Face, Content, and Construct Validity of an Aneurysm Clipping Model Using Human Placenta.

Objective: Proficient open surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms requires extensive training and practice. This study tested the validity of a human placenta aneurysm model for surgical simulation training of aneurysm clipping.

Methods: There were 30 participants divided into 3 groups (n = 10 per group) according to their neurosurgical experience: low experience, intermediate experience, and attending.

Repair of V2 Vertebral Artery Injuries Sustained During Anterior Cervical Diskectomy.

Background: The V2 segment of the vertebral artery (VA) typically runs through the transverse foramen of C2-C6. V2 injury may occur during anterior approaches to the cervical spine and can cause significant morbidity. We describe landmarks and microsurgical V2 repair techniques through the standard anterolateral cervical diskectomy approach.

Prenatal diagnosis of four-vessel umbilical cord with supernumerary vein varix: A case report and literature review.

Four-vessel umbilical cord with two arteries and two veins, and fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix are rare fetal vascular pathologies, associated with congenital anomalies and an adverse perinatal outcome, respectively. We report a case of a healthy male neonate born at a gestational age of 38 weeks, five days, after prenatal sonographic diagnosis of a four-vessel umbilical cord with a supernumerary vein varix. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case with this combination.

Statins Attenuate Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome by Oxidized LDL or TNF in Vascular Endothelial Cells through a PXR-Dependent Mechanism.

Excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in cardiovascular diseases. Statins exert an anti-inflammatory effect independent of their cholesterol-lowering effect. This study investigated the potential role of statins in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in endothelial cells (ECs).

Universal Selective Dispersion of Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes from Commercial Sources Using a Supramolecular Polymer.

Selective extraction of semiconducting carbon nanotubes is a key step in the production of high-performance, solution-processed electronics. Here, we describe the ability of a supramolecular sorting polymer to selectively disperse semiconducting carbon nanotubes from five commercial sources with diameters ranging from 0.7 to 2.

Spectrums and Outcomes of Adnexal Torsion at Different Ages.

Objectives: To investigate the role of ultrasound in the preoperative diagnosis of adnexal torsion and describe its histological spectrum and outcomes at different ages.

Methods: This study comprised a retrospective investigation of a data set that included 195 female patients with clinically suspected adnexal torsion between January 2010 and July 2015. Each patient received a detailed pelvic ultrasound examination by an experienced ultrasound examiner, and a definitive diagnosis was achieved via surgery.

Biocompatible and totally disintegrable semiconducting polymer for ultrathin and ultralightweight transient electronics.

Increasing performance demands and shorter use lifetimes of consumer electronics have resulted in the rapid growth of electronic waste. Currently, consumer electronics are typically made with nondecomposable, nonbiocompatible, and sometimes even toxic materials, leading to serious ecological challenges worldwide. Here, we report an example of totally disintegrable and biocompatible semiconducting polymers for thin-film transistors.

Is It Reliable to Predict the Outcome of Elderly Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Using the IMPACT Prognostic Calculator?

Background: Many investigators endeavor to predict the outcome based on admission characteristics using some established models to determine which management should be applied. However, the efficacy and applicability of the models using in the geriatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have not yet been evaluated.

Methods: A total of 137 geriatric severe TBI patients were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Multichannel Interdiffusion Driven FASnI Film Formation Using Aqueous Hybrid Salt/Polymer Solutions toward Flexible Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells.

Tin (Sn)-based perovskites are increasingly attractive because they offer lead-free alternatives in perovskite solar cells. However, depositing high-quality Sn-based perovskite films is still a challenge, particularly for low-temperature planar heterojunction (PHJ) devices. Here, a "multichannel interdiffusion" protocol is demonstrated by annealing stacked layers of aqueous solution deposited formamidinium iodide (FAI)/polymer layer followed with an evaporated SnI layer to create uniform FASnI films.

Clinical analysis and surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia: A retrospective study.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is rare and needs further exploration. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical features and surgical treatment of TN caused by VBD.

Methods: 15 patients with TN caused by VBD were included in our study.

Separation of Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes for Flexible and Stretchable Electronics Using Polymer Removable Method.

Electronics that are soft, conformal, and stretchable are highly desirable for wearable electronics, prosthetics, and robotics. Among the various available electronic materials, single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and their network have exhibited high mechanical flexibility and stretchability, along with comparable electrical performance to traditional rigid materials, e.g.

Meta-analyses of comparative efficacy of antidepressant medications on peripheral BDNF concentration in patients with depression.

Background: Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most important regulatory proteins in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Increasing numbers of studies have reported the relationship between serum/plasma BDNF and antidepressants (ADs). However, the potential effects of several classes of antidepressants on BDNF concentrations are not well known.

Endogenous microRNA-424 predicts clinical outcome and its inhibition acts as cancer suppressor in human non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: We examined the expression, clinical correlation and functional mechanisms of endogenous microRNA-424 (miR-424) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Expression pattern of endogenous miR-424 was examined by qRT-PCR in clinical samples obtained from 233 NSCLC patients. Correlations between differential miR-424 expression level (low vs.

Microscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pediatric Pituitary Adenomas.

Microscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery (MTTS) has been a time-confirmed effective treatment for pituitary adenomas; however, the data supporting its use in pediatric patients is limited. In this study, the authors summarize the authors' 5-year experience of pituitary adenomectomy via MTTS in a pediatric population. The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 35 patients aged ≤18 years who underwent microscopic transnasal transsphenoidal approach for pituitary adenomas between January 2011 and December 2015.

Exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP induce the proliferation of rat anterior pituitary GH3 cells via the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

Cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP) plays a crucial role in regulating pituitary cell proliferation and hormone synthesis. Recent evidence suggests that exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epacs) may mediate the effects of cAMP. Here we used rat anterior pituitary GH3 cells as the experiment model to demonstrate that forskolin increased the proliferation of GH3 cells and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, and these effects were inhibited by PKA or Epac inhibitors.

CacyBP/SIP promotes the proliferation of colon cancer cells.

CacyBP/SIP is a component of the ubiquitin pathway and is overexpressed in several transformed tumor tissues, including colon cancer, which is one of the most common cancers worldwide. It is unknown whether CacyBP/SIP promotes the proliferation of colon cancer cells. This study examined the expression level, subcellular localization, and binding activity of CacyBP/SIP in human colon cancer cells in the presence and absence of the hormone gastrin.

Beam wander relieved orbital angular momentum communication in turbulent atmosphere using Bessel beams.

Optical beam wander is one of the most important issues for free-space optical (FSO) communication. We theoretically derive a beam wander model for Bessel beams propagating in turbulent atmosphere. The calculated beam wander of high order Bessel beams with different turbulence strengths are consistent with experimental measurements.

Bilateral cavernous carotid aneurysms treated by two-stage extracranial-intracranial bypass followed by parent artery occlusion: case report and literature review.

Bilateral cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs) are often not amenable to neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling. Here, we report the case of a 50-year-old female who presented with a 1-year history of gradual severe headache. Preoperative angiograms revealed bilateral CCAs.

High fibrosis indices in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with shunt-dependent post-traumatic chronic hydrocephalus.

Objective: A possible relationship between fibrosis along the route of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and the subsequent development of hydrocephalus has been indicated in previous studies. These changes in the fibrosis index may reflect the severity of hydrocephalus and could potentially become a diagnostic tool. The object of this study was to analyze the levels of procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide (PICP), procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), hyaluronic acid (HA), and laminin (LN) in the CSF of patients with post-traumatic hydrocephalus and determine the significance of their presence.

Relationship between postoperative complications and fibular integrity in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in children.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between postoperative complications and fibular integrity in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) in children.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 59 patients with Crawford type IV CPT who were treated with combined surgical technique from 2007 to 2011. The patients were divided into two groups, the CPT with fibular pseudarthrosis (group A) and CPT with intact fibula groups (group B), on the basis of fibula status after the union of CPT.

Clinical evaluation of post-operative cerebral infarction in traumatic epidural haematoma.

Background: Patients with traumatic epidural haematoma, undergoing the prompt and correct treatment, usually have favourable outcomes. However, secondary cerebral infarction may be life-threatening condition, as it is difficult to be identified before neurological impairment occurs.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical data of patients with traumatic EDH and assess potential risk factors for post-operative cerebral infarction.

Construction of Compact Methylammonium Bismuth Iodide Film Promoting Lead-Free Inverted Planar Heterojunction Organohalide Solar Cells with Open-Circuit Voltage over 0.8 V.

A bismuth-based organohalide material, methylammonium bismuth iodide (MABiI), has been recently explored as an efficient lead-free light absorber in photovoltaic applications. However, the poor surface morphology of the MABiI film fabricated via conventional one-step spin-coating methods has limited the performance of the device. In this work, a smooth, uniform, and compact MABiI thin film was realized by a novel two-step evaporation-spin-coating film fabrication strategy for the first time.

Repression of TSC1/TSC2 mediated by MeCP2 regulates human embryo lung fibroblast cell differentiation and proliferation.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a severe inflammatory disease with limited effective treatments. It is known that the transdifferentiation of human embryo lung fibroblast (HELF) cells from pulmonary fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, contributes to the progression of pulmonary fibrogenesis. The tuberous sclerosis proteins TSC1 and TSC2 are two key signaling factors which can suppress cell growth and proliferation.

Surpassing the Exciton Diffusion Limit in Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Sensitized Solar Cells.

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube (s-SWNT) light sensitized devices, such as infrared photodetectors and solar cells, have recently been widely reported. Despite their excellent individual electrical properties, efficient carrier transport from one carbon nanotube to another remains a fundamental challenge. Specifically, photovoltaic devices with active layers made from s-SWNTs have suffered from low efficiencies caused by three main challenges: the overwhelming presence of high-bandgap polymers in the films, the weak bandgap offset between the LUMO of the s-SWNTs and the acceptor C, and the limited exciton diffusion length from one SWNT to another of around 5 nm that limits the carrier extraction efficiency.

Progressive hemorrhagic injury in patients with traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage: characteristics, risk factors and impact on management.

Background: Progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI) is a common occurrence in clinical practice; however, how PHI affects clinical management remains unclear. We attempt to evaluate the characteristics and risk factors of PHI and also investigate how PHI influences clinical management in traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (TICH) patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included a cohort of 181 patients with TICH who initially underwent conservative treatment and they were dichotomized into a PHI group and a non-PHI group.