Polo-like kinase 1 is related with malignant characteristics and inhibits macrophages infiltration in glioma.

Background: Tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and progression. Recently, therapies based on modulating TIM have made great breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a crucial regulatory factor of the cell cycle process and its dysregulations often cause various pathological processes including tumorigenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms surrounding the regulation of PLK1 on glioma immune microenvironment remain undefined. Methods: Public databases and online datasets were used to extract data of PLK1 expression, clinical features, genetic alterations, and biological functions. The EdU, flow cytometry, and macrophage infiltration assays as well as xenograft animal experiments were performed to determine the relationship between PLK1 and glioma immune microenvironment in vivo and in vitro. Results: PLK1 is always highly expressed in multiple cancers especially in glioma. Univariable and Multivariate proportional hazard Cox analysis showed that PLK1 was a prognostic biomarker for glioma. Simultaneously, highly expressed PLK1 is significantly related to prognosis, histological and genetic features in glioma by analyzing public databases. In addition, the enrichment analysis suggested that PLK1 might related to "immune response", "cell cycle", "DNA replication", and "mismatch repair" in glioma. Immune infiltration analysis demonstrated that highly expressed PLK1 inhibited M1 macrophages infiltration to glioblastoma immune microenvironment by Quantiseq and Xcell databases and negatively related to some chemokines and marker genes of M1 macrophages in glioblastoma. Subsequent experiments confirmed that PLK1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of glioma cells but increased the M1 macrophages infiltration and polarization. Furthermore, in glioma xenograft mouse models, we showed that inhibiting PLK1 blocked tumor proliferation and increased the M1 macrophages infiltration. Finally, PLK1 methylation analysis and lncRNA-miRNA network revealed the potential mechanism of abnormal PLK1 expression in glioma. Conclusions: PLK1 inhibits M1 macrophages infiltration into glioma immune microenvironment and is a potential biomarker for glioma.

Endoscopic lateral neck dissection via the breast and transoral approaches for papillary thyroid carcinoma: a report of 10 cases / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of endoscopic lateral neck dissection via the breast and transoral approaches (ELNDBTOA) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: From February 2015 to April 2019, 10 patients with PTC (cN1b) including 1 male and 9 females aged from 22 to 53 years old received ELNDBTOA in the General Surgery Department of Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University. Total thyroidectomy, the central lymph node dissection and the selective neck dissection (levels Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ) were performed endoscopically via the breast approach, and then the residual lymph nodes were dissected via transoral approach. The medical records, operation time, blood loss, complications and postoperative follow-up outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. SPSS 22.0 software package was used for statistical processing of clinical data of patients. Results: All cases were successfully treated with ELNDBTOA without transfer to open surgery. The average operative time was (362.5±79.7) min, the blood loss was (23.0±14.9) ml, and the postoperative hospital stay was (5.1±1.3) days. The mean number of harvested cervical lymph nodes were (34.2±25.8), and the mean number of positive lymph nodes were (6.5±4.9). Lymph nodes were dissected by the further dissection via oral approach in 6 patients and a total of 9 lateral lymph nodes were havested from 2 of the 6 patients, with 3 positive lymph nodes. Two patients had transient skin numbness in the mandibular area and recovered within two weeks. One patient developed transient hypoparathyroidism and recovered within two months. No secondary bleeding, recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, chylous leakage, neck infection, permanent hypoparathyroidism or other complications were observed. The follow-up time was from 16 to 66 months with a median of 42.5 months, no tumor recurrence or metastasis occurred, and also no obvious deformity, abnormal sensation or movement in the chest, neck and mouth was observed. Conclusions: ELNBTOA is safe and feasible, with good cosmetic outcome.

Preoperative Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio are Associated with the Prognosis of Group 3 and Group 4 Medulloblastoma.

Inflammation and immunoreaction markers were correlated with the survival of patients in many tumors. However, there were no reports investigating the relationships between preoperative hematological markers and the prognosis of medulloblastoma (MB) patients based on the molecular subgroups (WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4). A total 144 MB patients were enrolled in the study. The differences of preoperative hematological markers among molecular subgroups of MB were compared by One-way ANOVA method. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the curves of progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The comparison of survival rates in different groups were conducted by the Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate independent prognostic factors. Increased preoperative NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, PFS, P = 0.004, OS, P < 0.001) and PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, PFS, P = 0.028, OS, P = 0.003) predicted poor prognosis in patients with MB, while preoperative MLR (monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio), MPV (mean platelet volume), PDW (platelet distribution width), and AGR (albumin-to-globulin ratio) were revealed no predictive value on the prognosis of patients with MB. Furthermore, high preoperative NLR and PLR predicted unfavorable prognosis in childhood MB patients. However, preoperative NLR and PLR were not associated with the prognosis in adult MB patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated preoperative NLR (PFS, P = 0.029, OS, P = 0.005) and PLR (PFS, P = 0.023, OS, P = 0.005) were the independent prognostic factors in MB patients. Emphatically, the levels of preoperative NLR and PLR in Group 3 MB were significantly higher than those in WNT MB. High preoperative NLR was associated with unfavorable OS in Group 3 (P = 0.032) and Group 4 (P = 0.027) tumors. Similarly, increased preoperative PLR predicted poor PFS (P = 0.012) and OS (P = 0.009) in Group 4 tumors. Preoperative NLR and PLR were the potential prognostic markers for MB patients. Preoperative NLR and PLR were significantly associated with the survival of Group 3 and Group 4 tumors.

Prognostic value of preoperative hematological markers combined with molecular pathology in patients with diffuse gliomas.

The prediction of clinical outcome for patients with infiltrative gliomas is challenging. Although preoperative hematological markers have been proposed as predictors of survival in glioma and other cancers, systematic investigations that combine these data with other relevant clinical variables are needed to improve prognostic accuracy and patient outcomes. We investigated the prognostic value of preoperative hematological markers, alone and in combination with molecular pathology, for the survival of 592 patients with Grade II-IV diffuse gliomas. On univariate analysis, increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and decreased albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), all predicted poor prognosis in Grade II/III gliomas. Multivariate analysis incorporating tumor status based on the presence of IDH mutations, TERT promoter mutations, and 1p/19q codeletion showed that in lower-grade gliomas, high NLR predicted poorer survival for the triple-negative, IDH mutation only, TERT mutation only, and IDH and TERT mutation groups. NLR was an independent prognostic factor in Grade IV glioma. We therefore propose a prognostic model for diffuse gliomas based on the presence of IDH and TERT promoter mutations, 1p/19q codeletion, and NLR. This model classifies lower-grade gliomas into nine subgroups that can be combined into four main risk groups based on survival projections.

Preliminary application of mxed reality in neurosurgery: Development and evaluation of a new intraoperative procedure.

During neurological surgery, neurosurgeons have to transform the two-dimensional (2D) sectional images into three-dimensional (3D) structures at the cognitive level. The complexity of the intracranial structures increases the difficulty and risk of neurosurgery. Mixed reality (MR) applications reduce the obstacles in the transformation from 2D images to 3D visualization of anatomical structures of central nervous system. In this study, the holographic image was established by MR using computed tomography (CT), computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of patients. The surgeon's field of vision was superimposed with the 3D model of the patient's intracranial structure displayed on the mixed reality head-mounted display (MR-HMD). The neurosurgeons practiced and evaluated the feasibility of this technique in neurosurgical cases. We developed the segmentation image masks and texture mapping including brain tissue, intracranial vessels, nerves, tumors, and their relative positions by MR technologies. The results showed that the three-dimensional imaging is in a stable state in the operating room with no significant flutter and blur. And the neurosurgeon's feedback on the comfort of the equipment and the practicality of the technology was satisfactory. In conclusion, MR technology can holographically construct a 3D digital model of patient's lesions and improve the anatomical perception of neurosurgeons during craniotomy. The feasibility of the MR-HMD application in neurosurgery is confirmed.

IDH mutations but not TERTp mutations are associated with seizures in lower-grade gliomas.

Glioma is the most common malignant tumor in the central nervous system (CNS). Lower-grade gliomas (LGG) refer to Grade II and III gliomas. In LGG patients, seizure often appears as an initial symptom and play an important role in clinical performance and quality of life of the patients. To date, the relationship between the onset of seizures and the molecular pathology in gliomas is still poorly investigated. In this study, we investigate the potential relationship between isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)/telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter (TERTp) mutations and preoperative seizures in patients with LGG. 289 adult LGG patients were enrolled in this study. Data of clinical characteristics and molecular pathology were acquired. Sanger sequencing was used to detect IDH/TERTp mutations. Chi-square test was performed to determine if the IDH/TERTp mutations were associated with seizures and seizure types. In 289 LGG patients, preoperative seizures accounted for 25.3% (73/289), IDH mutations accounted for 34.3%(99/289), and TERTp mutations accounted for 44.3% (128/289). The correlation analysis demonstrated that IDH mutation is a significant factor influencing the occurrence of tumor-related epilepsy (P <.001, chi-square test). On the other hand, the statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between TERTp mutations and seizure in LGG patients (P = .102, chi-square test). The tumor-related epilepsy rates vary among different subgroups according to IDH/TERTp mutations. However, there is no definite correlation between the IDH (P = 1.000, chi-square test)/TERTp (P = .613, chi-square test) mutations and the types of epileptic seizure. IDH mutations are more common in preoperative LGG patients with epileptic symptoms, suggesting that this mutation is positively correlated with seizures. However, there was no significant correlation between TERTp mutations and seizures. Different molecular pathologic types based on IDH/TERTp have different incidences of tumor-associated epilepsy in LGGs.

Cerebellar hemangioblastoma mimicking an aneurysm: A case report and literature review.

Hemangioblastomas (HBMs) are highly vascular tumors of the central nervous system. Sporadic HBMs are nearly always solitary, and solitary HBMs are similar to intracranial arteriovenous malformations due to their highly vascular characteristics. However, to the best of our knowledge, cases of HBM in the cerebellum mimicking an aneurysm have never been reported in the literature. The present study reports a case of an HBM on the right cerebellar hemisphere mimicking an aneurysm, which originated from the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery, as determined using magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography. The patient was admitted the Department of Neurosurgery at the Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital (Beijing, China) in January 2015 due to a 4-year history of intermittent headaches. The diagnosis of an HBM was determined during surgery and the tumor was totally resected by changing the operation technique, with no complications. In conclusion, it is difficult to distinguish between HBMs and intracranial vascular diseases, particularly aneurysms. Surgeons should consider the possibility carefully prior to surgery and careful prepare for each eventuality.

Extraventricular neurocytoma in the left temporal lobe: A case report and review of the literature.

Central neurocytoma (CNC) often develops in the ventricular system adjacent to the interventricular foramen and septum pellucidum. According to the World Health Organization, CNCs are classified as grade II tumors, and in recent years it has been reported that CNCs have occasionally occurred in rare areas of the central nervous system. The current study describes a rare case of CNC located in the left temporal lobe of a 49-year-old man, who had been experiencing headaches for 3 weeks. Computed tomography identified a round, well-demarcated, 3.3-cm tumor in the left temporal lobe. The patient underwent surgery and the tumor was totally resected. Histological analysis demonstrated that the resected tumor tissue contained clusters of small cells with regular nuclear morphology, and round nuclei with fine chromatin. Immunohistochemically, neuronal differentiation markers, including synaptophysin and neuronal nuclear antigen, were expressed in the tumor cells. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue confirmed a diagnosis of extraventricular neurocytoma. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 3 months post-surgery and demonstrated no evidence of tumor recurrence.