Mapping brain function in adults and young children during naturalistic viewing with high-density diffuse optical tomography.

Human studies of early brain development have been limited by extant neuroimaging methods. MRI scanners present logistical challenges for imaging young children, while alternative modalities like functional near-infrared spectroscopy have traditionally been limited by image quality due to sparse sampling. In addition, conventional tasks for brain mapping elicit low task engagement, high head motion, and considerable participant attrition in pediatric populations. As a result, typical and atypical developmental trajectories of processes such as language acquisition remain understudied during sensitive periods over the first years of life. We evaluate high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) imaging combined with movie stimuli for high resolution optical neuroimaging in awake children ranging from 1 to 7 years of age. We built an HD-DOT system with design features geared towards enhancing both image quality and child comfort. Furthermore, we characterized a library of animated movie clips as a stimulus set for brain mapping and we optimized associated data analysis pipelines. Together, these tools could map cortical responses to movies and contained features such as speech in both adults and awake young children. This study lays the groundwork for future research to investigate response variability in larger pediatric samples and atypical trajectories of early brain development in clinical populations.

The Aristotle 18 and 24 microwires in neuroIntervention: Early experience at a single centre.

BACKGROUND: Current neurointerventional procedures are expanding the use of large bore microcatheters, of up to 0.033" inner diameters, to accommodate intrasaccular flow disruptors or neck-bridging devices, including flow diverters. The use of large bore microwires may mitigate the ledge gap between wire and catheter, facilitate navigation and offer support in distal tortuous anatomy. We aim to report our early experience using the novel Aristotle (Scientia Vascular, West Valley City, UT) 18 and 24 microwires in neurovascular interventions. METHODS: We analysed neurointerventional procedures in which the Aristotle 18 and 24 microwires were used at a single centre. Prospectively collected data, from March 2022 to February 2023, including patient's clinical outcome (successful target vessel, aneurysm catheterisation, peri-procedural complications (thromboembolic, haemorrhagic, vessel dissection or perforation) were analysed. RESULTS: Overall, the use of Aristotle 18 and 24 microwires was recorded in 84 neurointerventional procedures during the study period, including endovascular aneurysm treatment (n = 30), endovascular thrombectomy (n = 46), dural venous sinus manometry/stent placement (n = 7), and extracranial carotid artery stent placement (n = 1). The Aristotle 18 microwire was used in conjunction with 0.021" microcatheters and the Aristotle 24 microwire with the 0.027 or 0.033" microcatheters. In all cases (100%), the target vessel or aneurysm was reached with the microwire, allowing seamless advancement of the selected microcatheters. No procedure related complications were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Aristotle 18 and 24 microwires in neurointerventional procedures is feasible and safe. The microwires provide reduced ledge gap, improved torquability, support and safety over standard 0.014" microwires.

Frequency and Acceptability of Adverse Events After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Survey Study From the Cervical Spine Research Society.

PURPOSE: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has a low but well-established profile of adverse events. The goal of this study was to gauge surgeon opinion regarding the frequency and acceptability of these events. METHODS: A 2-page survey was distributed to attendees at the 2015 Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS) meeting. Respondents were asked to categorize 18 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion-related adverse events as either: "common and acceptable," "uncommon and acceptable," "uncommon and sometimes acceptable," or "uncommon and unacceptable." Results were compiled to generate the relative frequency of these responses for each complication. Responses for each complication event were also compared between respondents based on practice location (US vs. non-US), primary specialty (orthopedics vs. neurosurgery) and years in practice. RESULTS: Of 150 surveys distributed, 115 responses were received (76.7% response rate), with the majority of respondents found to be US-based (71.3%) orthopedic surgeons (82.6%). Wrong level surgery, esophageal injury, retained drain, and spinal cord injury were considered by most to be unacceptable and uncommon complications. Dysphagia and adjacent segment disease occurred most often, but were deemed acceptable complications. Although surgeon experience and primary specialty had little impact on responses, practice location was found to significantly influence responses for 12 of 18 complications, with non-US surgeons found to categorize events more toward the uncommon and unacceptable end of the spectrum as compared with US surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: These results serve to aid communication and transparency within the field of spine surgery, and will help to inform future quality improvement and best practice initiatives.