Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) therapy for glioblastoma involves critically evaluating progress, effectiveness, and challenges. By examining current research, clinical trials, and emerging trends, the analysis highlights clinical outcomes and biological insights that demonstrate the therapeutic potential of CAR-T cells, along with technological innovations aimed at enhancing their efficacy and safety. However, significant obstacles such as overcoming the blood-brain barrier and managing severe side effects like cytokine release syndrome remain. Methods: A systematic search using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from 2010 to 2024 has been conducted. Search terms included “CAR-T,” “glioblastoma,” “immunotherapy,” and “clinical trials.” Inclusion criteria were English-language studies focusing on CAR-T applications in glioblastoma. Exclusion criteria included non-peer-reviewed articles and preclinical-only studies. Findings: The findings suggest promising prospects for integrating CAR-T cell therapy into existing glioblastoma treatment paradigms, emphasizing the need for continued research and innovation in genetic engineering and combination therapies to fully realize the potential of CAR-T cells in transforming glioblastoma treatment. Conclusions: CAR-T cell therapy offers groundbreaking potential in transforming glioblastoma treatment by harnessing the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.

Introduction: Benign intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal tumors constitute about 65% of primary spinal neoplasms. Certain primary malignant or metastatic intradural lesions, although infrequent, may resemble their primary counterparts. Moreover, despite significant advances in the operative techniques, morbidity following treatment of IDEM tumors remains a considerable problem. Therefore, the current review aimed to summarize the most important data about radiological features of IDEM tumors on MRI and discuss optimal treatment of these lesions. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted based on MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Clinical Trial.gov, CENTRAL, EBSCO, and Embase according to the PRISMA statement on 8 July 2024. Extracted data were synthesized only qualitatively since the obtained data were not suitable for conducting the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 1003 records were identified in the database search. After considering eligibility criteria, 33 articles were further analyzed, of which 5 discussed diagnostic aspects and 28 evaluated treatment outcomes. Conclusion: The multidisciplinary approach, combining advanced diagnostic imaging, surgical innovation, radiation therapy, and emerging technologies, provides a comprehensive framework for the effective management of intradural extramedullary tumors. Continued research and clinical trials are essential to refine these strategies, enhance diagnostic precision, and optimize treatment outcomes for patients with spinal tumors.

Introduction: Non-missile penetrating brain injury (PBI) involving the anterior skull base constitutes a rare subclass of traumatic brain injury in civilians. Management of this type of trauma is poorly described in the literature, with only case series and reports available. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The study included reports of adult patients with non-missile PBI with foreign bodies crossing the anterior skull base, published between the years 2000 and 2024. The patients were divided into three groups based on the entry point of foreign bodies: transorbital, transmental, and transnasal injuries. The obtained data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. A case report of a 20-year-old male following PBI involving the anterior skull base caused by suicidal self-shooting with a crossbow is presented. Results: A total of 17 articles reporting 40 patients and the current case were included. The mean age of the patients was 37.4 ± 13.1 years, and 92.7% of them were male. Transorbital injury was the dominant type of PBI (29 cases), followed by transmental injury (7 cases) and transnasal injury (5 cases). A total of 37 patients (90.2%) were managed operatively due to retained foreign bodies after PBI. Antibiotic prophylaxis was implemented in 33 cases (80.5%), mostly in transorbital (93.1%) and transnasal (100%) PBI. In seven reported cases, antiepileptic drugs were preventively administered. At the last follow-up, 18 patients (47.4%) did not fully recover neurological functions, with vision loss as the most common deficit. Conclusions: Management of non-missile PBIs involving the anterior part of the skull base is complex, challenging, and often requires a multidisciplinary team including neurosurgeons, ENT surgeons, ophthalmologists, and maxillofacial surgeons. In this type of traumatic brain injury, following proper management may lead to favorable outcomes with minimal neurological deficits.

Patients hospitalized with neurological disorders may be at increased risk of adverse outcomes when infected with SARS-CoV-2. We evaluated whether early routine serum inflammatory and injury markers obtained at hospital admission are associated with in-hospital mortality in this subgroup. This single-center observational cohort included 460 consecutive adult inpatients admitted for neurological disorders with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed on admission or during hospitalization. Serum IL-6, LDH, ferritin, hs-troponin I, CRP, procalcitonin, and D-dimers measured within 6 h of hospital admission for neurological disorder were analyzed and compared between survivors and non-survivors. Non-survivors had higher IL-6, LDH, ferritin, and hs-troponin I (all p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, LDH, ferritin, IL-6, and hs-troponin I were independently associated with mortality. We conclude that in neurological inpatients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, elevated early IL-6, LDH, ferritin, and hs-troponin I are associated with in-hospital mortality. These markers likely reflect systemic disease severity rather than CNS-specific neuroinflammation and may support early risk stratification in this population.