Interpeduncular cistern intrathecal targeted drug delivery for intractable postherpetic neuralgia: A case report

BACKGROUND Intractable postherpetic neuralgia(PHN)can be difficult to manage even with aggressive multimodal therapies.Patients who experience uncontrolled refractory cranial PHN despite conservative treatment may benefit from an intrathecal drug delivery system(IDDS).For craniofacial neuropathic pain,the traditional approach has been to place the intrathecal catheter tip below the level of the cranial nerve root entry zones,which may lead to insufficient analgesia.CASE SUMMARY We describe a 69-year-old man with a 1-year history of PHN after developing a vesicular rash in the ophthalmic division of cranial nerve V(trigeminal nerve)distribution.The pain was rated 7-8 at rest and 9-10 at breakthrough pain(BTP)on a numeric rating scale.Despite receiving aggressive multimodal therapies including large doses of oral analgesics(gabapentin 150 mg q12 h,oxycodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 325 mg q6 h,and lidocaine 5%patch 700 mg q12 h)and sphenopalatine ganglion block,there was no relief of pain.Subsequently,the patient elected to have an implantable IDDS with the catheter tip placed at the interpeduncular cistern.The frequency of BTP episodes decreased.The patient’s continuous daily dose was adjusted to 0.032 mg/d after 3 mo of follow-up and stopped 5 mo later.He did not report pain or other discomfort at outpatient follow-up 6 mo and 1 year after stopping intracisternal hydromorphone.CONCLUSION The use of interpeduncular cistern intrathecal infusion with low-dose hydromorphone by IDDS may be effective for severe craniofacial PHN.

Collagen scaffold combined with human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells transplantation for acute complete spinal cord injury

Currently, there is no effective strategy to promote functional recovery after a spinal cord injury. Collagen scaffolds can not only provide support and guidance for axonal regeneration, but can also serve as a bridge for nerve regeneration at the injury site. They can additionally be used as carriers to retain mesenchymal stem cells at the injury site to enhance their effectiveness. Hence, we hypothesized that transplanting human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells on collagen scaffolds would enhance healing following acute complete spinal cord injury. Here, we test this hypothesis through animal studies and a phase I clinical trial.(1) Animal experiments: Models of completely transected spinal cord injury were established in rats and canines by microsurgery. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from neonatal umbilical cord tissue were adsorbed onto collagen scaffolds and surgically implanted at the injury site in rats and canines;the animals were observed after 1 week–6 months. The transplantation resulted in increased motor scores, enhanced amplitude and shortened latency of the motor evoked potential, and reduced injury area as measured by magnetic resonance imaging.(2) Phase I clinical trial: Forty patients with acute complete cervical injuries were enrolled at the Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force and divided into two groups. The treatment group(n = 20) received collagen scaffolds loaded with mesenchymal stem cells derived from neonatal umbilical cordtissues;the control group(n = 20) did not receive the stem-cell loaded collagen implant. All patients were followed for 12 months. In the treatment group, the American Spinal Injury Association scores and activities of daily life scores were increased, bowel and urinary functions were recovered, and residual urine volume was reduced compared with the pre-treatment baseline. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging showed that new nerve fiber connections were formed, and diffusion tensor imaging showed that electrophysiological activity was recovered after the treatment. No serious complication was observed during follow-up. In contrast, the neurological functions of the patients in the control group were not improved over the follow-up period. The above data preliminarily demonstrate that the transplantation of human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells on a collagen scaffold can promote the recovery of neurological function after acute spinal cord injury. In the future, these results need to be confirmed in a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial with a larger sample size. The clinical trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force on February 3, 2016(approval No. PJHEC-2016-A8). All animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People's Armed Police Force on May 20, 2015(approval No. PJHEC-2015-D5).

Collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds loaded with neural stem cells improve neurological function in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

One reason for the poor therapeutic effects of stem cell transplantation in traumatic brain injury is that exogenous neural stem cells cannot effectively migrate to the local injury site,resulting in poor adhesion and proliferation of neural stem cells at the injured area.To enhance the targeted delivery of exogenous stem cells to the injury site,cell therapy combined with neural tissue engineering technology is expected to become a new strategy for treating traumatic brain injury.Collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds,prepared using a freeze-drying method,have stable physical and chemical properties.These scaffolds also have good cell biocompatibility because of their high porosity,which is suitable for the proliferation and migration of neural stem cells.In the present study,collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds loaded with neural stem cells were used to treat a rat model of traumatic brain injury,which was established using the controlled cortical impact method.At 2 months after the implantation of collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffolds loaded with neural stem cells,there was significantly improved regeneration of neurons,nerve fibers,synapses,and myelin sheaths in the injured brain tissue.Furthermore,brain edema and cell apoptosis were significantly reduced,and rat motor and cognitive functions were markedly recovered.These findings suggest that the novel collagen/heparan sulfate porous scaffold loaded with neural stem cells can improve neurological function in a rat model of traumatic brain injury.This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Characteristic Medical Center of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force,China(approval No.2017-0007.2)on February 10,2019.

Neuroprotective effects of bloodletting at Jing points combined with mild induced hypothermia in acute severe traumatic brain injury

Bloodletting at Jing points has been used to treat coma in traditional Chinese medicine. Mild induced hypothermia has also been shown to have neuroprotective effects. However, the therapeutic effects of bloodletting at Jing points and mild induced hypothermia alone are limited. Therefore, we investigated whether combined treatment might have clinical effectiveness for the treatment of acute severe traumatic brain injury. Using a rat model of traumatic brain injury, combined treatment substantially alleviated cerebral edema and bloodbrain barrier dysfunction. Furthermore, neurological function was ameliorated, and cellular necrosis and the inflammatory response were lessened. These findings suggest that the combined effects of bloodletting at Jing points（20 μL, twice a day, for 2 days） and mild induced hypothermia（6 hours） are better than their individual effects alone. Their combined application may have marked neuroprotective effects in the clinical treatment of acute severe traumatic brain injury.

Magnetic resonance imaging-three-dimensional printing technology fabricates customized scaffolds for brain tissue engineering

Conventional fabrication methods lack the ability to control both macro- and micro-structures of generated scaffolds. Three-dimensional printing is a solid free-form fabrication method that provides novel ways to create customized scaffolds with high precision and accuracy. In this study, an electrically controlled cortical impactor was used to induce randomized brain tissue defects. The overall shape of scaffolds was designed using rat-specific anatomical data obtained from magnetic resonance imaging, and the internal structure was created by computer- aided design. As the result of limitations arising from insufficient resolution of the manufacturing process, we magnified the size of the cavity model prototype five-fold to successfully fabricate customized collagen-chitosan scaffolds using three-dimensional printing. Results demonstrated that scaffolds have three-dimensional porous structures, high porosity, highly specific surface areas, pore connectivity and good internal characteristics. Neural stem cells co-cultured with scaffolds showed good viability, indicating good biocompatibility and biodegradability. This technique may be a promising new strategy for regenerating complex damaged brain tissues, and helps pave the way toward personalized medicine.

Imaging alignment of rotational state-selected CH_3I molecule

We experimentally and numerically investigate CH_3I molecular alignment by using a femtosecond laser and a hexapole. The hexapole provides the single |111〉rotational state condition at 4.5-kV hexapole rod voltage. Based on this single rotational state, an enhanced alignment degree of 0.73 is achieved. Our experimental results are in agreement with the simulation results. We experimentally obtain the ion velocity map images and show the influence of the initial rotational-state population. With the I+ion images and angular distributions at different pump-probe delay time, the alignment and anti-alignment phenomena are further demonstrated. The molecules will be under field-free conditions when the laser effect disappears completely at the full revival time. Our work shows that the quantum control and spatial control on CH_3I molecules can be realized and molecular coordinate frame can be obtained for further molecular experiment.

Microvascular decompression for a patient with oculomotor palsy caused by posterior cerebral artery compression:A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND Aneurysm compression,diabetes,and traumatic brain injury are well-known causative factors of oculomotor nerve palsy(ONP),while cases of ONP induced by neurovascular conflicts have rarely been reported in the medical community.Here,we report a typical case of ONP caused by right posterior cerebral artery(PCA)compression to increase neurosurgeons’awareness of the disease and reduce misdiagnosis and recurrence.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old man without a known medical history presented with right ONP for the past 5 years.The patient presented to the hospital with right ptosis,diplopia,anisocoria(rt 5 mm,lt 2.5 mm),loss of duction in all directions,abduction,and light impaired pupillary reflexes.Magnetic resonance angiography and computed tomography venography examinations showed no phlebangioma,aneurysm,or intracranial lesion.After conducting oral glucose tolerance and prostigmin tests,diabetes and myasthenia gravis were excluded.Cranial nerve magnetic resonance imaging showed that the right PCA loop was in direct contact with the cisternal segment of the right oculomotor nerve(ON).Microvascular decompression(MVD)of the culprit vessel from the ON through a right subtemporal craniotomy was carried out,and the ONP symptoms were significantly relieved after 3 mo.CONCLUSION Vascular compression of the ON is a rare pathogeny of ONP that may be refractory to drug therapy and ophthalmic strabismus surgery.MVD is an effective treatment for ONP induced by neurovascular compression.

Lithiophilic montmorillonite as a robust substrate toward high-stable lithium metal anodes

Lithium metal is considered a desirable anode for the nextgeneration high-energy-density rechargeable energy storage devices.Unfortunately,poor lifespan and safety issues caused by unexpected dendrites growth have prevented the commercialization of Li metal anode.

X-ray-activated long persistent phosphors featuring strong UVC afterglow emissions

Phosphors emitting visible and near-infrared persistent luminescence have been explored extensively owing to their unusual properties and commercial interest in their applications such as glow-in-the-dark paints,optical information storage,and in vivo bioimaging.However,no persistent phosphor that features emissions in the ultraviolet C range(200–280 nm)has been known to exist so far.Here,we demonstrate a strategy for creating a new generation of persistent phosphor that exhibits strong ultraviolet C emission with an initial power density over 10 milliwatts per square meter and an afterglow of more than 2 h.Experimental characterizations coupled with first-principles calculations have revealed that structural defects associated with oxygen introduction-induced anion vacancies in fluoride elpasolite can function as electron traps,which capture and store a large number of electrons triggered by Xray irradiation.Notably,we show that the ultraviolet C afterglow intensity of the yielded phosphor is sufficiently strong for sterilization.Our discovery of this ultraviolet C afterglow opens up new avenues for research on persistent phosphors,and it offers new perspectives on their applications in terms of sterilization,disinfection,drug release,cancer treatment,anti-counterfeiting,and beyond.

X-ray-activated UVA long persistent luminescence from defective fluoride elpasolites

Long persistent phosphors have received significant attention owing to their attractive photophysical properties.Here,we report a new long persistent phosphor exhibiting strong ultraviolet A(UVA)afterglow.The phosphors were synthesized by a solid-state reaction method.We find that the obtained phosphors demonstrate super long UVA-afterglow emissions after irradiation by X-ray source,and the afterglow can last more than 50 h.A wide range of experimental characterizations indicate that the Tb^3+doped fluoride elpasolite phosphors are defective and some fluoride ions are replaced by oxygen ions,which creates electron traps with suitable trap depths.Our results establish that Tb^3+can act as optical emitters in wide-bandgap hosts that can result in the UVA afterglow.This work enriches the bank of UV long persistent phosphors,and may stimulate more efforts for the design and synthesis of this kind of optical materials.

A brief overview on secure control of networked systems

This paper focuses on the issues of the security of networked control systems by summarizing recent progress in secure control of this research and application area. We mainly discuss existing results, especially in modeling issues, of three aspects： （1） attack mechanisms and their impacts on control systems, （2） the identification and design of attacks, and （3） secure estimation and control strategies. A conclusion is drawn at the end of this paper. In addition, several promising research tendencies of the development for secure control in networked control system are presented.