Mini Review: Impedance Measurement in Neuroscience and Its Prospective Application in the Field of Surgical Neurooncology

Impedance measurement of human tissue can be performed either in vivo or ex vivo. The majority of the in-vivo approaches are non-invasive, and few are invasive. To date, there is no gold standard for impedance measurement of intracranial tissue. In addition, most of the techniques addressing this topic are still experimental and have not found their way into clinical practice. This review covers available impedance measurement approaches in the neuroscience in general and specifically addresses recent advances made in the application of impedance measurement in the field of surgical neurooncology. It will provide an understandable picture on impedance measurement and give an overview of limitations that currently hinders clinical application and require future technical and conceptual solutions.

The Impact of Assistive Technologies on Quality of Life and Psychosocial Well-Being

Health-related quality of life is a comprehensive term to describe a person's experiences of health and illness. Quality of life (QOL) is a dynamic psychological construct encompassing interacting subjective and objective dimensions; thus, it is not directly observable. There is no gold standard for measuring quality of life due to the differing interests of doctors, caregivers, patients, and researchers. This chapter examines the research needs in the area of improving QoL through the proper implementation of AT. The authors also make recommendations for incorporating the needs of users and caregivers in the design, deployment, and use of AT to reduce device abandonment.

A case report of refractory congenital chylous ascites in infant – surgical treatment with Fibrin glue

Congenital chylous ascites is a rare disease that results from abnormal development of the intra-abdominal lymphatic system. No gold standard treatment has been described so far, however, a combination of medium–chain triglyceride based diet or total parenteral nutrition along with octreotide and abdominal paracentesis is considered as a conservative management. This treatment is often a challenge to physicians since chylous ascites is often refractory and result in malnutrition and immune deficiency because of the loss of proteins and lymphocytes. We report a four-month old boy with congenital chylous ascites who was refractory to medical treatment with prolonged bowel rest, total parenteral nutrition, octreotide and repeated paracentesis. The baby well responded to surgical treatment with application of fibrin glue on the surface area of the leak site and was discharged after 2 month of hospitalization. When following up the patient had no recurrence of the ascites and he was growing up normally.

Use of Dietary Supplements and Perceived Knowledge among Adults Living with Fibromyalgia in Norway: A Cross-Sectional Study

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex medical condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. To date, no gold standard treatment has been developed, and persons with FMS often seek alternative methods to control their symptoms, such as dietary supplements (DS). This study aimed to describe the use of DS in persons living with FMS and examine the associations between the use of DS and its potential predictors. We recruited a convenience sample of 504 participants (≥18 years) living with FMS. The main outcome variables included estimated expenditure on DS in the last 12 months in Norwegian kroner (NOK) and the differences between the groups of users and non-users of DS. Of the 504 participants, 430 reported having used DS, and the mean amount of money spent in the previous year was determined to be NOK 2300. The most common DS reported were vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. The predictors of being a DS user were high education, high self-reported knowledge of DS but low overall knowledge of health claims. Users of DS marketed for muscles/joints appear to spend more money on DS. The increasing availability of DS and aggressive advertising in the media through health claims stipulate the need for interventions that lead to informed decisions about DS.

The Influence of Filters on EEG-ERP Testing: Analysis of Motor Cortex in Healthy Subjects

The raw EEG signal is always contaminated with many different artifacts, such as muscle movements (electromyographic artifacts), eye blinking (electrooculographic artifacts) or power line disturbances. All artifacts must be removed for correct data interpretation. However, various noise reduction methods significantly influence the final shape of the EEG signal and thus its characteristic values, latency and amplitude. There are several types of filters to eliminate noise early in the processing of EEG data. However, there is no gold standard for their use. This article aims to verify and compare the influence of four various filters (FIR, IIR, FFT, NOTCH) on the latency and amplitude of the EEG signal. By presenting a comparison of selected filters, the authors intend to raise awareness among researchers as regards the effects of known filters on latency and amplitude in a selected area—the sensorimotor area.

Neurosyphilis Presenting As Status Epilepticus, Successively Hemiparesis And Aphasia

Background: Neurosyphilis can occur anytime and present with a myriad of symptoms. Lissauer form of General Paresis Insane (GPI) is rare. We can learn more about this form of GPI through this case report.Case Presentation: The patient presented as status epilepticus, successively as hemiparesis and aphasia, which may be considered as the Todd's paresis or stroke. By performing the reactive serum rapid plasma reagent test and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, as well as the brain MRI results, we made the diagnosis as Lissauer form of GPI. The patient was started on intravenous penicillin for a total of 14 days. After that, the patient appeared with marked clinical improvement. Cognitive ability was better than before. Conclusions: GPI typically has a progressive course and normally presents 10 to 30 years after the initial infection. The manifestations of this patient and his suspicious history of Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA) may mislead to the diagnosis of Todd's paresis or stroke. The prevalence of syphilis is rising again in recent years. To date, there is no gold standard for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Early diagnosis is of great importance as effective penicillin therapy is available.

Comparison of non-invasive Staphylococcus aureus sampling methods on lesional skin in patients with atopic dermatitis

There is evidence that Staphylococcus aureus colonisation is linked to severity of atopic dermatitis. As no gold standard for S. aureus sampling on atopic dermatitis skin lesions exists, this study compared three commonly used methods. In addition, effectiveness of standard skin disinfection to remove S. aureus colonisation from these inflamed skin lesions was investigated. In 30 atopic dermatitis patients, three different S. aureus sampling methods, i.e. detergent scrubbing, moist swabbing and tape stripping, were performed on naïve and disinfected skin lesions. Two different S. aureus selective media, mannitol salt agar and chromID agar, were used for bacterial growing. Quantifying the S. aureus load varied significantly between the different sampling methods on naïve skin lesions ranging from mean 51 to 1.5 × 104 CFU/cm2 (p < 0.001). The qualitative detection on naïve skin was highest with the two detergent-based techniques (86% each), while for tape stripping, this value was 67% (all on chromID agar). In comparison, mannitol salt agar was less sensitive (p < 0.001). The disinfection of the skin lesions led to a significant reduction of the S. aureus load (p < 0.05) but no complete eradication in the case of previously positive swab. The obtained data highlight the importance of the selected sampling method and consecutive S. aureus selection agar plates to implement further clinical studies for the effectiveness of topical anti-staphylococcal antibiotics. Other disinfection regimes should be considered in atopic dermatitis patients when complete de-colonisation of certain skin areas is required, e.g. for surgical procedures.

Autologous dura mater grafts in reconstructive surgeries for breast cancer patients

Reconstructive surgeries have long been considered as an essential part of rehabilitation of breast cancer patients. The majority of patients tend to choose one-stage reconstruction, because this type of surgery ensures rapid emotional and physical recovery. Due to the lack of subcutaneous fat in a substantial proportion of cases, which leads to postoperative complications, the most common surgical tactics now is simultaneous reconstruction after subcutaneous mastectomy with subpectoral implant location and strengthening of the lower breast slope using different materials. So far, there has been no gold standard material for secure covering of the lower pole of the implant. Autologous acellular dura mater grafts are a promising material for breast reconstruction. Studies evaluating biointegration, compatibility, inertness, reactivity, and cost effectiveness of autologous acellular dura mater grafts have determined feasibility of using these grafts in reconstructive surgeries.

Digitization and Analysis of Capnography Using Image Processing Technique

The study of carbon dioxide expiration is called capnometry. The graphical representation of capnometry is called capnography. There is a growing interest in the usage of capnography as the usage has expanded toward the study of metabolism, circulation, lung perfusion and diffusion, quality of spontaneous respiration, and patency of airways outside of its typical usage in the anesthetic and emergency medicine field. The parameters of the capnograph could be classified as carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and time points and coordinates, slopes angle, volumetric studies, and functional transformation of wave data. Up to date, there is no gold standard device for the calculation of the capnographic parameters. Capnography digitization using the image processing technique could serve as an option. From the algorithm we developed, eight identical breath waves were tested by four investigators. The values of the parameters chosen showed no significant difference between investigators. Although there were no significant differences between any of the parameters tested, there were a few related parameters that were not calculable. Further testing after refinement of the algorithm could be done. As more capnographic parameters are being derived and rediscovered by clinicians and researchers alike for both lung and non-lung-related diseases, there is a dire need for data analysis and interpretation. Although the proposed algorithm still needs minor refinements and further large-scale testing, we proposed that the digitization of the capnograph via image processing technique could serve as an intellectual option as it is fast, convenient, easy to use, and efficient.