Ultrasound imaging of chitosan nerve conduits that bridge sciatic nerve defects in rats

The repair of peripheral nerve injuries with autologous nerve remains the gold standard （Wang et al., 2005; Yao et al., 2010; Deal et al., 2012; Kriebel et al., 2014; Liu et al., 2014; Tamaki et al., 2014; Yu et al., 2014; Zhu and Lou, 2014）. With advances in tissue engineering and biomaterials, tissue-engineered nerve conduits with various biomaterials and structures, such as collagen and chitosan nerve conduits, have already been used in the clinic as alternatives to autologous nerve in the repair of peripheral nerve injury （Wang et al., 2012; Svizenska et al., 2013; Eppenberger et al., 2014; Gu et al., 2014; Koudehi et al., 2014; MoyaDiaz et al., 2014; Novajra et al., 2014; Okamoto et al., 2014; Shea et al., 2014; Singh et al., 2014; Tamaki et al., 2014; Yu et al., 2014）. Therefore, new simple and effective methods

Optic nerve sheath diameters in nontraumatic brain injury:A scoping review and role in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND Neuromonitoring in medical intensive care units is challenging as most patients are unfit for invasive intracranial pressure(ICP)modalities or unstable to transport for imaging.Ultrasonography-based optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)is an attractive option as it is reliable,repeatable and easily performed at the bedside.It has been sufficiently validated in traumatic brain injury(TBI)to be incorporated into the guidelines.However,currently the data for non-TBI patients is inconsistent for a scientific recommendation to be made.AIM To compile the existing evidence for understanding the scope of ONSD in measuring ICP in adult non-traumatic neuro-critical patients.METHODS PubMed,Google Scholar and research citation analysis databases were searched for studies in adult patients with non-traumatic causes of raised ICP.Studies from 2010 to 2024 in English languages were included.RESULTS We found 37 articles relevant to our search.The cutoff for ONSD in predicting ICP varied from 4.1 to 6.3 mm.Most of the articles used cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure followed by raised ICP on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging as the comparator parameter.ONSD was also found to be a reliable outcome measure in cases of acute ischaemic stroke,intracerebral bleeding and intracranial infection.However,ONSD is of doubtful utility in septic metabolic encephalopathy,dysnatremias and aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.CONCLUSION ONSD is a useful tool for the diagnosis of raised ICP in non-traumatic neuro-critically ill patients and may also have a role in the prognostication of a subset of patients.

Role of the neuromuscular ultrasound in the diagnostic of the multifocal motor neuropathy

Multifocal motor neuropathy(MMN)is the one of the most common acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorders of the peripheral nervous system.The diagnosis is based on the distribution pattern of the neurological semiology and the pathological changes of nerve conduction studies(NCS)in classical cases.However,in cases with subtle clinical presentation,an extended diagnostic workup may be needed,such as cerebrospinal fluid examination,laboratory tests,and nerve biopsy.NCS remain nowadays fundamental not only for the diagnosis,but also for the follow-up and measurement of response to immune-treatment in MMN.New challenges arose though,on how best to acquire a static and dynamic imaging of the peripheral nerves,aiming to provide a holistic approach to the nerve impairment.According to the literature,neuromuscular ultrasound is able to detect in MMN patients thickened or swollen cervical roots,peripheral nerves or brachial plexus,findings that suggest ongoing inflammation.This review provides a timely update on the nerve ultrasound findings in MMN.