Differentiating ictal/subclinical spikes and waves in childhood absence epilepsy by spectral and network analyses: A pilot study

ObjectiveChildhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a disease with distinct seizure semiology and electroencephalographic (EEG) features. Differentiating ictal and subclinical generalized spikes and waves discharges (GSWDs) in the EEG is challenging, since they appear to be identical upon visual inspection. Here, spectral and functional connectivity (FC) analyses were applied to routine EEG data of CAE patients, to differentiate ictal and subclinical GSWDs.MethodsTwelve CAE patients with both ictal and subclinical GSWDs were retrospectively selected for this study. The selected EEG epochs were subjected to frequency analysis in the range of 1–30 Hz. Further, FC analysis based on the imaginary part of coherency was used to determine sensor level networks.ResultsDelta, alpha and beta band frequencies during ictal GSWDs showed significantly higher power compared to subclinical GSWDs. FC showed significant network differences for all frequency bands, demonstrating weaker connectivity between channels during ictal GSWDs.ConclusionUsing spectral and FC analyses significant differences between ictal and subclinical GSWDs in CAE patients were detected, suggesting that these features could be used for machine learning classification purposes to improve EEG monitoring.SignificanceIdentifying differences between ictal and subclinical GSWDs using routine EEG, may improve understanding of this syndrome and the management of patients with CAE.     

Nano in nano: Biosynthesized gold and iron nanoclusters cargo neoplastic exosomes for cancer status biomarking

Timely detection is crucial for successful treatment of cancer. The current study describes a new approach that involves utilization of the tumor cell environment for bioimaging with in-situ biosynthesized nanoscale gold and iron probes and subsequent dissemination of Au-Fe nanoclusters from cargo exosomes within the circulatory system. We have isolated the Au-Fe cargo exosomes from the blood of the treated murine models after in situ biosyntheses from their respective pre-ionic solutions (HAuCl₄, FeCl₂), whereas Na₂SeO₃ supplementation added into Au lethal effect. The microarray data of various differentially expressed genes revealed the up-regulated tumor ablation and metal binding genes in SGC-7901 cell lines after treatment with Au-Fe-Se triplet ionic solution. The isolation of Au-Fe nanoclusters cargo exosomes (nano in nano) after secretion from deeply seated tumors may help in early diagnosis and reveal the tumor ablation status during and after the relevant treatment like radio-chemo therapies et al.     

OLP中TNF-α、TGF-β1及其受体与细胞凋亡的关系和临床意义

目的 研究肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）及其受体TNFR1，转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）及其受体TGFβR1在口腔扁平苔藓（OLP）的定位表达，以及与细胞凋亡的关系。方法 采用免疫组化法定位检测OLP组织和正常口腔粘膜（NOM）TNF-α、TNFR1、TGF-β、TGFβR1的蛋白表达；应用原位缺口末端标记技术，检测OLP、NOM组织细胞凋亡情况。结果 TNF-α、TNFR1在OLP组织（上皮层和固有层）内表达均有增强，明显高于对照组，二者在OLP上皮内可分布于上皮细胞，TNF-α多见于巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞，TNFR1则主要分布于部分巨噬细胞。TGF-β1在OLP固有层以及TGFβR1在上皮层和固有层的表达均有增强。TGFβR1可见于OLP全层上皮细胞，在固有层，TGF-α、TGFβR1则主要分布于成纤维细胞、血管内皮细胞和部分巨噬细胞内，二者在淋巴细胞内少见。细胞凋亡在OLP上皮层高于正常。上皮层中其阳性细胞集中分布于下部或全层上皮细胞。上皮层TNF-α表达与凋亡指数呈高度正相关。结论 TNF-α、TNFR1可能是促使上皮细胞凋亡的因素之一。TNFR1、TGF-β1、TGFβR1在OLP淋巴细胞内表达缺失，可能导致OLP痛程慢性迁延。     

Distortion correction and calibration of intra-operative spine X-ray images using a constrained DLT algorithm

This work presents an automatic method for distortion correction and calibration of intra-operative spine X-ray images, a fundamental step for the use of this modality in computer and robotic assisted surgeries. Our method is based on a prototype calibration drum, attached to the c-arm intensifier during the intervention. The projections of its embedded fiducial beads onto the X-ray images are segmented by the proposed method, which uses its calculated centroids to undo the distortion and, afterwards, calibrate the c-arm. For the latter purpose, we propose the use of a constrained version of the well known Direct Linear Transform (DLT) algorithm, reducing its degrees of freedom from 11 to 3. Experimental evaluation of our method is included in this work, showing that it is fast and more accurate than other existing methods. The low segmentation error level also ensures accurate calibration of the c-arm, with an expected error of 4% in the computation of its focal distance.     

浅议新任护士长的角色转化

护士长是医院管理的中坚力量,肩负着护理行政管理、业务管理、护理教学等责任。这就决定了她们的多角色功能,本文从新任护士长的岗前培训,强化其学习理念,培养其应变、观察能力,强化团队意识方面进行了探讨,以使其尽快进入角色。     

便携式心音采集与处理系统的设计

目的:在心脏辅助泵血装置的研制过程中,需要一款携带方便、抗干扰能力强的心音采集与处理系统实现对心音的准确采集,同时能够将采集到的信号进行分析。方法:本文以单片机和Visual C++6.0为基础设计了一款便携式心音采集与处理系统;该系统通过随身携带的部件采集心音信号并利用蓝牙技术无线传输到PC机,实现信号的保存和和处理。结果:该系统能实现心音信号的采集、保存、波形的实时显示、采样频率设置、心音包络提取等。结论:采用该系统采集了二尖瓣区的心音信号并提取了其包络,通过与专业设备采集的数据和处理结果对比,证明该心音采集和处理系统采集的信号准确性高、可靠性强,提取的包络效果良好。     

MLL‐ELL fusion gene in an acute myelomonocytic leukemia patient transformed from acute promyelocytic leukemia

We report an extremely rare case of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4) with an MLL‐ELL fusion gene lacking the PML‐RARα rearrangement that transformed from hypergranular acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) without showing any karyotypic evolution. The treatment was effective with chemotherapy for M4 and idarubicin plus a cytarabine‐based chemotherapy protocol without ATRA.     

Evidence that Oleic Acid Exists in a Separate Phase Within Stratum Corneum Lipids

Oleic acid is known to be a penetration enhancer for polar to moderately polar molecules. A mechanism related to lipid phase separation has been previously proposed by this laboratory to explain the increases in skin transport. In the studies presented here, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was utilized to investigate whether or not oleic acid exists in a separate phase within stratum corneum (SC) lipids. Per-deuterated oleic acid was employed allowing the conformational phase behavior of the exogenously added fatty acid and the endogenous SC lipids to be monitored independently of each other. The results indicated that oleic acid exerts a significant effect on the SC lipids, lowering the lipid transition temperature (T _m) in addition to increasing the conformational freedom or flexibility of the endogenous lipid alkyl chains above their T _m. At temperatures lower than T _m, however, oleic acid did not significantly change the chain disorder of the SC lipids. Similar results were obtained with lipids isolated from the SC by chloroform:methanol extraction. Oleic acid, itself, was almost fully disordered at temperatures both above and below the endogenous lipid T _m in the intact SC and extracted lipid samples. This finding suggested that oleic acid does exist as a liquid within the SC lipids. The coexistence of fluid oleic acid and ordered SC lipids, at physiological temperatures, is consistent with the previously proposed phase-separation transport mechanism for enhanced diffusion. In this mechanism, the enhanced transport of polar molecules across the SC can be explained by the formation of permeable interfacial defects within the SC lipid bilayers which effectively decrease either the diffusional path length or the resistance, without necessarily invoking the formation of frank pores.     

自身化学离子化/傅里叶变换质谱法研究蝙蝠葛碱和蝙蝠葛苏林碱及其衍生物的结构

采用自身化学离子化/傅里叶变换质谱(SCI/FTMS)技术研究了蝙蝠葛碱和蝙蝠葛苏林碱及这二个化合物的9个衍生物,由[M 1]准分子离子峰和特征碎片峰的质谱数据鉴定了这些衍生物的结构。