Neurology International

Background: The ingestion of polyunsaturated fatty acids is vital for brain health, supporting cognitive development and helping to prevent chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative processes. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of corn oil on the biochemical and neurochemical parameters of Drosophila melanogaster expressing human amyloid precursor protein β42 (APP-β₄₂). Methods: The flies were fed a diet supplemented with 37.8 mg/mL of corn oil from the larval stage until adulthood. Results: A diet supplemented with corn oil induced significant changes in biochemical markers, such as a decrease in head cholesterol levels (p < 0.001); decreased catalase activity and hydrogen peroxide levels in the heads (p < 0.0001) and thoracic muscles (p < 0.0001); reduced glutathione levels in the heads (p < 0.0001) and muscles (p < 0.01); and reduced formazan production (p < 0.01) and citrate synthase (CS) activity (p < 0.0001) in the head. However, in thoracic muscle, ingestion of corn oil led to an increase in formazan production (p < 0.01) and no significant change in CS activity. Lactate levels decreased in the heads (p < 0.0001) and thoraces (p < 0.001) after flies were fed corn oil. Finally, ingestion of corn oil resulted in a significant rise in acetylcholinesterase activity in the heads (p < 0.001) and thoracic muscles (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These results suggest that consuming corn oil reduces the oxidative stress typical of an Alzheimer’s disease model by enhancing antioxidant defenses.

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in infancy and demonstrates marked clinical heterogeneity. To our knowledge, this is one of the very few reported cases of neonatal neuroblastoma associated with genetically confirmed achondroplasia and an additional SDHA variant. Case Presentation: We describe a male neonate with a prenatally detected right-sided suprarenal mass and skeletal abnormalities suggestive of achondroplasia. Postnatal evaluation was consistent with localized neuroblastoma, which was classified as low risk according to the available clinical documentation. Despite the initially favorable clinical risk profile, the tumor showed unexpected progression after initial chemotherapy, requiring treatment intensification and subsequent surgical resection. Next-generation sequencing identified a pathogenic FGFR3 c.1138G>A (p.Gly380Arg) variant confirming achondroplasia and an SDHA c.704T>C (p.Ile235Thr) variant of uncertain significance. At follow-up, the patient remained free of disease recurrence. Conclusions: This case expands the limited evidence on the coexistence of neonatal neuroblastoma and achondroplasia and highlights the potential value of comprehensive genomic testing in patients with atypical clinical behavior. It also demonstrates that an initially favorable clinical risk profile does not invariably predict subsequent disease behavior, emphasizing the importance of integrating clinical, radiological, and molecular findings in individualized patient management.

Introduction: The routine insertion of a postoperative intracranial drain following surgical evacuation of brain abscesses or subdural empyemas is practiced by some surgeons to facilitate pus evacuation and to enable cavity lavage, but robust evidence for clinical benefit is lacking. This study evaluates whether postoperative drain placement affects reoperation rates, length of hospital stay, and duration of antibiotic therapy. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive adult patients who underwent surgical drainage or excision of a primary intracranial abscess or empyema at our tertiary center between January 2020 and January 2026. Patients were grouped by whether a postoperative intracranial drain was placed. The primary endpoint was recurrence requiring reoperation. Secondary endpoints included hospital length of stay, total duration of antibiotic therapy, and operative time. Continuous variables were compared with t-tests and categorical variables with Fisher’s exact test; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Eighty procedures were identified, and 36 patients met inclusion criteria for final analysis; eight (22.2%) received a postoperative intracranial drain, and 28 (77.8%) did not. Overall, 13 patients (36.1%) required reoperation for radiological or clinical progression. Reoperation occurred in 50% of patients with a drain and 32.1% without a drain (p = 0.422). Median hospital stay and duration of antibiotic therapy did not differ significantly between groups (median hospital stay 27.1 vs. 23.0 days, p = 0.50; median antibiotic duration 67.3 vs. 51.7 days, p = 0.445). Operative time and infection volume rates were also similar between cohorts. Conclusions: In this single-center retrospective cohort, placement of a postoperative intracranial drain after surgical management of brain abscesses or empyemas was not associated with reduced reoperation rates, shorter hospitalization, or shorter antibiotic treatment. Given the absence of demonstrable clinical benefit and the potential risks related to drain placement, routine insertion of postoperative drains cannot be recommended.