Assessing the suitability of artificial intelligence-based chatbots as counseling agents for brain tumor patients: A comprehensive survey analysis

The internet, particularly social media, has become a popular resource for learning about health and investigating one's own health conditions. The development of AI chatbots has been fueled by the increasing availability of digital health data and advances in natural language processing techniques. While these chatbots are more accessible than before, they sometimes fail to provide accurate information. We used representative chatbots currently available (ChatGPT-3.5, Bing Chat, and Google Bard) to answer questions commonly asked by brain tumor patients. The simulated situations with questions were made and selected by the brain tumor committee. These questions are commonly asked by brain tumor patients. The goal of the study was introduced to each chatbot, the situation was explained, and questions were asked. All responses were collected without modification. The answers were shown to the committee members, and they were asked to judge the responses while blinded to the type of chatbot. There was no significant difference in accuracy and communication ability among the three groups (p=0.253, 0.090, respectively). For empathy, Bing Chat and Google Bard were superior to ChatGPT (p=0.004, 0.002, respectively). The purpose of this study was not to assess or verify the relative superiority of each chatbot. Instead, the aim was to identify the shortcomings and changes needed if AI chatbots are to be used for patient medical purposes. AI-based chatbots are a convenient way for patients and the general public to access medical information. Under such circumstances, medical professionals must ensure that the information provided to chatbot users is accurate and safe.

Endoscopic transorbital approach in children: surgical technique and early results

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the authors aimed to describe the endoscopic transorbital approach (ETOA) in children.

METHODS

Six pediatric patients (2 girls and 4 boys) underwent the ETOA for paramedian skull base lesions at a single institution between September 2016 and February 2023.

RESULTS

The median age at the time of surgery was 7.5 (range 4-18) years. The median follow-up period was 33 (range 9-60) months. In this series, the ETOA level of difficulty included stage 1 (n = 2, 33.3%), stage 3 (n = 3, 50%), and stage 5 (n = 1, 16.7%). The ETOA was performed for tumor resection in 4 cases; the final pathology consisted of fibrous dysplasia, pilocytic astrocytoma, metastatic neuroblastoma, and choroid plexus papilloma. The procedure was also performed for repair of a petrous apex meningocele and for lateral orbital wall decompression of traumatic lateral rectus muscle entrapment. One patient experienced a transient cranial nerve III palsy after the procedure. There were no operative deaths in this series.

CONCLUSIONS

In select cases, the ETOA can be considered a minimally invasive alternative for conventional skull base approaches in the armamentarium of pediatric skull base surgery. Further investigation and the accumulation of experience are warranted in the future to enhance the efficacy and applicability of the ETOA in pediatric patients.

Treatment Outcomes after Dose-Escalated Moderately Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Frail Patients with High-Grade Glioma

For high-grade glioma (HGG) patients with old age or poor performance status, hypofractionated radiotherapy (hypoRT) in 10-15 fractions is recommended. Also, limited data exist on the impact of salvage treatment after progression in frail patients. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of dose-escalated hypoRT in 40 frail HGG patients who were treated with hypoRT between 2013 and 2021. With a median biologically effective dose of 71.7 Gy, a total dose of 56 Gy in 20 fractions was the most frequently used regimen (53.7%). The median age and Karnofsky Performance Status of patients were 74 years and 70, respectively. Most patients (n = 31, 77.5%) were diagnosed with glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, CNS WHO grade 4. Only 10 (25.0%) patients underwent surgical resection, and 28 (70.0%) patients received concurrent temozolomide during hypoRT. With a median follow-up of 9.7 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 12.2 months. Of the 30 (75.0%) patients with disease progression, only 12 patients received salvage treatment. The OS after progression differed significantly depending on salvage treatment (median OS, 9.6 vs. 4.6 months, p = 0.032). Dose-escalated hypoRT in 20 fractions produced survival outcomes outperforming historical data for frail patients.

Fibronectin Type III Domain Containing 3B as a Potential Prognostic and Therapeutic Biomarker for Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a representative malignant brain tumor characterized by a dismal prognosis, with survival rates of less than 2 years and high recurrence rates. Despite surgical resection and several alternative treatments, GBM remains a refractory disease due to its aggressive invasiveness and resistance to anticancer therapy. In this report, we explore the role of fibronectin type III domain containing 3B (FNDC3B) and its potential as a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in GBM. GBM exhibited a significantly higher cancer-to-normal ratio compared to other organs, and patients with high FNDC3B expression had a poor prognosis (p < 0.01). In vitro studies revealed that silencing FNDC3B significantly reduced the expression of Survivin, an apoptosis inhibitor, and also reduced cell migration, invasion, extracellular matrix adhesion ability, and stem cell properties in GBM cells. Furthermore, we identified that FNDC3B regulates PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling in GBM cells using MetaCore integrated pathway bioinformatics analysis and a proteome profiler phospho-kinase array with sequential western blot analysis. Collectively, our findings suggest FNDC3B as a potential biomarker for predicting GBM patient survival and for the development of treatment strategies for GBM.

Impact of boost sequence in concurrent chemo-radiotherapy on newly diagnosed IDH-wildtype glioblastoma multiforme

BACKGROUND

The standard of care for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is maximal surgical resection followed by conventional fractionated concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with a total dose of 60 Gy. However, there is currently no consensus on the optimal boost technique for CCRT in GBM.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of 398 patients treated with CCRT between 2016 and 2021, using data from two institutional databases. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving sequential boost (SEB, N = 119) and those receiving simultaneous integrated boost (SIB, N = 279). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). To minimize differences between the SIB and SEB groups, we conducted propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 18.6 months. Before PSM, SEB showed better OS compared to SIB (2-year, 55.6% vs. 44.5%, p = 0.014). However, after PSM, there was no significant difference between two groups (2-year, 55.6% vs. 51.5%, p = 0.300). The boost sequence was not associated with inferior OS before and after PSM (all p-values > 0.05). Additionally, the rates of symptomatic pseudo-progression were similar between the two groups (odds ratio: 1.75, p = 0.055).

CONCLUSIONS

This study found no significant difference in OS between SEB and SIB for GBM patients treated with CCRT. Further research is needed to validate these findings and to determine the optimal boost techniques for this patient population.

Potential Risk of Choline Alfoscerate on Isoflurane-Induced Toxicity in Primary Human Astrocytes

Objective

Isoflurane, a widely used common inhalational anesthetic agent, can induce brain toxicity. The challenge lies in protecting neurologically compromised patients from neurotoxic anesthetics. Choline alfoscerate (L-α-Glycerophosphorylcholine, α-GPC) is recognized for its neuroprotective properties against oxidative stress and inflammation, but its optimal therapeutic window and indications are still under investigation. This study explores the impact of α-GPC on human astrocytes, the most abundant cells in the brain that protect against oxidative stress, under isoflurane exposure.

Methods

This study was designed to examine changes in factors related to isoflurane-induced toxicity following α-GPC administration. Primary human astrocytes were pretreated with varying doses of α-GPC (ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 μM) for 24 hours prior to 2.5% isoflurane exposure. In vitro analysis of cell morphology, water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, proteome profiler array, and transcriptome sequencing were conducted.

Results

A significant morphological damage to human astrocytes was observed in the group that had been pretreated with 10.0 mM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane. A decrease in cell viability was identified in the group pretreated with 10.0 μM of α-GPC and exposed to 2.5% isoflurane compared to the group exposed only to 2.5% isoflurane. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that mRNA expression of heme-oxygenase 1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, which were reduced by isoflurane, was further suppressed by 10.0 μM α-GPC pretreatment. The proteome profiler array demonstrated that α-GPC pretreatment influenced a variety of factors associated with apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing identified pathways significantly related to changes in isoflurane-induced toxicity caused by α-GPC pretreatment.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that α-GPC pretreatment could potentially enhance the vulnerability of primary human astrocytes to isoflurane-induced toxicity by diminishing the expression of antioxidant factors, potentially leading to amplified cell damage.

Radiomic features define risk and are linked to DNA methylation attributes in primary CNS lymphoma

Background

The prognostic roles of clinical and laboratory markers have been exploited to model risk in patients with primary CNS lymphoma, but these approaches do not fully explain the observed variation in outcome. To date, neuroimaging or molecular information is not used. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of radiomic features to capture clinically relevant phenotypes, and to link those to molecular profiles for enhanced risk stratification.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we investigated 133 patients across 9 sites in Austria (2005-2018) and an external validation site in South Korea (44 patients, 2013-2016). We used T1-weighted contrast-enhanced MRI and an L1-norm regularized Cox proportional hazard model to derive a radiomic risk score. We integrated radiomic features with DNA methylation profiles using machine learning-based prediction, and validated the most relevant biological associations in tissues and cell lines.

Results

The radiomic risk score, consisting of 20 mostly textural features, was a strong and independent predictor of survival (multivariate hazard ratio = 6.56 [3.64-11.81]) that remained valid in the external validation cohort. Radiomic features captured gene regulatory differences such as in BCL6 binding activity, which was put forth as testable treatment target for a subset of patients.

Conclusions

The radiomic risk score was a robust and complementary predictor of survival and reflected characteristics in underlying DNA methylation patterns. Leveraging imaging phenotypes to assess risk and inform epigenetic treatment targets provides a concept on which to advance prognostic modeling and precision therapy for this aggressive cancer.

BIOM-38. TETRASPANIN 12 AS A TUMOR SUPPRESSOR AND BIOMARKER PREDICTING GOOD PROGNOSIS OF MALIGNANT GLIOMA

Tetraspanin 12 (TSPAN12), a member of the tetraspanin family that are increasingly known to be involved in various mechanisms of tumor progression, mediates various cellular signaling processes in cancer cells. With respect to the brain, previous studies have shown that TSPAN12 is related with the maturation of a membrane-associated metalloproteinase 10 and the production of amyloid β plaque, but there are no studies related to brain tumors to date. Therefore, we designed this study to investigate the role of TSPAN 12 on malignant glioma (MG) cells and patients. TSPAN12 silencing in MG cells significantly progressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacities, and extracellular matrix adhesion ability as well as stem cell properties, in vitro. Mechanistically, we identified that FAK and ERK signaling were involved in MG cells with TSPAN12 expression. Moreover, clinical analysis of MG patient tissues microarray showed that the expression level of TSPAN12 was negatively correlated with the prognosis in MG patients. Collectively, more studies are needed, but we suggest that TSPAN12 can be used as an alternative biomarker to predict the prognosis of MG patient and help develop MG treatment strategies.

Atypical induction of HIF-1α expression by pericellular Notch1 signaling suffices for the malignancy of glioblastoma multiforme cells

Contact-based pericellular interactions play important roles in cancer progression via juxtacrine signaling pathways. The present study revealed that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), induced even in non-hypoxic conditions by cell-to-cell contact, was a critical cue responsible for the malignant characteristics of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells through Notch1 signaling. Densely cultured GBM cells showed enhanced viability and resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) compared to GBM cells at a low density. Ablating Notch1 signaling by a γ-secretase inhibitor or siRNA transfection resensitized resistant GBM cells to TMZ treatment and decreased their viability under dense culture conditions. The expression of HIF-1α was significantly elevated in highly dense GBM cells even under non-hypoxic conditions. Atypical HIF-1α expression was associated with the Notch1 signaling pathway in both GBM and glioblastoma stem cells (GSC). Proteasomal degradation of HIF-1α was prevented by binding with Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD), which translocated to the nuclei of GBM cells. Silencing Notch1 signaling using a doxycycline-inducible Notch1 RNA-interfering system or treatment with chetomin, a HIF pathway inhibitor, retarded tumor development with a significant anti-cancer effect in a murine U251-xenograft model. Using GBM patient tissue microarray analysis, a significant increase in HIF-1α expression was identified in the group with Notch1 expression compared to the group without Notch1 expression among those with positive HIF-1α expression. Collectively, these findings highlight the critical role of cell-to-cell contact-dependent signaling in GBM progression. They provide a rationale for targeting HIF-1α signaling even in a non-hypoxic microenvironment.

Differential dependency of human glioblastoma cells on vascular endothelial growth factor‑A signaling via neuropilin‑1

Despite the high expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) in human glioblastoma (GB), the understanding of its function as a co-receptor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) in angiogenesis is currently limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to elucidate the non-classical function of NRP-1 expression in human GB. Expression patterns of NRP-1 and VEGF-A were determined by sandwich ELISA, western blot analysis, or immunohistochemistry. Differential dependency of GB cells following ablation of VEGF-A signaling was validated in vitro and in vivo. Cellular mechanism responsible for distinct response to VEGF-A signaling was evaluated by western blotting and immune-precipitation analysis. Prognostic implications were assessed using IHC analysis. GB cells exhibited differing sensitivity to silencing of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A signaling, which resulted in a distinct expression pattern of wild-type or chondroitin-sulfated NRP-1. VEGF-A-sensitive GB exhibited the physical interaction between wild-type NRP-1 and FMS related receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (Flt-1) whereas VEGF-A-resistant GB exhibited chondroitin-sulfated NRP-1 without interaction with Flt-1. Eliminating the chondroitin sulfate modification in NRP-1 led to re-sensitization to VEGF-A signaling, and chondroitin sulfate modification was found to be associated with an adverse prognosis in patients with GB. The present study identified the distinct functions of NRP-1 in VEGF-A signaling in accordance with its unique expression type and interaction with Flt-1. The present research is expected to provide a strong basis for targeting VEGF-A signaling in patients with GB, with variable responses.

A Radiological Assessment of Chronic Subdural Hematomas

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), which generally occurs in elderly patients, is a frequently diagnosed condition in neurosurgical departments. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most preferred diagnostic modalities for CSDH assessment. With early diagnosis and adequate management, CSDH may show favorable prognosis in majority of the patients; however, recurrence after surgery can occur in a significant number of patients. The recently increasing number of CSDH studies could reveal the prognostic factors affecting CSDH recurrence. Particularly, radiological characteristics regarding the internal architecture of CSDH are considered closely associated with recurrence in surgically treated CSDH patients. In this literature review, we evaluated the various diagnostic modalities of CSDH and its radiological characteristics on CT and MRI. Furthermore, we summarized the prognostic factors of recurrence for the hematoma type based on the radiological findings.

Clinical Characteristics and Current Managements for Patients with Chronic Subdural Hematoma : A Retrospective Multicenter Pilot Study in the Republic of Korea

Objective

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common disease in neurosurgical departments, but optimal perioperative management guidelines have not yet been established. We aimed to assess the current clinical management and outcomes for CSDH patients and identify prognostic factors for CSDH recurrence.

Methods

We enrolled a total of 293 consecutive patients with CSDH who underwent burr hole craniostomy at seven institutions in 2018. Clinical and surgery-related characteristics and surgical outcomes were analyzed. The cohort included 208 men and 85 women.

Results

The median patient age was 75 years. Antithrombotic agents were prescribed to 105 patients. History of head trauma was identified in 59% of patients. Two hundred twenty-seven of 293 patients (77.5%) had unilateral hematoma and 46.1% had a homogenous hematoma type. About 70% of patients underwent surgery under general anesthesia, and 74.7% underwent a single burr hole craniostomy surgery. Recurrence requiring surgery was observed in 17 of 293 patients (5.8%), with a median of 32 days to recurrence. The postoperative complication rate was 4.1%. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with CSDH recurrence were separated hematoma type (odds ratio, 3.906; p=0.017) and patient who underwent surgery under general anesthesia had less recurrence (odds ratio, 0.277; p=0.017).

Conclusion

This is the first retrospective multicenter generalized cohort pilot study in the Republic of Korea as a first step towards the development of Korean clinical practice guidelines for CSDH. The type of hematoma and anesthesia was associated with CSDH recurrence. Although the detailed surgical method differs depending on the institution, the surgical treatment of CSDH was effective. Further studies may establish appropriate management guidelines to minimize CSDH recurrence.

Efficacy and Safety of Timely Urgent Superficial Temporal Artery-to-Middle Cerebral Artery Bypass Surgery in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Single-Institutional Prospective Study and a Pooled Analysis

BACKGROUND

Clinical outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO) is not satisfactory if reperfusion treatment fails or is not tried.

AIMS

We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of urgent superficial temporal-to-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass surgery in selected patients.

METHODS

Patients who were diagnosed with LVO-induced AIS in the anterior circulation but had a failed intra-arterial thrombectomy (IAT) or were not tried due to IAT contraindications were prospectively enrolled. Timely urgent STA-MCA bypass surgery was performed if they showed perfusion-diffusion mismatch or symptom-diffusion mismatch in the acute phase of disease. Clinical and radiological data of these patients were assessed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of urgent bypass procedures. A pooled analysis of published data on urgent bypass surgery in acute stroke patients was conducted and analyzed.

RESULTS

In 18 patients who underwent timely bypass, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score improved from 12.11 ± 4.84 to 9.89 ± 6.52, 1 week after surgery. Three-month and long-term (9.72 ± 5.00 months) favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores 0-2) were achieved in 50 and 75% of the patients, respectively. The pooled analysis (117 patients from 10 articles, including ours) identified favorable mRS scores in 71.79% patients at 3 months. A significant NIHSS score improvement from 11.51 ± 4.89 to 7.59 ± 5.50 was observed after surgery with significance. Major complications occurred in 3 patients (2.6%, 3/117) without mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Urgent STA-MCA bypass surgery can be regarded as a safe optional treatment to prevent cerebral infarct expansion and to improve clinical and radiological outcomes in highly selected patients.

Extra-domain B of fibronectin as an alternative target for drug delivery and a cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for malignant glioma

Extra-domain B of fibronectin (EDB-FN) is an alternatively spliced form of fibronectin with high expression in the extracellular matrix of neovascularized tissues and malignant cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the practicality of using EDB-FN as a biomarker and therapeutic target for malignant gliomas (MGs), representative intractable diseases involving brain tumors.

Methods: The microarray- and sequence-based patient transcriptomic database 'Oncopression' and tissue microarray of MG patient tissue samples were analyzed. EDB-FN data were extracted and evaluated from 23,344 patient samples of 17 types of cancer to assess its effectiveness and selectivity as a molecular target. To strengthen the results of the patient data analysis, the utility of EDB-FN as a molecular marker and target for MG was verified using active EDB-FN-targeting ultrasmall lipidic micellar nanoparticles (~12 nm), which had a high drug-loading capacity and were efficiently internalized by MG cells in vitro and in vivo.

Results: Brain tumors had a 1.42-fold cancer-to-normal ratio (p < 0.0001), the second highest among 17 cancers after head and neck cancer. Patient tissue microarray analysis showed that the EDB-FN high-expression group had a 5.5-fold higher risk of progression than the EDB-FN low-expression group (p < 0.03). By labeling docetaxel-containing ultrasmall micelles with a bipodal aptide targeting EDB-FN (termed APT_EDB-DSPE-DTX), we generated micelles that could specifically bind to MG cells, leading to superior antitumor efficacy of EDB-FN-targeting nanoparticles compared to nontargeting controls.

Conclusions: Taken together, these results show that EDB-FN can be an effective drug delivery target and biomarker for MG.

Microarray and RASopathy-disorder testing in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities, submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities and RASopathy-disorder (RD) pathogenic variants in a cohort of pregnancies with nuchal translucency thickness (NT) ≥ 3.5 mm, and to propose a clinical protocol for surveillance of this group of patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of patients referred to The Prenatal Diagnosis and Medical Genetics Program at Mount Sinai Hospital between January 2013 and December 2015, due to NT ≥ 3.5 mm, who underwent chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Patients underwent extensive genetic counseling prior to invasive procedures and testing. Quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) was performed as the first-line test for aneuploidy. If the result was negative, patients underwent karyotyping and/or chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and if the findings were normal, they had testing for RD pathogenic variants, which included nine known genes. Patients also underwent detailed fetal ultrasound examinations and echocardiography, performed by expert operators.

RESULTS

A total of 226 eligible patients were identified. In 116/226 (51.3%) patients, QF-PCR identified a chromosomal aneuploidy. The remaining 110/226 (48.7%) patients had further genetic testing. Karyotyping/CMA detected an abnormal/pathogenic cytogenetic result in 9/110 (8.2%) patients, as well as five variants of unknown significance (VOUS). RD testing yielded three pathogenic variants (3/103), giving a detection rate of 2.9%, and one VOUS. The optimal NT cut-off for RD screening was 7.9 mm in this population. In 92/110 (83.6%) patients, the genetic investigations were normal. Of these pregnancies, an early (14-16 weeks' gestation) detailed fetal ultrasound examination identified a structural abnormality in 24 (26.1%), 15 (16.3%) had an abnormal detailed ultrasound examination at 18-22 weeks' gestation and fetal echocardiography showed a cardiac abnormality in nine (9.8%). The birth outcome in the 83 pregnancies that had normal genetic investigations and known outcome included seven (8.4%) cases of termination of pregnancy, seven (8.4%) cases of intrauterine fetal death and 69 (83.1%) cases of live birth. Nine (9.8%) patients were lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Both CMA and molecular testing for RD are important investigations in pregnancies with NT ≥ 3.5 mm. The use of genetic testing combined with fetal ultrasound examination provides valuable information that can influence pregnancy outcome, and provide recurrence risks, in this patient population. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparison of stent-assisted and no-stent coil embolization for safety and effectiveness in the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

The safety of the stent-assisted coil embolization (SAC) technique for acutely ruptured aneurysms has not been established yet. SAC is believed to be associated with a high risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the SAC technique in the setting of acutely ruptured aneurysm.

METHODS

A total of 102 patients who received endovascular treatment for acute SAH between January 2011 and December 2017 were enrolled. The SAC technique was performed in 38 of these patients, whereas the no-stent coil embolization (NSC) technique was performed in 64. The safety and efficacy of the SAC technique in acute SAH was evaluated as compared with the NSC technique by retrospective analysis of radiological and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in clinical or angiographic outcomes between the SAC and NSC techniques in patients with acute SAH. The rate of ventriculostomy-related hemorrhagic complications was higher in the SAC group than that in the NSC group (63.6% vs 12.5%; OR 12.25, 95% CI 1.78-83.94, p = 0.01). However, all these complications were asymptomatic and so small that they were only able to be diagnosed with imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

Ruptured wide-necked aneurysms could be effectively and safely treated with the SAC technique, which showed clinical and angiographic outcomes similar to those of the NSC technique. Hence, the SAC technique with dual-antiplatelet drugs may be a viable option even in acute SAH.

Hemodynamic Features of Microsurgically Identified, Thin-Walled Regions of Unruptured Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms Characterized Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

BACKGROUND

Thin-walled regions (TWRs) of aneurysm surfaces observed in microscopic surgery are thought to be vulnerable areas for growth and rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

OBJECTIVE

To identify hemodynamic features of TWRs of aneurysms by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses of unruptured middle cerebral artery bifurcation (MCAB) aneurysms.

METHODS

Nine patients with 11 MCAB aneurysms were enrolled, and their TWRs were identified. CFD analysis was performed using 3 parameters: pressure, wall shear stress (WSS), and WSS divergence (WSSD). Each parameter was evaluated for its correspondence with TWR.

RESULTS

Among 11 aneurysms, 15 TWRs were identified. Corresponding matches with CFD parameters (pressure, WSS, and WSSD) were 73.33, 46.67, and 86.67%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

WSSD, a hemodynamic parameter that accounts for both magnitude and directionality of WSS, showed the highest correspondence. High WSSD might correspond with TWR of intracranial aneurysms, which are likely high-risk areas for rupture.

Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) transcription factor is a key oncogenic driver of aggressive human meningioma progression

AIMS

Aggressive meningioma remains incurable with neither chemo- nor targeted therapies proven effective, largely due to unidentified genetic alterations and/or aberrant oncogenic pathways driving the disease progression. In this study, we examined the expression and function of Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) transcription factor during meningioma progression.

METHODS

Human meningioma samples (n = 101) were collected, followed by Western blotting, quantitative PCR, immunohistochemical and progression-free survival (PFS) analyses. For in vitro assays, FOXM1 was overexpressed or knocked-down in benign (SF4433 and SF4068) or malignant (SF3061 and IOMM-Lee) human meningioma cell lines respectively. For in vivo studies, siomycin A (a FOXM1 inhibitor)-pretreated or control IOMM-Lee cells were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice.

RESULTS

FOXM1 expression was increased in higher grades of meningioma and correlated with the mitotic index in the tumour tissue. Moreover, FOXM1 was increased in recurrent meningioma compared with the matched primary lesions. The patients who had higher FOXM1 expression had shorter PFS. In the subsequent in vitro assays, knockdown of FOXM1 in malignant meningioma cell lines resulted in decreased tumour cell proliferation, angiogenesis and invasion, potentially via regulation of β-catenin, cyclin D1, p21, interleukin-8, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, PLAU, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-related genes, whereas overexpression of FOXM1 in benign meningioma cell lines had the opposite effects. Last, suppression of FOXM1 using a pharmacological inhibitor, siomycin A, decreased tumour growth in an in vivo mouse model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that FOXM1 is a key transcription factor regulating oncogenic signalling pathways in meningioma progression, and a promising therapeutic target for aggressive meningioma.

Unexpected Daily Changes in Tumor Volume during Fractionated Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Solitary Intraventricular Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

For most fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery treatment plans, daily imaging is not routinely performed, because there is little expectation that lesions will change significantly in the short term. However, here, we present the case of an abrupt increase and decrease in tumor volume during fractionated gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for metastatic brain cancer. A 65-year-old man with a history of nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma was admitted to our hospital because of mild cognitive disorder and gait disturbance. An initial MRI of the brain demonstrated a 5 × 3 × 4.5 cm-sized, heterogeneously well-enhanced tumor with a large cystic component compressing the left thalamus and corpus callosum near the lateral ventricle. Owing to its large size and proximity to critical structures, we decided to perform 3 fractionated GKRSs over 3 consecutive days. After the first fraction of 9 Gy with 50% isodose, follow-up MRI the next day revealed an unexpected increase in tumor volume up to 30%. Therefore, the radiosurgical plan was adjusted, and GKRS was performed again using the same dose for the second fraction. The image taken on the third day showed rapid shrinkage of the tumor volume. This case shows that a tumor may change its shape and volume unexpectedly even during the short period of a fractionated GKRS session. Hence, for optimal fractionated GKRS treatment of tumors with the likelihood of an abrupt change in the short term, interval imaging should be considered.

Inflammation by activated macrophage-like THP-1 cells increases human dura mater cell adhesion with alteration of integrin α2 β1 and matrix metalloproteinase

This study was designed to investigate (i) extracellular matrix to specify adhesive substrates to human dura mater cell (hDMC); (ii) the alteration on adhesion-related molecules in hDMC; and (iii) secreted matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) linked with extracellular matrix remodeling after exposure to inflammation. The hDMC was cultured from human dura mater tissue, and the studies were performed with hDMC after co-culturing with macrophage like THP-1 cells (Mϕ). The adhesion of co-cultured hDMC through collagen I increased 6.4-fold and through collagen IV increased 5.0-fold compared with the adhesion of naïve cells (p < 0.001). Integrin subtype α₂ β₁ expression was increased 6.3-fold (p < 0.001) and α₁ expression was decreased 2.0-fold (p < 0.001) in the co-cultured cells compared with the naïve cells. Co-culturing induced significant increases in MMP-1 (13.9-fold, p < 0.01), MMP-3 (7.6-fold, p < 0.01), and VEGF (VEGF: 3.8-fold, p < 0.05) expression and decreases in MMP-9 (0.1-fold, p < 0.01) compared with the sum of naïve hDMC and Mϕ values. Increased hDMC adhesion under inflammatory conditions is caused by an increased cellular affinity for collagen I and IV mediated by increased hDMC levels of integrin subtype α₂ β₁ and environmental MMP-1, -3 and decreased MMP-9. Selective integrin subtype α₂ β₁ inhibition assay showed 37.8% and 35.7% reduction in adhesion of co-cultured hDMC to collagen I (p < 0.001) and IV (p = 0.057), respectively. The present study provides insight into the pathological conditions related to dura mater adhesion in inflammation. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 9999:1-11, 2019.

Defining "early" cranioplasty to achieve lower complication rates of bone flap failure: resorption and infection

BACKGROUND

Although cranioplasty (CP) is a frequently performed and simple procedure, complications are common, particularly bone flap resorption and infection. The timing of surgery is as an important contributory factor, but the optimal timing has not been clearly determined.

OBJECTIVE

We retrospectively investigated bone flap resorption and surgical site infection after CP to determine the optimal timing of surgery for reduction of complications.

METHODS

The study enrolled 126 patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy (DC) and subsequent CP. Patients with bone flap resorption or surgical site infection were analyzed as the "complication" group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed and the Youden index was used to dichotomize "early CP" and "late CP" groups. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The complication group included 42 patients. The Youden index was used to identify a cutoff value for the DC-CP interval of > 44 days, and this was used to define early (< 45 days) and late (≥ 45 days) CP. Late CP was a significant risk factor in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that early CP before 45 days after DC is associated with a lower rate of bone flap resorption and surgical site infection than late CP.

Aseptic Bone Flap Resorption after Cranioplasty with Autologous Bone: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Implications

OBJECTIVES

Aseptic bone flap resorption (ABFR) is a known complication of cranioplasty (CP) with an autologous bone flap. The incidence of ABFR has been reported to be as high as 34.2% in the literature; however, it is underestimated in clinical fields. We retrospectively reviewed 13 years of clinical cases of patients who underwent CP after decompressive craniectomy (DC) to investigate the incidence and risk factors of ABFR.

METHODS

Ninety-one patients who underwent DC and CP in Guro Hospital, Korea University Medical Center, were enrolled. ABFR was defined using serial brain computed tomography. To identify possible risk factors for ABFR, univariate and multivariate Cox regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 91 patients enrolled, ABFR was diagnosed in 32 patients (35.1%). Bone flap size, existence of a shunting system, and the DC-CP interval were significant in the univariate analysis. Bone flap size was statistically significant in the multivariate analysis (P = 0.0189). The cutoff points of the DC-CP interval and bone flap size were 44 days and 110 cm², respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of ABFR was remarkably high. Bone flap size, the existence of a shunting system, and the DC-CP interval were shown to be potential risk factors of ABFR after CP.

A Point-based Mortality Prediction System for Older Adults with Diabetes

The mortality prediction models for the general diabetic population have been well established, but the corresponding elderly-specific model is still lacking. This study aims to develop a mortality prediction model for the elderly with diabetes. The data used for model establishment were derived from the nationwide adult health screening program in Taiwan in 2007-2010, from which we applied a 10-fold cross-validation method for model construction and internal validation. The external validation was tested on the MJ health screening database collected in 2004-2007. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to predict five-year mortality for diabetic patients ≥65 years. A total of 220,832 older subjects with diabetes were selected for model construction, of whom 23,241 (10.5%) died by the end of follow-up (December 31, 2011). The significant predictors retained in the final model included age, gender, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, leukocyte count, liver and renal function, total cholesterol, hemoglobin, albumin, and uric acid. The Harrell's C in the development, internal-, and external-validation datasets were 0.737, 0.746, and 0.685, respectively. We established an easy-to-use point-based model that could accurately predict five-year mortality risk in older adults with diabetes.

Analysis of tissue from products of conception and perinatal losses using QF-PCR and microarray: A three-year retrospective study resulting in an efficient protocol

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of a laboratory protocol for direct genetic analysis performed on tissues obtained from miscarriages, stillbirth and postnatal death.

METHODS

Samples were collected between July 1st, 2011 and June 30th, 2014. QF-PCR analysis was the initial test followed by aCGH analysis performed on the normal QF-PCR specimens.

RESULTS

Of the 1195 submitted specimens, a total of 1071 samples were confirmed as true fetal. The failure rate was 1.4%. Of those, 30.8% yielded abnormal results. Of the latter, 57.6% had abnormal QF-PCR and 42.4% had abnormal microarray result. Autosomal trisomies were detected in 61.2%, triploidy in 7.6%, monosomy X in 9.1%, sex-chromosome aneuploidy (apart from monosomy X) in 1.5%, molar pregnancies in 5.8% and copy number variants in 14.2% including microdeletions/microduplications and cryptic unbalanced rearrangements. The highest diagnostic yield was observed in the 1st trimester specimens at 67.6%. We confirmed that maternal age correlates with the likelihood of autosomal trisomies but not with triploidy, sex chromosome aneuploidies, molar pregnancy, or CNVs.

CONCLUSION

An efficient laboratory protocol, based on QF-PCR and aCGH of uncultured cells has replaced standard cytogenetic analysis in testing of tissue from all pregnancy losses in our center and resulted in reduced test failure rate and increased diagnostic yield.

Diagnostic utility of microarray testing in pregnancy loss

OBJECTIVES

To determine the frequency of clinically significant chromosomal abnormalities identified by chromosomal microarray in pregnancy losses at any gestational age and to compare microarray performance with that of traditional cytogenetic analysis when testing pregnancy losses.

METHODS

Among 535 fetal demise specimens of any gestational age, clinical microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed successfully on 515, and a subset of 107 specimens underwent additional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, clinically significant abnormalities were identified in 12.8% (64/499) of specimens referred with normal or unknown karyotypes. Detection rates were significantly higher with earlier gestational age. In the subset with normal karyotype, clinically significant abnormalities were identified in 6.9% (20/288). This detection rate did not vary significantly with gestational age, suggesting that, unlike aneuploidy, the contribution of submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities to fetal demise does not vary with gestational age. In the 107 specimens that underwent aCGH and SNP analysis, seven cases (6.5%) had abnormalities of potential clinical significance detected by the SNP component, including female triploidy. aCGH failed to yield fetal results in 8.3%, which is an improvement over traditional cytogenetic analysis of fetal demise specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the provision of results in cases in which karyotype fails and the detection of abnormalities in the presence of a normal karyotype demonstrate the increased diagnostic utility of microarray in pregnancy loss. Thus, chromosomal microarray testing is a preferable, robust method of analyzing cases of pregnancy loss to better delineate possible genetic etiologies, regardless of gestational age.

The combination of axitinib followed by paclitaxel/carboplatin yields extended survival in advanced BRAF wild-type melanoma: results of a clinical/correlative prospective phase II clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous chemotherapy with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition has not shown additional benefit over chemotherapy alone in advanced melanoma. We tested administration of the potent VEGF inhibitor axitinib followed by paclitaxel/carboplatin to determine whether enhanced tumour proliferation during axitinib withdrawal leads to sustained chemosensitivity.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective phase II trial in metastatic melanoma patients with ECOG performance status 0-1 and normal organ function. Axitinib 5 mg PO b.i.d. was taken on days 1-14 of each 21-day treatment cycle, and carboplatin (AUC=5) with paclitaxel (175 mg m(-2)) was administered on day 1 starting with cycle 2. 3'-Deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT)-PET scans were performed in five patients to assess tumour proliferation on days 1, 14, 17, and 20 of cycle 1. Molecular profiling for BRAF was performed for all patients with cutaneous, acral, or mucosal melanoma.

RESULTS

The treatment was well tolerated. The most common grade 3 AEs were hypertension, neutropenia, and anaemia. Grade 4 non-haematologic AEs were not observed. Four of five patients completing (18)F-FLT-PET scans showed increases (23-92%) in SUV values during the axitinib holiday. Of 36 evaluable patients, there were 8 confirmed PRs by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Overall, 20 patients had SD and 8 had PD as the best response. The median PFS was 8.7 months and the median overall survival was 14.0 months. Five BRAF(V600E/K) patients had significantly worse PFS than patients without these mutations.

CONCLUSIONS

Axitinib followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel was well tolerated and effective in BRAF wild-type metastatic melanoma. 3'-Deoxy-3'-(18)F-fluorothymidine-PET scans showed increased proliferation during axitinib withdrawal.

Enhancement of the photocytotoxic efficiency of sub-12 nm therapeutic polymeric micelles with increased co-localisation in mitochondria

We engineered phototherapeutic sub-12 nm-sized polymeric micelles to treat malignant brain tumours (MBTs). The engineered nanoparticles in MBT cells enhanced the photocytotoxic efficiency more than 2.5-fold compared with parental and PEGylated photosensitisers (PSs). Increased subcellular co-localisation of PSs in mitochondria was observed.

Molecular confirmation of nine cases of Cornelia de Lange syndrome diagnosed prenatally

OBJECTIVES

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is characterized by distinct facial features, growth retardation, upper limb reduction defects, hirsutism, and intellectual disability. NIPBL mutations have been identified in approximately 60% of patients with CdLS diagnosed postnatally. Prenatal ultrasound findings include upper limb reduction defects, intrauterine growth restriction, and micrognathia. CdLS has also been associated with decreased PAPP-A and increased nuchal translucency (NT). We reviewed NIPBL sequence analysis results for 12 prenatal samples in our laboratory to determine the frequency of mutations in our cohort.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed data from all 12 prenatal cases with suspected CdLS, which were received by The University of Chicago Genetic Services Laboratories. Diagnostic NIPBL sequencing was performed for all samples. Clinical information was collected from referring physicians.

RESULTS

NIPBL mutations were identified in 9 out of the 12 cases prenatally (75%). Amongst the NIPBL mutation-positive cases with clinical information available, the most common findings were upper limb malformations and micrognathia. Five patients had NT measurements in the first trimester, of which four were noted to be increased.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that prenatally-detected phenotypes of CdLS, particularly severe micrognathia and bilateral upper limb defects, are associated with an increased frequency of NIPBL mutations.

Using therapeutic mammoplasty to extend the role of breast-conserving surgery in women with larger or ptotic breasts

INTRODUCTION

The equivalence of breast-conserving surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy against mastectomy is now firmly established in patients with early breast cancer. The results of surgery in large-breasted women can be poor, with radiation-induced fibrosis, chronic pain and poor cosmesis contributing to long-term psychological and physical morbidity. Therapeutic mammoplasty offers an alternative management strategy to both enhance the role of breast-conserving surgery and provide better outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective note review was undertaken of all patients undergoing therapeutic mammoplasty for breast malignancy between 2007 and 2011. All cases were performed using a Wise pattern-reduction technique. Histology and pathological outcomes were assessed. Postoperative outcomes reviewed included wound infection, seroma and need for further intervention.

RESULTS

During the study period, 20 patients underwent therapeutic mammoplasty with a mean follow-up duration of 36 months. The mean weight of the lumpectomy specimen was 330g. The average cancer size was 34mm, with a mean margin clearance of 7mm. There was one episode of wound infection and three of delayed wound healing at the T-junction. One patient required a mastectomy for involved margins. There were no recurrences at the most recent follow-up visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapeutic mammoplasty offers a tailored approach to women with larger breasts and early breast cancers with good cosmetic results and oncological outcomes.

Abstract 844: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonists abrogate tumor invasion and promote TRAIL-induced apoptosis in malignant glioma

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common brain tumors and have a worse prognosis, so it is needed to develop effective treatments. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists, including 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and synthetic ligands, troglitazone and rosiglitazone, are known to sensitize tumor cells to apoptosis via various molecular mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potentials of combined treatment with PPAR-γ agonists and TRAIL in TRAIL-resistant astrocytoma cells. TRAIL alone and each PPAR-γ agonist exhibited no cytotoxic effects; while the pre-incubation with PPAR-γ agonists enhanced dramatically TRAIL-induced cell death, which was abrogated by a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk. And also, the combined treatment with PPAR-γ agonists and TRAIL increased the enzymatic activity of caspase-3. These results indicate that PPAR-γ agonists might promote TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by modulating the caspase activity. In addition, the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins including FLIP, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and XIAP was suppressed by the combined treatment. Besides the cytotoxic effect, treatment with PPAR-γ agonists significantly inhibited glioma invasion in vitro and in vivo. These results collectively suggest that PPAR-γ agonists may provide a promising strategy to treat malignant glioma.

Citation Format: Kyungsun Choi, Kyuha Chong, Jungwhoi Lee, Hojun Choi, Chulhee Choi. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonists abrogate tumor invasion and promote TRAIL-induced apoptosis in malignant glioma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 844. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-844

Gastric bypass in Type 2 diabetes with BMI < 30: weight and weight loss have a major influence on outcomes

AIM

To assess factors influencing glycaemic control following gastric bypass surgery in patients with Type 2 diabetes and BMI< 30 kg/m(2) .

METHODS

Prospective longitudinal study of 103 patients with inadequate glycaemic control who underwent gastric bypass surgery at Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea (n = 66) and Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (n = 37). Procedures were performed August 2009 to January 2011. Key outcome measures were excellent glycaemic control of Type 2 diabetes defined as HbA1c < 42 mmol/mol (≤6%); inadequate response defined as HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol (> 7%). Analysis was conducted using binary logistic regression, and cut-points obtained from receiver operator characteristics.

RESULTS

Excellent glycaemic control was achieved in 31 (30%) at 1 year. Diabetes duration of < 7 years and BMI > 27 kg/m(2) provided independent predictors and useful cut-points. Likelihood of excellent glycaemic control for an individual could be estimated using loge (Odds) = -6.7 + (0.26 × BMI) + (-1.2 × diabetes duration). Baseline BMI of < 27 kg/m(2) and baseline C-peptide of < 2.0ng/ml, best predicted a poor glycaemic response. In those with favourable baseline characteristics percentage weight loss (%WL) had a dominant influence on glycaemic outcomes. Baseline C-peptide (> 2.4 ng/ml) and subsequent percentage weight loss (> 16%) were associated with excellent glycaemic control. Higher BMI was associated with greater percentage weight loss.

CONCLUSION

In patients with Type 2 diabetes and BMI < 30 kg/m(2) , glycaemic response to gastric bypass is predicted by higher baseline BMI, shorter disease duration and higher fasting C-peptide. Post-surgery weight loss has a dominant effect. Baseline BMI and weight loss have a major influence on outcomes.

Ultrasonic dissection versus electrocautery in mastectomy for breast cancer - a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Electrocautery has advanced the practice of mastectomy but significant morbidity, such as seroma and blood loss, remains a concern. This has led to newer forms of dissection being introduced including the ultrasonic dissection devices, which are thought to reduce tissue damage. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the outcomes after mastectomy using novel ultrasonic dissection or standard electrocautery in published trials.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, trial registries, conference proceedings and reference lists were searched for comparative trials of ultrasonic dissection versus electrocautery for mastectomy. The primary outcomes were total postoperative drainage, seroma development and intra-operative blood loss. Secondary outcomes were operative time and wound complications. Odds ratios were calculated for categorical outcomes and standardised mean differences for continuous outcomes.

RESULTS

Six trials were included in the analysis of 287 mastectomies. There was no effect in total postoperative drainage (pooled analysis weight mean difference: -0.21 (95% CI: -0.70-0.29); p = 0.41) or seroma development (pooled analysis odds ratio: 0.77 (95% CIs 0.43-1.37); p = 0.37). Intra-operative blood was slightly less for ultrasonic dissection compared to standard electrocautery (pooled analysis weight mean difference: -1.04 (95% CI: -2.00 to -0.08); p = 0.03). Ultrasonic dissection and standard electrocautery had similar outcomes with regard to operative time and wound complications.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonic dissection and standard electrocautery appear to deliver similar results in the mastectomy setting. Further cost-effectiveness analysis may guide surgeon selection in the use of new technologies for mastectomy.

Aberrant hypermethylation in primary tumours and sentinel lymph node metastases in paediatric patients with cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND

Debate on how to manage paediatric patients with cutaneous melanoma continues, particularly in those with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases who are at higher risk of poor outcomes. Management is often based on adult algorithms, although differences in clinical outcomes between paediatric and adult patients suggest that melanoma in paediatric patients differs biologically. Yet, there are no molecular prognostic studies identifying these differences.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the epigenetic (methylation) regulation of several tumour-related genes (TRGs) known to be significant in adult melanoma progression in histopathology(+) SLN metastases (n = 17) and primary tumours (n = 20) of paediatric patients with melanoma to determine their clinical relevance.

METHODS

Paediatric patients (n = 37; ≤ 21 years at diagnosis) with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I-III cutaneous melanoma were analysed. Gene promoter methylation of the TRGs RASSF1A, RARβ2, WIF1 and APC was evaluated.

RESULTS

Hypermethylation of RASSF1A, RARβ2, WIF1 and APC was found in 29% (5/17), 25% (4/16), 25% (4/16) and 19% (3/16) of histopathology(+) SLNs, respectively. When matched to adult cutaneous melanomas by Breslow thickness and ulceration, hypermethylation of all four TRGs in SLN(+) paediatric patients with melanoma was equivalent to or less than in adults. With a median follow-up of 55 months, SLN(+) paediatric patients with melanoma with hypermethylation of > 1 TRG vs. ≤ 1 TRG had worse disease-free (P = 0·02) and overall survival (P = 0·02).

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in the methylation status of these TRGs in SLN(+) paediatric and adult patients with melanoma may account for why SLN(+) paediatric patients have different clinical outcomes. SLN biopsy should continue to be performed; within SLN(+) paediatric patients with melanoma, hypermethylation of TRGs can be used to identify a subpopulation at highest risk for poor outcomes who warrant vigilant clinical follow-up.

Role of cerebellum in fine speech control in childhood: persistent dysarthria after surgical treatment for posterior fossa tumour

Dysarthria following surgical resection of childhood posterior fossa tumour (PFT) is most commonly documented in a select group of participants with mutism in the acute recovery phase, thus limiting knowledge of post-operative prognosis for this population of children as a whole. Here we report on the speech characteristics of 13 cases seen long-term after surgical treatment for childhood PFT, unselected for the presence of post-operative mutism (mean time post-surgery=6y10m, range 1;4-12;6 years, two had post-operative mutism), and examine factors affecting outcome. Twenty-six age- and sex- matched healthy controls were recruited for comparison. Participants in both groups had speech assessments using detailed perceptual and acoustic methods. Over two-thirds of the group (69%) with removal of PFT had a profile of typically mild dysarthria. Prominent speech deficits included consonant imprecision, reduced rate, monopitch and monoloudness. We conclude that speech deficits may persist even up to 10 years post-surgery in participants who have not shown mutism in the acute phase. Of cases with unilateral lesions, poorer outcomes were associated with right cerebellar tumours compared to left, consistent with the notion based on adult data that speech is controlled by reciprocal right cerebellar/left frontal interactions. These results confirm the important role of the cerebellum in the control of fine speech movements in children.

Thermoelectric properties of Ni-based oxides

A high-throughput screening technique has been developed and was utilized in the discovery of a new n-type oxide possessing good thermoelectric properties. Screening of metal binary systems consisting of 3d transition metals using this technique showed LaNiO3 to possess the desired n-type properties. Electrical resistivity (ρ) of this oxide is favorably quite low, however, the Seebeck coefficient (S) is as small as –25 μV/K. To enhance the thermoelectric properties of LaNiO3, high-throughput screening was employed to examine candidates from the metal ternary La1–xMxNiO3 and LaNi1–xNxO3 systems. Bi substitution in the La1–xMxNiO3 systems and Cu substitution in the LaNi1–xNxO3 systems were found to be effective for improvement of S and ρ respectively.

When to image neurologically normal children with headaches: development of a decision rule

AIMS

The aim of this study was to develop and refine a decision rule on when to undertake brain imaging (BI) in neurologically normal children with headaches.

METHODS

From the literature and a questionnaire study, a list of red flags (RFs) was drawn-up. During the prospective 4-year period, consecutive children with headache were classified according to RFs and the headache diagnosis.

RESULT

Three of 709 (0.4%) neurologically normal children had significant brain abnormalities. BI was carried out in 389 of 498 (78%) children with RFs. Significant abnormalities were found in three of 389 children (0.8%), all had unclassified headache (UH). BI was not arranged for the 211 children with no RFs. None of these developed RFs or abnormal signs on follow-up for a mean of 13 months.

CONCLUSION

In addition to BI for those with neurological signs, we think BI should be considered for neurologically normal patients with UH and RFs. This would have saved imaging children needlessly: only 101 of 709 (14%) would have had scans arranged, instead of 389 of 709.

Molecular and clinical characterization of de novo and familial cases with microduplication 3q29: guidelines for copy number variation case reporting

Microdeletions of 3q29 have previously been reported, but the postulated reciprocal microduplication has only recently been observed. Here, cases from four families, two ascertained in Toronto (Canada) and one each from Edinburgh (UK) and Leiden (Netherlands), carrying microduplications of 3q29 are presented. These families have been characterized by cytogenetic and molecular techniques, and all individuals have been further characterized with genome-wide, high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays run at a single centre (The Centre for Applied Genomics, Toronto). In addition to polymorphic copy-number variants (CNV), all carry duplications of 3q29 ranging in size from 1.9 to 2.4 Mb, encompassing multiple genes and defining a minimum region of overlap of about 1.6 Mb bounded by clusters of segmental duplications that is remarkably similar in location to previously reported 3q29 microdeletions. Consistent with other reports, the phenotype is variable, although developmental delay and significant ophthalmological findings were recurrent, suggesting that dosage sensitivity of genes located within 3q29 is important for eye and CNS development. We also consider CNVs found elsewhere in the genome for their contribution to the phenotype. We conclude by providing preliminary guidelines for management and anticipatory care of families with this microduplication, thereby establishing a standard for CNV reporting.

Earlier flowering induced by over-expression of CO gene does not accompany increase of artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua

The early flowering gene CONSTANS (CO) from Arabidopsis thaliana was transferred into Artemisia annua using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system. The plant expression vector pBI CO was constructed by inserting the CO gene into the binary vector pBI121 under the control of CaMV 35S promoter. Analyses of PCR, PCR Southern blot, and Southern blot revealed that the transgenic plants contained the foreign CO gene. The results of RT-PCT and RT-PCR Southern blot suggested that the foreign CO gene had expressed at the transcriptional level. Although the flowering time of the CO transgenic plant was about 2 weeks earlier than that of the non-transgenic plant under short-day conditions, no significant difference in artemisinin content was found between the flowering transgenic plant and the non-flowering non-transgenic plant. These results show that the usually observed increase of artemisinin content before plant flowering under natural conditions is not a direct consequence of flowering itself, perhaps there is even no direct linkage between flowering and artemisinin biosynthesis.

OEIS complex: prenatal ultrasound and autopsy findings

OBJECTIVE

To describe prenatal ultrasound and autopsy findings in fetuses with OEIS (omphalocele, bladder exstrophy, imperforate anus, spina bifida) complex.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of the nine cases with OEIS complex diagnosed at our center using detailed fetal ultrasound during the last 10 years. We summarized the fetal ultrasound findings that led to the diagnosis and compared them with the autopsy results.

RESULTS

All affected fetuses were diagnosed using detailed fetal ultrasound after 16 weeks' gestation. The main prenatal findings were omphalocele, skin-covered lumbosacral neural tube defect, non-visualized bladder and limb defects. Prenatal sonography failed to detect the abnormal genitalia, bladder exstrophy and anal atresia. All cases had abnormalities in a 'diaper distribution', which helped in making the prenatal diagnosis. Eight of the nine couples chose to terminate the pregnancies following multidisciplinary counseling. The pregnancy that was continued was a case with dizygotic twins discordant for OEIS, and the affected fetus died in utero.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of the following ultrasound findings: ventral wall defect, spinal defect and a non-visualized bladder with or without limb defects, are characteristic of OEIS complex. Diagnosis can be made with confidence as early as 16 weeks' gestation, although earlier diagnosis may be possible.