Timing of brain computed tomography for predicting neurological prognosis in comatose cardiac arrest survivors: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND:To assess the association between relevant brain computed tomography(CT)parameters at different time and neurological prognosis in adult comatose survivors after cardiac arrest(CA).METHODS:A total of 94 CA patients who underwent early and late CT scans(within 24 h and 24 h to 7 d respectively after CA)between January 2018 and April 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study.According to the Cerebral Performance Category(CPC)score at hospital discharge,the patients were divided into either a good outcome(CPC 1-2)group or a poor-outcome group(CPC 3-5).The grey-to-white matter ratio(GWR)and the proportion of cerebrospinal fluid volume(pCSFV)were measured.In predicting poor outcomes,the prognostic performance of relevant CT parameters was evaluated,and the comparison analysis(expressed as the ratio of parameters in late CT to those in the early CT)of diff erent CT time was conducted.RESULTS:Totally 26 patients were in the good-outcome group,while 68 patients were in the poor-outcome group.The putamen density,GWR,and pCSFV in late CT were significantly lower in the poor-outcome group(P<0.05).The ratios of GWR and pCSFV in the poor-outcome group were signifi cantly decreased according to comparison analysis of diff erent CT time(P<0.05),while there was no signifi cant diff erence in the ratio of putamen density.GWR-basal ganglia<1.18 in late CT showed the best predictive value.The ratio of pCSFV<0.98 predicted unfavorable neurological outcomes with a sensitivity of 65.9%and a specifi city of 93.8%(P=0.001).CONCLUSIONS:Brain CT performed>24 h after CA may be a good choice as a neuroimaging approach to evaluating prognosis.To predict neurological prognosis,comparison analysis of diff erent CT time can be used as another promising tool in comatose CA survivors.

Assessment of Stress Cognitive Control and Executive Function with Stress Control Rating Scale (ECOSTRESS) and Low Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) (In Portuguese People in Situations of Unemployment and Economic Insufficiency)

This article reviews the constructs of stress, appraisal, coping, according to a transactional perspective, and executive function, and presents a stress control rating scale (ECOSTRESS), which design is founded in these constructs. This psychometric tool is useful in the assessment of cognitive control of stress, correlated with the function of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. It has been validated for its use in the assessment of Portuguese people in situations of stress related to unemployment and economic insufficiency. Also, within the context of the cognitive control of stress, it is highlighted the usefulness of low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA).

Assessment of the Neurological Activation in Law Enforcement under High Threat Situations: A Fuzzy Logic Approach

This paper discusses a law enforcement officer (LEO) study that involved expert and novice police deputies from a small-sized city located in the Southern U.S. A virtual reality range was utilized to simulate high threat scenarios that require split second decisions on the use of deadly force. A fuzzy-logic based controller was constructed to analyze electroencephalogram (EEG) data collected from the participants. The fuzzy controller made use of several functions associated with the different regions of the brain to correlate Brodmann areas to multiple outputs. Electromagnetic Tomography (i.e. LORETA) was used to identify where the signals from the surface electrodes originated within the brain through a process called source localization. Once the sources of the EEG signals were located, they were associated with corresponding Brodmann areas. The fuzzy controller then provided insights on the subjects’ exhibited neural activation behavior indicative of vision, memory, shape/distance, hearing/sound, and theory of mind. Comparing and contrasting experienced and novice officers allowed for a greater understanding of the neurological processes present in police deputies when dealing with high threat situations.

Two-dimensional optical tomography of hemodynamic changes in a preterm infant brain

Our preliminary results on two-dimensional （2D） optical tomographic imaging of hemodynamic changes in a preterm infant brain are reported. We use the established 16-channel time-correlated single photon counting system for the detection and generalized pulse spectrum technique based algorithm for the image reconstruction. The experiments demonstrate that diffuse optical tomography may be a potent means for investigating brain functions and neural development of infant brains in the perinatal period.

Optical coherence tomography imaging of cranial meninges post brain injury in vivo

We report a new application of optical coherence tomography（OCT） to investigate the cranial meninges in an animal model of brain injury in vivo. The injury is induced in a mouse due to skull thinning, in which the repeated and excessive drilling exerts mechanical stress on the mouse brain through the skull, resulting in acute and mild brain injury. Transcranial OCT imaging reveals an interesting virtual space between the cranial meningeal layers post skull thinning, which is gradually closed within hours. The finding suggests a promise of OCT as an effective tool to monitor the mechanical trauma in the small animal model of brain injury.