TRIM56: a promising prognostic immune biomarker for glioma revealed by pan-cancer and single-cell analysis.

Tripartite-motif 56 (TRIM56) is a member of the TRIM family, and was shown to be an interferon-inducible E3 ubiquitin ligase that can be overexpressed upon stimulation with double-stranded DNA to regulate stimulator of interferon genes (STING) to produce type I interferon and thus mediate innate immune responses. Its role in tumors remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the expression of the TRIM56 gene and its prognostic value in pan-cancer, identifying TRIM56 expression as an adverse prognostic factor in glioma patients. Therefore, glioma was selected as the primary focus of our investigation. We explored the differential expression of TRIM56 in various glioma subtypes and verified its role as an independent prognostic factor in gliomas. Our research revealed that TRIM56 is associated with malignant biological behaviors in gliomas, such as proliferation, migration, and invasion. Additionally, it can mediate M2 polarization of macrophages in gliomas. The results were validated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we utilized single-cell analysis to investigate the impact of TRIM56 expression on cell communication between glioma cells and non-tumor cells. We constructed a multi-gene signature based on cell markers of tumor cells with high TRIM56 expression to enhance the prediction of cancer patient prognosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that TRIM56 serves as a reliable immune-related prognostic biomarker in glioma.

CAR-NK cells for acute myeloid leukemia immunotherapy: past, present and future.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a deadly disease and the most common leukemia in adult with clonal heterogeneity and abnormity in myeloid lineages, which has been recognized with high morbidity and mortality attributes to the recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. Numerous literatures have indicated the encouraging progress in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and chimeric antigen receptor-transduced T (CAR-T) cells. However, the outcomes of recurrent and refractory AML (r/rAML) patients with current strategies are still unsatisfactory, which largely due to the matching restriction as well as adverse reactions, including graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), neurotoxicity and cytokine release syndrome (CRS). State-of-the-art literatures have indicated CAR-transduced NK (CAR-NK) cells for the management of diverse hematologic malignancies including AML, which are recognized as novel weapons for reinforcing the specificity and cytotoxicity of autogenous and allogeneic "off-the-shelf" NK cells dispense with prior sensitization. Therefore, in this review, we mainly focus on the latest updates of alternative cell sources, therapeutic targets, CAR-modification and delivery strategies, standardization and productization, together with prospective and challenges of CAR-NK cell-based cytotherapy, which will collectively benefit the further development of novel treatment paradigms for combating AML via both CAR-dependent and NK cell receptor-dependent signaling cascades in future.

Decoding the multidimensional signatures of resident and expanded natural killer cells generated from perinatal blood.

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes and play a pivotal role in innate and adaptive immune responses against infections and malignancies. Longitudinal studies have indicated the feasibility of perinatal blood for large-scale NK cell generation, yet the systematic and detailed comparations of the signatures of resident and expanded NK cells (rNKs, eNKs) are largely obscure. Herein, we harvested rNKs from umbilical cord blood (rUC-NKs) and placental blood (rP-NKs) as well as the corresponding eNKs (eUC-NKs, eP-NKs). Furthermore, the biological properties and transcriptomic signatures including cellular subpopulations, cytotoxicity, gene expression profiling, genetic characteristics, signaling pathways and gene set-related biological process were investigated. The enriched rNKs and eNKs exhibited diversity in biomarker expression pattern, and eNKs with higher percentages of NKG2D+, NKG2A+, NKp44+ and NKp46+ subsets. rNKs or eNKs with different origins showed more similarities in transcriptomic signatures than those with the same origin. Our data revealed multifaceted similarities and differences of the indicated rNKs and pNKs both at the cellular and molecular levels. Our findings provide new references for further dissecting the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of rNKs and eNKs, which will collectively benefit the fundamental and translational studies of NK cell-based immunotherapy.

Sinensetin suppresses angiogenesis in liver cancer by targeting the VEGF/VEGFR2/AKT signaling pathway.

Sinensetin (SIN) is a polymethoxy flavone primarily present in citrus fruits. This compound has demonstrated anticancer activity. However, the underlying mechanism of its action has not been fully understood. The present study investigated the impact of SIN on angiogenesis in a liver cancer model. In a murine xenograft tumor model, SIN inhibited the growth of HepG2/C3A human liver hepatoma cell-derived tumors and reduced the expression levels of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 and VEGF. In HepG2/C3A cells, SIN repressed VEGF expression by downregulating hypoxia-inducible factor expression. In cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, SIN increased apoptosis and repressed migration and tube formation. In addition, SIN decreased the phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and inhibited the AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking demonstrated that the VEGFR2 core domain effectively combined with SIN at various important residues. Collectively, these data suggested that SIN inhibited liver cancer angiogenesis by regulating VEGF/VEGFR2/AKT signaling.

Hypoxia Inhibits Proliferation of Human Dermal Lymphatic Endothelial Cells via Downregulation of Carcinoembryonic Antigen-related Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 Expression.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) proliferation is essential for lymphangiogenesis. Hypoxia induces lymphangiogenesis, but it directly inhibits LEC proliferation and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) in hypoxia-repressed LEC proliferation. METHODS: Human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (HDLECs) were cultured under normoxic or hypoxic conditions, and cell proliferation was determined using MTT or CCK-8 assays. CEACAM1 expression was silenced by siRNA transfection. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was examined by Western blotting and blocked by specific inhibitors. RESULTS: Under hypoxia, HDLECs proliferation was suppressed and CEACAM1 expression was downregulated. Silence of CEACAM1 in normoxia inhibited HDLECs proliferation and did not further decrease proliferation in HDLECs in response to hypoxia, suggesting that CEACAM1 may mediate hypoxia-induced inhibition of HDLECs proliferation. In addition, silence of CEACAM1 increased phosphorylation of MAPK molecules: extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in HDLECs. However, only inhibition of the JNK pathway rescued the reduction of HDLEC proliferation induced by CEACAM1 silence. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that hypoxia downregulates CEACAM1 expression by activation of the JNK pathway, leading to inhibition of HDLEC proliferation. These findings may help to understand the mechanisms of LEC-specific response to hypoxia and develop novel therapies for pathological lymphangiogenesis.

Multifaceted modifications for a cell size-based circulating tumor cell scope technique hold the prospect for large-scale application in general populations.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) indicate the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients, together with benefiting individual treatment and anticancer drug development. However, their large-scale application in general population still requires systematically multifaceted modifications for currently proprietary new technologies based on filtration. We primitively utilized a cell size-based platform to evaluate the recovery efficiency of spiked abnormal cell lines and analyzed circulating abnormal cells (CACs). To dissect the subpopulations of CACs, we conducted immunofluorescent (IF) staining with a combination of unique biomarkers of CTCs and circulating endothelial cells (CECs). Furthermore, we improved the CTC screening system by assessing the feasibility of transferring CTCs for automatic IF analysis, together with simulating and optimizing the circumstances for long-term CTC storage and transportation. We detected CACs in 15 HD candidates with CTC characteristics such as abnormally large cytomorphology, high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, and positive for panCK or VIM staining. Thereafter, we improved accuracy of the platform by distinguishing CTCs from CECs, which satisfied the elementary requirement for small-scale CTC screening in HD candidates. Finally, large-scale CTC screening in general population was available after multifaceted modifications including automatic analysis by transferring CTCs on slides, choosing the appropriate blood-collecting tube, optimizing the conditions for long-term CTC storage and transportation, and evaluating the potential effect on the CTC phenotype. Hence, we systematically modified the scope of technique parameters, improved the accuracy of early cancer detection, and made it realizable for large-scale CTC or CEC screening in general population.

The Methods of Reserving Integrity of Seriously Damaged Cavernous Carotid in the Management of Traumatic Carotid-Cavernous Fistula.

BACKGROUND: The A type of carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCF-A) is characterized by direct communication between the internal carotid artery (ICA) with a very low incidence. But it severely endangers the health and even the life of patients, not only causes insufferable symptoms but also can induce fatal epistaxis, intracranial hemorrhages or even death. So, this disease needs therapy as early as possible. The ideal treatment for CCF-A is to exclude the fistula from circulation, preserving the carotid flow. Interventional therapy has become the chief method for CCF-A especially in recent years, but the prerequisite, that the microwire or and microcatheter in ICA can be navigated across the orificium fistulae and into distal ICA, is necessary. Otherwise it is difficult to reserve the communication of seriously injured ICA and the orificium fistulae could simultaneously be reliably closed. The authors used a series of new and novel CCF with good result. METHODS: The authors experienced a patient of TCCF-A, whose ICA was seriously injured and customary method failed in the first treatment because the microwire and microcatheter could not cross the segment of orificium fistulae. Then, the authors applied military (outflanking techniques, aerial refueling, and retrograde navigation) to manage this case. RESULTS: Finally, the CCF-A was completely cured and the parent artery was perfect preserved without any complication. CONCLUSIONS: For patients of TCCF-A with severe ICA injury, these strategies may be very important for some patients whose affected ICA cannot tolerant to be blocked.

Analysis of Unplanned Return to the Operating Room Within 30 Days of Initial Neurosurgery: A 3-Year Experience at a Single Center.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the reasons and prognosis of unplanned return to the operating room (URTOR) and to help improve neurosurgical service quality. METHODS: Medical records of URTOR within 30 days of initial surgery were reviewed at a single neurosurgical center for a period of 3 years. Out of 4516 neurosurgeries, 62 URTOR cases were included to analyze patients' age, sex, initial surgery code, seniority of the performed surgeon, interval between the reopening procedures and initial procedures, reason for reopening, prognosis, and complications. RESULTS: The 62 patients underwent 70 URTORs. Out of 1445 primary operations performed by junior surgeons, 40 experienced URTOR, whereas 22 of 3071 craniotomies initially performed by senior surgeons resulted in URTOR. Five patients died in this series. Out of the 54 patients who experienced 1-time URTOR, 3 died, whereas 2 of the 8 patients who experienced 2-time URTOR died. Of 22 URTOR surgeries performed by senior surgeons, 10 took place within 24 hours, compared with 26 out of 48 performed by the junior surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: The main reasons for URTOR after neurosurgery were rebleeding and swelling of the brain. The number of URTORs and time from primary craniotomy to URTOR are not associated with morbidity or mortality. However, the seniority of the surgeon affects the rate of URTOR: surgeons with rich experience in surgery may reduce the chance of a second craniotomy and increase the chance of a good prognosis.

Aquaporin 4 Silencing Aggravates Hydrocephalus Induced by Injection of Autologous Blood in Rats.

BACKGROUND Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), the most abundant aquaporin in the brain, is a type of bidirectional water channel controlling the brain-water balance and plays a critical role in physiologic and pathologic water balance in the brain. AQP4 was reported to be elevated in hydrocephalus; therefore, we hypothesized that AQP4 contributes to hydrocephalus. In this study, the role of AQP4 in hydrocephalus was explored. MATERIAL AND METHODS The hydrocephalus rat model was established by injection of autologous blood. On Day 1 and Day 3 after injection of autologous blood, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were performed to detect the changes in ventricles, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were carried out to detect the changes in AQP4 level. Thereafter, an AQP4-specific siRNA was used to downregulate AQP4. Then, on Day 3 after injection of autologous blood, the levels of AQP4 and connexin-43 were detected by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, or Western blot analysis. MRI and HE staining were performed to detect the changes in ventricles, and Evans blue extravasation assay was used to assess blood-brain barrier integrity. RESULTS The hydrocephalus rat model was established successfully, and hydrocephalus rats showed a higher AQP4 level. Silencing AQP4 aggravated the hydrocephalus, with enlarged lateral ventricles and destruction of ependymal integrity and blood-brain barrier. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that silencing AQP4 aggravates hydrocephalus, indicating that AQP4 protects against hydrocephalus.

The Hybrid Technical Management of Large and Complicated Traumatic Arteriovenous Fistula of Preauricular Region.

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is defined as an abnormal communication between the high flow arterial system and the low flow venous network, which directly connects the arterial feeding vessels and the near draining veins without normal intervening capillary bed. Arteriovenous fistula incurs in preauricular region is exceeding rare. Most of these fistulae occur as a result of an iatrogenic injury, the volume is small, feeding and draining vessels of feeding and draining are simple, and can be cured easily. However, the treatment of the large and complicated AVF after incidental trauma in preauricular region is a challenge even for senior neurosurgeon. In this study, the authors discuss the management of a traumatic AVF through combined therapeutic method of surgical ligation and transarterial embolization. It is fed by ipsilateral superficial temporal artery, internal maxillary artery, posterior auricular artery, and their accessory branches and is drained by ipsilateral common facial vein and external jugular vein. Also the etiology, clinical manifestations, pathology, diagnosis, and management are summarized. CONCLUSION: Large and complicated traumatic AVF in preauricular region is rare, often due from an injury in maxillofacial region, combined therapy needed.

A case report of intraventricular tigecycline therapy for intracranial infection with extremely drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

RATIONALE: Intracranial infection with Acinetobacter baumannii is a tough problem due to the presence of multiresistance and drugs poor penetration through the blood brain barrier (BBB). Tigecycline is effective to cure A baumannii, but it can only be used intravenously which is also difficult to pass BBB. So, it will be a breakthrough if intraventricular (IVT) tigecycline is used in the clinical therapy. However, this treatment has been reported quite rarely until now. PATIENT CONCERNS: We described a case of a 50-year-old male worker whose clinical futures were high fever and cerebral rigidity after neurosurgery. DIAGNOSES: Intracranial infection with extensive drug resistant (XDR) A baumannii. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with IVT tigecycline. OUTCOMES: The symptoms of intracranial infection disappeared. The temperature of this patient decreased to normal and cerebral rigidity disappeared. The cerebrospinal fluid culture became negative, with normal levels of white blood cell, glucose and chlorine. LESSONS: IVT tigecycline therapy maybe effective to intracranial infection with XDR A baumannii. However, more studies will further demonstrate the therapeutic values of IVT tigecycline to intracranial infection, and not only restricted to A baumannii infections.

Knockdown of long noncoding RNA H19 sensitizes human glioma cells to temozolomide therapy.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is commonly used in glioma chemotherapy. However, a great clinical challenge for TMZ is chemoresistance. H19 transcripts are recognized as long noncoding RNAs, which potentially interact with chromatin-modifying complexes to regulate gene expression via epigenetic changes. Our data based on glioma patients showed that the expression of H19 was significantly upregulated in TMZ-resistant tumors compared with the TMZ-sensitive tumors. To determine the function of H19 in glioma, cell lines U87 and U251 were exposed to TMZ to establish TMZ-resistant clones U87(TMZ) and U251(TMZ). In U87(TMZ) and U251(TMZ), the expression level of H19 transcripts was increased compared to wild-type or nonresistant clones, as determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Concomitant treatment with small interfering RNA specifically targeting H19 and TMZ in resistant glioma clones resulted in decreased IC50 values for TMZ, and increased apoptotic rates than control small interfering RNA-treated cells. This was also evident by the increased PARP cleavage in resistant cells exposed to TMZ + si-H19. Furthermore, the reduced expression of H19 altered major drug resistance genes, such as MDR, MRP, and ABCG2, both at the mRNA and protein levels. Taken together, these findings suggest that H19 plays an important role in the development of TMZ resistance, and may represent a novel therapeutic target for TMZ-resistant gliomas.

Suppressing H19 Modulates Tumorigenicity and Stemness in U251 and U87MG Glioma Cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a type of malignant carcinoma found in the brain. Its high frequency of occurrence and poor survival rate have garnered much research attention in recent years. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to be related to the formation and progression of several cancer types by both promoting and suppressing tumor transformation. H19 is one such lncRNA and has been shown to be upregulated in a few types of cancer. In this study, we discovered that the expression of H19 increased in GBM cell lines. H19 knocked down GBM cells also displayed decreased cellular proliferation and a higher apoptosis rate when induced by temozolomide. Interestingly, the GBM cell lines U87MG and U251 were found to express cancer stem cell markers CD133, NANOG, Oct4 and Sox2. Expression of these markers was downregulated in H19-deficient cells. Collectively, these data suggest a role for H19 in contributing to GBM malignancy and the maintenance of its stem cell properties.

Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach for Apoplectic Pituitary Tumor: Surgical Outcomes and Complications in 45 Patients.

Objective To assess the safety and effectiveness of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) for apoplectic pituitary adenoma. Design A retrospective study. Setting Qilu Hospital of Shandong University; Brain Science Research Institute, Shandong University. Participants Patients admitted to Qilu Hospital of Shandong University who were diagnosed with an apoplectic pituitary tumor and underwent EETA for resection of the tumor. Main Outcome Measures In total 45 patients were included in a retrospective chart review. Data regarding patient age, sex, presentation, lesion size, surgical procedure, extent of resection, clinical outcome, and surgical complications were obtained from the chart review. Results In total, 38 (92.7%) of 41 patients with loss of vision obtained visual remission postoperatively. In addition, 16 patients reported a secreting adenoma, and postsurgical hormonal levels were normal or decreased in 14 patients. All other symptoms, such as headache and alteration of mental status, recovered rapidly after surgery. Two patients (4.4%) incurred cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Six patients (13.3%) experienced transient diabetes insipidus (DI) postoperatively, but none of these patients developed permanent DI. Five patients (11.1%) developed hypopituitarism and were treated with replacement of hormonal medicine. No cases of meningitis, carotid artery injury, or death related to surgery were reported. Conclusion EETA offers a safe and effective surgical option for apoplectic pituitary tumors and is associated with low morbidity and mortality.

Endonasal Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Approach to Lesions of the Sellar Region in Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic endonasal (transnasal) transsphenoidal approach (EETA) for management of sellar lesions has gained popularity as a reliable and atraumatic method. Most reported studies of EETA have focused on surgical outcome in adult patients; and there are few reports to describe outcome in pediatric patients. The authors report our early experience of 11 patients aged 14 to 18 years managed with EETA to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of EETA in the pediatric. METHODS: Retrospective review of hospital records of 11 pediatric patients who underwent endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for resection of sellar region lesion over 2 years. Age, sex, symptoms, tumor size, extent of tumor resection, clinical outcome, and surgical complications were reviewed. RESULTS: Total resection was achieved in 9 (81.8%) patients, subtotal resection in 2 (18.2%), and no patient had partial or insufficient resection. All (100%) patients achieved visual remission, 7 (87.5%) of 8 patients with hyperhormone preoperative had endocrinological remission. Two (18.2%) patients incurred temporary diabetes insipidus (DI) postoperatively. One (9.1%) patient incurred postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage which resolved following lumbar drainage. Three (27.3%) patients developed hypopituitarism needed hormone replacement therapy. There were no cases of meningitis, intracranial hematoma, or death. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic endonasal (transnasal) transsphenoidal approach (EETA) provides a safe and effective surgical option with low morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients.

Acute Hemorrhagic Apoplectic Pituitary Adenoma: Endoscopic Management, Surgical Outcomes, and Complications.

OBJECTIVE: To assess safety and effectiveness of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) for acute hemorrhagic apoplectic pituitary adenoma. METHODS: Eighty nine patients with hemorrhagic apoplectic pituitary tumor undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery were included into a retrospective chart of this study. Charts were reviewed for patient age, sex, presentation, lesion size, surgical procedure, extent of resection, clinical outcome, and surgical complications. RESULTS: Seventy eight (87.7%) patients achieved total resection, 9 (10.1%) had subtotal resection, and 2 (2.2%) patients had partial resection; no patient experienced insufficient resection. After surgery, 65 (90.3%) of 72 patients who had visual acuity deterioration preoperatively normalized and improved significantly; the rate for remission of visual field was 87.7%. All other acute symptoms, such as severe headache, nausea, vomiting, alteration of mental status, and loss of consciousness, vanished postoperatively. Twenty eight (90.4%) of 31 patients with active secreting adenoma had hormonal remission based on endocrinological evaluation. Three (3.4%) patients incurred CSF leakage which was managed with lumbar drainage. Nine (10.1%) patients incurred transient DI postoperatively, and 2 (2.2%) of them developed permanent DI. Seven (7.9%) patients developed hypopituitarism which was treated with replacement therapy of hormone. One (1.1%) experienced craniotomy for intracranial hemorrhage and died from severe surgical complications postoperatively. There were no patients of meningitis or carotid artery injury. CONCLUSION: Early detection and emergent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery provided a safe and effective surgical option for hemorrhagic apoplectic pituitary tumor with a low morbidity and mortality.

Pure Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach for Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas in the Elderly: Surgical Outcomes and Complications in 158 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) in the elderly population. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of operative cases over a 7-year period, in which 158 elderly patients (age 65 years and older) who underwent a pure EETA to remove a pituitary adenoma were identified and compared with a series of 155 younger patients (age 40-55 years) who underwent the same procedure during the same period. The medical charts of the patients were reviewed to collect demographic information, such as age, sex, clinical symptoms, tumor size, the extent of tumor resection, clinical outcome, and complications. RESULTS: In the elderly group, total resection was achieved in 120 patients (75.9%), and 124 patients (78.5%) achieved significant postsurgical visual remission. In the younger group, total resection was achieved in 119 patients (76.8%), with 126 patients (81.2%) achieving significant postsurgical visual remission. Regarding surgical complications in the elderly group, transient diabetes insipidus occurred postoperatively in 28 (17.8%) patients, and permanent diabetes insipidus occurred in 7 (4.4%) patients. Six (6.4%) patients experienced postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and new developments of anterior hypopituitarism occurred in 15 (9.5%) cases. In the younger group, 21 (13.6%) patients developed transient diabetes insipidus postoperatively, and 5 (3.2%) patients experienced permanent diabetes insipidus. Six (3.9%) patients reported postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and 13 (8.4%) patients developed a new anterior hypopituitarism. There were no cases of either carotid artery injury or death in either group. During the follow-up (mean, 32 months), 11 (6.9%) patients experienced tumor recurrence in the elderly group compared with 24 (15.5%) patients in the younger group. Of the 15 elderly patients who developed new hypopituitarism, 13 (86.7%) recovered without hormone replacement; accordingly, the rate of hypopituitarism remission was 84.6% in the younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: NFPAs in the elderly can be resected via a pure endoscopic technique with low morbidity and mortality.

Postoperative Low-Flow Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak of Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenoma--Wait and See, or Lumbar Drain?

To assess the effectiveness of continuous lumbar drainage (LD) for management of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for resection of pituitary adenoma. Three hundred eighty-four medical records of patients who were admitted to our institute during a 2.5-year period were retrospectively reviewed, 33 of them experienced low-flow cerebrospinal fluid leak postoperatively. If LD was used, all patients with low-flow cerebrospinal fluid leak were classified into 2 groups, lumbar drained group and conservatively treated group. The age, sex, management of cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and related complications were reviewed. Statistical comparisons between the 2 groups were made using SPSS 19.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). The differences were considered statistically significant if the P value was less than 0.05.Thirty-three of 384 (8.6%) experienced low-flow postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Cured rate of cerebrospinal fluid leak was 94.4% (17/18) in continuous lumbar drained group, and 93.3% (14/15) in control group. There were 2 (11.2%) patients who developed meningitis in the LD group and 1 (5.6%) patient in the control group. One patient required endoscopic repair of skull base because of persistent cerebrospinal fluid leak in both groups, with the rates of 5.6% and 6.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference noted in each rate in both groups.Placement of LD may not be necessary for the management of low-flow postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak after using endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach to pituitary adenoma.

Surgical outcomes of the endoscopic transsphenoidal route to pituitary tumours in paediatric patients >10 years of age: 5 years of experience at a single institute.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) for the management of pituitary adenomas in paediatric patients >10 years of age. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify 56 paediatric patients between 10 and 18 years of age who underwent an endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for the resection of a pituitary adenoma during the last 5 years. The age, sex, symptoms, tumour size, extent of tumour resection, clinical outcome and surgical complications of patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Total resection was achieved in 49 (87.5%) cases, subtotal resection was achieved in 7 (12.5%) cases and no patient had a partial or insufficient resection. Of the 35 patients who experienced preoperative deterioration of vision, 33 (94.2%) achieved visual remission with rates of 34.2% and 60% for normalisation and improvement, respectively. Endocrinological normalisation was achieved in 13 (31.7%) of 41 patients who had preoperative hyperhormonal levels; hormone levels decreased in 25 (61.0%) patients, and 3 (7.3%) patients had no change in hormone level. Two (3.5%) patients incurred postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which was resolved after lumbar drainage. Four (7.1%) patients developed hypopituitarism, which required hormone therapy. Post-surgery, five (8.9%) patients incurred transient diabetes insipidus (DI), of which one (1.7%) patient developed persistent DI and was administered Minirin. Meningitis occurred in one (1.7%) patient who was cured by the administration of a third-generation antibiotic. There were no cases of intracranial haematoma, reoperation or death. CONCLUSIONS: EETA allows neurosurgeons to safely and effectively remove paediatric pituitary adenomas with low morbidity and mortality.