Superficial Areas Research Articles

P 28 Add-on Effects of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) in State-of-the-art Treated Neurodegeneration

Question Clinical effects of current therapies for neurodegeneration are limited. Very recently, a novel therapeutic approach has been developed as non-invasive add-on therapy: Transcranial Pulse Stimulation TPS (Beisteiner et al. 2019, Beisteiner & Lozano 2020, Popescu et al. 2021). This presentation intends to give an overview about clinical add-on effects in patients with neurodegenerative disease. Methods TPS applies repeated ultrashort pressure pulses in the ultrasound frequency range. TPS is the first brain stimulation technique which allows precise targeting of deep and superficial areas of grossly changed pathological brains. Clinical effects in patient cohorts with Alzheimer’s Disease, Depression and Parkinson’s disease will be presented. Statistical analyses are based on the CERAD score for documentation of cognitive improvements, BDI-II for documentation of mood improvement and UPDRS for documentation of motor improvements. In all studies, only state-of-the-art treated patients are included. Results In the AD study with 35 patients a significant improvement of CERAD scores was found, lasting 3 months. Improvements correlated with improved functional connectivity values within the Default Mode Network (fMRI data). In the Depression study (18 AD patients with Depression as comorbidity), we found significant improvement in BDI-II after TPS therapy. Functional connectivity (fMRI data) showed a normalization of the FC between the salience network (right anterior insula) and the ventromedial network (left frontal orbital cortex). In the running PD study, preliminary analysis of observational data show significant improvements in UDRS scores in patients with optimized medications. Final PD analyses will be presented. Conclusion First evidence indicates, that Transcranial Pulse Stimulation TPS may show beneficial add-on effects in state-of-the-art treated neurodegeneration. References Popescu T, Pernet C, Beisteiner R. Transcranial ultrasound pulse stimulation reduces cortical atrophy in Alzheimer's patients: A follow-up study. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2021 Feb 25;7(1):e12121. doi: 10.1002/trc2.12121. PMID: 33681449; PMCID: PMC7906128. Beisteiner R, Lozano AM. Transcranial Ultrasound Innovations Ready for Broad Clinical Application. Advanced Science 2020 Oct 27;7(23):2002026. doi: 10.1002/advs.202002026. PMID: 33304757; PMCID: PMC7709976 Beisteiner R, Matt E, Fan C, Baldysiak H, Schönfeld M, Philippi Novak T, Amini A, Aslan T, Reinecke R, Lehrner J, Weber A, Reime U, Goldenstedt C, Marlinghaus E, Hallett M, Lohse-Busch H. Transcranial Pulse Stimulation with Ultrasound in Alzheimer's Disease-A New Navigated Focal Brain Therapy. Advanced Science 2019 Dec 23;7(3):1902583. doi: 10.1002/advs.201902583. PMID: 32042569; PMCID: PMC7001626.

Anal Sex Practices and Rectal Erogenous Zones: An Anatomic Questionnaire Based Study

ABSTRACT Introduction There is a lack of research that explores the prevalence, pleasure, and erogenous zones associated with anal sex. Objective To report the results of a cross-sectional study questionnaire that queries receptive anal intercourse (RAI) (e.g., when a partner inserts any part of themselves, like a penis, finger, tongue, or toy into their anus). Methods We used an anonymous online survey platform (Qualtrics), to query respondents’ experiences with RAI. Respondents who reported a history of ever engaging in RAI were asked questions about their ability to orgasm from RAI. These respondents were further shown anatomic illustrations of the rectum divided into four quadrants and were asked to designate regions they found “pleasurable when touched during sex.” Respondent demographics were collected and used to analyze data by gender identity, age, and sexuality. Chi-squared tests were used to evaluate the statistical differences between cisgender men (CM) and cisgender women (CW). Statistically significant differences existed where P<0.05. Results A total of 489 CM (mean age ± SD, 46.3 ± 17.5 years) and 501 CW (48.1 ± 16 years) completed the survey. Comparative analysis revealed CW were significantly more likely to endorse ever engaging in RAI, as compared to CM (34% vs 24%, p=0.00181). By different age groups: middle-aged CW [40-59 yo] were significantly more likely to endorse RAI (and older [>60yo] CM were significantly less likely; 41% vs. 20% respectively, p=0.00122). By sexuality: bisexual CM (73%), homosexual CM (40%), and homosexual CW (41%) were significantly more likely to report engaging in RAI while heterosexual CM (18%) were significantly less likely to endorse it (p<0.00001). By ability to orgasm: CM were significantly more likely to endorse achieving orgasm from RAI alone, as compared to CW (38.5% vs 18.6% respectively, p<0.001). By erogenous zone location: the superficial aspects of the rectum were more frequently selected by CM and CW as sites of pleasure when touched during RAI, as compared to the deep aspects (39% vs 14.6%). Also, respondents more frequently selected the anterior aspects of the rectum over the posterior aspects (36.6% vs 28.3%). Conclusions Our findings show that anal sex is practiced by many adults, across age, gender and sexual identity categories. Universally, both more CM and CW report pleasure from the superficial areas of the rectum. These findings may prove useful in elucidating the practice of RAI to improve patient sexual satisfaction. Disclosure No

Retinal Microvascular Changes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Study Based on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Purpose: Ocular microvascular networks and variables were analyzed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who had no pathological findings in their routine ophthalmologic examinations. Methods: The study included 31 patients with a diagnosis of MM and 30 healthy controls. The ophthalmologic examination findings and OCTA measurements of the participants were prospectively analyzed. We evaluated the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel density (VD) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) VD in macular region, radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) VD, optic nerve head (ONH) VD and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area. Results: The samples were gender-balanced, and there were no significant differences in age or gender between the MM and control groups. From the OCTA, all the ONH-VD measurements, except for the peripapillary and superotemporal parameters, were found to be significantly lower in MM patients than in the control group; the same was found for the whole image, inferonasal, superonasal, and superotemporal RPC-VD values; for all the SCP-VD values, except for the inferior hemi and temporal; and for all the DCP-VD values. It was also observed that the deep FAZ area was wider in the MM group than in the control group. Conclusions: We detected decreased VD in deep and superficial macular retinal areas, papillary, peripapillary regions, suggesting decreased blood flow and possible ischemia in MM patients. Therefore, obtaining information on ischemia by using a noninvasive and easily measurable method such as OCTA, may be beneficial in terms of follow-up and treatment but this needs to be supported by further, larger studies.

Multimodal evaluation of an interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein-induced mouse model of experimental autoimmune uveitis

We aimed to characterize the vascular phenotypes of an experimental autoimmune retinal uveitis (EAU) model induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) using multimodal imaging techniques. We systemically administered IRBP or vehicle to adult C57BL/6 mice. Fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), in vivo live confocal imaging using different tracers, OCT angiography (OCTA), and electroretinography (ERG) were performed after IRBP immunization. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunofluorescence staining were performed to characterize the immune response and vascular permeability. Mice with EAU exhibited perivascular inflammation, vitritis, and superficial retinal inflammation on fundus photography and OCT. H&E revealed immune cell infiltration in the perivascular area of the retina and choroid accompanied by a significant degree of perivasculitis that subsequently damaged photoreceptors 3 weeks postimmunization. Immunofluorescence staining showed subsequent transcytosis induction after local microglial activation followed by neutrophil recruitment in the perivascular area. Transcytosis in the superficial and deep vascular areas was improved by immune cell suppression. Intravital in vivo confocal imaging showed signs of neutrophil infiltration and obstructive vasculitis with perivascular leakage 3 weeks postimmunization. OCTA revealed a significant decrease in vascular flow in the deep capillary layer of the retina. Functional analysis showed that scotopic responses were intact at 2 weeks; however, normal photopic and scotopic responses were hardly detected in mice with EAU mice at 3 weeks postimmunization. Our data suggest that inflammatory cell activation and subsequent transcytosis induction in endothelial cells might be a major pathogenic factor for vascular leakage in uveitis, providing new insights into the pathophysiology of retinal vasculitis in noninfectious uveitis.

ZnO Electrodeposition Model for Morphology Control.

In this research, a model for electrodeposition of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures over indium-doped tin-oxide (ITO) glass using pulsed current and zinc chloride as source of zinc was proposed. For the model, reactions kinetics rate constants were evaluated by obtaining the reaction product solid mass of the various species through time using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). To obtain a mathematical model of the electrodeposition using Ansys CFX 2D simulation software, the reaction kinetics rates were used to calculate mass transfer in the volume closest to the surface. The model was applied to the experimental electrodeposition conditions to validate its accuracy. Dense wurtzite nanostructures with controlled morphology were obtained on a indium-doped tin-oxide (ITO) glass. Sample characterization was performed using high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on focused ion beam milled (FIBed) sheets from wurtzite mono-crystals. Average crystallite size was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using the Scherrer equation, and superficial areas were evaluated by Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) method. Through the experimental results, a chemical model was developed for the competing reactions based on the speciation of zinc considering pH evolution, and kinetic constants, on the oxygen rich aqueous environment. Owing to the model, an accurate prediction of thickness and type of electrodeposited layers, under given conditions, is achieved. This allows an excellent control of the optical properties of Wurtzite as a photon absorber, for an efficient separation of the electron-hole pair for conduction of the electric charges formed. The large surface area, and small wurtzite crystallites evenly distributed on the thin film electrodeposited over the ITO conductive layer are promising features for later dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell production.

Prosomeric classification of retinorecipient centers: a new causal scenario.

The retina is known to target many superficial areas in the brain. These have always been studied under the tenets of the classic columnar brain model, which was not designed to produce causal explanations, being functionally oriented. This has led over the years to a remarkable absence of understanding or even hypothetical thinking about why the optic tract takes its precise course, why there are so many retinal targets (some of them at surprising sites), what mechanism places each one of them exactly at its standard position, which processes specify spatial aspects of retinotopy and differential physiological properties within the visual system, and so on, including questions about conserved and changing evolutionary aspects of the visual structures. The author posits that the origin of the current causally uninformative state of the field is the columnar model, which worked as a subliminal or cryptic dogma that disregards the molecular developmental advances accruing during the last 40years, and in general distracts the attention of neuroscientists from causal approaches. There is now an alternative brain model, known as the prosomeric model, that does not have these problems. The author aims to show that once the data on retinal projections are mapped and analyzed within the prosomeric model the scenario changes drastically and multiple opportunities for formulating hypotheses for causal explanation of any aspects about the visual projections become apparent (emphasis is made on mouse and rabbit data, but any set of data on retinal projections in vertebrates can be used, as shown in some examples).

First in patient assessment of brain tumor infiltrative margins using simultaneous time-resolved measurements of 5-ALA-induced PpIX fluorescence and tissue autofluorescence.

.Significance5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence is currently used for image-guided glioma resection. Typically, this widefield imaging method highlights the bulk of high-grade gliomas, but it underperforms at the infiltrating edge where PpIX fluorescence is not visible to the eyes. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) has the potential to detect PpIX fluorescence below the visible detection threshold. Moreover, simultaneous acquisition of time-resolved nicotinamide adenine (phosphate) dinucleotide [NAD(P)H] fluorescence may provide metabolic information from the tumor environment to further improve overall tumor detection.AimWe investigate the ability of pulse sampling, fiber-based FLIm to simultaneously image PpIX and NAD(P)H fluorescence of glioma infiltrative margins in patients.ApproachA mesoscopic fiber-based point-scanning FLIm device (355 nm pulses) was used to simultaneously resolve the fluorescence decay of PpIX (629/53 nm) and NAD(P)H (470/28 nm). The FLIm device enabled data acquisition at room light and rapid () augmentation of FLIm parameters on the surgical field-of-view. FLIm measurements from superficial tumors and tissue areas around the resection margins were performed on three glioblastoma patients in vivo following inspection of PpIX visible fluorescence with a conventional neurosurgical microscope. Microbiopsies were collected from FLIm imaged areas for histopathological evaluation.ResultsThe average lifetime from PpIX and NAD(P)H fluorescence distinguished between tumor and surrounding tissue. FLIm measurements of resection margins presented a range of PpIX and NAD(P)H lifetime values ( to 14 ns, to 6 ns) associated with unaffected tissue and areas of low-density tumor infiltration.ConclusionsIntraoperative FLIm could simultaneously detect the emission of PpIX and NAD(P)H from patients in vivo during craniotomy procedures. This approach doubles as a clinical tool to identify tumor areas while performing tissue resection and as a research tool to study tumor microenvironmental changes in vivo. Intraoperative FLIm of 5-ALA-induced PpIX and tissue autofluorescence makes a promising surgical adjunct to guide tumor resection surgery.

The effects of long-term doppler ultrasound exposure in the prenatal period on renal tissue physiology in rats

ABSTRACT Doppler ultrasonography (DUSG) is widely used for fetal evaluations. This study investigated the effects of new generation Doppler ultrasound application at different frequencies during pregnancy on postnatal renal development. Six pregnant female rats were divided into three groups. No procedure was performed on the first (control) group. In the second group, transabdominal DUSG was performed continuously for 15 min every day from the first day of gestation until birth. In the third group, DUSG was applied for 15 min every two days. Twenty-four male pups were sacrificed after 60 days. Renal tissues were then collected and subjected to biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical evaluation. Malondialdehyde, glutathione, urea, Ca, K, and Cl levels increased in the DUSG groups compared to the control group (p < .05). Histopathologically, tubular damage increased in the DUSG groups compared to the control group (p < .05). Immunohistochemically, an increase was determined in Caspase-3 expression in the DUSG groups compared to the control group (p > .05). The DUSG groups also exhibited an increase in the superficial areas of the proximal and distal tubules, although the difference compared to the control group was not significant (p > .05). Multiple administrations of new generation DUSG to pregnant rats resulted in deleterious effects on the development of postnatal renal tissue. This shows that DUSG should be applied for as short a time as possible and that re-exposure should be avoided.

Acute changes in knee cartilage and meniscus following long-distance running in habituate runners: a systematic review on studies using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging.

Running is among the most popular recreational activities; nonetheless, the acute post-race changes of cartilage or meniscus have rarely been determined. The current study aimed to review the acute changes in knee cartilage and meniscus among habituate runners following long-distance running detected by using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Systematic literature search was performed on those dominate clinical databases which including MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Included studies should be conducted on healthy marathon runners, and the participants should be examined before and after running by using MRI. Intervention studies were excluded. A total number of 14 studies were finally included in this review which all examined the cartilage or meniscus by using MRI functional sequences. Among them, six studies quantitatively measured the changes regarding volume of the knee cartilage or/and meniscus. Five studies found that the volume would decrease initially after running. Ten studies reported T2 (T2*) would decrease after running and returned to the baseline in a short term, while T1ρ may remain increased in months. Five studies measured subareas for T2 (T2*) value, and found that the superficial and medial subarea changed more vastly than other regions after running. Runners experience transient changes in the volume and signals of knee cartilage and meniscus after long-distance running. A liquid exchange and material interaction in cartilage and meniscus was observed after running. Superficial and medial areas of knee cartilage and meniscus might be more susceptible to mechanical loading.

Subclinical Signs of Retinal Involvement in Hereditary Angioedema

To explore retinal abnormalities using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A) in a highly selective cohort of patients with type I hereditary angioedema (HAE). This prospective case-control study included 40 type I HAE patients and 40 age-/sex-matched healthy subjects (HC). All participants underwent SD-OCT-scanning of retinal posterior pole (PP), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), and optic nerve head (ONH). Superficial/deep capillary density was analyzed by OCT-A. A total of 80 eyes from 40 HAE and 40 eyes from HC were evaluated. The pRNFL was thicker in HAE than in HC in nasal superior (p < 0.0001) and temporal quadrants (p = 0.0005 left, p = 0.003 right). The ONH thickness in HAE patients was greater than in HC in the nasal (p = 0.008 left, p = 0.01 right), temporal (p = 0.0005 left, p = 0.003 right), temporal inferior (p = 0.007 left, p = 0.0008 right), and global (p = 0.005 left, p = 0.007 right) scans. Compared to HC, HAE showed a lower capillary density in both superficial (p = 0.001 left, p = 0.006 right) and deep (p = 0.008 left, p = 0.004 right) whole images, and superficial (p = 0.03 left) and deep parafoveal (p = 0.007 left, p = 0.005 right) areas. Our findings documented subclinical retinal abnormalities in type I HAE, supporting a potential role of the retinal assessment by SD-OCT/OCT-A as a useful tool in the comprehensive care of HAE patients.

Hybrid constructed wetlands integrated with microbial fuel cells and reactive bed filter for wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation.

The present study aimed to develop a pilot-scale integrated system composed of anaerobic biofilter (AF), a floating treatment wetland (FTW) unit, and a vertical flow constructed wetland coupled with a microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) and a reactive bed filter (RBF) for simultaneously decentralized urban wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation. The first treatment stage (AF) had 1450 L and two compartments: a settler and a second one filled with plastic conduits. The two CWs (1000 L each) were vegetated with mixed plant species, the first supported in a buoyant expanded polyethylene foam and the second (CW-MFC) filled with pebbles and gravel, whereas the RBF unit was filled with P adsorbent material (light expanded clay aggregate, or LECA) and sand. In the CW-MFC units, 4 pairs of electrode chambers were placed in different spacing. First, both cathode and anode electrodes were composed of graphite sticks and monitored as open circuit. Later, the cathode electrodes were replaced by granular activated carbon (GAC) and monitored as open and closed circuits. The combined system efficiently reduced COD (> 64.65%), BOD5 (81.95%), N-NH3 (93.17%), TP (86.93%), turbidity (94.3%), and total coliforms (removal of three log units). Concerning bioenergy, highest voltage values were obtained with GAC electrodes, reaching up to 557 mV (open circuit) and considerably lower voltage outputs with closed circuit (23.1 mV). Maximum power densities were obtained with 20 cm (0.325 mW/m2) and 30 cm (0.251 mW/m2). Besides the electrode superficial areas, the HRT and the water level may have influenced the voltage values, impacting DO and COD concentrations in the wastewater.

Speech Synthesis from Stereotactic EEG using an Electrode Shaft Dependent Multi-Input Convolutional Neural Network Approach.

Neurological disorders can lead to significant impairments in speech communication and, in severe cases, cause the complete loss of the ability to speak. Brain-Computer Interfaces have shown promise as an alternative communication modality by directly transforming neural activity of speech processes into a textual or audible representations. Previous studies investigating such speech neuroprostheses relied on electrocorticography (ECoG) or microelectrode arrays that acquire neural signals from superficial areas on the cortex. While both measurement methods have demonstrated successful speech decoding, they do not capture activity from deeper brain structures and this activity has therefore not been harnessed for speech-related BCIs. In this study, we bridge this gap by adapting a previously presented decoding pipeline for speech synthesis based on ECoG signals to implanted depth electrodes (sEEG). For this purpose, we propose a multi-input convolutional neural network that extracts speech-related activity separately for each electrode shaft and estimates spectral coefficients to reconstruct an audible waveform. We evaluate our approach on open-loop data from 5 patients who conducted a recitation task of Dutch utterances. We achieve correlations of up to 0.80 between original and reconstructed speech spectrograms, which are significantly above chance level for all patients (p < 0.001). Our results indicate that sEEG can yield similar speech decoding performance to prior ECoG studies and is a promising modality for speech BCIs.

Inverse neurovascular coupling contributes to positive feedback excitation of vasopressin neurons during a systemic homeostatic challenge.

SUMMARYNeurovascular coupling (NVC), the process that links neuronal activity to cerebral blood flow changes, has been mainly studied in superficial brain areas, namely the neocortex. Whether the conventional, rapid, and spatially restricted NVC response can be generalized to deeper and functionally diverse brain regions remains unknown. Implementing an approach for in vivo two-photon imaging from the ventral surface of the brain, we show that a systemic homeostatic challenge, acute salt loading, progressively increases hypothalamic vasopressin (VP) neuronal firing and evokes a vasoconstriction that reduces local blood flow. Vasoconstrictions are blocked by topical application of a VP receptor antagonist or tetrodotoxin, supporting mediation by activity-dependent, dendritically released VP. Salt-induced inverse NVC results in a local hypoxic microenvironment, which evokes positive feedback excitation of VP neurons. Our results reveal a physiological mechanism by which inverse NVC responses regulate systemic homeostasis, further supporting the notion of brain heterogeneity in NVC responses.

Current state of ultrasound neuromodulation therapy

Abstract Recently the very first patient studies on clinical effects of ultrasound based neuromodulation therapies, targeting deep and superficial brain areas, have been published. Various technologies meanwhile exist, including focused ultrasound techniques (FUS) applying repeated sonication periods of several 100 milliseconds as well as transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) applying single ultrashort pressure pulses in the microsecond range, which are repeated with a frequency of 4 to 5 Hz. Ultrasound based neuromodulation techniques include 2 important advantages for clinical application: (1) Pathological conductivities in patient brains do not have a relevant impact on ultrasound targeting, (2) Ultrasound techniques are the first which allow focal non-invasive deep brain stimulation. This talk will summarize the recent clinical ultrasound developments and current state of ultrasound neuromodulation therapy. Keywords: Transcranial Pulse Stimulation, Focused Ultrasound, Therapy

Lactate dehydrogenase activity staining demonstrates time-dependent immune cell infiltration in human ex-vivo burn-injured skin

Burn injuries constitute one of the most serious accidental injuries. Increased metabolic rate is a hallmark feature of burn injury. Visualising lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity has been previously used to identify metabolic activity differences, hence cell viability and burn depth in burn skin. LDH activity was visualised in injured and uninjured skin from 38 sub-acute burn patients. LDH activity aided the identification of spatially correlating immunocompetent cells in a sub-group of six patients. Desorption Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging (DESI MSI) was used to describe relative lactate and pyruvate abundance in burned and uninjured tissue. LDH activity was significantly increased in the middle and deep regions of burnt skin compared with superficial areas in burnt skin and uninjured tissue and positively correlated with post-burn time. Regions of increased LDH activity showed high pyruvate and low lactate abundance when examined with DESI-MSI. Areas of increased LDH activity exhibited cellular infiltration, including CD3 + and CD4 + T-lymphocytes and CD68 + macrophages. Our data demonstrate a steady increase in functional LDH activity in sub-acute burn wounds linked to cellular infiltration. The cell types associated are related to tissue restructuring and inflammation. This region in burn wounds is likely the focus of dysregulated inflammation and hypermetabolism.

Resting-State fMRI Functional Connectivity Strength Predicts Local Activity Change in the Dorsal Cingulate Cortex: A Multi-Target Focused rTMS Study.

Previous resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) studies suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can modulate local activity in distant areas via functional connectivity (FC). A brain region has more than one connection with the superficial cortical areas. The current study proposed a multi-target focused rTMS protocol for indirectly stimulating a deep region, and to investigate 1) whether FC strength between stimulation targets (right middle frontal gyrus [rMFG] and right inferior parietal lobule [rIPL]) and effective region (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex [dACC]) can predict local activity changes of dACC and 2) whether multiple stimulation targets can focus on the dACC via FC. A total of 24 healthy participants received rTMS with two stimulation targets, both showing strong FC with the dACC. There were four rTMS conditions (>1 week apart, 10 Hz, 1800 pulses for each): rMFG-target, rIPL-target, Double-targets (900 pulses for each target), and Sham. The results failed to validate the multi-target focused rTMS hypothesis. But rMFG-target significantly decreased the local activity in the dACC. In addition, stronger dACC-rMFG FC was associated with a greater local activity change in the dACC. Future studies should use stronger FC to focus stimulation effects on the deep region.

Abstracts from the World Federation for Laser Dentistry—Asia Pacific Division Virtual Conference July 16–17, 2021

Abstracts from the World Federation for Laser Dentistry—Asia Pacific Division Virtual Conference July 16–17, 2021

Optical coherence tomography angiography in healthy children: A comparison of macular structure.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the perfusion density (PD) of macular superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), the size of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and central macular thickness (CMT) in healthy children using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). About 206 eyes of 111 children were analyzed. The correlation of gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), age, sex, refractive errors, and visual acuity (VA) with OCT-A parameters were investigated. The mean PD of the fovea and the mean FAZ area of SCP were 17.1% (DS: 4.26) and 234.47 (DS: 106.39) µm2. The mean PD of the fovea and the mean FAZ area of DCP were 13.5% (DS: 5.23) and 298.32 (DS: 112.37) µm2. Superficial and deep FAZ areas were not correlated with sex, age, BW, refractive errors, or VA. FAZ area of SCP was correlated with foveal PD (r = -0.76) and with CMT (r = -0.68). FAZ area of DCP was correlated with foveal's PD (r = -0.61). There was no correlation between CMT and refractive errors. OCT-A may provide a non-invasive and reliable approach to evaluate macular perfusion in children. As the FAZ area, PD, and CMT change during the growth period, we performed established a reference range for different ages.

Comparative Analyses of Clinical Features, Histopathology, and CD123 Immunohistochemistry of Oral Lupus Erythematosus, Lichen Planus, and Other Lichenoid Lesions

Background: Oral lupus erythematosus (OLE) and oral lichen planus (OLP) are among the common causes of oral lichenoid lesions (OLLs). The differential diagnosis among causes of OLLs, particularly between OLE and OLP, is challenging as they have significant clinical and histopathological overlap. Objectives: To compare and summarize the clinical, histopathological, and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) findings between OLE, OLP, and other OLLs and to explore the diagnostic value of CD123 immunohistochemistry. Methods: A retrospective study on patients with OLE, OLP, and other OLLs was performed between January 2014 and December 2019. The baseline characteristics, the clinical, histopathological, and DIF features, as well as CD123 immunohistochemistry for plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) were statistically analyzed and compared between groups. Results: Of 70 patients, 12 had OLE, 39 had OLP, and 19 had other OLLs. Oral erosions/ulcers were the most common findings in all three groups. Red macules, telangiectases, and discoid plaques were more common in OLE patients, while OLP cases were typified by reticulated patches (p < 0.05). Additionally, white patches were found more often in other OLLs than in both OLE and OLP (p = 0.002). Histologically, mucosal atrophy, basal vacuolization, and perivascular infiltrate were observed in OLE, whereas OLP specimens possessed mucosal hyperplasia, hypergranulosis, and compact orthokeratosis (p < 0.05). Mucosal spongiosis was a histologic feature that favored other OLLs over OLE and OLP (p < 0.001). Data on DIF were nonspecific for all three conditions. For immunohistochemical staining, the median number of total CD123+ PDCs was observed to be higher in OLE than OLP in the mucosal-submucosal junction (MSJ) (p = 0.021), the superficial perivascular area (p = 0.026), and the superficial and deep perivascular areas (p = 0.001). Likewise, PDCs in clusters ≥2+ were seen in significantly higher numbers on OLE than OLP along the MSJ (p = 0.002), the superficial perivascular area (p < 0.001), as well as the superficial and deep perivascular areas (p = 0.011). CD123+ PDCs were found to be significantly more numerous in both OLE and OLP than other OLLs in all of the abovementioned areas (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: While there are some differences in the clinicopathological features between OLE, OLP, as well as other OLLs, a significant overlap remains. The quantity and distribution pattern of CD123 immunohistochemical staining has a diagnostic implication in differentiating OLE from OLP and other OLLs.

Diversity of vibrissal follicle anatomy in cetaceans.

Most cetaceans are born with vibrissae but they can be lost or reduced in adulthood, especially in odontocetes. Despite this, some species of odontocetes have been found to have functioning vibrissal follicles (including the follicle itself and any remaining vibrissal hair shaft) that play a role in mechanoreception, proprioception and electroreception. This reveals a greater diversity of vibrissal function in odontocetes than in any other mammalian group. However, we know very little about vibrissal follicle form and function across the Cetacea. Here, we qualitatively describe the gross vibrissal follicle anatomy of fetuses of three species of cetaceans, including two odontocetes: Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and one mysticete: minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and compared our findings to previous anatomical descriptions. All three species had few, short vibrissae contained within a relatively simple, single-part follicle, lacking in muscles. However, we observed differences in vibrissal number, follicle size and shape, and innervation distribution between the species. While all three species had nerve fibers around the follicles, the vibrissal follicles of Balaenoptera acutorostrata were innervated by a deep vibrissal nerve, and the nerve fibers of the odontocetes studied were looser and more branched. For example, in Lagenorhynchus acutus, branches of nerve fibers travelled parallel to the follicle, and innervated more superficial areas, rather than just the base. Our anatomical descriptions lend support to the observation that vibrissal morphology is diverse in cetaceans, and is worth further investigation to fully explore links between form and function.