Effects of Micromachining on Anti-oxidant Elution from a Mechanically-Adaptive Polymer.

Intracortical microelectrodes (IMEs) can be used to restore motor and sensory function as a part of brain-computer interfaces in individuals with neuromusculoskeletal disorders. However, the neuroinflammatory response to IMEs can result in their premature failure, leading to reduced therapeutic efficacy. Mechanically-adaptive, resveratrol-eluting (MARE) neural probes target two mechanisms believed to contribute to the neuroinflammatory response by reducing the mechanical mismatch between the brain tissue and device, as well as locally delivering an antioxidant therapeutic.

Perforation of a Stenotic Congenitally Bicuspid Aortic Valve Cusp by Heavy Calcium in the Other Cusp.

On occasion in patients with stenotic congenitally bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs), the quantity of calcium in one of the cusps is considerably greater than in the other cusp. We examined operatively excised stenotic congenitally BAVs in 630 patients having isolated aortic valve replacement (No other cardiac valve was replaced, and none had had infective endocarditis.) Of the 630 valves, 3 contained a perforation in the mildly calcified cusp due to a large calcific "spur" extending across the orifice from a heavily calcified cusp.

Potential cardiac consequences of thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis.

This report illustrates the heart in three patients with cardiac hemorrhages associated with extreme thrombocytopenia, and the hearts in three patients with rocks speculated to result at least in part from organization of thrombi possibly related to thrombocytosis in one or more cardiac chambers.