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BACKGROUND: The neurovascular conflict (NVC) at the brainstem exit zone of the facial nerve is considered the primary etiology of primary hemifacial spasm (HFS). Therefore, microvascular decompression (MVD) has become the preferred treatment for HFS. Successful neurovascular decompression can achieve significant therapeutic effects, and accurately identifying the site of compression is crucial for the success of this surgery. Detailed diagnostic neuroimaging plays an important role in accurately identifying the site of compression.The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and predictive value of preoperative visualization assessment of the neurovascular relationship in HFS using 3D Slicer software based on multimodal imaging fusion. This aims to reduce the omission of responsible vessels and lower the incidence of postoperative complications, thereby potentially improving the efficacy and safety of the surgery. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 80 patients with HFS who underwent MVD surgery. All patients underwent preoperative cranial MRI scans, including the 3D-FIESTA and the 3D-TOF MRA sequences. Three-dimensional models were reconstructed from the multimodal MRI images using 3D Slicer software. Independent observers, who were blinded to the surgical outcomes, evaluated the neurovascular relationships using both the three-dimensional models and multimodal MRI images. The assessment results were compared with intraoperative findings, and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 software. RESULTS: The agreement between preoperative assessment using the 3D-TOF MRA sequence combined with the 3D-FIESTA sequence and intraoperative findings was represented by a Kappa value of 0.343, while the Kappa value for agreement between three-dimensional reconstruction and intraoperative findings was 0.637. There was a statistically significant difference between the two methods ( X2 = 18.852, P = 0.001 ). The sensitivity and specificity of the 3D-TOF MRA sequence combined with the 3D-FIESTA sequence for evaluating neurovascular relationships were 92.4% and 100%, respectively, while for three-dimensional reconstruction, both were 100%. The Kappa value for agreement between preoperative the 3D-TOF MRA sequence combined with the 3D-FIESTA sequence prediction of offending vessels and intraoperative findings was 0.625, while the Kappa value for agreement between three-dimensional reconstruction and intraoperative findings was 0.938, showing a statistically significant difference ( X2 = 317.798, P = 0.000 ). The Kappa value for agreement between preoperative the 3D-TOF MRA sequence combined with the 3D-FIESTA sequence assessment of the anatomical location of facial nerve involvement in neurovascular compression and intraoperative findings was 0.608, while the Kappa value for agreement between three-dimensional reconstruction and intraoperative findings was 0.918, also showing a statistically significant difference ( X2 = 504.647, P = 0.000 ). CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative visualization assessment of neurovascular relationships in HFS using 3D Slicer software based on multimodal imaging fusion has been demonstrated to be reliable. It is more accurate than combining the 3D-TOF MRA sequence with the 3D-FIESTA sequence and shows higher consistency with intraoperative findings. This method provides guidance for surgical procedures and thereby potentially enhances the efficacy and safety of surgeries to a certain extent.

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OBJECTIVE: Introducing a preoperative image simulation technique to streamline the visualization of the foramen ovale in percutaneous microcompression. METHODS: Twenty-five trigeminal neuralgia patients were included in the study. Preoperative cranial computed tomography scans were processed with 3D Slicer software to create simulated fluoroscopic skulls. The angulations required for precise visualization of the foramen ovale were established via simulated anteroposterior imaging. These simulations informed the C-arm's angulations for foramen ovale targeting during surgery. RESULTS: The preoperative simulations accurately forecasted skull rotation angulations, aligning closely with intraoperative observations with negligible discrepancies (0-2 degrees). In 17 patients, the foramen ovale was distinctly visible, while in 8 patients, it was partially obscured yet discernible using the simulated angles. Nonvisible of the foramen ovale did not occur. Postoperative pain relief and complications were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our initial findings, the application of preoperative image simulation shows significant referential value in achieving accurate visualization of the foramen ovale in percutaneous microcompression for trigeminal neuralgia.

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BACKGROUND: 3D-Slicer is an open-source medical image processing and visualization software. In the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, it is commonly used to predict the responsible vessels. However, there are few reports on the use of 3D-Slicer software to quantitatively measure the bilateral trigeminal nerve volume in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) based on the three-dimensional images. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of three-dimensional fused images processed by 3D-Slicer in the evaluation of trigeminal nerve atrophy, providing an objective basis for the diagnosis of PTN. METHODS: 57 PTN patients who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) or percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) surgery in Hebei general hospital between January 2020 and April 2023 were included. Additionally, 30 patients with facial spasms(HFS) were included as a control group. All patients underwent 3D-TOF-MRA and 3D-FIESTA sequence examinations. Comparisons of bilateral trigeminal nerve volumes within and between groups were conducted by performing image fusion using 3D-slicer. RESULTS: The volume of the affected trigeminal nerve in the MVD group (33.96 mm³±12.61 mm³) and PBC group (23.05 mm³±7.71 mm³) was smaller than that of the unaffected trigeminal nerve in the MVD group (39.61 mm³±12.83 mm³) and PBC group (26.14 mm³±6.42 mm³), as well as the average volume of the trigeminal nerve in the control group (40.27 mm³±10.25 mm³) (P<0.05). The differences in bilateral trigeminal ganglion volume (∆V) was significant between the MVD group (∆V=23.59 %±14.32 %) and the control group (∆V=14.64 %±10.00 %) (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the trigeminal nerve volume difference between the MVD group (∆V=23.59 %±14.32 %) and the PBC group (∆V=26.52 %±15.00 %) (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Trigeminal nerve atrophy is correlated with primary trigeminal neuralgia. 3D-slicer software can quantitatively measure trigeminal nerve volume and assist in the diagnosis of primary trigeminal neuralgia based on the difference in bilateral trigeminal nerve volumes. However, trigeminal nerve atrophy is not associated with postoperative pain recurrence in patients.

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Achieving a pear-shaped balloon holds pivotal significance in the context of successful percutaneous microcompression procedures for trigeminal neuralgia. However, inflated balloons may assume various configurations, whether it is inserted into Meckel's cave or not. The absence of an objective evaluation metric has become apparent. To investigate the relationship between the morphology of Meckel's Cave and the balloon used in percutaneous microcompression for trigeminal neuralgia and establish objective criteria for assessing balloon shape in percutaneous microcompression procedures. This retrospective study included 58 consecutive patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia. Data included demographic, clinical outcomes, and morphological features of Meckel's cave and the balloon obtained from MRI and Dyna-CT imaging. MRI of Meckel's cave and Dyna-CT of intraoperative balloon were modeled, and the morphological characteristics and correlation were analyzed. The reconstructed balloon presented a fuller morphology expanding outward and upward on the basis of Meckel's cave. The projected area of balloon was strongly positively correlated with the projected area of Meckel's cave. The Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.812 (P<0.001) for axial view, 0.898 (P<0.001) for sagittal view and 0.813 (P<0.001) for coronal view. Similarity analysis showed that the sagittal projection image of Meckel's cave and that of the balloon had good similarity. This study reveals that the balloon in percutaneous microcompression essentially represents an expanded morphology of Meckel's cave, extending outward and upward. There is a strong positive correlation between the volume and projected area of the balloon and that of Meckel's cave. Notably, the sagittal projection image of Meckel's cave serves as a reliable predictor of the intraoperative balloon shape. This method has a certain generalizability and can help providing objective criteria for judging balloon shape during percutaneous microcompression procedures.

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BACKGROUND: Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) has been widely used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Patients with tumor-related TN are typically treated by tumor resection. However, when craniotomy is not feasible, PBC may serve as a simple and effective method for pain relief. Currently, there is limited literature on the use of this technique in treating patients with tumor-related TN. In this study, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dyna CT-assisted PBC in the treatment of tumor-related TN. METHODS: From January 2018 to December 2023, a total of 19 patients with tumor-related TN underwent Dyna CT-assisted PBC at our institution. The modified Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Intensity Grading Scale and sensory reduction scores were employed to assess treatment outcomes. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical characteristics, surgical efficacy, postoperative complications, and follow-up results of all patients. RESULTS: Immediate and complete pain relief was observed in 18 patients following PBC, with one patient experiencing delayed recovery. Follow-up periods ranged from 4 to 62 months, revealing only 4 patients with pain recurrence at the last follow-up, and tumor-related TN patients with involvement of Meckel's cave were more prone to recurrence. No severe complications occurred throughout the follow-up period. Although facial numbness was reported in all 15 patients, jaw weakness in 8 patients, and postoperative headache in 7 patients, these symptoms resolved within a short period. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative facial numbness and jaw weakness between tumor-related TN patients with or without Meckel's cave involvement. However, patients with Meckel's cave involvement were more likely to experience postoperative headaches. Patient satisfaction scores indicated a significant improvement in postoperative quality of life. CONCLUSION: For patients with tumor-related TN, when craniotomy is not feasible, Dyna CT-assisted PBC proves to be a safe and effective alternative treatment. Additionally, we observed varying postoperative clinical outcomes based on the different sites of tumor compression on the trigeminal nerve. Patients with tumor-related TN not involving Meckel's cave exhibited more enduring clinical efficacy compared to those with Meckel's cave involvement.

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OBJECTIVE: Whole-course nutrition management (WNM) has been proven to improve outcomes and reduce complications. We conducted this randomized controlled trial to validate its effectiveness in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: From 1 December 2020, to 30 November 2023, this single-center randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Department of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery in a major hospital in Beijing, China. Participants who were undergoing PD were enrolled and randomly allocated to either the WNM group or the control group. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications. Subgroup analysis in patients who were at nutritional risk was performed. Finally, a 6-month follow-up was conducted and the economic benefit was evaluated using an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were randomly assigned (1:1) into the WNM group and the control group. The incidences of total complications (47.6% vs. 69.0%, P =0.046), total infections (14.3% vs. 33.3%, P =0.040), and abdominal infection (11.9% vs. 31.0%, P =0.033) were significantly lower in the WNM group. In the subgroup analysis of patients at nutritional risk, 66 cases were included (35 cases in the WNM group and 31 cases in the control group). The rate of abdominal infection (11.4% vs. 32.3%, P =0.039) and postoperative length of stay (23.1±10.3 vs. 30.4±17.2, P =0.046) were statistically different between the two subgroups. In the 6-month follow-up, more patients reached the energy target in the WNM group (97.0% vs. 79.4%, P =0.049) and got a higher daily energy intake (1761.3±339.5 vs. 1599.6±321.5, P =0.045). The ICER suggested that WNM saved 31 511 Chinese Yuan (CNY) while reducing the rate of total infections by 1% in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population and saved 117 490 CNY in patients at nutritional risk, while WNM saved 31 511 CNY while reducing the rate of abdominal infections by 1% in the ITT population and saved 101 359 CNY in patients at nutritional risk. CONCLUSION: In this trial, whole-course nutrition management was associated with fewer total postoperative complications, total and abdominal infections, and was cost-effective, especially in patients at nutritional risk. It seems to be a favorable strategy for patients undergoing PD.

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Astragaloside IV(ASⅣ), the main component of Radix Astragali, has been used to treat cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI). However, the molecular mechanism of ASIV in CIRI needs to be further elucidated. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is considered to be an important kind of regulatory molecule in CIRI. In this work, the biological effect and molecular mechanism of ASIV in CIRI through lncRNA were analyzed by using rat middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) model and primary rat microglia (RM) cells oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model. The neurological deficit score was evaluated, the volume of cerebral infarction was calculated, and pyroptosis related molecules were detected by qPCR and western blot. Then, high-throughput sequencing was performed in sham and MCAO/R groups. The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks associated with pyroptosis were constructed by functional enrichment analysis. CCK-8 detection of cell survival rate, qPCR and western blot were used to determine the specific molecular mechanism of ASⅣ through ceRNA in vitro. Results showed thatASⅣ could decrease the neurological deficit score, reduce the volume of cerebral infarction, inhibit inflammatory reaction and pyroptosis in MCAO/R model rats. Next, the ceRNA network was established, including the LOC102555978/miR-3584-5p/NLRP3 regulatory network. In vitro experiments showed that LOC102555978 promotes NLRP3 mediated pyroptosis of RM cells through sponge adsorption of miR-3584-5p, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for post-CIRI inflammation regulation. ASⅣ could inhibit pyroptosis of RM cells by down-regulating LOC102555978. LOC102555978/miR-3584-5p/NLRP3 may be the molecular mechanism of ASⅣ's CIRI protective effect.

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BACKGROUND: Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) of the Gasserian ganglion is steadily gaining traction within the trigeminal neuralgia (TN) community. Bilateral trigeminal neuralgia (BTN) is a rare condition, and its treatment remains challenging. As far as we know, there are currently no research reports on the treatment outcomes of PBC for BTN.The purpose of this study is to meticulously evaluate the efficacy and safety of PBC for BTN in our medical institution. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we collected and analyzed the medical records of all patients with BTN who underwent the PBC procedure at the Department of Neurosurgery at Hebei General Hospital from July 2017 to July 2023. After undergoing PBC therapy, all patients were promptly assessed for treatment efficacy based on the modified Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity grading scale. RESULTS: All 37 patients with BTN experienced significant pain relief (BNI I-IIIb) immediately following unilateral PBC treatment. Among these patients, 25 reported relief from pain on the non-operative side, which was effectively managed with medication. Out of the 12 patients who did not experience improvement in contralateral symptoms, 11 received contralateral PBC. Out of the 48 treated sides, 47 sides (97.9%) achieved excellent pain control following a single PBC procedure. The follow-up times ranged from 2 to 62 months. At the 1-year follow-up, 94.6% of the patients maintained excellent therapeutic outcomes.Three recurrent patients underwent repeated unilateral PBC, and all of them maintained excellent pain control postoperatively. At the last follow-up, satisfaction was at 91.7% (measured using the Likert scale), with no severe complications occurring. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that PBC is an effective and relatively safe method for treating BTN, offering a valuable option for pain control in these rare cases of TN.

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Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of blink reflex combined with trigeminal somatosensory evoked potential (TSEP) in trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: A total of 147 patients with trigeminal neuralgia were enrolled as the research objects between February 2022 and February 2023. After admission, all underwent blink reflex on affected/healthy sides and TSEP examinations. The diagnostic value of the blink reflex combined with TSEP was analyzed. Results: The latency of R1, R2, and R2' waves (refers to the different nerve signal waveforms that are recorded when a facial nerve conduction speed test is performed) on the affected side was significantly longer than that on the healthy side (t = 26.324, 18.391, 20.801,Ps < .001), and latency of W1, W2 and W3 waves was also significantly longer than that on the healthy side (t = 16.045, 10.814, 10.349, P < .001). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the latency of R1, W1, W2, and W3 waves was positively correlated with the VAS score (r = 0.539, 0.611, 0.577, 0.586, P < .001). The results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis showed that area under the curve (AUC) values of R1, R2, R2', W1, W2, and W3 waves latency on the affected side in the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia were 0.753, 0.634, 0.651, 0.748, 0.756 and 0.736, respectively. The AUC of combined detection was 0.926, significantly greater than that of the single index (P < .001). Conclusion: Blink reflex combined with TSEP monitoring can improve the diagnostic value of trigeminal neuralgia, and the latency is related to pain.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application value of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) in repairing cranial defects during microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery via the retrosigmoid approach. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on patients who underwent MVD. According to the two different cranial reconstruction methods, patients were divided into a titanium mesh (TM) group and a CPC group. We compared in the two groups the length of postoperative hospital stay, the incidence of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, the number of patients with suspected postoperative intracranial infection who underwent lumbar puncture, the number of patients with a definitive etiologic diagnosis of intracranial infection, and the imaging evaluation of plastic shape satisfaction. RESULTS: Patients in the CPC group had an average hospital stay of 9.15 ± 2.00 days, shorter than that in the TM group (10.69 ± 2.86 days), P < 0.001. In the TM group, the rate of plasticity satisfaction was 70/89 (78.65%), which was significantly lower than that in the CPC group (60/66, 90.91%), P = 0.040. Among the patients with a definitive etiologic diagnosis of intracranial infection, there were eight cases in the TM group and one case in the CPC group, and the difference was statistically significant, P = 0.049. CONCLUSIONS: CPC is another viable alternative for complete cranial reconstructions of microvascular decompression craniectomies. The use of CPC does not increase the incidence of postoperative complications, such as CSF leakage and intracranial infection, and can reduce the average length of hospital stay and the incidence of etiologic diagnosis of intracranial infection. Furthermore, the evaluation of the plastic shape is satisfactory.

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Objective: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of a modified microvascular decompression (MVD) with a traditional MVD in hemifacial spasm. Methods: A tota1 of 120 patients with hemifacial spasm who received a modified MVD (modified MVD group) and 115 patients who received a traditional MVD (traditional MVD group) from January 2013 to March 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The surgery efficiency rate, surgery time and postoperative complications in both groups were recorded and analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding surgery: efficiency rate (modified MVD group VS traditional MVD group: 92.50% vs 92.17%, respectively; P = .925). The intracranial surgery time and postoperative complications rate in the modified MVD group were significantly lower than in the traditional MVD group (31.00 ± 1.78 min vs 48.00 ± 1.74 min, respectively; P < .05; 8.33% vs 20.87%; P = .006, respectively). There was no statistical difference between open skull time and close skull time between the 2 groups (modified MVD group vs traditional MVD group: 38.50 ± 1.76 min vs 40.00 ± 1.78 min, respectively; P = .055; 38.50 ± 1.76 min vs 36.00 ± 1.78 min, respectively; P = .086). Conclusion: The modified MVD for hemifacial spasm can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes and reduce intracranial surgery time and postoperative complications.

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The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of BRAF-activated non-protein coding RNA (BANCR) on pancreatic microlymphangiogenesis in pancreatic cancer (PC) and its molecular mechanism under hypoxic conditions. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of BANCR in SW1990 and PANC-1 PC cell lines under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Subsequently, the expression of BANCR in the PC cells was knocked down using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Western blotting and RT-qPCR analyses were performed to detect the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in the transfected cells. In addition, the transfected PC cells were co-cultured with human lymphatic endothelial cells and the lymphatic microvessel density (MLVD) was detected under normal and hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, HIF-1α expression in the PC cells was knocked down using siRNAs, and VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 mRNA expression in the HIF-1α knockdown cells was detected using RT-qPCR. The results showed that the expression of BANCR in the SW1990 and PANC-1 PC cell lines was significantly higher than that in human pancreatic duct endothelial cells. Additionally, the expression of BANCR was significantly increased in PC cells under hypoxic conditions compared with normoxic conditions. The MLVD of PC cells under hypoxic conditions was significantly higher compared with that under normoxic conditions, and the MLVD in the si-BANCR group was lower than that in the si-NC group, indicating that si-BANCR downregulated MLVD. These results indicate that BANCR positively regulated the expression of HIF-1α in PC cells at the transcriptional and translational levels. Finally, the expression levels of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in PC cells were significantly reduced when BANCR or HIF-1α expression was knocked down. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that the expression of BANCR in PC cells was significantly increased under hypoxic conditions and suggest that BANCR promoted tumor cell lymphangiogenesis by upregulating the HIF-1α/VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 pathway, which plays an important role in the process of PC lymph node metastasis.

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The laws of quantum physics endow superior performance and security for information processing: quantum sensing harnesses nonclassical resources to enable measurement precision unmatched by classical sensing, whereas quantum cryptography aims to unconditionally protect the secrecy of the processed information. Here, we present the theory and experiment for entanglement-enhanced covert sensing, a paradigm that simultaneously offers high measurement precision and data integrity by concealing the probe signal in an ambient noise background so that the execution of the protocol is undetectable with a high probability. We show that entanglement offers a performance boost in estimating the imparted phase by a probed object, as compared to a classical protocol at the same covertness level. The implemented entanglement-enhanced covert sensing protocol operates close to the fundamental quantum limit by virtue of its near-optimum entanglement source and quantum receiver. Our work is expected to create ample opportunities for quantum information processing at unprecedented security and performance levels.

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COVID-19 is a form of disease triggered by a new strain of coronavirus. Automatic COVID-19 recognition using computer-aided methods is beneficial for speeding up diagnosis efficiency. Current researches usually focus on a deeper or wider neural network for COVID-19 recognition. And the implicit contrastive relationship between different samples has not been fully explored. To address these problems, we propose a novel model, called deep contrastive mutual learning (DCML), to diagnose COVID-19 more effectively. A multi-way data augmentation strategy based on Fast AutoAugment (FAA) was employed to enrich the original training dataset, which helps reduce the risk of overfitting. Then, we incorporated the popular contrastive learning idea into the conventional deep mutual learning (DML) framework to mine the relationship between diverse samples and created more discriminative image features through a new adaptive model fusion method. Experimental results on three public datasets demonstrate that the DCML model outperforms other state-of-the-art baselines. More importantly, DCML is easier to reproduce and relatively efficient, strengthening its high practicality.

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BACKGROUND: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of 3D fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA) combined with 3D-time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA) sequences (FTMS) and 3D-reconstuction synthesized by 3D-slicer program in evaluation the neurovascular relationships and offending vessels preoperatively in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS). METHODS: Clinical data of HFS patients who underwent microsurgical vascular decompression (MVD) were analyzed. All patients underwent MRA scans with FTMS and 3D-reconstruction before surgery. The neurovascular relationship and offending vessels were evaluated and compared with intraoperative findings. RESULTS: Forty patients were included in this study, 18 (45%) of them were male. The mean age was 49.6 years. The Kappa identity tests identified the agreement between the FTMS and intraoperative findings in evaluating the neurovascular relationship and offending vessel was 0.263 and 0.643, respectively. The agreement between the 3D-reconstruction and intraoperative findings was 0.633 and 0.921 respectively. There was borderline significant difference between the two methods in predicting neurovascular relationship (χ2 = 9.363, P = 0.053), and there were significant differences between the two methods in predicting offending vessels (χ2 = 188.408, P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of FTMS in evaluating the neurovascular relationship were 89.7% and 100%, respectively, while those with 3D-reconstruction were both 100%. Moreover, the correct 3D- reconstruction examinations in predicting vessel and nerve relationships (r = 0.634, P = 0.034) and offending vessels (r = 0.652, P = 0.028) were significantly correlated with completely symptoms remission. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D-reconstuction synthesized by 3D-slicer program was more accurate than FTMS in preoperative evaluation of neurovascular relationship and offending vessel. The technique is expected to be helpful in preoperative evaluation. AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIAL: The dataset used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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BACKGROUND: The classic puncture method of percutaneous microcompression using fluoroscopy might be difficult to precisely locate and visualize the foramen ovale. Various new surgical tools to increase the accuracy of finding the foramen ovale location have been introduced. However, all of these systems require some complicated operating steps and/or advanced devices to complete the work. OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of a simple method for foramen ovale puncture by percutaneous microcompression based on preoperative image simulation. METHODS: Forty-five patients were included in the study. All patients underwent a computed tomography examination. Among them, the simulated preoperative puncture pathway was reconstructed on the basis of computed tomography scan examination for 22 patients. Procedures were performed by 2 surgeons: one experienced surgeon and another young surgeon with surgical qualification. The puncturing time and cumulative radiation exposure dose, from start of the puncturing until reaching the foramen ovale, were recorded. Postoperative pain relief, facial hypoesthesia, masticatory muscle weakness, and other complications were recorded. RESULTS: In all cases, the procedure of cannulation was completed successfully. The puncturing time for both the experienced and young surgeon with the use of preoperative image simulation seemed to be time-saving. The young surgeon had less cumulative radiation exposure with the use of preoperative image simulation. Moreover, the intraoperative puncture pathways were almost consistent with the preoperative simulated images. The rest of the process went smoothly. Short-term outcomes of all the 45 patients were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Based on our preliminary experience, the preoperative image simulation-guided technique is useful during these cases.

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Entanglement underpins a variety of quantum-enhanced communication, sensing, and computing capabilities. Entanglement-assisted communication (EACOMM) leverages entanglement preshared by communicating parties to boost the rate of classical information transmission. Pioneering theory works showed that EACOMM can enable a communication rate well beyond the ultimate classical capacity of optical communications, but an experimental demonstration of any EACOMM advantage remains elusive. In this Letter we report the implementation of EACOMM surpassing the classical capacity over lossy and noisy bosonic channels. We construct a high-efficiency entanglement source and a phase-conjugate quantum receiver to reap the benefit of preshared entanglement, despite entanglement being broken by channel loss and noise. We show that EACOMM beats the Holevo-Schumacher-Westmoreland capacity of classical communication by up to 16.3%, when both protocols are subject to the same power constraint at the transmitter. As a practical performance benchmark, we implement a classical communication protocol with the identical characteristics for the encoded signal, showing that EACOMM can reduce the bit-error rate by up to 69% over the same bosonic channel. Our work opens a route to provable quantum advantages in a wide range of quantum information processing tasks.

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BACKGROUND: Patients with prior illness are more vulnerable to heat stroke-induced injury, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Recent studies suggested that NLRP3 inflammasome played an important role in the pathophysiology of heat stroke. METHODS: In this study, we used a classic animal heat stroke model. Prior infection was mimicked by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA) injection before heat stroke (LPS/LTA 1 mg/kg). Mice survival analysis curve and core temperature (TC) elevation curve were produced. NLRP3 inflammasome activation was measured by using real-time PCR and Western blot. Mice hypothalamus was dissected and neuroinflammation level was measured. To further demonstrate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome, Nlrp3 knockout mice were used. In addition, IL-1ß neutralizing antibody was injected to test potential therapeutic effect on heat stroke. RESULTS: Prior infection simulated by LPS/LTA injection resulted in latent inflammation status presented by high levels of cytokines in peripheral serum. However, LPS/LTA failed to cause any change in animal survival rate or body temperature. In the absence of LPS/LTA, heat treatment induced heat stroke and animal death without significant systemic or neuroinflammation. Despite a decreased level of IL-1ß in hypothalamus, Nlrp3 knockout mice demonstrated no survival advantage under mere heat exposure. In animals with prior infection, their heat tolerance was severely impaired and NLRP3 inflammasome induced neuroinflammation was detected. The use of Nlrp3 knockout mice enhanced heat tolerance and alleviated heat stroke-induced death by reducing mice hypothalamus IL-1ß production with prior infection condition. Furthermore, IL-1ß neutralizing antibody injection significantly extended endotoxemic mice survival under heat stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above results, NLRP3/IL-1ß induced neuroinflammation might be an important mechanistic factor in heat stroke pathology, especially with prior infection. IL-1ß may serve as a biomarker for heat stroke severity and potential therapeutic method.

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Spectroscopy is an important tool for probing the properties of materials, chemicals, and biological samples. We design a practical transmitter-receiver system that exploits entanglement to achieve a provable quantum advantage over all spectroscopic schemes based on classical sources. To probe the absorption spectra, modeled as a pattern of transmissivities among different frequency modes, we employ broadband signal-idler pairs in two-mode squeezed vacuum states. At the receiver side, we apply photodetection after optical parametric amplification. Finally, we perform a maximum likelihood decision test on the measurement results, achieving an error probability orders of magnitude lower than the optimum classical systems in various examples, including "wine tasting" and "drug testing" where real molecules are considered. In detecting the presence of an absorption line, our quantum scheme achieves the optimum performance allowed by quantum mechanics. The quantum advantage in our system is robust against noise and loss, which makes near-term experimental demonstration possible.

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Peanutlike magnetic-fluorescent Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles, with an effective dynamic diameter of 180 nm, were synthesized via EuO+ doping and coupling of two Fe3O4 cores and reassembling through the solvothermal process. Spherical pure Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles with an effective dynamic diameter of 230 nm were also prepared for comparison. We designed graphene oxide (GO)-modified core-shell Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles as a nanocarrier for loading gambogic acid (GA) following labeling with radioisotope rhenium-188. We also performed GA loading and releasing on GA-loaded magnetic nanoparticles, in vivo biodistribution, and magnetic drug targeting therapy experiments. Results indicated that the GA-loaded magnetic nanoparticles demonstrate a clear pH-dependent drug release behavior, having a higher release rate in acidic environments. The in vivo biodistribution of the magnetic nanoparticles has morphologic dependency, and the peanutlike nanoparticles (PN-Fe3O4) tend to accumulate more in the spleen, lung, and liver than in the spherical nanoparticles (S-Fe3O4). The targeted therapy showed a higher efficacy of PN-Fe3O4 in inhibiting tumor cell growth than the nontargeted therapy. The polyethyleneimine (PEI) grafting of PN-Fe3O4 with amide bond was also designed to find an effective active targeting antitumor agent considering the fact that the PEI-GO conjugate has a higher GA load efficiency and the convergence effect.

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