Arrhythmia in Adult Congenital Heart Disease

This case report highlights the significance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of patients with repaired membranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) who develop postoperative arrhythmias. We present the case of a young female who experienced symptomatic episodes of supraventricular tachycardia following VSD repair. Through electrophysiological study and radiofrequency ablation, multiple tachycardia substrates were identified and successfully ablated. This report underscores the importance of combining surgical repair, electrophysiological evaluation and intervention to achieve optimal outcomes in this specific patient population.

The relationship between premature ventricular complexes and index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Premature ventricular complexes are common in healthy individuals' ambulatory monitoring. The index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance may predict malignant ventricular arrhythmias. This study investigated the relation between Premature ventricular complex burden and index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance in 24-h Holter monitoring. METHODS: A total of 257 patients who were admitted to a cardiology outpatient clinic without structural heart disease and underwent 24-h Holter monitoring were included in the study. Demographic features, laboratory parameters, and electrocardiographic and echocardiographic values of all patients were obtained from the hospital database. Patients were categorized into the following four groups according to their premature ventricular complex burden: ≤5% premature ventricular complexes as group 1, >6 and ≤10% premature ventricular complexes as group 2, >11 and ≤20% premature ventricular complexes as group 3, and >20% premature ventricular complexes as group 4. QRS, QT, and T peak to end interval were measured by resting electrocardiography. QT interval was corrected using Bazett's formula. T peak to end interval/QT, T peak to end interval/corrected QT interval, index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance, and corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance ratios were calculated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups regarding cardiovascular risk factors. In group 4, beta-blocker usage was significantly higher, and the serum magnesium levels were significantly lower than in other groups. There was no difference in QT duration or index of cardiac-electrophysiological balance values; however, corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance was significantly lower in the highest premature ventricular complex group (5.1, 5.1, 4.8, 4.7, p=0.005). In multivariate backward logistic regression analyses, it was found that lower corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance, lower serum magnesium levels, lower serum creatinine levels, larger left atrium size, and higher T peak to end interval were associated with higher premature ventricular complexes. CONCLUSION: Corrected index of cardio-electrophysiological balance is a novel and noninvasive marker that can predict premature ventricular complex burden in patients with structurally normal hearts.

Electrophysiological study in chagasics with syncope and conduction disorder

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Investigation of syncope involves the use of electrophysiological study, particularly in patients with cardiac conduction disorder. There is conflicting evidence about the role of electrophysiological study in patients with Chagas disease. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the electrophysiological study findings in patients with Chagas disease and bundle branch block and/or divisional block presenting with syncope. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients with Chagas disease and cardiac conduction disorder who underwent electrophysiological study from 2017 to 2021 for the investigation of syncope in a tertiary hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Those with non-interpretable ECG, known coronary artery disease, and/or other cardiomyopathies were excluded. HV interval and electrophysiological study-induced malignant ventricular arrhythmias data were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients (60.2±11.29 years, 57.8% males) were included. The mean HV interval was 58.37 ms±10.68; 22.2% of the studied population presented an HV interval of ≥70 ms; and malignant ventricular arrhythmias were induced in 57.8% patients. The use of beta-blockers and amiodarone (p=0.002 and 0.036, respectively), NYHA functional class≥II (p=0.013), wide QRS (p=0.047), increased HV interval (p=0.02), Rassi score >6.5 (p=0.003), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.031) were associated with increased risk of inducible malignant ventricular arrhythmias. CONCLUSION: More than half of the patients with Chagas disease, syncope, and cardiac conduction disorder have inducible malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Prolonged HV interval was observed in only 20% of population. Wide QRS, prolonged HV, reduced ejection fraction, and higher Rassi score were associated with increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

Study on electrophysiological changes of peripheral nerves in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Peripheral neuropathy is a common and disabling complication due to diabetes mellitus. In such neuropathy, the function of sensory neurons, motor neurons, and autonomic functions are affected. The involvement of sensory function predominates in majority of cases. The neuropathy when develops is not reversible and also can not be stopped with any modality of treatment. Aim and Objectives: The objective is to evaluate diabetic neuropathy using the electrodiagnostic studies which are considered as a valuable tool. These studies are sensitive, specific, reproducible, and easily standardized. Material and Methods: Forty patients were subjected to electrodiagnostic study to evaluate the status of peripheral nerves in type- 2 diabetic patients. The different conduction velocities (motor nerve conduction velocity [MNCV], sensory nerve conduction velocity [SNCV]), distal latency (DL), nerve action potential (sensory nerve action potential [SNAP], and combined muscle action potential [CMAP]) are studied. All the cases were divided into two groups based on normal and abnormal diabetic neuropathy score. Sex, body mass index matched thirty numbers of healthy adults of both sexes were included in the control group. Nerve conduction study (NCS) of all the three groups were compared. Result: Neuropathy mostly peripheral was observed in 15 (37.5%) cases. The age of majority of cases was from 50–60 (45%) with mean age of 52.42 ± 7.39, having predominance of male (66.67%) in cases with symptoms of neuropathy. Fourteen (93.33%) cases out of the above cases had abnormal NCS. Abnormal NCS was also found in cases without clinical neuropathy, i.e. 14 (56%). The mean values of CMAP, SNAP, MNCV, and SNCV with prolonged DL are observed which was statistically significant. The conduction defect was observed more in lower limbs than in upper limbs. In the category of the motor nerve (common peroneal) is the most affected whereas the most affected sensory nerve was Sural nerve. Conclusion: Affection of nerves with neuropathies due to diabetes was in Sensory nerve than motor nerve. Early screening for neuropathy in clinical practice with NCSs can help in early diagnosis and their management.

Application of electrophysiology-based machine learning in identifying driving fatigue / 环境与职业医学

Road traffic accidents (RTA) can cause a large number of casualties and property losses. Driving fatigue is one of the important factors leading to RTA. Electrophysiological signals, as a kind of information feedback for the nervous system to regulate body functions, can reflect drivers’ fatigue state. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews on the current research on electrophysiological signals as information input of machine learning methods for driving fatigue recognition. By investigating fatigue-related literature, the current paper summarized the neural regulation mechanism of fatigue, clarified that driving fatigue is caused by both psychological and physiological loads, recognized inducing factors related to driving fatigue, and summed up electrophysiological signals now in use of driving fatigue recognition, as well as their physiological mechanisms and related indicators. Machine learning algorithms are widely used in identifying driving fatigue. Based on existing studies that used electrophysiological signals as information input source and applied various machine learning algorithms to build driving fatigue identification models, this paper compared the effectiveness of various machine learning algorithms, and described the advantages and disadvantages of supervised machine learning. It is pointed out that suitable classification algorithms should be selected according to sample conditions and model eigenvalues when applied to driving fatigue recognition. In addition, a variety of electrophysiological signals as information sources can help improve the accuracy of a fatigue recognition model, but the increase of model input eigenvalues cannot. Finally, the research progress of identification methods based on electrophysiological signals provided new opportunities for identifying driving fatigue.

Effects of small-incision carpal tunnel release on postoperative functional recovery and electrophysiological indexes in carpal tunnel syndrome / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To explore the effects of small-incision carpal tunnel release on postoperative functional recovery and electrophysiological indexes in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).Methods:A total of 75 patients with CTS treated in Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital were enrolled as the research objects between April 2016 and April 2021. According to different surgical methods, they were divided into group A (34 cases, small-incision carpal tunnel release) and group B (41 cases, traditional carpal tunnel release). The operation time, hospitalization time, time to resume work, electrophysiological indexesbefore and after surgery, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:Compared with group B, operation time, hospitalization time and time to resume work were shorter in group A: (12.32 ± 3.26) min vs. (34.65 ± 7.49) min, (5.15 ± 1.68) d vs. (7.83 ± 2.24) d, (18.22 ± 2.03) d vs. (37.35 ± 3.16) d ( P<0.05). After surgery, electrophysiological indexes in both groups were improved ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence rates of scar pain, decreased grip strength and hand piercing pain in group A were lower than those in group B: 2.94%(1/34) vs. 19.51%(8/41), 0 vs. 21.95%(9/41), 0 vs. 12.20%(5/41) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with traditional carpal tunnel release, clinical curative effect of small-incision carpal tunnel release is comparable on CTS patients. However, it can shorten operation time, hospitalization time and time to resume work, reduce incidence of postoperative complications.

Mechanism of dexmedetomidine preconditioning on spinal cord analgesia in rats with functional chronic visceral pain

Purpose: To analyze the effect and mechanism of dexmedetomidine (DEX) analgesia pretreatment on functional chronic visceral pain in rats. Methods: Rats were divided into six groups: W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, and W6. The behavioral changes and electrophysiological indexes of rats in each group before and after DEX treatment were detected. Results: The levels of abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) in W5 and W6 groups were significantly lower than those in group W3, while the levels of thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) and mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) were significantly higher than those in group W3 (p < 0.05). The electromyographic signals of W1, W5, and W6 groups showed little fluctuation, while those of groups W2, W3, and W4 showed obvious fluctuation. TLR4 mRNA expression, IRF3, P65, and phosphorylation levels in W4, W5, and W6 groups were significantly lower than those in group W2 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine epidural anesthesia pretreatment could significantly inhibit visceral pain response in rats with functional chronic visceral pain, and its mechanism was related to the activation of TLR4 in spinal dorsal horn tissue of rats and the activation inhibition of IRF3 and P65 in the downstream key signals.

Isolation, identification and electrophysiological activity of BmK M2 from Buthus martensii Karsch venom / 中国药科大学学报

@#This study aimed to isolate and identify novel toxin peptides targeting voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSGs) from the venom of the Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) scorpion. Using G50-gel filtration, HPLC, peptide fingerprinting and amino acid sequencing, a novel sodium channel modulator, BmK M2, was identified from BMK scorpion. BmK M2 is a relatively abundant long chain polypeptide toxin in BmK scorpion venom with a molecular weight of 7 235.59, consisting of 64 amino acids and 4 pairs of disulfide bonds.Sequence alignment showed that the amino acid sequence of BmK M2 had high sequence and structural similarity to that of the discovered sodium channel toxins of BmK M1, BmK M3 and BmK M9, etc.BmK M2 is a potential new sodium channel modulator.Electrophysiological results revealed that BmK M2 can significantly enhance the activation, delay the steady-state inactivation and closed-state inactivation of Nav1.7, but has no activity on Nav1.8.BmK M2 can be used as a novel peptide probe for the study of the structure and function of Nav1.7 and the development of drugs targeting Nav1.7.

Andersen-Tawil Syndrome with High Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Four Mexican Patients. Cardiac and Extra-Cardiac Phenotypes

ABSTRACT Background: Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is a cardiac channelopathy that is inherited in an autosomal dominant way, and it is characterized by a triad of periodic paralysis, ventricular arrhythmias, and includes some dysmorphic features with incomplete penetrance and variable expression that result in a challenging diagnosis. Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the cardiac and extra-cardiac phenotype in a cohort of patients with ATS at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) to improve its early clinical identification. Methods: In an observational, transversal study, with a deviant case sampling, four female patients with ATS at high risk of SCD were included in the study. They carried the heterozygous pathogenic variants c.407C>T [p.Ser136Phe], c.652C>T [p.Arg218Trp] (n=2), and c.431G>C [p.Gly144Ala] in the KCNJ2 gene. Patients were evaluated by a cardiologist, a clinical geneticist, and a physiatrist. Results: One patient had the classical facial phenotype and the other three had subtle manifestations. The group of patients presented a diverse set of clinical data such as: triangular face, broad forehead, broadening of medial eyebrows, auricular pits, low-set ears, eyelid ptosis, thin lips, mandibular hypoplasia, and diverse types of dental alterations, single transverse palmar crease, camptodactyly, and syndactyly. Long-exercise test showed a decrement in the percentage amplitude up to 44%, classifying patients in IV or V types according to Fournier’s scale. Conclusions: Extra-cardiac manifestations were a common finding in this series of ATS type1 at high risk of SCD. Its recognition could help the clinician in the early identification of patients with ATS, especially for the cardiologist since they are commonly referred only for evaluation of ventricular arrhythmias.

Electrophysiological mechanism and treatment of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia in children / 国际儿科学杂志

Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia(IVT), which is a clinical entity without any structural heart disease or definite inducing factors, has a low incidence and a good overall prognosis in children, but long-term episode can lead to hemodynamic collapse or even be life-threatening.According to the origin of IVT, the response to drugs and the morphological characteristics of electrocardiogram, it can be divided into different subtypes whose electrophysiological mechanisms are also different.Besides, these is no guideline for the indications and treatment of IVT.This paper summarizes the electrophysiological mechanisms and progress of treatment of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia in children by reviewing the relevant literatures.

Design, synthesis, and activity study of α-conotoxin A10LPnIA fluorescent probe / 药学学报

italic>α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and is closely related to a variety of neurological diseases and inflammation response. α-Conotoxin [A10L]PnIA, as an antagonist targeting α7 nAChR, plays an important role in studying the physiological and pathological processes involved in α7 nAChR. [A10L]PnIA was labeled with fluorescein 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine, and the active peptide ([A10L]PnIA-F) was obtained by a two-step oxidative folding procedure in vitro. The Xenopus oocyte expression system and the two-electrode voltage clamp technique were used to identify the potency of [A10L]PnIA-F fluorescent peptide, and its cytotoxicity was detected by mouse macrophages and CCK8 method. The molecular weight of [A10L]PnIA-F fluorescent peptide was identified by mass spectrometry as 2 077.28 Da, which was consistent with the theoretical value. Electrophysiological determination of its half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for α7 nAChR is 17.32 nmol·L-1, which is consistent with [A10L]PnIA (IC50, 13.84 nmol·L-1). The cytotoxicity test results showed that within the concentration range of 5 nmol·L-1 to 10 μmol·L-1, there was no significant inhibition on the growth of mouse macrophages. The results showed that the α-conotoxin fluorescent probe [A10L]PnIA could provide pharmacological tools for the research of α7 nAChR-related neurophysiological and pathological mechanisms.

Sex Differences in Electrophysiological Properties of Mouse Medial Preoptic Area Neurons Revealed by In Vitro Whole-cell Recordings / 神经科学通报·英文版

Despite extensive characterization of sex differences in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) of the hypothalamus, we know surprisingly little about whether or how male and female mPOA neurons differ electrophysiologically, especially in terms of neuronal firing and behavioral pattern generation. In this study, by performing whole-cell patch clamp recordings of the mPOA, we investigated the influences of sex, cell type, and gonadal hormones on the electrophysiological properties of mPOA neurons. Notably, we uncovered significant sex differences in input resistance (male > female) and in the percentage of neurons that displayed post-inhibitory rebound (male > female). Furthermore, we found that the current mediated by the T-type Ca

Atypical Presentation of Medullary Syndrome in a Young Woman

Wallenburg syndrome occurs due to damage to lateral segment of the medulla. Medial medullarysyndrome occurs due to damage to upper portion of the medulla. I report a case of a 30 years old woman diagnosed with medullary syndrome[both medial & lateral features] in absence of CT scan findings sent to the department of Physiology for electrophysiological tests like nerve conduction studies, blink reflex, brainstem auditory evoked potential (BERA) & visual evoked potential (VEP). She had loss of sensations on the ipsilateral half of face (right), hemisensory loss on contralateral trunk & extremities, headache, contralateral hemiparesis (left), ipsilateral lingual paresis with atrophy, fibrillations with contralateral positive Babinski’s sign. The electrophysiological tests showed decrease in conduction velocity of right facial nerve, left tibial & peroneal nerves with decreased amplitude. The nerve conduction studies of median nerve (both motor & sensory) were normal. In blink reflex, latency of R2 ipsilateral & R2 contralateral of supraorbital nerves were increased on right side. There were increasedlatencies of waves II, III, IV & V of BERA & increased P100 latencies in VEP.The results of the electrophysiological tests of the patient showed that she had features of both medial & lateral medullary syndrome suggesting a lesion of both upper & middle medulla. The CT scan in this case was normal but conduction of MRI & CT guided angiography of posterior cerebral & vertebral arteries could have further localized the lesion causing this mixed symptomology

Duración de la onda P en las 12 derivaciones del electrocardiograma y su relación con el tiempo de conducción interauricular en pacientes con taquicardias paroxísticas supraventriculares / P wave duration in the 12 leads of the electrocardiogram and its relationship with interatrial conduction time in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias

RESUMEN Introducción: Existen algunos estudios que relacionan parámetros de la onda P con diferentes tiempos de conducción auricular, pero no se han realizado teniendo en cuenta a cada derivación del electrocardiograma. Objetivo: Determinar la duración de la onda P (Pdur) en las 12 derivaciones y relacionarlas con el tiempo de conducción interauricular. Método: Estudio de corte transversal en 153 pacientes adultos con diagnóstico confirmado de taquicardia por reentrada intranodal (TRIN) o vías accesorias mediante estudio electrofisiológico invasivo. Resultados: Al comparar la Pdur entre sustratos arrítmicos por cada derivación, no existieron diferencias significativas, excepto en V6. En las derivaciones DII, DIII, aVR, aVF, V1 y de V3-V6 la Pdur se correlacionó con el tiempo de conducción interauricular en ambos sustratos arrítmicos. En el análisis multivariado, la Pdur constituyó un predictor independiente de tiempos de conducción interauricular ≥ 95 percentil, en las derivaciones de cara inferior y en V3, V5 y V6. Se observaron altos valores del área bajo la curva de la Característica Operativa del Receptor en las derivaciones DII (0,950; p<0,001), DIII (0,850; p<0,001) y V5 (0,891; p<0,001). Conclusiones: No existen diferencias por derivación en la Pdur al comparar casos con TRIN y vías accesorias, excepto en V6. La mayoría de las derivaciones se correlacionaron con el tiempo de conducción interauricular. La Pdur fue un predictor independiente de tiempos de conducción interauricular ≥ 95 percentil. La derivación DII presenta la mayor capacidad discriminativa para encontrar valores prolongados del tiempo de conducción interauricular.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although some studies relate P wave parameters to different atrial conduction times, they do not consider each electrocardiogram lead separately. Objective: To determine the duration of P wave (Pdur) in the 12 leads of the electrocardiogram and relate it to the interatrial conduction time. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 153 adult patients with confirmed diagnosis of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) or accessory pathways by invasive electrophysiological study. Results: When comparing the Pdur between arrhythmic substrates by each lead, no significant differences were found, except for V6. In leads II, III, aVR, aVF, V1 and V3-V6, Pdur was correlated with the interatrial conduction time in both arrhythmic substrates. In our multivariate analysis, the Pdur was an independent predictor of interatrial conduction times ≥ 95 percentile in inferior wall leads and in V3, V5 and V6. High values of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were observed in II (0.950; p<0.001), III (0.850; p<0.001) and V5 (0.891; p<0.001) leads. Conclusions: The Pdur showed no difference by leads when comparing cases with AVNRT and accessory pathways, except for V6. Most of the leads were correlated with the interatrial conduction time; Pdur was an independent predictor of interatrial conduction times ≥ 95 percentile. Lead II has the greatest discriminatory ability to find prolonged values of interatrial conduction time.

The sensitivity of electrodiagnostic criteria in subtype identification at the presentation in patients of Guillain-Barre syndrome

Introduction: Electrophysiology plays a pivotal role in identifying various GBS subtypes. Despite having many electrodiagnostic criteria,studies addressing their applicability in patients of GBS at diagnosis are quite a few. Purpose: This study evaluates the sensitivity of 5 known electrophysiological criteria in patients with GBS at the time of presentation. Material & Methods: Clinical and electrophysiological data of GBS patients admitted with us between January 2011 and December 2016 were collected retrospectively from our hospital database, compiled and analyzed. For each patient, 5 different criteria for the electrophysiological diagnosis of GBS were applied, and the sensitivity of these 5 criteria in the diagnosis was evaluated. Results: A total of 288 patients were included. Closer concordance was noted between the criteria in diagnosing axonal subtype (Range- 36.81% to 41.32%).Italian criteria had the highest sensitivity (41.32%). There was a wider variation in the diagnosis of AIDP (Range- 19.79 to 34.72%). Hadden criteria showed the highest sensitivity (34.72%) closely followed by Ho et al (34.02%). Conclusion: As the timing of Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and the severity of disease influence the grouping of each patient into a specific electrophysiologic subtype, one should be cautious in interpreting electrodiagnosticdata. Serial nerve conduction studies may be required to subtype each patient as electrophysiology evolves over the first few weeks of illness.

Effects of hypothermia on the repolarization duration of ventricular myocytes in rats and its mechanism / 中国应用生理学杂志

To observe the effects of hypothermia on the repolarization duration and the expression of Kir2.1 protein of ventricular myocytes in isolated rat heart and explore the role of Kir2.1 protein. Eighteen healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=6 per group): Control group (C group), 35℃ group (H group), 32℃ group (H group). Langendorff isolated heart models were established. After 15 min 37℃ K-H fluid banlanced perfusion, C group continued to perfuse the K-H solution at 37℃ for 30 minutes, H group continued to perfuse the K-H solution at 35℃ for 30 minutes, H group continued to perfuse the K-H solution at 32℃ for 30 minutes. At 15 min of balanced perfusion (T), and 30 min of continuous perfusion (T), the heart rate,and the MAP in the three layers of the left ventricular anterior wall were recorded, the action potential duration at 50% repolarization (MAPD), the action potential duration at 90% repolarization (MAPD) and transmural dispersion of repolarization(TDR) were calculated. At the same time, the occurrence of arrhythmia was recorded. The expression of Kir2.1 protein was measured by Western blot. The average optical density (AOD) and the distribution of Kir2.1 protein were measured by immunohistochemistry in the ventricular tissue measured by electrophysiology. Compared with T, the heart rate was decreased, MAPD and MAPD were prolonged significantly (P＜0.05), and TDR was increased significantly (P＜0.05) in H group, H group at T. Compared with C group, the HR was decreased, the MAPD was prolonged significantly (P＜0.05), TDR was increased significantly (P＜0.05),the expression and the AOD of Kir2.1 protein were decreased significantly (P＜0.05) in Hgroup, Hgroup at T. Compared with H group, the heart rate of H group was decreased significantly (P＜0.05), MAPD and MAPD were prolonged significantly (P＜0.05), and TDR was increased significantly (P＜0.05) at T. The distribution of Kir2.1 protein in group C was normal, while the distribution of Kir2.1 in H group and H group was disordered. Hypothermia prolonged the ventricular duration of repolarization and increased the dispersion of repolarization. The mechanism is related to the down-regulation the expression of Kir2.1 protein and the disorder of the distribution of Kir2.1 protein.

Plasticity of Sniffing Pattern and Neural Activity in the Olfactory Bulb of Behaving Mice During Odor Sampling, Anticipation, and Reward / 神经科学通报·英文版

The olfactory bulb (OB) is the first relay station in the olfactory system. In the OB, mitral/tufted cells (M/Ts), which are the main output neurons, play important roles in the processing and representation of odor information. Recent studies focusing on the function of M/Ts at the single-cell level in awake behaving mice have demonstrated that odor-evoked firing of single M/Ts displays transient/long-term plasticity during learning. Here, we tested whether the neural activity of M/Ts and sniffing patterns are dependent on anticipation and reward in awake behaving mice. We used an odor discrimination task combined with in vivo electrophysiological recordings in awake, head-fixed mice, and found that, while learning induced plasticity of spikes and beta oscillations during odor sampling, we also found plasticity of spikes, beta oscillation, sniffing pattern, and coherence between sniffing and theta oscillations during the periods of anticipation and/or reward. These results indicate that the activity of M/Ts plays important roles not only in odor representation but also in salience-related events such as anticipation and reward.

Progress in the application of multifocal electroretinogram in retinal diseases / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#Multifocal electroretinogram(mf-ERG)is a common type of electroretinogram. It can objectively, accurately and quantitatively detect the function of each tiny part of the retina, so it is widely used in clinical, especially in retinal diseases. It not only plays an important role in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of retinal diseases, but also has an important value in the follow-up and prevention of diseases, even the scope of its application can be extended to basic research. Therefore, this paper reviews the application of multifocal electroretinogram in retinal diseases.

Application of the calculated electrophysiological parameters in early diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome

@#Objective: To investigate the application of the calculated electrophysiological parameters in early diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: 44 patients (60 hands) with a diagnosis of CTS and 31 healthy volunteers (44 hands) were enrolled. Acquired indicators include median nerve distal motor latency (DML), complex muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, conduction velocity (MCV), median nerve sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude, and conduction velocity (SCV). Then the terminal latency index (TLI), the residual latency (RL), and the difference in peak sensory latencies between the median and ulnar nerves (ΔPSL) were calculated. Results: The two groups were matched in age and gender distribution. The CTS group showed significant difference in SCV, DML, SNAP, and CMAP compared with the control group. The sensitivity, specificity, cutoff value, Youden index, and area under the curve of each indicator are respectively as follows: TLI (0.733, 0.932, 0.622, 0.629, and 0.877), RL (0.750, 0.977, 1.334, 0.727, and 0.907), ΔPSL (0.950, 0.841, 0.150, 0.791, and 0.942), SCV (0.950, 0.796, 56.5, 0.746, and 0.946), DML (0.867, 0.932, 3.55, 0.799, and 0.930), SNAP (0.683, 0.932, 21.68, 0.615, and 0.844), and CMAP (0.683, 0.773, 8.76, 0.456, and 0.758). Conclusion: The calculated electrophysiological parameters have higher sensitivities and specificities relative to a single electrophysiological parameter, which could greatly improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of CTS.