How structural and functional MRI can inform dual-site tACS parameters: A case study in a clinical population and its pragmatic implications

BackgroundAbnormalities in frontoparietal network (FPN) were observed in many neuropsychiatric diseases including substance use disorders. A growing number of studies are using dual-site-tACS with frontoparietal synchronization to engage this network. However, a computational pathway to inform and optimize parameter space for frontoparietal synchronization is still lacking. In this case study, in a group of participants with methamphetamine use disorders, we proposed a computational pathway to extract optimal electrode montage while accounting for stimulation intensity using structural and functional MRI.MethodsSixty methamphetamine users completed an fMRI drug cue-reactivity task. Four main steps were taken to define electrode montage and adjust stimulation intensity using 4x1 high-definition (HD) electrodes for a dual-site-tACS; (1) Frontal seed was defined based on the maximum electric fields (EF) predicted by simulation of HD montage over DLPFC (F3/F4 in EEG 10–10), (2) frontal seed-to-whole brain context-dependent correlation was calculated to determine connected regions to frontal seeds, (3) center of connected cluster in parietal cortex was selected as a location for placing the second set of HD electrodes to shape the informed montage, (4) individualized head models were used to determine optimal stimulation intensity considering underlying brain structure. The informed montage was compared to montages with large electrodes and classic frontoparietal HD montages (F3-P3/F4-P4) in terms of tACS-induced EF and ROI-to-ROI task-based/resting-state connectivity.ResultsCompared to the large electrodes, HD frontoparietal montages allow for a finer control of the spatial peak fields in the main nodes of the FPN at the cost of lower maximum EF (large-pad/HD: max EF[V/m] = 0.37/0.11, number of cortical sub-regions that EF exceeds 50% of the max = 77/13). For defining stimulation targets based on EF patterns, using group-level head models compared to a single standard head model results in comparable but significantly different seed locations (6.43 mm Euclidean distance between the locations of the frontal maximum EF in standard-space). As expected, significant task-based/resting-state connections were only found between frontal-parietal locations in the informed montage. Cue-induced craving score was correlated with frontoparietal connectivity only in the informed montage (r = ?0.24). Stimulation intensity in the informed montage, and not in the classic HD montage, needs 40% reduction in the parietal site to reduce the disparity in EF between stimulation sites.ConclusionThis study provides some empirical insights to montage and dose selection in dual-site-tACS using individual brain structures and functions and proposes a computational pathway to use head models and functional MRI to define (1) optimum electrode montage for targeting FPN in a context of interest (drug-cue-reactivity) and (2) proper transcranial stimulation intensity.     

Ultrasound-Assist Extrusion Methods for the Fabrication of Polymer Nanocomposites Based on Polypropylene/Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Isotactic polypropylenes (iPP) with different melt flow indexes (MFI) were used to fabricate nanocomposites (NCs) with 10 wt % loadings of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using ultrasound-assisted extrusion methods to determine their effect on the morphology, melt flow, and electrical properties of the NCs. Three different types of iPPs were used with MFIs of 2.5, 34 and 1200 g/10 min. Four different NC fabrication methods based on melt extrusion were used. In the first method melt extrusion fabrication without ultrasound assistance was used. In the second and third methods, an ultrasound probe attached to a hot chamber located at the exit of the die was used to subject the sample to fixed frequency and variable frequency, respectively. The fourth method is similar to the first method, with the difference being that the carbon nanotubes were treated in a fluidized air-bed with an ultrasound probe before being used in the fabrication of the NCs with no ultrasound assistance during extrusion. The samples were characterized by MFI, Optical microscopy (OM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrical surface resistivity, and electric charge. MFI decreases in all cases with addition of MWCNTs with the largest decrease observed for samples with the highest MFI. The surface resistivity, which ranged from 10¹³ to 10⁵ Ω/sq, and electric charge, were observed to depend on the ultrasound-assisted fabrication method as well as on the melt flow index of the iPP. A relationship between agglomerate size and area ratio with electric charge was found. Several trends in the overall data were identified and are discussed in terms of MFI and the different fabrication methods.     

Role of pulsed electromagnetic fields after joint replacements

Although the rate of patients reporting satisfaction is generally high after joint replacement surgery, up to 23% after total hip replacement and 34% after total knee arthroplasty of treated subjects report discomfort or pain 1 year after surgery. Moreover, chronic or subacute inflammation is reported in some cases even a long time after surgery. Another open and debated issue in prosthetic surgery is implant survivorship, especially when related to good prosthesis bone ingrowth. Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields(PEMFs) treatment, although initially recommended after total joint replacement to promote bone ingrowth and to reduce inflammation and pain, is not currently part of usual clinical practice. The purpose of this review was to analyze existing literature on PEMFs effects in joint replacement surgery and to report results of clinical studies and current indications. We selected all currently available prospective studies or RCT on the use of PEMFs in total joint replacement with the purpose of investigating effects of PEMFs on recovery, pain relief and patients' satisfaction following hip, knee or shoulder arthroplasty. All the studies analyzed reported no adverse effects, and good patient compliance to the treatment. The available literature shows that early control of joint inflammation process in the first days after surgery through the use of PEMFs should be considered an effective completion of the surgical procedure to improve the patient's functional recovery.     

耳穴脉冲刺激对Oddi括约肌张力及肌电活动的影响

目的　探讨耳穴脉冲电刺激治疗胆石症 ,胆绞痛的机制 .方法　选用 15条成年杂种犬 ,进行耳穴体表脉冲刺激与缩胆素 (CCK)对在体狗胆囊张力 ,Oddi括约肌张力及肌电活动影响的对比研究 .结果　耳穴脉冲电刺激对胆囊张力无明显影响 [(1.2 7± 0 .2 6 ) k Pa与 (1.2 4± 0 .2 2 ) k Pa,P<0 .0 5 ],CCK注射液能明显提高胆囊张力 [(1.2 7± 0 .2 6 ) k Pa与 (1.91± 0 .39) k Pa,P<0 .0 5 ],CCK注射液能明显降低Oddi括约肌张力 [(2 .2 4± 0 .5 5 ) k Pa与 (1.5 8± 0 .5 6 ) k Pa,P>0 .0 5 ]及肌电活动 .结论　耳穴脉冲电刺激同 CCK一样 ,均对 Oddi括约肌的张力有显著的降低作用 ,并减少 Oddi括约肌的肌电峰电位爆发波的频率与电压值 ,推测其对胆绞痛有治疗作用 ,并有助于胆结石的排石过程 .     

豚鼠耳蜗微血管内皮细胞体外通透性的研究

目的　研究豚鼠耳蜗微血管内皮细胞的体外通透性特征。方法　在成功建立豚鼠耳蜗微血管内皮细胞体外通透性模型的基础上 ,研究该体外模型跨细胞电阻及对12 5I 牛血清白蛋白的通透性。结果　①耳蜗微血管内皮细胞在培养增殖过程中其跨细胞电阻呈动态变化过程 ,以 5× 10 4/cm2 的细胞密度接种时 ,7d左右电阻到达峰值 ,其跨细胞电阻峰值大小为 (118 9± 18 5 )Ω/cm2 ;②体外模型中加入12 5I 牛血清白蛋白后 ,其通透性呈上升期抛物线型曲线 ,90min内几乎呈直线。结论　跨细胞电阻及对12 5I 牛血清白蛋白变化曲线能反映体外耳蜗微血管内皮细胞的通透性特征     

Nonlinear sensory cortex response to simultaneous tactile stimuli in writer's cramp.

Writer's cramp is a task-specific dystonia that leads to involuntary hand postures during writing. Abnormalities of sensory processing may play a pathophysiological role in this disorder. Electrophysiology studies in a monkey model of focal dystonia have revealed de-differentiation of sensory maps and the existence of single cells in hand regions of area 3b with enlarged receptive fields that extend to the surfaces of more than one digit. These changes may lead to abnormal processing of simultaneous sensory inputs. To study abnormal processing of simultaneous sensory information in adult humans with writer's cramp, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare the response in primary sensory cortex with simultaneous tactile stimulation of the index and middle finger, with the response to stimulation of each finger alone. We tested five patients with writer's cramp and seven unaffected (normal) subjects. In the normal subjects, a linear combination of the activation patterns for individual finger stimulation predicts the pattern of activity for combined stimulation with 12% error. In writer's cramp patients, the linear combination predicted the combined stimulation pattern with 30% error. Results indicate a nonlinear interaction between the sensory cortical response to individual finger stimulation in writer's cramp. This altered interaction may contribute to the motor abnormalities.     

Hepatic Disposition Characteristics of Electrically Charged Macromolecules in Rat in Vivo and in the Perfused Liver

The effect of electric charge on the hepatic disposition of macromolecules was studied in the rat. Charged derivatives of dextran (T-70) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), mitomycin C–dextran conjugates (MMC-D), and lactosaminated BSA (Lac-BSA) were employed as model macromolecules. After intravenous injection, cationic macromolecules were rapidly eliminated from plasma because of their extensive hepatic uptake, while anionic and neutral macromolecules were slowly eliminated. Cationic macromolecules were recovered from parenchymal and nonparenchymal hepatic cells at a cellular uptake (per unit cell number) ratio of 1.4–3.2, while that of Lac-BSA was 14. During liver perfusion using a single-pass constant infusion mode, cationic macromolecules were continuously extracted by the liver, with extraction ratios at steady-state (E _ss) ranging between 0.03 and 0.54, whereas anionic and neutral macromolecules were almost completely recovered in the outflow at steady state. The E _ss for cationized BSA (Cat-BSA) and cationic MMC-Dcat were concentration dependent and decreased at low temperatures and in the presence of colchicine and cytochalasin B. The possible participation of the internalization process in the uptake of cationic macromolecules by hepatocytes was suggested.     

头皮电烧伤骨外露带毛发皮瓣修复

目的：探讨头皮电烧伤骨外露用头皮扩张皮瓣移植修复的临床效果。方法：采用早期扩创,保留部分坏死骨质,用邻近头皮扩张使带毛发的头皮面积扩大后移植覆盖创面,电性失活骨质在血循环良好的皮瓣覆盖下,为周边及基底健康骨质生长起到支架作用,皮瓣扩张到一定面积后移植到裸露骨质上,使其得以修复。结果：在治疗的9例中,除1例皮瓣边缘在1．5cm×1．5cm坏死外,其余皮瓣全部成活,未发生感染坏死,创面均一次性封闭。结论：头皮电烧伤骨外露扩张后皮瓣带毛发修复,可缩短创面愈合时间,外形较好,易掌握,效果较为满意。     

高压脉冲电场对乳铁蛋白抑菌性能的影响

研究了高压脉冲电场(PEF)对乳铁蛋白(LF)的抑菌性能的影响。结果表明,LF质量浓度、电场强度、脉冲频率、脉冲数的增加,有利于LF抑菌能力的增强,而温度的升高会使之减弱。电场强度为35 kV/cm时,LF的抑菌能力达到最大值。LF的质量浓度越高,对电场强度的变化越敏感。当脉冲个数达到744时,LF的相对抑菌能力提高了34%。处理温度为15～55℃时,PEF处理的LF的相对抑菌性能增长了5%左右。当温度升高至65℃时,LF的相对抑菌能力下降显著,降低了约22%。     

一种滑移式微动振幅测量装置的设计

根据微动滑移振幅具有小位移的特点，设计制作了一种弓形传感装置，该装置能把小幅位移信号转换为电信号，并通过示波器实时显示出来，用这种测试装置来测量滑移式微动振幅具有测试方法简单而测试精度较高的优点。