Comparison of detection results of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy at different degrees in infant patients between brain electrical activity mapping, transcranial Doppler sonography and computer tomography examinations

BACKGROUND: It has been proved that brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) detection can reflect the function of brain cell and its diseased degree of infant patients with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).OBJECTIVE: To observe the abnormal results of HIE at different degrees detected with BEAM and TCD in infant patients, and compare the detection results at the same time point between BEAM, TCD and computer tomography (CT) examinations.DESIGN: Contrast observation.SETTING: Departments of Neuro-electrophysiology and Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 416 infant patients with HIE who received treatment in the Department of Newborn Infants, Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College during January 2001 and December 2005. The infant patients, 278 male and 138 female, were at embryonic 37 to 42 weeks and weighing 2.0 to 4.1 kg, and they were diagnosed with CT and met the diagnostic criteria of HIE of newborn infants compiled by Department of Neonatology, Pediatric Academy, Chinese Medical Association. According to diagnostic criteria, 130 patients were mild abnormal, 196 moderate abnormal and 90 severe abnormal. The relatives of all the infant patients were informed of the experiment. METHODS: BEAM and TCD examinations were performed in the involved 416 infant patients with HIE at different degrees with DYD2000 16-channel BEAM instrument and EME-2000 ultrasonograph before preliminary diagnosis treatment (within 1 month after birth) and 1,3,6,12 and 24 months after birth, and detected results were compared between BEAM, TCD and CT examinations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of detection results of HIE at different time points in infant patients between BEAM, TCD and CT examinations.RESULTS: All the 416 infant patients with HIE participated in the result analysis. ① Comparison of the detected results in infant patients with mild HIE at different time points after birth between BEAM, TCD and CT examinations: BEAM examination showed that the recovery was delayed, and the abnormal rate of BEAM examination was significantly higher than that of CT examination 1 and 3 months after birth [55.4%(72/130)vs. 17.0%(22/130),χ2=41.66;29.2%(38/130) vs. 6.2%(8/130),χ2=23.77,P < 0.01], exceptional patients had mild abnormality and reached the normal level in about 6 months. TCD examination showed that the disease condition significantly improved and infant patients with HIE basically recovered 1 or 2 months after birth, while CT examination showed that infant patients recovered 3 or 4 months after birth. ② Comparison of detection results of infant patients with moderate HIE at different time points between BEAM, TCD and CT examinations: The abnormal rate of BEAM examination was significantly higher than that of CT examination 1,3,6 and 12 months after birth [90.8%(178/196),78.6%(154/196),χ2=4.32,P < 0.05;64.3%(126/196),43.9%(86/196),χ2=16.44;44.9%(88/196),22.4%(44/196),χ2=22.11;21.4%(42/196),10.2%(20/196),χ2=9.27,P < 0.01]. BEAM examination showed that there was still one patient who did not completely recovered in the 24th month due to the relatives of infant patients did not combine the treatment,. TCD examination showed that the abnormal rate was 23.1%(30/196)in the 1st month after birth, and all the patients recovered to the normal in the 3rd month after birth, while CT examination showed that mild abnormality still existed in the 24th month after birth(1.0%,2/196). ③ Comparison of detection results of infant patients with severe HIE at different time points between BEAM, TCD and CT examinations: The abnormal rate of BEAM examination was significantly higher than that of CT examination in the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th months after birth[86.7%(78/90),44.4%(40/90),χ2=35.53;62.2%(56/90),31.1%(28/90),χ2=17.51;37.8%(34/90),6.7%(6/90),χ2=27.14,P < 0.01]. BEAM examination showed that mild abnormality still existed in 4 infant patients in the 24th month after birth. TCD examination showed that the abnormal rate was 11.1% (10/90) in the 3rd month after birth, and all the infant patients recovered in the 6th month after birth. CT examination showed that the abnormal rate was 6.7%(6/90) in the 12th month after birth, and all of infant patients recovered to the normal in the 24th month after birth.CONCLUSION: BEAM is the direct index to detect brain function of infant patients with HIE, and positive reaction is still very sensitive in the tracking detection of convalescent period. The positive rate of morphological reaction in CT examination is superior to that in TCD examination, and the positive rate is very high in the acute period of HIE in examination.

Translocation of telomerase reverse transcriptase coincided with ATP release in postnatal cochlear supporting cells

The spontaneous bursts of electrical activity in the developing auditory system are derived from the periodic release of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)by supporting cells in the Kölliker’s organ.However,the mechanisms responsible for initiating spontaneous ATP release have not been determined.Our previous study revealed that telomerase reverse transcriptase(TERT)is expressed in the basilar membrane during the first postnatal week.Its role in cochlear development remains unclear.In this study,we investigated the expression and role of TERT in postnatal cochlea supporting cells.Our results revealed that in postnatal cochlear Kölliker’s organ supporting cells,TERT shifts from the nucleus into the cytoplasm over time.We found that the TERT translocation tendency in postnatal cochlear supporting cells in vitro coincided with that observed in vivo.Further analysis showed that TERT in the cytoplasm was mainly located in mitochondria in the absence of oxidative stress or apoptosis,suggesting that TERT in mitochondria plays roles other than antioxidant or anti-apoptotic functions.We observed increased ATP synthesis,release and activation of purine signaling systems in supporting cells during the first 10 postnatal days.The phenomenon that TERT translocation coincided with changes in ATP synthesis,release and activation of the purine signaling system in postnatal cochlear supporting cells suggested that TERT may be involved in regulating ATP release and activation of the purine signaling system.Our study provides a new research direction for exploring the spontaneous electrical activity of the cochlea during the early postnatal period.

Differential development and electrophysiological activity in cultured cortical neurons from the mouse and cynomolgus monkey

In vitro cultures of primary cortical neurons are widely used to investigate neuronal function.However,it has yet to be fully investigated whether there are significant differences in development and function between cultured rodent and primate cortical neurons,and whether these differences influence the utilization of cultured cortical neurons to model pathological conditions.Using in vitro culture techniques combined with immunofluorescence and electrophysiological methods,our study found that the development and maturation of primary cerebral cortical neurons from cynomolgus monkeys were slower than those from mice.We used a microelectrode array technique to compare the electrophysiological differences in cortical neurons,and found that primary cortical neurons from the mouse brain began to show electrical activity earlier than those from the cynomolgus monkey.Although cultured monkey cortical neurons developed slowly in vitro,they exhibited typical pathological features-revealed by immunofluorescent staining-when infected with adeno-associated viral vectors expressing mutant huntingtin(HTT),the Huntington’s disease protein.A quantitative analysis of the cultured monkey cortical neurons also confirmed that mutant HTT significantly reduced the length of neurites.Therefore,compared with the primary cortical neurons of mice,cultured monkey cortical neurons have longer developmental and survival times and greater sustained physiological activity,such as electrophysiological activity.Our findings also suggest that primary cynomolgus monkey neurons cultured in vitro can simulate a cell model of human neurodegenerative disease,and may be useful for investigating time-dependent neuronal death as well as treatment via neuronal regeneration.All mouse experiments and protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Jinan University of China(IACUC Approval No.20200512-04)on May 12,2020.All monkey experiments were approved by the IACUC protocol(IACUC Approval No.LDACU 20190820-01)on August 23,2019 for animal management and use.

Living mycelium composites discern weights via patterns of electrical activity

Fungal construction materials-substrates colonised by mycelium-are getting increased recog-nition as viable ecologically friendly alternatives to conventional building materials.A function-ality of the constructions made from fungal materials would be enriched if blocks with living mycelium,known for their ability to respond to chemical,optical and tactile stimuli,were in-serted.We investigated how large blocks of substrates colonised with mycelium of Ganoderma resinaceum responded to stimulation with heavy weights.We analysed details of the electrical re-sponses to the stimulation with weights and show that ON and OFF stimuli can be discriminated by the living mycelium composites and that a habituation to the stimulation occurs.Novelty of the results cast in the reporting on changes in electrical spiking activity of mycelium bound composites in response to a heavy loads.

Generation and Shaping of Soliton-Like Pulses along Resonant Tunneling Diodes NMOS Varactors Lattice

The characteristics of N-type accumulation-mode MOS (NMOS) varactors line periodically loaded with resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) are used for soliton-like pulses generation and shaping. The problem of wide pulse breaking up into multiple pulses rather than a single is solved. Applying perturbative analysis, we show that the dynamics of the nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) is reduced to expanded Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation. Moreover, numerical integration of nonlinear differential and difference equations that result from the mathematical analysis of the line is discussed. As results, NLTL can simultaneously sharpen both leading and trailing of pulse edges and one could obtain a rising and sharpening step pulse.

Smart bioadhesives for wound healing and closure

The high demand for rapid wound healing has spurred the development of multifunctional and smart bioadhesives with strong bioadhesion,antibacterial effect,real-time sensing,wireless communication,and on-demand treatment capabilities.Bioadhesives with bio-inspired structures and chemicals have shown unprecedented adhesion strengths,as well as tunable optical,electrical,and bio-dissolvable properties.Accelerated wound healing has been achieved via directly released antibacterial and growth factors,material or drug-induced host immune responses,and delivery of curative cells.Most recently,the integration of biosensing and treatment modules with wireless units in a closed-loop system yielded smart bioadhesives,allowing real-time sensing of the physiological conditions(e.g.,pH,temperature,uric acid,glucose,and cytokine)with iterative feedback for drastically enhanced,stage-specific wound healing by triggering drug delivery and treatment to avoid infection or prolonged inflammation.Despite rapid advances in the burgeoning field,challenges still exist in the design and fabrication of integrated systems,particularly for chronic wounds,presenting significant opportunities for the future development of next-generation smart materials and systems.