Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assists With Determining Etiology After Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging infarct topography may assist with determining stroke etiology. The influence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-positive lesions on etiology determination in patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke is not well studied.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled patients between 2010 and 2017 in 2 studies; participants with a final diagnosis of probable or definite transient ischemic attack or stroke were pooled for analysis.

Log-Gaussian gamma processes for training Bayesian neural networks in Raman and CARS spectroscopies.

We propose an approach utilizing gamma-distributed random variables, coupled with log-Gaussian modeling, to generate synthetic datasets suitable for training neural networks. This addresses the challenge of limited real observations in various applications. We apply this methodology to both Raman and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectra, using experimental spectra to estimate gamma process parameters.

Clinical Utility and Cost of Inpatient Transthoracic Echocardiography Following Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background And Purpose: It is unclear whether it is clinically necessary or cost-effective to routinely obtain a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) during inpatient admission for ischemic stroke.

Methods: We assessed consecutive patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke at a comprehensive stroke center from 2015 to 2017 who underwent TTE. We assessed for findings on TTE that would warrant urgent intervention including cardiac thrombus, atrial myxoma, mitral stenosis, valve vegetation, valve dysfunction requiring surgery, and low ejection fraction.

Bayesian Quantification for Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Spectroscopy.

We propose a Bayesian statistical model for analyzing coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectra. Our quantitative analysis includes statistical estimation of constituent line-shape parameters, the underlying Raman signal, the error-corrected CARS spectrum, and the measured CARS spectrum. As such, this work enables extensive uncertainty quantification in the context of CARS spectroscopy.

Electropositive seizures and non-convulsive status epilepticus in a critically ill patient with prior skull defect.

Epileptiform discharges captured on routine scalp EEG typically carry a surface negative dipole. We present a patient whose continuous EEG recording in the intensive care setting captured frequent electropositive non-convulsive seizures. Epileptiform discharges with positive polarity are common in the pediatric population but have rarely been reported in adult patients.

Evaluating Hematoma Expansion Scores in Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Background and Purpose- In acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, multiple hematoma expansion scores have been proposed for use in clinical trial environments. We performed a systematic scoping review to identify all existing hematoma expansion scores and describe their development, validation, and relative performance. Methods- Two reviewers searched MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) for studies that derived or validated a hematoma expansion prediction score in adults presenting with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Normal Systolic Blood Pressure at Presentation With Acute Ischemic Stroke Predicts Cardioembolic Etiology.

Background Early insight into the possible etiology of ischemic stroke allows for early initiation of mechanism-specific secondary stroke prevention. Initial systolic blood pressure during acute ischemic stroke may relate to stroke etiology. We sought to determine whether normotension at presentation with acute ischemic stroke predicts cardioembolic etiology.

Evaluating the predictive capabilities of haematoma expansion scores in patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Patients presenting with acute intracerebral haemorrhage are at a high risk of exhibiting haematoma expansion, a phenomenon that can significantly worsen long-term functioning. Numerous clinical and radiological factors are associated with expansion. In a bid to better select patients at increased risk of expanding, these factors have been collated together into clinical scores.

multiplex molecular imaging of vascular inflammation using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Vascular immune-inflammatory responses play a crucial role in the progression and outcome of atherosclerosis. The ability to assess localized inflammation through detection of specific vascular inflammatory biomarkers would significantly improve cardiovascular risk assessment and management; however, no multi-parameter molecular imaging technologies have been established to date. Here, we report the targeted imaging of multiple vascular biomarkers using antibody-functionalized nanoparticles and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

Automated replication of cone beam CT-guided treatments in the Pinnacle(3) treatment planning system for adaptive radiotherapy.

Introduction: Time-consuming manual methods have been required to register cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with plans in the Pinnacle(3) treatment planning system in order to replicate delivered treatments for adaptive radiotherapy. These methods rely on fiducial marker (FM) placement during CBCT acquisition or the image mid-point to localise the image isocentre. A quality assurance study was conducted to validate an automated CBCT-plan registration method utilising the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Structure Set (RS) and Spatial Registration (RE) files created during online image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT).

Preferential Attachment of Specific Fluorescent Dyes and Dye Labeled DNA Sequences in a Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Multiplex.

A significant advantage of using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for DNA detection is the capability to detect multiple analytes simultaneously within the one sample. However, as the analytes approach the metallic surface required for SERS, they become more concentrated and previous studies have suggested that different dye labels will have different affinities for the metal surface. Here, the interaction of single stranded DNA labeled with either fluorescein (FAM) or tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) with a metal surface, using spermine induced aggregated silver nanoparticles as the SERS substrate, is investigated by analyzing the labels separately and in mixtures.

Amphetamine stimulates Wnt3 increases in rat nucleus accumbens.

Dopaminergic neurotransmission is thought to be involved in reward-related incentive learning and addictive behaviour. Amphetamine will alter glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity by increasing dopamine transporter efflux rates. We investigated the hypothesis that Wnt signalling will be altered in rat nucleus accumbens within 15 min of injection of amphetamine compared with saline.

Evaluation of novel renal biomarkers with a cisplatin model of kidney injury: gender and dosage differences.

A number of novel urinary biomarkers have been identified and partially qualified for use as markers for renal injury in rats. We use two novel multiplex assays to quantify biomarker concentration in multiple urine collections made prior to and following administration of cisplatin, a common nephrotoxicant, to rats. We investigate the correlation of the magnitude of biomarker changes with the severity of histopathological observations and explore the relationship of these to both dose and sex.

Evaluation of novel urinary renal biomarkers: biological variation and reference change values.

A number of novel urinary biomarkers have been identified and partially qualified for use as markers for renal injury in rats. We used two multiplex assays for these novel biomarkers to quantify biomarker concentration in serial urine collections from rats of both sexes administered varying concentrations of cisplatin. From these data, we calculate inter-individual variation and reference ranges from predose animals and intra-individual variation and reference change values from undosed control animals.

Evaluation of novel urinary renal biomarkers with a cisplatin model of kidney injury: effects of collection period.

A number of novel urinary biomarkers have been identified and partially qualified for use as markers for renal injury in rats. To date, all evaluation studies have been made using 18 to 24 hour collection periods. However, shorter, more welfare friendly, urine collection periods are also used in industry.

The recycling endosome protein Rab17 regulates melanocytic filopodia formation and melanosome trafficking.

Rab GTPases including Rab27a, Rab38 and Rab32 function in melanosome maturation or trafficking in melanocytes. A screen to identify additional Rabs involved in these processes revealed the localization of GFP-Rab17 on recycling endosomes (REs) and melanosomes in melanocytic cells. Rab17 mRNA expression is regulated by microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF), a characteristic of known pigmentation genes.

Adaptive control of pulse phase in a chirped-pulse amplifier.

Using experimental feedback, we demonstrate that a chirped-pulse amplifier can adaptively learn to compensate for the higher-order phase dispersion that is inherent in the amplification process. A genetic algorithm-based search routine is used to repetitively update the pulse phase in a programmable pulse stretcher during a plasma breakdown experiment to maximize the magnitude of spectral blueshift. Reductions in pulse duration from 37 to 30 fs and substantially better wing structure are typically obtained as a result of the optimization.

Simultaneous generation of spectrally distinct third harmonics in a photonic crystal fiber.

By coupling femtosecond pulses at lambda - 1.55mum in a short length (Z - 95 cm) of photonic crystal fiber, we observe the simultaneous generation of two visible radiation components. Frequency-resolved optical gating experiments combined with analysis and modal simulations suggest that the mechanism for their generation is third-harmonic conversion of the fundamental pulse and its split Raman self-shifted component.

Adaptive control of femtosecond pulse propagation in optical fibers.

Nonlinear effects present fundamental obstacles to the propagation of femtosecond pulses of detectable energy in single-mode optical fibers, inducing severe distortion even after a very short (a few meters) propagation distance. We show here that adaptive pulse shaping can overcome these limitations by synthesizing pulses that are self-correcting for higher-order nonlinear effects when they are launched in the fiber. This approach would not only affect optical communications but also yield benefits in various disciplines requiring optimized fiber-based femtosecond pulse delivery, for example, nonlinear imaging techniques such as multiphoton microscopy, material processing, and medical diagnostics.