An Open-Source Mouse Chronic EEG Array System with High-Density MXene-Based Skull Surface Electrodes.

Electroencephalography (EEG) is an indispensable tool in epilepsy, sleep, and behavioral research. In rodents, EEG recordings are typically performed with metal electrodes that traverse the skull into the epidural space. In addition to requiring major surgery, intracranial EEG is difficult to perform for more than a few electrodes, is time-intensive, and confounds experiments studying traumatic brain injury. Here, we describe an open-source cost-effective refinement of this technique for chronic mouse EEG recording. Our alternative two-channel (EEG2) and sixteen-channel high-density EEG (HdEEG) arrays use electrodes made of the novel, flexible 2D nanomaterial titanium carbide (Ti3C2T x ) MXene. The MXene electrodes are placed on the surface of the intact skull and establish an electrical connection without conductive gel or paste. Fabrication and implantation times of MXene EEG electrodes are significantly shorter than the standard approach, and recorded resting baseline and epileptiform EEG waveforms are similar to those obtained with traditional epidural electrodes. Applying HdEEG to a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) model in mice of both sexes revealed that mTBI significantly increased spike-wave discharge (SWD) preictal network connectivity with frequencies of interest in the ß-spectral band (12-30 Hz). These findings indicate that the fabrication of MXene electrode arrays is a cost-effective, efficient technology for multichannel EEG recording in mice that obviates the need for skull-penetrating surgery. Moreover, increased preictal ß-frequency network connectivity may contribute to the development of early post-mTBI SWDs.

Imaging spectrum, associations and outcomes in acute invasive fungal rhino-ocular-cerebral sinusitis in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been speculated to enhance mucormycosis infection due to its immune-altering pathophysiology. Early identification of high-morbidity conditions is crucial for optimal treatment and improved outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 63 patients with clinical and microbiological evidence of rhino-ocular-cerebral mucormycosis, who had a history of COVID-19 infection. The clinical, demographic, and imaging data were retrieved and analyzed. Descriptive statistics (mean [SD] and frequency [%]) were used to describe important characteristics across audit cycles. Results: Out of 63 patients, 54 (85.71%) patients had associated comorbidities, with diabetes mellitus being common comorbidity and all patients had received injectable and/or oral corticosteroids. Imaging showed nasal and paranasal sinus, perisinus, maxillary alveolar arch, and hard palate involvement in 62 (98.41%), 33 (52.38%), 5 (7.94%) and 5 (7.94%) patients, respectively. Orbital involvement was seen in 24 (38.10%) patients. Skull base involvement was seen in 11 (17.46%) patients, and intracranial extension of disease was present in 11 (17.46%) patients. A total of 16 patients were on mechanical ventilation, of whom 3 succumbed. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 13.2 days (6.8) for 5 patients who succumbed and 6.4 days (4.6) for 30 patients who survived (P value = 0.008). Conclusion: Cross-sectional imaging not only provides the extent of disease spread but also plays a vital role in providing a surgical roadmap to treating surgeons and in predicting prognosis in patients with invasive fungal infections.