by Melissa A. Maloney  , Katherine E. Lewinter  , Sally L. Davidson Ward  and Iris A. Perez

Received: 13 November 2018;  Published: 16 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804017

Sleep complaints are common in pediatric patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. These problems may result from disruption of normal homeostatic, circadian, neuroendocrine, and cardiorespiratory pathways and vary by tumor location and treatment received. Children with tumors within the hypothalamus and surrounding regions are prone to excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep-related breathing disorders, especially those involving abnormal control of breathing, may occur in patients with tu [...]

by Michele Bisceglia  , Stefano Pizzolitto  , Tullio Parracino  , Giovanna De Maglio  , Elena Minenna  , Serena D’Agostini  and Carlos A. Galliani

Received: 07 October 2018;  Published: 14 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804016

Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is a nuclear polypeptide, tissue-restricted member of the homeobox protein family, that when attached to DNA plays a crucial role in regulating the expression of select genes during early embryonic development of the thyroid, lung, and brain. As often happens, the initial enthusiasm for the diagnostic value of TTF-1 as a selective immunohistochemical marker of lung and thyroid tumors began to dwindle, its wider use led its demonstration in tumors arising f [...]

by Richard A. Prayson

Received: 04 September 2018;  Published: 05 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804015

Along with focal cortical dysplasia, hippocampal sclerosis and remote infarcts, tumors are a well known cause of medically intractable or pharmacoresistent epilepsy [1-3]. Most of the tumors encountered in this setting represent low grade glioneuronal neoplasms, particularly gangliogliomas and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors. In 2005, Wang and colleagues reported on 8 tumors which they designated as so-called “monomorphous angiocentric gliomas” [4]. The title of their paper suggested [...]

by Divya B. Mella  , Josie Sewell  and Edward Pan

Received: 12 October 2018;  Published: 01 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804014

Objective: To report three cases of refractory prolactinomas treated with Temozolomide (TMZ). Background: Prolactinomas account for 40% of pituitary adenomas. Dopamine agonists (DA) are the first line of treatment followed by surgical resection and radiation. TMZ is an oral chemotherapeutic agent used in gliomas, which has been given to patients with prolactinomas refractory to conventional treatments. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted for refractory prolactinoma patients treated [...]

by Jai Jai Shiva Shankar  , Adil Bata  and Namita Sinha

Received: 07 August 2018;  Published: 25 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804013

Background: Current imaging standard for detecting and assessing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progression depends on contrast-enhancement on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Isolated foci of diffusion restriction have been observed to precede enhancement in GBM. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of isolated diffusion restriction that precede corresponding enhancement and to investigate if isolated diffusion restriction was associated with survival in patients with GBM [...]

by Ruth Prieto  and Jose M Pascual

Received: 11 September 2018;  Published: 15 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804012

Treatment of craniopharyngiomas (CPs) represents a neurosurgical challenge, the major reason being their close relationship with the hypothalamus and the third ventricle (3V) boundaries. Nevertheless, CPs are generally defined as “suprasellar” lesions, an imprecise and frequently faulty term. Despite being heterogeneous lesions, CPs are actually characterized by repeating pathological patterns which depend on their point of origin along the pituitary-hypothalamic axis. Preoperative understanding [...]