Emerging Applications of Image Post-Processing 3D Visualisation for Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Intracranial vascular-related diseases are a common occurrence in neurosurgery. They have complex and diverse pathogeneses; further, their diagnosis and treatment remain unclear. Three-dimensional image post-processing technology is an emerging technology that involves converting a brain image scan into a digital model using image post-processing software, thus establishing a 3D view of the region of interest. Three-dimensional visualisation of the brains of patients with cerebrovascular diseases can allow a more intuitive examination of the local anatomy of the lesion as well as the adjacency between the lesion and peripheral nerves, brain tissue, and skull bones. Subsequently, this informs pre-operative planning, allows more accurate diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases, and improves the safety of surgical treatment. This review summarised the current literature regarding cerebrovascular diseases and the application of 3D image post-processing technology in different cerebrovascular diseases.

Knockdown of PGBD5 inhibits the malignant progression of glioma through upregulation of the PPAR pathway.

Glioma is the most common type of primary intracranial malignant tumor, and because of its high invasiveness and recurrence, its prognosis remains poor. The present study investigated the biological function of piggyBac transportable element derived 5 (PGBD5) in glioma. Glioma and para-cancerous tissues were obtained from five patients. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of PGBD5. Transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate cell migration, invasion, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution. In addition, a nude mouse tumor transplantation model was established to study the downstream pathways of PGBD5 and the molecular mechanism was analyzed using transcriptome sequencing. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PGBD5 were increased in glioma tissues and cells. Notably, knockdown of PGBD5 in vitro could inhibit the migration and invasion of glioma cells. In addition, the knockdown of PGBD5 expression promoted apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, thus inhibiting cell proliferation. Furthermore, in vivo experiments revealed that knockdown of PGBD5 expression could inhibit Ki67 expression and slow tumor growth. Changes in PGBD5 expression were also shown to be closely related to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. In conclusion, interference with PGBD5 could inhibit the malignant progression of glioma through the PPAR pathway, suggesting that PGBD5 may be a potential molecular target of glioma.

Clinical outcomes of pipeline embolization devices with shield technology for treating intracranial aneurysms.

Introduction: As a common endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms, the pipeline embolization device (PED) is considered a standard treatment option, especially for large, giant, wide-necked, or dissecting aneurysms. A layer of phosphorylcholine biocompatible polymer added to the surface of the PED can substantially improve this technology. This PED with shield technology (pipeline shield) is relatively novel; its early technical success and safety have been reported. We conducted a systematic literature review with the aim of evaluating the efficacy and safety of the pipeline shield. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, following the preferred reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: We selected five prospective and two retrospective studies for review. A total of 572 aneurysms were included; of these, 506 (88.5%) were unruptured. The antiplatelet regimens were heterogeneous. The rate of perioperative and postoperative complications was 11.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.5-18.9%]. The adequate occlusion rate at 6 months was 73.9% (95% CI: 69.1-78.7%). The adequate occlusion rate of more than 12 months was 80.9% (95% CI: 75.1-86.1%). The mortality rate was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2-1.5%). Subgroup analyses showed that aneurysm rupture status had no effect on aneurysm occlusion rate, patient morbidity, or mortality. Conclusion: This review demonstrates the safety and efficacy of the pipeline shield for treating intracranial aneurysms. However, direct comparisons of the pipeline shield with other flow diverters are needed to better understand the relative safety and effectiveness of different devices.