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Background and purpose: Atherosclerosis is the basis of cardiovascular disease. Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation, which contributes to atherogenesis. The plant extract PNS (Panax notoginseng saponins), containing the main active ingredients of Panax notoginseng, exhibits anti‐atherogenic properties. Herein, we determined whether PNS and its major components could attenuate atherosclerosis by suppressing ferroptosis and revealed the underlying mechanism(s). Experimental approach: The anti‐atherogenic effects of PNS and their association with inhibition of ferroptosis was determined in apoE−/− mice. In vitro, the anti‐ferroptotic effect and mechanism(s) of PNS components were demonstrated in the presence of ferroptosis inducers. Expression of ferroptosis markers and the ubiquitination of Keap1 were evaluated in USP2−/− macrophages. Finally, the anti‐atherogenic effect of USP2 knockout was determined by using USP2−/− mice treated with high‐fat diet (HFD) and AAV‐PCSK9. Key results: PNS inhibited ferroptosis and atherosclerosis in vivo. PNS suppressed ferroptosis and ferroptosis‐aggravated foam cell formation and inflammation in vitro. Mechanistically, PNS and its components activated Nrf2 by antagonizing Keap1, which was attributed to the inhibition of USP2 expression. USP2 knockout antagonized ferroptosis and ferroptosis‐aggravated foam cell formation and inflammation, thus mitigating atherosclerosis. USP2 knockout abolished inhibitory effects of PNS on foam cell formation and inflammation in vitro. Conclusion and implications: PNS reduced USP2‐mediated Keap1 de‐ubiquitination and promoted Keap1 degradation, thereby activating Nrf2, improving iron metabolism and reducing lipid peroxidation, thus contributing to an anti‐atherosclerotic outcome. Our study revealed the mechanism(s) underlying inhibition of ferroptosis and atherosclerosis by PNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its rarity, pilonidal sinus (PNS) in atypical locations poses significant diagnostic challenges, underscoring the need for early identification and appropriate treatment strategies. This case highlights a rare occurrence of a PNS in the axilla, emphasizing the importance of recognizing uncommon presentations of common ailments. A 27-year-old male presented with a 13-year history of painless axillary discharge, diagnosed with PNS based on clinical evaluation. Surgical excision under local anesthesia successfully treated the condition, showcasing the effectiveness of tailored management in addressing rare presentations of PNS. Surgical therapy for axillary pilonidal sinus enables complete resection and provides precise histopathological diagnoses, making it a suitable treatment option, particularly for cases involving atypical locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports a wave of abortions, diarrhea and a sharp drop in milk production at a dairy farm. The farm was routinely vaccinated with an imported vaccine against BVDV, containing the typical strains of Pestiviruses (BVDV-1 and BVDV-2). A total of 13 serum samples, 5 vaginal discharge samples, and 5 fecal samples were collected from aborted cows and from cows showing persistent diarrhea. All the samples were screened for potential microbial causes of abortion (viral or bacterial) using PCR. Out of 23 samples tested, only one vaginal discharge sample yielded a positive PCR result at the expected size of 288 bp. The primers used were designed with high sensitivity to 5'-UTR-based-RTPCR assays for the detection of Pestiviruses. The PCR product was sent for sequence analysis, and results were submitted to GenBank Accession Number #OR425033, and designed as GERD/VSVRI/pesti- Giraffe/2022. The virus was then successfully isolated and propagated in MDBK cells through three successive blind passages. A distinct cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed 2- 3 days after an incubation period post-virus inoculation, characterized by vacuolation, cell rounding, and cluster formation 72 hours after infection. PCR was carried out on each passage and gave a specific band at the expected size. Further analysis through sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate is closely related to the Pestivirus giraffe, especially Pestivirus PG-2. This marks the first record of detection, isolation, and characterization of this strain in Egypt. Therefore, this epidemic was caused by a newly introduced strain recorded in Egypt. So, the imported vaccines would not provide protection, and the local vaccine need to be updated to include this Pestivirus strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the molecular and genetic underpinnings of axonal regeneration and functional recovery post-nerve injury, emphasizing its significance in reversing neurological deficits. It presents a systematic exploration of the roles of various genes in axonal regrowth across peripheral and central nerve injuries. Initially, it highlights genes and gene families critical for axonal growth and guidance, delving into their roles in regeneration. It then examines the regenerative microenvironment, focusing on the role of glial cells in neural repair through dedifferentiation, proliferation, and migration. The concept of "traumatic microenvironments" within the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) is discussed, noting their impact on regenerative capacities and their importance in therapeutic strategy development. Additionally, the review delves into axonal transport mechanisms essential for accurate growth and reinnervation, integrating insights from proteomics, genome-wide screenings, and gene editing advancements. Conclusively, it synthesizes these insights to offer a comprehensive understanding of axonal regeneration's molecular orchestration, aiming to inform effective nerve injury therapies and contribute to regenerative neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Triptans are potent 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptor agonists used in migraine therapy, thought to act through peripheral mechanisms. It remains unclear whether triptans cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) sufficiently to stimulate central 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptors. This study investigates the disposition of eletriptan and sumatriptan in central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) regions and predicts regional 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptor occupancies at clinically relevant concentrations. Methods Using the Combinatory Mapping Approach (CMA) for regions of interest (ROI), we assessed the unbound tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio (Kp, uu, ROI) in rats at steady state across CNS (hypothalamus, brain stem, cerebellum, frontal cortex, parietal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, whole brain, and spinal cord) and PNS (trigeminal ganglion and sciatic nerve) regions. We used Kp, uu, ROI values to estimate unbound target-site concentrations and 5-HT1B/1D/1F receptor occupancies in humans. Results We observed heterogenous triptan transport across CNS and PNS regions with the highest extent of unbound drug transport across the blood-nerve barrier in the trigeminal ganglion (Kp, uu, TG: eletriptan: 0.519, and sumatriptan: 0.923). Both drugs displayed restricted entry across the BBB (Kp, uu, whole brain: eletriptan: 0.058, and sumatriptan: 0.045) combined with high inter-regional variability. We estimated near-complete receptor occupancy in the trigeminal ganglion, while lower occupancies were observed in the whole brain, irrespective of the drug or receptor subtype. For instance, eletriptan was predicted to achieve 84% 5-HT1B receptor occupancy in the trigeminal ganglion and 37% in the whole brain at clinically relevant concentrations. Conclusions This study suggests that despite low BBB transport, both eletriptan and sumatriptan achieve unbound concentrations sufficient to stimulate 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT1F receptors not only in the trigeminal ganglion, but also in the CNS. Further research is needed to determine whether central mechanisms contribute to triptan’s antimigraine effect and/or side effects. Graphical Abstract

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are cancer-associated, immune-mediated neurologic manifestations that may involve any part of the nervous system. They usually present with characteristic neurologic features and should be considered in high-risk phenotypes such as limbic encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, rapidly progressive cerebellar syndrome, opsoclonus–myoclonus, sensory neuronopathy, enteric neuropathy, and Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome. The diagnosis is made by antibody positivity in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid, in the presence of an appropriate clinical phenotype. Findings on antibody testing by immunoblot should always be verified by immunofluorescence. We report a rare case of sensory neuronopathy with triple paraneoplastic antibody positivity (anti-Hu, anti-collapsing response-mediator protein 5, and anti-amphiphysin) on immunoblot but only anti-Hu positivity on immunofluorescence. The presence of lower facial dyskinesias should raise the possibility of an immune-mediated neurologic syndrome in the appropriate clinical context.

Abstract Deletions and malfunctions of the IgLON family of cell adhesion molecules are associated with anatomical, behavioral, and metabolic manifestations of neuropsychiatric disorders. We have previously shown that IgLON genes are expressed in sensory nuclei/pathways and that IgLON proteins modulate sensory processing. Here, we examined the expression of IgLON alternative promoter-specific isoforms during embryonic development and studied the sensory consequences of the anatomical changes when one of the IgLON genes, Negr1, is knocked out. At the embryonal age of E12.5 and E13.5, various IgLONs were distributed differentially and dynamically in the developing sensory areas within the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as in limbs and mammary glands. Sensory tests showed that Negr1 deficiency causes differences in vestibular function and temperature sensitivity in the knockout mice. Sex-specific differences were noted across olfaction, vestibular functioning, temperature regulation, and mechanical sensitivity. Our findings highlight the involvement of IgLON molecules during sensory circuit formation and suggest Negr1’s critical role in somatosensory processing.

John Hatheway,1 Alexander Perry Hersel,2 Jonathan Song,3 Mitchell P Engle,4 Genaro Gutierrez,5 Vishal Khemlani,6 Leonardo Kapural,7 Gregory Moore,8 Reginald Chinaedu Ajakwe,9 Drew M Trainor,10 Jennifer M Hah,11 Peter Staats,12 Paul Lynch,13 James Makous,14 Gary Heit15 ,† Shilpa Kottalgi,16 Mehul J Desai17 1Pain Management, Northwest Pain Care, Spokane, WA, USA; 2Pain Management, Pain Management and Injury Relief, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; 3Pain Management, Arizona Pain Specialists, Scottsdale, AZ, USA; 4Pain Management, Institute of Precision Pain Medicine, Corpus Christi, TX, USA; 5Pain Management, Pain Specialists of America, Austin, TX, USA; 6Pain Management, Columbia Pain Management, Portland, OR, USA; 7Pain Management, Center for Clinical Research, Carolinas Pain Institute, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; 8Pain Management, Pacific Sports and Spine, Eugene, OR, USA; 9Pain Management, Comprehensive Spine & Pain, Burbank, CA, USA; 10Pain Management, Denver Spine and Pain Institute, Denver, CO, USA; 11Pain Management, Division of Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; 12Pain Management, Premier Pain Centers, Shrewsbury, NJ, USA; 13Pain Management, US Pain Care, Scottsdale, AZ, USA; 14Pain Management, Makous Research, LLC, Carlsbad, CA, USA; 15Department of Neurosurgery, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue, Vietnam; 16Clinical Affairs, Nalu Medical, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA; 17Pain Management, International Spine Pain & Performance Center, Washington, DC, USA†Gary Heit passed away in February 2023Correspondence: Shilpa Kottalgi, Nalu Medical, Inc., 2320 Faraday Ave, Carlsbad, CA, 92008, USA, Tel +1 858 344 1591, Fax +1 760 448 2379, Email skottalgi@nalumed.comBackground: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is an established therapy for chronic neuropathic pain of peripheral origin, typically following nerve injury. However, there is a paucity of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of PNS. The goals of the current study (COMFORT Study) are to document the safety and efficacy of the Nalu Neurostimulation in a PNS RCT, compared to conventional medical management (CMM).Methods/Design: This is a prospective, multicenter, RCT evaluating the treatment of neuropathic pain with PNS therapy. One of the following four regions will be targeted for treatment: low back, shoulder, knee or foot/ankle. Consented subjects will undergo a baseline evaluation, after which they are randomized 2:1 (PNS+CMM arm to CMM arm). Subjects randomized to PNS+CMM arm will undergo a trial implant period using best clinical practices. Subjects who pass the trial phase, by showing a ≥ 50% reduction in pain relative to baseline, will receive the permanent implant. All subjects receiving a permanent implant will be followed for a total of 36 months. At the 3-month primary end point, subjects in CMM arm will be given the option to crossover into PNS+CMM arm, beginning with a trial implant. The study duration is expected to be 5.5 years from first enrollment to last follow-up of last subject and subsequent study closure. Adverse events will be captured throughout the study.Discussion: The COMFORT study, described here, has the potential to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the Nalu Neurostimulation System in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. Results of this study will be the first Level-I evidence, out to 36 months, validating the use of this PNS system in the treatment of chronic pain. This study is designed to enroll the largest cohort, to date, of subjects comparing PNS+CMM vs CMM alone.Plain Language Summary: Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been used for decades to treat neuropathic pain of peripheral origin. This therapy typically involves the placement small (~1 mm diameter) cylindrical electrodes (leads) near the nerve(s) in question, which is then followed by the delivery mild electrical pulses to the target, thereby blocking the pain signal from reaching the central nervous system. Despite the clinical success of this approach, there are few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating PNS efficacy in the treatment of peripheral neuralgia/neuropathy. This may be, in large part, due to a paucity of PNS devices that are small enough to deliver this therapy at multiple locations in the extremities and the torso. For example, most implantable pulse generators (IPGs) range in size from 14 to 40 cm3 in volume. The purpose of this RCT is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of an externally powered micro-IPG (< 1.5 cm3 in volume), in the delivery of PNS to treat peripheral neuropathic pain. Active Arm subjects will receive therapy with the micro-IPG and continue to use conventional medical management (CMM); Control Arm subjects will be treated with CMM only. The primary endpoint is the responder rate at 3-months, in both arms, defined as the percentage of subjects with ≥ 50% pain reduction from baseline following implantation of the micro-IPG. Control Arm subjects will be given the option to crossover to the Active Arm at 3-months. Study subjects in both arms are followed out to 36 months.Keywords: peripheral nerve stimulation, PNS, chronic pain, neuropathy, neuralgia, micro-IPG, battery-free

Deletions and malfunctions of the IgLON family of cell adhesion molecules are associated with anatomical, behavioral, and metabolic manifestations of neuropsychiatric disorders. We have previously shown that IgLON genes are expressed in sensory nuclei/pathways and that IgLON proteins modulate sensory processing. Here, we examined the expression of IgLON alternative promoter-specific isoforms during embryonic development and studied the sensory consequences of the anatomical changes when one of the IgLON genes, Negr1, is knocked out. At the embryonal age of E12.5 and E13.5, various IgLONs were distributed differentially and dynamically in the developing sensory areas within the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as in limbs and mammary glands. Sensory tests showed that Negr1 deficiency causes differences in vestibular function and temperature sensitivity in the knockout mice. Sex-specific differences were noted across olfaction, vestibular functioning, temperature regulation, and mechanical sensitivity. Our findings highlight the involvement of IgLON molecules during sensory circuit formation and suggest Negr1’s critical role in somatosensory processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are cancer-associated, immune-mediated neurologic manifestations that may involve any part of the nervous system. They usually present with characteristic neurologic features and should be considered in high-risk phenotypes such as limbic encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, rapidly progressive cerebellar syndrome, opsoclonus--myoclonus, sensory neuronopathy, enteric neuropathy, and Lambert--Eaton myasthenic syndrome. The diagnosis is made by antibody positivity in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid, in the presence of an appropriate clinical phenotype. Findings on antibody testing by immunoblot should always be verified by immunofluorescence. We report a rare case of sensory neuronopathy with triple paraneoplastic antibody positivity (anti-Hu, anti-collapsing response-mediator protein 5, and anti-amphiphysin) on immunoblot but only anti-Hu positivity on immunofluorescence. The presence of lower facial dyskinesias should raise the possibility of an immune-mediated neurologic syndrome in the appropriate clinical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Personalized decision making targets the behavior of a specific individual, while population-based decision making concerns a subpopulation resembling that individual. This article clarifies the distinction between the two and explains why the former leads to more informed decisions. We further show that by combining experimental and observational studies, we can obtain valuable information about individual behavior and, consequently, improve decisions over those obtained from experimental studies alone. In particular, we show examples where such a combination discriminates between individuals who can benefit from a treatment and those who cannot – information that would not be revealed by experimental studies alone. We outline areas where this method could be of benefit to both policy makers and individuals involved.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes severe diarrhea and high mortality in neonatal suckling piglets, leading to significant economic losses to the swine industry. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are bioactive extracts derived from the P. notoginseng plant. In this study, we investigated the anti-PEDV effect of PNS by employing various methodologies to assess their impact on PEDV in Vero cells. Using a CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) assay, we found that PNS had no significant cytotoxicity below the concentration of 128 µg/mL in Vero cells. Using immunofluorescence assays (IFAs), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and plaque formation assays, we observed a dose-dependent inhibition of PEDV infection by PNS within 24–48 hours postinfection. PNS exerts its anti-PEDV activity specifically at the genome replication stage, and mRNA-seq analysis demonstrated that treatment with PNS resulted in increased expression of various genes, including IFIT1 (interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1), IFIT3 (interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3), CFH (complement factor H), IGSF10 (immunoglobulin superfamily member 10), ID2 (inhibitor of DNA binding 2), SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein 1), PLCB4 (phospholipase C beta 4), and FABP4 (fatty acid binding protein 4), but it resulted in decreased expression of IL1A (interleukin 1 alpha), TNFRSF19 (TNF receptor superfamily member 19), CDH8 (cadherin 8), DDIT3 (DNA damage inducible transcript 3), GADD45A (growth arrest and DNA damage inducible alpha), PTPRG (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type G), PCK2 (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2), and ADGRA2 (adhesion G protein-coupled receptor A2). This study provides insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the antiviral effects of PNS. Taken together, the results suggest that the PNS might effectively regulate the defense response to the virus and have potential to be used in antiviral therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration of sensory feedback is one of the current challenges in the field of prosthetics. This work, following the analysis of the various types of sensory feedback, aims to present a prototype device that could be used both for implantable applications to perform PNS and for wearable applications, performing TENS, to restore sensory feedback. The two systems are composed of three electronic boards that are presented in detail, as well as the bench tests carried out. To the authors' best knowledge, this work presents the first device that can be used in a dual scenario for restoring sensory feedback. Both the implantable and wearable versions respected the expected values regarding the stimulation parameters. In its implantable version, the proposed system allows simultaneous and independent stimulation of 30 channels. Furthermore, the capacity of the wearable version to elicit somatic sensations was evaluated on healthy participants demonstrating performance comparable with commercial solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) is a common glomerular disease in children. Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), a probiotic producing butyric acid, exerts effective in regulating inflammation. This study was designed to elucidate the effect of C. butyricum on PNS inflammation through the gut-kidney axis. Method BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group (CON), C. butyricum control group (CON+C. butyricum), PNS model group (PNS), and PNS with C. butyricum group (PNS+C. butyricum). The PNS model was established by a single injection of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) through the tail vein. After 1 week of modeling, the mice were treated with C. butyricum for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the mice were euthanized and associated indications were investigated. Results Since the successful modeling of the PNS, the 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), urine urea nitrogen (UUN), urine creatinine (UCr), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A were increased, the kidney pathological damage was aggravated, while a reduction of body weights of the mice and the anti-inflammatory IL-10 significantly reduced. However, these abnormalities could be dramatically reversed by C. butyricum treatment. The crucial Th17/Tregs axis in PNS inflammation also was proved to be effectively regulated by C. butyricum treatment. This probiotic intervention notably affected the expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein, and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). 16S rRNA sequencing showed that C. butyricum could regulate the composition of the intestinal microbial community and found Proteobacteria was more abundant in urine microorganisms in mice with PNS. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured and showed that C. butyricum treatment increased the contents of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid in feces, acetic acid, and valeric acid in urine. Correlation analysis showed that there was a closely complicated correlation among inflammatory indicators, metabolic indicators, microbiota, and associated metabolic SCFAs in the gut-kidney axis. Conclusion C. butyricum regulates Th17/Tregs balance via the gut-kidney axis to suppress the immune inflammatory response in mice with PNS, which may potentially contribute to a safe and inexpensive therapeutic agent for PNS.

Gene therapy offers great promise in addressing neuropathologies associated with the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS). However, genetic access remains difficult, reflecting the critical need for the development of effective and non-invasive gene delivery vectors across species. To that end, we evolved adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) capsid in mice and validated two capsids, AAV-MaCPNS1 and AAV-MaCPNS2, across rodent species (mice and rats) and non-human primate (NHP) species (marmosets and rhesus macaques). Intravenous administration of either AAV efficiently transduced the PNS in rodents and both the PNS and CNS in NHPs. Furthermore, we used AAV-MaCPNS1 in mice to systemically deliver the following: (1) the neuronal sensor jGCaMP8s to record calcium signal dynamics in nodose ganglia and (2) the neuronal actuator DREADD to dorsal root ganglia to mediate pain. This conclusively demonstrates the translatability of these two systemic AAVs across four species and their functional utility through proof-of-concept studies in mice.

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by rapidly progressive dementia, motor impairments, and psychiatric symptoms. Sensory disturbances were occasionally reported as well. The study aims to describe the sensory symptoms of the disease. Methods: The CJD Israeli National Database was screened for patients who presented sensory symptoms throughout the disease course. Symptoms, characteristics, and distribution were reviewed and the demographic and clinical data (sex, etiologies of the disease, age of onset, disease duration, neurological exam finding, tau protein level, EEG and MRI findings) were compared with the demographics and clinical data of CJD without sensory symptoms. Then, the patients with sensory symptoms were divided into patients with symptom distribution consistent with peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. The demographics and clinical data of the 2 groups were compared. Results: Eighty-four CJD patients with sensory symptoms and 645 CJD patients without sensory symptoms were included in the study. Sensory symptoms were more common in genetic E200K CJD patients (14.6% vs. 5.6% respectively, p = 0.0005) (chi-squared test). Numbness and neuropathic pain were the most common symptoms and distribution of symptoms of "stocking gloves" with decreased deep tendon reflexes suggesting peripheral neuropathy in 44% of the patients. In these patients, the classical EEG findings of Periodic Sharp Wave Complexes were less often found (58% vs. 22%, p = 0.02) (chi-squared test). Conclusions: Sensory symptoms are more common in E200K patients and often follow peripheral neuropathy distribution that suggests PNS involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of Spiral CT and Multidetector CT capable of multiplanar reconstructions has improved the diagnostic aspects of PNS by providing excellent details of anatomy, anatomic variants and pathology (inflammatory and neoplastic conditions) of PNS serving as pre-operative "ROAD MAP" called SSCT (Screening sinus CT) to the modern sinus surgeon to treat patients more effectively and reducing complications associated with Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). History was taken from each patient followed by clinical examination. Basic investigations like routine blood examination and routine urine examination were done whenever required. Diagnosis was confirmed by characteristic imaging features of masses or post-operative histopathological reports. Follow up of the patients was done by taking details of treatment and procedures done on the patients. In this study, plain radiographic findings were sinus opacification (100%), bilateral nasal haziness (58.06%) and unilateral nasal haziness (41.93%). On MRI, obliteration of nasal cavity (100%), extension of mass (93.55%), mass effect (90.32%) and enlargement of ethmoid infundibulum (90.32%) were seen. In present study, CT and MRI were able to correctly diagnose ethmoidal polyp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Chronic pain is a growing problem across the world, and in the midst of an opioid epidemic, it is imperative that alternative treatment measures are identified to help alleviate the pain experienced by these patients. Chronic pain greatly affects ones quality of life and many patients do not experience adequate relief with conventional treatment measures. The purpose of this retrospective analysis is to assess the efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) therapy in adult patients suffering from chronic pain refractory to conventional treatment measures who underwent therapy on various anatomical locations. Methods This retrospective analysis consisted of data collected from electronic health records for n = 89 patients who underwent PNS therapy. Data collected relates to patient age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, targeted nerves, follow-up encounters, pain scores from before and after PNS therapy, and duration of improvement. Statistical analysis used SPSS software, version 26 (IBM), using a paired t test to assess significance between pre and post PNS therapy pain scores. P values were significant if found to be ≤ 0.05. Further analysis assessed the correlation between age and BMI with visual analog scale (VAS) pain improvement and subjective percentage pain relief. Results The mean pre-operative (pre-op) pain score before PNS therapy was 6.36 (standard deviation (SD) = 2.18, SEM = 0.23) and the mean post-operative (post-op) pain score after PNS therapy was 4.19 (SD = 2.70, SEM = 0.29). The mean patient-reported percent improvement in pain following PNS therapy was 49.04% (SD = 34.79). The improvement in pain scores between pre-op and post-op was statistically significant (M = 2.17, SD = 2.82, SEM = 0.30, t(88) = 7.26, p

One of the main protection issues is the possible malfunctioning of protection devices under fault conditions in microgrids with integrated distributed energy resources (DERs). In this paper, a novel method of positive-negative sequence (PNS) compensation for grid connected distributed generator (DG) converters with enhanced low voltage ride-through (LVRT) capability in micro grid system is presented. The aim is to maintain the connection of the DGs by injecting the required reactive power considering the limitations imposed by grid codes. In the proposed scheme, a flexibility is provided in terms of active and reactive current injection such that the DGs can stay connected to the grid longer and produce more active power during the fault; while, in previous studies, usually a constant reactive current defined by grid codes was applied. The suitability of the proposed method in terms of utilization of current capacity of the converter is evaluated through comparative study with three other PNS current injection methods. Further, the time taken to disconnect the DGs from the grid in the event of fault is analyzed. The simulation results indicate that DGs can stay connected for longer with 99.98% utilization of converter current capacity compared to other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic pain is a growing problem across the world, and in the midst of an opioid epidemic, it is imperative that alternative treatment measures are identified to help alleviate the pain experienced by these patients. Chronic pain greatly affects ones quality of life and many patients do not experience adequate relief with conventional treatment measures. The purpose of this retrospective analysis is to assess the efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) therapy in adult patients suffering from chronic pain refractory to conventional treatment measures who underwent therapy on various anatomical locations. Methods: This retrospective analysis consisted of data collected from electronic health records for n = 89 patients who underwent PNS therapy. Data collected relates to patient age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, targeted nerves, follow-up encounters, pain scores from before and after PNS therapy, and duration of improvement. Statistical analysis used SPSS software, version 26 (IBM), using a paired t test to assess significance between pre and post PNS therapy pain scores. P values were significant if found to be ≤ 0.05. Further analysis assessed the correlation between age and BMI with visual analog scale (VAS) pain improvement and subjective percentage pain relief. Results: The mean pre-operative (pre-op) pain score before PNS therapy was 6.36 (standard deviation (SD) = 2.18, SEM = 0.23) and the mean post-operative (post-op) pain score after PNS therapy was 4.19 (SD = 2.70, SEM = 0.29). The mean patient-reported percent improvement in pain following PNS therapy was 49.04% (SD = 34.79). The improvement in pain scores between pre-op and post-op was statistically significant (M = 2.17, SD = 2.82, SEM = 0.30, t(88) = 7.26, p <.001), 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.57, 2.76]. The mean duration of improvement for patients was 123 days after therapy initiation (min = 6, max = 683, SD = 126). Conclusions: This study demonstrated the potential role for PNS therapy in improving patient-reported pain levels for various neuropathies, targeting various nerves. With PNS therapy's use as a chronic pain treatment and available research being limited, further study needs to be done on the efficacy of PNS therapy for pain management and complications associated with PNS device placements at various locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a bidirectional relationship between migraine and major depression disorder (MDD). They likely share important risk genes associated with different cell types in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). Profiling the expression of these genes in specific cell types is critical in understanding the pathophysiology of the relationship between migraine and MDD. Methods: Associated genes shared by migraine and MDD were identified by consolidating multiple curations of human disease-gene associations. Subsequently, the expression of overlapping genes was profiled and compared across the different cell types in CNS, PNS and neurovascular cells using eight single cell RNA sequencing datasets, including two human CNS datasets, two mouse CNS datasets, one human PNS dataset and three mouse PNS datasets. Results: 45 shared genes between migraine and MDD were identified. Consistently found in all eight datasets, dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters were broadly expressed in CNS and PNS cell types. Glutamatergic and endocannabinoid genes were specifically expressed in CNS neurons and astrocytes. Synthesis and/ or Release and Binding of Neuropeptides were specifically expressed in PNS peptidergic nociceptor (PEP). Genes related to inflammatory factors and immune responses were specifically expressed in CNS microglia. Among which, IL1B and COMT were highly expressed in CNS microglia cells. Conclusion: Single cell RNA sequencing of the CNS and PNS helps to identify the shared genes between migraine and MDD that are enriched in specific cell types. The findings provide new insight in understanding the underlying mechanism of action for the bidirectional co-morbidity between migraine and MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tissue engineering, the decellularization of organs and tissues as a biological scaffold plays a critical role in the repair of neurodegenerative diseases. Various protocols for cell removal can distinguish the effects of treatment ability, tissue structure, and extracellular matrix (ECM) ability. Despite considerable progress in nerve regeneration and functional recovery, the slow regeneration and recovery potential of the central nervous system (CNS) remains a challenge. The success of neural tissue engineering is primarily influenced by composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. The primary objective of restorative techniques is to guide existing axons properly toward the distal end of the damaged nerve and the target organs. However, due to the limitations of nerve autografts, researchers are seeking alternative methods with high therapeutic efficiency and without the limitations of autograft transplantation. Decellularization scaffolds, due to their lack of immunogenicity and the preservation of essential factors in the ECM and high angiogenic ability, provide a suitable three-dimensional (3D) substrate for the adhesion and growth of axons being repaired toward the target organs. This study focuses on mentioning the types of scaffolds used in nerve regeneration, and the methods of tissue decellularization, and specifically explores the use of decellularized nerve tissues (DNT) for nerve transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the pilonidal sinus that are associated with recurrence have scarcely been investigated in the literature. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease who were managed by a non‐operative technique using Salih's preparation. This study also tries to classify the patients according to the features that determine the outcome of the intervention. This is a single‐group cohort study that enrolled consecutive patients that had pilonidal sinus. All the patients were managed using Salih's preparation. The patients were seen at the clinic 6 weeks after the intervention to record data of recurrence. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 was used for coding and analysing the data. Test of significance and odds ratio were calculated for all of the features. The total number of patients receiving Salih's preparation was 12 123 cases, of which only 3529 patients were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 26.95 years, ranging from 14 to 55 years. The most significant factor related to the recurrence was the presence of an abscess. After summation of all odd ratios, the percentage of each one from the total was calculated, and accordingly, the patients were divided into three classes. Non‐operative methods using a preparation with antimicrobial and sclerosing properties can be an alternative for surgical intervention with a lower risk of recurrence. Classification of patients based on specific criteria can give clinicians and even patients themselves a vision of the chance of recurrence and treatment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThere is a bidirectional relationship between migraine and major depression disorder (MDD). They likely share important risk genes associated with different cell types in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). Profiling the expression of these genes in specific cell types is critical in understanding the pathophysiology of the relationship between migraine and MDD.MethodsAssociated genes shared by migraine and MDD were identified by consolidating multiple curations of human disease-gene associations. Subsequently, the expression of overlapping genes was profiled and compared across the different cell types in CNS, PNS and neurovascular cells using eight single cell RNA sequencing datasets, including two human CNS datasets, two mouse CNS datasets, one human PNS dataset and three mouse PNS datasets.Results45 shared genes between migraine and MDD were identified. Consistently found in all eight datasets, dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters were broadly expressed in CNS and PNS cell types. Glutamatergic and endocannabinoid genes were specifically expressed in CNS neurons and astrocytes. Synthesis and/or Release and Binding of Neuropeptides were specifically expressed in PNS peptidergic nociceptor (PEP). Genes related to inflammatory factors and immune responses were specifically expressed in CNS microglia. Among which, IL1B and COMT were highly expressed in CNS microglia cells.ConclusionSingle cell RNA sequencing of the CNS and PNS helps to identify the shared genes between migraine and MDD that are enriched in specific cell types. The findings provide new insight in understanding the underlying mechanism of action for the bidirectional co-morbidity between migraine and MDD.

In tissue engineering, the decellularization of organs and tissues as a biological scaffold plays a critical role in the repair of neurodegenerative diseases. Various protocols for cell removal can distinguish the effects of treatment ability, tissue structure, and extracellular matrix (ECM) ability. Despite considerable progress in nerve regeneration and functional recovery, the slow regeneration and recovery potential of the central nervous system (CNS) remains a challenge. The success of neural tissue engineering is primarily influenced by composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. The primary objective of restorative techniques is to guide existing axons properly toward the distal end of the damaged nerve and the target organs. However, due to the limitations of nerve autografts, researchers are seeking alternative methods with high therapeutic efficiency and without the limitations of autograft transplantation. Decellularization scaffolds, due to their lack of immunogenicity and the preservation of essential factors in the ECM and high angiogenic ability, provide a suitable three-dimensional (3D) substrate for the adhesion and growth of axons being repaired toward the target organs. This study focuses on mentioning the types of scaffolds used in nerve regeneration, and the methods of tissue decellularization, and specifically explores the use of decellularized nerve tissues (DNT) for nerve transplantation.

While the nervous system may be best known as the sensory communication center of an organism, recent research has revealed a myriad of multifaceted roles for both the CNS and PNS from early development to adult regeneration and remodeling. These systems work to orchestrate tissue pattern formation during embryonic development and continue shaping pattering through transitional periods such as metamorphosis and growth. During periods of injury or wounding, the nervous system has also been shown to influence remodeling and wound healing. The neuronal mechanisms responsible for these events are largely conserved across species, suggesting this evidence may be important in understanding and resolving many human defects and diseases. By unraveling these diverse roles, this paper highlights the necessity of broadening our perspective on the nervous system beyond its conventional functions. A comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions and contributions of the nervous system throughout development and adulthood has the potential to revolutionize therapeutic strategies and open new avenues for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This review highlights an important role for the nervous system during the patterning and maintenance of complex tissues and provides a potential avenue for advancing biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PNS (Peripheral nervous system) disease comprises a wide range of manifestations from acruable damage to nerve body degeneration. Finding proper imaging sequences of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to maximize the detection sensitivity and specificity of PNS injuries, is the purpose for which this study was conducted. In this regard, due to Wallerian degeneration, axonal degeneration and inflammation after nerve injury, were mentioned as the inseparable factors of nerve damage, and clues to be detected by the MRI. Gadofluorine M and USPIO nanoparticles are candidates which provide contrast in multiple aspects, such as diagnostic approaches and drug tracking. For instance, the P904 USPIO particle is proper for long-term monitoring, while the CS015 (PAA-coated USPIO), USPIO-PEG-tLyP-1, and USPIO nanovesicles are appropriate for drug delivery. Besides contrast agents, the implication of gradient echo or 3D DW-PSIF provides more precious data over conventional sequences, including T2-weighed on the physiological or pathological PNS status. Eventually, although the real-time imaging and simplified procedure of the ultrasound technique have advantages over MRI, the low-resolution disvalues its benefits. Alternatively, there is a growing trend in the application of Diffusionweighted imaging (DWI) to acquire a clear concept of disease diagnosis, along with Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to successfully monitor the rate of nerve regeneration that is applicable for therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral neuropathies caused by the peripheral nervous system (PNS) damage can occur due to trauma and other disorders. They present as altered sensation, weakness, autonomic symptoms, and debilitating pain syndrome with a wide range of clinical signs. Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) is a biological compound with essential roles in mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and anti-oxidant effects that protects mitochondria from oxidative damage and inhibits apoptosis caused by mitochondrial damage. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of ALCAR on peripheral nerve injuries. This review examines studies on treating traumatic peripheral neuropathies in which ALCAR is administered to rats with sciatic nerve injury with an appropriate control group. The articles were divided based on the mode of ALCAR administration. If one method was used in more than one article, their results were entered in the "Revman5.4" software and were meta-analyzed. Studies were selected from 1994 to 2018 on rats with varying physical injuries to their sciatic nerves. In one study, ALCAR was provided to rats in their drinking water, while in other studies, ALCAR was injected intra-peritoneally. Different mechanisms of ALCAR actions have been suggested in this study, but the underpinnings of the neuroprotective effects of ALCAR are still unclear. Further studies are mandatory to clarify the actual mechanisms of the neuroprotective activity of ALCAR. Based on the results of existing studies, ALCAR effectively increases the tolerance threshold of thermal and mechanical stimuli, reduces latency, and reduces apoptosis; finally, adjusting the dose and duration of administration may increase the dose and duration axon diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is an important phosphaturic hormone, yet few studies have focused on FGF23 in children with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) and children who progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This cross-sectional study investigated the significance of changes in FGF23 levels in childhood PNS and children who progressed to ESRD. Of the 41 children included in the study, 17 had PNS with proteinuria and normal renal function (PNS group), 4 had ESRD (ESRD group), and 20 were healthy (control group). Following corticosteroid treatment, patients with PNS and proteinuria entered the remission phase. Serum levels of FGF23, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), and calcium were measured. It was found that FGF23 levels in the PNS and ESRD groups were higher than those in the control group, while serum 25-OH-D levels were lower. Serum PTH levels increased significantly in the ESRD group. In the control group, FGF23 levels were negatively correlated with serum PTH and positively correlated with serum 25-OH-D. FGF23 levels were positively correlated with serum calcium and corrected calcium levels in children with PNS during the remission phase. Increased FGF23 levels in children with PNS, particularly in children who progressed to ESRD. It was also confirmed that serum FGF23 levels begin to rise in children with PNS prior to Stage 1 chronic kidney disease. These findings indicated that increased FGF23 levels may be associated with the progression and severity of nephrosis in children, and that serum FGF23 levels were useful for early detection of abnormal mineral metabolism in children with PNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated gait assessment tests are used in studies of disorders characterized by gait impairment. CatWalk XT is one of the first commercially available automated systems for analyzing the gait of rodents and is currently the most used system in peer-reviewed publications. This automated gait analysis system can generate a large number of gait parameters. However, this creates a new challenge in selecting relevant parameters that describe the changes within a particular disease model. Here, for the first time, we performed a multi-disorder review on published CatWalk XT data. We identify commonly reported CatWalk XT gait parameters derived from 91 peer-reviewed experimental studies in mice, covering six disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The disorders modeled in mice were traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, sciatic nerve injury (SNI), spinal cord injury (SCI), Parkinson's disease (PD), and ataxia. Our review consisted of parameter selection, clustering, categorization, statistical evaluation, and data visualization. It suggests that certain gait parameters serve as potential indicators of gait dysfunction across multiple disease models, while others are specific to particular models. The findings also suggest that the more site-specific the injury is, the fewer parameters are reported to characterize its gait abnormalities. This study strives to present a clearly organized picture of gait parameters used in each one of the different mouse models, potentially helping novel CatWalk XT users to apply this information to similar or related mouse models they are working on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les nodopathies auto-immunes (NA) sont des pathologies démyélinisantes du système nerveux périphérique qui ont la particularité d'avoir une physiopathologie médiée par des anticorps majoritairement d'isotype IgG4. La présence de ces anticorps, l'installation aiguë ou subaiguë de la neuropathie, la mauvaise réponse aux immunoglobulines intraveineuses et la bonne sensibilité au rituximab (anticorps monoclonal thérapeutique anti-CD20) ont récemment conduit à exclure les NA du groupe des polyradiculoneuropathies inflammatoires démyélinisantes chroniques. À ce jour, quatre auto-anticorps ciblant des protéines axo-gliales au niveau des nœuds de Ranvier et des paranœuds ont été identifiés : les anti-pan-neurofascine (anti-pan-Nfasc) qui reconnaissent toutes les isoformes de neurofascine, les anti-neurofascine 155 (anti-Nfasc155), les anti-contactine 1 (anti-CNTN1) et les anti- contactin associated protein 1 (anti-CASPR1). Actuellement en France, l'identification biologique de ces anticorps s'effectue en cytométrie en flux sur cellules transfectées HEK dans le laboratoire d'immunologie de l'AP-HM, à l'Hôpital La Conception à Marseille. Les NA engagent le pronostic fonctionnel et parfois même le pronostic vital. Leur diagnostic doit donc être le plus rapide possible pour de ne pas retarder la prise en charge thérapeutique. Autoimmune nodopathy (AN) are demyelinating pathologies of the peripheral nervous system which have the particularity of having a pathophysiology mediated by antibodies mainly of IgG4 isotype. Specific autoantibodies, the acute or subacute onset of neuropathy, the poor response to intravenous immunoglobulins and the improvement after rituximab led to exclude AN from the group of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies. Currently, 4 auto-antibodies targeting axo-glial proteins at the nodes of Ranvier and paranodes have been identified: anti-pan-neurofascin (anti-pan-Nfasc) antibodies which recognize all neurofascin isoforms, anti-neurofascin 155 (anti-Nfasc155), anti-contactin 1 (anti-CNTNI) and anti-contactin associated protein 1 (anti-CASPRI). Currently, in France, the identification of these antibodies is processed by flow cytometry on transfected HEK cells in the Immunology laboratory at the hospital La Conception in Marseille. As AN can cause severe disability and sometimes be life-threatening, their diagnosis should be done as soon as possible in order to start promptly the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analisis Peluang Karier Pegawai Negeri Sipil di Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan akibat Perubahan Jabatan dari Struktural menjadi Fungsional. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi peluang karier pegawai negeri sipil di Kemnaker setelah adanya perubahan jabatan dari struktural ke fungsional. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode analisis deskriptif dengan analisis kualitatif berdasarkan data yang dikumpulkan dari hasil wawancara, observasi, dan catatan administrasi unit kepegawaian serta sumber lainnya. Subjek penelitian ini dipilih secara purposive sampling, yaitu beberapa pegawai negeri sipil di lingkungan Kemnaker yang mengalami perubahan jabatan dari struktural ke fungsional dan pejabat dari Biro OSDMA Kemnaker. Data yang diperoleh diverifikasi melalui triangulasi sumber, di mana data hasil wawancara dibandingkan dengan data hasil observasi untuk memastikan keakuratan dan keandalan data. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa karakteristik individu, kesempatan yang tersedia, dan tuntutan lingkungan berpengaruh terhadap pengembangan karier PNS. Perubahan dari jabatan struktural ke jabatan fungsional dapat dilihat sebagai peluang tetapi juga tantangan karena tuntutan lingkungan dan beban kerja yang meningkat. Selain itu, karier seseorang di Kemnaker dipengaruhi oleh faktor-faktor seperti kemampuan dan kompetensi, ketersediaan lowongan jabatan, dan kebutuhan peningkatan kinerja dan angka kredit. Berdasarkan Bridges Career Transition Theory, individu yang berpindah jabatan dari struktural ke fungsional akan mengalami tiga tahapan, yaitu zona netral, persiapan, dan penyesuaian. Terakhir, Model Bandura's Triadic Model of Reciprocal Causation menyoroti interaksi antara faktor pribadi, lingkungan, dan perilaku yang mempengaruhi perilaku individu.

The restoration of sensory feedback is one of the current challenges in the field of prosthetics. This work, following the analysis of the various types of sensory feedback, aims to present a prototype device that could be used both for implantable applications to perform PNS and for wearable applications, performing TENS, to restore sensory feedback. The two systems are composed of three electronic boards that are presented in detail, as well as the bench tests carried out. To the authors’ best knowledge, this work presents the first device that can be used in a dual scenario for restoring sensory feedback. Both the implantable and wearable versions respected the expected values regarding the stimulation parameters. In its implantable version, the proposed system allows simultaneous and independent stimulation of 30 channels. Furthermore, the capacity of the wearable version to elicit somatic sensations was evaluated on healthy participants demonstrating performance comparable with commercial solutions.

In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection broke. With the gradual deepening understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, researchers and clinicians noticed that this disease is closely related to the nervous system and has complex effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). In this review, we summarize the effects and mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 on the nervous system, including the pathways of invasion, direct and indirect effects, and associated neuropsychiatric diseases, to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the relationship between COVID-19 and the nervous system.

Automated gait assessment tests are used in studies of disorders characterized by gait impairment. CatWalk XT is one of the first commercially available automated systems for analyzing the gait of rodents and is currently the most used system in peer-reviewed publications. This automated gait analysis system can generate a large number of gait parameters. However, this creates a new challenge in selecting relevant parameters that describe the changes within a particular disease model. Here, for the first time, we performed a multi-disorder review on published CatWalk XT data. We identify commonly reported CatWalk XT gait parameters derived from 91 peer-reviewed experimental studies in mice, covering six disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The disorders modeled in mice were traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, sciatic nerve injury (SNI), spinal cord injury (SCI), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and ataxia. Our review consisted of parameter selection, clustering, categorization, statistical evaluation, and data visualization. It suggests that certain gait parameters serve as potential indicators of gait dysfunction across multiple disease models, while others are specific to particular models. The findings also suggest that the more site-specific the injury is, the fewer parameters are reported to characterize its gait abnormalities. This study strives to present a clearly organized picture of gait parameters used in each one of the different mouse models, potentially helping novel CatWalk XT users to apply this information to similar or related mouse models they are working on.

Trigeminal neuropathy represents a subset of several facial pain syndromes that are difficult to diagnose and treat. Although many surgical modalities are available, outcomes remain suboptimal. The aim of this study is to present our experience in management of trigeminal neuropathy with a focus on the effectiveness and long-term efficacy of the different surgical procedures. A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted from December 2012 until February 2020. Twenty-eight patients (19 females, 9 males) were included in this study. They had 40 surgical interventions. At last follow-up, 1 patient (33.3%) treated by spinal cord stimulation (SCS) had no pain recurrence and 2 patients (66.6%) had their devices removed because of therapeutic failure. Median time to pain recurrence after SCS was 19.5 months (interquartile range [IQR], 29.79 months). Six patients were treated with peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). At last follow-up, 2 patients had satisfactory pain relief, whereas half of the patients had no improvement. For the 17 patients treated with computed tomography–guided trigeminal tractotomy/nucleotomy, true failure occurred 7 times in 6 patients. Median time to pain recurrence was 5.6 months (IQR, 6.2). Of the 6 patients treated with caudalis DREZ, 3 (50%) had satisfactory pain relief for >1 year and the median time to pain recurrence was 3.9 months (IQR, 29.53). Trigeminal neuropathy is a difficult to treat entity of facial pain syndromes. The long-term efficacy of available interventions does not meet patients' satisfaction. More organized prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed to define the patient population best served by each surgical modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The homotrimeric P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is expressed by virtually all cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes such as autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, neuropathic pain and cancer. Consequently, the P2X7R is considered a promising target for therapy and diagnosis. As the development of tracers comes hand-in-hand with the development of potent and selective receptor ligands, there is a rising number of PET tracers available in preclinical and clinical studies. This review analyzes the development of P2X7R positron emission tomography (PET) tracers and their potential in various PET imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is a negative perception associated with a pathological process, which stimulates a motor and vegetative reaction. This paper constitutes a bibliographic review of the determination of pain in birds, its relationship with the autonomic nervous system, physiology, neurotransmitters involved, as well as changes in the behavior related to it and its treatment. For this purpose, a literature review was carried out, the information was classified, analyzed, and interpreted. Understanding the mechanisms of pain and the associated clinical signs is important from the clinical point of view to be able to propose specific therapeutics for its treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the efficacy of whole-body computed tomography (WB-CT) as imaging procedure to exclude cancer in patients with neurological symptoms and signs at clinical onset. A retrospective observational study was designed to identify consecutive WB-CT requested by the Neurology Unit with a suspicion of an underlying tumor potentially linked to a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) between January 2019 and February 2022. The following data were collected: diagnosis at admission and at discharge, the presence of onconeural antibodies, the scans dose length product (DLP), the estimated effective dose (ED), the total estimated time requested; the PNS-Care-Score was retrospectively calculated only in subjects with available antibodies. The total number of patients included was 158. In 13/158 (positive group) a malignant or locally aggressive neoplasm was found while in 145/158 no malignant lesions were found on the WB-CT. Among the positive group, in 7/13 onconeural antibodies were diagnosed, resulting negative in all cases and the most frequent tumor was lung cancer (30.8%). PNS-Care-Score was of 6–7 in 2/7 (probable PNS) and in no case the PNS-Care-Score was ≥8 (definite PNS). The mean DLP for all the scans was 2798 ± 952 mGy cm (average estimated ED of 42 ± 14 mSv). The total estimated time requested for all scans was 11,060 min. If a PNS is suspected, we encourage the prescription of unenhanced chest CT and/or abdomen/testis/female pelvis ultrasound and/or mammography based on clinical picture. The WB-CT using a single portal phase would be appropriate as a second-line technique while magnetic resonance imaging might be indicated for the exclusion of nervous system diseases. Our suggestion results in saving in terms of radiation exposure, financial resources and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalam mewujudkan kebijakan Sistem Pemerintahan Berbasis Elektronik (SPBE) dan Satu Data ASN di Indonesia, Badan Kepegawaian Negara (BKN) sebagai instansi pemerintah pembina Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) perlu melakukan pengelolaan data secara akurat, terkini, dan terintegrasi melalui aplikasi MySAPK berbasis Android. Seiring berjalannya waktu, pengguna mengalami berbagai kendala dalam menggunakan aplikasi dan menuliskan ulasannya pada fitur Rating & Review di Google Play Store. Dalam rentang waktu 9 Mei 2017 hingga 18 Oktober 2021, terdapat 4.778 ulasan yang dituliskan oleh pengguna. Makalah ini menganalisis sentimen pada ulasan pengguna aplikasi MySAPK. Tahapan-tahapan yang dilakukan dimulai dari pengumpulan data, pelabelan data (anotasi), prapemrosesan data, ekstraksi fitur kata, pemodelan klasifikasi, evaluasi pemodelan, analisis sentimen, hingga penyusunan hasil rekomendasi. Dari hasil pemodelan klasifikasi sentimen menggunakan naïve Bayes dan support vector machine (SVM), didapatkan tingkat akurasi masing-masing sebesar 92,47% dan 94,14%. Hasil pengukuran sentimen menunjukkan bahwa pengguna memberikan ulasan bersentimen positif sebanyak 2.118 (44,3%) dan ulasan bersentimen negatif sebanyak 2.660 (55,7%). Di antara faktor penyebab pengguna menuliskan ulasan bersentimen positif adalah aplikasi yang sangat bagus, dapat memberikan manfaat, mempermudah dalam mengisi dan menyimpan data ASN, serta ucapan terima kasih kepada BKN. Sebaliknya, faktor penyebab pengguna menuliskan ulasan bersentimen negatif di antaranya adalah meminta tolong agar aplikasi diperbaiki, kesulitan dalam mengakses, gagal dalam mengisi dan melakukan pemutakhiran data, serta terjadi kesalahan pada server. Untuk mengatasi kendala tersebut, makalah ini merekomendasikan agar kapasitas server pendukung dapat ditingkatkan dan pemutakhiran versi terbaru diluncurkan untuk memperbaiki bug aplikasi. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi acuan BKN dalam mengevaluasi dan meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan ASN melalui aplikasi MySAPK.