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Given the ongoing global SARS-CoV-2-vaccination efforts, clinical awareness needs to be raised regarding the possibility of an increased incidence of SARS-CoV-2-vaccine-related immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) secondary to cerebral sinus and vein thrombosis (CVT) requiring (emergency) neurosurgical treatment in the context of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Only recently, an association of vaccinations and cerebral sinus and vein thrombosis has been described. In a number of cases, neurosurgical treatment is warranted for these patients and special considerations are warranted when addressing the perioperative coagulation. We, herein, describe the past management of patients with VITT and established a literature-guided algorithm for the treatment of patients when addressing the impaired coagulation in these patients. Increasing insights addressing the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2-vaccine-related immune-mediated thrombocytopenia guide physicians in developing an interdisciplinary algorithm taking into account the special considerations of this disease.

PET using O-(2-F-18-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (F-18-FET) is useful to detect residual tumor tissue after glioma resection. Recent animal experiments detected reactive changes in F-18-FET uptake at the rim of the resection cavity within the first 2 wk after resection of gliomas. In the present study, we evaluated pre- and postoperative F-18-FET PET scans of glioma patients with particular emphasis on the identification of reactive changes after surgery. Methods: Forty-three patients with cerebral gliomas (9 low-grade, 34 high-grade; 9 primary tumors, 34 recurrent tumors) who had preoperative (time before surgery: median, 23 d; range, 6-44 d) and postoperative F-18-FET PET (time after surgery: median, 14 d; range, 5-28 d) were included. PET scans (20-40 min after injection) were evaluated visually for complete or incomplete resection and compared with MRI. Changes in F-18-FET uptake were evaluated by tumor-to-brain ratios in residual tumor and by maximum lesion-to-brain ratios near the resection cavity. Results: Visual analysis of F-18-FET PET scans revealed complete resection in 16 of 43 patients and incomplete resection in the remaining patients. PET results were concordant with MRI in 69% of the patients. The maximum lesion-to-brain ratio for F-18-FET uptake near the resection cavity was significantly higher than preoperative values (1.59 +/- 0.36 vs. 1.14 +/- 0.17; n = 43; P < 0.001). In 11 patients (26%), a flare phenomenon was observed, with a considerable increase in F-18-FET uptake compared with preoperative values in either the residual tumor (n = 5) or areas remote from the tumor on the preoperative PET scan (n = 6) (2.92 +/- 1.24 vs. 1.62 +/- 0.75; P < 0.001). Further follow-up in 5 patients showed decreasing F-18-FET uptake in the flare areas in 4 patients and progress in 1 patient. Conclusion: Our study confirmed that F-18-FET PET provides valuable information for assessing the success of glioma resection. Postoperative reactive changes at the rim of the re

PET using O-(2-F-18-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (F-18-FET) is useful to detect residual tumor tissue after glioma resection. Recent animal experiments detected reactive changes in F-18-FET uptake at the rim of the resection cavity within the first 2 wk after resection of gliomas. In the present study, we evaluated pre- and postoperative F-18-FET PET scans of glioma patients with particular emphasis on the identification of reactive changes after surgery. Methods: Forty-three patients with cerebral gliomas (9 low-grade, 34 high-grade; 9 primary tumors, 34 recurrent tumors) who had preoperative (time before surgery: median, 23 d; range, 6-44 d) and postoperative F-18-FET PET (time after surgery: median, 14 d; range, 5-28 d) were included. PET scans (20-40 min after injection) were evaluated visually for complete or incomplete resection and compared with MRI. Changes in F-18-FET uptake were evaluated by tumor-to-brain ratios in residual tumor and by maximum lesion-to-brain ratios near the resection cavity. Results: Visual analysis of F-18-FET PET scans revealed complete resection in 16 of 43 patients and incomplete resection in the remaining patients. PET results were concordant with MRI in 69% of the patients. The maximum lesion-to-brain ratio for F-18-FET uptake near the resection cavity was significantly higher than preoperative values (1.59 +/- 0.36 vs. 1.14 +/- 0.17; n = 43; P < 0.001). In 11 patients (26%), a flare phenomenon was observed, with a considerable increase in F-18-FET uptake compared with preoperative values in either the residual tumor (n = 5) or areas remote from the tumor on the preoperative PET scan (n = 6) (2.92 +/- 1.24 vs. 1.62 +/- 0.75; P < 0.001). Further follow-up in 5 patients showed decreasing F-18-FET uptake in the flare areas in 4 patients and progress in 1 patient. Conclusion: Our study confirmed that F-18-FET PET provides valuable information for assessing the success of glioma resection. Postoperative reactive changes at the rim of the re

Epidural clonidine increases acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in humans, and experiments in animals support a cholinergic link in spinal alpha2-adrenoceptor-mediated antinociception. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether intravenous (I.V.) clonidine is also able to increase CSF ACh in humans. Accordingly, we studied 20 patients scheduled for resection of an acoustic neuroma under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with propofol and N2O. After induction, an intrathecal catheter was inserted at the L3-4 interspace. Patients were then assigned, in a random, blind manner to receive either a bolus of 1 microg/kg intrathecal (I.T.) clonidine and an I.V. infusion of saline (n = 10) or an I.V. infusion of 4 microg/kg clonidine given in 20 min and an I.T. injection of saline (n = 10). CSF samples for ACh and clonidine concentration determination were drawn immediately before I.T. injection (time -20), at the end of the I.V. injection (time 0), then every 10 min thereafter. CSF ACh concentrations were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography and CSF clonidine by radioimmunoassay. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to age, gender, weight, and ASA physical status. I.T. but not I.V. administration of clonidine increased the CSF ACh concentration. We conclude that I.V. administration of four times the dose of clonidine delivered spinally failed to induce a significant increase of ACh in the CSF. These observations indicate that the analgesic effects observed after I.V. clonidine administration are not mediated by a cholinergic mechanism at the spinal level.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this retrospective study was to report a series of 9 new cases of fulminant hepatic failure due to metastatic liver disease and to identify signs to support a theory of hypoxia. METHODS: In these 9 cases and in 38 previously published cases of fulminant or subfulminant liver failure, we looked for clinical (shock, sepsis, and cutaneous signs of circulatory failure), laboratory (marked increase in serum aminotransferases levels) and histological (cell necrosis) parameters compatible with liver hypoxia. RESULTS: Cutaneous signs of circulatory failure or shock were observed in 3 of the 9 cases in this study, and were not due to cardiogenic or septic shock. A marked increase in serum aminotransferases levels, 10 times above the upper limit of normal, was observed in 8 of the 9 cases in the present study and in 23 of 37 cases of the literature. Liver cell necrosis was observed in 6 of the 7 autopsied patients in this series and in 20 of 34 cases in the literature. Generally, liver cell necrosis was more severe than tumor cell necrosis and was related to the degree of sinusoidal involvement by tumoral cells. In one case, hepatic blood flow was decreased despite a high level of cardiac blood flow suggesting impairment of circulation in the liver. CONCLUSIONS: These 9 cases and a review of the literature support the hypothesis of hypoxic liver cell necrosis leading to acute liver failure in cases of metastatic liver disease. However, liver hypoxia cannot explain all the reported cases and was never due to circulatory failure from cardiac or septic causes, but to the sinusoidal involvement by tumor cells.

Objective: Vaccination therapy using tumour antigen-loaded, autologous dendritic cells (DC) is a promising therapeutic approach alongside standard treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). However, reliable diagnostic criteria regarding therapy monitoring are not established. Here, we analysed the impact of additional F-18-fluoroethyl-tyrosine positron emission tomography (F-18-FET PET) imaging following DC vaccination therapy. Methods: We analysed data of GBM patients who received DC vaccination therapy. Following MRI diagnosis of tumour recurrence, additional static and dynamic F-18-FET PET imaging was performed. Vaccination was performed five times by intradermal injections, either weekly between concomitant radio/-chemotherapy and intermittent chemotherapy or after tumour recurrence, before re-radiation therapy. MRI and F-18-FET PET results were compared and correlated with clinical data. Results: Between 2003 and 2016, 5 patients were identified who received DC vaccination and F-18-FET PET imaging (1 female/4 males; mean age: 44 +/- 14 y). 3/5 patients showed congruent results of tumour progression. In three patients F-18-FET PET indicated treatment related changes, which was in contrast to MRI findings that indicated tumour progression. In these patients F-18-FET PET results could be confirmed by either neuropathological diagnosis or according to the RANO criteria Conclusions: Despite the small patients number our results indicate an additional impact of F-18-FET PET for monitoring outcome following vaccination therapy.

Objective: Vaccination therapy using tumour antigen-loaded, autologous dendritic cells (DC) is a promising therapeutic approach alongside standard treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). However, reliable diagnostic criteria regarding therapy monitoring are not established. Here, we analysed the impact of additional F-18-fluoroethyl-tyrosine positron emission tomography (F-18-FET PET) imaging following DC vaccination therapy. Methods: We analysed data of GBM patients who received DC vaccination therapy. Following MRI diagnosis of tumour recurrence, additional static and dynamic F-18-FET PET imaging was performed. Vaccination was performed five times by intradermal injections, either weekly between concomitant radio/-chemotherapy and intermittent chemotherapy or after tumour recurrence, before re-radiation therapy. MRI and F-18-FET PET results were compared and correlated with clinical data. Results: Between 2003 and 2016, 5 patients were identified who received DC vaccination and F-18-FET PET imaging (1 female/4 males; mean age: 44 +/- 14 y). 3/5 patients showed congruent results of tumour progression. In three patients F-18-FET PET indicated treatment related changes, which was in contrast to MRI findings that indicated tumour progression. In these patients F-18-FET PET results could be confirmed by either neuropathological diagnosis or according to the RANO criteria Conclusions: Despite the small patients number our results indicate an additional impact of F-18-FET PET for monitoring outcome following vaccination therapy.