Concurrent mapping of brain activation from multiple subjects during social interaction by hyperscanning: a mini-review

Social interaction plays an essential role in acquiring knowledge and developing our own personalities in our daily life. Meanwhile, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-, electroencephalograph (EEG)-, and functional near inferred spectroscopy (fNIRS)-hyperscanning, enables us to concurrently map brain activation from two or more participants who are engaged in social interaction simultaneously. In this review, we first highlight the recent technologies advances and the most significant findings towards social interaction by using the hyperscanning method. In addition, we also illustrate several well-designed hyperscanning tasks that have been extensively adopted for the study of social interaction. Basically, hyperscanning contains six categories of experimental paradigms that can track the interactive neural process of interest. Furthermore, it contains two main elucidated neural systems which are involved in social interaction, including the mirror neuron system (MNS) and mentalizing system (MS). Finally, future research directions and clinical implications that are associated with hyperscanning are also highlighted and discussed.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OsNPwO

CT cinematic rendering for photorealistic visualization in pelvic primary tumors

Pelvic tumors can be both complicated and challenging, and computed tomography (CT) has played an important role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of this condition. Cinematic rendering (CR) is a new method of 3D imaging using CT volumetric data. Unlike traditional 3D methods, CR uses the global illumination model to produce high-definition surface details and shadow effects to generate photorealistic images. In this pictorial review, a series of primary pelvic tumor cases are presented to demonstrate the potential value of CR relative to conventional volume rendering (VR). This technique holds great potential in disease diagnosis, preoperative planning, medical education and patient communication.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Qi6wRq

Functional probes for cardiovascular molecular imaging

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a severely threatening disorder and frequently cause death in industrialized countries, posing critical challenges to modern research and medicine. Molecular imaging has been heralded as the solution to many problems encountered in individuals living with CVD. The use of probes in cardiovascular molecular imaging is causing a paradigmatic shift from regular imaging techniques, to future advanced imaging technologies, which will facilitate the acquisition of vital information at the cellular and molecular level. Advanced imaging for CVDs will help early detection of disease development, allow early therapeutic intervention, and facilitate better understanding of fundamental biological processes. To promote a better understanding of cardiovascular molecular imaging, this article summarizes the current developments in the use of molecular probes, highlighting some of the recent advances in probe design, preparation, and functional modification.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OsNdHw

In memoriam: Dr. Juergen Karl Willmann

We are extremely sad to know the passing of Professor Juergen Karl Willmann (Figure 1). Professor Dr. Juergen Karl Willmann died in a car accident on Jan 8 this year at the rather young age of 45 years old. Dr. Juergen Karl Willmann served as an associate editor of our journal shortly after this journal was founded in late 2011, and made significant contributions to the development of this journal. His passing is a tremendous loss to everyone.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QocfVV

Advances in super-resolution photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging (PAI), or optoacoustic imaging, is a hybrid imaging modality that combines optical absorption contrast and ultrasound image formation. In PAI, the target is excited by a short laser pulse and subsequently absorbs the photon energy, leading to a transient local temperature rise.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OpKpen

CT and MRI of adrenal gland pathologies

Besides ultrasound and nuclear medicine techniques, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly used to examine adrenal lesions in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Some adrenal lesions have characteristic radiological features. If an adrenal nodule is discovered incidentally, determining whether the lesion is benign or malignant is of great importance. According to their biological behavior, lesions can be divided into benign (mainly: adenoma, hyperplasia, pheochromocytoma, cyst, hemorrhage, cystic lymphangioma, myelolipoma, hemangioma, ganglioneuroma, teratoma) and malignant (mainly: metastases, adrenal cortical carcinoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma) conditions. In this paper, we review CT/MRI findings of common adrenal gland lesions.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Qidzte

Monitoring reperfused myocardial infarction with delayed left ventricular systolic dysfunction in rabbits by longitudinal imaging

Background: An experimental imaging platform for longitudinal monitoring and evaluation of cardiac morphology-function changes has been long desired. We sought to establish such a platform by using a rabbit model of reperfused myocardial infarction (MI) that develops chronic left ventricle systolic dysfunction (LVSD) within 7 weeks. Methods: Fifty-five New Zeeland white (NZW) rabbits received sham-operated or 60-min left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) ligation followed by reperfusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), transthoracic echocardiography (echo), and blood samples were collected at baseline, in acute (48 hours or 1 week) and chronic (7 weeks) stage subsequent to MI for in vivo assessment of infarct size, cardiac morphology, LV function, and myocardial enzymes. Seven weeks post MI, animals were sacrificed and heart tissues were processed for histopathological staining. Results: The success rate of surgical operation was 87.27%. The animal mortality rates were 12.7% and 3.6% both in acute and chronic stage separately. Serum levels of the myocardial enzyme cardiac Troponin T (cTnT) were significantly increased in MI rabbits as compared with sham animals after 4 hours of operation (Pin vivo outcomes including those from vivid cine cMRI could be supported by exactly matched ex vivo histomorphological evidences. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that chronic LVSD developed over time after surgery-induced MI in rabbits can be longitudinally evaluated using non-invasive imaging techniques and confirmed by the entire-heart-slice histomorphology. This experimental LVSD platform in rabbits may interest researchers in the field of experimental cardiology and help strengthen drug development and translational research for the management of cardiovascular diseases.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Ool8RK

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided balloon-assisted embolization of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms with Glubran®2 cyanoacrylate glue: safety, efficacy and outcomes

Background: Femoral pseudoaneurysm (PA) is a frequent complication of arterial access for endovascular procedures. Surgery has traditionally been considered as the gold standard of therapy. We aimed to report our experience of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided balloon-assisted embolization with cyanoacrylate glue for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral PAs. Methods: Retrospective two-center study of patients with femoral iatrogenic PAs treated by N-butyl cyanoacrylate-methacryloxy sulfolane (NBCA-MS) Glubran^®2 glue embolization between July 2013 and November 2017. All patients underwent contralateral arterial access with balloon placement of an appropriate size in front of the PA neck before glue/lipiodol embolization in a 1:1 ratio by percutaneous US-guided puncture of the aneurysmal sac under fluoroscopy control. Results: Twenty-three patients (12 females, 11 males; median age, 79 years; range, 18–93 years) were included. Median PA size was 34 mm (range, 17–60 mm). The median time to treatment was 5 days (range, 1–30 days). Twenty patients (86.9%) were successfully treated by glue injection alone. The three remaining patients (13.1%) with persistent PA or associated arterial-venous fistula were immediately treated during the same procedure by additional stent-graft. Then, overall immediate and 1-month clinical success rates were 100%. No surgical conversion was necessary. No recurrence was reported during the median follow-up of 11 months (range, 2–73 months). Two (8.7%) puncture-related complications occurred at the contralateral arterial access site, which spontaneously resolved. No non-target glue embolization occurred. Conclusions: US-guided balloon-assisted glue embolization is safe and effective to treat iatrogenic femoral PAs in most cases, offering complete exclusion of the PA and avoiding the morbidity of open surgery.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QmvC1x

Semi-quantitative analysis of pre-treatment morphological and intratumoral characteristics using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography as predictors of treatment outcome in nasal and paranasal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: To investigate the utility of quantitative morphological and intratumoral characteristics obtained by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for the prediction of treatment outcome in patients with nasal or paranasal cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: Twenty-four patients with nasal or paranasal cavity SCC who received curative non-surgical therapy (a combination of super-selective arterial cisplatin infusion and radiotherapy) were retrospectively analyzed. From pre-treatment FDG-PET data, a total of 13 parameters of quantitative morphological characteristics (tumor volume, surface area and sphericity), intratumoral characteristics (the maximum and mean standard uptake value, three intratumoral histogram and four textural parameters) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were respectively calculated. Information regarding the treatment outcome was determined from the histological diagnosis or clinical follow-up. Each of the 13 quantitative parameters as well as T- and N-stage was assessed for its relation to treatment outcome of local control or failure. Results: In univariate analysis, significant differences in surface area and sphericity between the local control and failure groups were observed. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that sphericity had the highest accuracy of 0.88. In the multivariate analysis, sphericity was revealed as an independent predictor of the local control or failure. Conclusions: The quantitative parameters of sphericity are useful to predict the treatment outcome in patients with nasal or paranasal SCC.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OlshCo

SPIO-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers as liver-targeted molecular T2-weighted MRI contrast agent

Background: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) acts as a negative contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and is widely used in clinical applications, including the diagnosis of hepatic diseases. Hepatocyte-targeted magnetic resonance contrast agents (MRCAs) can provide useful information for evaluating hepatic diseases. We prepared targeted magnetic nanostructured lipid carriers (MNLCs) to enhance the hepatocytes targeting efficiency. Methods: In vitro characterizations of MNLCs were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cytotoxicity assay of the MNLCs was measured by methyl tetrazolium (MTT) method. The uptaken study was measured by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and MRI in vitro. The enhanced liver-targeting efficiency of MNLCs was measured by fluorescence imaging and MRI in vivo. Results: Gal-NLC-SPIO was prepared successfully. The cytotoxicity assay of the MNLCs demonstrated that the MNLC had relatively low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility for LO2 cells. More importantly, we confirmed that Gal-NLC-SPIO had greater uptake by LO2 cells than Gal-NLC-SPIO/PEG and free Gal in vitro. A liver distribution study of MNLCs in normal mice demonstrated that the fluorescent signal values to livers of the Gal-NLC-SPIO were significantly stronger than those of NLC-SPIO and Gal-NLC-SPIO/PEG. The liver targeting efficiency of Gal-NLC-SPIO was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: We successfully developed liver-targeting MNLCs, which showed accurate hepatocytes targeting, and thus have the potential to be a new MRI contrast agent to help the diagnosis of liver diseases.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Qip6sp

Responsive alginate-cisplatin nanogels for selective imaging and combined chemo/radio therapy of proliferating macrophages

Background: Atherosclerosis is a major global health concern. Targeting macrophages is hypothesized as an alternative treatment for atherosclerosis. Methods: We synthesized alginate-based cisplatin-loaded nanogels (TANgel) as a pH-responsive drug-releasing theranostic nanoplatform for macrophage cells. Carboxylic acid groups of alginic acid were modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) to enhance chelation of platinum ions. The near infrared (NIR) fluorophore ATTO655 was conjugated to the modified alginic acid. Cisplatin was used as an antiproliferation drug and as a crosslinking agent between alginate molecules to form TANgel. Release behavior of cisplatin from TANgel was analyzed under different pH conditions. Cellular uptake and therapeutic efficacy of TANgel were tested in the macrophage cell line J774A.1 and normal human cell lines such as HDMVECn. Results: The nanogel had a narrow size distribution of approximately 100 nm. The nanogel showed highly pH-responsive drug release behavior. All incorporated cisplatin was released at pH 5 within 48 h, while less than 15% was released at pH 7.4. The nanogel was preferentially taken up by J774A.1 cells compared to normal human cells, enabling selective NIR fluorescence imaging and chemotherapy of macrophage cells. In addition, the nanogel formulation lowered the therapeutic concentration of the drug with and without low dose radiation therapy (RT) compared to the free drug form. Conclusions: This nanogel system may have potential utility for selective NIR fluorescence imaging and combined chemo/radio therapy of proliferating macrophage cells in atherosclerotic regions, allowing for reduction of systemic toxicity.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Oq2cSC

Sonographic appearance of fluid in peripheral joints and bursae of healthy asymptomatic Chinese population

Background: High frequency ultrasound is often used to measure the thickness of fluid in peripheral joints and bursae of healthy asymptomatic populations. Two major steps critical to this procedure are obtaining the detection rates and analyzing the relevant factors. Methods: Healthy Chinese adult volunteers with no history of arthritis, past trauma or surgery and joint pain were enrolled in this study. Ultrasonography was performed on the bilateral shoulders, elbows, wrists, metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) 1–5, proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP) 1–5, distal interphalangeal joints (DIP) 2–5, suprapatellar knees, ankles, metatarsophalangeal joints (MTP) 1–5, subacromial and subdeltoid bursae, deep infrapatellar bursae, retrocalcaneal bursae and long biceps tendons in B mode. Average size of fluid thickness and detection rate were calculated and correlated with demographic parameters. Mean + 1.64 SD was defined as the upper limit of the 95% reference range. Results: One hundred and fifty-two volunteers (71 males and 81 females) with mean age of 48.0± 14.1 years were enrolled. Both the highest detection rate and the thickest fluid were found in the suprapatellar knee (82.9%, 3.7±1.7 mm). There was no significant difference between the left and right side of the same structure in the detection rate and the fluid thickness. Females had a higher detection rate and fluid thickness than males in most examined structures, especially in the upper-limb joints. The greatest number of examined structures was found to be affected by age, and all of the correlations were positive (r from 0.118 to 0.510, PConclusions: Fluid in certain peripheral joints of healthy asymptomatic populations can be associated with gender, age or BMI. This study provided reference values for future comparisons with pathological conditions among Chinese populations.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QlKyNr

Informed communication with study subjects of radiographically detected osteoporotic vertebral deformity

We read with interests the article of Li et al. (1). This article details the plan of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) China Action on Spine and Hip status (CASH) study. It is a prospective large-scale population study with a community-based sampling and recruitment strategy.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OmPggf

Ultra-wide optical coherence tomography angiography in diabetic retinopathy

Background: To implement an ultra-wide optical coherence tomography angiography imaging (UW-OCTA) modality in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR) with the aim of quantifying the burden of microvascular disease at baseline and subsequent clinic visits. Methods: UW-OCTA was implemented on a 1,060 nm swept source (SS) OCTA engine running at 100 kHz A-line rate with a motion tracking mechanism. A montage scanning protocol was used to capture a 100-degree field of view (FOV) using a 4×4 grid of sixteen total individual 6×6 mm² scans. Typical OCTA images with a FOV of 3×3, 6×6 and 12×12 mm² were obtained for comparison. DR patients were scanned at baseline and follow-up. They were treated at the clinician's discretion. Vessel density and non-perfusion area maps were calculated based on the UW-OCTA images. Results: Three proliferative DR patients were included in the study. UW-OCTA images provided more detailed visualization of vascular networks compared to 50-degree fluorescein angiography (FA) and showed higher burden of pathology in the retinal periphery that was not captured by typical OCTA. Neovascularization complexes were clearly detected in the two patients with active PDR. Vessel density and non-perfusion maps were used to measure progressive capillary non-perfusion and regression of neovascularization between visits. Conclusions: UW-OCTA provides approximately 100-degree OCTA images of the fundus comparable to that of wide-angle fundus photography, and may be more applicable in conditions such as DR which affect the peripheral retina in contrast to standard OCTA.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QkhjdL

Incidental abnormal bone marrow signal on magnetic resonance imaging and reflexive testing for the JAK2 V617F mutation

With the increasing employment of imaging modalities in the diagnostic work up of patients comes an increase in the number of incidental cases with an abnormal bone marrow signal.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OmJpaZ

Concurrent mapping of brain activation from multiple subjects during social interaction by hyperscanning: a mini-review

Social interaction plays an essential role in acquiring knowledge and developing our own personalities in our daily life. Meanwhile, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-, electroencephalograph (EEG)-, and functional near inferred spectroscopy (fNIRS)-hyperscanning, enables us to concurrently map brain activation from two or more participants who are engaged in social interaction simultaneously. In this review, we first highlight the recent technologies advances and the most significant findings towards social interaction by using the hyperscanning method. In addition, we also illustrate several well-designed hyperscanning tasks that have been extensively adopted for the study of social interaction. Basically, hyperscanning contains six categories of experimental paradigms that can track the interactive neural process of interest. Furthermore, it contains two main elucidated neural systems which are involved in social interaction, including the mirror neuron system (MNS) and mentalizing system (MS). Finally, future research directions and clinical implications that are associated with hyperscanning are also highlighted and discussed.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OsNPwO

CT cinematic rendering for photorealistic visualization in pelvic primary tumors

Pelvic tumors can be both complicated and challenging, and computed tomography (CT) has played an important role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of this condition. Cinematic rendering (CR) is a new method of 3D imaging using CT volumetric data. Unlike traditional 3D methods, CR uses the global illumination model to produce high-definition surface details and shadow effects to generate photorealistic images. In this pictorial review, a series of primary pelvic tumor cases are presented to demonstrate the potential value of CR relative to conventional volume rendering (VR). This technique holds great potential in disease diagnosis, preoperative planning, medical education and patient communication.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Qi6wRq

Functional probes for cardiovascular molecular imaging

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a severely threatening disorder and frequently cause death in industrialized countries, posing critical challenges to modern research and medicine. Molecular imaging has been heralded as the solution to many problems encountered in individuals living with CVD. The use of probes in cardiovascular molecular imaging is causing a paradigmatic shift from regular imaging techniques, to future advanced imaging technologies, which will facilitate the acquisition of vital information at the cellular and molecular level. Advanced imaging for CVDs will help early detection of disease development, allow early therapeutic intervention, and facilitate better understanding of fundamental biological processes. To promote a better understanding of cardiovascular molecular imaging, this article summarizes the current developments in the use of molecular probes, highlighting some of the recent advances in probe design, preparation, and functional modification.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OsNdHw

In memoriam: Dr. Juergen Karl Willmann

We are extremely sad to know the passing of Professor Juergen Karl Willmann (Figure 1). Professor Dr. Juergen Karl Willmann died in a car accident on Jan 8 this year at the rather young age of 45 years old. Dr. Juergen Karl Willmann served as an associate editor of our journal shortly after this journal was founded in late 2011, and made significant contributions to the development of this journal. His passing is a tremendous loss to everyone.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QocfVV

Advances in super-resolution photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging (PAI), or optoacoustic imaging, is a hybrid imaging modality that combines optical absorption contrast and ultrasound image formation. In PAI, the target is excited by a short laser pulse and subsequently absorbs the photon energy, leading to a transient local temperature rise.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OpKpen

CT and MRI of adrenal gland pathologies

Besides ultrasound and nuclear medicine techniques, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly used to examine adrenal lesions in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Some adrenal lesions have characteristic radiological features. If an adrenal nodule is discovered incidentally, determining whether the lesion is benign or malignant is of great importance. According to their biological behavior, lesions can be divided into benign (mainly: adenoma, hyperplasia, pheochromocytoma, cyst, hemorrhage, cystic lymphangioma, myelolipoma, hemangioma, ganglioneuroma, teratoma) and malignant (mainly: metastases, adrenal cortical carcinoma, neuroblastoma, lymphoma) conditions. In this paper, we review CT/MRI findings of common adrenal gland lesions.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Qidzte

Monitoring reperfused myocardial infarction with delayed left ventricular systolic dysfunction in rabbits by longitudinal imaging

Background: An experimental imaging platform for longitudinal monitoring and evaluation of cardiac morphology-function changes has been long desired. We sought to establish such a platform by using a rabbit model of reperfused myocardial infarction (MI) that develops chronic left ventricle systolic dysfunction (LVSD) within 7 weeks. Methods: Fifty-five New Zeeland white (NZW) rabbits received sham-operated or 60-min left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) ligation followed by reperfusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), transthoracic echocardiography (echo), and blood samples were collected at baseline, in acute (48 hours or 1 week) and chronic (7 weeks) stage subsequent to MI for in vivo assessment of infarct size, cardiac morphology, LV function, and myocardial enzymes. Seven weeks post MI, animals were sacrificed and heart tissues were processed for histopathological staining. Results: The success rate of surgical operation was 87.27%. The animal mortality rates were 12.7% and 3.6% both in acute and chronic stage separately. Serum levels of the myocardial enzyme cardiac Troponin T (cTnT) were significantly increased in MI rabbits as compared with sham animals after 4 hours of operation (Pin vivo outcomes including those from vivid cine cMRI could be supported by exactly matched ex vivo histomorphological evidences. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that chronic LVSD developed over time after surgery-induced MI in rabbits can be longitudinally evaluated using non-invasive imaging techniques and confirmed by the entire-heart-slice histomorphology. This experimental LVSD platform in rabbits may interest researchers in the field of experimental cardiology and help strengthen drug development and translational research for the management of cardiovascular diseases.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Ool8RK

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided balloon-assisted embolization of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms with Glubran®2 cyanoacrylate glue: safety, efficacy and outcomes

Background: Femoral pseudoaneurysm (PA) is a frequent complication of arterial access for endovascular procedures. Surgery has traditionally been considered as the gold standard of therapy. We aimed to report our experience of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided balloon-assisted embolization with cyanoacrylate glue for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral PAs. Methods: Retrospective two-center study of patients with femoral iatrogenic PAs treated by N-butyl cyanoacrylate-methacryloxy sulfolane (NBCA-MS) Glubran^®2 glue embolization between July 2013 and November 2017. All patients underwent contralateral arterial access with balloon placement of an appropriate size in front of the PA neck before glue/lipiodol embolization in a 1:1 ratio by percutaneous US-guided puncture of the aneurysmal sac under fluoroscopy control. Results: Twenty-three patients (12 females, 11 males; median age, 79 years; range, 18–93 years) were included. Median PA size was 34 mm (range, 17–60 mm). The median time to treatment was 5 days (range, 1–30 days). Twenty patients (86.9%) were successfully treated by glue injection alone. The three remaining patients (13.1%) with persistent PA or associated arterial-venous fistula were immediately treated during the same procedure by additional stent-graft. Then, overall immediate and 1-month clinical success rates were 100%. No surgical conversion was necessary. No recurrence was reported during the median follow-up of 11 months (range, 2–73 months). Two (8.7%) puncture-related complications occurred at the contralateral arterial access site, which spontaneously resolved. No non-target glue embolization occurred. Conclusions: US-guided balloon-assisted glue embolization is safe and effective to treat iatrogenic femoral PAs in most cases, offering complete exclusion of the PA and avoiding the morbidity of open surgery.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QmvC1x

Semi-quantitative analysis of pre-treatment morphological and intratumoral characteristics using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography as predictors of treatment outcome in nasal and paranasal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: To investigate the utility of quantitative morphological and intratumoral characteristics obtained by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for the prediction of treatment outcome in patients with nasal or paranasal cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: Twenty-four patients with nasal or paranasal cavity SCC who received curative non-surgical therapy (a combination of super-selective arterial cisplatin infusion and radiotherapy) were retrospectively analyzed. From pre-treatment FDG-PET data, a total of 13 parameters of quantitative morphological characteristics (tumor volume, surface area and sphericity), intratumoral characteristics (the maximum and mean standard uptake value, three intratumoral histogram and four textural parameters) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were respectively calculated. Information regarding the treatment outcome was determined from the histological diagnosis or clinical follow-up. Each of the 13 quantitative parameters as well as T- and N-stage was assessed for its relation to treatment outcome of local control or failure. Results: In univariate analysis, significant differences in surface area and sphericity between the local control and failure groups were observed. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that sphericity had the highest accuracy of 0.88. In the multivariate analysis, sphericity was revealed as an independent predictor of the local control or failure. Conclusions: The quantitative parameters of sphericity are useful to predict the treatment outcome in patients with nasal or paranasal SCC.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OlshCo

SPIO-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers as liver-targeted molecular T2-weighted MRI contrast agent

Background: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) acts as a negative contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and is widely used in clinical applications, including the diagnosis of hepatic diseases. Hepatocyte-targeted magnetic resonance contrast agents (MRCAs) can provide useful information for evaluating hepatic diseases. We prepared targeted magnetic nanostructured lipid carriers (MNLCs) to enhance the hepatocytes targeting efficiency. Methods: In vitro characterizations of MNLCs were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cytotoxicity assay of the MNLCs was measured by methyl tetrazolium (MTT) method. The uptaken study was measured by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and MRI in vitro. The enhanced liver-targeting efficiency of MNLCs was measured by fluorescence imaging and MRI in vivo. Results: Gal-NLC-SPIO was prepared successfully. The cytotoxicity assay of the MNLCs demonstrated that the MNLC had relatively low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility for LO2 cells. More importantly, we confirmed that Gal-NLC-SPIO had greater uptake by LO2 cells than Gal-NLC-SPIO/PEG and free Gal in vitro. A liver distribution study of MNLCs in normal mice demonstrated that the fluorescent signal values to livers of the Gal-NLC-SPIO were significantly stronger than those of NLC-SPIO and Gal-NLC-SPIO/PEG. The liver targeting efficiency of Gal-NLC-SPIO was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: We successfully developed liver-targeting MNLCs, which showed accurate hepatocytes targeting, and thus have the potential to be a new MRI contrast agent to help the diagnosis of liver diseases.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Qip6sp

Responsive alginate-cisplatin nanogels for selective imaging and combined chemo/radio therapy of proliferating macrophages

Background: Atherosclerosis is a major global health concern. Targeting macrophages is hypothesized as an alternative treatment for atherosclerosis. Methods: We synthesized alginate-based cisplatin-loaded nanogels (TANgel) as a pH-responsive drug-releasing theranostic nanoplatform for macrophage cells. Carboxylic acid groups of alginic acid were modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) to enhance chelation of platinum ions. The near infrared (NIR) fluorophore ATTO655 was conjugated to the modified alginic acid. Cisplatin was used as an antiproliferation drug and as a crosslinking agent between alginate molecules to form TANgel. Release behavior of cisplatin from TANgel was analyzed under different pH conditions. Cellular uptake and therapeutic efficacy of TANgel were tested in the macrophage cell line J774A.1 and normal human cell lines such as HDMVECn. Results: The nanogel had a narrow size distribution of approximately 100 nm. The nanogel showed highly pH-responsive drug release behavior. All incorporated cisplatin was released at pH 5 within 48 h, while less than 15% was released at pH 7.4. The nanogel was preferentially taken up by J774A.1 cells compared to normal human cells, enabling selective NIR fluorescence imaging and chemotherapy of macrophage cells. In addition, the nanogel formulation lowered the therapeutic concentration of the drug with and without low dose radiation therapy (RT) compared to the free drug form. Conclusions: This nanogel system may have potential utility for selective NIR fluorescence imaging and combined chemo/radio therapy of proliferating macrophage cells in atherosclerotic regions, allowing for reduction of systemic toxicity.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Oq2cSC

Sonographic appearance of fluid in peripheral joints and bursae of healthy asymptomatic Chinese population

Background: High frequency ultrasound is often used to measure the thickness of fluid in peripheral joints and bursae of healthy asymptomatic populations. Two major steps critical to this procedure are obtaining the detection rates and analyzing the relevant factors. Methods: Healthy Chinese adult volunteers with no history of arthritis, past trauma or surgery and joint pain were enrolled in this study. Ultrasonography was performed on the bilateral shoulders, elbows, wrists, metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) 1–5, proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP) 1–5, distal interphalangeal joints (DIP) 2–5, suprapatellar knees, ankles, metatarsophalangeal joints (MTP) 1–5, subacromial and subdeltoid bursae, deep infrapatellar bursae, retrocalcaneal bursae and long biceps tendons in B mode. Average size of fluid thickness and detection rate were calculated and correlated with demographic parameters. Mean + 1.64 SD was defined as the upper limit of the 95% reference range. Results: One hundred and fifty-two volunteers (71 males and 81 females) with mean age of 48.0± 14.1 years were enrolled. Both the highest detection rate and the thickest fluid were found in the suprapatellar knee (82.9%, 3.7±1.7 mm). There was no significant difference between the left and right side of the same structure in the detection rate and the fluid thickness. Females had a higher detection rate and fluid thickness than males in most examined structures, especially in the upper-limb joints. The greatest number of examined structures was found to be affected by age, and all of the correlations were positive (r from 0.118 to 0.510, PConclusions: Fluid in certain peripheral joints of healthy asymptomatic populations can be associated with gender, age or BMI. This study provided reference values for future comparisons with pathological conditions among Chinese populations.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QlKyNr

Informed communication with study subjects of radiographically detected osteoporotic vertebral deformity

We read with interests the article of Li et al. (1). This article details the plan of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) China Action on Spine and Hip status (CASH) study. It is a prospective large-scale population study with a community-based sampling and recruitment strategy.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OmPggf

Ultra-wide optical coherence tomography angiography in diabetic retinopathy

Background: To implement an ultra-wide optical coherence tomography angiography imaging (UW-OCTA) modality in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR) with the aim of quantifying the burden of microvascular disease at baseline and subsequent clinic visits. Methods: UW-OCTA was implemented on a 1,060 nm swept source (SS) OCTA engine running at 100 kHz A-line rate with a motion tracking mechanism. A montage scanning protocol was used to capture a 100-degree field of view (FOV) using a 4×4 grid of sixteen total individual 6×6 mm² scans. Typical OCTA images with a FOV of 3×3, 6×6 and 12×12 mm² were obtained for comparison. DR patients were scanned at baseline and follow-up. They were treated at the clinician's discretion. Vessel density and non-perfusion area maps were calculated based on the UW-OCTA images. Results: Three proliferative DR patients were included in the study. UW-OCTA images provided more detailed visualization of vascular networks compared to 50-degree fluorescein angiography (FA) and showed higher burden of pathology in the retinal periphery that was not captured by typical OCTA. Neovascularization complexes were clearly detected in the two patients with active PDR. Vessel density and non-perfusion maps were used to measure progressive capillary non-perfusion and regression of neovascularization between visits. Conclusions: UW-OCTA provides approximately 100-degree OCTA images of the fundus comparable to that of wide-angle fundus photography, and may be more applicable in conditions such as DR which affect the peripheral retina in contrast to standard OCTA.

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Incidental abnormal bone marrow signal on magnetic resonance imaging and reflexive testing for the JAK2 V617F mutation

With the increasing employment of imaging modalities in the diagnostic work up of patients comes an increase in the number of incidental cases with an abnormal bone marrow signal.

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Regional dissociation between the cerebral blood flow and gray matter density alterations in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalous: results from SINPHONI-2 study

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the specific regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) alterations for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) by comparing the proportional rCBF and gray matter change from those of a normal database at the same point of SPECT and MRI examinations.

Methods

Thirty subjects with iNPH underwent both CBF SPECT and MRI. After normalization, voxel-wise two-sample t tests between patients and 11 normal controls were conducted to compare the regional alteration in the gray matter density and rCBF.

Results

The rCBF reduction and the gray matter decrease were seen in almost similar regions surrounding Sylvian fissure, the left parietotemporal region and frontal lobes, whereas we did not find rCBF increase at the top of the high convexity, where the increase of the gray matter density was the highest (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study showed regional associations and dissociations between the relative gray matter density and rCBF in patients with iNPH.

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Regional dissociation between the cerebral blood flow and gray matter density alterations in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalous: results from SINPHONI-2 study

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the specific regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) alterations for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) by comparing the proportional rCBF and gray matter change from those of a normal database at the same point of SPECT and MRI examinations.

Methods

Thirty subjects with iNPH underwent both CBF SPECT and MRI. After normalization, voxel-wise two-sample t tests between patients and 11 normal controls were conducted to compare the regional alteration in the gray matter density and rCBF.

Results

The rCBF reduction and the gray matter decrease were seen in almost similar regions surrounding Sylvian fissure, the left parietotemporal region and frontal lobes, whereas we did not find rCBF increase at the top of the high convexity, where the increase of the gray matter density was the highest (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study showed regional associations and dissociations between the relative gray matter density and rCBF in patients with iNPH.

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Guideline "Implantable hearing aids"-short version : German S2k guideline of the Working Group of German-Speaking Audiologists, Neurootologists and Otologists (ADANO), of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO) in collaboration with the German Society of Audiology (DGA), the German Society of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology (DGPP), and patient representatives.

Guideline "Implantable hearing aids"-short version : German S2k guideline of the Working Group of German-Speaking Audiologists, Neurootologists and Otologists (ADANO), of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO) in collaboration with the German Society of Audiology (DGA), the German Society of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology (DGPP), and patient representatives. HNO. 2018 Sep 26;: Authors: Beutner D, Delb W, Frenzel H, Hoppe U, Hüttenbrink KB, Mlynski R, Limberger A, Schönweiler R, Schwab B, Todt I, Walger M, Wesarg T, Zahnert T, Zeh R, ADANO, DGHNO, DGA, Deutsche Cochlea Implantat Gesellschaft DCIG, DGPP PMID: 30259069 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: HNO)

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Guideline "Implantable hearing aids"-short version : German S2k guideline of the Working Group of German-Speaking Audiologists, Neurootologists and Otologists (ADANO), of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO) in collaboration with the German Society of Audiology (DGA), the German Society of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology (DGPP), and patient representatives.

Guideline "Implantable hearing aids"-short version : German S2k guideline of the Working Group of German-Speaking Audiologists, Neurootologists and Otologists (ADANO), of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO) in collaboration with the German Society of Audiology (DGA), the German Society of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology (DGPP), and patient representatives. HNO. 2018 Sep 26;: Authors: Beutner D, Delb W, Frenzel H, Hoppe U, Hüttenbrink KB, Mlynski R, Limberger A, Schönweiler R, Schwab B, Todt I, Walger M, Wesarg T, Zahnert T, Zeh R, ADANO, DGHNO, DGA, Deutsche Cochlea Implantat Gesellschaft DCIG, DGPP PMID: 30259069 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: HNO)

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Patch Testing Pearls

Abstract

Dermatitis is one of the most common illnesses encountered by healthcare providers and the causes are numerous. Contact dermatitis is the form of dermatitis resulting from contact with the environment, and it may be either irritant or allergic in nature. Patch testing has been the gold standard for diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis since its formal description over 100 years ago by Jadassohn. While this diagnostic tool may seem simple to us today, there are numerous potential points for error that the practitioner must keep in mind. Patient selection, technique of patch test placement, allergen selection, patch test reading and interpretation, and patient management all must be considered. To simply apply a given set of test allergens indiscriminately and not be prepared to interpret the results accurately with patient education and management in mind would be a great failure. Conversely, with experience and the proper knowledge base some of the most complex dermatitis questions can be answered.

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Patch Testing Pearls

Abstract

Dermatitis is one of the most common illnesses encountered by healthcare providers and the causes are numerous. Contact dermatitis is the form of dermatitis resulting from contact with the environment, and it may be either irritant or allergic in nature. Patch testing has been the gold standard for diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis since its formal description over 100 years ago by Jadassohn. While this diagnostic tool may seem simple to us today, there are numerous potential points for error that the practitioner must keep in mind. Patient selection, technique of patch test placement, allergen selection, patch test reading and interpretation, and patient management all must be considered. To simply apply a given set of test allergens indiscriminately and not be prepared to interpret the results accurately with patient education and management in mind would be a great failure. Conversely, with experience and the proper knowledge base some of the most complex dermatitis questions can be answered.

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Effect of different sizes of bioactive glass-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles on dentinal tubule occlusion and mineralization

Abstract

Objectives

To synthesize two different sizes of bioactive glass-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (BGN@MSNs) and to investigate their effects on dentinal tubule occlusion and remineralization.

Materials and methods

Two different sizes of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesized using the Stöber method (368A, 1840A) and coated with bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNs) using a modified quick alkali-mediated sol-gel method (368B, 1840B). Sensitive tooth disc models were prepared and divided into six groups and the following treatments were applied: group 1—no treatment, group 2—bioglass, group 3—368A, group 4—368B, group 5—1840A, and group 6—1840B. Then, five discs were selected from each group and soaked in 6 wt% citric acid to test acid resistance. Dentinal tubule occlusion and occlusion ratio were observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. In vitro mineralization tests using simulated body fluid solution were performed to evaluate the remineralization effect of the treatment.

Results

All samples effectively occluded the dentinal tubule and formed a membrane-like layer. After acid treatment, 1840B (group 6) exhibited the highest rate of dentinal tubule occlusion. Remineralization was observed in 368B and 1840B, and 1840B exhibited the fastest remineralization.

Conclusions

Dentinal tubule remineralization induced by the BGN@MSN biocomposite can be used to stabilize long-term prognosis in dentin hypersensitivity. The 1840B induced the most efficient remineralization, and its smaller size and larger surface area were effective for remineralization.

Clinical relevance

The BGN@MSN biocomposite with its smaller size and larger surface area was more effective for remineralization and dentinal tubule sealing.

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Effect of different sizes of bioactive glass-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles on dentinal tubule occlusion and mineralization

Abstract

Objectives

To synthesize two different sizes of bioactive glass-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (BGN@MSNs) and to investigate their effects on dentinal tubule occlusion and remineralization.

Materials and methods

Two different sizes of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesized using the Stöber method (368A, 1840A) and coated with bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNs) using a modified quick alkali-mediated sol-gel method (368B, 1840B). Sensitive tooth disc models were prepared and divided into six groups and the following treatments were applied: group 1—no treatment, group 2—bioglass, group 3—368A, group 4—368B, group 5—1840A, and group 6—1840B. Then, five discs were selected from each group and soaked in 6 wt% citric acid to test acid resistance. Dentinal tubule occlusion and occlusion ratio were observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. In vitro mineralization tests using simulated body fluid solution were performed to evaluate the remineralization effect of the treatment.

Results

All samples effectively occluded the dentinal tubule and formed a membrane-like layer. After acid treatment, 1840B (group 6) exhibited the highest rate of dentinal tubule occlusion. Remineralization was observed in 368B and 1840B, and 1840B exhibited the fastest remineralization.

Conclusions

Dentinal tubule remineralization induced by the BGN@MSN biocomposite can be used to stabilize long-term prognosis in dentin hypersensitivity. The 1840B induced the most efficient remineralization, and its smaller size and larger surface area were effective for remineralization.

Clinical relevance

The BGN@MSN biocomposite with its smaller size and larger surface area was more effective for remineralization and dentinal tubule sealing.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2N9CjBT

Patch Testing Pearls

Abstract

Dermatitis is one of the most common illnesses encountered by healthcare providers and the causes are numerous. Contact dermatitis is the form of dermatitis resulting from contact with the environment, and it may be either irritant or allergic in nature. Patch testing has been the gold standard for diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis since its formal description over 100 years ago by Jadassohn. While this diagnostic tool may seem simple to us today, there are numerous potential points for error that the practitioner must keep in mind. Patient selection, technique of patch test placement, allergen selection, patch test reading and interpretation, and patient management all must be considered. To simply apply a given set of test allergens indiscriminately and not be prepared to interpret the results accurately with patient education and management in mind would be a great failure. Conversely, with experience and the proper knowledge base some of the most complex dermatitis questions can be answered.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2IpSGtn

Patch Testing Pearls

Abstract

Dermatitis is one of the most common illnesses encountered by healthcare providers and the causes are numerous. Contact dermatitis is the form of dermatitis resulting from contact with the environment, and it may be either irritant or allergic in nature. Patch testing has been the gold standard for diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis since its formal description over 100 years ago by Jadassohn. While this diagnostic tool may seem simple to us today, there are numerous potential points for error that the practitioner must keep in mind. Patient selection, technique of patch test placement, allergen selection, patch test reading and interpretation, and patient management all must be considered. To simply apply a given set of test allergens indiscriminately and not be prepared to interpret the results accurately with patient education and management in mind would be a great failure. Conversely, with experience and the proper knowledge base some of the most complex dermatitis questions can be answered.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2IpSGtn

Distinct 'Immuno-Allertypes' of Disease and High Frequencies of Sensitisation in Non-Cystic-Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

CONCLUSION: Allergic sensitization occurs at high frequency in bronchiectasis patients recruited from different global centres. Improving endo-phenotyping of 'sensitized-bronchiectasis', a clinically significant state, and 'treatable trait' permits therapeutic intervention in appropriate patients and may allow improved stratification in future bronchiectasis research and clinical trials. PMID: 30265843 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine)

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Embracing microbial exposure in mouse research.

Authors: Huggins MA, Jameson SC, Hamilton SE Abstract Research using mouse models have contributed essential knowledge toward our current understanding of how the human immune system functions. One key difference between humans and typical laboratory mice, however, is exposure to pathogens in their respective environments. Several recent studies have highlighted that these microbial encounters shape the development and functional status of the immune system. For humans, such numerous and unavoidable encounters with viruses, bacteria, and parasites may be a defining factor in generating a healthy and robust immune system, poised to respond to new infections and to vaccination. Additionally, the commensal organisms that make up the host microbiome also change with environment and imp...

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Distinct 'Immuno-Allertypes' of Disease and High Frequencies of Sensitisation in Non-Cystic-Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

CONCLUSION: Allergic sensitization occurs at high frequency in bronchiectasis patients recruited from different global centres. Improving endo-phenotyping of 'sensitized-bronchiectasis', a clinically significant state, and 'treatable trait' permits therapeutic intervention in appropriate patients and may allow improved stratification in future bronchiectasis research and clinical trials. PMID: 30265843 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine)

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2zEEzh9

Embracing microbial exposure in mouse research.

Authors: Huggins MA, Jameson SC, Hamilton SE Abstract Research using mouse models have contributed essential knowledge toward our current understanding of how the human immune system functions. One key difference between humans and typical laboratory mice, however, is exposure to pathogens in their respective environments. Several recent studies have highlighted that these microbial encounters shape the development and functional status of the immune system. For humans, such numerous and unavoidable encounters with viruses, bacteria, and parasites may be a defining factor in generating a healthy and robust immune system, poised to respond to new infections and to vaccination. Additionally, the commensal organisms that make up the host microbiome also change with environment and imp...

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Positivity rates of in vitro inhalant/respiratory and food allergy tests in the northern midwestern United States

Abstract Rates of allergy-test positivity vary by country and by regions within countries. Several studies have looked at allergy test results to determine the most common allergens. Many of these studies have been based on surveys or on studies of small numbers of tests. Positivity rates for allergy tests are poorly defined in the northern midwestern region of the United States. We conducted a study to identify the rates of positive allergy tests for both inhalant/respiratory allergens and food allergens in the upper Midwest. We extracted from our laboratory database the results of all test samples sent for one of eight allergen panels that had been analyzed between Sept. 1, 2014, and Sept. 1, 2015. All testing was performed at The Cleveland Clinic with the Phadia ImmunoCAP system. The percentage of positive tests, the distribution of the most frequently positive tests, and the class of in vitro responses were identified. A total of 148,628 test results for 63 different allergens were identified. Of the 125,190 tests for inhalant/respiratory allergens, the most frequently positive were dog dander (24% of tests), cat dander (23%), dust mites (23% for both Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae), and June grass (21%). Of the 23,438 food tests, the most frequently positive test results were for milk (18%), peanut (17%), wheat (16%), and egg white (15%). Most of the results fell into classes 1 through 3, although there was still a notable number of very high responses (class 5 and 6). These findings suggest that there is wide variability in the positivity of in vitro allergy tests and that the likelihood of a positive result in screening panels can be estimated. Evaluating such rates will help identify the most and least common allergens and will help to cost-effectively refine allergy screening panels.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2NLMge9

Positivity rates of in vitro inhalant/respiratory and food allergy tests in the northern midwestern United States

Abstract Rates of allergy-test positivity vary by country and by regions within countries. Several studies have looked at allergy test results to determine the most common allergens. Many of these studies have been based on surveys or on studies of small numbers of tests. Positivity rates for allergy tests are poorly defined in the northern midwestern region of the United States. We conducted a study to identify the rates of positive allergy tests for both inhalant/respiratory allergens and food allergens in the upper Midwest. We extracted from our laboratory database the results of all test samples sent for one of eight allergen panels that had been analyzed between Sept. 1, 2014, and Sept. 1, 2015. All testing was performed at The Cleveland Clinic with the Phadia ImmunoCAP system. The percentage of positive tests, the distribution of the most frequently positive tests, and the class of in vitro responses were identified. A total of 148,628 test results for 63 different allergens were identified. Of the 125,190 tests for inhalant/respiratory allergens, the most frequently positive were dog dander (24% of tests), cat dander (23%), dust mites (23% for both Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae), and June grass (21%). Of the 23,438 food tests, the most frequently positive test results were for milk (18%), peanut (17%), wheat (16%), and egg white (15%). Most of the results fell into classes 1 through 3, although there was still a notable number of very high responses (class 5 and 6). These findings suggest that there is wide variability in the positivity of in vitro allergy tests and that the likelihood of a positive result in screening panels can be estimated. Evaluating such rates will help identify the most and least common allergens and will help to cost-effectively refine allergy screening panels.

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Deaf Canadians 'at risk' in times of national emergency

When the next ice storm, wildfire or terror attack happens, Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing will be in greater peril than others because most public notification systems are not accessible to them. (Source: CBC | Health)

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Deaf Canadians 'at risk' in times of national emergency

When the next ice storm, wildfire or terror attack happens, Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing will be in greater peril than others because most public notification systems are not accessible to them. (Source: CBC | Health)

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Deaf Canadians 'at risk' in times of national emergency

When the next ice storm, wildfire or terror attack happens, Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing will be in greater peril than others because most public notification systems are not accessible to them. (Source: CBC | Health)

MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.

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Deaf Canadians 'at risk' in times of national emergency

When the next ice storm, wildfire or terror attack happens, Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing will be in greater peril than others because most public notification systems are not accessible to them. (Source: CBC | Health)

MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.

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Sublingual gland flap for soft tissue reconstruction of oral defects

Recent reports have shown that reconstruction with a salivary gland flap is effective in the repair of postoperative defects in the head and neck.1,2 Although unusual, it is a simple procedure, as tissue is harvested from the same surgical field, and grafting is usually good with no severe complications. A submandibular gland flap is usually chosen, but because it is harvested with an extraoral incision, it is rarely used in intraoral operations, and reconstruction can be achieved using intraoral procedures alone.

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Classification of craniofacial osteoradionecrosis: the addition of “end stage disease”

Craniofacial osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a late complication of radiotherapy that has been used to treat cancer of the head and neck. Traditionally, mandibular ORN refers to radiotherapy-related necrosis of the mandible and subsequent exposure of the bone for at least three months, in the absence of recurrence.1 There is increasing evidence of long-term tissue damage from chemoradiation,2,3 and while most cases are diagnosed between one and two years after radiotherapy, the risk is lifelong.2 Caparrotti et al recently reported that the actuarial rate of ORN of the mandible was 3% at one year, 5% at three years, and 7% at five years (in 1196 patients who had curative radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, with or without concomitant systemic treatment, from January 2005 to December 2014).

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Sublingual gland flap for soft tissue reconstruction of oral defects

Recent reports have shown that reconstruction with a salivary gland flap is effective in the repair of postoperative defects in the head and neck.1,2 Although unusual, it is a simple procedure, as tissue is harvested from the same surgical field, and grafting is usually good with no severe complications. A submandibular gland flap is usually chosen, but because it is harvested with an extraoral incision, it is rarely used in intraoral operations, and reconstruction can be achieved using intraoral procedures alone.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2zF2tJj

Classification of craniofacial osteoradionecrosis: the addition of “end stage disease”

Craniofacial osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a late complication of radiotherapy that has been used to treat cancer of the head and neck. Traditionally, mandibular ORN refers to radiotherapy-related necrosis of the mandible and subsequent exposure of the bone for at least three months, in the absence of recurrence.1 There is increasing evidence of long-term tissue damage from chemoradiation,2,3 and while most cases are diagnosed between one and two years after radiotherapy, the risk is lifelong.2 Caparrotti et al recently reported that the actuarial rate of ORN of the mandible was 3% at one year, 5% at three years, and 7% at five years (in 1196 patients who had curative radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, with or without concomitant systemic treatment, from January 2005 to December 2014).

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Pain reduction in extensive apical surgery of anterior maxilla: A comparative clinical study

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes from two different anesthetic techniques (local infiltration versus infraorbital nerve block) in apical surgeries that are associated with extensive periapical pathology in anterior maxilla, attempting to eliminate the pain during operations.

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The Correlation between the Lower Third Molars Impaction Types and the Mandibular Angle/Condyle Fractures: A Retrospective Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the relationships between the mandibular third molar (M3) impaction types and mandibular angle/condyle fractures.

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Pain reduction in extensive apical surgery of anterior maxilla: A comparative clinical study

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes from two different anesthetic techniques (local infiltration versus infraorbital nerve block) in apical surgeries that are associated with extensive periapical pathology in anterior maxilla, attempting to eliminate the pain during operations.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OlaKtX

The Correlation between the Lower Third Molars Impaction Types and the Mandibular Angle/Condyle Fractures: A Retrospective Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the relationships between the mandibular third molar (M3) impaction types and mandibular angle/condyle fractures.

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Patient Safety and Quality Improvement: Driving to New Frontiers

Patient safety and quality improvement in health care, and specifically, in surgical specialties, is at a crossroads; the last decade has seen a myriad of initiatives resulting in order of magnitude improvements. The next decade will be challenging. Providers, hospitals, and organizations will need to "think differently" to drive toward zero harm.

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Patient Safety and Quality Improvement: Driving to New Frontiers

Patient safety and quality improvement in health care, and specifically, in surgical specialties, is at a crossroads; the last decade has seen a myriad of initiatives resulting in order of magnitude improvements. The next decade will be challenging. Providers, hospitals, and organizations will need to "think differently" to drive toward zero harm.

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2N9eIRP

Self-report oral health and disease experience among adults in China and NZ

Abstract

Objectives

Differences in oral health perceptions complicate comparisons of self-reported oral health in countries with considerably different cultures, traditions, and dental care. We compared it in China and New Zealand (NZ), to determine whether adults in those countries differ in how self-report oral health item responses distinguish those with different clinical oral disease states.

Materials and methods

Analysis of representative data on dentate 35–44-year-olds and 65–74-year-olds from the 3rd National Oral Health Survey of China in 2005 (for Sichuan province) and the NZ Oral Health Survey in 2009. Self-rated oral health in the Chinese survey was assessed by asking "Overall, how would you rate your oral health?"(responses: "Very poor," "Poor," "Fair," "Good," and "Very good"). The NZ survey asked "How would you describe the health of your teeth or mouth?" (responses: "Excellent," "Very good," "Good," "Fair," or "Poor"). To enable comparability, these were combined to create a four-category ordinal measure of self-reported oral health. The slope index of inequality (SII) and the relative index of inequality (RII) determined the extent to which the four-category self-report item distinguished those with better or poorer oral status.

Results

A higher proportion of Chinese than NZ 35–44-year-olds rated their oral health as poor or fair, and the NZ proportion rating their oral health as very good was four times that observed among Chinese. The 65–74-year-olds differed even more in their overall responses. For most aspects of clinical disease experience, the two populations were responding similarly to the self-reported oral health item, although the SII and RII values were more pronounced among 35–44-year-olds in NZ than in China; among 65–74-year-olds, both countries were more similar.

Conclusions

Chinese and NZ adults' self-ratings reflect their oral disease experience in largely similar ways, despite considerable absolute differences.

Clinical relevance

These findings support the cross-cultural applicability of self-report oral health measures.

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Effects of behavioural activation on substance use and depression: a systematic review

Substance use and depression co-occurrence is a frequent phenomenon and an important public health concern. Given the clinical implications and the high prevalence of both disorders, effective interventions ar...

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OYBzBr

Self-report oral health and disease experience among adults in China and NZ

Abstract

Objectives

Differences in oral health perceptions complicate comparisons of self-reported oral health in countries with considerably different cultures, traditions, and dental care. We compared it in China and New Zealand (NZ), to determine whether adults in those countries differ in how self-report oral health item responses distinguish those with different clinical oral disease states.

Materials and methods

Analysis of representative data on dentate 35–44-year-olds and 65–74-year-olds from the 3rd National Oral Health Survey of China in 2005 (for Sichuan province) and the NZ Oral Health Survey in 2009. Self-rated oral health in the Chinese survey was assessed by asking "Overall, how would you rate your oral health?"(responses: "Very poor," "Poor," "Fair," "Good," and "Very good"). The NZ survey asked "How would you describe the health of your teeth or mouth?" (responses: "Excellent," "Very good," "Good," "Fair," or "Poor"). To enable comparability, these were combined to create a four-category ordinal measure of self-reported oral health. The slope index of inequality (SII) and the relative index of inequality (RII) determined the extent to which the four-category self-report item distinguished those with better or poorer oral status.

Results

A higher proportion of Chinese than NZ 35–44-year-olds rated their oral health as poor or fair, and the NZ proportion rating their oral health as very good was four times that observed among Chinese. The 65–74-year-olds differed even more in their overall responses. For most aspects of clinical disease experience, the two populations were responding similarly to the self-reported oral health item, although the SII and RII values were more pronounced among 35–44-year-olds in NZ than in China; among 65–74-year-olds, both countries were more similar.

Conclusions

Chinese and NZ adults' self-ratings reflect their oral disease experience in largely similar ways, despite considerable absolute differences.

Clinical relevance

These findings support the cross-cultural applicability of self-report oral health measures.

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Effects of behavioural activation on substance use and depression: a systematic review

Substance use and depression co-occurrence is a frequent phenomenon and an important public health concern. Given the clinical implications and the high prevalence of both disorders, effective interventions ar...

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In-vivo assessment of osseous versus non-osseous transmission pathways of vibratory stimuli applied to the bone and the dura in humans

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2018

Source: Hearing Research

Author(s): Reto Stump, Ivo Dobrev, Niklaus Krayenbühl, Rudolf Probst, Christof Röösli

Abstract

Background

Bone conduction (BC) is an alternative to air conduction (AC) for stimulation of the inner ear. Stimulation for BC can occur directly on the skull bone, on the skin covering the skull bone, or on soft tissue (i.e., eye, dura). All of these stimuli can elicit otoacoustic emissions (OAE). This study aims to compare OAEs generated by different combinations of stimuli in live humans, including direct stimulation of the intracranial contents via the dura, measured intraoperatively.

Methods

Measurements were performed in five normal-hearing ears of subjects undergoing a neurosurgical intervention with craniotomy in general anesthesia. Distortion product OAEs (DPOAEs) were measured for f₂ at 0.7, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz with a constant ratio of the primary frequencies (f₂/f₁) of 1.22. Sound pressure L₁ was held constant at 65 dB SPL, while L₂ was decreased in 10 dB steps from 70 to 30 dB SPL. A DPOAE was considered significant when its level was ≥6 dB above the noise floor. Emissions were generated sequentially with different modes of stimulation: 1) pre-operatively in the awake subject by two air-conducted tones (AC-AC); 2) within the same session preoperatively by one air- and one bone-conducted tone on the skin-covered temporal bone as in audiometry (AC-BC); 3) intra-operatively by one air-conducted tone and one bone-vibrator tone applied directly on the dura (AC-DC). A modified bone vibrator (Bonebridge; MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria) was used for BC stimulation on the dura or skin-covered mastoid. Its equivalent perceived SPL was calibrated preoperatively for each individual by psychoacoustically comparing the level of a BC tone presented to the temporal region to an AC tone at the same frequency. Simultaneously with the DPOAEs, vibrations at the teeth were measured with an accelerometer attached using a custom-made holder.

Results

It was possible to record DPOAEs for all three stimulation modes. For AC-DC, DPOAEs were not detected above the noise floor below 2 kHz but were detectable at the higher frequencies. The best response was measured at or above 2 kHz with L₂ = 60 dB SPL. The acceleration measured at the teeth for stimulation on the dura was lower than that for stimulation on the bone, especially below 3 kHz.

Conclusion

We demonstrate a proof-of-concept comparison of DPOAEs and teeth acceleration levels elicited by a bone vibrator placed either against the skin-covered temporal bone, as in audiometry, or directly against the dura mater in patients undergoing a craniotomy. It was demonstrated that DPOAEs could be elicited via non-osseous pathways within the skull contents and that the required measurements could be performed intra-operatively.

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In-vivo assessment of osseous versus non-osseous transmission pathways of vibratory stimuli applied to the bone and the dura in humans

Publication date: Available online 28 September 2018

Source: Hearing Research

Author(s): Reto Stump, Ivo Dobrev, Niklaus Krayenbühl, Rudolf Probst, Christof Röösli

Abstract

Background

Bone conduction (BC) is an alternative to air conduction (AC) for stimulation of the inner ear. Stimulation for BC can occur directly on the skull bone, on the skin covering the skull bone, or on soft tissue (i.e., eye, dura). All of these stimuli can elicit otoacoustic emissions (OAE). This study aims to compare OAEs generated by different combinations of stimuli in live humans, including direct stimulation of the intracranial contents via the dura, measured intraoperatively.

Methods

Measurements were performed in five normal-hearing ears of subjects undergoing a neurosurgical intervention with craniotomy in general anesthesia. Distortion product OAEs (DPOAEs) were measured for f₂ at 0.7, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz with a constant ratio of the primary frequencies (f₂/f₁) of 1.22. Sound pressure L₁ was held constant at 65 dB SPL, while L₂ was decreased in 10 dB steps from 70 to 30 dB SPL. A DPOAE was considered significant when its level was ≥6 dB above the noise floor. Emissions were generated sequentially with different modes of stimulation: 1) pre-operatively in the awake subject by two air-conducted tones (AC-AC); 2) within the same session preoperatively by one air- and one bone-conducted tone on the skin-covered temporal bone as in audiometry (AC-BC); 3) intra-operatively by one air-conducted tone and one bone-vibrator tone applied directly on the dura (AC-DC). A modified bone vibrator (Bonebridge; MED-EL, Innsbruck, Austria) was used for BC stimulation on the dura or skin-covered mastoid. Its equivalent perceived SPL was calibrated preoperatively for each individual by psychoacoustically comparing the level of a BC tone presented to the temporal region to an AC tone at the same frequency. Simultaneously with the DPOAEs, vibrations at the teeth were measured with an accelerometer attached using a custom-made holder.

Results

It was possible to record DPOAEs for all three stimulation modes. For AC-DC, DPOAEs were not detected above the noise floor below 2 kHz but were detectable at the higher frequencies. The best response was measured at or above 2 kHz with L₂ = 60 dB SPL. The acceleration measured at the teeth for stimulation on the dura was lower than that for stimulation on the bone, especially below 3 kHz.

Conclusion

We demonstrate a proof-of-concept comparison of DPOAEs and teeth acceleration levels elicited by a bone vibrator placed either against the skin-covered temporal bone, as in audiometry, or directly against the dura mater in patients undergoing a craniotomy. It was demonstrated that DPOAEs could be elicited via non-osseous pathways within the skull contents and that the required measurements could be performed intra-operatively.

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Advances in Understanding the Immune Imbalance between T-Lymphocyte Subsets and NK Cells in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.

Authors: Zhao X, Jiang Y, Wang L, Li Z, Li Q, Feng X Abstract Recurrent spontaneous abortion is a global problem, and unexplained recurrent abortion triggered by immunological factors is an important focus of current research. Helper T lymphocytes (Th cells) and regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells) are central in human immune regulation and play a complex role in pregnancy. Natural killer cells (NK cells) exist in the endometrium and cooperate with T lymphocytes to create immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface, which is essential for successful pregnancy. This review has analyzed studies on Th17 cell, Treg cell and NK cell dysfunction and cellular imbalances which may contribute to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion to suggest a possible direction for future immu...

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Moving on from Metchnikoff: thinking about microbiome therapeutics in cancer.

Authors: Vareki SM, Chanyi RM, Abdur-Rashid K, Brennan L, Burton JP Abstract Precision medicine now needs to also consider the microbiome in oncology treatment. Ingested substances, whether they are a carcinogenic or therapeutic agent, will likely come into contact with the microbiota. Even those delivered extra-intestinally can be influenced beyond xenobiotic metabolism by biochemical factors associated with the microbiota or by an immunological predisposition created by the microbiome. We need to undertake one of the largest paradigm shifts to ever occur in medicine, that is, every drug or ingested substance needs to be re-evaluated for its pharmacological effect post-microbiome interaction. The importance of the microbiome with a focus on the treatment of cancer is discussed. In...

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Lung cancer: a new frontier for microbiome research and clinical translation.

Authors: Mur LA, Huws SA, Cameron SJ, Lewis PD, Lewis KE Abstract The lung microbiome has been shown to reflect a range of pulmonary diseases-for example: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. Studies have now begun to show microbiological changes in the lung that correlate with lung cancer (LC) which could provide new insights into lung carcinogenesis and new biomarkers for disease screening. Clinical studies have suggested that infections with tuberculosis or pneumonia increased the risk of LC possibly through inflammatory or immunological changes. These have now been superseded by genomic-based microbiome sequencing studies based on bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum or saliva samples. Although some discrepancies exist, many have suggested changes...

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[Bladder tumor with dislocated intrauterine pessary - Result of implant allergy?]

Authors: Lill D, Summer B, Flaig MJ, Thomas P PMID: 30264311 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Der Hautarzt: Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete)

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[Pseudo allergic reaction to metal implant].

Authors: Guertler A, Thomas P, Herzinger T PMID: 30264316 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Der Hautarzt: Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete)

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CRISPR/Cas9 and CAR-T cell, collaboration of two revolutionary technologies in cancer immunotherapy, an instruction for successful cancer treatment.

This article reviews mechanism and therapeutic application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, accuracy of this technology, cancer immunotherapy by CAR T cells, the application of CRISPR technology for the production of universal CAR T cells, improving their antitumor efficacy, and biotech companies that invested in CRISPR technology for CAR-T cell therapy. PMID: 30261221 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Human Immunology)

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Advances in Understanding the Immune Imbalance between T-Lymphocyte Subsets and NK Cells in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.

Authors: Zhao X, Jiang Y, Wang L, Li Z, Li Q, Feng X Abstract Recurrent spontaneous abortion is a global problem, and unexplained recurrent abortion triggered by immunological factors is an important focus of current research. Helper T lymphocytes (Th cells) and regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells) are central in human immune regulation and play a complex role in pregnancy. Natural killer cells (NK cells) exist in the endometrium and cooperate with T lymphocytes to create immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface, which is essential for successful pregnancy. This review has analyzed studies on Th17 cell, Treg cell and NK cell dysfunction and cellular imbalances which may contribute to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion to suggest a possible direction for future immu...

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Moving on from Metchnikoff: thinking about microbiome therapeutics in cancer.

Authors: Vareki SM, Chanyi RM, Abdur-Rashid K, Brennan L, Burton JP Abstract Precision medicine now needs to also consider the microbiome in oncology treatment. Ingested substances, whether they are a carcinogenic or therapeutic agent, will likely come into contact with the microbiota. Even those delivered extra-intestinally can be influenced beyond xenobiotic metabolism by biochemical factors associated with the microbiota or by an immunological predisposition created by the microbiome. We need to undertake one of the largest paradigm shifts to ever occur in medicine, that is, every drug or ingested substance needs to be re-evaluated for its pharmacological effect post-microbiome interaction. The importance of the microbiome with a focus on the treatment of cancer is discussed. In...

from #Head and Neck by Sfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2zEFCxv

Lung cancer: a new frontier for microbiome research and clinical translation.

Authors: Mur LA, Huws SA, Cameron SJ, Lewis PD, Lewis KE Abstract The lung microbiome has been shown to reflect a range of pulmonary diseases-for example: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. Studies have now begun to show microbiological changes in the lung that correlate with lung cancer (LC) which could provide new insights into lung carcinogenesis and new biomarkers for disease screening. Clinical studies have suggested that infections with tuberculosis or pneumonia increased the risk of LC possibly through inflammatory or immunological changes. These have now been superseded by genomic-based microbiome sequencing studies based on bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum or saliva samples. Although some discrepancies exist, many have suggested changes...

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[Bladder tumor with dislocated intrauterine pessary - Result of implant allergy?]

Authors: Lill D, Summer B, Flaig MJ, Thomas P PMID: 30264311 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Der Hautarzt: Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete)

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[Pseudo allergic reaction to metal implant].

Authors: Guertler A, Thomas P, Herzinger T PMID: 30264316 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Der Hautarzt: Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete)

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CRISPR/Cas9 and CAR-T cell, collaboration of two revolutionary technologies in cancer immunotherapy, an instruction for successful cancer treatment.

This article reviews mechanism and therapeutic application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, accuracy of this technology, cancer immunotherapy by CAR T cells, the application of CRISPR technology for the production of universal CAR T cells, improving their antitumor efficacy, and biotech companies that invested in CRISPR technology for CAR-T cell therapy. PMID: 30261221 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Human Immunology)

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On the pros and cons of using temporal derivatives to assess brain functional connectivity

Publication date: 1 January 2019

Source: NeuroImage, Volume 184

Author(s): Jeremi K. Ochab, Wojciech Tarnowski, Maciej A. Nowak, Dante R. Chialvo

Abstract

The study of correlations between brain regions is an important chapter of the analysis of large-scale brain spatiotemporal dynamics. In particular, novel methods suited to extract dynamic changes in mutual correlations are needed. Here we scrutinize a recently reported metric dubbed "Multiplication of Temporal Derivatives" (MTD) which is based on the temporal derivative of each time series. The formal comparison of the MTD formula with the Pearson correlation of the derivatives reveals only minor differences, which we find negligible in practice. A comparison with the sliding window Pearson correlation of the raw time series in several stationary and non-stationary set-ups, including a realistic stationary network detection, reveals lower sensitivity of derivatives to low frequency drifts and to autocorrelations but also lower signal-to-noise ratio. It does not indicate any evident mathematical advantages of the proposed metric over commonly used correlation methods.

Graphical abstract

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RF-induced heating in tissue near bilateral DBS implants during MRI at 1.5 T and 3T: The role of surgical lead management

Publication date: 1 January 2019

Source: NeuroImage, Volume 184

Author(s): Laleh Golestanirad, John Kirsch, Giorgio Bonmassar, Sean Downs, Behzad Elahi, Alastair Martin, Maria-Ida Iacono, Leonardo M. Angelone, Boris Keil, Lawrence L. Wald, Julie Pilitsis

Abstract

Access to MRI is limited for patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants due to safety hazards, including radiofrequency (RF) heating of tissue surrounding the leads. Computational models provide an exquisite tool to explore the multi-variate problem of RF heating and help better understand the interaction of electromagnetic fields and biological tissues. This paper presents a computational approach to assess RF-induced heating, in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR) in the tissue, around the tip of bilateral DBS leads during MRI at 64MHz/1.5 T and 127 MHz/3T. Patient-specific realistic lead models were constructed from post-operative CT images of nine patients operated for sub-thalamic nucleus DBS. Finite element method was applied to calculate the SAR at the tip of left and right DBS contact electrodes. Both transmit head coils and transmit body coils were analyzed. We found a substantial difference between the SAR and temperature rise at the tip of right and left DBS leads, with the lead contralateral to the implanted pulse generator (IPG) exhibiting up to 7 times higher SAR in simulations, and up to 10 times higher temperature rise during measurements. The orientation of incident electric field with respect to lead trajectories was explored and a metric to predict local SAR amplification was introduced. Modification of the lead trajectory was shown to substantially reduce the heating in phantom experiments using both conductive wires and commercially available DBS leads. Finally, the surgical feasibility of implementing the modified trajectories was demonstrated in a patient operated for bilateral DBS.

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On the pros and cons of using temporal derivatives to assess brain functional connectivity

Publication date: 1 January 2019

Source: NeuroImage, Volume 184

Author(s): Jeremi K. Ochab, Wojciech Tarnowski, Maciej A. Nowak, Dante R. Chialvo

Abstract

The study of correlations between brain regions is an important chapter of the analysis of large-scale brain spatiotemporal dynamics. In particular, novel methods suited to extract dynamic changes in mutual correlations are needed. Here we scrutinize a recently reported metric dubbed "Multiplication of Temporal Derivatives" (MTD) which is based on the temporal derivative of each time series. The formal comparison of the MTD formula with the Pearson correlation of the derivatives reveals only minor differences, which we find negligible in practice. A comparison with the sliding window Pearson correlation of the raw time series in several stationary and non-stationary set-ups, including a realistic stationary network detection, reveals lower sensitivity of derivatives to low frequency drifts and to autocorrelations but also lower signal-to-noise ratio. It does not indicate any evident mathematical advantages of the proposed metric over commonly used correlation methods.

Graphical abstract

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RF-induced heating in tissue near bilateral DBS implants during MRI at 1.5 T and 3T: The role of surgical lead management

Publication date: 1 January 2019

Source: NeuroImage, Volume 184

Author(s): Laleh Golestanirad, John Kirsch, Giorgio Bonmassar, Sean Downs, Behzad Elahi, Alastair Martin, Maria-Ida Iacono, Leonardo M. Angelone, Boris Keil, Lawrence L. Wald, Julie Pilitsis

Abstract

Access to MRI is limited for patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants due to safety hazards, including radiofrequency (RF) heating of tissue surrounding the leads. Computational models provide an exquisite tool to explore the multi-variate problem of RF heating and help better understand the interaction of electromagnetic fields and biological tissues. This paper presents a computational approach to assess RF-induced heating, in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR) in the tissue, around the tip of bilateral DBS leads during MRI at 64MHz/1.5 T and 127 MHz/3T. Patient-specific realistic lead models were constructed from post-operative CT images of nine patients operated for sub-thalamic nucleus DBS. Finite element method was applied to calculate the SAR at the tip of left and right DBS contact electrodes. Both transmit head coils and transmit body coils were analyzed. We found a substantial difference between the SAR and temperature rise at the tip of right and left DBS leads, with the lead contralateral to the implanted pulse generator (IPG) exhibiting up to 7 times higher SAR in simulations, and up to 10 times higher temperature rise during measurements. The orientation of incident electric field with respect to lead trajectories was explored and a metric to predict local SAR amplification was introduced. Modification of the lead trajectory was shown to substantially reduce the heating in phantom experiments using both conductive wires and commercially available DBS leads. Finally, the surgical feasibility of implementing the modified trajectories was demonstrated in a patient operated for bilateral DBS.

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Exploring the diagnosis and profile of cannabis allergy

Publication date: Available online 29 September 2018

Source: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Author(s): Ine Ilona Decuyper, Athina Ludovica Van Gasse, Margaretha A. Faber, Jessy Elst, Christel Mertens, Hans-Peter Rihs, Margo M. Hagendorens, Vito Sabato, Hilde Lapeere, Chris H. Bridts, Luc S. De Clerck, Didier Gaston Ebo

ABSTRACT

Background

Cannabis allergy (CA) has mainly been attributed to Can s 3, the nsLTP (non-specific lipid transfer proten) of Cannabis sativa. Nevertheless, standardized diagnostic tests are lacking and research on CA is scarce.

Objective

To explore the performance of five cannabis diagnostic tests and the phenotypic profile of CA.

Methods

120 CA patients were included and stratified according to the nature of their cannabis-related symptoms, 62 healthy and 189 atopic controls were included. Specific (s)IgE hemp, sIgE and BAT rCan s 3, BAT with a crude cannabis extract and a skin prick test (SPT) with a nCan s 3-rich cannabis extract were performed. Clinical information was based on patient-history and a standardized questionnaire.

Results

Firstly, up to 72% of CA reporting likely-anaphylaxis (CA-A) are Can s 3 sensitized. Actually, the Can s 3-based diagnostic tests show the best combination of positive and negative predictive values; 80% and 60%, respectively. sIgE hemp displays 82% sensitivity but only 32% specificity. Secondly, Can s 3+CA reported significantly more cofactor mediated reactions and displayed significantly more sensitizations to other nsLTPs than Can s 3-CA. Finally, the highest prevalence of systemic reactions to plant-derived foods was seen in CA-A, namely 72%.

Conclusions

The most effective and practical tests to confirm CA are the SPT with a nCan s 3-rich extract and the sIgE rCan s 3. Can s 3 entails a risk of systemic reactions to plant-derived foods and cofactor-mediated reactions. However, as Can s 3 sensitization is not absolute, other cannabis allergens probably play a role.

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Exploring the diagnosis and profile of cannabis allergy

Publication date: Available online 29 September 2018

Source: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Author(s): Ine Ilona Decuyper, Athina Ludovica Van Gasse, Margaretha A. Faber, Jessy Elst, Christel Mertens, Hans-Peter Rihs, Margo M. Hagendorens, Vito Sabato, Hilde Lapeere, Chris H. Bridts, Luc S. De Clerck, Didier Gaston Ebo

ABSTRACT

Background

Cannabis allergy (CA) has mainly been attributed to Can s 3, the nsLTP (non-specific lipid transfer proten) of Cannabis sativa. Nevertheless, standardized diagnostic tests are lacking and research on CA is scarce.

Objective

To explore the performance of five cannabis diagnostic tests and the phenotypic profile of CA.

Methods

120 CA patients were included and stratified according to the nature of their cannabis-related symptoms, 62 healthy and 189 atopic controls were included. Specific (s)IgE hemp, sIgE and BAT rCan s 3, BAT with a crude cannabis extract and a skin prick test (SPT) with a nCan s 3-rich cannabis extract were performed. Clinical information was based on patient-history and a standardized questionnaire.

Results

Firstly, up to 72% of CA reporting likely-anaphylaxis (CA-A) are Can s 3 sensitized. Actually, the Can s 3-based diagnostic tests show the best combination of positive and negative predictive values; 80% and 60%, respectively. sIgE hemp displays 82% sensitivity but only 32% specificity. Secondly, Can s 3+CA reported significantly more cofactor mediated reactions and displayed significantly more sensitizations to other nsLTPs than Can s 3-CA. Finally, the highest prevalence of systemic reactions to plant-derived foods was seen in CA-A, namely 72%.

Conclusions

The most effective and practical tests to confirm CA are the SPT with a nCan s 3-rich extract and the sIgE rCan s 3. Can s 3 entails a risk of systemic reactions to plant-derived foods and cofactor-mediated reactions. However, as Can s 3 sensitization is not absolute, other cannabis allergens probably play a role.

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Comprehensive analysis of antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 domains.

This study highlights that only a restricted set of specific domains are essential for eliciting naturally acquired protective immunity in malaria. In light of current data, tandem domains in PfEMP1s PF3D7_0700100 and PF3D7_0425800 (DC4) are recommended for extensive evaluation in larger population cohorts to further assess their potential as alternative targets for malaria vaccine development. PMID: 30262245 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

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Assessment of the impact of manufacturing changes on the physicochemical properties of the recombinant vaccine carrier ExoProtein A.

Authors: Burkhardt M, Reiter K, Nguyen V, Suzuki M, Herrera R, Duffy PE, Shimp R, MacDonald NJ, Olano LR, Narum DL Abstract Efforts to develop a vaccine for the elimination of malaria include the use of carrier proteins to assemble monomeric antigens into nanoparticles to maximize immunogenicity. Recombinant ExoProtein A (EPA) is a detoxified form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A which has been used as a carrier in the conjugate vaccine field. A pilot-scale process developed for purification of EPA yielded product that consistently approached a preset upper limit for host cell protein (HCP) content per human dose. To minimize the risk of bulk material exceeding the specification, the purification process was redeveloped using mixed-mode chromatography resins. Purified EPA deriv...

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A DS-1 like G9P[6] human strain CDC-6 as a new rotavirus vaccine candidate.

Authors: Wang Y, Resch T, Esona MD, Moon SS, Jiang B Abstract Human rotavirus vaccine Rotarix® (G1P[8]) has shown broad cross protection against homotypic and heterotypic Wa-like human rotavirus strains among children worldwide. This vaccine, however, appears to induce slightly less or non-consistent protection against DS-1 like rotavirus P[4] strains in some settings. In addition, children who are secretor or Lewis-negative and are vaccinated with Rotarix® often experience breakthrough infection with P[6] strains. By contrast, P[6] strains infect all children, irrespective of their secretor or Lewis status. In the present study, we report successful adaptation of a DS-1 like human rotavirus G9P[6] strain (CDC-6) to high growth in Vero cells and identify sequence changes that may...

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