Biographies of international women leaders in neurosurgery.

We received so many biographies of women neurosurgery leaders for this issue that only a selection could be condensed here. In all of them, the essence of a leader shines through. Many are included as "first" of their country or color or other achievement. All of them are included as outstanding-in clinical, academic, and organized neurosurgery. Two defining features are tenacity and service. When faced with shocking discrimination, or numbing indifference, they ignored it or fought valiantly. When choosing their life's work, they chose service, often of the most neglected-those with pain, trauma, and disability. These women inspire and point the way to a time when the term "women leaders" as an exception is unnecessary.-Katharine J. Drummond, MD, on behalf of this month's topic editors.

Are Our Hands Still Clean?

"Clean Hands Save Lives," we have heard it numerous times. But are our hands really clean? We realized that the most neglected parts of our hands are the most medial part of the little finger and palm and the most lateral part of the index finger and palm. Putting an emphasis on it, we put forward two additional steps in the routine handwashing technique increasing to 9 steps instead of the previous 7. How to cite this article: Bajaj A, Chaurasiya N, Tripathi M. Are Our Hands Still Clean? Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(5):601-602.

Independent impact of plasma homocysteine levels on neurological outcome following head injury.

Homocysteine (tHcy) has been hardly studied among patients with head injury. This study was to evaluate whether there is any independent impact of tHcy levels on neurological outcome following head injury in a multivariate model. Patients admitted within 24 h of injury were included in the study, along with 20 age- and gender-matched controls. Plasma levels of tHcy were measured at admission using direct immunoassay. All the variables were analyzed with respect to tHcy levels and outcome according to Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at 3 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using SPSS 21. There were a total of 72 patients in the study. tHcy levels were significantly higher after head injury (mean 24.03[SD ± 16.0] µmol/L), compared to matched controls (mean 16.62 [SD ± 10.4] µmol/L) (p = 0.05). Patients with severe head injury, acute SDH, or diffuse higher radiological grades had greater levels of tHcy compared to others. There was a significant relationship between tHcy level and neurological outcome. tHcy levels were significantly higher in patients who had unfavorable GOS (mean 36.22[±25.3] µmol/L), compared to those with favorable GOS (mean 22.71[±14.3] µmol/L) (P = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, tHcy level (adj. odds ratio [OR] 1.17, P = 0.05) and Glasgow Coma Scale (adj. OR 5.17, P = 0.01) had significant association with neurological outcome at 3 months independent of age, dietary habit, radiological grading and of each other. tHcy level has significant independent impact on neurological outcome and may be useful as a prognostic marker following head injury.

Can immediate postoperative random growth hormone levels predict long-term cure in patients with acromegaly?

BACKGROUND: Growth hormone (GH) levels following oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 12 weeks or later after surgery have been accepted as the most reliable parameter for defining remission and/or cure in patients with acromegaly. However, the role of random GH in predicting remission in the immediate postoperative period using modern criteria is not known. This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of random GH levels in first 5 postoperative days as an early predictive tool for long-term remission of patients with acromegaly following transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five consecutive acromegaly patients with at least three postoperative OGTT values at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up were included in the study. GH levels were measured just before surgery, in the immediate postoperative period, at 6 h and on day 1 to day 5 after surgery. Remission was defined as normal age-specific insulin-like growth factor-1 and either basal fasting GH <1 ng/ml or a nadir GH following OGTT <0 .4 ng/ml at 3 months of surgery. RESULTS: Of the 75 patients with acromegaly who underwent TSS, long-term remission was achieved in 42 (56%) patients. GH values ≤1.55 ng/ml at 6 h of surgery showed the highest predictive power for long-term remission, with a sensitivity of 81.2% and a specificity of 83.3%. The duration of disease and tumor volume had no effect on the 6 h GH value-related prediction of cure. CONCLUSION: Early postoperative GH values may be used to predict long-term cure. A value of ≤1.5 ng/ml at 6 h following surgery may predict long-term cure in two-thirds of the patients with acromegaly who undergo TSS.

Role of Acetazolamide in Traumatic CSF Rhinorrhea and Otorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Untreated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and otorrhea can lead to adverse complications like meningitis and hence should not be overlooked. Acetazolamide reduces CSF production by 48%. The actual role of acetazolamide in the amelioration of traumatic CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea is not clear as, till date, very few formal studies have been conducted. Aim of the study was to determine the role of acetazolamide in traumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and otorrhea. Materials and Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 134 patients with head injuries presenting to the neurosurgery department of a tertiary care center in North India, with complaints of CSF rhinorrhea and otorrhea within 72 hours of traumatic injury. One-hundred thirty-four patients were randomized into intervention and control group. Comparative analysis was not possible in 58 patients as in due course they were either operated for head injury or lumbar drain was put due to excessive CSF leak; hence, forth comparative analysis was done in 76 patients. Out of these 76 patients, 44 patients belonged to the intervention group (Acetazolamide given) and 32 belong to the control group (Acetazolamide not given). The day of the stoppage of CSF Leak was the main endpoint of this study. Result Majority of the patients were in the age group of 21 to 30 years and were predominantly males. Road traffic accident was observed in 84 (75%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference noted in the mean number of days of CSF leak whether acetazolamide was given or not ( p = 0.344). The complication associated with CSF leak was meningitis. The percentage of patients developing meningitis was more after lumber drain insertion. Conclusion In our study, there was no advantage of adding acetazolamide to the conservative management of traumatic CSF leak. Therefore, the practice of routinely giving acetazolamide should be reconsidered.

A prospective, randomized, controlled study comparing two surgical procedures of decompressive craniectomy in patients with traumatic brain injury: Dural closure without dural closure.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is used to treat severe traumatic brain injury [TBI]. The present study compared dural open and closed surgical procedures for DC and their relationship with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (E) (GOS-E) scores and survival in prospective randomized controlled TBI patients. Patients aged 10-65 (36.97 ± 13.23) with DC were hospitalized in the neurotrauma unit of King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India. The patients were randomized into test; with dural closure (n = 60) and control without dural closure (OD) (n = 60) groups. After decompressive craniectomy, patients were monitored daily until hospital discharge or death and for three months. GSC/E leakage, infection, and functional status were also assessed. Age (p = 0.795), sex (p = 0.104), mode of injury (p = 0.195), GCS score (p = 0.40, p = 0.469), Rotterdam score (p = 0.731), and preoperative midline shift (MLS) (p = 0.378) did not vary between the OD and CD groups. Neither technique affected the mortality, motor score, or pupil response (p > 0.05). After one and three months, GOS extension was associated with open and closed dural procedures (p = 0.089). Intracranial pressure, brain bulge, GCS score, and MLS were not associated with theoperative method(p > 0.05). The open dural group had a significantly shorter procedure time than the closed dural group (P = 0.026). Both groups showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between CSF leak and post-traumatic hydrocephalus. Dural opensurgery for a compressed craniectomy is shorter and not associated with significant surgical consequences compared to close dural close surgery.

The µ opioid receptor is not involved in ethanol-stimulated dopamine release in the ventral striatum of C57BL/6J mice.

BACKGROUND: The mu opioid receptor (MOR) has previously been found to regulate ethanol-stimulated dopamine release under some, but not all, conditions. A difference in ethanol-evoked dopamine release between male and female mixed background C57BL/6J-129SvEv mice led to questions about its ubiquitous role in these effects of ethanol. Using congenic C57BL/6J MOR knockout (KO) mice and C57BL/6J mice pretreated with an irreversible MOR antagonist, we investigated the function of this receptor in ethanol-stimulated dopamine release. METHODS: Microdialysis was used to monitor dopamine release and ethanol clearance in MOR -/-, +/+, and +/- . male and female mice after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g/kg ethanol (or saline). We also measured the increase in dopamine release after 5 mg/kg morphine (i.p.) in male and female MOR+/+ and -/- mice. In a separate experiment, male C57BL/6J mice were pretreated with either the irreversible MOR antagonist beta funaltrexamine (BFNA) or vehicle, and dopamine levels were monitored after administration of 2 g/kg ethanol or 5 mg/kg morphine. RESULTS: Although ethanol-stimulated dopamine release at all the 3 doses of alcohol tested, there were no differences between MOR+/+, -/-, and +/- mice in these effects. Female mice had a more prolonged effect compared to males at the 1 g/kg dose. Administration of 2 g/kg ethanol also caused a similar increase in dopamine levels in both saline-pretreated and BFNA-pretreated mice. Five mg/kg morphine caused a significant increase in dopamine levels in MOR+/+ mice but not in MOR-/- mice and in saline-pretreated mice but not in BFNA-pretreated mice. Intraperitoneal saline injections had a significant, albeit small and transient, effect on dopamine release when given in a volume equivalent to the ethanol doses, but not in a volume equivalent to the 5 mg/kg morphine dose. Ethanol pharmacokinetics were similar in all genotypes and both sexes at each dose and in both pretreatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: MOR is not involved in ethanol-stimulated dopamine release in the ventral striatum of C57BL/6J mice.

A Comparative Analysis Between Four-Quadrant Osteoplastic Decompressive Craniotomy versus Conventional Decompressive Craniectomy for Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Primary decompressive craniectomy (DC) is indicated to evacuate the hematoma and reduce intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, there are a myriad of complications because of absence of the bone flap. A novel technique, four-quadrant osteoplastic decompressive craniotomy (FoQOsD) retains the bone flap while achieving adequate cerebral decompression. METHODS: A single-center randomized controlled trial of 115 patients with TBI needing decompressive surgery was conducted. Of these patients, 59 underwent DC and 56 underwent FoQOsD. The primary outcome determined was functional status at 6 months using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended. RESULTS: No significant differences were identified in baseline characteristics between both groups. Mean Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended score was comparable at 6 months (4.28 in DC vs. 4.38 in FoQOsD; P = 0.856). Further, 22 of 58 patients in the DC group had died (38%) compared with 25 of 55 patients in the FoQOsD group (44.6%) (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-2.36; P = 0.6) (1 patient lost to follow-up in each group). A favorable outcome was seen in 56.8% of patients in the DC group versus 54.4% of patients in the FoQOsD group (P = 0.74). Presence of intraventricular hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR, 7.17; 95% CI, 1.364-37.7; P = 0.020), opposite side contusions (OR, 3.838; 95% CI, 1.614-9.131; P = 0.002) and anisocoria (OR, 3.235; 95% CI, 1.490-7.026; P = 0.003) preoperatively were individual factors that played a significant role in final outcome. CONCLUSIONS: FoQOsD is as efficacious as conventional DC with the added benefit of avoiding a second surgery. The procedure is associated with better cosmesis and fewer complications.

Endoscopic Transcortical Transventricular Management of Cystic Craniopharyngioma: Outcome Analysis of 32 Cases at a Tertiary Care Center.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical resection has been considered the gold standard treatment of craniopharyngioma, but lately, it has found less favor due to its morbidity and is being replaced by minimally invasive cyst drainage procedures. We present our experience of transventricular endoscopy and cyst drainage along with its technique and have analyzed its results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and radiological data of all cystic craniopharyngioma patients treated by transventricular endoscopic cyst drainage and Ommaya placement were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients underwent endoscopic cyst drainage during the study period. All patients had immediate clinical and radiological improvement. No significant complications were seen. All patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and six patients (18.7%) showed recurrence. Three patients died in the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic transcortical transventricular cyst drainage with Ommaya reservoir along with adjuvant radiotherapy is a simple, safe, and effective treatment modality.

Spontaneous Umbilical CSF Fistula Due to Migration of the Peritoneal End of VP Shunt: A Case Report and Review of Pathogenesis.

Abdominal complications after ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery for hydrocephalus have been known to occur. The more common complications include peritoneal pseudocyst, obstruction of the lower end, and shunt infection. Perforations of the intra-abdominal hollow viscera leading to spontaneous extrusions of the peritoneal catheter via the natural orifices have also been reported. A rarer phenomenon still is the migration of the lower end of the VP shunt through the anterior abdominal wall, leading to the formation of a spontaneous umbilical fistula at a site unrelated to the surgical site. Eight cases have been described in the literature so far with various causes elucidated. We report this condition in a child 4.5 years after his shunt surgery and postulate different mechanisms for both early and late presentations of this condition.

Selection of metastatic breast cancer cells based on adaptability of their metabolic state.

A small subpopulation of highly adaptable breast cancer cells within a vastly heterogeneous population drives cancer metastasis. Here we describe a function-based strategy for selecting rare cancer cells that are highly adaptable and drive malignancy. Although cancer cells are dependent on certain nutrients, e.g., glucose and glutamine, we hypothesized that the adaptable cancer cells that drive malignancy must possess an adaptable metabolic state and that such cells could be identified using a robust selection strategy. As expected, more than 99.99% of cells died upon glutamine withdrawal from the aggressive breast cancer cell line SUM149. The rare cells that survived and proliferated without glutamine were highly adaptable, as judged by additional robust adaptability assays involving prolonged cell culture without glucose or serum. We were successful in isolating rare metabolically plastic glutamine-independent (Gln-ind) variants from several aggressive breast cancer cell lines that we tested. The Gln-ind cells overexpressed cyclooxygenase-2, an indicator of tumor aggressiveness, and they were able to adjust their glutaminase level to suit glutamine availability. The Gln-ind cells were anchorage-independent, resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin and paclitaxel, and resistant to a high concentration of a COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. The number of cells being able to adapt to non-availability of glutamine increased upon prior selection of cells for resistance to chemotherapy drugs or resistance to celecoxib, further supporting a linkage between cellular adaptability and therapeutic resistance. Gln-ind cells showed indications of oxidative stress, and they produced cadherin11 and vimentin, indicators of mesenchymal phenotype. Gln-ind cells were more tumorigenic and more metastatic in nude mice than the parental cell line as judged by incidence and time of occurrence. As we decreased the number of cancer cells in xenografts, lung metastasis and then primary tumor growth was impaired in mice injected with parental cell line, but not in mice injected with Gln-ind cells.