Pattern dynamics and stochasticity of the brain rhythms.

Our current understanding of brain rhythms is based on quantifying their instantaneous or time-averaged characteristics. What remains unexplored is the actual structure of the waves-their shapes and patterns over finite timescales. Here, we study brain wave patterning in different physiological contexts using two independent approaches: The first is based on quantifying stochasticity relative to the underlying mean behavior, and the second assesses "orderliness" of the waves' features. The corresponding measures capture the waves' characteristics and abnormal behaviors, such as atypical periodicity or excessive clustering, and demonstrate coupling between the patterns' dynamics and the animal's location, speed, and acceleration. Specifically, we studied patterns of θ, γ, and ripple waves recorded in mice hippocampi and observed speed-modulated changes of the wave's cadence, an antiphase relationship between orderliness and acceleration, as well as spatial selectiveness of patterns. Taken together, our results offer a complementary-mesoscale-perspective on brain wave structure, dynamics, and functionality.

Forecasting seizure clusters from chronic ambulatory electrocorticography.

Seizure clusters are seizures that occur in rapid succession during periods of heightened seizure risk and are associated with substantial morbidity and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The objective of this feasibility study was to evaluate the performance of a novel seizure cluster forecasting algorithm. Chronic ambulatory electrocorticography recorded over an average of 38 months in 10 subjects with drug-resistant epilepsies was analyzed pseudoprospectively by dividing data into training (first 85%) and validation periods. For each subject, the probability of seizure clustering, derived from the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic using a novel algorithm, was forecasted in the validation period using individualized autoregressive models that were optimized from training data. The primary outcome of this study was the mean absolute scaled error (MASE) of 1-day horizon forecasts. From 10 subjects, 394 ± 142 (mean ± SD) electrocorticography-based seizure events were extracted for analysis, representing a span of 38 ± 27 months of recording. MASE across all subjects was .74 ± .09, .78 ± .09, and .83 ± .07 at .5-, 1-, and 2-day horizons. The feasibility study demonstrates that seizure clusters are quasiperiodic and can be forecasted to clinically meaningful horizons. Pending validation in larger cohorts, the forecasting approach described herein may herald chronotherapy during imminent heightened seizure vulnerability.

Feasibility and Outcomes of Same-Day Surgery in Primary and Reoperative Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and outcomes of same-day surgery in primary and reoperative laparoscopic hiatal hernia repairs. METHODS: Same-day surgery was planned in elective procedures with ASA II-IV. An Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol was implemented to achieve same-day surgery, and opioid-based anesthesia was replaced by opioid-free anesthesia. Outcomes were assessed by length of stay, transition from same-day surgery to observation or inpatient, and postoperative emergency department visits/readmissions. The predictors of same-day surgery were assessed. Values are presented as median (interquartile range). RESULTS: From 04/13/2017 to 09/29/2022, there were 518 laparoscopic hiatal hernia repairs in 491 patients, 428/518 (82.6%) were primary, and 90/518 (17.4%) were reoperative. In the primary group, 314/428 (73.4%) were planned as same-day surgery and 246/314 (78.3%) were performed as same-day surgery. Same-day surgery with opioid-based anesthesia protocol was performed in 77/314 (24.5%) vs. same-day surgery with opioid-free anesthesia protocol in 169/314 (53.8%), p < 0.001, 41/246 (16.7%) same-day surgery primary procedures had emergency department visit post-discharge, and 26/246 (10.6%) were readmitted. In the reoperative group, 51/90 (56.7%) were planned as same-day surgery, and 27/51 (52.9%) were performed as same-day surgery. Same-day surgery with opioid-based anesthesia protocol was performed in 2/51 (3.9%) vs. same-day surgery with opioid-free anesthesia protocol in 25/51 (49.0%), p < 0.001, 3/27 (11.1%) same-day surgery reoperative procedures had emergency department visit post-discharge, and 3/27 (11.1%) were readmitted. Opioid-free anesthesia protocol was the positive predictor of same-day surgery compared to opioid-based anesthesia protocol (OR 7.44 [95% CI: 2.94, 18.83]), p < 0.001. Negative predictors were ASA III compared to II (OR 0.52 [95% CI: 0.28, 0.94]), p = 0.031, and duration of operation (OR 0.98 [0.97, 0.99]) p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair can be performed as same-day surgery in the majority of primary and reoperative procedures with good outcomes and low postoperative emergency department visits and readmissions. The odds of same-day surgery are higher with opioid-free anesthesia, lower ASA, and shorter operative time.

Opioid-Free Anesthesia and Same-Day Surgery Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair is commonly performed with a 1 to 2 night hospitalization. Our aim was to compare the feasibility and short-term outcomes of same-day surgery (SDS) laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with an opioid-based anesthesia protocol (OBAP) vs an opioid-free anesthesia protocol (OFAP). STUDY DESIGN: Outcomes and pharmacy costs of repairs with OBAP were compared with OFAP. Values were expressed as median (interquartile range) and costs as means. RESULTS: There were 244 primary laparoscopic repairs. OBAP was used in 191 of 244 (78.3%) vs OFAP in 53 of 244 (21.7%). The length of stay was 1 day (0 to 2) vs 0 days (0 to 1), p = 0.006. There was no difference between the percentage of patients requiring analgesics and dosage between the 2 groups. SDS was planned in 157 and performed in 74 of 122 (60.7%) vs 33 of 35 (94.3%), p < 0.001. The age was 56 years (45 to 63) vs 60 years (56 to 68), p = 0.025. There were more type I hiatal hernia in SDS-OBAP and more type III and IV in SDS-OFAP, p = 0.031. American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status was II (II-III) vs III (II-III), p = 0.045. SDS was not performed in 50 of 157 (31.8%), 48 of 122 (39.3%) vs 2 of 35 (5.7%), p < 0.001. Out of 157 planned SDS, nausea/retching were causes of transition in 19 of 122 (15.6%) vs 0 of 35 (0%), p = 0.020. Multivariable logistic regression showed the odds of SDS were 8.21 times (95% CI 3.10 to 21.71; p < 0.001) greater in OFAP compared with OBAP, adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status, type of hiatal hernia, type of procedure, and duration of the operation. Patients with opioid medication after SDS discharge were 74 of 74 (100%) vs 22 of 33 (66.7%), p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid-free anesthesia increases the feasibility of SDS hiatal hernia repair with less perioperative nausea and comparable pain control and pharmacy cost.

MiR-145 mediates cell morphology-regulated mesenchymal stem cell differentiation to smooth muscle cells.

The use of biochemical signaling to derive smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been explored, but the induction of a fully functional SMC phenotype remains to be a major challenge. Cell morphology has been shown to regulate MSC differentiation into various lineages, including SMCs. We engineered substrates with microgrooves to induce cell elongation to study the mechanism underlying the MSC shape modulation in SMC differentiation. In comparison to those on flat substrates, MSCs cultured on engineered substrates were elongated with increased aspect ratios for both cell body and nucleus, as well as augmented cytoskeletal tensions. Biochemical studies indicated that the microgroove-elongated cells expressed significantly higher levels of SMC markers. MicroRNA analyses showed that up-regulation of miR-145 and the consequent repression of KLF4 in these elongated cells promoted MSC-to-SMC differentiation. Rho/ROCK inhibitions, which impair cytoskeletal tension, attenuated cell and nuclear elongations and disrupted the miR-145/KLF4 regulation for SMC differentiation. Furthermore, cell traction force measurements showed that miR-145 is essential for the functional contractility in the microgroove-induced SMC differentiation. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that, through a Rho-ROCK/miR-145/KLF4 pathway, the elongated cell shape serves as a decisive geometric cue to direct MSC differentiation into functional SMCs.