Corticocortical Evoked Potentials in Eloquent Brain Tumor Surgery. A Systematic Review.

Eloquent brain tumor surgery involves the delicate task of resecting tumors located in regions of the brain responsible for critical functions, such as language, motor control, and sensory perception. Preserving these functions is of paramount importance to maintain the patient's quality of life. Corticocortical evoked potentials (CCEPs) have emerged as a valuable intraoperative monitoring technique that aids in identifying and preserving eloquent cortical areas during surgery. This systematic review aimed to assess the utility of CCEPs in eloquent brain tumor surgery and determine their effectiveness in improving patient outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed/Medline and Scopus. The search strategy identified 11 relevant articles for detailed analysis. The findings of the included studies consistently demonstrated the potential of CCEPs in guiding surgical decision making, minimizing the risk of postoperative neurological deficits, and mapping functional connectivity during surgery. However, further research and standardization are needed to fully establish the clinical benefits and refine the implementation of CCEPs in routine neurosurgical practice.

Effect of Steroid Therapy on Risk of Subsequent Surgery for Neurologically Stable Chronic Subdural Hemorrhage-Retrospective Cohort Study and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hemorrhage (CSDH) is a common neurosurgical pathology. While acute deterioration is managed surgically, the optimal management of patients with neurologically stable CSDH remains uncertain. Despite an increasing interest in the use of corticosteroids, it is unclear whether this reduces the rate of subsequent crossover to surgery. In this study we evaluate rate of crossover to surgery in such patients managed in our Neurosurgical unit. METHODS: A retrospective database search over a 2-year period was performed. A multi-database literature review was also conducted to identify relevant articles reporting rate of subsequent surgery in CSDH patients managed with corticosteroids. RESULTS: A total of 532 CSDH patients were identified. Subsequently, a total of 364 patients who were managed conservatively were included for further analysis. The majority (315 patients; 59.1%) were managed conservatively. Forty-nine patients (9.2%) received steroids as first-line treatment. There was considerable variation in steroid dosing regimens, with the commonest involving 4 mg dexamethasone three times daily for 5 days. Four patients in the steroid group required subsequent surgery (8.2%), compared with 22 conservatively managed patients (7.0%). Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the rate of surgery (chi-square 0.089, difference 1, P = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence implicates a potentially beneficial role of dexamethasone in the management of CSDH. However, it remains unclear whether the rate of crossover to surgery is reduced in patients treated with corticosteroids compared with those managed conservatively. A longer duration of study with detailed analysis of individual cases and appropriately randomized cohorts are necessary to draw more reliable conclusions.

A protocol for a randomised controlled, double-blind feasibility trial investigating fluoxetine treatment in improving memory and learning impairments in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: Fluoxetine, Learning and Memory in Epilepsy (FLAME trial).

BACKGROUND: People with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) report significant problems with learning and memory. There are no effective therapies for combatting these problems in people with TLE, resulting in an unmet therapeutic need. The lack of treatment is, in part, due to a poor understanding of the neurobiology underlying these memory deficits. We know that hippocampal neurogenesis, a process believed to be important in learning and memory formation, is permanently reduced in chronic TLE, and this may go some way to explain the learning and memory impairments seen in people with TLE.The common anti-depressant drug fluoxetine has been shown to stimulate neurogenesis both in the healthy brain and in neurological diseases where neurogenesis is impaired. In an animal model of TLE, administration of fluoxetine was found to restore neurogenesis and improve learning on a complex spatial navigational task. We now want to test this effect in humans by investigating whether administration of fluoxetine to people with TLE can improve learning and memory. METHODS: This is a single-centre randomised controlled, double-blind feasibility trial. We plan to recruit 20 participants with a diagnosis of TLE and uni-lateral hippocampal sclerosis, confirmed by 3T MRI. Eligible participants will undergo baseline assessments of learning and memory prior to being randomised to either 20 mg/day fluoxetine or matching placebo for 60 days. Follow-up assessments will be conducted after 60 days of trial medication and then again at 60 days after cessation of trial medication. Feasibility will be assessed on measures of recruitment, retention and adherence against pre-determined criteria. DISCUSSION: This trial is designed to determine the feasibility of conducting a double-blind randomised controlled trial of fluoxetine for the treatment of learning and memory impairments in people with TLE. Data collected in this trial will inform the design and utility of any future efficacy trial involving fluoxetine for the treatment of learning and memory in people with TLE. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT 2014-005088-34, registered on May 18, 2015.

Heat shock proteins and hormesis in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Modulation of endogenous cellular defense mechanisms via the vitagene system represents an innovative approach to therapeutic intervention in diseases causing chronic tissue damage, such as in neurodegeneration. The possibility of high-throughoutput screening using proteomic techniques, particularly redox proteomics, provide more comprehensive overview of the interaction of proteins, as well as the interplay among processes involved in neuroprotection. Here by introducing the hormetic dose response concept, the mechanistic foundations and applications to the field of neuroprotection, we discuss the emerging role of heat shock protein as prominent member of vitagene network in neuroprotection and redox proteomics as a tool for investigating redox modulation of stress responsive vitagenes. Hormetic mechanisms are reviewed as possibility of targeted therapeutic manipulation in a cell-, tissue- and/or pathway-specific manner at appropriate points in the neurodegenerative disease process.