Thalamic changes in patients with chronic facial pain.

Purpose: To investigate structural alterations in the thalamus in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia and provide a detailed perspective on thalamic remodeling in response to chronic pain at the level of individual thalamic nuclei.  METHODS: We analyzed a sample of 62 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia who underwent surgical treatment, along with 28 healthy participants. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired using a 3T system equipped with a 16-channel receiver head coil.

White matter spinal tracts impairment in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy evaluated with the magnetization transfer saturation MRI technique.

Study Design: Prospective case-control study.

Objectives: We investigated the use of the magnetization transfer saturation (MTsat) technique to assess the structural integrity of the spinal cord tracts in individuals with clinically significant degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and associated disability.

Setting: Novosibirsk Neurosurgery Centre, Russia.

Utilizing the amide proton transfer technique to characterize diffuse gliomas based on the WHO 2021 classification of CNS tumors.

Purpose: Diffuse gliomas present a significant challenge for healthcare systems globally. While brain MRI plays a vital role in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring, accurately characterizing gliomas using conventional MRI techniques alone is challenging. In this study, we explored the potential of utilizing the amide proton transfer (APT) technique to predict tumor grade and type based on the WHO 2021 Classification of CNS Tumors.

Evaluation of the structural integrity of different spinal cord tracts with magnetization transfer ratio in degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Purpose: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction. In this study, we explored the potential of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) for evaluating the structural integrity of spinal cord tracts in patients with clinically significant DCM.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with DCM and 41 patients with cervical radiculopathy were evaluated using high-resolution cervical spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which included the magnetization transfer technique.

Diffusion tensor imaging reveals distributed white matter abnormalities in primary trigeminal neuralgia: Tract-based spatial statistics study.

Background: Primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) is a prevalent chronic pain disorder whose pathogenesis is not limited to the trigeminal system. Despite the significant advances in uncovering underlying mechanisms, there is a paucity of comprehensive and consistent data regarding the role of white matter throughout the entire brain in PTN.

Methods: We performed a prospective case-control study.

Application of the T1w/T2w mapping technique for spinal cord assessment in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: To investigate signal changes on T1w/T2w signal intensity ratio maps within cervical cord in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Setting: Novosibirsk Neurosurgery Center, Russia.

Brainstem and subcortical regions volume loss in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy and its association with spinal cord compression severity.

Background: In recent years, structural and functional reorganization of the brain and changes in brainstem structural connectivity have been shown in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). We hypothesized that volume loss in the basal ganglia, thalami, and brainstem structures exists and is associated with spinal cord compression severity in patients with DCM.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with DCM and 25 patients with cervical radiculopathy were evaluated using cervical spinal cord and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Brain but not serum BDNF levels are associated with structural alterations in the hippocampal regions in patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common type of focal epilepsy, imposing a significant burden on the health care system worldwide. Approximately one-third of patients with this disease who do not adequately respond to pharmacotherapy are considered drug-resistant subjects. Despite having some clues of how such epileptic activity and resistance to therapy emerge, coming mainly from preclinical models, we still witness a scarcity of human data.

White and Gray Matter Perfusion in Children with Moyamoya Angiopathy after Revascularization Surgery.

Introduction: Surgical revascularization is very effective in patients with moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) and leads to improvements in cortical perfusion parameters. However, changes in white matter hemodynamics are still underestimated. To date, only a few studies have examined brain perfusion changes within deep white matter after bypass surgery in patients with MMA.

T1w/T2w ratio is associated with the brush sign and perfusion delay in watershed regions in patients with moyamoya angiopathy.

Background: It has been shown recently using the T1w/T2w mapping technique that white matter microstructural integrity impairments exist in watershed regions patients with moyamoya angiopathy (MMA). We hypothesized that these changes could be associated with the prominence of other neuroimaging markers of chronic brain ischemia, such as perfusion delay and the brush sign.

Methods: Thirteen adult patients with MMA (24 affected hemispheres) were evaluated using brain MRI and CT perfusion.

A novel antivirulent compound fluorothiazinone inhibits Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm in vitro and suppresses model pneumonia.

The problematic treatment of infections caused by multiple-resistant Klebsiella, especially in ICU, is the leading cause of prolonged hospitalization and high mortality rates. The use of antibiotics for the prevention of infections is considered unreasonable as it may contribute to the selection of resistant bacteria. In this regard, the development of drugs that will be effective in preventing infection during various invasive procedures is extremely necessary.

Assessment of normal myelination in infants and young children using the T1w/T2w mapping technique.

Background: White matter myelination is a crucial process of CNS maturation. The purpose of this study was to validate the T1w/T2w mapping technique for brain myelination assessment in infants and young children.

Methods: Ninety-four patients (0-23 months of age) without structural abnormalities on brain MRI were evaluated by using the T1w/T2w mapping method.

Correction of Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Virus Infection Using a Thrombodynamics Coagulation Assay.

Background: The average frequency of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 is still high despite low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) prophylactic. Global hemostasis assays, particularly thrombodynamics (TD), known to be sensitive to both hypercoagulation and heparin effects, could potentially be useful for individual management of anticoagulant therapy.

Methods: A total of 74 patients with lung involvement >50% were randomized into two groups: Group A (44 patients) received weight-based dosing of LMWH, and Group B (30 patients) received the first LMWH dose by a weight-based dosing protocol and then received an adjusted dose based on TD daily results.

Neuroimaging in Moyamoya angiopathy: Updated review.

Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) is a rare condition characterized by steno-occlusion of terminal portions of the internal carotid arteries and/or their proximal branches with the formation of collateral vessels network (moyamoya vessels). These changes result in chronic ischemia of the brain parenchyma with subsequent serious cerebrovascular accidents. The prognosis of MMA could be dramatically improved if the diagnosis and assessment are prompt and accurate.

Myelin damage and cortical atrophy in watershed regions in patients with moyamoya angiopathy.

Background: Despite it being known that chronic ischemia results in myelin damage and gray matter atrophy, data regarding patients with moyamoya angiopathy is limited. We hypothesized that chronic ischemia in moyamoya angiopathy leads to myelin damage, especially in anterior watershed regions, as well as cortical atrophy in these areas.

Materials And Methods: Twenty adult patients with moyamoya angiopathy and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated using the T1w/T2w mapping method and surface-based MR-morphometry.

Transcranial Current Stimulation as a Tool of Neuromodulation of Cognitive Functions in Parkinson's Disease.

Decrease in cognitive function is one of the most common causes of poor life quality and early disability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Existing methods of treatment are aimed at both correction of motor and non-motor symptoms. Methods of adjuvant therapy (or complementary therapy) for maintaining cognitive functions in patients with PD are of interest.

Interstitial inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19: The potential role of cytostatic therapy for severe lung injury.

The progression of secondary pulmonary damage in SARS-COV-2 infection, associated with interstitial damage, inflammation and alveolar consolidation and eventually resulted in the development of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), remains one of the key clinical dilemmas for the treatment of patients in intensive care units (ICU). Currently, there is no standardized algorithm for PF prevention and timely management, although few studies have discussed the use of antifibrotic agents in COVID-19 patients. One of the treatment options for patients with interstitial PF, when irresponsive to the given corticosteroid therapy, is the administration of cytostatic agents, in particular, cyclophosphamide.

Occurrence and clinical manifestations of tick-borne rickettsioses in Western Siberia: First Russian cases of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia slovaca infections.

Rickettsia sibirica subsp. sibirica is a main agent of tick-borne rickettsioses in Western Siberia, Russia. Recently, the first cases of Rickettsia raoultii infection in patients hospitalized in Novosibirsk Province were described.

Longitudinal multiparametric characterization of platelet dysfunction in COVID-19: Effects of disease severity, anticoagulation therapy and inflammatory status.

Introduction: Defects of platelet functional responses in COVID-19 were reported, but their origin and pathophysiological significance are unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize the thrombocytopathy in COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: Analysis of platelet functional responses to activation by flow cytometry and aggregometry in 46 patients with confirmed COVID-19 of different severity (non-ICU, ICU, and ECMO) over the course of hospitalization alongside with plasma coagulation, inflammatory markers (CRP, fibrinogen, NETosis assays in smears) was performed.

A rare familial rearrangement of chromosomes 9 and 15 associated with intellectual disability: a clinical and molecular study.

Background: There are many reports on rearrangements occurring separately in the regions of chromosomes 9p and 15q affected in the case under study. 15q duplication syndrome is caused by the presence of at least one extra maternally derived copy of the Prader-Willi/Angelman critical region. Trisomy 9p is the fourth most frequent chromosome anomaly with a clinically recognizable syndrome often accompanied by intellectual disability.

Cases of Q fever detected in residents of the novosibirsk region hospitalized with suspection of infections transmitted by ticks.

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever (coxiellosis), which, in addition to acute manifestations, often occurs in a latent form, is prone to chronic course and, in the absence of antibiotic therapy, has a high risk of disability or death. As a result of the presence of a wide range of clinical manifestations specific to other infectious diseases, the use of laboratory test methods (LTM) is required to make a diagnosis. The presence of Q fever anthropurgic foci in the Novosibirsk region was described in the 90s of the last century, but due attention to its laboratory diagnostics is not paid in this region.

Molecular origin of the heterogeneity in the nematic and smectic liquid crystals: Elastic constants, gradients of order parameters, and visualization of small objects.

The formation of heterogeneous nematic and smectic liquid crystals in the general case of an arbitrary geometry is investigated in the framework of molecular-statistical approach [Emelyanenko and Khokhlov, J. Chem. Phys.