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Meningiomas are primary central nervous system tumor with the highest prevalence. Meningiomas have a high recurrence rate in the same location. One of the factors thought to be associated with the frequency of meningiomas is hormonal status. However, research on this subject is still controversial. This review aims to discuss the effect of sex hormones on meningiomas. Sex hormones, especially progesterone, have been shown to play a role in tumorigenesis and meningioma recurrence. Progesterone receptors also play a role in meningioma recurrence where a low number of receptors indicates a poor prognosis. However, the molecular relationship between meningiomas at low progesterone receptor expression is still unknown. Further research is still needed to determine the role of sex hormones, especially progesterone, and their receptors, in both tumorigenesis and meningioma progression. This research ensures that new science in the field of endocrinology can be utilized for both primary preventive, secondary preventive, and therapeutic strategies for meningiomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of tuberculous spondylitis, a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis causing significant discomfort and neurological deficits, surgery becomes imperative to alleviate symptoms alongside antituberculosis treatment. However, the utilization of free vascularized fibula flaps for repairing vertebral deformities remains uncommon. This report presents the case of a 21-year-old man with limb weakness and sensory disturbances who was referred to our hospital, where contrast magnetic resonance imaging revealed a paravertebral abscess spanning several thoracic vertebrae. Collaborating with neurosurgeons, we performed decompression laminectomy, pedicle screw fixation, thoracic vertebrectomy, and restoration of the corporal defect using a free fibula flap. Utilizing a 2.5-cm fibula segment from the patient's left leg without a skin paddle, the surgery demonstrated a pedicle length of 12 cm and a total ischemic time of 183 minutes. The fibula was press-fitted, with recipient vessels identified as 1-mm artery and vein from the intercostal artery perforator. Postsurgery, flap vitality was assessed using Doppler ultrasound, showing positive signals immediately and at 1-month follow-up, with the patient experiencing reduced pain and improved leg strength. Despite its rarity, free fibula flap reconstruction for spinal defects proves effective, safe, and beneficial, necessitating thorough preoperative planning and interdisciplinary collaboration for successful outcomes, marking this case as the first reported instance in Indonesia., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Objective: In surgical correction of frontoethmoidal encephalocele with transcranial approach, advanced facilities are required. While with extracranial approach, though deemed as a safe option in area with limited facilities, procedure was associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. In this case series, we evaluate the results of transcele reconstruction of frontoethmoidal encephalocele, our approach to reduce the incidence of CSF leaks by focusing on the closure of layers by its embryological derivatives, by its bone fusion., Methods: A case series of 14 patients with various types of frontoethmoidal encephalocele who underwent surgery for defect closure using transcele approach between June 2015 and December 2018 was carried out. Surgery was done by a single surgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. We collected the data of intraoperative blood loss and any signs of infection and CSF leak during the patients' one-year follow up. Bone fusion in the defect was evaluated from 3D rendering of head CT scan that was performed before and in 1 year after surgery., Results: The median percentage of intraoperative blood loss was 5.9% (0.5-18.7%). All 3D rendering of head CT post-surgery during 1 year follow up showed bone fusion and no patient experienced CSF leaks or CNS infections., Conclusions: This study showed that using transcele approach in frontoethmoidal reconstruction could give good bone fusion with minimal blood loss and no CSF leaks. We assumed that closure of the layers by its embryological derivative played an important part in bone fusion and in reducing the incidence of CSF leaks, although this finding has to be validated with large-scale studies.

Context: The prognosis of medulloblastoma is better in patients who underwent complete treatment consisting of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, the realization of such multidiscipline management is quite challenging in developing countries, including Indonesia. Until now, no study on the management of medulloblastoma has ever been conducted in Indonesia., Aims: The authors aimed to study the characteristics, management, and mortality outcome of medulloblastoma patients in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia., Subjects and Methods: This study was based on medical record and registry of 44 medulloblastoma patients who underwent tumor removal in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia, between 2011 and 2018., Statistical Analysis Used: Cox regression analysis was utilized to determine the relationship between patients' demography, tumor characteristics, and treatment, with mortality., Results: The incidence of mortality was 84.1% and median months' survival time (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 13 (8.67-17.32). Gross total removal (GTR) was performed in 43.2% of all tumor removal surgery. Only 50% of all patients completed radiotherapy, and 6.8% concluded multimodalities treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy). Significant statistical association between age, gender, and extent of resection with mortality was identified (HR [95% CI] for age: 0.44 [0.22-0.88], gender: 0.001 [0.000-0.27; REF: female], and biopsy: 31.52 [1.09-910.56; REF: GTR])., Conclusions: The survival rate of medulloblastoma in Indonesia is inferior to that previously reported in other studies. There is no unusual characteristic contributing to neoteric risk factor. The authors surmise that insufficient multidisciplinary management for the disease, consisting of suboptimal tumor resection, the absence of risk stratification, and incomplete postsurgical treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) resulted in such outcome., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Asian Journal of Neurosurgery.)