A novel method of neurophysiological brainstem mapping in neurosurgery.

Background: Brainstem mapping with electrical stimulation allows functional identification of neural structures during resection of deep lesions. Single pulses or train of pulses are delivered to map cranial nerves and corticospinal tracts, respectively.

New Method: We introduce a hybrid stimulation technique for mapping the brainstem.

Chromatin accessibility profiling of targeted cell populations with laser capture microdissection coupled to ATAC-seq.

Spatially resolved omics technologies reveal context-dependent cellular regulatory networks in tissues of interest. Beyond transcriptome analysis, information on epigenetic traits and chromatin accessibility can provide further insights on gene regulation in health and disease. Nevertheless, compared to the enormous advancements in spatial transcriptomics technologies, the field of spatial epigenomics is much younger and still underexplored.

A novel room concept for shared resource laboratories.

Shared resource laboratories/core facilities (SRLs) are centralized platforms that house and provide access to complex and expensive research equipment. Due to the highly complex nature of the instrumentation they support, SRLs have special environmental requirements for their laboratory space. Here, we describe the planning and establishment of a large light microscopy SRL, with a special focus on room layout, custom-designed air conditioning and vibration, which can also be adapted to proteomics, genomics, and flow or mass cytometry SRLs.

Distinct smell and taste disorder phenotype of post-acute COVID-19 sequelae.

Purpose: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) commonly accompanies coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We investigated the kinetics of OD resolution following SARS-CoV-2 infection (wild-type and alpha variant) and its impact on quality of life, physical and mental health.

Methods: OD prevalence was assessed in an ambulatory COVID-19 survey (n = 906, ≥ 90 days follow-up) and an observational cohort of ambulatory and hospitalized individuals (n = 108, 360 days follow-up).

Using mortuary and burial data to place COVID-19 in Lusaka, Zambia within a global context.

Reported COVID-19 cases and associated mortality remain low in many sub-Saharan countries relative to global averages, but true impact is difficult to estimate given limitations around surveillance and mortality registration. In Lusaka, Zambia, burial registration and SARS-CoV-2 prevalence data during 2020 allow estimation of excess mortality and transmission. Relative to pre-pandemic patterns, we estimate age-dependent mortality increases, totalling 3212 excess deaths (95% CrI: 2104-4591), representing an 18.

Human iPSC-derived brain endothelial microvessels in a multi-well format enable permeability screens of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Optimizing drug candidates for blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration remains one of the key challenges in drug discovery to finally target brain disorders including neurodegenerative diseases which do not have adequate treatments so far. It has been difficult to establish state-of-the-art stem cell derived in vitro models that mimic physiological barrier properties including a 3D microvasculature in a format that is scalable to screen drugs for BBB penetration. To address this challenge, we established human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain endothelial microvessels in a standardized and scalable multi-well plate format.

On the recovery of disorders of consciousness under intrathecal baclofen administration for severe spasticity-An observational study.

Background: Occasionally, patients show dramatic recovery from disorders of consciousness (DOC) under intrathecal baclofen (ITB), an established treatment option for severe supraspinal spasticity. Anecdotal explanations for ITB-related recovery of cognition include modulation of afferent impulses at the spinal level, thereby reducing spasticity-related proprioceptive information overload within cortico-thalamo-cortical connections.

Objective: In this retrospective patient chart analysis, we assessed whether a reduction in spasticity would be associated with an increase in Coma Recovery Scale revised (CRS-R) scores in a larger sample of patients than previously published.

Recovery of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy on Treatment With Ocrelizumab in a Patient With Co-Existing Multiple Sclerosis.

The chimeric anti-CD20 antibody rituximab has demonstrated good efficacy as an off-label treatment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), while the humanized anti-CD20 antibody ocrelizumab has been approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), whereas there is no evidence for its use in CIDP so far. We present a patient suffering from CIDP and MS, both refractory to standard treatment and both showing marked improvement on ocrelizumab. To the best of our knowledge, this is a unique report of CIDP with an almost full electrophysiological recovery on ocrelizumab which could be considered as a potential treatment option for refractory CIDP.

Long latency responses in tongue muscle elicited by various stimulation sites in anesthetized humans - New insights into tongue-related brainstem reflexes.

Background: Long Latency Responses (LLR) in tongue muscles are a scarcely described phenomenon, the physiology of which is uncertain.

Objectives: The aim of this exploratory, observational study was to describe tongue-LLR elicited by direct trigeminal nerve (DTNS), dorsal column (DoColS), transcranial electric (TES) and peripheral median nerve (MNS) stimulation in a total of 93 patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures under general anesthesia.

Methods: Bilateral tongue responses were derived concurrently after each of the following stimulations: (1) DTNS applied with single monophasic or train-of-three pulses, ≤5 mA; (2) DoColS applied with a train-of-three pulses, ≤10 mA; (3) TES consisting of an anodal train-of-five stimulation, ≤250 mA; (4) MNS at wrist consisting of single or train-of-three monophasic pulses, ≤50 mA.

Neurological outcomes 1 year after COVID-19 diagnosis: A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Background And Purpose: Neurological sequelae from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may persist after recovery from acute infection. Here, the aim was to describe the natural history of neurological manifestations over 1 year after COVID-19.

Methods: A prospective, multicentre, longitudinal cohort study in COVID-19 survivors was performed.

Experiences in treatment of multiple sclerosis with natalizumab from a real-life cohort over 15 years.

Natalizumab (NTZ) has been used for treatment of highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). When stopping NTZ the risk of severe rebound phenomenon has to be considered. We aimed to investigate the use of NTZ in clinical routine and focused on identification of potential risk factors for disease reactivation after treatment discontinuation.

Individual's daily behaviour and intergenerational mixing in different social contexts of Kenya.

We investigated contact patterns in diverse social contexts in Kenya and the daily behaviours that may play a pivotal role in infection transmission to the most vulnerable leveraging novel data from a 2-day survey on social contacts and time use (TU) from a sample of 1407 individuals (for a total of 2705 person days) from rural, urban formal, and informal settings. We used TU data to build six profiles of daily behaviour based on the main reported activities, i.e.

Differential impact of physical distancing strategies on social contacts relevant for the spread of SARS-CoV-2: evidence from a cross-national online survey, March-April 2020.

Objectives: We investigate changes in social contact patterns following the gradual introduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions and their implications for infection transmission in the early phase of the pandemic.

Design, Setting And Participants: We conducted an online survey based on targeted Facebook advertising campaigns across eight countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, UK and USA), achieving a sample of 51 233 questionnaires in the period 13 March-12 April 2020. Poststratification weights based on census information were produced to correct for selection bias.

Rapid Review of Social Contact Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Physical distancing measures aim to reduce person-to-person contact, a key driver of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. In response to unprecedented restrictions on human contact during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, studies measured social contact patterns under the implementation of physical distancing measures. This rapid review synthesizes empirical data on the changing social contact patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinical considerations on a right operculo-insular cavernous angioma: an illustrative case.

The insular cortex is considered one of the most complex regions of the brain, defined as the "hub" of somatosensory areas. Here, we examine the case of a surgically treated haemorrhagic cavernoma involving the middle and posterior insular cortex, presenting both sensory, gustative and speech symptoms. By reviewing the recent findings in humans' and primates' basic research, we illustrated clinical and radiological correlations of the reported case, confirming insular role in sensitive and gustatory functions.

Where Do We Stand in Regularization for Life Science Studies?

More and more biologists and bioinformaticians turn to machine learning to analyze large amounts of data. In this context, it is crucial to understand which is the most suitable data analysis pipeline for achieving reliable results. This process may be challenging, due to a variety of factors, the most crucial ones being the data type and the general goal of the analysis (e.

Linking excess mortality to mobility data during the first wave of COVID-19 in England and Wales.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions have been implemented worldwide to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, the effectiveness of such governmental measures in reducing the mortality burden remains a key question of scientific interest and public debate. In this study, we leverage digital mobility data to assess the effects of reduced human mobility on excess mortality, focusing on regional data in England and Wales between February and August 2020.

Behaviours and attitudes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a cross-national Facebook survey.

Background: In the absence of medical treatment and vaccination, individual behaviours are key to curbing the spread of COVID-19. Here we describe efforts to collect attitudinal and behavioural data and disseminate insights to increase situational awareness and inform interventions.

Methods: We developed a rapid data collection and monitoring system based on a cross-national online survey, the "COVID-19 Health Behavior Survey".

Integrated, automated maintenance, expansion and differentiation of 2D and 3D patient-derived cellular models for high throughput drug screening.

Patient-derived cellular models become an increasingly powerful tool to model human diseases for precision medicine approaches. The identification of robust cellular disease phenotypes in these models paved the way towards high throughput screenings (HTS) including the implementation of laboratory advanced automation. However, maintenance and expansion of cells for HTS remains largely manual work.