Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) can lead to serious brain development issues. But how does this affect kids' chances of going to elementary school? This study looked into that, focusing on kids who got adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy. ACTH therapy is a common treatment for IESS. It's a hormone that can help control seizures. But does it also he...
Have you ever wondered if more chemotherapy rounds after surgery help patients with stomach cancer that hasn't spread to lymph nodes? This question has not been thoroughly studied, especially for patients who already had chemotherapy before surgery. A multicenter study is now looking into this. The goal? To figure out how many post-surgery chemotherapy cycles improve...
Esophageal adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that can sometimes spread to the brain, leading to a condition called leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. This isn't very common, but it's really serious when it happens. Doctors usually find it using MRI scans and by testing the fluid around the brain and spine. Even with strong treatment, the outlook isn't great. Leptomenin...
Thoracic disc herniation might not be as rare as you think. But why is it such a big deal? Well, there are two main obstacles we face with this condition. First, cutting out the herniated disc can be a real challenge. The thoracic spine is a tricky area to operate on because it's protected by the rib cage and lungs. Also, diagnosing this condition early isn't always ...
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as an angioplasty, is a go-to treatment for people with severe blockages in their coronary arteries. While this procedure works wonders in the target vessels, it's important to keep an eye on what's happening elsewhere. You see, even after the PCI, the fatty buildup, or plaque, in other parts of the vessels can...
Imagine you've been diagnosed with a type of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). You might think your biggest worry is the cancer itself. But hold on, sometimes, this cancer can spread to your brain. This is called secondary CNS lymphoma, or SCNSL for short. It's rare, but it can happen. A study from Denmark found that out of 1, 972 people with DLBC...
Ever wondered how certain proteins might influence brain tumors? Scientists have been investigating a protein called PIM-1 and its role in gliomas. Gliomas are tumors that start in the brain or spine. This study was all about figuring out if PIM-1 has anything to do with how these tumors behave and how they affect patients. The team looked at how PIM-1 might be link...
Doctors often struggle to predict how long lung cancer patients will live after radiation therapy. This is key for planning personalized treatments. A team recently created a model that uses machine learning to figure this out. They looked at pictures of the lungs and tumor, along with some clinical details. The goal was to understand complicated, non-straightforward...
Advanced neuroblastoma, specifically stages 4 and 4S, is a childhood cancer that often has a grim outlook. Despite extensive studies, scientists haven't found any easily treatable gene issues. Surprisingly, stage 4S sometimes disappears on its own, making researchers think understanding the difference between these stages could help create better treatments. Traditio...