primarily considered neuronal diseases, studies have shown that pathogenesis may be associated with non-neuronal components (e.g., neuroinflammation) (23,27). Neuroinflammation appears to be one of the etiological factors that promote epileptogenesis (57). Contrastingly, seizure activity induced by various methods can cause inflammation █ INTRODUCTION E pilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures resulting from uncontrollable neural excitation in the brain (28), and status epilepticus (SE) is associated with an increased risk of developing epilepsy (25,26). Although seizures and epilepsy are AIM: To investigate possible correlations between serum S100B levels and microglial/astrocytic activation in status epilepticus (SE) in lithium-pilocarpine-exposed rat hippocampi and whether serum S100B levels linearly reflect neuroinflammation. Additionally, to assess the effects of minocycline (M), an inhibitor of neuroinflammation. MATERIAL and METHODS: Rats were divided into 4 groups (6/group), namely, control (C), sham, SE, and SE+M. Animals were exposed to lithium-pilocarpine to induce SE in the SE and SE+M groups. Cardiac blood was collected to measure S100B levels, and coronal brain sections including the hippocampus were prepared to examine microglial/astrocytic activation and to evaluate neuroinflammation at day 7 of SE. RESULTS: Serum S100B levels, OX42 (+) microglia in CA1, and GFAP (+) astrocytes in both CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) were higher in the SE+M group than in the C group. Most importantly, highly positive correlations were found between S100B levels and microglial activation in CA1, apart from astrocytic activation in CA1 and DG. Unexpectedly, microglial activation in CA1 and astrocytic activation in DG were also enhanced in the SE+M group compared with the C group. Moreover, M administration reversed the neuronal loss observed in DG during SE. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that serum S100B is a candidate biomarker for monitoring neuroinflammation and that it may also help predict diagnosis and prognosis.

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AIM:To analyze the results of stereotactic radiosurgery in 295 patients with residual Grade I meningiomas located at parasellar region, petroclival region, cerebellopontine angle and parasagittal region. MATERIAL and METHODS:A total of 295 patients with Grade 1 residual Meningiomas (197 women, 98 men), who were treated by adjuvant radiosurgery in Gazi University Gamma Knife Center between 2004-2015 were analyzed. WHO Grade 2 and 3 meningiomas were not included in our study. Minimum radiological follow-up was 24 months. The median follow-up was 54 months. The tumor volume, location, treatment dose, morbidity, progression free survival and tumor control rate were analyzed. RESULTS:The median tumor volume was 5.2 cm 3 (0.04-39.7), median age was 50 (20-80), median dose was 14 Gy and tumor control rate was 94.5% (stationary in 85.0%, volume reduction in 9.5%). Increase in tumor volume was seen in 16 patients (5.5%) and re-operation was performed in 5 of them (1.6%). Stereotactic radiosurgery was performed again for 8 patients (2.7%).The location of the tumors was as follows: 39.3% parasellar region, 20% cerebellopontine angle, 13.6% petroclival and 27.1% was parasagittal, falcine or convexity. Major morbidities were detected in 6 (2%) patients. Minor morbidities were detected in 18 (6.1%) patients. CONCLUSION:Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective and safe treatment modality for residual Grade I meningiomas.

and one year later, the first board exam was performed by the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS). The reflection of this movement in the USA and Europe to the Turkish Neurosurgical Society (TNS) occurred much later and the first board exam in Turkey was performed in 2006 (6). In 2004, the National Proficiency Board was established by the Coordination Board for Turkish Medical Associations (TMA). Proficiency Boards were formed on the 43 main and side branches mentioned in the Specialty in Medicine Regulation and 26 of them performed board exams (10). In the discipline of general surgery, the first board exam in Turkey was performed by the Turkish Surgical Association (TSA) in 2000 (3). The Turkish Board of Neurological Surgery has been administered in two steps as written and verbal since 2006. The exam process is run by the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Proficiency Board (TNSPB). █ INTRODUCTION T he struggles of human beings "to know and educate", and for these purposes, "to measure and assess" dates to the times Before Christ (B.C.). In 2000s B.C., it is known that there was a system that might be considered as extremely complex to select the state officials in China. The system was based on an exam (1,2). In the specialization field, the real purpose of the board exams, which create the opportunity to update the knowledge and skills of doctors, is to ensure that the specialization of the doctor is confirmed by other colleagues. The examination for specialty in medicine was performed for the first time in 1917 by the American Ophthalmology Board (9). In the Neurosurgery field it was also performed in the USA in 1940 (9). After the American Board, a 3-stage (multiple choice, clinical and verbal) exam was applied in England in 1991, AIM: To provide information on the process and the results of the Turkish Board of Neurological Surgery and increase the relevant awareness. MATERIAL and METHODS: The number of applications to the written and oral board exams organized by the Turkish Neurosurgical Society Proficiency Board since 2006, the number of successful and unsuccessful participants, and the number of the neurosurgery residents and specialists who applied to the exam were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 554 candidates took the exam since 2006 when the first TBNS was applied. Two hundred and sixty of the candidates were successful (46.9%), and 294 (53.1%) were unsuccessful. Two hundred and forty six (44.4%) of those who took the test were neurosurgeons, 308 (55.6%) were neurosurgery residents who had completed their 3 rd year in their training. The highest score in the written exams was 93/100, and the lowest score was 33/100. In verbal exams, a total of 73 candidates participated, and 66 (90.4 %) of them were successful while 7 of them (9.6%) were unsuccessful. CONCLUSION: Board exams are inevitable to provide a certain level of education and standardization in the training of neurosurgery. Our duty as neurosurgeons is to participate in these exams and work to increase participation for continu...

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