Targeting tumor-associated macrophages for the immunotherapy of glioblastoma: Navigating the clinical and translational landscape.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can directly clear tumor cells and enhance the phagocytic ability of immune cells. An abundance of TAMs at the site of the glioblastoma tumor indicates that TAM-targeting immunotherapy could represent a potential form of treatment for this aggressive cancer. Herein, we discuss: i) the dynamic role of TAMs in glioblastoma; ii) describe the formation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment; iii) summarize the latest clinical trial data that reveal how TAM function can be regulated in favor tumor eradication; and lastly, iv) evaluate the implications of existing and novel translational approaches for treating glioblastoma in clinical practice.

Donors for nerve transplantation in craniofacial soft tissue injuries.

Neural tissue is an important soft tissue; for instance, craniofacial nerves govern several aspects of human behavior, including the expression of speech, emotion transmission, sensation, and motor function. Therefore, nerve repair to promote functional recovery after craniofacial soft tissue injuries is indispensable. However, the repair and regeneration of craniofacial nerves are challenging due to their intricate anatomical and physiological characteristics. Currently, nerve transplantation is an irreplaceable treatment for segmental nerve defects. With the development of emerging technologies, transplantation donors have become more diverse. The present article reviews the traditional and emerging alternative materials aimed at advancing cutting-edge research on craniofacial nerve repair and facilitating the transition from the laboratory to the clinic. It also provides a reference for donor selection for nerve repair after clinical craniofacial soft tissue injuries. We found that autografts are still widely accepted as the first options for segmental nerve defects. However, allogeneic composite functional units have a strong advantage for nerve transplantation for nerve defects accompanied by several tissue damages or loss. As an alternative to autografts, decellularized tissue has attracted increasing attention because of its low immunogenicity. Nerve conduits have been developed from traditional autologous tissue to composite conduits based on various synthetic materials, with developments in tissue engineering technology. Nerve conduits have great potential to replace traditional donors because their structures are more consistent with the physiological microenvironment and show self-regulation performance with improvements in 3D technology. New materials, such as hydrogels and nanomaterials, have attracted increasing attention in the biomedical field. Their biocompatibility and stimuli-responsiveness have been gradually explored by researchers in the regeneration and regulation of neural networks.

Deployment of a bioabsorbable plate as the rigid buttress for skull base repair after endoscopic pituitary surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bioresorbable alloplastic implants have become desirable as a rigid buttress for reconstructing skull base defects. This study aimed to describe the use of a biodegradable plate (PolyMax RAPID) in skull base repair of endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery and to investigate the clinical outcome and safety of this novel method. METHODS: Between January 2019 and January 2020, 22 patients with pituitary adenomas who underwent endoscopic skull base repair with a Polymax RAPID plate were included. After endonasal transsphenoidal surgery, a trimmed bioresorbable plate was placed in the position between the dura and the bone of the skull base to reconstruct the sellar floor and buttress the pituitary gland and sellar packing. The patient demographics, radiologic imaging, and postoperative outcomes were carefully reviewed. All patients were followed up by a routine nasal endoscopic assessment and radiologic examinations. RESULTS: The present study comprised 10 (45.5%) males and 12 (54.4%) females with an average age of 51.9 years. There were 7 (31.8%) growth hormone (GH) secreting adenomas, 2 (9.1%) thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) secreting adenomas, and 13 (59.1%) non-functioning adenomas. Enlarged sellar floor and paranasal sinusitis were seen in 13 (59.1%) and 11 (50.0%) cases shown by preoperative computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively. There were 6 (27.3%) grade-1 and 16 (72.7%) grade-0 cases by intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak grading. None of these patients received lumbar drains postoperatively and no postoperative CSF rhinorrhea was detected in our series. The PolyMax RAPID plates which could be clearly identified on postoperative CT or sagittal T1-weighted MRI were shown to provide an ideal rigid buttress for sellar repair. CONCLUSIONS: The Polymax RAPID plate can be an optimal implant to achieve rigid repair of sellar floor defects after endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.