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Rationale and Objectives: Gliomatous tumors are known to affect neural fiber integrity, either by displacement or destruction. The aim of this study is to investigate the integrity and distribution of the white matter tracts within and around the glioma regions using probabilistic fiber tracking., Material and Methods: Forty-two glioma patients were subjected to MRI using a standard tumor protocol with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The tumor and peritumor regions were delineated using snake model with reference to structural and diffusion MRI. A preprocessing pipeline of the structural MRI image, DTI data, and tumor regions was implemented. Tractography was performed to delineate the white matter (WM) tracts in the selected tumor regions via probabilistic fiber tracking. DTI indices were investigated through comparative mapping of WM tracts and tumor regions in low-grade gliomas (LGG) and high-grade gliomas (HGG)., Results: Significant differences were seen in the planar tensor (C p ) in peritumor regions; mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity and pure isotropic diffusion in solid-enhancing tumor regions; and fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, pure anisotropic diffusion (q), total magnitude of diffusion tensor (L), relative anisotropy, C p and spherical tensor (C s ) in solid nonenhancing tumor regions for affected WM tracts. In most cases of HGG, the WM tracts were not completely destroyed, but found intact inside the tumor., Discussion: Probabilistic fiber tracking revealed the existence and distribution of WM tracts inside tumor core for both LGG and HGG groups. There were more DTI indices in the solid nonenhancing tumor region, which showed significant differences between LGG and HGG., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

3D printing technology has evolved over the years and there is a growing interest in its application in paediatric neurosurgery. Modern 3D printers have enabled the development of patient-specific 3D models that provide a realistic representation of complex anatomies and will aid in planning complex procedures. Paediatric neurosurgical operations are challenging and hands-on training is restricted. Surgical simulation training with biomodel has provided a new paradigm for trainees to master their surgical skills before encountering similar scenarios in real-life environment. This paper reviews the aspects of 3D printing for preoperative planning and simulation-based surgical training in paediatric neurosurgery.

Paediatric craniomaxillofacial (CMF) surgery requires a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure the optimal and holistic management of children with craniofacial deformities. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the complications following functional interventions among 34 CMF deformity patients in a single multidisciplinary craniofacial centre. Electronic data including patient demographic characteristics and clinical entry were analysed. Inclusion criteria were all paediatric patients with CMF deformities who underwent various functional interventions. A total of 64 interventions (48 intermediate and 16 definitive) were conducted. Based on the Sharma classification of complications, 20.3% were type I, 4.7% were type II, 1.6% were type III, and 4.7% were type IV . Most complications were type I, which included local infection (3.1%) and premature opening of tarsorrhaphy (3.1%). More serious complications (types III and IV) included temporary visual loss (1.6%) and intraoperative haemorrhage (1.6%). Although a low complication rate was observed in intermediate interventions, a higher complication rate was observed in more complex definitive interventions such as monobloc distraction osteogenesis. Although most complications were manageable, effective prevention remains mandatory, as serious complications may lead to permanent damage and mortality. This analysis highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach to optimize the outcomes in CMF patient management., (Copyright © 2020 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? What is the role of dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in respiration control in humans? What is the main finding and its importance? Direct evidence is provided for a role of the ACC in respiratory control in humans. The neurophysiological responses in dorsal ACC to different breathing tasks varied and were different between left and right ACC., Abstract: The role of subcortical structures and cerebral cortex in the maintenance of respiratory homeostasis in humans remains poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests an important role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in respiratory control. In this study, local field potentials (LFPs) from dorsal ACC were recorded in humans through implanted deep brain electrodes during several breathing activities, including voluntary activities of breath-holding and deep breathing, and involuntary activities of inspiration of varying concentrations of carbon dioxide (1%, 3%, 5% and 7%). We found that the breath-holding task induced significant unilateral left-sided ACC changes in LFP power, including an increased activity in lower frequency bands (3-5 Hz) and decreased activity in higher frequency bands (12-26 Hz). The respiratory task involving reflex increase in ventilation due to hypercapnia (raised inspired CO 2 ) was associated with bilateral changes in activity of the ACC (again with increased activity in lower frequency bands and reduced activity in higher frequency bands). The voluntary breathing task with associated hypocapnia (deep breathing) induced bilateral changes in activity within low frequency bands. Furthermore, probabilistic diffusion tractography analysis showed left-sided connection of the ACC with the insula and frontal operculum, and bilateral connections within subsections of the cingulate gyrus and the thalamus. This electrophysiological analysis provides direct evidence for a role of the ACC in respiratory control in humans., (© 2020 The Authors. Experimental Physiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Physiological Society.)

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic poses major risks to health care workers in neurocritical care. Recommendations are in place to limit medical personnel attending to the neurosurgical patient as a protective measure and to conserve personal protective equipment. However, the complexity of the neurosurgical patient proves to be a challenge and an opportunity for innovation. The goal of our study was to determine if telemedicine delivered through smart glasses was feasible and effective in an alternative method of conducting ward round on neurocritical care patients during the pandemic., Methods: A random pair of neurosurgery resident and specialist conducted consecutive virtual and physical ward rounds on neurocritical patients. A virtual ward round was first conducted remotely by a specialist who received real-time audiovisual information from a resident wearing smart glasses integrated with telemedicine. Subsequently, a physical ward round was performed together by the resident and specialist on the same patient. The management plans of both ward rounds were compared, and the intrarater reliability was measured. On study completion a qualitative survey was performed., Results: Ten paired ward rounds were performed on 103 neurocritical care patients with excellent overall intrarater reliability. Nine out of 10 showed good to excellent internal consistency, and 1 showed acceptable internal consistency. Qualitative analysis indicated wide user acceptance and high satisfaction rate with the alternative method., Conclusions: Virtual ward rounds using telemedicine via smart glasses on neurosurgical patients in critical care were feasible, effective, and widely accepted as an alternative to physical ward rounds during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Neurosurgery departments worldwide have been forced to restructure their training programs because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study, we describe the impact of COVID-19 on neurosurgical training in Southeast Asia., Methods: We conducted an online survey among neurosurgery residents in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand from May 22 to 31, 2020 using Google Forms. The 33-item questionnaire collected data on elective and emergency neurosurgical operations, ongoing learning activities, and health worker safety., Results: A total of 298 of 470 neurosurgery residents completed the survey, equivalent to a 63% response rate. The decrease in elective neurosurgical operations in Indonesia and in the Philippines (median, 100% for both) was significantly greater compared with other countries (P < 0.001). For emergency operations, trainees in Indonesia and Malaysia had a significantly greater reduction in their caseload (median, 80% and 70%, respectively) compared with trainees in Singapore and Thailand (median, 20% and 50%, respectively; P < 0.001). Neurosurgery residents were most concerned about the decrease in their hands-on surgical experience, uncertainty in their career advancement, and occupational safety in the workplace. Most of the residents (n = 221, 74%) believed that the COVID-19 crisis will have a negative impact on their neurosurgical training overall., Conclusions: An effective national strategy to control COVID-19 is crucial to sustain neurosurgical training and to provide essential neurosurgical services. Training programs in Southeast Asia should consider developing online learning modules and setting up simulation laboratories to allow trainees to systematically acquire knowledge and develop practical skills during these challenging times., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Both the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures play important roles in consciousness. Some evidence points to general anaesthesia-induced unconsciousness being associated with distinct patterns of superficial cortical electrophysiological oscillations, but how general anaesthetics influence deep brain neural oscillations and interactions between oscillations in humans is poorly understood., Methods: Local field potentials were recorded in discrete deep brain regions, including anterior cingulate cortex, sensory thalamus, and periaqueductal grey, in humans with implanted deep brain electrodes during induction of unconsciousness with propofol. Power-frequency spectra, phase-amplitude coupling, coherence, and directed functional connectivity analysis were used to characterise local field potentials in the awake and unconscious states., Results: An increase in alpha (7-13 Hz) power and decrease in gamma (30-90 Hz) power were observed in both deep cortical (ACC, anterior cingulate cortex) and subcortical (sensory thalamus, periaqueductal grey) areas during propofol-induced unconsciousness. Robust alpha-low gamma (30-60 Hz) phase-amplitude coupling induced by general anaesthesia was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex but not in other regions studied. Moreover, alpha oscillations during unconsciousness were highly coherent within the anterior cingulate cortex, and this rhythm exhibited a bidirectional information flow between left and right anterior cingulate cortex but stronger left-to-right flow., Conclusion: Propofol increases alpha oscillations and attenuates gamma oscillations in both cortical and subcortical areas. The alpha-gamma phase-amplitude coupling and the functional connectivity of alpha oscillations in the anterior cingulate cortex could be specific markers for loss of consciousness., (Copyright © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Crouzon syndrome (CS) is the most common craniosynostosis syndrome and requires a comprehensive management strategy for the optimization of care and functional rehabilitation. This report presents a case series of 6 pediatric patients diagnosed with CS who were treated with distraction osteogenesis (DO) to treat serious functional issues involving severe orbital proptosis, an obstructed nasopharyngeal airway, and increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Three boy and 3 girls were 8 months to 6 years old at the time of the operation. The mean skeletal advancement was 16.1 mm (range, 10 to 27 mm) with a mean follow-up of 31.7 months (range, 13 to 48 months). Reasonable and successful outcomes were achieved in most patients as evidenced by adequate eye protection, absence of signs and symptoms of increased ICP, and tracheostomy tube decannulation except in 1 patient. Complications were difficult fixation of external stabilizing pins in the distraction device (n = 1) and related to surgery (n = 4). Although DO can be considered very technical and can have potentially serious complications, the technique produces favorable functional and clinical outcomes in treating severe CS., (Copyright © 2017 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)