Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cortex 2018 Nov 16;111:286-302. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Biomedical Imaging Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.

Neural markers for reading-related changes in response to intervention could inform intervention plans by serving as a potential index of the malleability of the reading network in struggling readers. Of particular interest is the role of brain activation outside the reading network, especially in executive control networks important for reading comprehension. However, it is unclear whether any intervention-related executive control changes in the brain are specific to reading tasks or reflect more domain general changes. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa.

Background: The retrotransverse foramen (RTF) is a nonmetric variant of the atlas vertebra that consists of an abnormal accessory foramen located on the posterior root of the transverse process and it extends from the posterior root of the transverse process to the root of the posterior arch. Its presence has been related to regional variations of the venous circulation. It is currently unknown whether the RTF is a modern or an ancient anatomic variation. Read More

Arthropod Struct Dev 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

University of Silesia in Katowice, Department of Animal Histology and Embryology, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland. Electronic address:

Thulinius ruffoi is a small freshwater tardigrade that lives in both non-polluted and polluted freshwater environments. As a result of tardigradan body miniaturization, the digestive system is reduced and simplified. It consists of a short fore- and hindgut, and the midgut in the shape of a short tube is lined with a simple epithelium. Read More

Retina 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York, New York.

Purpose: Cuticular drusen (CD) have been associated with manifestations of age-related macular degeneration such as atrophy and neovascularization in the macula. In this study, eyes with CD were followed and investigated for the estimated 5-year risk of progression to sequelae of age-related macular degeneration such as geographic atrophy (GA) and macular neovascularization (MNV).

Methods: A consecutive series of patients with CD were followed for the development of GA and MNV. Read More

J Morphol 2019 Jan;280(1):95-102

Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical (IBN), UNT-CONICET, Cátedra de Biología General, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.

Insects were the first animals to take to the skies, and have been flying for over 320 million years. The order Ephemeroptera is, or at least is part of, the most early-diverging lineage of extant winged insects. The extant species present a very short adult life span, mainly dedicated to reproduction and dispersal of eggs. Read More

J Morphol 2019 Jan;280(1):133-148

School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.

Levantine scraper, Capoeta damascina is a candidate species for future stock assessments, conservation studies, and hatchery efforts. Herein, we documented embryonic and early larval development, from egg activation to the exogenous feeding period, using morphological and histological landmarks. Embryos were obtained by in vitro fertilization from hormonally induced wild-caught broodstock, and subsequent development was monitored at temperatures coinciding with native conditions. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018 Dec;22(23):8098-8103

Ultrasonic Department, The Third Hospital of Xi'an, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.

Objective: To analyze the application value of high-frequency ultrasound in the muscles, bones and the thoracodorsal artery in the subscapular region and summarize the characteristics of ultrasound.

Patients And Methods: Subscapularis muscle, bone and thoracodorsal artery of 72 healthy subjects were examined using high-frequency ultrasound, the initial segment diameter of the thoracodorsal artery and peak systolic blood flow velocity were recorded, and the ultrasonographic characteristics of subscapularis muscle, bone and thoracodorsal artery were summarized.

Results: The spinous processes of 7th thoracic vertebrae, 9th thoracic vertebrae and 11th thoracic vertebrae all showed strong echoes with posterior acoustic shadow. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2018 Dec 17:1-6. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

d Department of Ophthalmology , Marmara University School of Medicine , Istanbul , Turkey.

Purpose: To describe posterior segment findings of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and compare them with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: A total of 11 patients with primary APS, 29 secondary APS patients, and 29 SLE patients without APS were included. All patients were referred from rheumatology clinic for detailed ophthalmologic examination. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2018 Dec 17:1-9. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

a Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology , Uludag University School of Medicine , Bursa , Turkey.

Purpose: To present the ocular findings of the members of a family that has the diagnosis of Muckle Wells syndrome, a form of cryopyrin associated periodic syndrome (CAPS).

Materials And Methods: Nine patients with MWS were included in this study. Each study participant underwent a systemic evaluation, comprehensive ophthalmic examination, and auxillary testings. Read More

J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of General Surgery, Civil Hospital of Culiacán, Center for Research and Training in Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico

Objective: To describe clinical characteristics and location of lesions in patients with deeply infiltrating endometriosis using the revised Enzian (rEnzian) classification.

Methods: Clinical records of 60 patients undergoing laparoscopy for deeply infiltrating endometriosis at Hospital Civil de Culiacán, Sinaloa and Hospital San Javier, Jalisco, México were reviewed. Age, body mass index (BMI), number of pregnancies, childbearing, previous abortions, laparoscopic suggestion (pelvic pain, bleeding, infertility), size and location of the lesions, were assessed according to rEnzian classification. Read More

Clin Implant Dent Relat Res 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Peking University Hospital of Stomatology Fourth Division, Beijing, China.

Background: Maxillary sinus pathologies are a potential risk for failure of implant and bone augmentation. Management of lateral sinus floor elevation in the presence of a pseudocyst remains controversial, and reports on histological outcomes of endo-sinus bone augmentation with maxillary cysts are scarce.

Purpose: To present a modified surgical technique for removal of maxillary pseudocyst with simultaneous sinus floor elevation, and to evaluate clinical and histological outcomes of the bone grafting. Read More

Clin Implant Dent Relat Res 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Atatürk State Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.

Background: Complications arising from sinus floor elevation (SFE) with lateral approach surgery can be avoided by means of maxillary sinus examination in the preoperative period.

Purpose: To investigate anatomical variations in the maxillary sinus by making use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in terms of SFE with a lateral approach.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred twenty eight maxillary sinuses in 114 patients were included. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2018 Dec 16. Epub 2018 Dec 16.

Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using high power delivered by surround flow (STSF) catheters guided by ablation index (AI) was evaluated in a multicenter registry.

Methods: Patients with paroxysmal AF underwent PVI with STSF catheters using 30W on the posterior wall and 40W elsewhere. AI targets were 350 posterior wall and 450 elsewhere. Read More

Med Lav 2018 Dec 20;109(6):420-434. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy.

Background: Neurological and neurodegenerative diseases are multifactorial and their causes are not well understood yet. Among the relevant risk factors, pesticides and the productive activities in which they are used are included.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of mortality from neurological diseases within the Province of Pavia (Italy) with the agricultural activities, as a proxy of pesticides exposure. Read More

J Int Med Res 2018 Dec 16:300060518816174. Epub 2018 Dec 16.

3 Department of Urological Surgery, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastasis to the adrenal gland, perirenal adipose tissue, and ureter on the contralateral side is rare. We report a case of solitary metachronous clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) metastasis to the contralateral retroperitoneal adipose tissue, which was identified after radical nephrectomy. A patient had undergone retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for RCC in the right kidney in December 2012. Read More

Anaesthesia 2018 Dec 16. Epub 2018 Dec 16.

Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

General anaesthesia is associated with changes in connectivity between different regions of the brain, the assessment of which has the potential to provide a novel marker of anaesthetic effect. We propose an index that quantifies the strength and direction of information flow in electroencephalographic signals collected across the scalp, assess its performance in discriminating 'wakefulness' from 'anaesthesia', and compare it with estimated bispectral index and the auditory middle latency response. We used a step-wise slow induction of anaesthesia in 10 patients to assess graded changes in electroencephalographic directional connectivity at propofol effect-site concentrations of 2 μg. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2019 Mar 20;13:46-49. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

International Vision Correction Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.

Purpose: To present the case of a 9-year-old child with bilateral posterior subcapsular cataract developed through steroid treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cataract surgery with trifocal intraocular lens implantation was performed in both eyes.

Observations: Uncorrected distance visual acuity increased from +0. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2019 Jan 4;5(1):24-28. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Dermatology Division, Harbor-UCLA Department of Medicine, Torrance, California.

Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol 2019 Jan 22;15:13-16. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Sports Medicine, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.

Multiple ligament injury is associated with high instability; hence, it is necessary to restore stability through application of a reliable treatment strategy. We report our experiences in handling a case of ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) complicated by chronic bony avulsion of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Favourable results were obtained as a result of ACR reconstruction following a new method for tensioning of the chronic tibial bony avulsion of PCL as a postero-medial bundle and augmentation by PCL anterolateral bundle reconstruction. Read More

Evodevo 2018 10;9:24. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

2Theoretical Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584CH Utrecht, Netherlands.

Background: Segmentation, the subdivision of the major body axis into repeated elements, is considered one of the major evolutionary innovations in bilaterian animals. In all three segmented animal clades, the predominant segmentation mechanism is sequential segmentation, where segments are generated one by one in anterior-posterior order from a posterior undifferentiated zone. In vertebrates and arthropods, sequential segmentation is thought to arise from a clock-and-wavefront-type mechanism, where oscillations in the posterior growth zone are transformed into a segmental prepattern in the anterior by a receding wavefront. Read More

Malays Orthop J 2018 Nov;12(3):50-52

Department of Orthopaedics, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia.

Giant cell tumour (GCT) is a benign tumour but can be locally aggressive and with the potential to metastasise especially to the lungs. Successful treatments have been reported for long bone lesions; however, optimal surgical and medical treatment for spinal and sacral lesions are not well established. In treating spinal GCTs, the aim is to achieve complete tumour excision, restore spinal stability and decompress the neural tissues. Read More

Malays Orthop J 2018 Nov;12(3):47-49

Department of Orthopaedics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

Disc herniation is one of most common causes of spine surgery. Because of the presence of posterior longitudinal ligaments, disc fragments often migrate into the ventral epidural space. A posterior epidural herniation of a disc fragment is a rare occurrence. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018 30;9:731. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain.

Thyroid disorders affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with important consequences on the cardiovascular function in which the renin-angiotensin system plays a major role. Hypo and hyperthyroidism influence the classic main components of the renin-angiotensin system. However, the behavior of other elements of the renin-angiotensin system such as Ang III, Ang 2-10, Ang IV, or AT, regulated by angiotensinase enzymes such as alanyl- (AlaAP), cystinyl- (CysAP), glutamyl- (GluAP), or aspartyl-aminopeptidase (AspAP), has not yet been described. Read More

Front Psychiatry 2018 29;9:634. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Extending beyond the motor domain, the cerebellum is involved in various aspects of cognition and affect. Multidisciplinary evidence has demonstrated topographic organization of higher-order cognitive functions within the cerebellum. We here review recent neuroimaging research that indicates cerebellar contributions to major depressive disorder (MDD). Read More

Front Psychiatry 2018 29;9:632. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.

Previous studies have observed impairments in both brain function and neurometabolite levels in schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the relationship between brain activity and neurochemistry in off-medication patients with schizophrenia and if this relationship is altered following antipsychotic medication by combining proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We used single voxel MRS acquired in the bilateral dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and fMRI during performance of a Stroop color-naming task in 22 patients with schizophrenia (SZ), initially off-medication and after a 6-week course of risperidone, and 20 matched healthy controls (HC) twice, 6 weeks apart. Read More

Int Med Case Rep J 2018 30;11:349-358. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA,

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of the 0.70 mg dexamethasone (DEX) intravitreal implant in patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR).

Methods: Retrospective descriptive case series of BSCR patients treated with DEX implant (DEX implant 0. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Dec 17;19:1499-1502. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Internal Medicine, Presence St Francis Hospital, Evanston, IL, USA.

BACKGROUND Lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a form of non-small cell lung carcinoma that originates from the submucosal glands of the tracheobronchial tree; it is rare and causes 0.1% to 0.2% of lung malignancies. Read More

Infez Med 2018 Dec;26(4):385-388

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Ruth K.M Pfau Civil hospital, Karachi, Pakistan and Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.

Myiasis is a pathological condition in which there is a pestilence of fly larvae feeding on living or dead tissues. This disease is common in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and America and rarely affects humans. Our case report describes a five-year-old boy from Karachi, Pakistan with a history of extraction sockets and incisional biopsy of the left parotid lymph node. Read More

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine.

This paper describes two patients with cervical spondyloptosis with severe spinal cord injury treated with cervical pedicle screw (CPS) through a single-stage operation, posterior approach. A 60-year-old male patient with quadriparesis due to trauma 1 day before visited the emergency room. Cervical spine computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging showed complete dislocation of the C7 and T1 vertebrae with severe spinal cord compression, disc injury, and disc herniation at the C7-T1 level. Read More

Neuroimage Clin 2018 Nov 27:101612. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Germany.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) patients are considered as a risk population for preclinical Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Supporting this idea, previous studies in SCD populations report subtle alterations in various cognitive and neuroimaging biomarkers that are typically affected during AD progression. To extend these observations, the present study examined whether SCD patients show atrophy of cholinergic basal forebrain nuclei (chBFN), analogous with recent findings in prodromal and clinical AD patients. Read More

J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

EA4660-C3S Laboratory - Culture, Sports, Health and Society, and Exercise Performance, Health, Innovation Platform, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Italy.

This study investigated the neuromuscular fatigue following an elastic band exercise (EB) of the plantar flexors, compared to an intermittent phasic isometric exercise (ISO). Eleven young healthy males (age: 24.2 ± 3. Read More

Foot Ankle Surg 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Trauma Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Str. 44 Magdeburg, Germany.

Background: We retrospectively evaluated the mid-term results of surgery for talar process fractures (lateral and posterior processes) and exploratively analyzed parameters that potentially impact treatment outcomes.

Methods: Fifteen patients who underwent internal fixation (January 2000 to December 2015) were examined for radiological and clinical functional outcomes. The independent parameters evaluated were age, sex, extent of general injury, soft-tissue damage, surgical latency, and fracture type. Read More

J Pediatr Urol 2018 Nov 24. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Pediatric Nephrourology Division, Department of Pediatrics, National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais(UFMG), Brazil; Visiting Scholar, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Posterior urethral valves (PUVs) constitute the most common infravesical urinary obstruction in boys and are often accompanied by severe consequences to the lower and upper urinary tract. Currently, about two-thirds of diagnosis of PUVs has been suspected by prenatal ultrasonography findings. The aim of this study was to compare long-term clinical outcomes in two groups of patients with PUVs, with antenatal vs. Read More

Knee 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Lawson Health Research Institute, Robarts Research Institute, Department of Medical Biophysics, Department of Surgery, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

Background: As assessment with inertial-measurement-units (IMUs) increases in research and in clinics, it is important to be aware of the repeatability of these sensors. The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the measurement repeatability of IMU joint angles using a repeatable robot controller and an anthropomorphic leg phantom and to determine effects of joint speed and sensor positioning on the angles collected by these sensors. Comparisons to an electro-goniometer and three-dimensional (3D) motion capture cameras were also completed. Read More

Curr Biol 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. Electronic address:

Seven neuropeptides are expressed within the Drosophila brain circadian network. Our previous mRNA profiling suggested that Allatostatin-C (AstC) is an eighth neuropeptide and specifically expressed in dorsal clock neurons (DN1s). Our results here show that AstC is, indeed, expressed in DN1s, where it oscillates. Read More

Curr Biol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, Cedex 15, France; CNRS UMR3738, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address:

Limb position along the body is highly consistent within one species but very variable among vertebrates. Despite major advances in our understanding of limb patterning in three dimensions, how limbs reproducibly form along the antero-posterior axis remains largely unknown. Hox genes have long been suspected to control limb position; however, supporting evidences are mostly correlative and their role in this process is unclear. Read More

J Fr Ophtalmol 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.

Purpose: To study Haab striae in adults with primary congenital glaucoma and describe them by anterior segment optical coherence tomography, as well as analyze their evolution over the patient's lifetime.

Material And Methods: Three patients with primary congenital glaucoma were recruited, aged between 17 and 48 years old, with incidentally noted Haab striae on glaucoma consultation. They were studied by: slit lamp; anterior segment optical coherence tomography, Heidelberg Engineering Inc. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Jan 12;116:43-48. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

Objective: To determine demographics and practice patterns of surgeons treating velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Jan 23;116:102-106. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Objectives: The aims of this study are to analyze the clinical characteristics of congenital middle ear cholesteatoma (CMC), to evaluate the treatment results according to the types of surgical approach, and to suggest the appropriate surgical treatment option in each stage.

Methods: One hundred fifteen children (≤15 years old) with surgically confirmed CMC, who underwent surgery at a tertiary hospital during 1994-2012 and were followed up more than 2 years, were enrolled in this study. CMC was classified into four stages by the staging system proposed by Potsic. Read More

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2018 Nov 30;126(5):e264-e270. Epub 2018 May 30.

Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. Electronic address:

Objectives: The goal of this study was to describe an extremely rare case of odontogenic carcinosarcoma and compare the findings with those of a literature review.

Study Design: The clinical and pathologic data of an odontogenic carcinosarcoma affecting the posterior maxilla of a 42-year-old male patient was described. The lesion was immunostained for cell-cycle, cytokeratin, and mesenchymal markers. Read More

Can J Neurol Sci 2018 Dec 17:1-7. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

1Division of Neurology,Krembil Brain Institute,University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital,University of Toronto,Toronto, Ontario,Canada.

A patient with intractable epilepsy, previous right frontal resection, and active vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) developed new onset quasi-continuous twitching around the left eye. Electroencephalography showed no correlate to the orbicularis oculi twitches apart from myographic potentials at the left supraorbital and anterior frontal electrodes. Magnetoencephalography was performed using spatiotemporal signal space separation to suppress magnetic artifacts associated with the VNS apparatus. Read More

Eur J Neurosci 2018 Dec 16. Epub 2018 Dec 16.

Siena Brain Investigation & Neuromodulation Lab (Si-BIN Lab), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology Section, University of Siena, Italy.

Cross-sectional data suggest videogaming as promoting modifications in perceptual and cognitive skills of players, as well as inducing structural brain changes. However, whether such changes are both possible after a systematic gaming exposure, and last beyond the training period, is not known. Here we originally quantified immediate and long-lasting cognitive and morphometric impact of a systematic gaming experience on a first-person shooter (FPS) game. Read More

Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan.

Development of external genitalia and perineum is the subject of developmental biology as well as toxicology and teratology researches. Cloaca forms in the lower (caudal) end of endoderm. Such endodermal epithelia and surrounding mesenchyme interact with various signals to form the external genitalia. Read More

Eur J Neurosci 2018 Dec 16. Epub 2018 Dec 16.

Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.

We investigated the effect of spatial attention on an event-related potential signature of automatic detection of violations of statistical regularities, namely, the visual mismatch negativity (vMMN). To vary the task-field and the location of vMMN-related stimulation, in the attentional field the stimuli of a tracking task with a steady and a moving (target) bar were presented. The target stimuli of the task appeared either relatively close or far from a passive (task-irrelevant) oddball or equiprobable sequence at the lower part of the screen. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland.

Introduction: While first described in 1904, the characterisation of the peridural membrane, which is frequently encountered, yet usually unnoticed, during lumbar decompression surgery, remains inconclusive. This relatively little known membrane is continuous with the posterior longitudinal ligament and lines the epidural space. In this study, we are comparing the membrane and ligamentum flavum from patients to analyse the variations of the histological and ultrastructural compositions. Read More

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Ophthalmology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Eye Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Lens Research of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China.

Purpose: To assess the effects of posterior sclera reinforcement (PSR) in refractive outcomes, choroidal thickness (CT), and retinal thickness (RT) during a 3-year follow-up in eyes with pathological myopia.

Methods: Thirty-eight eyes of 26 adults with pathological myopia who underwent PSR (the PSR group) and 30 eyes of 18 adults with matched age and myopia who did not receive PSR treatment (the control group) were followed up with measurements of axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SE), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CT, and RT at baseline, 1 and 3 months, and 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance and independent-samples t test. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, Academic Division of Child Health, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.

Purpose: This is the first UK multi-centre case-controlled study with follow-up in excess of 10 years to report the neurocognitive, academic and psychological outcomes of individuals diagnosed with a brain tumour in early childhood. Children enrolled into the UKCCSG CNS 9204 trial, diagnosed with intracranial ependymoma when aged ≤ 36 months old, who received a primary chemotherapy strategy to defer or avoid radiotherapy, were recruited.

Methods: Outcomes of those who relapsed and subsequently received radiotherapy (n = 13) were compared to those enrolled who did not relapse (n = 16), age-matched controls-diagnosed with solid non-central nervous system (SN-CNS; n = 15) tumours or low-grade posterior fossa pilocytic astrocytoma (PFPA; n = 15), and normative data. Read More

J Neurosurg 2018 Dec 14:1-7. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

OBJECTIVEThe neurocognitive course of patients who have undergone cerebral revascularization has been the subject of many studies, and the reported effects of carotid artery stenting (CAS) on cognitive function have varied from study to study. The authors hypothesized that cognitive amelioration after CAS is associated with alteration of the default mode network (DMN) connectivity, and they investigated the correlation between functional connectivity (FC) of the DMN and post-CAS changes in cognitive function in order to find a clinical marker that can be used to predict the effect of cerebral revascularization on patients' cognitive function in this preliminary exploratory study.METHODSThe authors examined post-CAS changes in cognitive function in relation to FC in patients treated for unilateral carotid artery stenosis. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2018 Dec 14:1-9. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

OBJECTIVEC1-2 is a highly mobile complex that presents unique surgical challenges to achieving biomechanical rigidity and fusion. Posterior wiring methods have been largely replaced with segmental constructs using the C1 lateral mass, C1 pedicle, C2 pars, and C2 pedicle. Modifications to reduce surgical morbidity led to the development of C2 laminar screws. Read More

J Neurosurg 2018 Dec 14:1-12. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

OBJECTIVEDeep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective procedure in improving motor symptoms for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) through the use of high-frequency stimulation. Although one of the most commonly used target sites for DBS, sensorimotor regions of the globus pallidus interna (GPi) have yet to be thoroughly described with advanced neuroimaging analysis in vivo for human subjects. Furthermore, many imaging studies to date have been performed in a research setting and bring into question the feasibility of their applications in a clinical setting, such as for surgical planning. Read More