Industry

Types of stent retrievers used in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke: A scoping review

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In a scoping review Song et al.from: – Austin Health, Melbourne (Radiology) – St Vincent’s Health, Melbourne (Interventional Neuroradiology) – Monash Health, Melbourne (Neurosurgery & Imaging) – Eastern Health/MU, Melbourne – Northern Health/Univ. of Melbourne, Melbourne – SAHMRI, Adelaide – Deakin Univ., Geelong published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience with the purpose to map the landscape of stent retriever devices used in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke, stratified by device type and occlusion location. They concluded that Solitaire and Trevo dominate clinical use (~57 % of cases), primarily in M1 and ICA occlusions. Many devices remain under‑studied, especially in distal (ACA, M3+) occlusions. There is a notable evidence gap for newer stent retrievers in medium/distal vessel territory 1).

This review, while comprehensive in device enumeration, falls short in critical appraisal. By pooling data from 133 heterogeneous studies without quality stratification or bias assessment, it gives an inflated sense of evidence. The emphasis on device frequency—rather than outcomes or head‑to‑head efficacy—renders the conclusions superficial. The assertion of a “strong evidence base” for conventional devices is misleading; no meta‑analysis or performance metrics are provided. The claim that distal occlusions are understudied is unsurprising, but the authors offer no actionable framework or proposals for future targeted trials. The review reads more like a registry report than a scoping synthesis intended to inform practice. Novelty is minimal, relevance limited.

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Effectiveness of subdural evacuating port system (SEPS) and middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematomas – a multicenter experience

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In a retrospective multicenter cohort study Lim et al. from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Departments of Neurosurgery, Radiology, Bioinformatics, and Canon Stroke and Vascular Research Center, Gates Vascular Institute, Albany Medical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA – Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA – Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery to o evaluate the combined effectiveness of the Subdural Evacuating Port System (SEPS) and Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization (MMAE) in chronic subdural hematoma treatment (cSDH). Specifically, the authors aimed to assess: How well the combination of SEPS + MMAE reduces hematoma volume, The safety profile of this combined approach, Predictive factors influencing drainage success and recurrence rates, and concluded that the combined use of SEPS and MMAE is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH). It resulted in significant hematoma volume reduction and a relatively low recurrence rate. Several clinical and radiographic factors were identified as predictors of treatment success

📉 1. The Myth of Innovation-by-Combination

Pairing two well-known procedures—SEPS and MMAE—does not inherently create innovation. Yet, the authors present this as a groundbreaking paradigm, despite:

  • No control group (e.g., SEPS alone, MMAE alone),
  • No randomization,
  • No comparative outcome measures beyond radiographic volume.

It’s procedural layering disguised as progress.

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Multi‑omics analysis of druggable genes to facilitate Alzheimer’s disease therapy: A multi‑cohort machine learning study

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In a computational, multi-omics, machine learning study, Hu et al., published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, aimed to identify druggable genes associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by integrating multi-omics data from brain and blood samples and applying advanced machine learning and Mendelian randomization techniques to facilitate the development of effective therapeutic targets.

They concluded that LIMK2 is a promising druggable gene target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as its expression is significantly associated with key AD biomarkers — including Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid-beta, p-tau, and hippocampal atrophy — across both brain and blood datasets.

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Takeaway Message for a Neurosurgeon

Despite its computational complexity, the study by Hu et al. offers no clinically actionable insight for neurosurgeons. While it identifies LIMK2 as a statistically associated gene in Alzheimer’s pathology, there is no mechanistic evidence, no surgical relevance, and no translational pathway that justifies changing diagnostic or therapeutic strategies. Use it as a reminder: Data mining ≠ disease understanding. For neurosurgeons, especially those navigating cognitive decline in surgical candidates, CSF biomarkers and omics correlations remain tools — not decisions.

1. Conceptual Inflation Disguised as Innovation

The article by Hu et al. promises a “multi-cohort, multi-omics, machine learning” roadmap to druggable targets in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but ultimately delivers a statistical Rube Goldberg machine — impressive in complexity, hollow in clinical consequence. The central narrative is built around the identification of “druggable genes” like LIMK2, but without a mechanistic framework, experimental validation, or translational bridge. The result is computational theater masquerading as biological discovery.

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