Optic Nerve Sheath Measurements by Computed Tomography to Predict Intracranial Pressure and Guide Surgery in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: Research has shown that the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a good predictor of intracranial pressure (ICP) and may predict the need for surgery in patients with head injury. The objective was to test the value of ONSD in predicting the requirement for surgery in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we first verified the correlation between ICP and ONSD using data from 62 patients with TBI who had undergone ICP monitoring.

Investigating the frequency-dependent amplification of a tapered amplifier in atom interferometers.

We present the investigation on the frequency-dependent amplification (FDA) of a tapered amplifier (TA) and the corresponding influence on Raman-type atom interferometers. In our interferometer, the output of two phase-locked diode lasers is injected into a TA to generate Raman beams. The frequency of one laser is chirped during the interfering process, which induces a variance of the Raman lasers power as a result of the FDA of the TA.

Tetranectin knockout mice develop features of Parkinson disease.

Background/aims: Aggregation of insoluble α-synuclein to form Lewy bodies (LBs) may contribute to the selective loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson disease (PD). Lack of robust animal models has impeded elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of LB formation and other critical aspects of PD pathogenesis.

Methods: We established a mouse model with targeted deletion of the plasminogen-binding protein tetranectin (TN) gene (TN(-/-)) and measured the behavioral and histopathological features of PD.

Proteomic analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease patients pre- and post-deep brain stimulation.

Aims: To investigate alterations in protein expression associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in an attempt to elucidate possible mechanisms of action .

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), obtained from six Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (pre- and post-DBS) and from six normal healthy controls, was studied for differentially expressed proteins. 2-D DIGE, in combination with MALDI-TOF and TOF-TOF Mass Spectrometry (MS) or ESI-MS, was used to identify the changed proteins (3 PD patients and 3 controls).