Bioinformatic Exploration of Circulating microRNAs Related to Functional Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: An Exploratory Prospective Study.

Background Although epigenetic modifications have been expected to play an important role in neuroplasticity for stroke recovery, the role of dynamic microRNA (miRNA) regulation related to functional outcomes after ischemic stroke remains unclear. Therefore, the current study performed a comprehensive miRNA expression analysis in serum to identify specifically altered circulating miRNAs associated with different grades of functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods Twelve patients with AIS in the middle cerebral artery region were included in this study.

Genetic etiology of truncus arteriosus excluding 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and identification of c.1617del, a prevalent variant in TMEM260, in the Japanese population.

Truncus Arteriosus (TA) is a congenital heart disease characterized by a single common blood vessel emerging from the right and left ventricles instead of the main pulmonary artery and aorta. TA accounts for 4% of all critical congenital heart diseases. The most common cause of TA is 22q11.

[Introduction of Support for Thoracoscopic Surgery by Clinical Engineers:Task Shift as Scopist by Clinical Engineers].

On October 1, 2021, the Clinical Engineer Law was revised and expanded the task of clinical engineers (CEs). After that, they can hold and operate a endoscope in endoscopic surgery. On June 9, 2022, our hospital asked CEs to directly participate in thoracoscopic pleural biopsy as scopist( scope operator) for the first time, and since then, a total of 54 thoracoscopic surgery cases were performed by CEs as scopist over the course of one year.

Effect of Shearing and Heat Milling Treatment Temperature on the Crystallinity, Thermal Properties, and Molecular Structure of Rice Starch.

Rice flour is produced by various methods for use in the food industry, but little is known about how the structure of starch is affected during rice flour production. In this study, the crystallinity, thermal properties, and structure of starch in rice flour were investigated after treatment with a shearing and heat milling machine (SHMM) at different temperatures (10-150 °C). Both the crystallinity and gelatinization enthalpy of starch showed an inverse relationship with the treatment temperature; rice flour treated with the SHMM at higher temperatures showed lower crystallinity and gelatinization enthalpy than that treated at lower temperatures.

Subclavian Artery Stenting Under Cerebral Protection by Balloon-Guiding Catheter Inflation Inside the Aortic Arch at the Left Subclavian Artery Origin.

Background: We describe a simple and novel technique for cerebral protection during left subclavian artery (SA) stenting by inflation of a balloon-guiding catheter inside the aortic arch at the SA origin.

Methods: A total of 12 patients with left SA stenosis underwent SA stenting with inflation of a balloon-guiding catheter inside the aortic arch at the left SA origin between January 2020 and December 2020. The SA stenting procedures under proximal protection were retrospectively reviewed to assess ischemic complications, hyperintense spots on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and flow direction of left vertebral artery (VA) during balloon-guiding catheter inflation using ultrasonography (US).

Flexible, high mobility short-channel organic thin film transistors and logic circuits based on 4H-21DNTT.

The low mobility and large contact resistance in organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) are the two major limiting factors in the development of high-performance organic logic circuits. Here, solution-processed high-performance OTFTs and circuits are reported with a polymeric gate dielectric and 6,6 bis (trans-4-butylcyclohexyl)-dinaphtho[2,1-b:2,1-f]thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (4H-21DNTT) for the organic semiconducting layer. By optimizing and controlling the fabrication conditions, a high saturation mobility of 8.

Early Transplantation of Human Cranial Bone-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhances Functional Recovery in Ischemic Stroke Model Rats.

We analyzed the cell characteristics, neuroprotective, and transplantation effects of human cranial bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hcMSCs) in ischemic stroke model rats compared with human iliac bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hiMSCs). The expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF ) as neurotrophic factors were analyzed in both MSCs. hiMSCs or hcMSCs were intravenously administered into ischemic stroke model rats at 3 or 24 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and neurological function was evaluated.

Preservation of Memory Despite Unresected Contralateral Hippocampal Volume Loss After Resection of Hippocampal Sclerosis in Seizure-Free Patients.

Objective: To determine postoperative long-term changes of hippocampal volume (HV) correlating with cognitive functions in patients who underwent surgery for hippocampal sclerosis with postoperative freedom from seizures.

Methods: We studied 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging before and after surgery in 24 patients (mean ± SD age, 36.

Cauda Equina Occupation Ratio as a New Imaging Parameter for the Evaluation of Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae.

Background: Because spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVF) are rare and their clinical presentation is nonspecific, they are often overlooked during diagnostic evaluations. Typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are intramedullary T2-weighted signal hyperintensity and perimedullary flow voids. There are few reports on the characteristic signs of the cauda equina.

In-hospital mortality and poor outcome after surgical clipping and endovascular coiling for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage using nationwide databases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There has never been evidence for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) by endovascular coiling compared to surgical clipping with all grade. The present study and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the in-hospital mortality and poor outcome in the nationwide databases of patients with all grade aSAH between them. The outcome of modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge was investigated according to the comprehensive nationwide database in Japan.

Concurrent Schwannoma and Meningioma Arising in the Same Spinal Level: A Report of Two Cases.

Concurrent multiple tumors developing in the spinal cord are rare, except for in genetic disorders, such as neurofibromatosis and von Hippel-Lindau disease. Furthermore, concurrent tumors arising in the same spinal level with discrete histopathology are much rarer. We report two such cases.

Usefulness of Preoperative Simulation in Skull Base Approach: A Case Report.

Skull base approach is a neurosurgical challenge requiring dexterity of the operating surgeon for good postoperative outcome. In addition to the experience of the operating surgeon, adequate preoperative information of the tumor is necessary to ensure better outcome. In clinoid meningioma, it is sometimes difficult to determine its relationship with the surrounding structure and the feeding artery.

Isolated Tuberculoma Mimicking Foramen Magnum Meningioma in the Absence of Primary Tuberculosis: A Case Report.

Central nervous system tuberculosis is a devastating complication of systemic tuberculosis. Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tuberculoma at the foramen magnum is rare, and mimics en plaque meningioma. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with dysesthesia of the tongue and lower cranial nerve (CN) palsy, with onset 4 months prior to admission.

Navigation of a 6-French guiding sheath into the common carotid artery using a tri-axial catheter system in transbrachial carotid artery stenting.

Background And Purpose: Placement of a large-bore guiding sheath or catheter into the common carotid artery (CCA) is crucial in transbrachial carotid artery stenting (CAS). Herein, we describe technical tips for the navigation of a 6-French guiding sheath into the CCA using a tri-axial catheter system in transbrachial CAS.

Materials And Methods: A total of 27 patients underwent transbrachial CAS.

Applicability of Carotid Artery Stenting for Patients 80 Years or Older: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: A meta-analysis found that for internal carotid artery stenosis procedures in elderly patients, the risk of perioperative stroke is significantly greater for carotid artery stenting (CAS) than for carotid endarterectomy. We retrospectively examined characteristics and perioperative results of CAS for patients 80 years and older at a single medical center.

Methods: A total of 97 patients with internal carotid artery stenosis underwent CAS using the dual-protection (simultaneous flow reversal and distal filter) and blood-aspiration method.

Factors Related to Frailty Associated with Clinical Deterioration After Meningioma Surgery in the Elderly.

Background: Older patients are increasingly presenting for surgery with intracranial meningioma because of progress with diagnostic imaging and longer life expectancy. However, older patients have many problems, such as comorbidities and reduced physiological capacity reflected in the frailty index. This study examines the factors affecting clinical deterioration after surgery in older patients, particularly factors associated with frailty.

Rat Cranial Bone-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Promotes Functional Recovery in Ischemic Stroke Model Rats.

The functional disorders caused by central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as ischemic stroke, are clinically incurable and current treatments have limited effects. Previous studies suggested that cell-based therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exerts therapeutic effects for ischemic stroke. In addition, the characteristics of MSCs may depend on their sources.

Multivariate risk factor analysis and literature review of postoperative deterioration in Karnofsky Performance Scale score in elderly patients with skull base meningioma.

OBJECTIVE Elderly patients are particularly at risk for severe morbidity following surgery. Among the various risk factors, age and skull base location of meningioma are known to be poor prognostic factors in meningioma surgery. The authors conducted this study to analyze significant preoperative risk factors in elderly patients with skull base meningioma.

Effect of actual age on outcome at discharge in patients by surgical clipping and endovascular coiling for ruptured cerebral aneurysm in Japan.

The Japanese population features the highest rate of elderly individuals worldwide. However, the difference of actual age indication for surgical clipping (SC) and endovascular coiling (EC) has never reported. We clarified the effect of actual age on poor outcome at discharge in patients by each treatment for ruptured cerebral aneurysm according to the Japanese Stroke Data Bank.

Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

Multimodal intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring is a reliable tool for detecting intraoperative spine injury and is recommended during surgery for degenerative cervical myopathy (DCM). Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) can be used to monitor spine and peripheral nerve injury during positioning in surgery for DCM. Compensation technique for transcranial evoked muscle action potentials (tcMEPs) should be adopted in intraoperative monitoring during surgery for DCM.