Longitudinal changes in electrophysiology and widefield calcium imaging following electrode implantation.

. Intracortical microelectrode arrays often fail to deliver reliable signal quality over chronic recordings, and the effect of an implanted recording array on local neural circuits is not completely understood..

Itaconate suppresses house dust mite-induced allergic airways disease and Th2 cell differentiation.

Itaconate was initially identified as an antimicrobial compound produced by myeloid cells. Beyond its antimicrobial role, itaconate may also serve as a crucial metabolic and immune modulator. We therefore examined the roles of aconitate decarboxylase 1 (Acod1) and itaconate in house dust mite (HDM)-sensitized and -challenged mice, a model of T helper 2 (Th2)-driven allergic airways disease.

Revealing cellular mechanisms of cerebral microbleeds on neurons and microglia across cortical layers.

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are associated with higher risk for various neurological diseases including stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the understanding of cellular pathology of CMBs, particularly in deep brain regions, remains limited. Utilizing two-photon microscopy and microprism implantation, we longitudinally imaged the impact of CMBs on neuronal and microglial activities across cortical depths in awake mice.

Batch Fabrication of Microelectrode Arrays with Glassy Carbon Microelectrodes and Interconnections for Neurochemical Sensing: Promises and Challenges.

Flexible multielectrode arrays with glassy carbon (GC) electrodes and metal interconnection ( MEAs) have shown promising performance in multi-channel neurochemical sensing. A primary challenge faced by MEAs fabrication is the adhesion of the metal traces with the GC electrodes, as prolonged electrical and mechanical stimulation can lead to adhesion failure. Previous devices with GC electrodes and interconnects made of a homogeneous material ( GC) demonstrated exceptional electrochemical stability but required miniaturization for enhanced tissue integration and chronic electrochemical sensing.

Double-strand break repair-associated intragenic deletions and tandem duplications suggest the architecture of the repair replication fork.

Double-strand break (DSB) repair is associated with a 1000-fold increase in mutations compared to normal replication of the same sequences. In budding yeast, repair of an HO endonuclease-induced DSB at the α locus can be repaired by using a homologous, heterochromatic donor harboring a transcriptionally silenced gene, resulting in a (Ura) repair product where is expressed. Repair-associated mutations can be selected by resistance to 5-fluoroorotic acid (FOA).

IL-17a-producing γδT cells and NKG2D signaling mediate bacterial endotoxin-induced neonatal lung injury: implications for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease in preterm birth survivors characterized by inflammation, impaired alveolarization and dysmorphic vasculature. Activated IL-17A+ lymphocytes are key drivers of inflammation in preterm infants. We have shown that in immature mice chronic airway exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces pulmonary inflammation, increased IL-17a expression, and hypoalveolarization, a BPD-like phenotype.

Early-life hyperoxia-induced Flt3L drives neonatal lung dendritic cell expansion and proinflammatory responses.

Premature infants with chronic lung disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), develop recurrent cough and wheezing following respiratory viral infections. The mechanisms driving the chronic respiratory symptoms are ill-defined. We have shown that hyperoxic exposure of neonatal mice (a model of BPD) increases the activated lung CD103+ dendritic cells (DCs) and these DCs are required for exaggerated proinflammatory responses to rhinovirus (RV) infection.

Determinants of Willingness to Use PrEP Among Gay and Bisexual Men in China Before Implementation: A Structural Equation Modeling Assessment.

With the recent endorsement of PrEP by the Chinese government, research is urgently needed to better understand factors impacting PrEP uptake among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in China. This study examined willingness to use PrEP for HIV prevention among GBMSM in China through structural equation modeling. We examined the relationship among PrEP-related attitudes, subjective norms, PrEP-related knowledge and beliefs about medicines and willingness to use PrEP.

Gelsolin Attenuates Neonatal Hyperoxia-Induced Inflammatory Responses to Rhinovirus Infection and Preserves Alveolarization.

Prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) increase the risk of asthma later in life. Supplemental oxygen therapy is a risk factor for chronic respiratory symptoms in infants with BPD. Hyperoxia induces cell injury and release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).

Imaging the Efficiency of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Doped with Acid-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube and Iridium Oxide Electrode Coatings for Microstimulation.

Electrical microstimulation has shown promise in restoring neural deficits in humans. Electrodes coated with materials like the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes (PEDOT/CNTs, or PC) exhibit superior charge injection than traditional metals like platinum. However, the stimulation performance of PC remains to be fully characterized.

Residual voltage as an ad-hoc indicator of electrode damage in biphasic electrical stimulation.

We derive and demonstrate how residual voltage (RV) from a biphasic electrical stimulation pulse can be used to recognize degradation at the electrode-tissue interface.Using a first order model of the electrode-tissue interface and a rectangular biphasic stimulation current waveform, we derive the equations for RV as well as RV growth over several stimulation pulses. To demonstrate the use of RV for damage detection, we simulate accelerated damage on sputtered iridium oxide film (SIROF) electrodes using potential cycling.

Prospective Study of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Waitlist for Liver Transplant.

Background And Aims: There are no prospective data on stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a bridge to liver transplantation for HCC. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SBRT as bridging therapy, with comparison with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Approach And Results: Patients were prospectively enrolled for SBRT under a standardized protocol from July 2015 and compared with a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent TACE or HIFU from 2010.

Spigelian hernia: Our total extraperitoneal approach and a systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Spigelian hernia is a rare lateral ventral hernia traditionally repaired through open incision with extensive dissection. Three laparoscopic techniques have been reported in the literature: intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM), transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP), and total extraperitoneal (TEP). TEP is less popular than the other approaches.

CCR2 Mediates Chronic LPS-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation and Hypoalveolarization in a Murine Model of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

The histopathology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) includes hypoalveolarization and interstitial thickening due to abnormal myofibroblast accumulation. Chorioamnionitis and sepsis are major risk factors for BPD development. The cellular mechanisms leading to these lung structural abnormalities are poorly understood.

Lung CD103dendritic cells and Clec9a signaling are required for neonatal hyperoxia-induced inflammatory responses to rhinovirus infection.

Premature infants, especially those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), develop recurrent severe respiratory viral illnesses. We have shown that hyperoxic exposure of immature mice, a model of BPD, increases lung IL-12-producing Clec9a CD103 dendritic cells (DCs), pro-inflammatory responses, and airway hyperreactivity following rhinovirus (RV) infection. However, the requirement for CD103 DCs and Clec9a, a DAMP receptor that binds necrotic cell cytoskeletal filamentous actin (F-actin), for RV-induced inflammatory responses has not been demonstrated.

Lung and gut microbiota are altered by hyperoxia and contribute to oxygen-induced lung injury in mice.

Inhaled oxygen, although commonly administered to patients with respiratory disease, causes severe lung injury in animals and is associated with poor clinical outcomes in humans. The relationship between hyperoxia, lung and gut microbiota, and lung injury is unknown. Here, we show that hyperoxia conferred a selective relative growth advantage on oxygen-tolerant respiratory microbial species (e.

Host tissue response to floating microelectrode arrays chronically implanted in the feline spinal nerve.

Objective: Neural interfacing technologies could significantly improve quality of life for people living with the loss of a limb. Both motor commands and sensory feedback must be considered; these complementary systems are segregated from one another in the spinal nerve.

Approach: The dorsal root ganglion-ventral root (DRG-VR) complex was targeted chronically with floating microelectrode arrays designed to record from motor neuron axons in the VR or stimulate sensory neurons in the DRG.

Zwitterionic Polymer Coating Suppresses Microglial Encapsulation to Neural Implants In Vitro and In Vivo.

For brain computer interfaces (BCI), the immune response to implanted electrodes is a major biological cause of device failure. Bioactive coatings such as neural adhesion molecule L1 have been shown to improve the biocompatibility, but are difficult to handle or produce in batches. Here, a synthetic zwitterionic polymer coating, poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) is developed for neural implants with the goal of reducing the inflammatory host response.

The Risk of Going Small: Lowering GRWR and Overcoming Small-For-Size Syndrome in Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) according to various graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR).

Background: The standard GRWR in LDLT is >0.8%.

Neuroadhesive protein coating improves the chronic performance of neuroelectronics in mouse brain.

Intracortical microelectrodes are being developed to both record and stimulate neurons to understand brain circuitry or restore lost functions. However, the success of these probes is hampered partly due to the inflammatory host tissue responses to implants. To minimize the foreign body reactions, L1, a brain derived neuronal specific cell adhesion molecule, has been covalently bound to the neural electrode array surface.

Electrochemical detection of exogenously administered melatonin in the brain.

Melatonin (MT) is an important electroactive hormone that regulates different physiological actions in the brain, ranging from circadian clock to neurodegeneration. An impressive number of publications have highlighted the effectiveness of MT treatments in different types of sleep and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The ability to detect MT in different regions of the brain would provide further insights into the physiological roles and therapeutic effects of MT.

Uric acid pathway activation during respiratory virus infection promotes Th2 immune response via innate cytokine production and ILC2 accumulation.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects a majority of infants and can cause severe disease leading to increased risk to develop asthma later in life. In the present studies we detected high levels of uric acid pathway components during RSV infection and examined whether they altered the pathogenesis of RSV infection. Inhibition of uric acid (UA) pathway activation during RSV infection in airway epithelial cells using XOI decreased the expression of IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and CCL2.

Biodegradable nanofiber-based piezoelectric transducer.

Piezoelectric materials, a type of "smart" material that generates electricity while deforming and vice versa, have been used extensively for many important implantable medical devices such as sensors, transducers, and actuators. However, commonly utilized piezoelectric materials are either toxic or nondegradable. Thus, implanted devices employing these materials raise a significant concern in terms of safety issues and often require an invasive removal surgery, which can damage directly interfaced tissues/organs.

Evaluation of a conducting elastomeric composite material for intramuscular electrode application.

Electrical stimulation of the muscle has been proven efficacious in preventing atrophy and/or reanimating paralyzed muscles. Intramuscular electrodes made from metals have significantly higher Young's Moduli than the muscle tissues, which has the potential to cause chronic inflammation and decrease device performance. Here, we present an intramuscular electrode made from an elastomeric conducting polymer composite consisting of PEDOT-PEG copolymer, silicone and carbon nanotubes (CNT) with fluorosilicone insulation.