Directed stepwise tracing of polysynaptic neuronal circuits with replication-deficient pseudorabies virus.

Brain functions are accomplished by polysynaptic circuits formed by neurons wired together through multiple orders of synaptic connections. Polysynaptic connectivity has been difficult to examine due to a lack of methods of continuously tracing the pathways in a controlled manner. Here, we demonstrate directed, stepwise retrograde polysynaptic tracing by inducible reconstitution of replication-deficient -neuronal pseudorabies virus (PRV) in the brain.

Effect of right hemispheric damage on structured spoken conversation.

Patients with right hemisphere damage (RHD) occasionally complain of difficulties in conversation. A conversation is a type of communication between the speaker and listener, and several elements are required for a conversation to take place. However, it is unclear which of those elements affect communication in patients with RHD.

Anterograde transneuronal tracing and genetic control with engineered yellow fever vaccine YFV-17D.

Transneuronal viruses are powerful tools for tracing neuronal circuits or delivering genes to specific neurons in the brain. While there are multiple retrograde viruses, few anterograde viruses are available. Further, available anterograde viruses often have limitations such as retrograde transport, high neuronal toxicity or weak signals.

Emulating Host-Microbiome Ecosystem of Human Gastrointestinal Tract in Vitro.

The human gut microbiome performs prodigious physiological functions such as production of microbial metabolites, modulation of nutrient digestion and drug metabolism, control of immune system, and prevention of infection. Paradoxically, gut microbiome can also negatively orchestrate the host responses in diseases or chronic disorders, suggesting that the regulated and balanced host-gut microbiome crosstalk is a salient prerequisite in gastrointestinal physiology. To understand the pathophysiological role of host-microbiome crosstalk, it is critical to recreate in vivo relevant models of the host-gut microbiome ecosystem in human.

Small atypical cervical nodes detected on sonography in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: probability of metastasis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the probability of metastasis of small atypical cervical lymph nodes detected on sonography in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck.

Methods: We reviewed, retrospectively and blindly, sonographic findings of 148 patients (118 men and 30 women; mean age, 58.2 years) who underwent curative neck dissection.

A case of dysplastic nevus of the external auditory canal presenting with conductive hearing loss.

A nevus which is a benign melanocytic neoplasm rarely occurs within the external auditory canal (EAC). A dysplastic nevus presents atypical features both clinically and histologically, and is important as a potential precursor for melanoma. We present a case of a 33-year-old female patient with a dysplastic nevus in her EAC.

Fibroma of the tympanic membrane.

A primary tumor of the tympanic membrane is very rare. Herein, we describe a patient with a thick tympanic membrane that caused progressive hearing loss. The patient was treated with total resection of the tympanic membrane and was diagnosed with fibroma after histopathologic examination.

Functional benefit after modification of radial forearm free flap for soft palate reconstruction.

Objectives: To compare the velopharyngeal function, swallowing and speech of the conventional and modified radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for soft palate reconstruction.

Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Twenty-eight patients who underwent oropharyngeal reconstruction with RFFF were divided into two groups: 10 patients had conventional folded RFFF and 18 patients underwent modified method.

Facial canal dehiscence in the initial operation for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of the facial nerve injury during operations for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma by analysis of the intraoperative findings of the facial canal dehiscence.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed operative findings of 152 patients who underwent tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy for chronic otitis media. We examined every segment of the facial canal from the geniculate ganglion to the mastoid segment.

Analysis of axial temporal bone computed tomography scans for performing a safe posterior tympanotomy.

A posterior tympanotomy is a procedure performed to access the posterior mesotympanum to remove pathologic lesions through a mastoid exposure. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and classify the anatomical relationships between the vertical segment of the facial nerve and the mastoid antrum in an axial temporal bone CT to prevent facial nerve injury when performing a posterior tympanotomy. We performed retrospective analysis of temporal bone CT scans.