Surgically Treated Brain Tumors: A Retrospective Case Series of 10,009 Cases at a Single Institution

An ultra-stretchable, highly sensitive and biocompatible capacitive strain sensor from an ionic nanocomposite for on-skin monitoring

Flexible strain sensors that can be comfortably attached onto the skin for real-time and accurate detection of physiological signals are particularly important for the realization of healthcare, soft robotics and human-machine interfacing. It is still challenging to develop strain sensors that satisfy both high stretchability and high sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate an ultra-stretchable, highly sensitive and biocompatible capacitive-type strain sensor based on a nanocomposite containing ionic hydrogels and silver nanofibers (AgNFs). The sensor exhibits an ultra-high stretchability of 1000% and high sensitivity with a maximum gauge factor (GF) of up to 165. We find that the incorporation of AgNFs greatly increases the electrical-double layer (EDL) area at the hydrogel/metal interface and hence enhances by 3 orders of magnitude the strain sensitivity. With a short response time and good operation stability, the sensor and its matrix were successfully applied to monitor various physiological signals such as arm and finger motions, pulse, electrocardiographs (ECG), breath, speaking and emotion changes.

Epidemiology of brain tumors in children aged two and under: A 10-year single-institute study

The aim of present study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical symptoms, pathological characteristics, surgical treatment strategies and prognosis of brain tumors in children aged two and under. The current study obtained data regarding 32 consecutive infants and young children aged two years and under, who were treated for brain tumors in the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University (Shanghai, China) between 2003 and 2013. The types of tumor, clinical manifestations, location, histological features, applied treatment strategies and outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. The male to female ratio was 1.13:1, and among a total of 32 tumors, 14 (43.8%) were suptratentorial and 18 (56.3%) were infratentorial. Intracranial hypertension was the most common onset symptom, and astrocytoma was the most common tumor type (10 cases; 31.3%), followed by ependymoma (nine cases; 28.1%) and medulloblastoma (six cases; 18.8%). Surgical tumor resection was performed in 20 patients (62.5%), who experienced a mean post-operative survival time of 67.6 months. By contrast, conservative treatment with medications was administered in 12 patients (37.5%), with a mean survival time of 25.3 months. Furthermore, four patients underwent conservative therapy combined with ventriculoperitoneal shunting to relieve intracranial pressure arising from cerebrospinal fluid accumulation, resulting in a mean survival time of 10.5 months. In conclusion, the present study indicates that surgical tumor resection may improve the overall prognosis of infants and young children aged two years and under who presented with brain tumors. In addition, ventriculoperitoneal shunts may facilitate pre- and post-operative improvement in clinical symptoms by relieving intracranial pressure; however, the shunts do not appear to increase long-term survival. Furthermore, high surgical risk is an important prognostic factor in this pediatric patient population.

Morphologic spectrum of glial tumors: an increased trend towards oligodendroglial tumors in Pakistan

Background

Glial tumors are most common brain tumors in our population. While the exact etiology and pathogenesis is unknown, the evaluation of current trends in the frequency and morphology of glial tumors is imperative to constitute better diagnostic and treatment protocols. Data pertaining to frequency and spectrum of glial tumors is scarcely available in our population. The aim of this study was to determine the morphologic spectrum of glial tumors prevalent in our population.

Method

126 cases of glial tumors were retrospectively analyzed over a period of 5 years. Patients from all age groups and both genders were included in this study. Glial tumors were classified and graded according to WHO classification.

Results

Glial tumors were more common in males with a sex ratio of 2:1 and mean age of 38.26 years. Astrocytomas were most common glial tumors (51.6%) followed by oligodendrogliomas (23%). Glioblastoma was the most frequent astrocytic tumor and was incomparably frequent in older age group.

Conclusion

In our study, Oligodendrogliomas and mixed oligoastrocytomas represent major pattern of disease in comparison with available regional data. Knowledge of these changing trends and patterns of glial tumor morphology and frequency can help in improvements and applications of newly emerging diagnostic and treatment modalities.

Combination therapy of cilengitide with belotecan against experimental glioblastoma

The prognosis of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma remains dismal in spite of the current concomitant chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide. In particular, the resistance to temozolomide appears to be the greatest obstacle to the treatment of glioblastoma. In the present study, we evaluated in vitro and in vivo the antitumor effects of combination therapy of cilengitide with belotecan, a camptothecin derivate, to treat experimental glioblastoma. The therapeutic effects of the drugs on the U87MG and U251MG human glioblastoma cell lines were assessed using in vitro cell viability and apoptosis assays. The combination treatment group with cilengitide and belotecan enhanced the cytotoxic effects to the glioblastoma cell lines and increased the apoptosis of the tumor cells compared to monotherapy with either drug alone in vitro. Nude mice with established U87MG glioblastoma were assigned to the following four groups: control, cilengitide, belotecan and combination treatment. The volume of tumors and length of survival were also measured. Animals in the combination therapy group demonstrated a significant reduction of tumor volume and an increase in survival (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed a decrease in angiogenesis by cilengitide and an increase in apoptosis by cilengitide and belotecan in vivo. The combination therapy of cilengitide with belotecan presented more cytotoxic effects compared to the monotherapy of either drug in vitro and in vivo. This combination protocol may serve as an alternative treatment option for glioblastoma.