Metastatic Spinal Tumors: Diagnostic Methods, Management and Prognosis at the Yaounde Central Hospital and Yaounde General Hospital

Introduction: Metastatic spinal tumors (MST) refer to secondary involvement of the vertebral column by hematogenously-disseminated metastatic cells. They could affect either the bony structures or the spinal cords. Mechanical instability and neurologic deficits resulting from spinal cord compression are the most common manifestations. Surgical intervention remains the most effective treatment for about 20% of patients who present with spinal cord compression. The prognosis is relatively poor. This work has as objectives to describe: the diagnostic tools, the different modalities of management and the prognostic elements of spine metastasis. Methodology: We conducted an ambispective cross-sectional descriptive study;with retrospective data collection from January 2015 to December 2021 and prospective collection from January to April 2022 in the “Neurosurgery” unit of the Yaounde Central Hospital and the “Oncology and Neurosurgery” units of Yaounde General Hospital. Result: We included 101 patients. The M/F sex ratio was 1.66. The average age of the participants was 56.44 years (±14.19 SD) with a median of 58 years. Metastatic spinal tumors were discovered in 61.39% of patients with a previously known primary tumor and 21.78% of patients had newly discovered tumors. The neurologic examination revealed a vertebral syndrome in 79.21% of cases, radicular syndrome in 60.40% and sub-lesional syndrome in 59.89%. Sensory disorders accounted for 39.60% and sphincter disorders accounted for 34.65%. According to the degree of severity, the lesions were classified as Frankel E (37.62%) followed by Frankel D (21.78%). Metastatic lesions were mostly found at the thoracic vertebrae (68.25%) and lumbar vertebrae (22.22%). The most represented primary tumors were: prostate tumors (41.58%) and breast tumors (23.76%);followed by malignant hemopathies (15.84%). Computed-tomography scan (CT-scan) was the most frequent diagnostic imaging technique used (71.28%). Analgesic treatment mostly involved level II analgesia (64.36%). High dose steroid therapy (greater than 80mg/24h) was used in more than half of the patients. Radiation therapy was performed in 24.75% of the patients, chemotherapy in 55.44% and specific surgical interventions performed in 20.79%. The most frequent surgical indication was complete motor deficit according to the Frankel classification (47.21%). One patient in four (23.76%) experienced improvement in functional prognosis with increased muscle strength after a period of 2 weeks to 5 months of treatment. About 1 in 10 patients (8.8%) rather had worsening of their neurologic status. We observed that there was a correlation between spine surgery and improvement in muscle strength (P-value less than 0.05). Patients (12) who had better recovery or preserved gait were those with partial compression (P-value = 0.0143). Four out of five patients (81.18%) of our series had an estimated survival of less than one year according to the Tokuhashi score. Conclusion: MSTs are frequent in our context. Most patients sought consultation late after the first symptoms appeared (principally back pain). The clinical examination revealed a high proportion of patients with spinal cord compression syndrome. Medical treatment was first-line for the management of pain and most patients who underwent surgical treatment had complete neurologic deficits. The functional prognosis was found to be improved by surgery and the vital prognosis depended on the Tokuhashi score, with better accuracy when the prediction is more than 12 months.

Surgical Management of Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors: Surgical Resection and Prognosis

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The majority of intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCT) are low-grade gliomas. Radical resection for IMSCTs remains challenging. Recently, improved neuroimaging and advanced microsurgical technique have made great success in surgical management of the intramedullary spinal cord tumors. METH-ODS & RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumors were treated by radical resection dur-ing the past 4 years in our institute. The histological results were as follows: 12 ependymomas, 4 astrocytomas, 4 heman-gioblastomas, 4 epidermoids, 1 cavernoma, 2 lipomas, 2 metastatics. A gross -total resection (】 95%) was achieved in 25 surgical procedures. Subtotal resections (80-95% ) were performed in 4 cases. There was no surgical death.When comparing the preoperative and 3-month postoperative functional grades, 12 patients were stable 14 improved,and 3 deteriorated. Patients with either no deficit or only mild deficit before surgery were rarely impaired by the proce-dure, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The major determinant of long-term survival was histologi-cal composition of the tumor. Patients in whom an IMSCT was only partially resected (【80% ) fared significantly worse. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term survival and quality of life for patients with low-grade gliomas treated by radi-cal resection alone is comparable or superior to minimal resection plus radiotherapy. The optimal therapy for patients with high-grade glioma is yet to be determined. For benign lesion, such as hemangioblastoma and cavernoma could be cured by total resection of the tumor. For lipoma and epidermoid, fibrous adhesions to the cord make total removal difficult,and thus, removal is not the goal of surgery. The carbon dioxide laser is particularly useful during surgery for this lesion.

Early rehabilitation improves neurofunctional outcome after surgery in children with spinal tumors

To investigate the effect of early rehabilitation on neurofunctional outcome after surgery in chil- dren with spinal tumors, this study reviewed the medical charts and radiographic records of 70 pediatric patients （1-17 years old） who received spinal tumor surgical removal. The peddiatric patients received rahabilitation treatment at 4 （range, 2-7） days after surgery for 10 （range, 7-23） days. Results from the Modified McCormick Scale, Functional Independence Measure for Chil- dren, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale demonstrated that the sensory function, motor function and activity of daily living of pedi- atric children who received early rehabilitation were significantly improved. Results also showed that tumor setting and level localization as well as patients＇s clinical symptoms have no influences on neurofunctional outcomes.

Dual neuronal response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha following spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND： Numerous studies have shown that tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α） is closely correlated with spinal cord injury （SCI）, but the mechanisms of TNF-α and therapeutic treatments for SCI are still poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To determine the role of TNF-α in the pathogenesis of SCI. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： An in vivo experiment based on genetically engineered animals was performed at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, between June 2007 and October 2008. MATERIALS： TNF-α transgenic rats （Xenogen Biosciences in Cranbury, New Jersey, USA） were utilized in this study. METHODS： TNF-α transgenic （tg） and wild-type （WT） rats underwent a complete single-level laminectomy at the 10^th thoracic vertebra （T10）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Motor function of rat hindlimb was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan hindlimb locomotor rating scale. Histological evaluation of spinal cord tissue loss was conducted. Immunohistochemistry for astrocytes, microglia/macrophages, and TNF receptors （TNFRs） was performed on spinal cord tissue sections. TNF-α mRNA expression was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The concentrations of nerve growth factor （NGF） and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the supernatant were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for rat NGF or BDNF, respectively. The rats were injected subcutaneously with etanercept to verify that TNF-α was the direct effect of the modulation of behavioral and neurodegenerative outcomes in the TNF-α tg rats. RESULTS： TNF-α tg rats showed higher expression of TNF-α mRNA in the spinal cord prior to SCI. TNF-α tg rats showed worse motor deficits than WT rats in the acute period （〈 3 days） after SCI （P 〈 0.01）, while in the chronic period, TNF-α tg rats exhibited persistent elevated baseline levels of TNF-α mRNA and improved recovery in motor function and tissue healing compared to WT rats （P 〈 0.01 ）. Following SCI, the number of microglia/macrophages in TNF-α tg rat was always greater than in WT rat （P 〈 0.01）. There were no significant differences in NGF and BDNF levels in the supernatant of spinal cord homogenates. TNFR1 expression was significantly greater in the TNF-α tg rats compared to the WT rats （P 〈 0.01）. However, TNFR2 expression did not reveal a significant increase in the TNF-α tg rats compared to the WT rats. Finally, treatment with etanercept reduced injury acutely, but exacerbated the injury chronically. CONCLUSION： Overexpression of TNF-α is deleterious in the acute phase, but beneficial in the chronic phase in the response to SCI. The role of TNF-α post-injury may depend on TNF-α expression in the spinal cord and its differential binding to TNFRI. Our observations may have clinical relevance that antagonists or inhibitors of TNF-α could be administered within the early time window post-injury, and appropriate amounts of TNF-α could be administered during the chronic stage, in order to improve the final neurological recovery in patients with SCI.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis(ISCM) is very rare and its optimal treatment remains controversial. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor(pNET) is a rare tumor that usually presents with hepatic metastasis. Hepatic failure due to tumor progression is the major cause of death in cases of pNET. To date,no report has described a case of ISCM from pNET. Although spinal cord metastasis of a solid tumor is uncommon,it is a critical condition that can cause a potentially irreversible loss of neurologic function. Here,we report the case of a 45-year-old man who presented with leg weakness and voiding difficulty,and was found to have ISCM from pNET. Surgical treatment prevented further neurological deterioration. This is the first case report of ISCM from pNET.

Spinal cord biological safety of image-guided radiation therapy versus conventional radiation therapy

Tumor models were simulated in purebred Beagles at the T9-10 levels of the spinal cord and treated with spinal image-guided radiation therapy or conventional radiation therapy with 50 or 70 Gy total radiation. Three months after radiation, neuronal injury at the T9-10 levels was observed, including reversible injury induced by spinal image-guided radiation therapy and apoptosis induced by conventional radiation therapy. The number of apoptotic cells and expression of the proapoptotic protein Fas were significantly reduced, but expression of the anti-apoptotic protein heat shock protein 70 was significantly increased after image-guided radiation therapy compared with the conventional method of the same radiation dose. Moreover, the spinal cord cell apoptotic index positively correlated with the ratio of Fas/heat shock protein 70. These findings indicate that 3 months of radiation therapy can induce a late response in the spinal cord to radiation therapy; image-guided radiation therapy is safer and results in less neuronal injury compared with conventional radiation therapy.

Inhibition of inflammatory cytokines after early decompression may mediate recovery of neurological function in rats with spinal cord injury

A variety of inlfammatory cytokines are involved in spinal cord injury and inlfuence the recov-ery of neuronal function. In the present study, we established a rat model of acute spinal cord injury by cerclage. The cerclage suture was released 8 or 72 hours later, to simulate decompres-sion surgery. Neurological function was evaluated behaviorally for 3 weeks after surgery, and tumor necrosis factorα immunoreactivity and apoptosis were quantiifed in the region of injury. Rats that underwent decompression surgery had significantly weaker immunoreactivity of tumor necrosis factorα and signiifcantly fewer apoptotic cells, and showed faster improvement of locomotor function than animals in which decompression surgery was not performed. De-compression at 8 hours resulted in signiifcantly faster recovery than that at 72 hours. These data indicate that early decompression may improve neurological function after spinal cord injury by inhibiting the expression of tumor necrosis factorα.

Neuroprotective effects of salvianolic acid B on secondary spinal cord damage

Salvianolic acid B （Sal B）, an effective ingredient of Danshen （salvia miltiorrhiza root）, has been shown to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated whether Sal B has a neuroprotective effect on secondary spinal cord injury when administrated alone. In addition, the effects of Sal B on attenuating expression of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） following acute spinal cord injury were analyzed, as well as the effects of combined treatment of Sal B and etanercept. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that Sal B significantly reduced matrix metalloproteinase-1 and c-Fos expression at 24 hours after spinal cord injury, and decreased tissue edema was detected using the dry-wet weight method at 3 days after injury. In addition, Sal B significantly promoted recovery of motor function in rats. These effects were most significant at a dose of 20 mg/kg Sal B. At 24 hours after spinal cord injury, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay results showed that Sal B, etanercept, or the combination significantly suppressed increased TNF-α mRNA and protein expression, although the combination resulted in more significant outcomes. These results suggested that Sal B exerted neuroprotective effects against secondary spinal cord injury by reducing expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1, c-Fos, and TNF-α. Moreover, Sal B combined with etanercept resulted in more significant anti-inflammatory effects.

“Three Methods and Three Points” regulates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury

Tuina is a traditional Chinese treatment for sensory disturbances caused by peripheral nerve injury and related diseases. Our previous studies showed that tuina regulates relevant regions and indices of the spinal dorsal horn using the Dian, Bo, and Rou method in Yinmen（BL37）, Yanglingquan（GB34）, and Weizhong（BL40）. Treatment prevents muscle atrophy, protects spinal cord neurons, and promotes sciatic nerve repair. The mechanisms of action of tuina for treating peripheral nerve injury remain poorly understood. This study established rat models of sciatic nerve injury using the crushing method. Rats received Chinese tuina in accordance with the principle of ＂Three Methods and Three Points,＂ once daily for 20 days. Tuina intervention reduced paw withdrawal latency and improved wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle, as well as promoting morphological recovery of sciatic nerve fibers, Schwann cells, and axons. The protein expression levels of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β also decreased. These findings indicate that ＂Three Methods and Three Points＂ promoted morphological recovery and improved behavior of rats with peripheral nerve injury.

Granulocytic sarcoma with long spinal cord compression:A case report

BACKGROUND As an extramedullary form of proliferating myeloblasts,granulocytic sarcoma(GS)is common in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.GS in the central nervous system is rare,and an intraspinal space-occupying lesion caused by GS is even rarer.Surgical decompression is often necessary to remove the intraspinal space-occupying lesion.To the best of our knowledge,we report,for the first time a case of GS that caused extensive compression in the spinal canal without surgical decompression treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 15-year-old male suddenly developed numbness and weakness in his lower limbs for 10 d,which affected his walking ability.Acute myeloid leukemia was later diagnosed in the Department of Hematology.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that multiple segmental space-occupying lesions were causing severe spinal cord compression in the thoracic spinal canal.As a result,the patient received routine chemotherapy before surgery.Interestingly,the intraspinal space-occupying lesions completely diminished on magnetic resonance imaging after a course of chemotherapy,and the sensation and strength in his lower limbs markedly recovered.CONCLUSION An intraspinal space-occupying lesion could be the first symptom of acute myeloid leukemia,causing spinal nerve compression without any other symptoms.Following standard chemotherapy,spinal canal compression can be quickly relieved,and the spinal cord and nerve function restored,avoiding emergency surgery.

The effect of spinal cord injury on the expression of TGF-β and TNF-α in rat articular cartilage

Objective： To observe the expression of TGF-β and TNF-α in the spinal cord injured rat model and discuss the significance of the articular cartilage metabolism. Methods： 36 SD female rats were randomly divided into 2 groups： Rats models of spinal cord injury were implemented by Allen method. T10 laminectomy was performed in the control group. Both groups of rats were killed respectively in 1w, 3w and 6w. Hematoxylin-eosin stain was given to each slice in the model group and control group. Immunohistochemical stain was applied by using ABC method in the expression of TGF-β and TNF-α. Those expressed level were performed in image analysis and statistics process. Results： TGF-β and TNF-α were mainly distributed on the surface layer of the articular cartilage, with a weak expression in control group. The expression of TNF-α in the model group was more significant than that in the control group in the lw, and still remained an evident difference with that in control group until the 6w（P 〈 0.05）. TGF-β expression of the model group had no remarkable difference with the control group in the lw （P 〉 0.05） and prominently became stronger at 6w（P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The expression of TNF-α occurred early in the development of spinal cord injury, and the expression of TGF-β became stronger with the revival of spinal neural function. Both expressions were strengthened in articular cartilage in the 3rd week.

Liposomes as versatile agents for the management of traumatic and nontraumatic central nervous system disorders:drug stability,targeting efficiency,and safety

Various nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of neurological disorders have been widely studied.However,their inability to cross the blood–brain barrier hampers the clinical translation of these therapeutic strategies.Liposomes are nanoparticles composed of lipid bilayers,which can effectively encapsulate drugs and improve drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier and into brain tissue through their targeting and permeability.Therefore,they can potentially treat traumatic and nontraumatic central nervous system diseases.In this review,we outlined the common properties and preparation methods of liposomes,including thin-film hydration,reverse-phase evaporation,solvent injection techniques,detergent removal methods,and microfluidics techniques.Afterwards,we comprehensively discussed the current applications of liposomes in central nervous system diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,Huntington's disease,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,traumatic brain injury,spinal cord injury,and brain tumors.Most studies related to liposomes are still in the laboratory stage and have not yet entered clinical trials.Additionally,their application as drug delivery systems in clinical practice faces challenges such as drug stability,targeting efficiency,and safety.Therefore,we proposed development strategies related to liposomes to further promote their development in neurological disease research.

载药外泌体在中枢神经系统疾病中的热点问题

背景:利用外泌体作为药物载体不仅可以精确靶向治疗部位,还能提高局部浓度,为药物进入中枢神经系统开辟了一条新途径。目的:探讨外泌体的生物发生、生物学功能,综述当前有关细胞外囊泡作为药物载体在中枢神经系统疾病治疗中的最新进展。方法:由第一作者检索Web of Science、Pub Med和中国知网数据库1976年1月至2024年1月发表的相关文献,以“exosomes,extracellular vesicles,central nervous system,drug delivery,ischemic stroke,Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,spinal cord injury,brain tumor”为英文检索词,以“外泌体,细胞外囊泡,中枢神经系统疾病,载药,脑卒中,阿尔兹海默病,帕金森病,脊髓损伤、脑肿瘤”为中文检索词,最终纳入94篇文献进行分析。结果与结论:(1)外泌体可以轻易通过血脑屏障输送蛋白质、代谢物和核酸到受体细胞中,调节细胞代谢。由于外泌体是由细胞分泌的小囊泡,具有更低的循环免疫原性,在体内循环中能够更少被巨噬细胞识别清除。(2)外泌体可以被设计为递送不同的治疗成分,包括RNA、蛋白质、化疗药物和免疫调节剂,能够将治疗成分传送至期望的目标。经过工程修饰的外泌体具有更好的靶向性,并且这种外泌体介导的传递免疫原性极低,有望为将来中枢神经系统疾病的精准治疗提供更加安全有效的方法。

The role of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in intramedullary spinal cord tumor surgery

Intramedullary tumors are a class of central nervous system tumors with an incidence of 2 to 4%.As they are located very deep and frequently cause postoperative neurological complications,surgical resection is difficult.In recent years,many surgeons have performed electrophysiological monitoring to effectively reduce the occurrence of post-operative neurological complications.Modern electrophysiological monitoring technology has advanced considerably,leading to the development of many monitoring methods,such as SSEPs,MEPs,DCM,and EMG,to monitor intramedullary tumors.However,electrophysiological monitoring in tumor resection is still being studied.In this article,we discussed the different monitoring methods and their role in monitoring intramedullary tumors by reviewing previous studies.Intratumorally tumors need to be monitored for a summary of the condition of the patient.Only by using various monitoring methods flexibly and through clear communication between surgeons and neurophysiological experts can good decisions be made during surgery and positive surgical results be achieved.

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging and fibertracking diffusion tensor tractography in the management of spinal astrocytomas

Some specially imaging of magnetic resonance imaging,the diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),the diffusion tensor imaging and fractional anisotropy(FA),are useful to described,detect,and map the extent of spinal cord lesions.FA measurements may are used to predicting the outcome of patients who have spinal cord lesions.Fiber tracking enable to visualizing the integrity of white matter tracts surrounding some lesions,and this information could be used to formulating a differential diagnosis and planning biopsies or resection.In this article,we will describe the current uses for DWI and fiber tracking and speculate on others in which we believe these techniques will be useful in the future.

Prognostic factors and its predictive value in patients with metastatic spinal cancer

BACKGROUND The spine is the most common location of metastatic diseases.Treating a metastatic spinal tumor depends on many factors,including patients’overall health and life expectancy.The present study was conducted to investigate prognostic factors and clinical outcomes in patients with vertebral metastases.AIM To investigate prognostic factors and their predictive value in patients with metastatic spinal cancer.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 109 patients with metastatic spinal cancer was conducted between January 2015 and September 2017.The prognoses and survival were analyzed,and the effects of factors such as clinical features,treatment methods,primary lesions and affected spinal segments on the prognosis of patients with metastatic spinal cancer were discussed.The prognostic value of Frankel spinal cord injury functional classification scale,metastatic spinal cord compression(MSCC),spinal instability neoplastic score(SINS)and the revised Tokuhashi score for prediction of prognosis was explored in patients with metastatic spinal tumors.RESULTS Age,comorbidity of metastasis from elsewhere,treatment methods,the number of spinal tumors,patient’s attitude toward tumors and Karnofsky performance scale score have an effect on the prognosis of patients(all P<0.05).With respect to classification of spinal cord injury,before operation,the proportion of grade B and grade C was higher in the group of patients who died than in the group of patients who survived,and that of grade D and grade E was lower in the group of patients who died than in the group of patients who survived(all P<0.05).At 1 mo after operation,the proportion of grade A,B and C was higher in the group of patients who died than in the group of patients who survived,and that of grade E was lower in patients in the group of patients who died than in the group of patients who survived(all P<0.05).MSCC occurred in four(14.3%)patients in the survival group and 17(21.0%)patients in the death group(P<0.05).All patients suffered from intractable pain,dysfunction in spinal cord and even paralysis.The proportion of SINS score of 1 to 6 points was lower in the death group than in the survival group,and the proportion of SINS score of 7 to 12 points was higher in the death group than in the survival group(all P<0.05).The proportion of revised Tokuhashi score of 0 to 8 points and 9 to 11 points were higher in the death group than in the survival group,and the proportion of revised Tokuhashi score of 12 to 15 points was lower in the death group than in the survival group(all P<0.05).Frankel spinal cord injury functional classification scale,MSCC,SINS and revised Tokuhashi score were important factors influencing the surgical treatment of patients with metastatic spinal cancer(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Frankel spinal cord injury functional classification scale,MSCC,SINS and revised Tokuhashi score were helpful in predicting the prognosis of patients with metastatic spinal cancer.

Application of multishot diffusion tensor imaging in spinal cord tumors

Objective:To explore the usefulness of multishot diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)for evaluating the neurological function of patients with spinal cord tumors Methods:Routine magnetic resonance imaging and multishot DTI were performed in five patients with spinal cord tumors.The values of fractional anisotropy(FA)and radial diffusivity(RD)were analyzed.Results:Multishot DTI of spinal cord tumors allowed for defining the margins of tumors and determining the relationship of tumors with the adjacent white matter structures of the spinal cord.Multishot DTI demonstrated significantly increased RD and decreased FA of spinal cord tumors compared with those of the normal spinal cord.Conclusions:Multishot DTI is a potentially useful modality for differentiating resectable tumors from nonresectable ones based on preoperative imaging alone as well as for differentiating intramedullary tumors from extramedullary ones.Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results.

Ossified thoracic spinal meningioma with hematopoiesis: A case report and review of the literature

Meningiomas account for 25% of spinal tumors, and they are often located in the thoracic spine. The ossified subtype is even rarer, and those with hematopoiesis are rarely described. The mechanism of bone formation has not yet been clarified. A case of ossified spinal meningioma with hematopoiesis occurring in a 78-year-old woman is described. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion with a dural tail sign at the T9 level located dorsal to the spinal cord. Computerized tomography revealed a high density lesion, as high as the bone signal. Total resection was performed, and the symptoms improved. Pathological findings revealed many psammoma bodies (PBs), bone formation, and bone marrow with hematopoiesis. Both PBs and bone seemed to be based on the same background of calcified structures. This report is the second dealing with ossified spinal meningioma with hematopoiesis. The hardness of the tumor can make the operation more difficult, so that the operation should be performed carefully to avoid injuring the spinal cord.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome in the Course of Burkitt Lymphoma Revealed by Medullar Compression

Background: Tumor lysis syndrome is unknown to many neurosurgical teams. A dreaded complication, especially in the course of hematological malignancies, like it was the case in two of our patients operated for spinal cord compression by Burkitt’s lymphoma. Objectives: To describe the clinical and biological presentation of this potentially fatal complication, which can be improved by early preventive or curative treatments. Case Reports: Patient 1: A 49-year-old woman was admitted for vertebral and intercostal pain and paraparesis. Myelography revealed epidural medullary compression at the 7th thoracic vertebrae (Th7) level. Patient 2: A 67-year-old woman was admitted for cervico-thoracic pain and paraparesis. MRI showed posterior epidural medullary compression between the 1st thoracic vertebrae (Th1) and 5th thoracic vertebrae (Th5). In both cases, an urgent decompressive laminectomy was performed. They had also received postoperative corticosteroid therapy. The multi-visceral failure occurred on the 1st day (D1) and 3rd day (D3) postoperatively, respectively. In the absence of adequate management, the outcome was fatal for the two patients respectively at D3 and D5 postoperatively. This syndrome was retained in the presence of glucocorticoid (triggering factor) and the histological result in favor of Burkitt lymphoma (target disease). Conclusion: Malignant hemopathies is a common cause of spinal cord compressions. From these two cases, the importance of biological and clinical surveillance emerges, with patients requiring urgent management for radiculo-medullar tumor compression.

长链非编码RNA H19在中枢神经系统疾病中的研究进展

统计数据表明,中枢神经系统疾病的发病率呈逐年上升趋势。中枢神经系统疾病以极高的致死率和致残率严重危害人体生命健康,其发病机制尚缺乏有效研究,成为当前研究的热点问题之一。LncRNA H19最初被认为是“转录噪声”,现被广泛证明与多种中枢神经系统疾病的发病和进展有关。本文总结了LncRNA H19在多种中枢神经系统疾病,如神经退行性病变、脑血管疾病、颅内肿瘤、脊髓损伤以及癫痫中的功能及机制,为进一步研究LncRNA H19在神经系统疾病中的作用提供理论依据。