Virtual magnetic resonance elastography predicts the intraoperative consistency of meningiomas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Virtual magnetic resonance elastography (vMRE) is an experimental imaging modality designed to non-invasively predict the haptic properties of tissues. The modality is sensitive to tissue stiffness and fibrosis. Information about meningioma consistency prior to resection is of great interest in neurological surgery as the surgical plan and outcome may be affected by the tumor's stiffness. In this study, we assessed the ability of vMRE to predict the intraoperative consistency and mechanical heterogeneity of intracranial meningiomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 12 patients scheduled for meningioma resection, of which one patient was found to have a solitary fibrous tumor on histological examination. All participants underwent preoperative vMRE and intraoperative consistency grading. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative qualitative consistency correlated positively with vMRE-based consistency assessment (odds ratio 5.63, 95% CI 1.12-28.30, p = 0.04) at b1000. Mechanically homogenous tumors had significantly lower ∆ mean stiffness than heterogeneous tumors (8.13 vs 18.07 kPa, p = 0.01). This study thus demonstrates a possible clinical application of vMRE in predicting the intraoperative consistency and mechanical heterogeneity of meningiomas.

Diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of primary CNS lymphoma-a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a highly aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that occurs in the CNS (e.g. brain, meninges, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, or intraocular involvement) in the absence of systemic NHL. Tumor resection does not improve survival, and neurosurgical intervention is generally limited to stereotactic biopsy to provide a histopathological diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this single-center study was to evaluate the management and outcome of PCNSL patients diagnosed by biopsy, using overall survival and progression-free survival as endpoints. METHODS: At our department of neurosurgery, 140 patients were diagnosed with PCNSL by biopsy between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2018. Of these, 37 patients were included in the study and were divided into three groups according to their postoperative therapy. RESULTS: Median OS was 35.7 months for the intensive treatment group, 29.5 months for the moderate treatment group, and 8.6 months for the palliative treatment group. The intensive and moderate treatment groups had similar progression-free survival, while the palliative treatment group had poor overall and progression-free survival. Six patients were long-term survivors (> 80 months). Age under 65 years was the main significant parameter affecting overall survival. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, patients with PCNSL had an overall fair prognosis if they (1) were under 65 years old, (2) had a performance score < 2 at the time of diagnosis, and (3) received either intensive or moderate chemotherapeutic treatment. Biopsy is still the primary diagnostic tool; other methods have been investigated but are not yet recommended.

Beneficial potential of intravenously administered IL-6 in improving outcome after murine experimental stroke.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with neuroprotective properties. Still, the therapeutic potential of IL-6 after experimental stroke has not yet been investigated in a clinically relevant way. Here, we investigated the therapeutic use of intravenously administered IL-6 and the soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) alone or in combination, early after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAo) in mice. IL-6 did not affect the infarct volume in C57BL/6 mice, at neither 24 nor 72h after pMCAo but reduced the infarct volume in IL-6 knockout mice at 24h after pMCAo. Assessment of post-stroke behavior showed an improved grip strength after a single IL-6 injection and also improved rotarod endurance after two injections, in C57BL/6 mice at 24h. An improved grip strength and a better preservation of sensory functions was also observed in IL-6 treated IL-6 knockout mice 24h after pMCAo. Co-administration of IL-6 and sIL-6R increased the infarct volume, the number of infiltrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes and impaired the rotarod endurance of C57BL/6 mice 24h after pMCAo. IL-6 administration to naïve C57BL/6 mice lead after 45min to increased plasma-levels of CXCL1 and IL-10, whereas IL-6 administration to C57BL/6 mice lead to a reduction in the ischemia-induced increase in IL-6 and CXCL1 at both mRNA and protein level in brain, and of IL-6 and CXCL1 in serum. We also investigated the expression of IL-6 and IL-6R after pMCAo and found that cortical neurons upregulated IL-6 mRNA and protein, and upregulated IL-6R after pMCAo. In conclusion, the results show a complex but potentially beneficial effect of intravenously administered IL-6 in experimental stroke.

Treatment of chronic subdural haematoma.

A further rise in chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) prevalence is expected with an ageing population, and evidence-based guidelines are needed to direct treatment, while creating a platform for research. The Danish Chronic Subdural Hematoma Study (DACSUHS) has implemented the first Danish national CSDH guidelines in 2018 and have standardised CSDH management on a national level. Based on CSDH literature published between 2016 and 2022, these guidelines were updated in 2022. The updated guidelines are presented in this review.

Intraoperative Irrigation and Risk of Chronic Subdural Hematoma Recurrence.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In most neurosurgical centers, irrigation is an essential part of the surgical procedure for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, it is unknown whether the volume of irrigation fluid affects the risk of CSDH recurrence. This study aimed to investigate a potential association between the volume of irrigation fluid used during burr hole evacuation of CSDH and the risk of CSDH recurrence. METHODS: This study is a subanalysis of 2 randomized trials (Drain Time & Drain Time 2) designed to investigate the effect of drainage duration on the recurrence of CSDH. Intraoperative irrigation volume was measured, and patients were followed for 90 days for recurrent CSDH. RESULTS: A total of 525 patients with CSDH were included. There was no significant difference in the volume of irrigation fluid used between patients with recurrence (mean = 938 mL, SD = ±552) and without recurrence (mean = 852 mL, SD = ±454) ( P -value = .15). Patients with recurrent CSDH had larger primary CSDH volumes (mean = 134 cm 3 , SD = ±69) than patients without recurrence (mean = 119 cm 3 , SD = ±58) ( P = .04). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed no association between irrigation volume and recurrence, also when stratified for hematoma size. CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between irrigation volume and recurrent CSDH within 90 days in patients undergoing burr hole surgery for CSDH.

Descriptive registry study on outcome and complications of external ventricular drainage treatment of intraventricular haemorrhage in a Danish cohort: a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. External ventricular drainage (EVD) has been shown to decrease mortality. Although EVD is widely used, outcome and complication rates in EVD-treated patients with IVH are not fully elucidated. This study aims to describe EVD complication rates and outcomes in patients with primary and secondary IVH at two university hospitals in Denmark. The study will provide a historical reference of relevant endpoints for use in future clinical trials involving patients with IVH. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This descriptive, multicentre registry study included adult patients (age 18+) with primary or secondary IVH and treated with at least one EVD between 2017 and 2021 at Aarhus University Hospital or Odense University Hospital. Patients are identified using the Danish National Patient Register. Data are collected and recorded from patient medical records. Relevant descriptive statistics and correlation analyses will be applied. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval and authorisation to access, store and analyse data have been obtained (Central Denmark Region Committee on Health Research Ethics). The research lead will present the results of the study. Data will be reported according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and results submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Postoperative drainage for 6, 12, or 24 h after burr-hole evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma in symptomatic patients (DRAIN-TIME 2): study protocol for a nationwide randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common acute or subacute neurosurgical condition, typically treated by burr-hole evacuation and drainage. Recurrent CSDH occurs in 5-20% of cases and requires reoperation in symptomatic patients, sometimes repeatedly. Postoperative subdural drainage of maximal 48 h is effective in reducing recurrent hematomas. However, the shortest possible drainage time without increasing the recurrence rate is unknown. METHODS: DRAIN-TIME 2 is a Danish multi-center, randomized controlled trial of postoperative drainage time including all four neurosurgical departments in Denmark. Both incapacitated and mentally competent patients are enrolled. Patients older than 18 years, free of other intracranial pathologies or history of previous brain surgery, are recruited at the time of admission or no later than 6 h after surgery. Each patient is randomized to either 6, 12, or 24 h of passive subdural drainage following single burr-hole evacuation of a CSDH. Mentally competent patients are asked to complete the SF-36 questionnaire. The primary endpoint is CSDH recurrence rate at 90 days. Secondary outcome measures include SF-36 at 90 days, length of hospital stay, drain-related complications, and complications related to immobilization and mortality. DISCUSSION: This multi-center trial will provide evidence regarding the shortest possible drainage time without increasing the recurrence rate. The potential impact of this study is significant as we believe that a shorter drainage period may be associated with fewer drain-related complications, fewer complications related to immobilization, and shorter hospital stays-thus reducing the overall health service burden from this condition. The expected benefits for patients' lives and health costs will increase as the CSDH patient population grows. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN15186366 . Registered in December 2020 and updated in October 2021. This protocol was developed in accordance with the SPIRIT Checklist and by use of the structured study protocol template provided by BMC Trials.

Serum levels of neurofilament light chain, neuron-specific enolase and S100 calcium-binding protein B during acute bacterial meningitis: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a severe disease with an overall poor outcome. Neurofilament (NFL) has shown to be a promising biomarker of neuroaxonal injury in various neurological disorders but has not been investigated in ABM. The aims of this study were (i) to obtain a temporal profile of NFL, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B in serum during ABM, and (ii) to evaluate their use as biomarkers of severity (Glasgow coma score) and prognosis (Glasgow Outcome Score, GOS and death) in severe ABM. METHODS: Fifteen adults with severe community-acquired ABM who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. Lumbar puncture and blood tests were performed on admission, and blood tests were performed three times daily during the ICU stay. GOS was obtained day 30. RESULTS: Serum NFL was significantly elevated in ABM patients compared to healthy controls, both at admission and throughout the observation period (p < .01). NFL increased significantly from day 1 up to day 3-6 (p < .0001), peaking day 6. NSE increased significantly from admission up to day 3 (p < .01). At day 5-6, the serum values were not significantly different from values at admission. The highest median serum value of S100B was observed at admission (0.10 µg/L, IQR 0.06-0.14), significantly decreasing day 4-6 (p < .05). None of the investigated biomarkers revealed significant correlation with severity and prognosis. CONCLUSION: This study represents a first clinical observation of the temporal profile of NFL in serum, in severe ABM. No correlation with severity or prognosis.

[MR-guided focused ultrasound for treatment of essential tremor].

Essential tremor can be a debilitating disease. In many cases, medical treatment is ineffective and/or holds significant side effects. Surgical treatment using deep brain stimulation is only possible in few and selected cases. The introduction of MR-guided focused ultrasound enables surgeons to make small and specific lesions in the thalamus with few side effects and limited risk for the patient. The effectiveness has been documented in several international studies and is summarised in this review.