Preliminary evidence of dual-marked lymphocytes in thoracic duct lymph fluid

Thoracic duct lymphocytes from patients receiving thoracic duct drainage as a pretransplant therapy were examined for cell surface markers. Patients followed over the drainage time period showed a variable but decreasing percentage of E-rosette-positive cells in the lymph fluid. A substantial percentage of these E-rosette-positive cells also had C3 receptors on their cell surface. Reactions of the whole lymphocytes with a heteroantisera to human B-lymphocyte antigens reflected the increasing proportion of B cells in the sample, but also indicated that a fraction of the T cells have Ia-like antigens on their surface. Some cells may have all 3 surface marker characteristics. Significance of these cells with respect to graft survival is discussed

Spontaneous corneal melting in pregnancy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To report a case of spontaneous corneal melting in pregnancy. We reviewed the literature on corneal melting and the effect of pregnancy on cornea and collagen containing tissues.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 29-year-old woman who underwent radial keratotomy in both eyes followed by trabeculectomy in her left eye developed corneal melting in the same eye, in her seventh month of pregnancy. Despite screening, no infectious or immune mediated condition could be identified. She was managed conservatively with cyanoacrylate glue, bandage contact lens, lubricants and antibiotics.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It may not always be possible to find the underlying cause of corneal melting but the more common underlying causes should be ruled out by proper investigations. Pregnancy with its host of hormonal changes could potentially have some effect on corneal collagen leading to corneal melting in compromised corneas.</p

A consensus statement on detection of hippocampal sharp wave ripples and differentiation from other fast oscillations

Decades of rodent research have established the role of hippocampal sharp wave ripples (SPW-Rs) in consolidating and guiding experience. More recently, intracranial recordings in humans have suggested their role in episodic and semantic memory. Yet, common standards for recording, detection, and reporting do not exist. Here, we outline the methodological challenges involved in detecting ripple events and offer practical recommendations to improve separation from other high-frequency oscillations. We argue that shared experimental, detection, and reporting standards will provide a solid foundation for future translational discovery.This work was funded by K23NS104252 (A.A.L.) R01 MH117777 (E.B., J.W.R.) Whitehall Foundation (KH) 5F31NS120783-02 (Z.L.) 1U19NS104590 (A.L.) R01NS106611-02 (J.S., M.K.) MTEC-20-06-MOM013 (J.S., M.K.) 1U19NS107609-01 (I.S., J.L.) 1U19NS104590 (A.L., J.S.F., I.S.) 1U19NS107609 (E.A.B., J.W.R., J.J.L., I.S.) La Caixa LCF/PR/HR21/52410030 (A.N.O., L.dl.P) European Research Council Consolidator Grant 101001121 (B.P.S.) U.S.-Israel BSF grant 2017015 (RM)U01-NS113198 (J.J.) NSF CAREER IOS-1844935 (M.vdM.) 1R01NS121764-01 (B.L.M.) R01 MH122391 (G.B.) 30MH126483 (J.A.G.) Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale EQU202103012768 (M.Z.) 1R16-NS131108-01 (L.L.)

The Parapharyngeal Compartment and its Fascial Relations

Introduction An accurate understanding of the arrangement of cervical fascia and its associated compartments is essential for differential diagnosis, predicting the spread of disease and surgical management. As surgical technology advances it becomes imperative to have a thorough understanding of the anatomy of these compartments. Current descriptions of one such compartment, the parapharyngeal compartment (PPC), are inconsistent in terms of its borders, communications and contents. Methods This thesis comprises two main elements. Firstly, a review of descriptions of cervical fascia in contemporary reference texts recommended by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, followed by a detailed review of the scientific and clinical literature. Secondly, an investigation of the anatomy of the PPC utilising a combination of techniques: cadaver dissection of 10 half heads (eight embalmed, two fresh; 3 male, 7 female; mean age 81 years) via several different approaches (lateral to medial, medial to lateral [transoral], and posterior to anterior); serial histological sections in two additional half heads; and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cadaver specimens and 20 patients (9 male, 11 female; mean age 53 years) independently and blindly analysed by an experienced head and neck radiologist and the author to compare fascial arrangements seen on MRI and dissection. Results The current terminology used to describe the cervical fascia and its compartments is replete with confusing synonyms and inconsistencies, creating important interdisciplinary differences in understanding. Analysis of the scientific and clinical literature revealed numerous anatomical controversies relating to the PPC. Dissection findings showed that the PPC has a dihedral shape, tapering to a point superiorly at the skull base, widening in its central portion, and tapering to its inferior limit at the greater cornu of the hyoid bone. The lateral and superior boundary of the PPC was formed by the tensor veli palatini muscle, which was intimately related to the medial pterygoid muscle. Structures lying between the tensor veli palatini and medial pterygoid muscles were contents of the masticator compartment. The carotid sheath formed a distinct, robust fascia separating the PPC and carotid compartment. There was no ‘styloid diaphragm’ encompassing the styloid process and its associated muscles. However, the styloid muscles are key contents of the PPC that can be used to guide surgical dissection. The PPC also contained fat and neurovascular structures. It communicated with the submandibular compartment in all specimens, with the parotid compartment in some, but a communication with the carotid and retropharyngeal compartments was not identified. Conclusions A revised nomenclature underpinned by evidence-based anatomical and radiological findings is proposed in order to enhance understanding of the cervical fascia and its compartments and facilitate clearer interdisciplinary communication. The three-dimensional anatomy of the PPC is complex; it is a deep compartment that is difficult to access and not oriented along traditional imaging planes. This study has clarified the borders, communications and contents of the PPC, which should help to optimise minimally invasive surgical approaches (particularly transoral approaches), intraoperative orientation within the compartment, and reduce the risk of inadvertent damage to regional neurovascular structures

The Parapharyngeal Compartment and its Fascial Relations

Introduction An accurate understanding of the arrangement of cervical fascia and its associated compartments is essential for differential diagnosis, predicting the spread of disease and surgical management. As surgical technology advances it becomes imperative to have a thorough understanding of the anatomy of these compartments. Current descriptions of one such compartment, the parapharyngeal compartment (PPC), are inconsistent in terms of its borders, communications and contents. Methods This thesis comprises two main elements. Firstly, a review of descriptions of cervical fascia in contemporary reference texts recommended by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, followed by a detailed review of the scientific and clinical literature. Secondly, an investigation of the anatomy of the PPC utilising a combination of techniques: cadaver dissection of 10 half heads (eight embalmed, two fresh; 3 male, 7 female; mean age 81 years) via several different approaches (lateral to medial, medial to lateral [transoral], and posterior to anterior); serial histological sections in two additional half heads; and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cadaver specimens and 20 patients (9 male, 11 female; mean age 53 years) independently and blindly analysed by an experienced head and neck radiologist and the author to compare fascial arrangements seen on MRI and dissection. Results The current terminology used to describe the cervical fascia and its compartments is replete with confusing synonyms and inconsistencies, creating important interdisciplinary differences in understanding. Analysis of the scientific and clinical literature revealed numerous anatomical controversies relating to the PPC. Dissection findings showed that the PPC has a dihedral shape, tapering to a point superiorly at the skull base, widening in its central portion, and tapering to its inferior limit at the greater cornu of the hyoid bone. The lateral and superior boundary of the PPC was formed by the tensor veli palatini muscle, which was intimately related to the medial pterygoid muscle. Structures lying between the tensor veli palatini and medial pterygoid muscles were contents of the masticator compartment. The carotid sheath formed a distinct, robust fascia separating the PPC and carotid compartment. There was no ‘styloid diaphragm’ encompassing the styloid process and its associated muscles. However, the styloid muscles are key contents of the PPC that can be used to guide surgical dissection. The PPC also contained fat and neurovascular structures. It communicated with the submandibular compartment in all specimens, with the parotid compartment in some, but a communication with the carotid and retropharyngeal compartments was not identified. Conclusions A revised nomenclature underpinned by evidence-based anatomical and radiological findings is proposed in order to enhance understanding of the cervical fascia and its compartments and facilitate clearer interdisciplinary communication. The three-dimensional anatomy of the PPC is complex; it is a deep compartment that is difficult to access and not oriented along traditional imaging planes. This study has clarified the borders, communications and contents of the PPC, which should help to optimise minimally invasive surgical approaches (particularly transoral approaches), intraoperative orientation within the compartment, and reduce the risk of inadvertent damage to regional neurovascular structures

Efficient Decoding of Multi-Dimensional Signals From Population Spiking Activity Using a Gaussian Mixture Particle Filter.

New recording technologies and the potential for closed-loop experiments have led to an increasing demand for computationally efficient and accurate algorithms to decode population spiking activity in multi-dimensional spaces. Exact point process filters can accurately decode low-dimensional signals, but are computationally intractable for high-dimensional signals. Approximate Gaussian filters are computationally efficient, but are inaccurate when the signals have complex distributions and nonlinear dynamics. Even particle filter methods tend to become inefficient and inaccurate when the filter distribution has multiple peaks. Here, we develop a new point process filter algorithm that combines the computational efficiency of approximate Gaussian methods with a numerical accuracy that exceeds standard particle filters. We use a mixture of Gaussian model for the posterior at each time step, allowing for an analytic solution to the computationally expensive filter integration step. During non-spike intervals, the filter needs only to update the mean, covariance, and mixture weight of each component. At spike times, a sampling procedure is used to update the filtering distribution and find the number of Gaussian mixture components necessary to maintain an accurate approximation. We illustrate the application of this algorithm to the problem of decoding a rat's position and velocity in a maze from hippocampal place cell data using both 2-D and 4-D decoders