Predictors of 30-day postoperative systemic complications in geriatric patients undergoing elective brain tumor surgery

Little evidence exists to guide the preoperative selection of elderly brain tumor patients who are fit for surgery. We aimed to evaluate the safety of brain tumor resection in geriatric patients and identify predictors of postoperative 30-day systemic complications. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 212 consecutive patients at or above the age of 60 years who underwent elective brain tumor resection between 2007 and 2017. The primary outcome measures analyzed were perioperative systemic complications within 30 days after the operation. A total of 212 geriatric brain tumor patients were included. Fifty-two (24.5%) had a 30-day systemic complication. Among them, 29 (13.7%) had systemic infections, 13 (6.1%) had perioperative seizures, 10 (4.7%) had syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), five (2.4%) had deep venous thrombosis (DVT), four (1.9%) had perioperative stroke, three (1.4%) had acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and three (1.4%) had central nervous system (CNS) infections. One patient (0.5%) died. Perioperative stroke was predicted by previous stroke (p = 0.040), chronic liver disease (p < 0.001) and vestibular schwannoma (p = 0.002 with reference to meningiomas). Perioperative AMI was predicted by co-existing ischemic heart disease (p = 0.031). Systemic infection was predicted by female gender (p = 0.007) and preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score < 70 (p = 0.019). DVT was predicted by GBM (p = 0.014). In conclusion, brain tumor surgery can be safe in carefully-selected geriatric patients. The risk factors identified in this study would be helpful to select suitable candidates for surgery.     

Spontaneous and reflex movements after diagnosis of clinical brain death: A lesson from acute encephalopathy

BackgroundOrgan transplantation after brain death (BD) of the donor has been promoted in many countries as an established medical treatment. However, some problems with brain-dead organ transplantation have been reported. For example, there is no evidence as to the optimal observation period for a diagnosis and no evidence to support the interpretation of the various body movements observed after the determination of BD.Case reportA previously healthy 17-month-old girl with severe febrile convulsive status was transferred to our intensive care unit. The convulsions were refractory and the patient required respiratory management due to whole brain edema on head CT. Later she was diagnosed with acute encephalopathy. The patient showed a flat EEG, no responses on auditory brainstem responses (ABR), and loss of brainstem reflexes on repeated daily examinations. No apnea test was performed. Based on the diagnosis of clinical BD, coordinator of Japan Organ Transplant Network explained about organ donation on the 17th day of the disease. Subsequently, the family responded that they could not consent to organ donation, and the patient did not proceed to the legal BD determination. Around five weeks after the onset, spontaneous body movements began to appear, as not only the spinal reflexes but also the brainstem involvement.ConclusionThe pathophysiology of acute encephalopathy is largely unknown, and it is difficult to determine the observation period necessary for BD determination. What we have learned from this case is that clinical BD remains ambiguous and cannot be confirmed even with a thorough neurological examination, EEG, and ABR.     

Evaluation of Response to Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Brain Metastases Using Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a Review of the Literature

Aims

Following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), brain metastases initially increase in size in up to a third of cases, suggesting treatment failure. Current imaging using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cannot differentiate between tumour recurrence and SRS-induced changes, creating difficulties with patient management. Combining multiparametric MRI techniques, which assess tissue physiological and metabolic information, has shown promise in answering this clinical question.

A pediatric case of anaplastic astrocytoma with a gliomatosis cerebri; the growth pattern and changes in serum VEGF-121 levels after bevacizumab treatment

Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) is a rare diffusely infiltrating glial neoplasm that carries a poor prognosis. Because tumors are undetectable in most patients at early-stage of the onset, a useful diagnostic method is expected. We compared serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-121 levels in patients with GC or glioblastoma and controls. VEGF-121 levels were significantly higher in one patient with GC and patients with glioblastoma than in controls. VEGF-121 levels decreased in a patient with GC after bevacizumab-based therapy. Thus, VEGF-121 may be useful for diagnosing GC, its disease-monitoring and understanding its etiology.     

缺血性脑卒中再发相关危险因素分析

目的探讨包括脑白质疏松(LA)在内的相关危险因素与缺血性脑卒中再发的关系。方法连续收集2010年1月至2014年12月在我院保健科、神经内科发病72 h内住院首发急性缺血性卒中患者751例,随访3年,入选患者701例,随访中再发患者124例为再发组;首发缺血性卒中患者577例为未再发组,比较分析两组患者危险因素。结果再发组患者LA程度高于未再发组(Z=-2.307,P=0.021);再发组血糖、血压、血脂控制达标率低于未再发组(均P<0.05)。Spearson相关分析与缺血性卒中再发患者呈正相关的因素为LA(r=0.451,P=0.007)、年龄(r=0.334,P=0.015)、血压(r=0.812,P=0.001)、血糖(r=0.637,P=0.002)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)(r=0.674,P=0.000)、总胆固醇(r=0.748,P=0.003)、三酰甘油(r=0.878,P=0.004)、吸烟(r=0.380,P=0.008);与脑卒中再发无明显相关的因素为性别(r=0.032,P=0.115)。二分类Logistics回归与缺血性卒中再发呈正相关因素为年龄(B=0.142,P=0.000)、血压(B=0.135,P=0.000)、LDL-C(B=1.141,P=0.001)、三酰甘油(B=0.367,P=0.036)、血糖(B=0.385,P=0.000);与缺血性卒中再发无相关的因素为LA(B=22.221,P=0.997)、总胆固醇(B=0.081,P=0.867)、吸烟(B=21.434,P=0.995)。结论年龄、高血糖、高血压、三酰甘油是缺血性卒中患者复发的独立危险因素,LA、总胆固醇、吸烟是缺血性卒中复发的混杂因素。进行积极危险因素干预治疗,对预防缺血性卒中复发有重要意义。     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of EEG microstates in four- to eight-year-old children: Age- and sex-related effects

The ultrafast spatiotemporal dynamics of large-scale neural networks can be examined using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) microstates, representing transient periods of synchronized neural activity that evolve dynamically over time. In adults, four canonical microstates have been shown to explain most topographic variance in resting-state EEG. Their temporal structures are age-, sex- and state-dependent, and are susceptible to pathological brain states. However, no studies have assessed the spatial and temporal properties of EEG microstates exclusively during early childhood, a critical period of rapid brain development. Here we sought to investigate EEG microstates recorded with high-density EEG in a large sample of 103, 4–8-year-old children. Using data-driven k-means cluster analysis, we show that the four canonical microstates reported in adult populations already exist in early childhood. Using multiple linear regressions, we demonstrate that the temporal dynamics of two microstates are associated with age and sex. Source localization suggests that attention- and cognitive control-related networks govern the topographies of the age- and sex-dependent microstates. These novel findings provide unique insights into functional brain development in children captured with EEG microstates.