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Spinal cord astrocytoma (SCA) is a rare subtype of astrocytoma, posing challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Low-grade SCA can achieve long-term survival solely through surgery, while high-grade has a disappointing prognosis even with comprehensive treatment. Diagnostic criteria and standard treatment of intracranial astrocytoma have shown obvious limitations in SCA. Research on the molecular mechanism in SCA is lagging far behind that on intracranial astrocytoma. In recent years, huge breakthroughs have been made in molecular pathology of astrocytoma, and novel techniques have emerged, including DNA methylation analysis and radiomics. These advances are now making it possible to provide a precise diagnosis and develop corresponding treatment strategies in SCA. Our aim is to review the current status of diagnosis and treatment of SCA, and summarize the latest research advancement, including tumor subtype, molecular characteristics, diagnostic technology, and potential therapy strategies, thus deepening our understanding of this uncommon tumor type and providing guidance for accurate diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Imaging parameters of Chiari malformation type I (CMI) development are not well established. This study aimed to collect evidence of general or specific imaging measurements in patients with CMI, analyze indicators that may assist in determining the severity of CMI, and guide its diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across various databases including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase, covering the period from January 2002 to October 2023, following predefined inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan (ver. 5.4). We performed a quantitative summary and systematic analysis of the included studies. This study was registered in the PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) prior to initiation (CRD42023415454). Results: Thirty-three studies met our inclusion criteria. The findings indicated that out of the 14 parameters examined, 6 (clivus length, basal angle, Boogard's angle, supraocciput lengths, posterior cranial fossa [PCF] height, and volume) exhibited significant differences between the CMI group and the control group. Furthermore, apart from certain anatomical parameters that hold prognostic value for CMI, functional parameters like tonsillar movement, obex displacement, and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics serve as valuable indicators for guiding the clinical management of the disease. Conclusion: We collated and established a set of linear, angular, and area measurements deemed essential for diagnosing CMI. However, more indicators can only be analyzed descriptively for various reasons, particularly in prognostic prediction. We posit that the systematic assessment of patients' PCF morphology, volume, and other parameters at a 3-dimensional level holds promising clinical application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: One of the feasible solutions for enhancing new energy density of secondary batteries is to develop high‐performance dual anode materials for lithium and sodium‐ion batteries (LIBs&SIBs). To address this key challenge, we introduce a novel silicon/flower‐like manganese selenide/carbon composite (Si@MnSe@PPyC/rGO) with core@double‐shell structure as potential dual anode materials. The morphology, structure and composition of the composite are determined by means of SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, Raman, TGA and XPS. The key to the successful synthesis process is that in situ polymerization of polypyrrole on the nanosheet of flower‐like Si@MnO2 preserves the intermediate layer with flower‐like morphology during selenization. Si@MnSe@PPyC/rGO exhibits the high performance owing to exceptional advantages such as the high capacity silicon core, the stable flower‐shaped MnSe and PPyC double shells as protective layer, as well as the excellent conductive network of rGO. This material delivers a greatly enhanced reversible capacity (803 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g), remarkable stability and excellent rate performance (437 mAh/g even at 3.2 A/g) in LIBs. For Na‐ion storage, it pleasantly reaches 323 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g and remains constant at 226.4 mAh/g after 500 cycles at 2.0 A/g. This study provides versatile strategy so as to maintain the unique morphology of nano‐metal oxide during selenization treatment, and supplies a cost‐effective strategy for preparing high‐performance dual‐anode materials for Li/Na‐ion storage. Novelty Statement: Novel silicon/flower‐like manganese selenide/carbon composites (Si@MnSe@PPyC/rGO) with core@double‐shell structure are successfully fabricated as superior dual anode materials for Li/Na‐ion storage for the first time.The critical step is the in‐situ coating of PPy on the surface of nanosheets of Si@flower‐like MnO2 which could remain the original flower‐like morphology unchanged during selenization treatment.Si@MnSe@PPyC/rGO exhibits excellent potential as a dual anode material candidate for high performance Li/Na‐ion storage including high capacity, stable cycling performance and high rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]