Lumboperitoneal shunt and ventriculoperitoneal shunt for chronic hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a comparison.

Objective: Chronic hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) results in poor neurological outcomes and cognitive deficits. Currently, the main treatments for chronic hydrocephalus include ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) and lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS); however, the optimal treatment for chronic hydrocephalus after aSAH remains controversial. Method: The records of 82 patients were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into VPS and LPS groups based on surgical methods. The efficacy, shunt successful rate and complications were compared. The assessments of treatment efficacy included the Evans index score (EIS), Keifer's hydrocephalus score (KHS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and functional independence measure (FIM). Patients were followed up for three months to observe the postoperative curative effects and complications. Results: The rate of shunt obstruction was significantly higher in the LPS group than that in the VPS group (p < 0.05), and the shunt successful rate was significantly higher in the VPS group than that in the LPS group (p < 0.05). The total rate of complications was 24.4% for LPS and 39% for VPS. The improvements in EIS, KHS, MMSE, and FIM within each group after the shunt were significantly different compared to those before shunt (p < 0.05). Compared to those in the LPS group, the improvements in EIS, KHS, MMSE, and FIM were significantly different in the VPS group after shunt (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with LPS, VPS in the treatment for chronic hydrocephalus after aSAH had greater therapeutic efficacy, as indicated by improved radiological outcomes, improved shunt successful rate, improved clinical outcomes, and improved quality of life. Therefore, we believe that VPS is the preferred treatment option for chronic hydrocephalus after aSAH, while LPS should only be used as an alternative to VPS.

Comparison of two minimally invasive surgical approaches for hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage: a study based on postoperative intracranial pressure parameters.

BACKGROUND: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) has been associated with poor prognosis. The transsylvian insular approach (TIA) and the transcortical (TCA) approach are applied for patients with HICH. We aimed to compare the postoperative ICP parameters of TIA and TCA to identify which procedure yields better short-term outcomes in patients with basal ganglia hematoma volumes ranging from 30 to 50 mL. METHODS: Eighty patients with basal ganglia hematomas 30-50 mL were enrolled in this study. Patients were implanted with ICP probes and divided into TIA and TCA groups according to the procedure. The ICP values were continuously recorded for five days at four-hour intervals. Short-term outcomes were evaluated using the length of hospitalization and postoperative consciousness recovery time. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in age, sex, GCS score at admission, hematoma volume, and hematoma clearance rate (p > 0.05). The results showed that postoperative initial ICP, ICP on the first postoperative day, mean ICP, DICP20 mmHg × 4 h, postoperative consciousness recovery time, the length of hospitalization, mannitol utilization rate and the mannitol dosage were lower in the TIA group than in the TCA group (p < 0.05). Postoperative consciousness recovery time was positively correlated with ICP on the first postoperative day, and the length of hospitalization was positively correlated with mean ICP. CONCLUSIONS: TIA is more effective than TCA in improving the short-term outcomes of patients with basal ganglia hematoma volumes ranging from 30 to 50 mL according to comparisons of postoperative ICP parameters.

Deep learning-based remote sensing estimation of water transparency in shallow lakes by combining Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 images.

Water transparency is a key indicator of water quality as it reflects the turbidity and eutrophication in lakes and reservoirs. To carry out remote sensing monitoring of water transparency rapidly and intelligently, deep learning technology was used to construct a new retrieval model, namely, point-centered regression convolutional neural network (PSRCNN) suitable for Sentinel 2 and Landsat 8 images. The impact of input feature variables on the accuracy of the inversion model was examined, and the performance of an optimized PSRCNN model was also assessed. This model was applied to remote sensing images of three shallow lakes in the eastern China plain acquired in summer. The PSRCNN model, constructed using five identical bands from Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 images and 20 band combinations as the input variables, the input window size of 5 × 5 pixels, proves a good predictive ability, with a verification accuracy of R2 = 0.85, the root mean squared error (RMSE) = 13.0 cm, and the relative predictive deviation (RPD) = 2.58. After the sensitive spectral analysis of water transparency, the band combinations that had correlation coefficients higher than 0.6 were selected as the new input feature variables to construct an optimized PSRCNN model (PSRCNNopt) for water transparency. The PSRCNNopt model has an excellent predictive ability, with a verification accuracy of R2 = 0.89, RMSE = 11.48 cm, and RPD =3.0. It outperforms the commonly retrieval models (band ratios, random forest, support vector machine, etc.), with higher accuracy and robustness. Spatial variations in water transparency of three lakes from the retrieval results by PSRCNNopt model are consistent with the field observations.

Microvascular decompression for the treatment of neurogenic hypertension with trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) in reducing hypertension (HTN) in hypertensive patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). METHODS: The clinical data of 58 cases of neurogenic HTN with TN treated in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative MR revealed abnormal blood pressure in the left rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and the posterior cranial nerve root entry zone (REZ). The patients were divided into control group: only trigeminal nerve was treated with MVD; experimental group: trigeminal nerve, RVLM and REZ were treated with MVD at the same time. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 1 year to observe the changes of blood pressure. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in gender, age, course of TN, course of HTN, grade of HTN and preoperative blood pressure between the two groups. After operation, the effective rate of HTN improvement with MVD was 32.1% in the control group. There was no significant difference in the preoperative and post operative blood pressure. (P△SBP = 0.131; P△BDP = 0.078). In the experimental group, the effective rate was 83.3%. The postoperative blood pressure was significantly lower than preoperative values. (P△SBP < 0.001; P△DBP < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MVD is an effective treatment for neurogenic HTN. However, the criteria for selecting hypertensive patients who need MVD to control their HTN still needs to be further determined. Possible indications may include: left trigeminal neuralgia, neurogenic HTN; abnormal blood pressure compression in the left RVLM and REZ areas on MR; and blood pressure in these patients can not be effectively controlled by drugs.