Maximum carotid intima-media thickness and NT-pro BNP in association with retinal vein occlusion.

The purpose is to clarify the relationship between patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO), maximal intima-media complex thickness (Max IMT), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), which is useful in assessing atherosclerosis. This was a retrospective observation, single center study. The patients were 86 RVO patients (male: female = 43:43, mean age 63.3 years), 25 with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and 61 with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), classified as ≧50 years old and <50 years old, Max IMT≧1.1 and less, NT-pro BNP≧55 and less. Results showed that Max IMT ≧1.1 was significantly more common in both the CRVO and BRVO groups at ≧50 years, and NT-pro BNP ≧55 was significantly more common in the CRVO group. Max IMT≧1.1 was seen in 80% of the BRVO group and in 85% of patients aged ≧50 years. Sixty-eight percent of patients in the CRVO group had Max IMT≧1.1, but none of those < 50 years had Max IMT≧1.1. Forty-eight percent of RVO patients had NT-pro BNP≧55, and significantly more patients had Max IMT≧1.1 than those who did not have NT-pro BNP more than 55 (p = 0.02). Multiple regression analysis with Max IMT as the dependent variable showed that age and NT-pro BNP were significantly associated with RVO (p = 0.015, 0.022). RVO patients were more likely to have a Max IMT≧1.1, which was associated with atherosclerosis. Max IMT and NT-pro BNP were also associated with RVO patients, so NT-pro BNP may be a marker of RVO.

Chiral Van Der Waals Superlattices for Enhanced Spin-Selective Transport and Spin-Dependent Electrocatalytic Performance.

The emergence of the chiral-induced spin-selectivity (CISS) effect offers a new avenue for chiral organic molecules to autonomously manipulate spin configurations, thereby opening up possibilities in spintronics and spin-dependent electrochemical applications. Despite extensive exploration of various chiral systems as spin filters, one often encounters challenges in achieving simultaneously high conductivity and high spin polarization (SP). In this study, a promising chiral van der Waals superlattice, specifically the chiral TiS2 crystal, is synthesized via electrochemical intercalation of chiral molecules into a metallic TiS2 single crystal. Multiple tunneling processes within the highly ordered chiral layered structure of chiral TiS2 superlattices result in an exceptionally high SP exceeding 90%. This remarkable observation of significantly high SP within the linear transport regime is unprecedented. Furthermore, the chiral TiS2 electrode exhibits enhanced catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to its remarkable spin-selectivity for triplet oxygen evolution. The OER performance of chiral TiS2 superlattice crystals presented here exhibits superior characteristics to previously reported chiral MoS2 catalysts, with an approximately tenfold increase in current density. The combination of metallic conductivity and high SP sets the stage for the development of a new generation of CISS materials, enabling a wide range of electron spin-based applications.

A compact and hand-held infection-screening system for use in rapid medical inspection at airport quarantine stations: system design and preliminary validation.

To conduct mass screening and thereby reduce the spread of infection, a compact (13.5 cm × 8.5 cm × 2.5 cm), highly-mobile and hand-held infection-screening system was developed for rapid medical inspection in mass gathering places such as airports. The system is capable of non-contact vital-sign monitoring using two integrated sensors: a 24-GHz microwave radar for measuring heart and respiration rates and a thermopile array for capturing facial temperature. Subsequently, the system detects infected individuals using a linear discriminant function (LDA) from the derived vital-signs data. The system was tested on 10 subjects under two conditions (resting as normal and exercising as pseudo-infected, i.e. a 10-min bicycle ergometer at 100 W exercise); the normal and pseudo-infected conditions were classified successfully via LDA for all subjects (p < 0.01; classification error rate < 5%). The proposed non-contact system can be applied for preventing secondary exposure of medical doctors at the outbreak of highly pathogenic infectious diseases such as the Ebola virus.

Design an easy-to-use infection screening system for non-contact monitoring of vital-signs to prevent the spread of pandemic diseases.

The outbreak of infectious diseases such as influenza, dengue fever, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are threatening the global health. Especially, developing countries in the South-East Asia region have been at serious risk. Rapid and highly reliable screening of infection is urgently needed during the epidemic season at mass gathering places, such as airport quarantine facilities, public health centers, and hospital outpatients units, etc. To meet this need, our research group is currently developing a multiple vital-signs based infection screening system that can perform human medical inspections within 15 seconds. This system remotely monitors facial temperature, heart and respiration rates using a thermopile array and a 24-GHz microwave radar, respectively. In this work, we redesigned our previous system to make a higher performance with a user-friendly interface. Moreover, the system newly included a multivariable logistic regression model (MLRM) to determine the possibility of infection. We tested the system on 34 seasonal influenza patients and 35 normal control subjects at the Japan Self-Defense Forces Central Hospital. The sensitivity and specificity of the screening system using the MLRM were 85.3% and 88.6%, respectively.

Mechanism of the chaperone-like and antichaperone activities of amyloid fibrils of peptides from αA-crystallin.

The amyloid fibril of a fragment of the substrate binding site of αA-crystallin (αAC(71-88)) exhibited chaperone-like activity by suppressing the aggregation of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and luciferase. By contrast, the amyloid fibril of the cytotoxic fragment of amyloid ß protein (Aß(25-35)) facilitated the aggregation of the same proteins. We have determined the zeta potential of the amyloid fibril by measuring their electrophoretic mobility to study the effects of the surface charge on the modulation of protein aggregation. The αAC(71-88) amyloid possesses a large negative zeta potential value which is unaffected by the binding of the negatively charged ADH, indicating that the αAC(71-88) amyloid is stable as a colloidal dispersion. By contrast, the Aß(25-35) amyloid possesses a low zeta potential value, which was significantly reduced with the binding of the negatively charged ADH. The canceling of the surface charge of the amyloid fibril upon substrate binding reduces colloidal stability and thereby facilitates protein aggregation. These results indicate that one of the key factors determining whether amyloid fibrils display chaperone-like or antichaperone activity is their electrostatic interaction with the substrate. The surface of the αAC(71-88) amyloid comprises a hydrophobic environment, and the chaperone-like activity of the αAC(71-88) amyloid is best explained by the reversible substrate binding driven by hydrophobic interactions. On the basis of these findings, we designed variants of amyloid fibrils of αAC(71-88) that prevent protein aggregation associated with neurodegenerative disorders.

Dynamic evaluation of the spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy using a kinematic magnetic resonance imaging technique.

STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study analyzed preoperative and postoperative dynamic changes of the spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. OBJECTIVE: (1) To study preoperative kinematic characteristics of the spinal cord in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and compare results with healthy individuals, (2) to understand the dynamic changes of the spinal cord after posterior decompression, and (3) to discover whether the degree of posterior shifting is correlated with surgical outcomes using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy increases the space occupied by the spinal cord leading to a decompressive effect on the cord. However, no consecutive studies have reported the kinematic characteristics of the cervical spine in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy both preoperatively and postoperatively. Additionally, there have been no reports investigating the effects of posterior cord shifting in the neutral and maximum flexion and extension positions on surgical outcomes after cervical laminoplasty. METHODS: Twenty cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients who underwent extensive laminoplasty and 20 healthy individuals were examined. Preoperative and postoperative MRI records were available in all cases. The cervical spines of the subjects were examined in the neutral and maximum flexion and extension positions using an MRI scanner. Sagittal T1-weighted images were obtained at 12 different angles. Images were analyzed for the distance between the dorsal edge of the vertebral column and the center of the cord at each disc level using NIH image software. RESULTS: Average cord distances (L value) in the neutral position and maximum extension position at C4/5 was significantly smaller than those at the other disc levels. The spinal cords of the patients after laminoplasty moved dorsally in the enlarged spinal canal in the neutral position, and in the maximum flexion and extension position. However, the degree of posterior spinal cord shifting was not correlated with surgical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Cord distances are relatively smaller at C4/5 and C5/6 levels, resulting in a narrowing of the posterior subarachnoid space with posterior cord compression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. The outcome of surgery was not correlated with the magnitude of postoperative backward shifting of the spinal cord, although the spinal cord of patients after posterior decompression moved significantly dorsally at any of the flexed, neutral, or extended spinal positions. Thus numerous factors might affect the postoperative outcomes.

Kinetic analysis of the cervical spinal cord in patients after spinous process-splitting laminoplasty using a kinematic magnetic resonance imaging technique.

STUDY DESIGN: An in vivo flexion-extension magnetic resonance imaging study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the kinetic changes of the cervical spinal cord after laminoplasty in patients with cervical myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy increases the space occupied by the spinal cord, leading to a decompressive effect on the cord. However, there are few reports on kinetic changes of the spinal cord following this surgical procedure, by which it may contribute to an improvement of clinical symptoms. METHODS: Patients who underwent spinous process-splitting laminoplasty (n = 40) and control group (n = 20) were enrolled in the study. Cervical spines of the subjects were examined from maximum extension to maximum flexion using a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Sagittal T1-weighted images were obtained at 12 different angle positions. Images were analyzed with respect to the distance and alignment disparity between the dorsal edge of the vertebral column and the center of the cord at each disc level using National Institutes of Health Image software. RESULTS: Spinal cords of patients after laminoplasty were dorsally shifted in the enlarged spinal canal at neutral, extension, and flexion positions. Alignment changes of the cord during flexion-extension movements of the cervical spine were dissociated from those of the vertebral column because of smaller changes in the cord alignment. CONCLUSIONS: Spinous process-splitting laminoplasty increases the degree of freedom of the spinal cord.

Horner's syndrome caused by a thoracic dumbbell-shaped schwannoma: sympathetic chain reconstruction after a one-stage removal of the tumor.

STUDY DESIGN: A case of Horner's syndrome caused by a thoracic dumbbell-shaped schwannoma is reported. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of a mediastinal dumbbell-shaped schwannoma as a cause of Horner's syndrome and to show the result of intercostal nerve grafting for sympathetic chain reconstruction after resection of the sympathetic nerve. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: It has been reported that approximately 10% of neurogenic mediastinal tumors extend through the neural foramen into the spinal canal, creating a dumbbell shape. Although the most frequent causes of Horner's syndrome are tumors, a dumbbell-shaped schwannoma has rarely been described as a cause of the syndrome. Moreover, there have been no previous reports that primary sympathetic chain reconstruction has been performed with an intercostal nerve graft after resection of the sympathetic nerve with the tumor. METHODS: A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed with a mediastinal tumor by routine chest radiography. The patient had right-sided Horner's syndrome, the signs of which she had not noticed. Surgical resection of the dumbbell-shaped tumor was performed in a one-stage combined resection of both the intraspinal and the mediastinal component of the tumor. Primary sympathetic chain reconstruction was also performed with an intercostal nerve graft. RESULTS: The tumor was resected completely, and no recurrence of the tumor was observed 1 year after the operation. Blepharoptosis and anhidrosis on the right side of her face and upper limb gradually improved after surgery, and compensatory oversweating on the left side eventually improved. In bright illumination, the right pupil diameter was 3.5 mm and the left was 5 mm after surgery; the right pupil measured 4 mm and the left measured 5 mm 1 year after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: A mediastinal dumbbell-shaped schwannoma has rarely been described as a cause of Horner's syndrome. Primary sympathetic nerve reconstruction with an intercostal nerve was shown to be useful after resection of the sympathetic nerve involved in the tumor.