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Brain Sciences
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The Latest Exploration of Cerebrovascular Diseases: From Preclinical Research to...
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The Latest Exploration of Cerebrovascular Diseases: From Preclinical Research to Treatment—2nd Edition

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 February 2027 | Viewed by 1310

Editors

Dr. Basil Grüter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Neurosurgery and Institute of Neuroradiology, Aarau Cantonal Hospital, 5000 Aarau, Switzerland
2. Department of Neuroradiology, APHM La Timone, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
3. Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology, HOCH Health Ostschweiz, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland
Interests: aneurysm wall biology; animal models for the study of endovascular technologies; cerebrovascular surgery and minimally invasive procedures; intraoperative technology; device development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Martina Sebök

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
2. Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: functional neuroimaging; brain hemodynamics; BOLD functional MRI to assess cerebrovascular reactivity in cerebrovascular diseases (brain AVM, large atherosclerotic vessel occlusion, Moyamoya disease); role of surgical revascularization in acute stroke
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The latest exploration of cerebrovascular diseases, which encompasses a range of conditions affecting blood flow to the brain and cerebral hemodynamic status, has marked significant advancements from preclinical research to clinical treatments. Preclinical studies have delved into the intricate mechanisms of these diseases, uncovering critical insights into risk factors, genetic predispositions, and molecular pathways. Breakthroughs in neuroimaging and biomarker identification have enhanced early detection and diagnosis, paving the way for more targeted interventions.

On the diagnostic and treatment front, innovative approaches are emerging. Novel, non-invasive, and quantitative imaging techniques to assess brain hemodynamics and collateral vessel status through innovative MRI methods shape our understanding and broaden the multimodal treatment options for various neurovascular diseases, including acute ischemic stroke. Cutting-edge therapies, such as neuroprotective drugs and advanced endovascular techniques, are showing promise in reducing the impact of strokes and other cerebrovascular events. Regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy, offers hope for repairing brain damage and restoring function. Furthermore, personalized medicine is gaining traction, with treatments tailored to the individual’s genetic and clinical profile, improving outcomes and reducing adverse effects.

Integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning revolutionizes research and clinical practice, enabling more precise diagnosis, disease progression prediction, and treatment strategy optimization. This multi-faceted approach, from preclinical discoveries to personalized treatments, signifies a new era in the fight against cerebrovascular diseases, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and quality of life.

Dr. Basil Grüter
Dr. Martina Sebök
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • intracranial aneurysm
  • arterio-venous malformation (AVM)
  • dural arterio-venous fistula (AVF)
  • ischaemic stroke
  • chronic steno-occlusive disease

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1473 KB  
Article
Single-Cell Analysis of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Reveals Pro-Angiogenic Myeloid Programs
by Benjamin Beyersdorf, Stefanos Voglis, Zsolt Kulcsar, Luca Regli and Menno R. Germans
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(8), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16080811 - 30 Jul 2026
Viewed by 105
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are complex cerebrovascular lesions that carry a substantial risk of intracranial hemorrhage, yet the biological mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling remain incompletely understood. As increasing evidence suggests that inflammatory processes contribute to vascular remodeling and bAVM progression, this [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are complex cerebrovascular lesions that carry a substantial risk of intracranial hemorrhage, yet the biological mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling remain incompletely understood. As increasing evidence suggests that inflammatory processes contribute to vascular remodeling and bAVM progression, this study aimed to characterize the cellular composition of the immune microenvironment in human bAVMs at single-cell resolution and to identify immune cell populations associated with transcriptional programs related to angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling. Methods: Publicly accessible single-cell RNA sequencing data from five human bAVM samples and five control brain specimens were analyzed. After quality control and data integration, immune cell types were annotated based on canonical marker gene expression. To assess biological processes relevant to vascular remodeling, the expression of predefined gene sets associated with angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling, derived from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB), was quantified across cell populations using rank-based gene set scoring (UCell). Differences between bAVM and control samples were evaluated at the sample level using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. For each immune cell type, mean UCell scores were calculated per biological sample and compared between groups. To account for multiple comparisons across cell types, p-values were adjusted using the Benjamini–Hochberg procedure. Results: After quality control, 46,360 immune cells were analyzed. Compared with control tissue, bAVMs showed numerically higher proportions of lymphoid (activated T cells and CD8 T cells) and myeloid populations (M1-like macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells). Angiogenesis-related transcriptional activity was highest in myeloid cells and significantly increased in bAVMs, particularly in M1-like macrophages (UCell score 0.22 vs. 0.13), dendritic cells (0.16 vs. 0.10) and monocytes (0.20 vs. 0.15), whereas proliferating CD8 T cells showed a lower score (0.04 vs. 0.05; adjusted p = 0.040 for all four). Extracellular matrix-related programs showed a similar but weaker and non-significant pattern in myeloid populations (e.g., monocytes, dendritic cells, microglia-like cells; adjusted p = 0.09). Conclusions: Our findings identify myeloid cells, particularly M1-like macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells, as important immune populations associated with angiogenesis in bAVMs. These findings highlight a potential role of immune-driven vascular remodeling in the pathophysiology of bAVMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Exploration of Cerebrovascular Diseases: From Preclinical Research to Treatment—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 235 KB  
Article
Navigating the Eloquent Brain: A Multicenter Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Symptomatic Cavernoma Resection
by Hojka Rowbottom, Tomaž Velnar, Janez Ravnik, Ninna Kozorog and Tomaž Šmigoc
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(7), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16070747 - 15 Jul 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Surgical management of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) within eloquent brain regions presents a high risk of neurological deficits. This study describes the clinical outcomes and technical feasibility of microsurgical resection for symptomatic eloquent CCMs, detailing the integration of advanced intraoperative adjuncts [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Surgical management of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) within eloquent brain regions presents a high risk of neurological deficits. This study describes the clinical outcomes and technical feasibility of microsurgical resection for symptomatic eloquent CCMs, detailing the integration of advanced intraoperative adjuncts aimed at optimization of seizure control and functional preservation. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter analysis of nine adult patients who underwent microsurgical resection for symptomatic eloquent CCMs between January 2021 and December 2025 across two tertiary centers in Slovenia. Intraoperative modalities included 100% neuronavigation, 55.6% intraoperative ultrasound, 77.8% intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) with motor and somatosensory evoked potentials, and 22.2% awake craniotomies. Results: Seizures were the primary clinical presentation in 77.8% of patients (66.7% medically refractory), and the overall hemorrhage rate was 66.7%. Gross total resection of the CCM was achieved in 100% of cases, with complete hemosiderin rim removal in 80% of applicable lesions. Early postoperative complications occurred in four patients, but at the maximum 48-month follow-up, 100% of the cohort achieved complete seizure control, and 44.4% successfully discontinued antiepileptic drugs. Long-term focal neurological deficits persisted in only two patients, while 77.8% were able to work following surgery. Conclusions: Microsurgical resection remains a well-established treatment modality for symptomatic CCMs. In this small, descriptive series of patients with lesions in functionally critical regions, high rates of gross total resection and favorable long-term seizure freedom were observed. These findings suggest that a multimodal approach combining anatomical neuronavigation with functional IONM may help minimize permanent morbidity, though larger cohorts are required to establish definitive efficacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Exploration of Cerebrovascular Diseases: From Preclinical Research to Treatment—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 757 KB  
Article
Assessment of Adverse Events Using the Therapy–Disability–Neurology (TDN) Grading System in a Cohort of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
by Vincens Kälin, Alexis Paul Romain Terrapon, Anna Maria Zeitlberger, Gareth Ambler, Svenja Maschke, Ahmed El-Garci, Sara Bonasia, Oliver Bozinov, Marian Christoph Neidert and Isabel Charlotte Hostettler
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(6), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16060599 - 31 May 2026
Viewed by 354
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adverse events (AE) associated with neurosurgical interventions can cause neurological deficits and impaired functional outcomes. The Therapy–Disability–Neurology (TDN) grade classifies AE severity based on treatment requirements, disability, and neurological deficits, but has not been validated in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We aimed [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adverse events (AE) associated with neurosurgical interventions can cause neurological deficits and impaired functional outcomes. The Therapy–Disability–Neurology (TDN) grade classifies AE severity based on treatment requirements, disability, and neurological deficits, but has not been validated in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We aimed to validate the TDN grade in predicting functional outcomes and length of hospital stay (LOS) in aSAH patients, treated surgically and/or endovascularly. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of a prospectively collected database of aSAH patients. Patients were recruited between 2009 and 2022. The TDN grade was retrospectively applied. Primary outcome variables were functional outcomes, assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS, selected for comparability with prior aSAH outcome literature), at discharge and last follow-up, and LOS. Results: We included 355 patients: mean age was 57.2 (12.9 SD) and 235 (66.1%) were female. The TDN grade showed a moderate positive correlation with length of hospital stay (rho = 0.4, p < 0.001). Negative correlations were observed with functional outcomes at discharge (GOS: rho = −0.56, p < 0.0001) and at last follow-up (GOS: rho = −0.58, p < 0.0001). The TDN grade demonstrated good discrimination for unfavorable outcome at last follow-up (AUC = 0.82) and good discrimination for employment status (AUC = 0.71). Patients with AEs stayed 7.63 days longer on average (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The TDN grade predicted hospital stay and functional outcomes in aSAH patients treated surgically and/or endovascularly, demonstrating good discrimination for unfavorable outcomes and employment status. These findings extend the grade’s applicability to both treatment- and disease-related complications and support its potential utility as a standardized tool for prognostication and resource planning. Results should be interpreted in light of the single-center retrospective design and selection bias. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Exploration of Cerebrovascular Diseases: From Preclinical Research to Treatment—2nd Edition)
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