Search

Purpose: Previous evidence suggests that glioma re-resection can be effective in improving clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the use of mapping techniques during surgery has proven beneficial for newly diagnosed glioma patients. However, the effects of these mapping techniques during re-resection are not clear. This systematic review aimed to assess the evidence of using these techniques for recurrent glioma patients., Methods: A systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies. Articles were eligible if they included adult patients with recurrent gliomas (WHO grade 2-4) who underwent re-resection. Study characteristics, application of mapping, and surgical outcome data on survival, patient functioning, and complications were extracted., Results: The literature strategy identified 6372 articles, of which 125 were screened for eligibility. After full-text evaluation, 58 articles were included in this review, comprising 5311 patients with re-resection for glioma. Of these articles, 17% (10/58) reported the use of awake or asleep intraoperative mapping techniques during re-resection. Mapping was applied in 5% (280/5311) of all patients, and awake craniotomy was used in 3% (142/5311) of the patients., Conclusion: Mapping techniques can be used during re-resection, with some evidence that it is useful to improve clinical outcomes. However, there is a lack of high-quality support in the literature for using these techniques. The low number of studies reporting mapping techniques may, next to publication bias, reflect limited application in the recurrent setting. We advocate for future studies to determine their utility in reducing morbidity and increasing extent of resection, similar to their benefits in the primary setting., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflicts of interest The authors have not disclosed any competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Glucose-6-phosphatase-β (G6PC3) is a ubiquitous phosphatase present in the endoplasmic reticulum, which, unlike G6PC1, is not responsible for maintaining blood glucose level under starvation. Recently, G6PC3 has been shown to play an important role in neutrophil granulocytes, eliminating the toxic metabolite 1,5-anhydroglucitol-6-phosphate. The present study aimed to look for alternative substrates for the enzyme and outline the expression changes in the parts of this multicomponent system during neutrophil granulocyte differentiation. We determined the kinetic characteristics of recombinant human G6PC3 towards different sugar phosphates, and the transport of these compounds was also measured in rat liver microsomes. We found that all investigated sugar phosphates are substrates for G6PC3, although their microsomal transport is much slower than that of glucose-6-phosphate. Using the HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line as an in vitro model system for myeloid differentiation, we found no significant differences in enzyme expression and phosphatase activity latency between undifferentiated and differentiated cells. Our results provide novel insights into the possible role of G6PC3 in the dephosphorylation of alternative sugar phosphates or their metabolites synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum and confirm the potential feature of the enzyme in the promyelocytic stage as well. These findings contribute to our knowledge of intracellular carbohydrate metabolism of neutrophil granulocytes, which facilitates further research directions to better understand the underlying mechanisms of neutropenias., (© 2024 The Author(s). FEBS Open Bio published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Federation of European Biochemical Societies.)

We report on the synthesis, crystal, and electronic structure, as well as the magnetic, and electric properties of the phosphorus-containing tantalum nitride P 1-x Ta 8+x N 13 (x=0.1-0.15). A high-pressure high-temperature reaction (8 GPa, 1400 °C) of Ta 3 N 5 and P 3 N 5 with NH 4 F as a mineralizing agent yields the compound in the form of black, rod-shaped crystals. Single-crystal X-ray structure elucidation (space group C2/m (no. 12), a=16.202(3), b=2.9155(4), c=11.089(2) Å, β=126.698(7)°, Z=2) shows a network of face- and edge-sharing Ta-centered polyhedra that contains small vacant channels and PN 6 octahedra strands. Atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals an unusual P/Ta disorder. Mixed-valent tantalum atoms exhibit interatomic distances similar to those in metallic tantalum, however, the electrical resistivity is quite high in the order of 10 1  Ω cm. The density of states and the electron localization function indicate localized electrons in both covalent and ionic bonds between P/Ta and N atoms, combined with less localized electrons that do not contribute to interatomic bonds., (© 2024 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1, also known as NCOA1) frequently functions as a transcriptional coactivator by directly binding to transcription factors and recruiting to the target gene promoters to promote gene transcription by increasing chromatin accessibility and promoting the formation of transcriptional complexes. In recent decades, various biological and pathological functions of SRC-1 have been reported, especially in the context of tumorigenesis. SRC-1 is a facilitator of the progression of multiple cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, neurological cancer, and female genital system cancer. The emerging multiorgan oncogenic role of SRC-1 is still being studied and may not be limited to only steroid hormone-producing tissues. Growing evidence suggests that SRC-1 promotes target gene expression by directly binding to transcription factors, which may constitute a novel coactivation pattern independent of AR or ER. In addition, the antitumour effect of pharmacological inhibition of SRC-1 with agents including various small molecules or naturally active compounds has been reported, but their practical application in clinical cancer therapy is very limited. For this review, we gathered typical evidence on the oncogenic role of SRC-1, highlighted its major collaborators and regulatory genes, and mapped the potential mechanisms by which SRC-1 promotes primary tumour progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG) are a rare yet devastating malignancy of the central nervous system's glial support cells, affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. Tumors of the central nervous system account for the leading cause of pediatric mortality of which high-grade gliomas present a significantly grim prognosis. While the past few decades have seen many pediatric cancers experiencing significant improvements in overall survival, the prospect of survival for patients diagnosed with pHGGs has conversely remained unchanged. This can be attributed in part to tumor heterogeneity and the existence of the bloodbrain barrier. Advances in discovery research have substantiated the existence of unique subgroups of pHGGs displaying alternate responses to different therapeutics and varying degrees of overall survival. This highlights a necessity to approach discovery research and clinical management of the disease in an alternative subtype-dependent manner. This review covers traditional approaches to the therapeutic management of pHGGs, limitations of such methods and emerging alternatives. Novel mutations which predominate the pHGG landscape are highlighted and the therapeutic potential of targeting them in a subtype specific manner discussed. Collectively, this provides an insight into issues in need of transformative progress which arise during the management of pHGGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas, the most prevalent primary intracranial tumors, exhibit notable features such as heightened malignancy, rapid recurrence, and elevated mortality rates. Presently, standard therapeutic approaches yield limited curative outcomes. Shikonin, an extract derived from traditional Chinese medicine, demonstrates notable bioactivity against various tumors, including gliomas. This study elucidates Shikonin's capacity to effectively induce necroptosis in glioma cells, concurrently mitigating glioma stemness, as evidenced by diminished levels of stem cell markers, namely SOX2, CD44, CHI3L1, and CD24. Our findings indicate that Shikonin-induced programed necrosis leads to a downregulation of proteasome activity and a decrease in the expression of immune proteasome subunits PSMB8/9/10 and PSME1/2/3, contributing to the attenuation of stemness in gliomas. This study comprehensively investigates the interplay between (immuno)proteasome dynamics, Shikonin-mediated necroptosis, and the consequential reduction in glioma stemness, both in vitro and in vivo. The discussion extends to the potential of Shikonin as a promising therapeutic agent in the management of gliomas, offering a novel avenue for drug development in this challenging clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work evaluated the green extraction of oleoresin from pink pepper fruits (ORPPF) using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and ethanol as a solvent. The effects of temperature, ultrasound power intensity, sample to solvent ratio and time on the global extraction yield (YGE) and phenolic compounds yield (YPC) were evaluated. The oleoresin samples were characterized and its antimicrobial activity determined, and the obtained results were compared to conventional extraction in Soxhlet. From the results it was found that the application of the highest levels of the independent variables favored the extraction process. The maximum values of YGE and YPC were 28.60 wt% and 6.37 mg GAE per g fruit, respectively, obtained at 60 °C, 100% of ultrasound power (165 W), 1:20 g mL−1 (sample:solvent) and 45 min. Under maximized conditions, the ORPPF obtained by UAE showed a content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity inferior to soxhlet–ethanol extraction. However, the time and solvent consumption were reduced. Oleic and linoleic acids predominated in the fatty acid composition of ORPPF, in addition to sesquiterpenes and gallic and syringic acids. The ORPPF presented weak antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 31.25 to 125 mg mL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment approach. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a water-soluble tricarbocyanine dye with a peak absorption wavelength of around 800 nm and possesses the capacity to produce reactive oxygen species. FTIR spectroscopy is rarely used and offers insights into molecular changes in cancer studies. MCF-7 cells were injected into Nude mouse. Once the tumor had grown to a size of 3-4 mm, mice were randomized into the 12 PDT groups. After each mouse received 5 mg/kg of ICG, they were photo-irradiated with a diode laser emitting light at 809 nm, followed by waiting intervals of 0, 30, 60, and 90 min. Laser irradiation parameters were 150, 250, 500 mW/cm2 and irradiation duration was 1200s. The tumor size was measured every day for four days. The FTIR spectroscopy was used to perform spectral analysis on tumor tissue samples. Four distinct regions (3600-2800 cm-1, 1750-1550 cm-1, 1540-1450 cm-1, and 1700-1100 cm-1) were analyzed, and Hierarchical Cluster study was carried out. A decrease in tumor volume was observed with all PDT applications, except, increases in tumor volume was observed at 150mW 90-minute group. PDT administered after 90 min revealed variations in 150mW and 250mW laser powers in the 3600 cm-1-2800 cm-1 range. The 250mW and 500mW applications resulted in a considerable reduction in fibroadenoma and carcinoma tissues, according to an analysis comparing the A1695 / A1635 ratio. It is proposed that the ideal treatments for further investigation have a power output of 250 mW., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, characterized by its distinctive intratumoral hypoxia. Sequential preoperative examinations using fluorine-18-fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) and fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) could depict the degree of glucose metabolism with hypoxic condition. However, molecular mechanism of glucose metabolism under hypoxia in glioblastoma has been unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the key molecules of hypoxic glucose metabolism. Methods. Using surgically obtained specimens, gene expressions associated with glucose metabolism were analyzed in patients with glioblastoma (n = 33) who underwent preoperative 18F-FMISO and 18F-FDG PET to identify affected molecules according to hypoxic condition. Tumor in vivo metabolic activities were semiquantitatively evaluated by lesion-normal tissue ratio (LNR). Protein expression was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. To evaluate prognostic value, relationship between gene expression and overall survival was explored in another independent nonoverlapping clinical cohort (n = 17) and validated by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (n = 167). Results. Among the genes involving glucose metabolic pathway, mRNA expression of glucose-6-phosphatase 3 (G6PC3) correlated with 18F-FDG LNR (P = 0.03). In addition, G6PC3 mRNA expression in 18F-FMISO high-accumulated glioblastomas was significantly higher than that in 18F-FMISO low-accumulated glioblastomas (P < 0.01). Protein expression of G6PC3 was consistent with mRNA expression, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis. These findings indicated that the G6PC3 expression might be facilitated by hypoxic condition in glioblastomas. Next, we investigated the clinical relevance of G6PC3 in terms of prognosis. Among the glioblastoma patients who received gross total resection, mRNA expressions of G6PC3 in the patients with poor prognosis (less than 1-year survival) were significantly higher than that in the patients who survive more than 3 years. Moreover, high mRNA expression of G6PC3 was associated with poor overall survival in glioblastoma, as validated by TCGA database. Conclusion. G6PC3 was affluently expressed in glioblastoma tissues with coincidentally high 18F-FDG and 18F-FMISO accumulation. Further, it might work as a prognostic biomarker of glioblastoma. Therefore, G6PC3 is a potential key molecule of glucose metabolism under hypoxia in glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) being major subtypes. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of lung cancer, but understanding the underlying mechanisms of immune dysregulation is crucial for the development of effective therapies. This study aimed to investigate the distinctive cellular features of LUAD and LUSC and identify potential biomarkers associated with the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of each subtype. Methods: We used digital cytometry techniques to analyze the RNA-Seq data of 1128 lung cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The abundance of cell subtypes and ecotypes in LUAD and LUSC patients was quantified. Univariate survival analysis was used to investigate their associations with patient overall survival (OS). Differential gene expression analysis and gene co-expression network construction were carried out to explore the gene expression patterns of LUSC patients with distinct survival outcomes. Scratch wound-healing assay, colony formation assay, and transwell assay were used to validate the candidate drugs for LUSC treatment. Results: We found differential expression of cell subtypes between LUAD and LUSC, with certain cell subtypes being prognostic for survival in both subtypes. We also identified differential gene expression and gene co-expression modules associated with macrophages.3/PCs.2 ratio in LUSC patients with distinct survival outcomes. Furthermore, ecotype ratios were found to be prognostic in both subtypes and machine learning models showed that certain cell subtypes, such as epithelial.cells.1, epithelial.cells.5, and endothelial.cells.2 are important for predicting LUSC. Ginkgolide B and triamterene can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of LUSC cell lines. Conclusion: We provide insight into the distinctive cellular features of LUAD and LUSC, and identify potential biomarkers associated with the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes of each subtype. Ginkgolide B and triamterene could be promising drugs for LUSC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research in recent years has focused on circular accelerators that accelerate and store secondary particles with a large momentum spread, such as muons, unstable nuclei, and heavy ions with different charge states. A fixed-field alternating gradient (FFAG) accelerator with large transverse and momentum acceptance has obvious advantages for such requirements. A versatile beam injection method is required to accelerate secondary particles with a large momentum spread and different charge states with an FFAG accelerator. In the present study, a method for charge exchange injection of positive heavy ions using the large momentum acceptance of an FFAG accelerator is proposed. A charge injection system, which converts a He1+ beam to a He2+ beam, is developed for a 150 MeV FFAG accelerator at the Center for Accelerator and Beam Applied Science (CABAS) of Kyushu University. As the first step to verify the injection method, an orbit shift from one charge state to the other is demonstrated. This is the first demonstration of heavy ion injection using an FFAG accelerator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terminalia chebula, commonly known as black myrobalan, ink tree and Chebulic myrobalan is a deciduous tree belonging to the family Combretaceae. It is native to the tropical region with the highest occurrence in the South East Asian regions. The plant exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activity due to its phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, anthocyanins and glycosides. The fruit of T. chebula has been used in several traditional medicinal practices such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha for the treatment of different diseases and ailments including chronic diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, constipation, asthma, ulcer, haemorrhoids, cold and cough. The plant has been well reported in the current literature to possess anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-arthritic, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, hypo-cholesterolemic, anti-plasmodial, antinociceptive, antiulcerogenic and anti-spermatogenic properties. However, comprehensive reviews on the broad spectrum of bioactivity of this plant are limited in literature. Therefore, this review was designed to critically analyse and summarise the current ethno-medicinal and pharmacological evidence on T. chebula. Owing to its bioactivity, T. chebula possesses great potential to include in modern drug discovery. However, further pre-clinical and clinical studies are warranted for its prospective pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene therapy is on its way to revolutionize the treatment of both inherited and acquired diseases, by transferring nucleic acids to correct a disease-causing gene in the target cells of patients. In the fight against infectious diseases, mRNA-based therapeutics have proven to be a viable strategy in the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Although a growing number of gene therapies have been approved, the success rate is limited when compared to the large number of preclinical and clinical trials that have been/are being performed. In this review, we highlight some of the hurdles which gene therapies encounter after administration into the human body, with a focus on nucleic acid degradation by nucleases that are extremely abundant in mammalian organs, biological fluids as well as in subcellular compartments. We overview the available strategies to reduce the biodegradation of gene therapeutics after administration, including chemical modifications of the nucleic acids, encapsulation into vectors and co-administration with nuclease inhibitors and discuss which strategies are applied for clinically approved nucleic acid therapeutics. In the final part, we discuss the currently available methods and techniques to qualify and quantify the integrity of nucleic acids, with their own strengths and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic layer deposition is a powerful technique for achieving atomic-level control in the deposition of thin films and nanoparticles. The ultrathin noble metal films can be applied in many functional devices, but it is a challenge to obtain such films since the island growth mode generally happens instead of the layer growth mode. In this work, the nucleation and growth of platinum on Si, Al2O3, Au, and Ni substrates were studied using (MeCp)PtMe3 and O2 plasma as a precursor and a co-reactant, respectively. The evolution of Pt coverage on different surfaces was observed and discussed based on the experimental results by x-ray photoelectron spectra. The chemical adsorption of the precursor and the following processes like metal atom diffusion on substrate surfaces and up-stepping onto the existing metal islands were considered to dominate the growth before continuous films formed. The chemisorption determined the metal coverage on bare substrate surfaces, and the total coverage was influenced by metal atom diffusion and up-stepping behaviors that are determined by surface energy relationships between the deposited metal and substrate surfaces. Pt films were easier to form on Al2O3 and Ni surfaces compared with on Si and Au surfaces, respectively. A model was proposed to help to understand the mechanisms in the nucleation and growth processes, involving the chemisorption, diffusion, and up-stepping, which contributed to prepare ultrathin continuous Pt films on different substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic obstruction of the outlets of the fourth ventricle (FVOO) is a rare cause of hydrocephalus, which can be misdiagnosed as communicating hydrocephalus due to the enlargement of all four ventricles. Different surgical approaches are discussed in the literature. We present a case report of a 25-year-old male admitted with headache, vertigo, and nystagmus. The MRI scan showed a tetraventricular hydrocephalus with a patent aqueduct. After endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), symptoms resolved. We performed a systematic review of the literature, covering 26 years, with the aim to investigate the symptoms, therapy, and outcome of primary FVOO, according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. We found 9 case reports and 2 case series and could extract a total of 34 cases. After ETV all symptoms resolved in 10 of 23 cases (43.5%), and in 13 of 23 cases (56.5%) symptoms improved partially. Seven cases (30.4%) required additional surgery. A decrease in ventricular volume occurred in most cases. In the 10 patients who were operated via fenestration, all symptoms resolved in 6 cases. ETV seems to be an effective treatment option for patients with idiopathic FVOO in a majority of cases. In special cases, fenestration of the foramen of Magendie may be suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Fourth ventricle outlet obstruction (FVOO) is a rare cause of hydrocephalus. In the last century, the standard treatment was the suboccipital craniotomy with magendieplasty or ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP shunt). Since the beginning of the 21st century, the endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been considered a less invasive alternative. The medical literature lacks sufficient reports of FVOO cases and strong evidence about ETV's efficacy in treating this condition. We report two cases of FVOO treated with ETV and review published similar cases. Clinical and radiological findings of two FVOO cases with outcomes after ETV were presented. Moreover, we conducted a systematic review after protocol registration in PROSPERO (CRD42021281474). MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception till December 31, 2022. Studies were included if they reported cases of FVOO treated initially with ETV. Cases with Chiari malformation, Dandy‐Walker malformation, tuberous sclerosis, trapped fourth ventricle, or space‐occupying lesions were excluded. Two reviewers independently examined title/abstract records in the first stage and full‐text publications in the second for eligibility. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate, defined by the need for re‐ETV or other invasive treatments (e.g., VP shunt or magendieplasty). Other outcomes included clinical state at follow‐up and mortality. Two cases, a 3‐year‐old male and 3.5‐year‐old female, with FVOO, were treated with ETV in our department by the same neurosurgeon (SH) in 2013 and 2021. Both cases improved significantly after ETV, and there was no recurrence through the follow‐up. Besides the present cases, we found 57 other cases of FVOO treated with ETV reported in 17 studies between 2001 and 2021. The median age was 26 years, with an IQR from 2.4 to 59 years, and 56% of cases were females. The recurrence rate was 32% in the sample (19 out of 59), with a 95% CI from 21% to 46%. The median time to recure was 2 months with IQR from 1.25 to 26. A VP shunt was the treatment for recurrence in 68% and a re‐ETV in 32%. At the follow‐up (41 ± 29 months), only one case died, and one deteriorated clinically. FVOO is a rare cause of hydrocephalus encountered mainly in the first or sixth decades of life. ETV provides the first reasonable treatment. Despite the moderate recurrence rate, the outcomes are favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volume transport of the Tsugaru warm current (TWC), defined as the branch current of the western boundary current of the North Pacific subtropical gyre flowing through the Tsugaru Strait, is a critical factor affecting the acidification in the strait as well as the surrounding coastal regions by promoting the enhancement of the vertical mixing of the deep water rich in dissolved inorganic carbon. The in-phase sea-level variation along the coast of mainland Japan with a gap at the Tsugaru Strait permits the discharge of the sea surface water from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean, which is significantly correlated to the variation in the sea-level difference across the Tsugaru Strait, being possibly related to that in the TWC volume transport. Furthermore, by averaging the wind-driven Sverdrup streamfunction along the eastern coast of mainland Japan—from the southern end of Kyushu (30 ∘ N) to the separation latitude of the Kuroshio (36 ∘ N)—and scaling by a factor of the ratio between the depths of the Tsushima Strait and the East China Sea, we obtained the volume transport varying similarly with the sea-level difference across the Tsugaru Strait. As obtained, the interannual wind stress variation in this latitude band to the east of mainland Japan on the North Pacific is suggested to altered the strength of the TWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an increasing demand for noninvasive skin rejuvenation techniques, several light-based devices have been introduced. Due to its ability to deliver thermal energy from the superficial to deeper levels of the dermis, a combined triple-wavelength laser (755 nm, 810 nm, and 1064 nm) can be used for skin rejuvenation. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of a combined triple-wavelength laser for skin rejuvenation. A total of 28 female patients seeking skin rejuvenation treatment were included. All patients underwent five consecutive treatment sessions at a two-week interval. Clinical improvement of aging-related cutaneous change was noted by the treating dermatologists and patients. Biopsies were performed on the faces of consenting patients before and two weeks after the final treatment. Significant clinical improvements were observed by both patients and evaluating dermatologists. Based on the patient satisfaction questionnaire, 78% of patients reported a self-assessed improvement of more than 25%. Additionally, 86% of patients showed an improvement of more than 25% on objective assessment by dermatologists. Histopathological findings revealed increased collagen and elastic bundles throughout the dermis. Except for transient pain during treatment, no serious adverse effects were reported. The findings of this study suggest that the combined triple-wavelength laser may be an effective and safe nonablative option for skin rejuvenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest is an essential motivational component that plays a significant role in learning. It is therefore important to have a better understanding of how interest is triggered for it to develop into a more developed and productive form of interest. Most studies of interest have historically relied on self-report measures, with participants being unable to provide a full and accurate reporting on the triggering process of interest. This is because triggers of interest are characteristically unexpected and fleeting. It has therefore been suggested to use observational studies to collect richer and more detailed data on the triggering process of interest. This paper investigates how interest is triggered using observational methods from a case study analysis of data collected from a 10-week coding programme coupled with the use of psychophysiological measures as a novel measure of triggered interest. Findings together with implications and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Practical Medicine / Shiyong Yixue Zazhi is the property of Journal of Practical Medicine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a primary malignant brain tumor characterized by a high grade of malignancy and an extremely unfavorable prognosis. The current efficacy of established treatments for GBM is insufficient, necessitating the prompt development of novel therapeutic approaches. The progress made in the fundamental scientific understanding of GBM is swiftly translated into more advanced stages of therapeutic studies. Despite extensive efforts to identify new therapeutic approaches, GBM exhibits a high mortality rate. The current efficacy of treatments for GBM patients is insufficient due to factors such as tumor heterogeneity, the blood–brain barrier, glioma stem cells, drug efflux pumps, and DNA damage repair mechanisms. Considering this, pharmacological cocktail therapy has demonstrated a growing efficacy in addressing these challenges. Towards this, various forms of immunotherapy, including the immune checkpoint blockade, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and vaccine therapy have emerged as potential strategies for enhancing the prognosis of GBM. Current investigations are focused on exploring combination therapies to mitigate undesirable side effects and enhance immune responses against tumors. Furthermore, clinical trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy of several strategies to circumvent the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to achieve targeted delivery in patients suffering from recurrent GBM. In this review, we have described the biological and molecular targets for GBM therapy, pharmacologic therapy status, prominent resistance mechanisms, and new treatment approaches. We also discuss these promising therapeutic approaches to assess prospective innovative therapeutic agents and evaluated the present state of preclinical and clinical studies in GBM treatment. Overall, this review attempts to provide comprehensive information on the current status of GBM therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is one of the deadliest and most heterogeneous diseases. Cancers often develop drug resistance, which can lead to treatment failure or recurrence. Accordingly, anticancer compounds are essential for chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells. Phenolic compounds are of interest in the development of cancer drugs due to their medicinal properties and ability to target different molecular pathways. Gallic acid (GA), as one of the main components of phenol, which is abundantly present in plant compounds such as walnut, sumac, grapes, tea leaves, oak bark, and other plant compounds, has antitumor properties. GA can prevent cancer progression, cell invasion, and metastasis by targeting molecular pathways and is an effective complement to chemotherapy drugs and combating multidrug resistance (MDR). In this review, we discuss various mechanisms related to cancer, the therapeutic potential of GA, the antitumor properties of GA in various cancers, and the targeted delivery of GA with nanocarriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mini-review describes the role of the solute carrier (SLC)15 family of proton-coupled oligopeptide transporters (POTs) and particularly Pept2 (Slc15A2) and PhT1 (Slc15A4) in the brain. That family transports endogenous di- and tripeptides and peptidomimetics but also a number of drugs. The review focuses on the pioneering work of David E. Smith in the field in identifying the impact of PepT2 at the choroid plexus (the blood-CSF barrier) as well as PepT2 and PhT1 in brain parenchymal cells. It also discusses recent findings and future directions in relation to brain POTs including cellular and subcellular localization, regulatory pathways, transporter structure, species differences and disease states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical experience and therapeutic efficiency of Endoport-assisted neuroendoscopic surgery for resection of lateral ventricular tumors. The key points and application value of this surgical technique were additionally discussed. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and follow-up data of 16 patients who underwent endoport-assisted neuroendoscopic surgery for lateral ventricular tumors at the Department of Neurosurgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, between January 2018 and September 2020. The surgical procedures, complications and outcomes were analyzed. Results: The study included a total of 16 patients (5 males and 11 females) with lateral ventricular tumors, with a mean age of 43.2 years (18-70 years old). The tumors were distributed as follows: 5 cases involved the body of the lateral ventricle, 3 involved the frontal horn and body, 3 involved the occipital horn, 2 involved the trigone, 2 involved the frontal horn, and 1 case involved the occipital horn and body. Perioperative complications were analyzed, revealing 1 case of intraoperative acute epidural hematoma intraoperative and 2 cases of postoperative obstructive hydrocephalus. All complications were promptly managed. Postoperative MRI revealed that 14 cases (88%) achieved total resection, while 2 cases (12%) achieved subtotal resection. During the followup of 6-38 months, no recurrence was observed. The patient diagnosed with glioblastoma died 16 months after surgery (GOS=1), while the remaining patients have successfully resumed to normal daily life with a GOS score of 5. Conclusion: In conclusion, endoport-assisted neuroendoscopic surgery proved to be a minimally invasive and effective technique for resecting lateral ventricular tumors, with acceptable complications. It effectively utilizes the benefits of close observation, comprehensive exposure, and reduced tissue damage. Therefore, endoport-assisted neuroendoscopic surgery is suitable for the resection of lateral ventricular tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to utilize a computational methodology based on Gene Reversal Rate (GRR) scoring to repurpose existing drugs for a rare and understudied cancer: inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). This method uses IBC-related gene expression signatures (GES) and drug-induced gene expression profiles from the LINCS database to calculate a GRR score for each candidate drug, and is based on the idea that a compound that can counteract gene expression changes of a disease may have potential therapeutic applications for that disease. Genes related to IBC with associated differential expression data (265 up-regulated and 122 down-regulated) were collated from PubMed-indexed publications. Drug-induced gene expression profiles were downloaded from the LINCS database and candidate drugs to treat IBC were predicted using their GRR scores. Thirty-two (32) drug perturbations that could potentially reverse the pre-compiled list of 297 IBC genes were obtained using the LINCS Canvas Browser (LCB) analysis. Binary combinations of the 32 perturbations were assessed computationally to identify combined perturbations with the highest GRR scores, and resulted in 131 combinations with GRR greater than 80%, that reverse up to 264 of the 297 genes in the IBC-GES. The top 35 combinations involve 20 unique individual drug perturbations, and 19 potential drug candidates. A comprehensive literature search confirmed 17 of the 19 known drugs as having either anti-cancer or anti-inflammatory activities. AZD-7545, BMS-754807, and nimesulide target known IBC relevant genes: PDK, Met, and COX, respectively. AG-14361, butalbital, and clobenpropit are known to be functionally relevant in DNA damage, cell cycle, and apoptosis, respectively. These findings support the use of the GRR approach to identify drug candidates and potential combination therapies that could be used to treat rare diseases such as IBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug resistance to antibacterial and anticancer drugs is one of the most important global problems in the treatment field that is constantly expanding and hinders the recovery and survival of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to identify compounds that have antibacterial and anticancer properties or increase the effectiveness of existing drugs. One of these approaches is using natural compounds that have few side effects and are effective. Gallic acid (GA) has been identified as one of the most important plant polyphenols that health‐promoting effects in various aspects such as bacterial and viral infections, cancer, inflammatory, neuropsychological, gastrointestinal, and metabolic disease. Various studies have shown that GA inhibits bacterial growth by altering membrane structure, and bacterial metabolism, and inhibits biofilm formation. Also, GA inhibits cancer cell growth by targeting different signaling pathways in apoptosis, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, targeting the cell cycle, and inhibiting oncogenes and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression. Due to the powerful function of GA against bacteria and cancer cells. In this review, we describe the latest findings in the field of the sources and chemical properties of GA, its pharmacological properties and bioavailability, the antibacterial and anticancer activities of GA, and its derivatives alone, in combination with other drugs and in the form of nanoformulation. This review can be a comprehensive perspective for scientists to use medicinal compounds containing GA in future research and expand its clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salacia plants, native to India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, are well-known for their anti a-glucosidase activity, which can delay glucose absorption. This study aimed to assess the safety profile of a Salacia oblonga trunk hot-water extract (SOE) formulation. The investigation included toxicity tests based on single and 90-days repeated oral doses in rats, as well as a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) to evaluate mutagenicity. For the acute toxicity test, a single dose of either 1000 or 2000 mg/kg of SOE was orally administered to Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Following examinations for clinical signs, body weight, gross pathology, and organ weight, no deaths or SOE-related abnormalities were detected. During the sub-acute toxicity test, the SOE was orally administered to SD rats once daily for 90 days, at either 500 and 1500mg/kg/day. Consequently, no deaths or SOE-related abnormalities were identified in terms of clinical signs, body weight, ophthalmology, hematology, blood chemistry, organ weight, or histopathology. However, a high ketone body concentration and low pH in urinalysis, an increase in food consumption, and gross pathology dilation of the cecum were observed. These changes were determined to be pharmacological effects of SOE, rather than toxic responses. In the bacterial reverse mutation test, the hot-water extract from S. oblonga did not exhibit the potential to induce genetic mutations, in either the presence or absence of metabolic activation. The findings of this study suggest that SOE does not possess acute toxicity, sub-acute toxicity, and mutagenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in the spinal fluid is helpful for the diagnosis of intracranial germinomas. Bifocal lesions involving the pineal and pituitary regions have also been reported as characteristic findings of intracranial germinomas. We present a rare case of a 15-year-old boy with a pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation (PPTID) with bifocal lesions negative for PLAP. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed bifocal mass lesions in the pineal and suprasellar regions and non-communicating hydrocephalus. We initially suspected a germinoma based on imaging findings, but all tumor markers, including PLAP, in the spinal fluid were negative. Based on these results, germinoma was considered less likely, and an endoscopic third ventriculostomy and endoscopic tumor biopsy were performed for diagnosis. The histopathological diagnosis was PPTID, corresponding to World Health Organization grade 3, in both pineal and suprasellar specimens. A craniotomy for tumor removal was performed, resulting in total resection. PLAP is known to have high sensitivity and extremely high negative predictive value for germinomas. Although bifocal lesions highly suggest germ cell tumors, there are exceptions, as in the present case. This case suggests that PLAP measurements are useful for differentiation, leading to appropriate treatment strategies., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Glioma is one of the most common malignancies of the central nervous system. The therapeutic effect has not been satisfactory despite advances in comprehensive treatment techniques. Our previous studies have found that triptolide inhibits glioma proliferation through the ROS/JNK pathway, but in-depth mechanisms need to be explored. Recent studies have confirmed that miRNAs may function as tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes and be involved in cancer development and progression. In this study, we found that let-7b-5p expression levels closely correlated with WHO grades and overall survival in patients in tumor glioma-CGGA-mRNAseq-325, and the upregulation of let-7b-5p can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of glioma cells. Functionally, upregulation of let-7b-5p increased the inhibitory effect on cell viability and colony formation caused by triptolide and promoted the apoptosis rate of triptolide-treated U251 cells. Conversely, downregulation of let-7b-5p had the opposite effect, indicating that let-7b-5p is a tumor suppressor miRNA in glioma cells. Moreover, target prediction, luciferase reporter assays and functional experiments revealed that IGF1R was a direct target of let-7b-5p. In addition, upregulation of IGF1R reversed the triptolide-regulated inhibition of cell viability but promoted glioma cell apoptosis and activated the ROS/JNK signaling pathway induced by triptolide. The results obtained in vivo experiments substantiated those from the in vitro experiments. In summary, the current study provides evidence that triptolide inhibits the growth of glioma cells by regulating the let-7b-5p-IGF1R-ROS/JNK axis in vitro and in vivo. These findings may provide new ideas and potential targets for molecularly targeted therapies for comprehensive glioma treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

» Artificial intelligence is an umbrella term for computational calculations that are designed to mimic human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities, although in the future, this may become an incomplete definition. Machine learning (ML) encompasses the development of algorithms or predictive models that generate outputs without explicit instructions, assisting in clinical predictions based on large data sets. Deep learning is a subset of ML that utilizes layers of networks that use various inter-relational connections to define and generalize data.» ML algorithms can enhance radiomics techniques for improved image evaluation and diagnosis. While ML shows promise with the advent of radiomics, there are still obstacles to overcome.» Several calculators leveraging ML algorithms have been developed to predict survival in primary sarcomas and metastatic bone disease utilizing patient-specific data. While these models often report exceptionally accurate performance, it is crucial to evaluate their robustness using standardized guidelines.» While increased computing power suggests continuous improvement of ML algorithms, these advancements must be balanced against challenges such as diversifying data, addressing ethical concerns, and enhancing model interpretability., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSREV/B111)., (Copyright © 2024 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Objective: Sporadic optic chiasmatic-hypothalamic gliomas (OCHGs), though histologically low-grade tumors, manifest as aggressive neoplasms radiologically, leading to difficulty in diagnosis. Molecular alterations of the BRAF gene are detectable in a majority of sporadic OCHGs. The purpose of our study was to elucidate the characteristic imaging features of sporadic OCHGs and to investigate whether imaging phenotypes could potentially correlate with specific BRAF gene alterations associated with these tumors., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed baseline magnetic resonance (MR) images and medical records of 26 patients with histopathologically proven sporadic OCHGs. MR imaging (MRI) features were systematically evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed to determine whether there was a significant association between imaging findings and BRAF molecular alterations., Results: Twenty-two cases (84.6%) presented with solid-cystic masses, while four (15.4%) presented with purely solid lesions. In all 26 cases, the solid component revealed central necrosis; there was minimal necrosis in 11 cases (42.3%), moderate in 8 (30.7%), and marked in 7 (26.9%). The presence of multiple cysts (>4) and minimal necrosis showed a significant association with BRAFV600E mutation (P < 0.005). Marked necrosis in the solid component significantly correlated with BRAF wild genotype (P < 0.001). The presence of a single peripheral cyst significantly correlated with BRAF fusion (P = 0.04)., Conclusion: Sporadic OCHGs have a distinctive appearance on imaging. The solid-cystic composition coupled with varying degrees of central necrosis are clues to the radiological diagnosis of this entity and can facilitate early recognition in clinical practice. Imaging could potentially serve as a non-invasive predictor of the BRAF alteration status, thereby serving as a prognostic marker and guiding personalized management., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Neurology India, Neurological Society of India.)

Approximately 30% of lymphomas occur outside the lymph nodes, spleen, or bone marrow, and the incidence of extranodal lymphoma has been rising in the past decade. While traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy can improve survival outcomes for certain patients, the prognosis for extranodal lymphoma patients remains unsatisfactory. Extranodal lymphomas in different anatomical sites often have distinct cellular origins, pathogenic mechanisms, and clinical manifestations, significantly influencing their diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a comprehensive summary of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment progress of extranodal lymphoma overall and specifically for different anatomical sites. This review summarizes the current progress in the common key signaling pathways in the development of extranodal lymphomas and intervention therapy. Furthermore, it provides insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies of common extranodal lymphomas, including gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, mycosis fungoides (MF), natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (nasal type, NKTCL-NT), and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Additionally, as PCNSL is one of the extranodal lymphomas with the worst prognosis, this review specifically summarizes prognostic indicators and discusses the challenges and opportunities related to its clinical applications. The aim of this review is to assist clinical physicians and researchers in understanding the current status of extranodal lymphomas, enabling them to make informed clinical decisions that contribute to improving patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To establish a robust interpretable multiparametric deep learning (DL) model for automatic noninvasive grading of meningiomas along with segmentation. Methods: In total, 257 patients with pathologically confirmed meningiomas (162 low-grade, 95 high-grade) who underwent a preoperative brain MRI, including T2-weighted (T2) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (T1C), were included in the institutional training set. A two-stage DL grading model was constructed for segmentation and classification based on multiparametric three-dimensional U-net and ResNet. The models were validated in the external validation set consisting of 61 patients with meningiomas (46 low-grade, 15 high-grade). Relevance-weighted Class Activation Mapping (RCAM) method was used to interpret the DL features contributing to the prediction of the DL grading model. Results: On external validation, the combined T1C and T2 model showed a Dice coefficient of 0.910 in segmentation and the highest performance for meningioma grading compared to the T2 or T1C only models, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.770 (95% confidence interval: 0.644–0.895) and accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 72.1%, 73.3%, and 71.7%, respectively. The AUC and accuracy of the combined DL grading model were higher than those of the human readers (AUCs of 0.675–0.690 and accuracies of 65.6–68.9%, respectively). The RCAM of the DL grading model showed activated maps at the surface regions of meningiomas indicating that the model recognized the features at the tumor margin for grading. Conclusions: An interpretable multiparametric DL model combining T1C and T2 can enable fully automatic grading of meningiomas along with segmentation. Key Points: • The multiparametric DL model showed robustness in grading and segmentation on external validation. • The diagnostic performance of the combined DL grading model was higher than that of the human readers. • The RCAM interpreted that DL grading model recognized the meaningful features at the tumor margin for grading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smith–Purcell radiation (SPR) with broadly tunable spectra has attracted attention in light emission, and this free‐electron‐driven source shows great potential in illumination fields, such as terahertz sources, ultra‐compact light sources, free‐electron lasers, etc. However, it remains difficult to control the polarization properties of SPR and realize a free‐electron chiral light source. In this work, the chiral SPR with the maximum chirality (>40%) is acquired in a periodic stacked nanosquare light‐well, and the radiation chirality is manipulated by variations of the designed electron beam excitation positions. Furthermore, this work reveals that the chiroptical effect originates in the superposition of SPRs with different phases and polarization, which are derived from adjacent sidewalls. This work may deepen the comprehension of electron‐matter interaction and facilitate the development of compact electron‐driven chirality‐tunable source‐on‐chip, highlighting potential applications in photonic integration and binary data processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of media services, multimedia conferencing, interactive distance learning, and distributed interactive simulations is becoming more dependent on the security of multicast communication over 5 G and 6 G networks. In order to ensure the security and efficacy of multicast communication, our research came up with the idea of combining multicast public-key encryption with digital signatures known as "Multi-Receiver Signcryption (MRSC)." As compared to multicast encryption and signature primitives, MRSC significantly improves the effectiveness of secure information delivery through multicast communication over 5 G and 6 G networks. In this paper, we first provide the formal model of MRSC schemes used in Public Key Infrastructure, Identity-based Cryptography, and Certificateless Cryptography. Secondly, we present a typology of MRSC, as well as a summary of an in-depth investigation of the qualities of security, the cost of computing, and the overhead of communication over the networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) are rare and aggressive embryonal tumors of central nervous system that typically affect children younger than 3 years of age. Given the generally poor outcomes of patients with ATRT and the significant toxicities associated with conventional multi-modal therapies, there is an urgent need for more novel approaches to treat ATRT, one such approach being immunotherapy. The recent rise of large-scale, multicenter interdisciplinary studies has delineated several molecular and genetic characteristics unique to ATRT. This review aims to describe currently available data on the tumor immune microenvironment of ATRT and its specific subtypes and to summarize the emerging clinical and preclinical results of immunotherapy-based approaches. It will also highlight the evolving knowledge of epigenetics on immunomodulation in this epigenetically influenced tumor, which may help guide the development of effective immunotherapeutic approaches in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colistin (CST) is a last-line drug for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. CST-heteroresistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) has been isolated. However, integrated analysis of epidemiology and resistance mechanisms based on the complete ECC species identification has not been performed. Methods: Clinical isolates identified as "E. cloacae complex" by MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper Compass in a university hospital in Japan were analyzed. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of CST were determined by the broth microdilution method. The population analysis profiling (PAP) was performed for detecting the heteroresistant phenotype. The heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) cluster was determined from its partial nucleotide sequence. From the data of whole-genome sequencing, average nucleotide identity (ANI) for determining ECC species, multilocus sequence type, core genome single-nucleotide-polymorphism-based phylogenetic analysis were performed. phoPQ-, eptA-, and arnT-deleted mutants were established to evaluate the mechanism underlying colistin heteroresistance. The arnT mRNA expression levels were determined by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Results: Thirty-eight CST-resistant isolates, all of which exhibited the heteroresistant phenotype by PAP, were found from 138 ECC clinical isolates (27.5%). The prevalence of CST-resistant isolates did not significantly differ among the origin of specimens (29.0%, 27.8%, and 20.2% for respiratory, urine, and blood specimens, respectively). hsp60 clusters, core genome phylogeny, and ANI revealed that the CST-heteroresistant isolates were found in all or most of Enterobacter roggenkampii (hsp60 cluster IV), Enterobacter kobei (cluster II), Enterobacter chuandaensis (clusters III and IX), and Enterobacter cloacae subspecies (clusters XI and XII). No heteroresistant isolates were found in Enterobacter hormaechei subspecies (clusters VIII, VI, and III) and Enterobacter ludwigii (cluster V). CST-induced mRNA upregulation of arnT, which encodes 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose transferase, was observed in the CST-heteroresistant isolates, and it is mediated by phoPQ pathway. Isolates possessing mcr-9 and mcr-10 (3.6% and 5.6% of total ECC isolates, respectively) exhibited similar CST susceptibility and PAP compared with mcr-negative isolates. Conclusions: Significant prevalence (approximately 28%) of CST heteroresistance is observed in ECC clinical isolates, and they are accumulated in specific species and lineages. Heteroresistance is occurred by upregulation of arnT mRNA induced by CST. Acquisition of mcr genes contributes less to CST resistance in ECC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Intracranial germinomas constitute a rare brain tumor entity of unknown etiology, characterized by unique histopathology and molecular biology. In this manuscript, we review the literature focusing on the epidemiology, histopathology with molecular biology, clinical presentation with emphasis on tumor location, diagnostic workup, and current treatment strategies with related clinical outcomes of intracranial germinomas. Recent Findings: Although the optimal treatment strategy remains a matter of debate, intracranial germinomas respond well to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of both and are characterized by very high cure and survival rates. It is well-known that early discrimination of germinomas from other intracranial neoplasms facilitates the timely initiation of appropriate treatment, thereby contributing to the reduction of morbidity as well as mortality. Summary: Ongoing research will need to be directed towards discovering and refining reliable parameters for early diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis in patients with intracranial germinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]