OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic variants and phenotypic characteristics of patients with Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1). METHODS: Twenty two NF1 patients who presented at Enze Medical (Center) Group in Taizhou between 2018 and 2024 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical phenotype and family history were collected for the patients. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the 22 probands to screen the variants of NF1 gene. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of their family members. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.: K20230902). RESULTS: The 22 probands were diagnosed between the age of 5 months to 47 years old, and have all shown cafe au lait spots on their skin. Seventeen patients exhibited the phenotype at birth, and 11 had various degrees of neurofibromatosis. Among them, probands 1 and 13 underwent surgical resection of the tumor but had recurred, while proband 12 had amputation due to the huge size and serious impact of the neurofibroma and had no recurrence. Five patients had various degrees of scoliosis. In total 22 germline mutations and one somatic mutation were identified among the 22 families, with 5 variants unreported previously, including 1 nonsense mutation c.1603C>T (Q535*), 3 frameshift mutations [c.7268_7269delCA (Thr2423fs), c.2293del (Arg765Alafs*26), and c.5433_5438delinsGC (Phe1812ArgfsTer50)], and 1 deletion involving exons 41-44 of the NF1 gene and adjacent introns. Proband 13 was found to harbor germline mutation c.6796C>T (Gln2266Ter) and somatic mutation c.1019_1020del (Ser340Cysfs Ter12) in the peripheral blood and tumor tissue, respectively. Among the 22 NF1 probands, 6 had received treatment due to severe illness. Proband 1 had tumor resection in the right upper limb, but was found to have malignant lung tumor and died during follow-up. Proband 12 had multiple recurrence of neurofibroma in the left ring finger. Proband 4 underwent spinal correction surgery due to severe scoliosis. Proband 11 had died due to a central nervous system disease. Among the 22 germline mutations, 6 had led to the occurrence of truncated proteins, which may have a more severe impact on the phenotype. CONCLUSION This study investigated the genetic variants and clinical phenotypes of 22 NF1 families and identified 5 novel variants of the NF1 gene, which has expanded the genotypic and phenotypic spectra of the NF1. Preliminary studies have identified an association between truncated mutations, young age, and severe phenotypes, which may provide important clues for prognosis evaluation. For the clinical diagnosis and treatment of NF1, it is necessary to consider the phenotypic characteristics and genetic testing in combination with genetic counseling and long-term follow-up.
Humans ; Neurofibromatosis 1/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Pedigree ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Infant ; Young Adult ; Neurofibromin 1/genetics* ; Phenotype ; Asian People/genetics* ; Mutation ; Exome Sequencing ; East Asian People

Intraoperative hemorrhage is a life-threatening complication during neurosurgery, especially in posterior fossa surgery, where critical vasculature and brain structures are present. Adenosine has been used in neurovascular surgery, particularly in the management of intraoperative aneurysm rupture and hemorrhage for its ability to produce transient flow arrest. This case report describes a novel application for adenosine, in which adenosine-induced flow arrest was used to facilitate control of a vascular injury sustained during meningioma surgery.

A 46-year-old female diagnosed with a petroclival meningioma after presenting with a several-month history of headache, dizziness, and loss of balance underwent craniotomy and excision of the meningioma. The patient received general endotracheal anesthesia, and was maintained on remifentanil, propofol, and low-dose sevoflurane. During posterior excision of the meningioma, the basilar artery was inadvertently lacerated, resulting in significant blood loss. Adenosine was given through a subclavian catheter, and produced severe bradycardia, hypotension, then asystole for approximately 50 seconds. Adenosine-induced flow arrest allowed for initial control of the vascular injury through coagulation, while further hemostasis was achieved through hemostatic agents and muscle tamponade.

This case report demonstrates the usefulness of adenosine-induced flow arrest in the management of intraoperative hemorrhage from an intracranial vascular injury. Adenosine-induced flow arrest has documented safety and efficacy in other neurosurgical applications. As the management of intraoperative hemorrhage is an essential component of neuroanesthesia, this technique may be considered in similar circumstances of major vascular injury to facilitate hemostasis.

Abstract Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is a primitive and aggressive soft tissue tumor that arises from premature mesenchymal cells and accounts for less than 1% of prostate malignancies. We present the case of a 26-year-old Filipino male who initially sought consultation and work-up for acute urinary retention. Although his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was normal, a kidney-ureter-bladder (KUB) ultrasound revealed an incidental finding of an enlarged prostate gland. Subsequent imaging tests (MRI and CT) identified a large, partially exophytic mass on the prostate with intravesical extension. The patient underwent a biopsy via transurethral resection at another institution, which yielded findings of a poorly differentiated carcinoma, primarily suggesting prostatic adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 10 (5+5). A request for slide review was submitted to our institution, and subsequent immunohistochemistry (IHC) studies—highlighting the tumor's immunoreactivity to myogenin and desmin—confirmed the diagnosis of ERMS. In this report, we discuss the clinical features, pathogenesis, treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis of this rare prostate tumor.
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma ; Immunohistochemistry ; Prostate ; Young adult

Introduction: Cranial radiotherapy is an established treatment for intracranial germinoma but may lead to late cerebrovascular complications including radiation-induced vasculopathy, cavernoma formation, and premature intracranial atherosclerosis. These complications may manifest many years after treatment and represent an important cause of stroke in young adult survivors of brain tumors. Case: We report a 39-year-old male with a history of suprasellar germinoma treated with transsphenoidal surgery followed by craniospinal radiotherapy in 2006. He subsequently developed panhypopituitarism requiring lifelong hormone replacement therapy. In October 2024, he experienced a cerebrovascular accident resulting in mild residual right-sided weakness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated multifocal old infarcts, small vessel disease (Fazekas grade 2), and multiple susceptibility artifacts suggestive of radiation-induced cavernomas.In March 2026, he presented with new onset right-sided weakness and facial asymmetry. Initial neurological examination revealed right-sided motor power of 4/5. Computed tomography of the brain showed no acute intracranial hemorrhage but confirmed multiple old infarcts and small vessel ischemic changes. Computed tomography angiography revealed intracranial atherosclerotic disease with 25–50% stenosis of the cavernous segments of both internal carotid arteries and mild irregularities of posterior circulation vessels without evidence of large vessel occlusion or aneurysm. Radiation-induced vasculopathy is a recognized delayed complication of cranial irradiation, often presenting 5–25 years after treatment. Pathophysiological mechanisms include endothelial injury, accelerated atherosclerosis, and progressive arterial stenosis. In rare cases, cranial irradiation may also lead to secondary Moyamoya syndrome, characterized by progressive stenosis of the intracranial internal carotid arteries with development of collateral vessels. Although this patient’s vascular imaging did not demonstrate the characteristic collateral network seen in Moyamoya syndrome, it remains an important differential diagnosis in young patients presenting with recurrent stroke after cranial irradiation. In this patient, young age, prior cranial irradiation, multifocal infarcts, and coexisting radiation-induced cavernomas strongly suggest radiationrelated cerebrovascular disease as a major contributor to recurrent stroke. Conclusion Long-term survivors of intracranial germinoma treated with cranial radiotherapy remain at risk of delayed cerebrovascular complications. Early recognition and aggressive secondary stroke prevention, along with continued neurological surveillance, are essential to reduce morbidity in this population.
Ischemic Stroke ; Germinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Awake craniotomy is often used in the surgery of glioma, the most common primary brain tumor. It has been proven to maximize the extent of tumor resection while minimizing post-operative neurologic deficits. Extensive research has been conducted on this topic, and we would like to perform a bibliometric analysis to identify the top 100 most cited articles in awake glioma surgery. Knowing the relevant and most impactful studies in the field would help clinicians streamline the evidence and determine its application in their practice.

In October 2023, we performed a title-specific search on the Scopus and PubMed databases using (“glioma*” OR “astrocytoma*” OR “glioblastoma” OR “low grade glioma” OR “high grade glioma”) and (“awake craniotomy” OR “awake surgery” OR “awake brain surgery” OR “awake neurosurgery”) as our query term without any restriction criteria. The top 100 most cited articles were identified, reviewed, and analyzed.

Our search yielded a total of 5557 articles published. The top article had a citation count of 834 and reported on functional outcome after language mapping in glioma resection. Journal of Neurosurgery had the most number of publications. Neurosurgeons (n=81) were the primary author in most publications, followed by anesthesiologists (n=22) and neurologists (n=6). Three countries (USA, France, Italy) contributed to 74% of the articles. Most of the articles were reviews and case reports/series.

This study identified the top 100 most cited articles on awake glioma surgery. The content dealt with several aspects of awake craniotomy such as brain mapping, intraoperative techniques and adjuncts, and practice recommendations. This analysis can help identify knowledge gaps and potential areas of research in glioma surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Testicular tumours in childhood have diverse characteristics for different age ranges. This study aimed to describe the pattern, presentation and outcomes of primary testicular tumours in a paediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2010 to December 2020 on children (≤18 years) with a diagnosis of primary testicular tumour. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, pathology, treatment and outcomes of these patients were analysed. The data were entered into IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were applied to find the statistical significance, which was set at P value ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The study included 115 males, with 85 (73.9%) patients in the prepubertal age range with a mean age of 2.53 ± 2.06 years and 30 (26.1%) patients in the postpubertal group with a mean age of 15.73 ± 1.25 years. Yolk sac tumour was the most common (62.6%) histological subtype. Majority (46.1%) of patients had stage I disease on presentation, while 29.6% had stage IV disease. All patients underwent upfront high inguinal radical orchiectomy, which was followed by platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy in 67% of the patients. The five-year event-free survival and overall survival for all patients were 75% and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSION Primary testicular tumours follow a bimodal age distribution pattern. Majority of patients can be cured with platinum-based chemotherapy despite having advanced disease at presentation.
Humans ; Male ; Testicular Neoplasms/mortality* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Orchiectomy/methods* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Treatment Outcome ; Neoplasm Staging ; Infant ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor/therapy* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal

BACKGROUND: Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is a significant challenge in treating glioblastoma (GBM). Collagen remodeling has been shown to be a critical factor for therapy resistance in other cancers. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of TMZ chemoresistance by GBM cells reprogramming collagens. METHODS: Key extracellular matrix components, including collagens, were examined in paired primary and recurrent GBM samples as well as in TMZ-treated spontaneous and grafted GBM murine models. Human GBM cell lines (U251, TS667) and mouse primary GBM cells were used for in vitro studies. RNA-sequencing analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, and co-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to explore the mechanisms involved in collagen accumulation. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to assess the role of the collagen regulators prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) and yes-associated protein (YAP) in sensitizing GBM cells to TMZ. RESULTS: This study revealed that TMZ exposure significantly elevated collagen type I (COL I) expression in both GBM patients and murine models. Collagen accumulation sustained GBM cell survival under TMZ-induced stress, contributing to enhanced TMZ resistance. Mechanistically, P4HA1 directly binded to and hydroxylated YAP, preventing ubiquitination-mediated YAP degradation. Stabilized YAP robustly drove collagen type I alpha 1 ( COL1A1) transcription, leading to increased collagen deposition. Disruption of the P4HA1-YAP axis effectively reduced COL I deposition, sensitized GBM cells to TMZ, and significantly improved mouse survival. CONCLUSION P4HA1 maintained YAP-mediated COL1A1 transcription, leading to collagen accumulation and promoting chemoresistance in GBM.
Temozolomide ; Humans ; Glioblastoma/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Hydroxylation ; Dacarbazine/pharmacology* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Collagen/biosynthesis* ; Collagen Type I/metabolism* ; Prolyl Hydroxylases/metabolism* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/therapeutic use*

Germ cell tumors typically occur in the gonadal regions,characterized by high malignancy and rapid progression.Due to their high sensitivity to chemotherapy,the cure rate is generally high.However,a portion of patients still succumb to chemotherapy resistance and disease progression.The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has significantly improved the prognosis for various solid tumors,while the immune mechanisms and efficacy of immunotherapy in germ cell tumors remain understudied.Whether relapsed and refractory germ cell tumors can benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors remains to be investigated.In this review,we summarize the immune-related mechanisms,case reports,and clinical trials of immunotherapy in germ cell tumors to assess the effectiveness of this therapy,providing a reference for future basic research and clinical practice.
Humans ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/therapy* ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Immunotherapy ; Testicular Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm

Nongestational ovarian choriocarcinoma (NGOC) is a sporadic and aggressive malignant germ cell tumor, with fewer than 100 cases reported in the literature. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman diagnosed with NGOC, who underwent fertility-sparing surgery and adjuvant bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin chemotherapy, followed by a recurrence managed with the second-line chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This report highlights the diagnostic challenges, unique β-human chorionic gonadotropin profile, disease course, and treatment response.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus is a rare condition with only a few cases documented. Exceedingly rare, however, is its concomitant incidence with uterine inversion. The infrequency with which genital tract sarcoma with uterine inversion is encountered makes the diagnosis and management a formidable challenge. The present case reports a 12-year-old nulligravida who complained of a rapidly growing introital mass of 3-month duration. Suspicion of nonpuerperal uterine inversion was confirmed by imaging, and malignancy was proven through adequate tissue sampling. While there is no unified protocol in the management of prolapsed genital tract sarcomas, the complete inversion of the corpus necessitated surgery. In the case presented, exploratory laparotomy and total hysterectomy through a double setup, abdomino-vaginal approach was done. The case illustrates the diagnostic, therapeutic, and ethical dilemmas in handling an aggressive tumor in an adolescent. Early recognition and a multidisciplinary approach are extremely crucial in ensuring improved prognosis and holistic treatment.