Endovascular deep brain stimulation: Investigating the relationship between vascular structures and deep brain stimulation targets

BackgroundEndovascular delivery of current using ‘stentrodes’ – electrode bearing stents – constitutes a potential alternative to conventional deep brain stimulation (DBS). The precise neuroanatomical relationships between DBS targets and the vascular system, however, are poorly characterized to date.ObjectiveTo establish the relationships between cerebrovascular system and DBS targets and investigate the feasibility of endovascular stimulation as an alternative to DBS.MethodsNeuroanatomical targets as employed during deep brain stimulation (anterior limb of the internal capsule, dentatorubrothalamic tract, fornix, globus pallidus pars interna, medial forebrain bundle, nucleus accumbens, pedunculopontine nucleus, subcallosal cingulate cortex, subthalamic nucleus, and ventral intermediate nucleus) were superimposed onto probabilistic vascular atlases obtained from 42 healthy individuals. Euclidian distances between targets and associated vessels were measured. To determine the electrical currents necessary to encapsulate the predefined neurosurgical targets and identify potentially side-effect inducing substrates, a preliminary volume of tissue activated (VTA) analysis was performed.ResultsSix out of ten DBS targets were deemed suitable for endovascular stimulation: medial forebrain bundle (vascular site: P1 segment of posterior cerebral artery), nucleus accumbens (vascular site: A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery), dentatorubrothalamic tract (vascular site: s2 segment of superior cerebellar artery), fornix (vascular site: internal cerebral vein), pedunculopontine nucleus (vascular site: lateral mesencephalic vein), and subcallosal cingulate cortex (vascular site: A2 segment of anterior cerebral artery). While VTAs effectively encapsulated mfb and NA at current thresholds of 3.5 V and 4.5 V respectively, incremental amplitude increases were required to effectively cover fornix, PPN and SCC target (mean voltage: 8.2 ± 4.8 V, range: 3.0–17.0 V). The side-effect profile associated with endovascular stimulation seems to be comparable to conventional lead implantation. Tailoring of targets towards vascular sites, however, may allow to reduce adverse effects, while maintaining the efficacy of neural entrainment within the target tissue.ConclusionsWhile several challenges remain at present, endovascular stimulation of select DBS targets seems feasible offering novel and exciting opportunities in the neuromodulation armamentarium.     

循经冥想训练干预大学生抑郁情绪的效果分析

背景　现有研究表明，抑郁是影响大学生心理健康的重要原因之一。因此，有必要采取有效的方法干预大学生抑郁情绪。目的　探究循经冥想训练干预大学生抑郁情绪的效果。方法　2018年4月，在以循经冥想课题组的名义招募的某大学本科生中，发放抑郁自评量表（SDS），筛选出自愿接受循经冥想训练的60人。根据受试者性别比例，采用随机数字表法随机分为循冥组和静息组。其中循冥组30人进行4周循经冥想训练，在开始循经冥想训练前和循经冥想训练结束后填写SDS并进行E-prime情绪图片评价任务。静息组30人进行静息训练，其余与循经冥想组相同。比较两组前测、后测及前后测差值有无差异。结果　两组前测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）；两组后测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）；两组积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分前测与后测差值比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。静息组前测与后测积极、中性、消极情绪图片评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。循冥组后测积极情绪图片评分低于前测、消极情绪图片评分高于前测（P<0.05）。两组前测SDS评分比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。循冥组后测SDS评分低于静息组，SDS评分前测与后测差值高于静息组（P<0.05）。循冥组和静息组后测SDS评分均低于前测（P<0.05）。结论　循经冥想能降低大学生抑郁水平，可能是由于其能够改变人的情绪认知评价和睡眠质量，使人变得平和。     

刍议研究生科学道德和学风教育质量管理体系之构建

研究生科学道德和学风建设是学位与研究生教育的重要组成部分。针对近年来科学研究和学术活动中各种违背科学道德和学术规范的行为时有发生,国家教育部对研究生科学道德和学风建设日益重视,因此构建研究生的科学道德和学风教育质量管理体系具有十分重要的意义。实现研究生科学道德和学风教育质量体系的方针和目标需具备三个要素,即教育实践的模式(集主题教育、方法学习、学术实践三位一体)、有效性评价机制和绩效考核机制。此外,尚需建立体系优化机制,以适应各种内外部因素的变化,保持体系的更新和优化。     

Baseline immune activation as a risk factor for the onset of depression during interferon-alpha treatment.

BACKGROUND: Major depression has been associated cross-sectionally with increased cell-mediated immune activation but causality has been difficult to establish. This study prospectively investigated the hypothesis that baseline level of immune activation predicts the development of depression during interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment. METHODS: Sixteen hepatitis C patients without psychiatric disorder underwent IFN-alpha treatment. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined before starting treatment. Presence of a major depressive disorder (MDD) was assessed at baseline and several times during treatment. RESULTS: Baseline soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations were significantly increased in the five subjects that developed MDD during treatment compared with those that did not, with standardized effect sizes of 1.08, 1.16, and 1.25, respectively, controlling for marijuana use, cigarette smoking, and baseline level of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that increased immune activation, rather than an epiphenomenon, is a causal risk factor for the development of MDD.     

影像学评估在耳蜗植入术中的价值

目的：评价影像学检查在耳蜗植入术中的价值。方法：37例感音性神经性聋患者术前常规行颞骨HRCT及MRI检查，术后行改良斯氏位X线拍片，其中5例术后行CT复查。结果：CT显示2例Mondini畸形（4耳），2例前庭导水管扩张（4耳），1例迷路骨化（1耳），1例内听道狭窄（2耳）。MRI显示Mondini畸形3例（6耳），前庭导水管扩张2例（4耳），1例并内淋巴囊扩张（2耳），2例迷路纤维化（2耳）。术后改良斯氏位X线拍片显示植入电极形态、位置良好。CT显示1例电极滑脱。结论：CT及MRI对耳蜗植入术术前评估具有重要价值，改良斯氏位X线拍片结合CT对术后评估更有意义。     

社区护理工作绩效评价体系的建立与实践

目的为了探索一套适合我国社区卫生服务机构持续健康发展的护理管理模式，以提高社区护理管理效应。通过专家评定法以及全体护理人员讨论的方法，给予每项护理工作以适当的权重，以此建立社区护理工作绩效量化评价体系，并组织实施。实施后，在社区护理工作方面形成了良好的管理导向，建立了有效的激励机制，提高了护理工作质量、效率和效益。因此，可以认为在社区护理实施工作绩效量化评价体系，是值得推广的一项举措。