Is there any relationship between red blood cell distribution width and prognosis of brain death?

Background

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that RDW (red blood cell distribution width) may independently predict clinically important outcomes in many populations. However, the role of RDW has not been elucidated in brain death. We conducted this study with the aim of evaluating the predictive value of RDW in brain death.

Methods

A retrospective study of seventy-seven of brain death cases during 36 months were evaluated at university hospitals, affiliated in Tehran, Iran. Demographical data include age, sex, BMI and cause of brain death, also laboratory results (red blood cell distribution, mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin) collected by checklists from patient records. Having the three RDW measurements (days of hospital admission, day of brain death, and day of cardiac arrest) required.

Results

Time interval from hospital admission until brain death was 5.27±4.07. The mean age of brain death cases was 32.65±16.53. The mean RDW values on days of hospital admission, the day of brain death, and the day of cardiac arrest were 14.53±1.98, 15.12±1.93 and 15.18±2.07, respectively. Results of the repeated-measures ANOVA test reveal that RDW level was constantly higher in the traumatic patient group compared to the non-traumatic ones (P=0.008).

Conclusion

The frequency of brain death was high in patients with high RDW values. RDW might be a prognostic biomarker for brain death. More prospective studies with large sample size and long follow-up period should be carried out to determine the prognostic significance of RDW and brain death in future.

LIVE-streaming 3D images: A neuroscience approach to full-body illusions

Inspired by recent technological advances in the gaming industry, we used capture cards to create and LIVE-stream high quality 3D-images. With this novel technique, we developed a real-life stereoscopic 3D full-body illusion paradigm (3D projection). Unlike previous versions of the full-body illusion that rely upon unwieldy head-mounted displays, this paradigm enables the unobstructed investigation of such illusions with neuroscience methods (e.g., transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroencephalography, and near-infrared spectroscopy) and examination of their neural underpinnings. This paper has three aims: (i) to provide a step-by-step guide on how to implement 3D LIVE-streaming, (ii) to explain how this can be used to create a full-body illusion paradigm; and (iii) to present evidence that documents the effectiveness of our methods (de Boer et al., 2020), including suggestions for potential applications. Particularly significant is the fact that 3D LIVE-streaming is not GPU-intensive and can easily be applied to any device or screen that can display 3D images (e.g., TV, tablet, mobile phone). Therefore, these methods also have potential future clinical and commercial benefits. 3D LIVE-streaming could be used to enhance future clinical observations or educational tools, or potentially guide medical interventions with real-time high-quality 3D images. Alternatively, our methods can be used in future rehabilitation programs to aid recovery from nervous system injury (e.g., spinal cord injury, brain damage, limb loss) or in therapies aimed at alleviating psychosis symptoms. Finally, 3D LIVE-streaming could set a new standard for immersive online gaming as well as augmenting online and mobile experiences (e.g., video chat, social sharing/events).

Macrodontia in association with a contrasting character microdontia

The dental, genetic, radiological and dermatoglyphic findings of a 19-year-old girl showing macrodontia of maxillary permanent central incisors in association with a contrasting character, microdontia of maxillary permanent lateral and mandibular primary central incisors and bilateral absence of maxillary first premolars and missing of the right mandibular second premolar and peg-shaped mandibular primary lateral incisors and canines were presented.

Taurodontism in association with supernumerary teeth

The dental, radiological, genetic and dermatoglyphic findings of an additional patient with taurodontism in association with supernumerary teeth were presented and the findings of the patient were compared with those in the literature.

Local, hypoplastic type of amelogenesis imperfecta: a clinical, genetic, radiological and dermatoglyphic study

A patient and her family members showing X-linked dominant form local, hypoplastic type of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) were investigated from view-point of their teeth, clinical, genetic, radiological and particularly dermatoglyphic findings. It was suggested that it might be a close relationship between the intra-uterine development of both AI and unusual dermatoglyphs originated from the same layer, ectoderm and an X-linked dominant gene could determine both abnormal teeth and unusual dermatoglyphic characteristics in questions.