Ground-Reaction-Force-Based Gait Analysis and Its Application to Gait Disorder Assessment: New Indices for Quantifying Walking Behavior.

Gait assessment is an important tool for determining whether a person has a gait disorder. Existing gait analysis studies have a high error rate due to the heel-contact-event-based technique. Our goals were to overcome the shortcomings of existing gait analysis techniques and to develop more objective indices for assessing gait disorders. This paper proposes a method for assessing gait disorders via the observation of changes in the center of pressure (COP) in the medial-lateral direction, i.e., COPx, during the gait cycle. The data for the COPx were used to design a gait cycle estimation method applicable to patients with gait disorders. A polar gaitogram was drawn using the gait cycle and COPx data. The difference between the areas inside the two closed curves in the polar gaitogram, area ratio index (ARI), and the slope of the tangential line common to the two closed curves were proposed as gait analysis indices. An experimental study was conducted to verify that these two indices can be used to differentiate between stroke patients and healthy adults. The findings indicated the potential of using the proposed polar gaitogram and indices to develop and apply wearable devices to assess gait disorders.

Classification of Standing and Walking States Using Ground Reaction Forces.

The operation of wearable robots, such as gait rehabilitation robots, requires real-time classification of the standing or walking state of the wearer. This report explains a technique that measures the ground reaction force (GRF) using an insole device equipped with force sensing resistors, and detects whether the insole wearer is standing or walking based on the measured results. The technique developed in the present study uses the waveform length that represents the sum of the changes in the center of pressure within an arbitrary time window as the determining factor, and applies this factor to a conventional threshold method and an artificial neural network (ANN) model for classification of the standing and walking states. The results showed that applying the newly developed technique could significantly reduce classification errors due to shuffling movements of the patient, typically noticed in the conventional threshold method using GRF, i.e., real-time classification of the standing and walking states is possible in the ANN model. The insole device used in the present study can be applied not only to gait analysis systems used in wearable robot operations, but also as a device for remotely monitoring the activities of daily living of the wearer.

Association Between Possible Osteoporosis and Shunt-Dependent Hydrocephalus After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background and Purpose- Pathological obstruction in arachnoid granulations after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can impede cerebrospinal fluid flow outward to the venous sinus and causing hydrocephalus. Because bone and arachnoid granulations share the same collagen type, we evaluated the possible relation between bone mineral density and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after SAH. Methods- We measured Hounsfield units of the frontal skull on admission brain computed tomography in patients with SAH. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cutoff Hounsfield unit in skull to predict osteopenia and osteoporosis in a large sample registry. According to the optimal cutoff skull Hounsfield unit values, study patients were then categorized as hypothetical normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. Odds ratios were estimated using logistic regression to determine whether the osteoporotic conditions are independent predictive factors for the development of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after clipping for SAH. Results- A total of 447 patients (alive ≥14 days) with ruptured aneurysm SAH who underwent surgical clipping were retrospectively enrolled in this study during a 9-year period from 2 hospitals. We found that hypothetical osteoporosis was an independent predictor for shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after aneurysmal clipping for SAH after full adjustment for other predictive factors, including age (odds ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-4.08; P=0.032). Conclusions- Our study demonstrates a possible relation between possible osteoporosis and hydrocephalus after SAH. Hounsfield unit measurement on admission brain computed tomography may be helpful for predicting hydrocephalus during the clinical course of SAH in patients with osteoporosis or suspected osteoporosis.

Predictors of Supratentorial Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage Volume and Their Effect on Short-Term Mortality in Asians.

BACKGROUND: The volume of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) measured at hospital admission is the strongest predictor of clinical outcomes in patients with ICH. Despite the high incidence rate of ICH in Asians, there is lack of data regarding predictors of ICH volume in this ethnic group. The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of deep ICH volume and examine their effect on short-term mortality in Asians. METHODS: Hematoma volume was measured using the ABC/2 method. ICH volume was transformed to the natural log scale to normalize distributions for all analyses. We estimated the coefficients of ICH volume based on relevant predictors using multivariable linear regression. We also determined the association between body mass index (BMI) and ICH volume using a regression line and a line determined by a locally weighted scatter plot smoothing. RESULTS: A total of 1,039 patients from 2 twin hospitals in Korea who were admitted with primary spontaneous supratentorial deep ICH over a 12-year period were enrolled in this study. The median ICH volume was 19.7 ml. The average patient age was 59.2, and 62.4% of patients were men. The mean ICH volume showed a gradual, approximately 2% decrease per 1 BMI increase in the current study, after adjusting for all relevant variables (ß = -0.024; SE 0.004; p < 0.001). In addition, patients with frequent alcohol consumption showed a 10% increase in mean ICH volume (ß = 0.098; SE 0.041; p = 0.016), and patients undergoing warfarin treatment showed a 30% increase in mean ICH volume after full adjustment of all relevant variables (ß = 0.296; SE 0.050; p < 0.001). Relative to overweight patients, there was a 47, 11, and 18% increase in admission mean ICH volume in underweight, normal weight and obese patients, respectively. Patients in the first quartile and underweight BMI groups had 1.45-fold (hazard ratio (HR) 1.45; 95% CI 1.03-2.03; p = 0.035) and 1.77-fold (HR 1.77; 95% CI 1.10-2.84; p = 0.019) higher increased risk of death during the first 3 months after ICH, retrospectively. In addition, patients in groups with frequent alcohol consumption and warfarin use both showed a significant association with mortality 90 days after ICH. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the association between various predictors and admission ICH volume with short-term mortality in Asians. Further studies are needed to account for these observations and determine their underlying mechanisms.

Refractory diabetes insipidus following drainage of chronic subdural haematoma.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic diabetes insipidus (DI) is a relatively common complication after head injury. The authors report a fatal case of refractory DI, which developed in a patient with chronic subdural haematoma. CASE HISTORY: A 38-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with a headache for over a week. She was alert and neurological examination demonstrated no significant deficits or external wounds in her head. Brain computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a small amount of chronic subdural haematoma bilaterally. She was treated conservatively and her hospital course was uneventful until she developed a convulsive seizure and mental change on the 3rd day after admission. Immediate follow-up CT scans showed no significant change in the amount of haemorrhage except effacement of gyral marking. Bilateral trephination and drainage of the haematoma were performed immediately. Post-operatively, she developed a refractory DI and was managed in the intensive care unit. However, she died on the 6th day after the operation ultimately. CONCLUSION: The authors emphasize the importance of timely drainage of chronic subdural haematoma to prevent a fatal endocrinologic complication after head injury. This study also discusses the possible mechanism of DI after head injury, management and review of the pertinent literatures.

Lhermitte-Duclos disease presenting with hydrocephalus.

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is a rare cerebellar disorder characterized by diffuse or focal enlargement of cerebellar folia. Clinical manifestations are usually related to a mass effect and secondary obstructive hydrocephalus. Increased intracranial pressure symptoms and cerebellar symptoms are the most frequent patient complaints. We describe the case of a patient with LDD who developed secondary obstructive hydrocephalus. A 68-year-old woman was brought to the emergency room for sudden vertigo following several bouts of vomiting and headache. There were no external signs of trauma, serious illness or infection. On admission, the patient was alert and had no neurological deficits. Brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hydrocephalus and a cerebellar mass in the right cerebellar hemisphere compressing the fourth ventricle. Suboccipital craniotomy and subtotal removal of the mass was performed. Pathological study of the surgical specimen showed abnormal ganglionic neurons and an enlarged molecular layer compatible with dysplastic gangliocytoma. Cytoreduction can achieve improvement in symptoms caused by mass effect, but postoperative swelling may aggravate obstructive hydrocephalus. Therefore, if symptoms still remain after removal of the mass, an additional shunting procedure may be needed as a further management option.

Atypical meningioma in the posterior fossa associated with colpocephaly and agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Colpocephaly is an abnormal enlargement of the occipital horns, i.e., the posterior or rear portions of the lateral ventricles of the brain, and is associated with several other brain abnormalities. Colpocephaly is occasionally misdiagnosed as hydrocephalus, and various etiologies have been postulated, including genetic disorders and errors of morphogenesis. Meanwhile, chromosomal losses including 22q and rarely 21q are observed in malignant and atypical meningiomas. We report an uncommon case of a 67-year-old woman with colpocephaly and an atypical meningioma in the posterior fossa. There were no neurological deficits or family history of hereditary neuropsychiatric disorders. Brain magnetic resonance (MR) images showed bilateral enlarged occipital horns, agenesis of corpus callosum, and a cerebellar mass in the right cerebellar hemisphere. Right suboccipital craniotomy was performed, and the tumor was resected totally. Pathological study of the surgical specimen showed findings of atypical meningioma, and the postoperative course was uneventful until hydrocephalus developed. At 36th day after tumor removal, the patient undertook an external ventricular drainage followed by replacement of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. We discuss the importance of colpocephaly in terms of the differential diagnosis for hydrocephalus and review the pertinent literature.

Current Immunotherapeutic Approaches for Malignant Gliomas.

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumor (48.3%), with a median survival of only about 14.6 months. Although the CNS is an immune-privileged site, activated T cells can cross the blood-brain barrier. The recent successes of several immunotherapies for various cancers have drawn interest in immunotherapy for treatment of malignant glioma. There have been extensive attempts to evaluate the efficiency of immunotherapy against malignant glioma. Passive immunotherapy for malignant glioma includes monoclonal antibody-mediated immunotherapy, cytokine-mediated therapy, and adoptive cell transfer, also known as chimeric antigen receptor T cell treatment. On the other hand, active immunotherapy, which stimulates the patient's adaptive immune system against specific tumor-associated antigens, includes cancer vaccines that are divided into peptide vaccines and cell-based vaccines. In addition, there is immune checkpoint blockade therapy, which increases the efficiency of immunotherapy by reducing the resistance of malignant glioma to immunotherapy. Despite centuries of efforts, immunotherapeutic successes for malignant glioma remain limited. However, many clinical trials of adoptive cell transfer immunotherapy on malignant glioma are ongoing, and the outcomes are eagerly awaited. In addition, although there are still several obstacles, current clinical trials using personalized neoantigen-based dendritic cell vaccines offer new hope to glioblastoma patients. Furthermore, immune checkpoint targeted therapy is expected to decipher the mechanism of immunotherapy resistance in malignant glioma in the near future. More studies are needed to increase the efficacy of immunotherapy in malignant glioma. We hope that immunotherapy will become a new treatment of malignant glioma.

Efficacy of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cell Immunotherapy for Patients With Pathologically Pure Glioblastoma.

The most common malignant central nervous system tumor is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy is a promising type of adoptive cell immunotherapy for various cancers. We previously conducted a randomized clinical trial on CIK cell therapy in patients with GBM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CIK immunotherapy for patients with pathologically pure GBM, using data from our previous randomized clinical trial. The difference between overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) according to CIK immunotherapy was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Hazard ratios were calculated using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to determine whether CIK cell immunotherapy was independently associated with higher OS and PFS in patients with pure GBM. A total of 156 eligible patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population. We confirmed that 125 (80.1%) GBM samples were pure GBM tumors without the presence of other types of tumors. For patients with pure GBM, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in OS between the CIK cell treatment and control groups. However, multivariate Cox regression demonstrated CIK cell immunotherapy as an independent predictor of greater OS (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.97; p = 0.038) and PFS (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36-0.84; p = 0.001) in patients with pathologically pure GBM in the mITT population. This study showed that CIK cell immunotherapy combined with conventional temozolomide chemoradiotherapy could prolong OS and PFS in patients with newly diagnosed pathologically pure GBM, with no significant adverse events related to treatment. However, unlike the results of multivariate Cox analysis, no statistical significance of CIK cell immunotherapy in OS in Kaplan-Meier analysis raises a question. Further studies are required to validate these results.

Core/shell hybrid fiber with aminated PAN and Fe2O3 as a high-capacity adsorbent for phosphate ions.

APANF@Fe2O3, a phosphate adsorbent, was synthesized in two steps: the immobilization of an amine group onto polyacrylonitrile fiber (PANF) and the adsorption of an iron ion on aminated PANF (APANF). The amination degree of the PANF was adjusted considering its mechanical properties. The Fe2O3 on the surface of the APANF played a role as a phosphate-grasping layer via a ligand-exchange reaction. The APANF@Fe2O3 showed a considerable PO43- adsorption amount of ca. 6 mmol/g at a low pH region (ca. 2-7) and 3 mmol/g at a high pH region (ca. 8-12). The adsorption data were interpreted with various kinetic and isotherm models. The Langmuir model was more suitable than the Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models to fit the experimental data of the phosphate adsorption on the APANF@Fe2O3 and the pseudo-second-order model was better matched than the pseudo-first-order and Elovich's models. The results of this study demonstrate that the surface of the fibrous adsorbent was homogenous and the phosphate adsorption behavior of the APANF@Fe2O3 followed a simultaneous chemisorption process into the Fe2O3 layer.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in young adults: a gender comparison study.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is uncommon in young adults. The aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics of ruptured aneurysms between males and females in the third or fourth decade of life. We retrospectively investigated 301 patients who underwent surgery for ruptured cerebral aneurysms over 6 years. Among them, 53 patients were aged between 20-39 years. Clinical characteristics and related variables were compared between genders. In general, there was a favorable outcome in either gender (84.9%). There was a higher incidence of multiplicity and intraoperative rupture in females, as well as a significant difference in aneurysm location between genders (p=0.030, p=0.014, and p=0.027 respectively). Overall outcome was not different between the two groups. These results suggest that aneurysm formation may differ between genders.

Risk Factors of Delayed Intracranial Hemorrhage Following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt.

OBJECTIVE: Placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a common neurosurgical procedure for cerebrospinal fluid diversion. A rare complication is delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) secondary to VP shunting, and only a few patients with this complication have been reported. We investigate the incidence and risk factors of delayed ICH development following VP shunt placement. METHODS: Over an 11-year period, 167 patients received a VP shunt for hydrocephalus, and of these, 138 patients were eligible for this study. All medical records and computed tomography scans obtained within 48 h after the operation and at postoperative day 7 were reviewed. The risk factors of developing delayed ICH (≥48 hr after VP shunt placement) were analyzed according to the demographic data, including sex and age, original intracranial lesions, co-morbid diseases, and laboratory findings. RESULTS: Delayed ICH following VP shunt placement developed in 34 (24.6%) of the 138 patients. Risk factors for developing delayed ICH were age (p=0.037) and the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (p=0.032). Intraventricular hemorrhage after VP shunting was the most common complication, occurring in 16 cases. Hemorrhagic volume was <1 mL in 28 cases and >1 mL in 6 cases. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that old age and delayed PTT are major risk factors for developing delayed ICH following VP shunting. Additionally, delayed ICH after VP shunting commonly occurs even when most patients are asymptomatic. Therefore, extra care should be taken to observe and follow-up with patients who have undergone VP shunt placement.

Cervical Epidural Hematoma That Induced Sudden Paraparesis After Cervical Spine Massage: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Most people understand spinal manipulation therapy to be a safe procedure, and in many cases treatment is provided without a diagnosis if there is musculoskeletal pain. Cervical epidural hematoma occurs in extremely rare cases after cervical manipulation therapy. This study reports a case of epidural hematoma that occurred in the anterior spinal cord after cervical massage. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 38-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department for sudden weakness in the lower extremity after receiving a cervical spine massage. No fracture was found using cervical radiographs, and there were no particular findings on performing brain computed tomography or diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. However, using cervical magnetic resonance imaging, an acute epidural hematoma was observed in the anterior spinal cord from the C6 and C7 vertebrae to the T1 vertebra, compressing the spinal cord. There were no fractures or ligament injury. No surgical treatment was required as the patient showed spontaneous improvements in muscle strength and was discharged after just 1 week, following observation of the improvement in his symptoms. CONCLUSION: Although cervical epidural hematoma after cervical manipulation therapy is extremely rare, if suspected, a thorough examination must be performed in order to reduce the chances of serious neurologic sequelae.

Opportunistic osteoporosis screening via the measurement of frontal skull Hounsfield units derived from brain computed tomography images.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Osteoporosis is one of the most common chronic metabolic diseases, but detection and treatment rates are low. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the correlation between frontal skull Hounsfield unit (HU) values from brain computed tomography (CT) scans and T-scores of the lumbar spine and femoral neck from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. METHODS: Patients with < 1 year between brain CT and DXA scans were included in the study. The average frontal skull HU value used for analysis was defined as the average of four HU values of the frontal bone. A receiver operating characteristic curve was generated, and area under the curve (AUC) was used to determine the HU values of the frontal skull for predicting osteoporosis. The frontal skull HU value with the highest sensitivity and specificity was considered the optimal cutoff value. RESULTS: In total, 899 patients who underwent both brain CT and DXA scans at a single institution were enrolled. Average skull HU values differed significantly among patients in different bone mineral density categories (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between skull HU value and T-score (ß = 105.06, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.343). The mean HU value in subjects with osteoporosis was 515, and the optimal cutoff value for the prediction of osteoporosis was 610 HU (AUC = 0.775, 95% CI 0.744-0.806, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical brain CT scans can assist in the detection of osteoporosis, and patients with an HU value < 610 as determined via brain CT may be considered for further evaluation for possible osteoporosis.

Postpartum Superior Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis: A Case Report.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are important, as CVST is potentially fatal. Pregnancy and puerperium are known risk factors for CVST. Here, we report the case of a patient who developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis after a normal vaginal delivery. A 20-year-old woman presented with a headache and seizures two days after a normal vaginal delivery. Initially, brain computed tomography (CT) showed a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the right parietal lobe and sylvian fissure, together with mild cerebral edema. CT angiography revealed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. Multiple micro-infarctions were seen on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images. An intravenous infusion of heparin and mannitol was administered immediately. Two days after treatment initiation, the patient showed sudden neurological deterioration, with left-sided hemiplegia. Brain CT showed moderate brain edema and hemorrhagic densities. Emergency decompressive craniectomy was performed, and heparin was re-administered on post-operative day (POD) 1. On POD 9, the patient's mental state improved from stupor to drowsy, but the left-sided hemiplegia persisted. CT angiography showed that the superior sinus thrombosis had decreased. Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis is an uncommon complication, with an unfavorable outcome, after delivery. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important for preventing neurological deterioration.

Radiologic Factors Predicting Deterioration of Mental Status in Patients with Acute Traumatic Subdural Hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether subdural hematoma (SDH) volume and other radiologic factors predict deterioration of mental status in patients with acute traumatic SDH. METHODS: SDH volumes were measured with a semiautomated tool. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine optimal cutoff values for mental deterioration, including the variables midline shift, SDH volume, hematoma thickness, and Sylvian fissure ratio. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio for mental deterioration based on several predictive factors. RESULTS: We enrolled 103 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital with acute traumatic SDH over an 8-year period. We observed an increase in SDH volume of approximately 7.2 mL as SDH thickness increased by 1 mm. A steeper slope for midline shift was observed in patients with SDH volumes of approximately 75 mL in the younger age group compared with patients in the older age group. When comparing cutoff values used to predict poor mental status at time of admission between the 2 age groups, we observed smaller midline shifts in the older patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among younger patients, an overall tendency for more rapid midline shift progression was observed in patients with relatively low SDH volumes compared with older patients. Older patients seem to tolerate larger hematoma volumes owing to brain atrophy compared with younger patients. When there is a midline shift, older patients seem to be more vulnerable to mental deterioration than younger patients.

The frontal skull Hounsfield unit value can predict ventricular enlargement in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Hydrocephalus is a common complication following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) arising from spontaneous aneurysm rupture. The Hounsfield unit (HU) value from computed tomography scans may reflect bone mineral density, which correlates with body mass index, which in turn is related to post-SAH ventricle size changes. We herein investigated potential associations between frontal skull HU values and ventricle size changes after SAH. HU values from four different areas in the frontal bone were averaged to minimize measurement errors. The bicaudate index and Evans ratio were measured using both baseline and follow-up CT images. CT images with bicaudate index >0.2 and Evans ratio >0.3 simultaneously were defined as indicating ventriculomegaly. We included 232 consecutive patients with SAH due to primary spontaneous aneurysm rupture, who underwent clipping over almost a 9-year period at a single institution. The first tertile of frontal skull HU values in older patients (≥55 years) was an independent predictor of ventriculomegaly after SAH, as compared to the third tertile in younger patients (hazard ratio, 4.01; 95% confidence interval 1.21-13.30; p = 0.023). The lower frontal skull HU value independently predicted ventricular enlargement post-SAH, due to the potential weak integrity of subarachnoid trabecular structures in younger patients.

Vertical femoral tunnel placement results in rotational knee laxity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was performed to relate tunnel position as measured by plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to residual pivot shift and to determine its clinical relevance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction via central quadriceps tendon autograft. METHODS: We reviewed 137 arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions via quadriceps tendon autograft with a minimum of 2 years' follow-up. Clinical results were evaluated by use of the Lachman test, pivot-shift test, Lysholm score, and Cybex dynamometer (Lumex, Ronkonkoma, NY). Anterior tibial translation was measured with the KT-1000 arthrometer (MEDmetric, San Diego, CA). Patients were classified into 3 groups based on postoperative pivot-shift and Lachman test findings: group I, both negative; group II, negative Lachman test and positive pivot shift; and group III, both positive. The radiographic analysis was performed via the angle between the tibial and femoral tunnels on plain anteroposterior radiographs, the angle between the tibial tunnel and anterior tibial cortex on the lateral view, and the femoral and tibial tunnel location by use of the ratio method. Postoperative knee MRI was performed, and the angle between the intercondylar anteroposterior axis and femoral tunnel on the axial view and the angle between the joint line and the graft on the oblique coronal and sagittal views were measured. RESULTS: There were 100 patients in group I, 13 in group II, and 24 in group III. Patients in group I showed the greatest improvement in Lysholm score among the groups, and patients in group III had the greatest side-to-side difference by KT-1000 arthrometer. Tunnel obliquity as measured by the angle between the anteroposterior axis of the femur and the femoral tunnel in the axial view on MRI was greater (P < .05) and the angle between the joint line and the graft on the oblique coronal view was less in group I. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a significantly lower Lysholm score and more vertical orientation of the femoral tunnel in the group with residual pivot shift than in the group without pivot shift. Vertical orientation of the femoral tunnel in the axial plane is closely related to residual pivot shift without definite anteroposterior laxity. More oblique positioning of the graft may have advantages in rotational stability, which in turn increase subjective patient satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study of nonconsecutive patients without consistently applied reference gold standard.

Current update of adoptive immunotherapy using cytokine-induced killer cells to eliminate malignant gliomas.

The therapeutic outcome for those with malignant glioma is poor, even though diverse therapeutic modalities have been developed. Immunotherapy has emerged as a therapeutic approach for malignant gliomas, making it possible to selectively treat tumors while sparing normal tissue. Here, we review clinical trials of adoptive immunotherapy approaches for malignant gliomas. We also describe a clinical trial that examined the efficacy and safety of autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells along with concomitant chemoradiotherapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. These CIK cells identify and kill autologous tumor cells. This review focuses on the use of adoptive immunotherapy for malignant gliomas and reviews the current literature on the concept of antitumor activity mediated by CIK cells.

Radiologic Findings and Patient Factors Associated with 30-Day Mortality after Surgical Evacuation of Subdural Hematoma in Patients Less Than 65 Years Old.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the associations between 30-day mortality and various radiological and clinical factors in patients with traumatic acute subdural hematoma (SDH). During the 11-year study period, young patients who underwent surgery for SDH were followed for 30 days. Patients who died due to other medical comorbidities or other organ problems were not included in the study population. METHODS: From January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2014, 318 consecutive surgically-treated traumatic acute SDH patients were registered for the study. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze 30-day survival rates. We also estimated the hazard ratios of various variables in order to identify the independent predictors of 30-day mortality. RESULTS: We observed a negative correlation between 30-day mortality and Glasgow coma scale score (per 1-point score increase) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.70; p<0.001). In addition, use of antithrombotics (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.27-4.33; p=0.008), history of diabetes mellitus (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.20-4.32; p=0.015), and accompanying traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (hazard ratio, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.27-3.58; p=0.005) were positively associated with 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: We found significant associations between short-term mortality after surgery for traumatic acute SDH and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores, use of antithrombotics, history of diabetes mellitus, and accompanying traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage at admission. We expect these findings to be helpful for selecting patients for surgical treatment of traumatic acute SDH, and for making accurate prognoses.