Brain impedance variation of directional leads implanted in subthalamic nuclei of Parkinsonian patients

ObjectiveConventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems with ring-shaped leads generate spherical electrical fields. In contrast, novel directional leads use segmented electrodes. Aim of this study was to quantify the impedance variations over time in subjects with the directional Cartesia-Boston® system.MethodsImpedance records, programming settings, and clinical data of 11 consecutive Parkinsonian patients implanted with DBS directional leads in two Italian centers (Udine and Vicenza) were retrospectively evaluated. Data were collected before starting stimulation (in the operating room and at days 5 and 40) and after switching stimulation on at the successive follow-up visits (1, 6 and 12 months).ResultsDirectional leads have significantly higher impedance than ring leads. Stimulated contacts had always lower impedance compared to non-stimulated contacts. Before DBS-on, all contacts had higher impedance in the operating room, with an initial decrease five days post-surgery and a subsequent increase at day 40, more evident for directional contacts. The impedance of directional leads increased post-implantation at 1 and 6 months with a plateau at 12 months.ConclusionsThere was a significant difference between the directional and ring leads at baseline (before activation of DBS) and during follow-up (chronic DBS).SignificanceOur study reveals new information about the impedance of segmented electrodes that is useful for patient management during the initial test period, as well as during long-term DBS follow-up.     

Recipient hypertonic saline infusion prevents cardiac allograft dysfunction

Objective

Hypertonic saline (HTS) has potent immune and vascular effects. We assessed recipient pretreatment with HTS on allograft function in a porcine model of heart transplantation and hypothesized that HTS infusion would limit endothelial and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following transplantation.

Instrument-based Tests for Measuring Anterior Chamber Cells in Uveitis: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Purpose

New instrument-based techniques for anterior chamber (AC) cell counting can offer automation and objectivity above clinician assessment. This review aims to identify such instruments and its correlation with clinician estimates.     

学龄期儿童前房深度发育状况分析

目的了解7~14岁学龄期儿童前房深度发育情况。探索其与屈光度数间的关系。方法收集2012年6月至2014年6月眼科门诊7~14岁儿童为研究对象，共计521例（1042只眼）。采用IOLMaster人工晶状体生物测量仪测量各屈光参数，同时测量身高、体重。散瞳后验光测得静态屈光度。分析前房深度发育情况及不同屈光状态的学龄期儿童前房深度发育情况。结果（1）随着年龄的增长，7~14岁学龄期的儿童前房深度随之增长，差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。同一年龄段儿童的左右眼之间的均值相近，且生长发育趋势相近（均P＞0.05）。（2）随着年龄的增长，男女的前房深度均逐渐增大，同一年龄段男性前房深度大于女性前房深度（均P＜0.01）。（3）儿童前房深度与身高正相关（P＜0.01）。（4）前房深度随近视度数增高而增大，低度近视组与中度近视组及高度近视组差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论学龄期儿童的前房深度的发育受到身高、性别及屈光度数的影响，与身高呈正相关，同一年龄段，男性前房深度大于女性。双眼前房深度发育同步。低中度近视的儿童前房深度增大。     

Female pelvic floor. Descriptive anatomy and clinical exploration by transvaginal ultrasound

In order to assess the state and pathology of the woman's pelvis minor, a number of methods are commonly used among practitioners, encompassing clinical exploration, radiology, MRN, urodynamics, endoscopy and echography.

Echography has been poorly used in clinical pelvic exploration and its reliability is actually a matter of controversy 1. However, echographic surveys can provide us with valuable gynecological data on the state and pathologies of the soft pelvis, within the genital regions or even going beyond them, i.e. the rectal channel, bladder, urethra, anus, vascular plexuses, and all of their supporting tissues.

At our research unit, we have been employing Transvaginal Ultrasound echography (TVU) for a long time in conjunction with other pelvis-focused methods in order to study different kinds of pelvic alterations. TVU has proven to be friendly to use, fast, harmless and inexpensive, allowing serial explorations and producing high-quality dynamic images (loop-cinema, video-tape). Furthermore, this method is fairly aseptic in that the occurrence of faeces in the rectal ampolla is not a nuisance but a bonus in tracking the contours of the rectum walls and other topographical features which would be otherwise difficult to survey.

A complete pelvic floor TVU may add no longer than 5-8 minutes to a routine gynecological examination, can be implemented by the general gynecologist and generates data that can be further studied by the appropriate specialist for a more insightful evaluation 2.     

脑前循环系统动脉瘤的外科治疗

本文报告113例脑前循环系统动脉管其中包括颈内动脉后交通动脉瘤75例.前交通动脉瘤17例,大脑中动脉瘤10例,人脑前动脉-胼周动脉瘤3例,颈内动脉-眼动脉瘤2例,颈内动脉海绵窦段动脉瘤1例.多发动脉瘤5例.共118个动脉瘤在显微镜下直视手术,动脉瘤直接夹闭术108例.孤立或包裹术5例:5例多发动脉瘤行同期手术3例,分期手术2例.术中发生动脉瘤破裂18次.Hunt和HessⅠ～Ⅱ级病人中有例行早期手术.全组术后死亡率为7.9%.着重讨论手术时机.术中动脉瘤破裂处理及多发动脉瘤的治疗.     

5例胸腰段脊柱前路手术并发症分析

目的：分析胸腰段脊柱前路手术入路并发症，以提高胸腰段脊柱前路手术的水平，方法：对近4年来我科53例胸腰段脊柱前路手术出现的5例并发症进行回顾性分析，探讨并发症发生的原因。结果；本组病例1例发生腹膜后乳糜液漏，1例切口疝，1例气胸，2例深静脉血栓栓塞，经过积极治疗，全部治愈。结论：胸腰段脊柱前路手术并发症的发生大多数和术者对该段解剖知识，手术操作，认识程度和经验有关，可以避免或及早发现。