Chuanwei Wang

This study aimed to explore the experience and complications of cranioplasty (CP) with polyether ether ketone (PEEK) in pediatric and adolescent patients after decompressive craniectomy (DC). A total of 62 children (aged p < 0.005, hazard ratio = 0.250, 95% confidence interval: 0.096–0.652). No reoperation was performed. Medical follow-ups were carried out further. For pediatric patients with cranial defects after DC who receive CP with a custom-made PEEK, two variables including younger age and too short DC-CP time interval may be unfavorable factors, to make patients experience bone gap expansion at the interface between the cranial bone and the PEEK. Additional data should be collected to validate our conclusions.

Prodigiosin (PG), a member of a family of natural red pigments produced by a variety of bacteria, was first discovered in Serratia marcescens. PG has been reported to have an apoptosis-inducing effect in many cancers, such as lymphoma, colon cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. For this study, we used three glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines (LN229, U251 and A172) to explore the effect of prodigiosin on GBM cells. A CCK8 assay was used to evaluate cell viability. We determinedthe cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry and measured proliferation by an EdU incorporation assay. The expression of different molecules was investigated by western blotting and RT-PCR. We further confirmed our results by plasmid transfection and lentiviral transduction. The LN229 xenograft model was used to study the effect of prodigiosin in vivo. We confirmed that prodigiosin played an anticancer role in several GBM cell lines through the KIAA1524/PP2A/Akt signalling pathway. Prodigiosin inhibited the protein expression of KIAA1524 by suppressing its transcription, which led to activation of PP2A. Afterward, PP2A inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt, thereby inducing increased expression of p53/p21. Furthermore, it was verified that prodigiosin inhibited the KIAA1524/PP2A/Akt axis in vivo in the LN229 xenograft model. These data improve the understanding of the anticancer effects of prodigiosin and further highlight the potential of prodigiosin for the development of anti-glioma drugs.

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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) evolving from traumatic subdual hydroma (TSH). Methods: The clinical characteristics of 44 patients with CSDH evolving from TSH were analysed retrospectively and the relevant literature was reviewed. Results: In 22.6% of patients, TSH evolved into CSDH. The time required for this evolution was 14–100 days after injury. All patients were cured with haematoma drainage. Conclusions: TSH is one possible origin of CSDH. The clinical characteristics of TSH evolving into CSDH include polarization of patient age and chronic small effusion. The injuries usually occur during deceleration and are accompanied by mild cerebral damage.

To explore clinical features and surgical treatment of asymptomatic meningiomas (AMs). Clinical materials of 122 patients with AMs treated surgically were analyzed retrospectively and the associated literatures were reviewed. There were 39 males and 83 females whose ages ranged from 38 to 72 years with a mean of 58.6 years in this series. The cerebral convexity (32.8%), parasagittal region (31.1%), and parafalcine (29.5%) ranked in the top three of all locations of AMs. The average size of the tumors was 2.8 cm in diameter, with a tumoral calcification rate of 33.6%. Among the 82 cases of AMs monitored with serial computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scannings, 44 had no obvious growth during a period of 3 to 18 months (mean 10.5 months) whereas 38 increased in diameter from 0.2 to 1.8 cm (mean 0.4 cm) every year during a period of 6 to 38 months (mean 26 months). Total resection was achieved in all cases. No death or permanent neurological deficits occurred. AMs have some marked clinical characteristics compared with the symptomatic meningiomas. Their definitive treatment project rests with patients'age, results of follow-up, surgical risk-effect ratio, size, calcification of the tumor as well as patient preference.

To explore the clinical features and surgical treatment of aggressive meningiomas (AMs). Samples from 55 patients with AMs were analyzed, and their clinical characteristics, molecular biological mechanism, and surgical treatment were studied in combination with the literature. The main clinical and imaging features of AMs included manifestations of local structures invaded by tumors, frequently irregular or flat tumors in shape, more obvious cerebral edema surrounding the tumors, seldom calcification of tumor, more frequent and typical dural tail sign, often absent white or black ring sign, partial or complete occlusion of venous sinus and hyperplasia and destruction of local skull. Simpson I resection was achieved in 31 cases, II in 13, III-IV in 11. No severe complications and death occurred after operation. AMs have prominent clinical features. Appropriate surgery can provide a good therapeutic effect.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of microtubule depolymerization by colchicine on hyperalgesia mediated by transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) in a neuropathic pain model of chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) (hereafter termed CCD) in rat. Intrathecal administration of microtubule-depolymerizing agent, colchicine, attenuated the activated effect of 4alpha-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate (4alpha-PDD, TRPV4 specific agonist) on mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in CCD rats. This observation is in agreement with our in vitro experiments with DRG cells that showed a significant attenuation of 4alpha-PDD-activated Ca(2+)-influx and substance P (SP) release with the colchicine treatment. We conclude that microtubule depolymerization by colchicine can regulate pain sensitivity by depressing the hyperalgesia mediated by TRPV4.

Angiomatous meningioma (AM) is a rare histological variant of meningioma. Twenty seven patients (14 male and 13 female) with angiomatous meningioma were treated in our institution. Their clinical presentation, neuroimaging studies, treatment and follow-up were investigated. The age of patients ranged from 24 to 72 years with a mean of 51.8 years. The clinical presentation was non-specific and depended on the location of the tumor and was mainly due to the mass effect. On computed tomography (CT) scanning, AMs showed slightly hyperintensity. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), AMs demonstrated hypointensity on T1-weighted images (T1WI), hyperintensity on T2-weighted images (T2WI), slight hypointensity on diffusion-weighted images (DWI), enhancement on postcontrast T1WI, peritumoral edema, and rich signal voids of vessels in the tumor. On histology, all tumors exhibited abundant blood vessels with at least focal classic meningothelial differentiation. Thirteen, eight, and six cases were achieved Simpson grade I, II and III-IV resection respectively. Nineteen cases were followed for 8 to 125 months with a mean of 47.9 months. Four patients with residual tumor were treated with postoperative radiation therapy and all of them had stable disease. One patient with Simpson grade II resection was not treated with radiation therapy and developed recurrent tumor in 5 years. In conclusion, angiomatous meningiomas have relative high male to female ratio, more frequent peritumoral edema, and rich blood vessels. Gross total resection is still the treatment of choice. These patients with residual tumor after surgery can benefit from radiation therapy. Overall, the prognosis of AMs are as good as other benign meningiomas.