (40.0%). The overall rate of effectiveness of injected normal saline was therefore 60.0%. CONCLUSION: For patients with tonsillar hernia who did not regain spontaneous respiration after external ventricular drainage or removal of a supratentorial lesion, an aggressive approach may be considered. Injection of normal saline via lumbar puncture could improve outcome in some of these patients.

[Surgical treatment of ruptured anterior circulation aneurysms in elders].

OBJECTIVE: To explore some related problems in surgical treatment of ruptured anterior circulation intracranial aneurysms in elders. METHODS: The clinical data of 38 elderly patients with ruptured anterior circulation intracranial aneurysms were analyzed retrospectively.Such related problems as indication, timing and complications of operation were discussed through their Modified Rankin scales at discharge and half a year later. RESULTS: Their Hunt-Hess grades were I (n = 6), II (n = 17), III (n = 5), IV (n = 6) and V (n = 4) respectively. Among them, 33 cases were complicated preoperatively with other vital diseases while another 5 previously healthy (III, n = 3; II, n = 1; IV, n = 1). And their modified Rankin scales of discharge and half-a-year follow-up were 0 (n = 12 vs 12), 1 (n = 10 vs 10), 2 (n = 4 vs 4), 3 (n = 3 vs 1), 4 (n = 3 vs 3), 5 (n = 4 vs 3) and 6 (n = 2 vs 3) respectively. All scales of 5 cases of previously healthy patients were 0-2. CONCLUSION: Operation is vital for rescuing patient life and achieving excellent outcomes. Age is not a risk factor for intracranial aneurysms of elders.Early and aggressive operation is recommended for those without contraindications. Physical status is more important than age in decision-making.

[Intraoperative decisions and surgical efficacies of trigeminal neuralgia responsible vessels].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the types of primary trigeminal neuralgia (TN) responsible vessels and curative efficacies of microscopic vascular decompression (MVD). METHODS: A total of 162 primary TN patients underwent MVD from August 2004 to the present at our hospital.Their clinical data were collected and analyzed. There were 69 males and 93 females with an age range of 22-88 years. RESULTS: The most common responsible vessels were superior cerebellar artery (n = 65, 40.12%), anteroinferior cerebellar artery (n = 45, 27.78%), multiple vessels (n = 26, 16.05%), posteroinferior cerebellar artery (n = 16, 9.88%), veins (n = 6, 3.70%) and vertebral artery (n = 4, 2.47%). And the pressure points were at the root of trigeminal nerve (n = 139, 85.80%), distal part (n = 16, 9.88%) and root and distal part (n = 7, 4.32%). Postoperatively pain disappeared in all patients (including one case on second surgery). Postoperative follow-ups were conducted for 132 cases.Two cases recurred over 8 years and the recurrence rate was 1.52%. CONCLUSION: MVD is preferred method for primary TN non-responsive to pharmacotherapy. Identification and treatment of responsible vessels remain a key. Venous and distal pressure points should be taken care.

[Correlation of surgical timing and prognosis for ruptured intracranial aneurysms].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between surgical timing and clinical prognosis for ruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: A series of 187 patients with intracranial aneurysm treated surgically at our department were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 101 patients received an average follow-up period of 9 months (range: 6 - 14). Timings of operation that might affect the clinical efficacies of microsurgery were analyzed. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) of discharge and the corresponding follow-up mRS were all analyzed. RESULTS: Timing of operation was negatively correlated with mRS of hospital discharge (P < 0.05), but it had no correlation with follow-up mRS (P > 0.05); patients whose discharge mRS were 1, 2, 3 or 4 had better long-term efficacies (P < 0.05) while those with a discharge mRS of 5 fare worse (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The short-term efficacy of early microsurgery for intracranial aneurysms is worse than those of medium and late microsurgery. But no obvious differences exist between the long-term efficacies of early, medium and late microsurgery. The patients whose discharge mRS were 1, 2, 3 or 4 have better long-term efficacies.

[Clinical experiences of normal saline pressed injection via lumbar puncture in the treatment of apnea due to acute tonsillar hernia].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical experiences of normal saline pressed injection via lumbar puncture in the treatment of acute tonsillar hernia induced apnea. This procedure was routinely carried out after external ventricular drainage and/or lesion removal via open craniotomy. METHODS: During the period of 1969 to 2005, a total of 43 patients failed to regain respiratory after external ventricular drainage using rapid small hole cranio-puncture apparatus or lesion removal via open craniotomy. They underwent lumbar puncture and normal saline was pressed injected via a lumbar puncture needle. The patient data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven of 43 patients had spontaneous respiration and fully recovered (25.6%), 16 patients regained respiration but died eventually (37.2%) and 16 patients failed to regain respiration (37.2%). The effective rate was 62.8%. CONCLUSION: For the patients failing to regain respiration after external ventricular drainage or supratentorial lesion removal via open craniotomy, the conservative treatment should not be the first choice. The pressed injection of normal saline via lumbar puncture may rescue some patients.

Optimization of transfection efficiency of small interfering RNA in purified human prolactinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Control of hypersecretion of certain hormones is one of the key targets in the treatment of pituitary adenomas. RNA interference has been shown to inhibit protein expression, and thus it may represent a promising method for the treatment of pituitary adenomas. In the present study, transfection efficiency of small interfering RNA (siRNA) was optimized in human prolactinoma cells. METHODS: First, a method was optimized to extract highly purified human prolactinoma cells in vitro. The extracted cells were verified to retain the physiological features of prolactin (PRL) secretion. Second, three conditions for siRNA transfection were tested by the evaluation of transfection efficiency and cell viability. The proper transfection condition was verified for human prolactinoma cells. Third, the siRNA for prolactin was transfected into the human prolactinoma cells, and the suppression of PRL mRNA was evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: The siRNA of 100 pmol with Lipofectamine 2000 of 5 µl for 1 × 10(6) cells was proved preferable, with transfection efficiency being 53.3% and cell viability being 69.7%. In the preliminary experiment the siRNA against PRL decreased the mRNA of PRL by 34.0%. CONCLUSION: It is possible to inhibit hormone hypersecretion by RNA interference, that may eventually enable therapeutic siRNA drugs developed.

[Study on prognostic factors of chronic severe hepatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors influencing prognosis and to develop a prognosis predicting model for patients with chronic severe hepatitis. METHODS: Clinical data from 408 patients suffering from chronic severe hepatitis were divided into improved group and deteriorated group. The main clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed as predictive factors of prognosis with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: It was shown that age, sex, TBil, DBil, [Cl-], [Na+], WBC, MCV, PT, NH3, PTA, and BUN were different between the two groups with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The prognosis predicting model was P = 1/(1 + e(-y)), Y = -4.636 + 0.022X1 + 0.034X2 + 0.096X3 + 0.047X4 - 0.042X5, (X1-age, X2-TBil, X3-BUN, X4-MCV, X5-PTA). CONCLUSION: Age, TBil, BUN, MCV and PTA are the independent risk factors related to prognosis of chronic severe hepatitis.