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Background: The application of the transorbital (TO) approach for vascular lesions has been scarcely explored. In this anatomic study, we examine the carotid and middle cerebral arteries from the TO perspective and investigate the feasibility of vascular clipping in a pseudovascularized model., Methods: Three fixed human cadaveric specimens (6 sides) were used for dissection. The sequential TO approach comprised 1) conventional lateral orbital craniectomy; 2) lateral orbital rim removal; and 3) anterior clinoidectomy. The clinoidal, ophthalmic, and communicating carotid segments, branches, related cranial nerves, and dural attachments were examined. Comparison among the 3 variations of bone removal determined the minimal necessary steps for each vascular segment. An additional fresh pseudovascularized specimen (2 sides) was used to test the surgical feasibility of clipping., Results: The TO approach allowed exposure of the carotid C4 to bifurcation. Clinoidectomy and dural ring opening exposed lateral and dorsal aspects of C5/C6 and the ophthalmic, but not medial or ventral aspects, nor the superior hypophyseal artery or the carotid cave. The posterior communicating artery could be followed from origin to end. The anterior choroidal origin was seen but disappeared behind the uncus. The carotid bifurcation was visible, M1 could be followed to its bifurcation, but A1 lay deep within the field. The corridor permitted arachnoidal dissection, vessel manipulation, and clipping of exposed segments., Conclusions: The TO approach provides anatomic access to the lateral and dorsal carotid siphon, complete posterior communicating artery, and proximal middle cerebral artery. This preliminary study suggests potential application in the elective treatment of paraclinoid and posterior communicating aneurysms., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: to study the anatomical feasibility of laser fiber insertion for interstitial thermal therapy via transorbital approach to the temporo-mesial structures (amygdala-hippocampus-parahippocampus complex)., Methods: Anatomical dissections were performed bilaterally on two human cadaveric heads via a transorbital approach, in which screws and laser fibers were used for magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRIgLITT) assisted by neuronavigation. In addition, eight transorbital trajectories were simulated using the transorbital entry points obtained from a cadaveric radiological study of four patients previously operated on for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy., Results: Successful placement of all four laser fibers was achieved in the anatomical specimens according to the predetermined plan, with an average vector error of 1.3 ± 0.2 mm, ensuring complete coverage of the amygdala-hippocampus-parahippocampus complex. Furthermore, simulations of patient trajectories confirmed safe vascular pathways. An optimal transorbital entry point was identified in the inferolateral quadrant of the orbit, specifically on the lateral wall above the greater wing of the sphenoid. However, the small size of the laser fiber-anchoring screw currently limits its clinical application. This technique may serve as a potential alternative to occipital access in laser surgery for epilepsy, in very specific situations., Conclusions: The placement of a transorbital laser fiber for MRIgLITT targeting the temporomesial structures in epilepsy is anatomically feasible; however, the small size of the anchoring screw presently precludes its clinical use., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests. Who provided the financial support was not involved in or influenced by any part of the research process., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Purpose: To analyze the efficacy and safety of surgery compared to radiosurgery (RS), combined or not with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), for localized metastatic brain disease. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. The inclusion criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared surgery and RS for patients with up to 3 metastases (median diameter ≤ 4 cm). The primary outcomes were represented by overall survival (OS) and local brain progression-free survival (PFS), with the rate of complications as a secondary outcome. The pooled estimates were calculated using random forest models. The risk of bias was evaluated using the RoB2 revised tool and the certainty of the evidence was assessed according to the GRADE guidelines. Results: In total, 11,256 records were identified through database and register searches. After study selection, 3 RCTs and 353 patients were included in the quantitative synthesis. Surgery and RS represented the main intervention arms in all the included RCTs. Conclusions: A low level of evidence suggests that RS alone and surgery followed by WBRT provide an equal rate of local brain PFS in patients with localized metastatic brain disease. There is a very low level of evidence that surgery and RS as main interventions offer equivalent OS in the population investigated. A reliable assessment of the complication rates among surgery and RS was not achievable. The lack of high-certainty evidence either for superiority or equivalence of these treatments emphasizes the need for further, more accurate, RCTs comparing surgery and RS as local treatment in patients with oligometastatic brain disease.

Rotterdam criteria identified 4 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotypes based on the combination of anovulation (ANOV), hyperandrogenism (HA), and polycystic ovaries (PCOs): phenotype 1 (ANOV + HA + PCO), phenotype 2 (ANOV + HA), phenotype 3 (HA + PCO), and phenotype 4 (ANOV + PCO). Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was suggested to play a pathophysiologic and diagnostic role in this syndrome. The aim of this study was to compare AMH levels among the different phenotypes in relation to clinical, endocrine, and metabolic features. We enrolled 117 women with PCOS (body mass index: 25.89 ± 6.20 kg/m(2), age range: 18-37 years) and 24 controls. Anthropometric characteristics, hirsutism score, ultrasound ovarian features, and hormonal parameters, including AMH, were evaluated. Each participant also underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and an euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. The prevalence of phenotypes 1 to 4 was 62.4%, 8.6%, 11.1%, and 17.9%, respectively. Body mass index and insulin resistance indexes were similar among the groups. Phenotype 1 showed the highest luteinizing hormone, androgens levels, ovarian volume, and AMH concentrations (9.27 ± 8.17 ng/mL,P< .05) versus phenotype 2 and controls. Phenotype 2 women were hirsute, showed an intermediate free androgen index value, low ovarian volume, and low AMH levels (4.05 ± 4.12 ng/mL). Phenotype 3 showed an intermediate state of HA and slightly augmented AMH levels (5.87 ± 4.35 ng/mL). The clinical and endocrine characteristics of phenotype 4 resembled those of controls, except for higher ovarian volume and AMH levels (7.62 ± 3.85 ng/mL;P< .05). Our results highlight the heterogeneity of the association between increased AMH levels, menstrual dysfunction, and HA in the different PCOS phenotypes, thus offering a key to an understanding of the current controversy on the value of AMH measurement in PCOS., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Background: The estrogenic component of estro- progestin (EP) is responsible for a negative impact on the metabolic and lipid assessment in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)., Aim: To evaluate the risk/benefit ratio of two EP combinations, containing the same progestin (3 mg drospirenone) and a different dose of ethinyl-estradiol (EE) (20 vs 30 μg) and to compare their effects on the clinical and endocrine-metabolic parameters in normal-weight PCOS women., Material/subjects and Methods: In this randomized pilot study, we enrolled 30 young normal-weight PCOS women. Fifteen subjects were allocated to group A (20 μg EE) and 15 PCOS subjects to group B (30 μg EE). Hirsutism score, hormonal assays, oral glucose tolerance test, euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp and lipid profile were performed at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months of therapy. Main outcome measures were signs of hyperandrogenism, glucose and insulin metabolism, lipid profile., Results: Both treatment regimens induced a significant improvement in hirsutism score, testosterone, DHEAS, and SHBG levels. Androstenedione significantly dropped only in patients of Group A, while 17(OH)P only in those from Group B. Both the formulations did not significantly modify gluco-insulinemic metabolism. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol levels significantly increased in both groups. Triglycerides levels, which increased as well, resulted more markedly influenced by the formulation with 30 μg EE., Conclusions: In association with drospirenone, 20 μg EE results as effective as 30 μg in improving clinical and hormonal features of normal-weight PCOS women, while exhibiting a milder influence on lipidic parameters.

Objective: Metformin has been reported to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes (GD) in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). However, little is known about the mechanisms of action of this drug during pregnancy. In the attempt to fill this gap, we performed a prospective longitudinal study providing a detailed examination of glucose and insulin metabolism in pregnant women with PCOS undergoing metformin therapy., Research Design and Methods: We enrolled 60 women with PCOS who conceived while undergoing metformin treatment. An oral glucose tolerance test and a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp were performed at each trimester of gestation in 47 ongoing pregnancies., Results: Twenty-two of the study subjects had development of GD despite the treatment. At baseline, insulin sensitivity was comparable between women who had development of GD and women who did not. A progressive decline in this parameter occurred in all subjects, independently of the trimester of GD diagnosis. Insulin secretion was significantly higher during the first trimester in patients with an early failure of metformin treatment. Women with third trimester GD and women with no GD exhibited a significant increase in insulin output as gestation proceeded. All newborns were healthy and only one case of macrosomia was observed., Conclusions: Women with PCOS who enter pregnancy in a condition of severe hyperinsulinemia have development of GD earlier, independently of metformin treatment. The physiologic deterioration of insulin sensitivity is not affected by the drug and does not predict the timing and severity of the glycemic imbalance. Despite the high incidence of GD observed, the drug itself or the intensive monitoring probably accounted for the good neonatal outcome.