Thestages ofintegration leading fromlocal feature analysis toobject recognition wereexplored inhuman visual cortex byusing thetechnique offunctional magnetic resonance imaging. Herewereport evidence forobject-related activation. Suchactivation waslocated atthelateral-posterior aspect oftheoccipital lobe, just abutting theposterior aspect ofthemotion-sensitive areaMT/V5,inaregion termed the lateral occipital complex (LO). LOshowedpreferential acti- vation toimages ofobjects, compared toawiderangeof texture patterns. Thisactivation wasnotcaused byaglobal difference intheFourier spatial frequency content ofobjects versus texture images, since object images produced enhanced LOactivation compared totextures matched inpowerspectra butrandomized inphase. Thepreferential activation toob- jects alsocould notbeexplained bydifferent patterns ofeye movements: similar levels ofactivation wereobserved when subjects fixated ontheobjects andwhentheyscanned the objects withtheir eyes. Additional manipulations suchas spatial frequency filtering anda4-fold change invisual size didnotaffect LO activation. Theseresults' suggest thatthe enhanced responses toobjects werenotamanifestation of low-level visual processing. A striking demonstration that activity inLOisuniquely correlated toobject detectability was produced bythe"Lincoln" illusion, inwhichblurring of objects digitized intolarge blocks paradoxically increases their recognizability. Suchblurring ledtosignificant en- hancement ofLOactivation. Despite thepreferential activa- tion toobjects, LO didnotseemtobeinvolved inthefinal, "semantic," stages oftherecognition process. Thus,objects varying widely intheir recognizability (e.g., famous faces, commonobjects, andunfamiliar three-dimensional abstract sculptures) activated ittoasimilar degree. Theseresults are thusevidence foranintermediate linkinthechainofpro- cessing stages leading toobject recognition inhumanvisual cortex.

/pdf/object-related-activity-revealed-byfunctional-magnetic-1a8vllt6eu.pdf

Object-related activity revealed byfunctional magnetic resonance imaging inhumanoccipital cortex

Anatomy and White Matter Connections of the Lingual Gyrus and Cuneus

Radiation therapy (RT), an integral component of curative treatment for many malignancies, can be administered via an increasing array of techniques. In this review, we summarize the properties and application of different types of RT, specifically, conventional therapy with x-rays, stereotactic body RT, and proton and carbon particle therapies. We highlight how low-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation induces simple DNA lesions that are efficiently repaired by cells, whereas high-LET radiation causes complex DNA lesions that are difficult to repair and that ultimately enhance cancer cell killing. Additionally, we discuss the immunogenicity of radiation-induced tumor death, elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which radiation mounts innate and adaptive immune responses and explore strategies by which we can increase the efficacy of these mechanisms. Understanding the mechanisms by which RT modulates immune signaling and the key players involved in modulating the RT-mediated immune response will help to improve therapeutic efficacy and to identify novel immunomodulatory drugs that will benefit cancer patients undergoing targeted RT.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/21/8151/pdf

Immunomodulatory Effects of Radiotherapy.

Anatomy and White Matter Connections of the Middle Frontal Gyrus.

Inter-individual differences can inform treatment procedures and - if accounted for - can significantly improve patient outcomes. However, when studying brain anatomy, these inter- individual variations are largely unaccounted for, despite reports of differences in gross anatomical features, cross-sectional and connectional anatomy. Brain connections are essential to mediate brain functional organisation and, when severed, cause functional impairments or complete loss of function. Hence the study of cerebral white matter may be an ideal compromise to capture inter-individual variability in structure and function. Here we reviewed the wealth of studies that associate functions and clinical symptoms with individual tracts using diffusion tractography. Our systematic review indicates that tractography has proven to be a sensitive method in neurology, psychiatry and healthy populations to identify variability and its functional correlates. However, the literature may be biased, as we identified that the most commonly reported tracts are not necessarily those with the highest sensitivity to cognitive functions and pathologies. Finally, we demonstrate that tracts, as we define them, are not usually correlated with only one, but rather multiple cognitive domains or pathologies. While our systematic review identified some methodological caveats, it also suggests that tract-function correlations might be a promising biomarker for precision medicine as it characterises variations in brain anatomy, differences in functional organisation and predict resilience or recovery in patients.

/pdf/white-matter-variability-cognition-and-disorders-a-37bs2i6uyi.pdf

White matter variability, cognition, and disorders: a systematic review

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that commonly invades the central nervous system. While the choroid plexus, the site of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, serves as one potential entry point for the pathogen, disease involvement of the choroid plexus itself remains a very rare manifestation of Cryptococcus infection. In cases in which choroid plexus involvement blocks cerebrospinal fluid flow, obstructive hydrocephalus may occur. Here we report the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with choroid plexitis causing obstructive hydrocephalus at the foramen of Monro. Endoscopic biopsy confirmed Cryptococcus neoformans, and the patient was successfully treated with amphotericin, flucytosine, and fluconazole. With proper recognition and treatment of this pathology, patients can fully recover from this condition.

/pdf/cryptococcal-choroid-plexitis-and-non-communicating-4w2l7wx5to.pdf

Cryptococcal Choroid Plexitis and Non-Communicating Hydrocephalus

Background Spinal osteochondromas are rare, benign tumors arising from the cartilaginous elements of the spine that may appear as solitary lesions versus multiple lesions in patients with hereditary multiple exostoses. Here, we present a 15-year-old female with a solitary C3-C4 osteochondroma who presented with a progressive quadriparesis and hand contracture successfully managed with a laminectomy/posterior spinal fusion. Case description A 15-year-old female presented with a 3-month history of progressive quadriparesis and hand contracture secondary to a magnetic resonance (MR) documented C3-C4 cervical spine osteochondroma. The MR imaging revealed a solitary osseous extramedullary outgrowth arising from the left laminar cortex of the C-3 vertebral body extending to C-4. Due to the marked resultant canal stenosis, the patient underwent a cervical laminectomy of C3- C4 with posterior spinal fusion. Gross total resection was achieved, and the pathology confirmed an osteochondroma. The patient's myelopathy resolved, and 2 years later, she demonstrated no residual deficits or tumor recurrence. Conclusion Here, we report the successful management of a 15-year-old female with a C3-C4 osteochondroma and progressive quadriparesis through cervical laminectomy/fusion.

/pdf/solitary-osteochondroma-of-the-cervical-spine-presenting-1ik1bm9e5b.pdf

Solitary osteochondroma of the cervical spine presenting with quadriparesis and hand contracture.

A contralateral transventricular approach for microsurgical clip ligation of a ruptured intrathalamic aneurysm.

Corrigendum to: Predicting Clinical Outcome After Mechanical Thrombectomy: The GADIS (Gender, Age, Diabetes Mellitus History, Infarct Volume, and Current Smoker) Score [World Neurosurgery 134 (2020) e1130-e1142].

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the most common surgical procedure utilized for degenerative diseases of the cervical spine. The authors present the case of a 64-year-old man who underwent an ACDF for degenerative changes causing cervical stenosis with myelopathy. The patient's symptoms consisted of pain and weakness of the bilateral upper extremities that slowly progressed over 1.5 years. During the procedure, the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage impeded proper retraction, preventing adequate visualization due to its prominent size. At this point, otorhinolaryngology was consulted, which allowed for safe resection of this portion of the thyroid cartilage while preserving nearby critical structures. With the frequent usage of this surgical approach for various etiologies, the importance of proper recognition and consultation is paramount. Encountering prominent thyroid cartilage resulting in surgical obstruction has not been described in the literature and this report represents a paradigm for the proper course of action.

Kyle P. O'Connor

Papers

Cryptococcal Choroid Plexitis and Non-Communicating Hydrocephalus

Solitary osteochondroma of the cervical spine presenting with quadriparesis and hand contracture.

A contralateral transventricular approach for microsurgical clip ligation of a ruptured intrathalamic aneurysm.

Corrigendum to: Predicting Clinical Outcome After Mechanical Thrombectomy: The GADIS (Gender, Age, Diabetes Mellitus History, Infarct Volume, and Current Smoker) Score [World Neurosurgery 134 (2020) e1130-e1142].

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion requiring resection of the superior horn of thyroid cartilage: case report