Surgically treated intradural spinal manifestation of hereditary amyloidogenic transthyretin amyloidosis - A case report and scoping review of the literature.

Introduction: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is an autosomal-dominant disorder, where a TTR mutations lead to amyloid fibril deposits in tissues and consecutively alter organ function. ATTRv is a multisystemic disorder with a heterogeneous clinical presentation. Spinal leptomeningeal depositions are described only scarcely in the literature. Research question: We present a rare case of surgically treated intradural, extra-medullary amyloidosis with respective clinical, diagnostic and surgical features to raise awareness of this rare entity. Material and methods: Clinical, radiological and operative characteristics were retrieved from the electronical patient management system. Additionally, a scoping literature review on leptomeningeal spinal manifestations of ATTRv was performed. Results: A 45-year-old man with a known ATTRv presented with gait disturbance and paresis of the lower extremities. He had been treated with the siRNA therapeutical Patisiran for 13 months under which his symptoms worsened. An MRI of the spine revealed spinal cord compression with myelopathy at the level of T2 with anterior dislocation of the spinal cord due to an intradural, extramedullary lesion. A laminectomy and opening of the dura with a complete resection of the lesion was performed. The histological examination of the biopsy showed amyloid deposits. At six-month follow-up the patient showed complete normalization of the paresis, gait, sensory and urinary disturbances and resumed his work. Discussion and conclusion: Spinal leptomeningeal deposition of amyloid is a rare occurrence within the framework of ATTRv. Micro-neurosurgical complete resection of the lesion is feasible in patients with preoperative myelopathic symptoms and resulted in complete symptom relief in this case.

Statistics decrypted-a comprehensive review and smartphone-assisted five-step approach for good statistical practice.

BACKGROUND: Statistic scripts are often made by mathematicians and cryptic for clinicians or non-mathematician scientists. Nevertheless, almost all research projects necessitate the application of some statistical tests or at least an understanding thereof. The present review aims on giving an overview of the most common statistical terms and concepts. It further ensures good statistical practice by providing a five-step approach guiding the reader to the correct statistical test. METHODS AND RESULTS: First, different types of variables and measurements to describe a data set with means of descriptive statistics are introduced. The basic thoughts and tools of interferential statistics are presented, and different types of bias are discussed. Then in the final paragraph, the most commonly used statistical tests are described. A smartphone app accessible via QR code finally guides the reader in five steps to the correct statistical test, depending on the data used in order to avoid commonly performed mistakes. CONCLUSIONS: The five-step approach sets a new minimal standard for good statistical practice.

Lumen-oriented versus wall-oriented treatment strategies for intracranial aneurysms - A systematic review of suggested therapeutic concepts.

The development of new treatment strategies for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) has been and continues to be a major interest in neurovascular research. Initial treatment concepts were mainly based on a physical-mechanistic disease understanding for IA occlusion (lumen-oriented therapies). However, a growing body of literature indicates the important role of aneurysm wall biology (wall-oriented therapies) for complete IA obliteration. This systematic literature review identified studies that explored endovascular treatment strategies for aneurysm treatment in a preclinical setting. Of 5278 publications screened, 641 studies were included, categorized, and screened for eventual translation in a clinical trial. Lumen-oriented strategies included (1) enhanced intraluminal thrombus organization, (2) enhanced intraluminal packing, (3) bridging of the intraluminal space, and (4) other, alternative concepts. Wall-oriented strategies included (1) stimulation of proliferative response, (2) prevention of aneurysm wall cell injury, (3) inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, and (4) inhibition of extracellular matrix degradation. Overall, lumen-oriented strategies numerically still dominate over wall-oriented strategies. Among the plethora of suggested preclinical treatment strategies, only a small minority were translated into clinically applicable concepts (36 of 400 lumen-oriented and 6 of 241 wall-oriented). This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview that may provide a starting point for the development of new treatment strategies.