Removal Of Brain Tumors Through Patient's Nose Is Possible

Brain surgery no longer means cutting open the skull. But, a new study allows researchers to remove brain tumors through the patient's nose. Previously, removing a tumor required opening up the skull and going in through the brain to remove it. Now, a tumor can be removed primarily through the nose. First, researchers map the tumor's exact location in the brain. Then, they use a navigation system to guide them to the site. Video cameras allow them to see precisely where the probe is moving inside the skull. They use thin instruments to go through the nasal passage to the brain. Once the patient's head is connected to the scan coordinates, and then anywhere the probe travels inside the head shows up on the screen with a very high accuracy. Special tools disintegrate the tumor then either suction or remove it in small pieces through nostril.

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 Isolated Knee Arthritis May Involved In Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Isolated knee monoarthritis may be involved in a previously unrecognized paraneoplastic syndrome for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In a new study, researchers show that this finding may identify some patients with early-stage NSCLC. The researchers assessed the predictive value of arthritis by reviewing the medical records of all outpatients with isolated knee monoarthritis seen at their center between January 2000 and December 2005. During the study period, 6654 patients presented with rheumatic disorders, including 296 (4.4%) with isolated knee monoarthritis. In five of these patients (1.7%), the monoarthritis appeared to be the initial manifestation of NSCLC. These five patients were all middle-aged men and each had a long history of heavy cigarette smoking. In all cases, the arthritis was non-erosive and featured a mild collection of non-inflammatory fluid in the joint. In all five men, the malignancy was completely resectable and the patients were in good condition over a median follow-up period of 41 months. The arthritis totally disappeared in all cases after lung cancer resection, confirming the paraneoplastic nature of this finding. Based on these observations, the lead researcher comments that  every time there is a heavy smoker who presents (with) mild knee arthritis, a chest radiograph should be performed as first-level investigation.

SOURCE: Reuters Health, September 2007.

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Screening Proposed For Childhood Cholesterol Levels

A new study finds that a simple blood test early in life could identify children with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol levels and greatly increases the risk of early death from heart disease. However, drug treatment could eventually be started to reduce that risk and a side benefit could be identification of parents unaware that they were carrying the gene for the condition, the researchers said. An analysis of 13 studies that included 1,907 people with the condition showed that screening was most effective when done early in childhood and they propose to include a cholesterol test at about 15 months of age, as part of a child's normal health-care routine. However, screening newborns or young adults was much less effective, they added. The more common form of the condition, caused by a single gene is estimated and rarely, much more severe cases of the disorder in which someone carries two faulty genes. The researcher said that it is the most important known and reversible cause of premature heart attack and It carries a 20- to 39-fold higher risk of dying of a heart attack before age 50 and treatment for a parent or child carrying the gene would most likely be a cholesterol-lowering statin drug. Finally, the study report described the results as supporting the concept that statin treatment should be initiated in childhood and there is no adverse effects on sexual maturation or growth,

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