Diabetic macular ischaemia- a new therapeutic target?

Diabetic macular ischaemia (DMI) is traditionally defined and graded based on the angiographic evidence of an enlarged and irregular foveal avascular zone. However, these anatomical changes are not surrogate markers for visual impairment. We postulate that there are vascular phenotypes of DMI based on the relative perfusion deficits of various retinal capillary plexuses and choriocapillaris. This review highlights several mechanistic pathways, including the role of hypoxia and the complex relation between neurons, glia, and microvasculature. The current animal models are reviewed, with shortcomings noted. Therefore, utilising the advancing technology of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to identify the reversible DMI phenotypes may be the key to successful therapeutic interventions for DMI. However, there is a need to standardise the nomenclature of OCTA perfusion status. Visual acuity is not an ideal endpoint for DMI clinical trials. New trial endpoints that represent disease progression need to be developed before irreversible vision loss in patients with DMI. Natural history studies are required to determine the course of each vascular and neuronal parameter to define the DMI phenotypes. These DMI phenotypes may also partly explain the development and recurrence of diabetic macular oedema. It is also currently unclear where and how DMI fits into the diabetic retinopathy severity scales, further highlighting the need to better define the progression of diabetic retinopathy and DMI based on both multimodal imaging and visual function. Finally, we discuss a complete set of proposed therapeutic pathways for DMI, including cell-based therapies that may provide restorative potential.     

Simultaneously recorded intracranial and scalp high frequency oscillations help identify patients with poor postsurgical seizure outcome

ObjectiveHigh frequency oscillations (HFO) between 80–500 Hz are markers of epileptic areas in intracranial and maybe also scalp EEG. We investigate simultaneous recordings of scalp and intracranial EEG and hypothesize that scalp HFOs provide important additional clinical information in the presurgical setting.MethodsSpikes and HFOs were visually identified in all intracranial scalp EEG channels. Analysis of correlation of event location between intracranial and scalp EEG as well as relationship between events and the SOZ and zone of surgical removal was performed.Results24 patients could be included, 23 showed spikes and 19 HFOs on scalp recordings. In 15/19 patients highest scalp HFO rate was located over the implantation side, with 13 patients having the highest scalp and intracranial HFO rate over the same region. 17 patients underwent surgery, 7 became seizure free. Patients with poor post-operative outcome showed significantly more regions with HFO than those with seizure free outcome.ConclusionsScalp HFOs are mostly located over the SOZ. Widespread scalp HFOs are indicative of a larger epileptic network and associated with poor postsurgical outcome.SignificanceAnalysis of scalp HFO add clinically important information about the extent of epileptic areas during presurgical simultaneous scalp and intracranial EEG recordings.     

Microstructure and Interfacial Reactions of Resistance Brazed Lap Joints between TC4 Titanium Alloy and 304 Stainless Steel Using Metal Powder Interlayers

In the brazing joint between titanium alloy and stainless steel, a lot of Fe-Ti intermetallic compounds (IMCs) can be easily formed to make joints crack. A lap resistance brazing process with metal powder layers on both sides of the filler metal was used to solve this problem. The microstructure and metallurgical behavior of joints was studied through comparative experiments. The result showed that Nb, V and Cr powders and the solder reacted with the base material to form a new phase, which replaced the Ti-Fe brittle phase in the joint. At the same time, metal powder clusters hindered the diffusion of Ti and Fe elements and improved the distribution of new phases. The established atomic reaction model revealed the metallurgical behavior and formation mechanism of the joints. Therefore, the intervening position of the metal powder layer and the multi-reaction zone structure are the main reasons the shear strength of joints is improved.     

Cortico-cortical evoked potential by single-pulse electrical stimulation is a generally safe procedure

ObjectiveCortico-cortical evoked potential (CCEP) by single-pulse electrical stimulation (SPES) is useful to investigate effective connectivity and cortical excitability. We aimed to clarify the safety of CCEPs.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 29 consecutive patients with intractable partial epilepsy undergoing chronic subdural grid implantation and CCEP recording. Repetitive SPES (1 Hz) was systematically applied to a pair of adjacent electrodes over almost all electrodes. We evaluated the incidences of afterdischarges (ADs) and clinical seizures.ResultsOut of 1283 electrode pairs, ADs and clinical seizures were observed in 12 and 5 pairs (0.94% and 0.39%, per electrode pair) in 7 and 3 patients (23.3% and 10.0%, per patient), respectively. Of the 18–82 pairs per patient, ADs and clinical seizures were induced in 0–4 and 0–3 pairs, respectively. Stimulating 4 SOZ (seizure onset zone) (2.5%) and 8 non-SOZ pairs (0.75%) resulted in ADs. We observed clinical seizures in stimulating 4 SOZ (2.5%) and 1 non-SOZ pair (0.09%). The incidence of clinical seizures varied significantly between SOZ and non-SOZ stimulations (p = 0.001), while the difference in AD incidence tended towards significance (p = 0.058).ConclusionAlthough caution should be taken in stimulating SOZ, CCEP is a safe procedure for presurgical evaluation.SignificanceCCEP is safe under the established protocol.     

电针对脑缺血大鼠侧脑室室管膜下区巢蛋白表达的影响

目的观察电针对脑缺血大鼠侧脑室室管膜下区巢蛋白(Nestin)表达的影响,探讨不同针刺处方防治脑缺血作用机制。方法大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、电针1组、电针2组。电针1组电针双侧“丰隆”(ST40)(2/100 Hz,1~3 mA),每天1次,每次30分钟,连续治疗7天;第8天,电针1、2组和模型组用50%FeCl 3滤纸贴敷大脑中动脉20分钟造成脑血栓模型,术后电针1、2组电针ST40、“百会”(GV20),每天1次,连续7天。术后1天利用神经功能缺损评分法(neurological deficit score,NDS)进行行为学检测,苏木素伊红染色观察缺血半暗带组织形态,免疫组化法检测缺血侧侧脑室室管膜下区Nestin的表达。结果模型组大鼠NDS升高(P<0.05),缺血半暗带神经细胞水肿明显,神经元核固缩,术后侧脑室室管膜下区Nestin面密度升高,持续至术后7天(P<0.01)。电针治疗后神经功能缺损评分降低(P<0.05),缺血半暗带神经细胞水肿减轻,细胞形态趋于正常,电针1、2组侧脑室背外侧角Nestin表达均增高,从术后1天(电针1组P<0.01,电针2组P<0.05)持续至术后7天(P<0.01),电针组侧脑室外侧壁Nestin表达在术后1天升高(P<0.01),术后7天升高差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05)。电针1、2组之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但趋势上电针1组高于电针2组。结论电针可改善脑缺血后神经功能,减轻缺血性脑损伤,促进侧脑室室管膜下区神经干细胞增殖,促进脑损伤后神经修复,在脑缺血前进行电针治疗效果更佳。