Perioperative nasal and paranasal sinus considerations in transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary disease

Endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery has emerged as the treatment modality of choice for a range of skull base lesions, particularly pituitary adenomas. However, navigation and manipulation of the nasal corridor and paranasal sinuses requires that surgeons are aware of effective techniques to maximize patient outcomes and avoid sinonasal morbidity postoperatively. This paper is a narrative review aimed to provide an updated and consolidated report on the perioperative management of the nasal corridor and paranasal sinuses in the setting of endoscopic skull base surgery for pituitary disease. Anatomic variants and common surgical techniques are discussed. Post-operative complications are evaluated in detail. Understanding the structural implications of the endonasal approach to the sphenoid is crucial to opti

An overview of jets and outflows in stellar mass black holes

In this book chapter, we will briefly review the current empirical understanding of the relation between accretion state and and outflows in accreting stellar mass black holes. The focus will be on the empirical connections between X-ray states and relativistic (`radio') jets, although we are now also able to draw accretion disc winds into the picture in a systematic way. We will furthermore consider the latest attempts to measure/order jet power, and to compare it to other (potentially) measurable quantities, most importantly black hole spin.Comment: Accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews. Also to appear in the Space Sciences Series of ISSI - The Physics of Accretion on to Black Holes (Springer Publisher

Molecular and translational advances in meningiomas.

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial neoplasm. The current World Health Organization (WHO) classification categorizes meningiomas based on histopathological features, but emerging molecular data demonstrate the importance of genomic and epigenomic factors in the clinical behavior of these tumors. Treatment options for symptomatic meningiomas are limited to surgical resection where possible and adjuvant radiation therapy for tumors with concerning histopathological features or recurrent disease. At present, alternative adjuvant treatment options are not available in part due to limited historical biological analysis and clinical trial investigation on meningiomas. With advances in molecular and genomic techniques in the last decade, we have witnessed a surge of interest in understanding the genomic and epigenomic landscape of meningiomas. The field is now at the stage to adopt this molecular knowledge to refine meningioma classification and introduce molecular algorithms that can guide prediction and therapeutics for this tumor type. Animal models that recapitulate meningiomas faithfully are in critical need to test new therapeutics to facilitate rapid-cycle translation to clinical trials. Here we review the most up-to-date knowledge of molecular alterations that provide insight into meningioma behavior and are ready for application to clinical trial investigation, and highlight the landscape of available preclinical models in meningiomas

'Disc-jet' coupling in black hole X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei

In this chapter I will review the status of our phenomenological understanding of the relation between accretion and outflows in accreting black hole systems. This understanding arises primarily from observing the relation between X-ray and longer wavelength (infrared, radio) emission. The view is necessarily a biased one, beginning with observations of X-ray binary systems, and attempting to see if they match with the general observational properties of active galactic nuclei.Comment: 28 pages, 15 figures, To appear in Belloni, T. (ed.): The Jet Paradigm - From Microquasars to Quasars, Lect. Notes Phys. 794 (2009

Imaging and diagnostic advances for intracranial meningiomas

The archetypal imaging characteristics of meningiomas are among the most stereotypic of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors. In the era of plain film and ventriculography, imaging was only performed if a mass was suspected, and their results were more suggestive than definitive. Following more than a century of technological development, we can now rely on imaging to non-Invasively diagnose meningioma with great confidence and precisely delineate the locations of these tumors relative to their surrounding structures to inform treatment planning. Asymptomatic meningiomas may be identified and their growth monitored over time; moreover, imaging routinely serves as an essential tool to survey tumor burden at various stages during the course of treatment, thereby providing guidance on their effectiveness or the need for further intervention. Modern radiological techniques are expanding the power of imaging from tumor detection and monitoring to include extraction of biologic information from advanced analysis of radiological parameters. These contemporary approaches have led to promising attempts to predict tumor grade and, in turn, contribute prognostic data. In this supplement article, we review important current and future aspects of imaging in the diagnosis and management of meningioma, including conventional and advanced imaging techniques using CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine

Advances in multidisciplinary therapy for meningiomas

Surgery has long been established as the first-line treatment for the majority of symptomatic and enlarging meningiomas, and evidence for its success is derived from retrospective case series. Despite surgical resection, a subset of meningiomas display aggressive behavior with early recurrences that are difficult to treat. The decision to radically resect meningiomas and involved structures is balanced against the risk for neurological injury in patients. Radiation therapy has largely been used as a complementary and safe therapeutic strategy in meningiomas with evidence primarily stemming from retrospective, single-Institution reports. Two of the first cooperative group studies (RTOG 0539 and EORTC 22042) evaluating the outcomes of adjuvant radiation therapy in higher-risk meningiomas have shown promising preliminary results. Historically, systemic therapy has resulted in disappointing results in meningiomas. However, several clinical trials are under way evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapies, such as trabectedin, and novel molecular agents targeting Smoothened, AKT1, and focal adhesion kinase in patients with recurrent meningiomas

Aging‐related alterations in the distribution of Ca2+‐dependent PKC isoforms in rabbit hippocampus

The immunocytochemical and subcellular localization of the Ca2+‐dependent protein kinase C (cPKC) isoforms (PKCα, β1, β2, and γ) was examined in rabbit hippocampus of young (3 months of age; n = 11) and aging (36 months of age; n = 14) subjects. Detailed immunocytochemical analyses revealed a significant increase in PKCβ1, β2, and γ immunoreactivity in principal cell bodies and associated dendrites, and interneurons of the hilar region in the aging rabbits. The number of PKCα‐ and γ‐positive interneurons in the aging stratum oriens declined significantly. PKCα was least affected in principal cells, showing an increase in immunostaining in granule cells only. Weakly PKC‐positive principal cells intermingled between densely stained ones were seen in parts of the hippocampus in most of the aging rabbits, showing that the degree of aging‐related alterations in PKC‐immunoreactivity varies between neurons. Changes in PKC expression in the molecular and subgranular layer of the aging dentate gyrus suggested a reorganization of PKC‐positive afferents to this region. Western blot analysis revealed a significant loss of PKC in the pellet fraction for all isoforms, and a tendency for increased levels of cytosolic PKC. However, no significant changes were found in total PKC content for any PKC isoform. A concurrent dramatic loss of the PKC anchoring protein receptor for activated C kinase (RACK1) in the pellet fraction was shown by Western blotting. These findings suggest that the loss of RACK1 contributes to the dysregulation of the PKC system in the aging rabbit hippocampus. The enhanced PKC‐immunoreactivity might relate to reduced protein‐protein interactions of PKC with the anchoring protein RACK1 leading to increased access of the antibodies to the antigenic site. In conclusion, the results suggest that memory deficits in aging rabbits are (in part) caused by dysregulation of subcellular PKC localization in hippocampal neurons. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc