In the United States (US), the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and patient survival data. This program aims to provide a database about cancer incidence and survival for studies of surveillance and the development of analytical and methodological tools in the cancer field. Currently, the SEER program covers approximately half of the total cancer patients in the US. A growing number of clinical studies have applied the SEER database in various aspects. However, the intrinsic features of the SEER database, such as the huge data volume and complexity of data types, have hindered its application. In this review, we provided a systematic overview of the commonly used methodologies and study designs for retrospective epidemiological research in order to illustrate the application of the SEER database. Therefore, the goal of this review is to assist researchers in the selection of appropriate methods and study designs for enhancing the robustness and reliability of clinical studies by mining the SEER database.

Background Multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) are debilitating degenerative diseases. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical options for multilevel CSM and OPLL include laminoplasty (LP) and laminectomy with fusion (LF). In this updated meta-analysis, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and complications of both approaches. Methods We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Embase datasets from their inception to 31 March 2020, to identify all eligible studies comparing LP versus LF for multilevel CSM and OPLL. Data were extracted according to predefined endpoints. We summarised data by the random-effects or fixed-effect models, as necessary. Results Of 533 eligible studies, 16 were identified, which included 638 patients who underwent LP and 671 patients who underwent LF. No significant differences were observed between preoperative and postoperative scores of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (p=1.0 and 0.20, respectively); Visual Analogue Scale (p=0.24 and 0.89, respectively); sagittal vertical axis ((p=0.16 and 0.87, respectively); Nurick Scale (p=0.59 and 0.17, respectively); and range of motion (p=0.67 and 0.63, respectively). However, total complications were higher for LF compared with LP (p=0.006). A significantly higher incidence of C5 palsy was observed in the LF group (p=0.004). The postoperative Neck Disability Index (NDI) was also higher in the LF group (p<0.001). Conclusions Although LP and LF shared similar clinical improvement, LP had fewer complications, a lower incidence of C5 palsy, and better NDI scores and recovery outcomes than LF. Randomised studies are warranted to validate these findings.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202408000-00032/figure1/v/2026-05-08T111955Z/r/image-tiff Over the past decade, a growing number of studies have reported transcription factor-based in situ reprogramming that can directly convert endogenous glial cells into functional neurons as an alternative approach for neuroregeneration in the adult mammalian central nervous system. However, many questions remain regarding how a terminally differentiated glial cell can transform into a delicate neuron that forms part of the intricate brain circuitry. In addition, concerns have recently been raised around the absence of astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in astrocytic lineage-tracing mice. In this study, we employed repetitive two-photon imaging to continuously capture the in situ astrocyte-to-neuron conversion process following ectopic expression of the neural transcription factor NeuroD1 in both proliferating reactive astrocytes and lineage-traced astrocytes in the mouse cortex. Time-lapse imaging over several weeks revealed the step-by-step transition from a typical astrocyte with numerous short, tapered branches to a typical neuron with a few long neurites and dynamic growth cones that actively explored the local environment. In addition, these lineage-converting cells were able to migrate radially or tangentially to relocate to suitable positions. Furthermore, two-photon Ca ²⁺ imaging and patch-clamp recordings confirmed that the newly generated neurons exhibited synchronous calcium signals, repetitive action potentials, and spontaneous synaptic responses, suggesting that they had made functional synaptic connections within local neural circuits. In conclusion, we directly visualized the step-by-step lineage conversion process from astrocytes to functional neurons in vivo and unambiguously demonstrated that adult mammalian brains are highly plastic with respect to their potential for neuroregeneration and neural circuit reconstruction.

Brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancers pose a substantial global health challenge, with considerable variation in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across regions and demographics. This study comprehensively examines the global, regional, and national burden of brain and CNS cancers from 1990 to 2021 and projects trends through 2041, aiming to inform targeted prevention strategies and resource allocation in healthcare systems worldwide. Data were derived from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study, covering 204 countries. The study analyzed age-standardized rates for incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), mortality (ASMR) and DALYs (ASDR), stratified by sex, age and socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and joinpoint regression analysis were employed to assess temporal trends in cancer burden metrics from 1990 to 2021. Das Gupta’s decomposition method was used to quantify the relative contributions of population growth, aging and epidemiological changes on the cancer burden. Bayesian age-period-cohort models projected future trends through 2041. From 1990 to 2021, the global ASIR for brain and CNS cancers increased from 3.75 (95% UI: 3.21 to 4.21) to 4.28 (95% UI: 3.71 to 4.88) per 100,000, while the ASPR increased from 8.66 (95% UI: 7.55 to 9.53) to 12.01 (95% UI: 10.54 to 13.52). The ASMR remained stable at approximately 3.05, and the ASDR declined from 119.88 (95% UI: 99.23 to 137.57) to 107.91 (95% UI: 91.74 to 125.59). Higher incidence and prevalence were observed in high SDI regions (ASIR: 6.38, 95% UI: 6.08 to 6.64; ASPR: 26.10, 95% UI: 24.84 to 27.19) compared to low SDI regions (ASIR: 1.43, 95% UI: 1.00 to 1.82; ASPR: 2.53, 95% UI: 1.76 to 3.24), with males (ASIR: 4.72, 95% UI: 3.68 to 5.76) experiencing higher rates than females (ASIR: 3.88, 95% UI: 3.43 to 4.35). Population growth and aging were primary drivers of the increased cancer burden, particularly in high SDI regions. Despite historical increases, recent years have shown a deceleration in growth rates, which informs future projections suggesting a gradual decline in age-standardized metrics by 2041, although older populations will continue to bear higher rates compared to younger age groups. This study highlights the continuing global burden of brain and CNS cancers, with notable disparities by sex, age, and SDI. While age-standardized metrics are projected to decrease over the next two decades, the absolute burden may continue to increase due to demographic changes. These findings highlight the need for improved early detection and targeted interventions, particularly in aging populations and regions undergoing epidemiological transitions.