The neuronal implementation of representational geometry in primate prefrontal cortex

Modern neuroscience has seen the rise of a population-doctrine that represents cognitive variables using geometrical structures in activity space. Representational geometry does not, however, account for how individual neurons implement these representations. Leveraging the principle of sparse coding, we present a framework to dissect representational geometry into biologically interpretable components that retain links to single neurons. Applied to extracellular recordings from the primate prefrontal cortex in a working memory task with interference, the identified components revealed disentangled and sequential memory representations including the recovery of memory content after distraction, signals hidden to conventional analyses. Each component was contributed by small subpopulations of neurons with distinct spiking properties and response dynamics. Modeling showed that such sparse implementations are supported by recurrently connected circuits as in prefrontal cortex. The perspective of neuronal implementation links representational geometries to their cellular constituents, providing mechanistic insights into how neural systems encode and process information.

The role of glucocorticoids in increasing cardiovascular risk

Introduction

Different studies provide conflicting evidence regarding the potential for glucocorticoids (GCs) to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the correlation between GCs and cardiovascular risk, including major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), death from any cause, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), and stroke.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive search in PubMed and Embase (from inception to June 1, 2022). Studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included.

Results

A total of 43 studies with 15,572,512 subjects were included. Patients taking GCs had a higher risk of MACE (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.15-1.40), CHD (RR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11-1.41), and HF (RR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.51-2.45). The MACE risk increased by 10% (95% CI: 6%-15%) for each additional gram of GCs cumulative dose or by 63% (95% CI: 46%-83%) for an additional 10 μg daily dose. The subgroup analysis suggested that not inhaled GCs and current GCs use were associated with increasing MACE risk. Similarly, GCs were linked to an increase in absolute MACE risk of 13.94 (95% CI: 10.29-17.58) cases per 1,000 person-years.

Conclusions

Administration of GCs is possibly related with increased risk for MACE, CHD, and HF but not increased all-cause death or stroke. Furthermore, it seems that the risk of MACE increased with increasing cumulative or daily dose of GCs.

Human acute microelectrode array recordings with broad cortical access, single-unit resolution, and parallel behavioral monitoring

There are vast gaps in our understanding of the organization and operation of the human nervous system at the level of individual neurons and their networks. Here, we report reliable and robust acute multichannel recordings using planar microelectrode arrays (MEAs) implanted intracortically in awake brain surgery with open craniotomies that grant access to large parts of the cortical hemisphere. We obtained high-quality extracellular neuronal activity at the microcircuit, local field potential level and at the cellular, single-unit level. Recording from the parietal association cortex, a region rarely explored in human single-unit studies, we demonstrate applications on these complementary spatial scales and describe traveling waves of oscillatory activity as well as single-neuron and neuronal population responses during numerical cognition, including operations with uniquely human number symbols. Intraoperative MEA recordings are practicable and can be scaled up to explore cellular and microcircuit mechanisms of a wide range of human brain functions.

[Interpretation of the management of type 1 diabetes in adults: a consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in 2021]

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) convened a writing group to develop a consensus report on the management of type 1 diabetes in adults in September 2021. The writing group has proposed principles of the diagnosis and management of adult patients with type 1 diabetes, and has made suggestions for glycemic control with individualized glycemic targets to avoid hypoglycemia. They have also emphasized the importance of education and support for the self-management of diabetes in the management of type 1 diabetes.

[Sturge-Weber syndrome in port-wine stain patients: a retrospective study on the clinical features and screening strategy]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) in the patients with Port-wine stain (PWS). Methods: A total of 279 PWS patients, 164 males, 115 females with a median age of first visit 17.00 (4.75, 56.00) months. Most of the PWS patients were referred to the Ophthalmology Department for screening eye problems when the cutaneous angiomas involved the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve distribution. The intraocular pressure (IOP), cup to disk ratio (C/D), corneal condition and other essential measurements were examined to screen glaucoma or choroidal hemangioma. The differences of age, gender and vascular ectasia in the ipsilateral eyes were compared among PWS and SWS patients with chi-square test. The differences about the first visit time, IOP, C/D and corneal diameters were evaluated with independent-sample T test or nonparametric test followed by Mann-Whitney U test. Results: A total number of 66 out of 279 PWS patients (23.7%) were confirmed as SWS with glaucoma. The IOP of the ipsilateral eye with vascular ectasia in PWS and SWS was 13.00 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) (IQR: 9.75, 17.00) and 23.00 mmHg (20.00, 32.00), respectively (Z=-8.212, P<0.001); the IOP differences between the ipsilateral and contralateral eye in PWS and SWS was 1mmHg (0, 2) and 7 mmHg (3, 11) respectively; the C/D in the ipsilateral eye and the contralateral eye was 0.30 (0.30, 0.35) and 0.7 (0.6, 0.8) respectively in SWS cases with secondary glaucoma. Conclusions: There is a high proportion of SWS with glaucoma in ophthalmic division affected PWS patients. Fundus examinations were necessary for this type of patients. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53:753-757).

Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk After Radiotherapy in Women With Breast Cancer

Background

Radiotherapy for breast cancer often involves some incidental exposure of the heart to ionizing radiation. The effect of this exposure on the subsequent risk of heart disease is uncertain. We performed a meta‐analysis to investigate the link between radiotherapy and long‐term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with breast cancer.

Methods and Results

We performed a literature search using MEDLINE (January 1966 to January 2015) and EMBASE (January 1980 to January 2015) with no restrictions. Studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95%CIs for the associations of interest were included. Pooled effect estimates were obtained by using random‐effects meta‐analysis. Thirty‐nine studies involving 1 191 371 participants were identified. Patients who received left‐sided radiotherapy, as compared with those receiving right‐sided radiotherapy, experienced increased risks of developing coronary heart disease (RR 1.29, 95%CI 1.13‐1.48), cardiac death (RR 1.22, 95%CI 1.08‐1.37) and death from any cause (RR 1.05, 95%CI 1.01‐1.10). In a comparison of patients with radiotherapy and without radiotherapy, the RRs were 1.30 (95%CI 1.13‐1.49) for coronary heart disease and 1.38 (95%CI 1.18‐1.62) for cardiac mortality. Radiotherapy for breast cancer was associated with an absolute risk increase of 76.4 (95%CI 36.8‐130.5) cases of coronary heart disease and 125.5 (95%CI 98.8‐157.9) cases of cardiac death per 100 000 person‐years. The risk started to increase within the first decade for coronary heart disease and from the second decade for cardiac mortality.

Conclusions

Exposure of the heart to ionizing radiation during radiotherapy for breast cancer increases the subsequent risk of coronary heart disease and cardiac mortality.

Early repolarization is associated with a significantly increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in patients with structural heart diseases

BACKGROUND

Early repolarization pattern (ERP) has been proved to increase risk of arrhythmia death in the general population, but its prognostic significance in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) is controversial.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of studies assessing the association between ERP and risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VTAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with SHD.

METHODS

We performed a literature search using MEDLINE (January 1, 1966, to September 25, 2016) and EMBASE (January 1, 1980, to September 25, 2016) with no restrictions. Studies that reported odds ratio (OR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included.

RESULTS

The search yielded 19 observational studies, involving 7268 patients that reported 1127 cases of VTAs or SCD. In the selected studies, the point estimates of the ORs were consistently greater than 1. Compared with those without ERP, patients with ERP experienced a significantly increased risk of developing VTAs or SCD (OR 4.76; 95% CI 3.62-6.26), ventricular fibrillation (OR 7.14; 95% CI 4.31-11.82), and SCD (OR 4.07; 95% CI 1.58-10.51). The results were consistent and statistically significant in all subgroups. ERP with J-point elevation in inferior leads, notching configuration, and horizontal or descending ST segment connote higher risk.

CONCLUSION

ERP is associated with a significant increased risk of VTAs or SCD in patients with SHD. Future research should attempt to understand the exact mechanisms for the arrhythmia risk and to introduce ERP in the risk stratification in this patient group.

[The surrounding radiation dose of iodine-125 seeds on normal larynx tissue in rabbits]

Objective:To monitor the change of the radiation dose of the rabbits which were implanted rasioactive 125I seed into the normal laryngeal tiseue at different time,and to evaluate the safety of radiation protection. Method:Sixty New Zwaland rabbits, weighing 2.15-2.30 kg，were randomly divided into 5 groups:7 d,1month,2 month,4 month group and the control group, 12 rabbits in each group Iodine-125 of 0.8 mCi were implanted into the right side of the first trachea ring. At the different time and different distance, the surrounding radiation dose was measured after 4 months of implanting. The results were analyzed in statistics. Result:With the increase of the distance and the prolong of the time, the radiation dose was decreasing，and with the increase of distance,the radiation dose decreased slowly. At the site of 1 meter from the seeds, the detected dose is close to the natural background radiation dose. Conclusion:The clinical application of radioactive 125I seed interstitial implant is easy to protected,the surrounding close contacts is satety.

Role of Early Repolarization Pattern in Increasing Risk of Death

Background

An early repolarization pattern (ERP) has been hypothesized to be arrhythmogenic in experimental studies, but the prognostic significance of the ERP in the general population is controversial. We performed a meta‐analysis to examine the link between ERP and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), cardiac death, and death from any cause.

Methods and Results

We performed a literature search using MEDLINE (January 1, 1966 to July 31, 2015) and EMBASE (January 1, 1980 to July 31, 2015) with no restrictions. Studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included. Sixteen studies involving 334 524 subjects were identified. Compared with those without ERP, subjects with ERP experienced significantly increased risk for developing SCA (RR 2.18; 95% CI 1.29–3.68), cardiac death (RR 1.48; 95% CI 1.06–2.07), and death from any cause (RR 1.21; 95% CI 1.02–1.42), respectively. The increased risk was present predominantly in Asians and whites but not in African Americans. ERP with J‐point elevation in inferior leads, notching configuration, and horizontal or descending ST segment connote higher risk. ERP was associated with an absolute risk increase of 139.6 (95% CI 130.3–149.3) additional SCAs per 100 000 person‐years and responsible for 7.3% (95% CI 1.9–15.2) of SCA in the general population.

Conclusions

ERP is associated with significant increased risk for SCA, cardiac death, and death from any cause. Future studies should focus on understanding the exact mechanisms for the arrhythmia risk and developing reliable tools for risk stratification.

The Role of Macrolide Antibiotics in Increasing Cardiovascular Risk

BACKGROUND

Large cohort studies provide conflicting evidence regarding the potential for oral macrolide antibiotics to increase the risk of serious cardiac events.

OBJECTIVES

This study performed a meta-analysis to examine the link between macrolides and risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) or ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA), cardiovascular death, and death from any cause.

METHODS

We performed a search of published reports by using MEDLINE (January 1, 1966, to April 30, 2015) and EMBASE (January 1, 1980, to April 30, 2015) with no restrictions. Studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies involving 20,779,963 participants were identified. Patients taking macrolides, compared with those who took no macrolides, experienced an increased risk of developing SCD or VTA (RR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.61 to 3.63), SCD (RR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.91 to 3.31), and cardiovascular death (RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.62). No association was found between macrolides use and all-cause death or any cardiovascular events. The RRs associated with SCD or VTA were 3.40 for azithromycin, 2.16 for clarithromycin, and 3.61 for erythromycin, respectively. RRs for cardiovascular death were 1.54 for azithromycin and 1.48 for clarithromycin. No association was noted between roxithromycin and adverse cardiac outcomes. Treatment with macrolides is associated with an absolute risk increase of 118.1 additional SCDs or VTA, and 38.2 additional cardiovascular deaths per 1 million treatment courses.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of macrolide antibiotics is associated with increased risk for SCD or VTA and cardiovascular death but not increased all-cause mortality.

Cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein for predicting all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis

Elevated serum levels of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein are associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, the relationship between these two biomarker levels and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the association of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein levels with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Relevant studies were identified by searching the MEDLINE database through November 2013. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they reported the long-term all-cause or cardiovascular mortality of chronic kidney disease patients with abnormally elevated serum levels of cardiac troponin or C-reactive protein. Summary estimates of association were obtained using a random-effects model. Thirty-two studies met our inclusion criteria. From the pooled analysis, cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein were significantly associated with all-cause (HR 2.93, 95% CI 1.97-4.33 and HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14-1.29, respectively) and cardiovascular (HR 3.27, 95% CI 1.67-6.41 and HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.28, respectively) mortality. In the subgroup analysis of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein, significant heterogeneities were found among the subgroups of population for renal replacement therapy and for the proportion of smokers and the C-reactive protein analysis method. Elevated serum levels of cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein are significant associated with higher risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Further studies are warranted to explore the risk stratification in chronic kidney disease patients.

Realization of improved efficiency on nanostructured multicrystalline silicon solar cells for mass production

We report the realization of both excellent optical and electrical properties of nanostructured multicrystalline silicon solar cells by a simple and industrially compatible technique of surface morphology modification. The nanostructures are prepared by Ag-catalyzed chemical etching and subsequent NaOH treatment with controllable geometrical parameters and surface area enhancement ratio. We have examined in detail the influence of different surface area enhancement ratios on reflectance, carrier recombination characteristics and cell performance. By conducting a quantitative analysis of these factors, we have successfully demonstrated a higher-than-traditional output performance of nanostructured multicrystalline silicon solar cells with a low average reflectance of 4.93%, a low effective surface recombination velocity of 6.59 m s(-1), and a certified conversion efficiency of 17.75% on large size (156 × 156 mm(2)) silicon cells, which is ∼0.3% higher than the acid textured counterparts. The present work opens a potential prospect for the mass production of nanostructured solar cells with improved efficiencies.

More Favorable Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Women Than in Men

Background—

Data on sex difference in response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remain controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to summarize all published studies to determine whether sex-based differences in response to CRT exist.

Methods and Results—

We performed a literature search using MEDLINE (source PubMed; January 1966 to March 2014) and EMBASE (January 1980 to March 2014) with no restrictions. Pooled effect estimates were obtained by using random-effects meta-analysis. Seventy-two studies involving 33 434 patients were identified. Overall, female patients had better outcomes from CRT compared with male patients, with a significant 33% reduction in the risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.61–0.74; P <0.001), 20% reduction in death or hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.90; P <0.001), 41% reduction in cardiac death (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.84; P <0.001), and 41% reduction in ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.49–0.70; P <0.001). These more favorable responses to CRT in women were consistently associated with greater echocardiographic evidence of reverse cardiac remodeling in women than in men.

Conclusions—

Women obtained greater reductions in the risk of death from any cause, cardiac cause, death or hospitalization for heart failure, and ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death with CRT therapy compared with men, with consistently greater echocardiographic evidence of reverse cardiac remodeling in women than in men. Further studies are needed to investigate the exact reasons for these results and determine whether indications for CRT in women should be different from men.

B-type natriuretic peptide and prognosis of end-stage renal disease: a meta-analysis

Background

The prognostic importance of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro BNP (NT-proBNP) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains controversial.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We conducted an unrestricted search from the MEDLINE and EMBASE in all languages that were published between 1966 and Augest2013. Twenty-seven long-term prospective studies met our inclusion criterias. From the pooled analysis, elevated BNP/NT-proBNP was significantly associated with increased all cause mortality [odds ratio (OR), 3.85; 95% CI, 3.11 to 4.75], cardiovascular mortality (OR, 4.05; 95% CI, 2.53 to 6.84), and cardiovascular events (OR, 7.02; 95% CI, 2.21 to 22.33). The funnel plot showed no evidence of publication bias. The corresponding pooled positive and negative likelihood ratio for prediction of all cause mortality were 1.86 (95% CI, 1.66 to 2.08) and 0.48 (95% CI, 0.42 to 0.55), respectively.

Conclusions/Significance

BNP/NT-proBNP is a promising prognostic tool to risk-stratify the patients with ESRD. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the specific pathogenic mechanisms and the impact of other potential prognostic factors.

Realization of high performance silicon nanowire based solar cells with large size

We report the realization of high performance silicon nanowire (SiNW) based solar cells with a conversion efficiency of 17.11% and a large size of 125 × 125 mm(2). The key factor for success lies in an efficient approach of dielectric passivation to greatly enhance the electrical properties while keeping the advantage of excellent light trapping of the SiNW structure. The suppression of carrier recombination has been demonstrated through the combination of the SiO2/SiNx stack, which exhibits a good passivation effect on heavily doped SiNWs via reducing both the Shockley-Read-Hall recombination and near surface Auger recombination. We have examined in detail the effects of different passivations and SiNW lengths on the effective minority carrier lifetime, reflectance and carrier recombination characteristics, as well as cell performance. The proposed passivation techniques can be easily adapted to conventional industrial manufacturing processes, providing a potential prospect of SiNW based solar cells in mass production.

Early repolarization pattern and risk for arrhythmia death: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

A meta-analysis was performed to determine the risk and incidence rate of arrhythmia death, cardiac death, and all-cause death in the general population with the early repolarization pattern (ERP).

BACKGROUND

The ERP has recently been associated with vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation in case-control studies. However, the prognostic significance of the ERP in the general population is controversial.

METHODS

Relevant studies published through July 31, 2012, were searched and identified in the MEDLINE and Embase databases. Studies that reported risk ratio estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included. Data were extracted, and summary estimates of association were obtained using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Of the 9 studies included, 3 studies reported on arrhythmia death (31,981 subjects, 1,108 incident cases during 726,741 person-years of follow-up), 6 studies reported on cardiac death (126,583 subjects, 10,010 incident cases during 2,054,674 person-years of follow-up), and 6 studies reported on all-cause death (112,443 subjects, 22,165 incident cases during 2,089,535 person-years of follow-up). The risk ratios of the ERP were 1.70 (95% CI: 1.19 to 2.42; p = 0.003) for arrhythmia death, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.27 to 2.25; p = 0.63) for cardiac death, and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.87 to 1.28; p = 0.57) for all-cause death. The estimated absolute risk differences of subjects with the ERP were 70 cases of arrhythmia death per 100,000 subjects per year. J-point elevation ≥ 0.1 mV in the inferior leads and notching configuration had an increased risk for arrhythmia death in subgroup studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The ERP was associated with increased risk and a low to intermediate absolute incidence rate of arrhythmia death. Further study is needed to clarify which subgroups of subjects with the ERP are at higher risk for arrhythmia death.

Application of a transmission crystal x-ray spectrometer to moderate-intensity laser driven sources

In the pursuit of novel, laser-produced x-ray sources for medical imaging applications, appropriate instrumental diagnostics need to be developed concurrently. A type of transmission crystal spectroscopy has previously been demonstrated as a survey tool for sources produced by high-power and high-energy lasers. The present work demonstrates the extension of this method into the study of medium-intensity laser driven hard x-ray sources with a design that preserves resolving power while maintaining high sensitivity. Specifically, spectroscopic measurements of characteristic Kα and Kβ emissions were studied from Mo targets irradiated by a 100 fs, 200 mJ, Ti: sapphire laser with intensity of 10(17) W/cm(2) to 10(18) W∕cm(2) per shot. Using a transmission curved crystal spectrometer and off-Rowland circle imaging, resolving powers (E/ΔE) of around 300 for Mo Kα(2) at 17.37 keV were obtained with an end-to-end spectrometer efficiency of (1.13 ± 0.10) × 10(-5). This sensitivity is sufficient for registering x-ray lines with high signal to background from targets following irradiation by a single laser pulse, demonstrating the utility of this method in the study of the development of medium-intensity laser driven x-ray sources.

Effect of lattice structure on energetic electron transport in solids irradiated by ultraintense laser pulses

The effect of lattice structure on the transport of energetic (MeV) electrons in solids irradiated by ultraintense laser pulses is investigated using various allotropes of carbon. We observe smooth electron transport in diamond, whereas beam filamentation is observed with less ordered forms of carbon. The highly ordered lattice structure of diamond is shown to result in a transient state of warm dense carbon with metalliclike conductivity, at temperatures of the order of 1-100 eV, leading to suppression of electron beam filamentation.

Note: Diagnosing femtosecond laser-solid interactions with monochromatic Kα imager and x-ray pinhole camera

An x-ray pinhole camera and a monochromatic K(α) imager are used to measure the interactions of intense femtosecond laser pulses with Cu foil targets. The two diagnostics give different features in the spot size and the laser energy scaling, which are resulted from different physical processes. Under our experimental conditions, the K(α) emission is mainly excited by the fast electrons transporting inside the cold bulk target. In contrast, the x-ray pinhole signals are dominated by the broadband thermal x-ray emission from the hot plasma at the front target surface.

Effect of prepulse on fast electron lateral transport at the target surface irradiated by intense femtosecond laser pulses

The effects of preplasma on lateral fast electron transport at front target surface, irradiated by ultraintense (>10(18) W/cm2) laser pulses, are investigated by Kα imaging technique. A large annular Kα halo with a diameter of ∼560 μm surrounding a central spot is observed. A specially designed steplike target is used to identify the possible mechanisms. It is believed that the halos are mainly generated by the lateral diffusion of fast electrons due to the electrostatic and magnetic fields in the preplasma. This is illustrated by simulated electron trajectories using a numerical model.

[Effects of fermented Cordyceps powder on pulmonary function in sensitized guinea pigs and airway inflammation in sensitized rats]

OBJECTIVE

To study Cordyceps (artificial fermented Cordyceps sinensis(Berk.) Sacc) powderin the treatment of asthma in the animal models.

METHOD

Pulmonary function and airway inflammation in vivo were investigated.

RESULT

Cordyceps, 5g.kg-1(ig), significantly inhibited bronchial challenge of ovalbumin-induced change of RL and Cdyn (P < 0.05) and inhibited antigen-induced increase of eosinophils in the BALF of rats (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results suggested cordyceps could be applied for the prevention and cure of asthma.

[The DSA features of AVM of jaws]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the vascular architecture of AVM of jaws on DSA.

METHODS

12 cases of AVM of jaws comprised this study group, and 5 cases in maxilla and 7 cases in mandible, respectively. Seldinger technique was applied to carry out carotid angiography under the guidance of DSA machine (PHILIPS V3000).

RESULTS

The DSA features of AVM of jaws included varix into the posterior area of jaws. The varix of the maxilla was supplied by the posterior superior alveolar artery and transversal facial artery when the soft tissue was involved, and the varix of the mandible was supplied by the inferior alveolar artery, maxillary and facial artery.

CONCLUSION

Angiography is considered necessary for the diagnosis and embolization of AVM of jaws, and the varix is the center of lesion.

Treatment of capillary vascular malformation (port-wine stains) with photochemotherapy

One-hundred and thirty patients (85 female, 45 male) with port-wine stains were treated with photodynamic therapy, also called photochemotherapy, which recently has become acknowledged as effective for a variety of malignant tumors. Probably based on the photochemical reaction with the generation of toxic species, photochemotherapy results in endothelial cell injury and death of abnormal capillaries under overlying epidermis. A retrospective review of 118 available patients with port-wine stains reveals that 98.3 percent responded to photochemotherapy with varying degrees of success after one-time treatment. Results were reported under a simple classification system ranging from ordinary to dilated to posttreatment type. In the ordinary group, the results evaluated as excellent, good, fair, and poor were 37.8, 53.7, 8.5, and 0 percent, respectively, before a second treatment; the treated area was an average of 9.8 (range 7 to 13) cm in diameter. In addition, hypertrophic scars, permanent hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation were not seen based on proper parameters. Photochemotherapy offers a potentially efficient and promising choice based on a completely different mechanism from that of selected photothermal therapy with the pulsed-dye laser.