Relative cerebral blood volume as response predictor in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma with anti-angiogenic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is one of the most common brain tumors in adult populations, usually carrying a poor prognosis. While several studies have researched the impact of anti-angiogenic therapies, especially anti-VEFG treatments in glioblastoma, few have attempted to assess its progress using imaging studies. PURPOSE: We attempted to analyze whether relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) from dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced MRI (DSC-MRI) could predict response in patients with glioblastoma undergoing Bevacizumab (BVZ) treatment. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study evaluating patients with recurrent glioblastoma receiving anti-angiogenic therapy with BVZ between 2012 and 2017 in our institution. Patients were scheduled for routine MRIs at baseline and first-month follow-up visits. Studies were processed for DSC-MRI, cT1, and FLAIR images, from which relative cerebral blood volume measurements were obtained. We assessed patient response using the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) working group criteria and overall survival. RESULTS: 40 patients were included in the study and were classified as Bevacizumab responders and non-responders. The average rCBV before treatment was 4.5 for both groups, and average rCBV was 2.5 for responders and 5.4 for non-responders. ROC curve set a cutoff point of 3.7 for rCBV predictive of response to BVZ. Cox Multivariate analysis only showed rCBV as a predictive factor of OS. CONCLUSION: A statistically significant difference was found in rCBV between patients who responded and those who did not respond to BVZ treatment. rCBV may be a low-cost and effective marker to assess response to Bevacizumab treatment in GBM.

Epidemiology of Intracranial Meningiomas in Mexico: Cohort of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery During the Last Decade.

Introduction Meningiomas have been described as slow-growing neoplasms with benign behavior derived from the connective tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas represent one-third of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The World Health Organization (WHO) initially classified them into three groups based on their histopathological characteristics, recently incorporating molecular patterns. Small cohorts have been reported in Latin America compared to the international literature. Ignoring the epidemiology of meningiomas in this region and considering this limitation, we aim to study the epidemiology of meningiomas in our country, Mexico. Material and methods A historical cohort was carried out on 916 patients diagnosed with intracranial meningiomas from January 2008 to January 2021, considering sociodemographic, topographic, and histopathological characteristics. Results In this study, 69.4% (n=636) of patients were women with a mean overall age of 47.53 (SD=14.85) years; 79.6% (n=729) of the lesions were supratentorial with convexity meningiomas being the most prevalent at 32.6% (n=299). Histopathologically, transitional (45.7%) (n=419), meningothelial (22.1%) (n=202), and fibroblastic (16.7%) (n=153) meningiomas were the most frequent. We found significant differences between men and women in age (p=0.01), infra or supratentorial presentation (p<0.001), location of the lesion (p<0.001), and histopathological characteristics (p<0.001). Conclusions Our results are consistent with what has been reported; however, until now, it appears as the largest series reported in our country and Latin America.

Therapeutic Potential of Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Decreasing Neuropathic Pain: Clinical and Experimental Evidence.

BACKGROUND: For more than seven decades, ultrasound has been used as an imaging and diagnostic tool. Today, new technologies, such as focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation, have revealed some innovative, potential applications. However, those applications have been barely studied to deal with neuropathic pain (NP), a cluster of chronic pain syndromes with a restricted response to conventional pharmaceuticals. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the therapeutic potential of low-intensity (LIFUS) and high-intensity (HIFUS) FUS for managing NP. METHODS: We performed a narrative review, including clinical and experimental ultrasound neuromodulation studies published in three main database repositories. DISCUSSION: Evidence shows that FUS may influence several mechanisms relevant for neuropathic pain management such as modulation of ion channels, glutamatergic neurotransmission, cerebral blood flow, inflammation and neurotoxicity, neuronal morphology and survival, nerve regeneration, and remyelination. Some experimental models have shown that LIFUS may reduce allodynia after peripheral nerve damage. At the same time, a few clinical studies support its beneficial effect on reducing pain in nerve compression syndromes. In turn, Thalamic HIFUS ablation can reduce NP from several etiologies with minor side-effects, but some neurological sequelae might be permanent. HIFUS is also useful in lowering non-neuropathic pain in several disorders. CONCLUSION: Although an emerging set of studies brings new evidence on the therapeutic potential of both LIFUS and HIFUS for managing NP with minor side-effects, we need more controlled clinical trials to conclude about its safety and efficacy.

Reconversion of neurosurgical practice in times of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a narrative review of the literature and guideline implementation in a Mexican neurosurgical referral center.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced the modification of surgical practice worldwide. Medical centers have been adapted to provide an efficient arrangement of their economic and human resources. Although neurosurgeons are not in the first line of management and treatment of COVID-19 patients, they take care of patients with neurological pathology and potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Here, the authors describe their institutional actions against the pandemic and compare these actions with those in peer-reviewed publications. METHODS: The authors conducted a search using the MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases from the beginning of the pandemic until July 11, 2020, using the following terms: "Neurosurgery," "COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2," "reconversion/modification," "practice," "academy," and "teaching." Then, they created operational guidelines tailored for their institution to maximize resource efficiency and minimize risk for the healthcare personnel. RESULTS: According to the reviewed literature, the authors defined the following three changes that have had the greatest impact in neurosurgical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: 1) changes in clinical practices; 2) changes in the medical care setting, including modifications of perioperative care; and 3) changes in the academic teaching methodology. CONCLUSIONS: The Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez" is one of the major referral centers for treating highly complex neurosurgical pathologies in Mexico. Its clinical and neurosurgical practices have been modified with the implementation of specific interventions against the spread of COVID-19. These practical and simple actions are remarkably relevant in the context of the pandemic and can be adopted and suited by other healthcare centers according to their available resources to better prepare for the next event.

Panorama general de la terapia electroconvulsiva: indicaciones y funcionamiento / Electroconvulsive Therapy Overview: Indications and How it Works

Resumen La terapia electroconvulsiva (TEC) constituye una de las modalidades terapéuticas disponibles para el tratamiento de padecimientos psiquiátricos como depresión, manía, esquizofrenia y estados de catatonia. Incluso se considera la terapia con resultados más eficaces y rápidos para pacientes con padecimientos como depresión resistente, ideación suicida recurrente, psicosis aguda y padecimientos que llegan a ser mortales como el síndrome neuroléptico maligno. La TEC es una terapia de estimulación cerebral en la cual la respuesta terapéutica se logra a través de la generación de un estímulo eléctrico con una intensidad suficiente para producir una crisis convulsiva encefálica controlada, logrando una respuesta neurobiológica y neuroquímica positiva favorable. Este artículo enfoca la utilidad de la TEC en el tratamiento de distintos padecimientos neuropsiquiátricos, sus principios fisiopatológicos, la técnica utilizada, sus principales complicaciones y, sobre todo, una descripción global de su utilización, su eficacia y seguridad, así como la experiencia de su uso en nuestra institución. Constituye uno de los pocos artículos en México con este contenido que consideramos fundamental como parte del conocimiento de todos los profesionales de la salud.

Abstract The electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) constitutes one of the many treatment modalities available for management of psychiatric illnesses like depression, mania, schizophrenia, and catatonic states. It is even considered the single most effective and fastest treatment modality for patients with conditions like antidepressant-resistant depression, recurring suicidal ideations, acute psychoses, and potentially fatal conditions like malignant neuroleptic syndrome. ECT is a brain-stimulation therapy in which the therapeutic goal can be achieved through generating an electrical stimulus with enough intensity to produce a controlled seizure, achieving a positive and favorable neurobiological and neurochemical response. This article focuses on the use of ECT in treating the various neuropsychiatric conditions, its pathophysiological principles, the employed technique, its main complications and overall a description of its use, its efficiency and safety, as to the experience of its employment in our institution. This comprises one of the few articles in Mexico with this kind of content that we deem fundamental as part of the general knowledge for healthcare professionals.

Role of Overweight, Obesity, and Comorbidities in the Prognosis of Patients With Breast Cancer With Brain Metastases.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, and the incidence of brain metastasis (BM) from BC ranges from 20% to 30%, with a median survival of 10 to 15 months. Previous reports have shown that the presence of obesity or diabetes negatively impacts survival. The present study investigates the association between obesity or diabetes mellitus (DM) and overall survival of patients with BC with BM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database from 2 referral centers for the period of July 2014 to February 2018 was analyzed. The inclusion criteria were as follows: patients who had a confirmed diagnosis of BC with BM were followed and treated at these centers. Demographic data, body weight and height, clinical and oncologic history, functional status, prognostic scales, and prognoses were examined. RESULTS: A total of 228 patients were included. The median age at BM was 50 years; the median survival after diagnosis was 12.1 months; 108 patients had a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25, and 40 (17%) patients had DM. The association between survival and the presence of BMI > 25 exhibited a P value of 0.3. DISCUSSION: We found no association between overweight, obesity, or DM and survival in patients with BC with BM. The role of obesity in cancer is a robust research topic, as there are many questions to be answered. CONCLUSION: Obesity as a prognostic indicator should be further studied, because we found no association between overall survival and either patients with BM from BC with a BMI > 25 or those with normal weight.

The Comparative Treatment of Intraventricular Chemotherapy by Ommaya Reservoir vs. Lumbar Puncture in Patients With Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis.

Object: Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis (LCM) represents a state of systemic malignant disease with poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to compare overall survival (OS) between intraventricular chemotherapy through Ommaya reservoir (OR) and chemotherapy through lumbar puncture (LP) in LCM. Patients and Methods: Forty adult patients with LCM were included. All patients underwent lumbar puncture and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty patients received chemotherapy through LP and 10 undergone colocation of Ommaya reservoir for intraventricular chemotherapy. Results: The most common symptom was headache (Present in 50%). The cranial nerves most affected were VI and VII. Leptomeningeal enhancement was the most frequent finding in MRI. The OS in the LP group was 4 months and Ommaya group was 9.2 months (p = 0.0006; CI:1.8-3), with statistical differences in favor to Intraventricular treatment. Proportional hazard regression showed that receiving chemotherapy through Ommaya reservoir was a protective factor (Hazard ratio = 0.258, Standard Error = 0.112, p = 0.002 and 95% CI 0.110-0.606). Using KPS as a factor did not affect the hazard ratio of Ommaya reservoir itself. Conclusions: OS was significantly higher in patients with Ommaya reservoir in spite of Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) previous to chemotherapy. Therefore, intraventricular chemotherapy should be preferred over lumbar puncture chemotherapy administration if there are resources available.

Fractal anatomy of the hippocampal formation.

PURPOSE: We believed that the hippocampal complex is a fractal, and we try to demonstrate it. METHODS: We selected 12 magnetic resonance (MR) studies from healthy brains. Five women and 7 men without neurological or psychiatric disease were analyzed. The age range was 50-71 years old, with a mean 57.1 ± 7.6 years. Image series of MR were obtained through 3D SPGR in scanner GE Singa 3.0 T (general Electric, USA), matrix acquisition 512 Å-512 Å-120, field size 240 mm, voxel size 0.47 mm Å-0.47 mm Å-1.2 mm, repetition time of 13 ms and eco time of 5.6 ms. The MRI were imported in DICOM format in the OsiriXsoftware where they were contoured. Post processing was done with ImageJ software; Box Counting method for fractal analysis and we also used the Box Counting method of the BoneJ plugin. RESULTS: All of the hippocampus analyzed were a fractal. The fractal dimension analysis distribution of the measurements had a central tendency. The mean of hippocampal fractal dimension was 1.32635, the range was from 1.3373 to 1.5344. We found a short interval of variability in the hippocampal fractal number. CONCLUSIONS: The hippocampal complex is a fractal. The fractal analysis must be an objective measurement that can help us as a descriptive tool in hippocampal anatomy and maybe in a close future in the diagnosis of anatomical alterations.

[Primary Tumors of the Central Nervous System. Clinical Experience at a Third Level Center].

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are a group of neoplasms that originate from various cells in the CNS. The increasing incidence and prevalence of this type of tumor in developing countries are striking; however, there are few current studies in Latin America including Mexico estimating the impact of these pathological entities on the general population. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the characteristics of primary CNS tumors over a period of 52 years. Methods: A review of records from patients with a histopathological diagnosis of CNS neoplasm over a period of 52 years was conducted at a tertiary-care academic medical center. Patients were grouped by sex, age, and the tumor's anatomical location. Results: A sample of 9615 patients with tumor lesions was obtained; 51% were female, 49% were male, and their mean age was 42 years. The tumors with the highest prevalence were neuroepithelial tumors (38.6%), followed by meningeal tumors (22.8%). Neuroepithelial tumors accounted for 64% in the group of patients under 40 years of age and 56% among those above 40 years of age. The most frequently involved location was supratentorial, in 78.9% of cases. Conclusions: Although retrospective in nature and based on a small sample, this study reports the epidemiology and characteristics of primary brain tumors in the Mexican population.

[First Mexican consensus on recommendations of the multidisciplinary care of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): Mexican Interdisciplinary Group on Neuro-Oncology Research (GIMINO)]. / Primer consenso mexicano sobre recomendaciones de la atención multidisciplinaria del paciente con glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Grupo Interdisciplinar Mexicano de Investigación en Neurooncología (GIMINO).

Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most aggressive central nervous system tumors and with worse prognosis. Until now,treatments have managed to significantly increase the survival of these patients, depending on age, cognitive status, and autonomy of the individuals themselves. Based on these parameters, both initial or recurrence treatments are performed, as well as monitoring of disease by imaging studies. When the patient enters the terminal phase and curative treatments are suspended, respect for the previous wishes of the patient and development and implementation of palliative therapies must be guaranteed.

[Anti-N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDAR): a case report]. / Encefalitis por anticuerpos antirreceptor de N-metil-D-aspartato (anti-NMDAR): reporte de un caso.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDAR) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms, hyperkinetic movements, and even central hypoventilation. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is a recently described disease, but is already considered one of the most frequent etiologies of noninfectious encephalitis. We report the case of 16-year-old man in which it the presence of anti-NMDAR antibodies in the absence of a neoplasm was identified. Disease course and gradual recovery, as well as a brief review of the syndrome, is presented. To our knowledge this is the first proven case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis in Mexico.