BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Blood flow in an intracranial stent cannot be visualized with 3D time-of-flight MR angiography owing to magnetic susceptibility and radiofrequency shielding. As a novel follow-up tool after stent-assisted coil embolization, we applied MRA by using a Silent Scan algorithm that contains an ultrashort TE combined with an arterial spin-labeling technique (Silent MRA). The purpose of this study was to determine whether Silent MRA could visualize flow in an intracranial stent placed in the anterior circulation.

BACKGROUND The exoscope has been reported as a novel neurosurgical instrumentation in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE To investigate the possibility that ORBEYE (OE), a novel instrument that excludes eyepiece lenses and allows for microsurgery by observation of the 4K3D monitor, could replace microscopes. METHODS We report 22 clinical cases by 5 experienced neurosurgeons and the comparative results of training 10 residents. An observation study with questionnaire survey was conducted on usability. Twelve items including image quality, eyestrain, and function of the arm were evaluated. RESULTS The following 22 clinical procedures were conducted: surgery for intracranial hemorrhage (n = 2) and brain tumor (n = 8), laminectomy (n = 3), aneurysm clipping (n = 3), vascular anastomosis (n = 2), carotid endarterectomy (n = 2), and nerve decompression (n = 1). No complications were observed. The fluorescent study, including indocyanine-green and 5-aminolevunic acid, allowed for clear depiction on the 4K monitor. The surgeon could operate in a comfortable posture. Similar to the microscope, it was possible to change the optical and viewing axes with the OE, but the OE was switched to the microscope or endoscope in hematoma removal and pituitary surgery. Residents judged that eyestrain was strong (P = .0096). Experienced neurosurgeons acting as assistants judged that the scope arm's range of movement was narrow (P = .0204). Sixty percent of residents judged that the OE was superior to the microscope. CONCLUSION Although based on limited experience, it was not possible to substitute the microscope with the OE in all operations; however, the OE surpasses the microscope in terms of ergonomic features.

Since the initial discovery of hydrothermal vents in 1977, these ‘extreme’ chemosynthetic systems have been a focus of interdisciplinary research. The Okinawa Trough (OT), located in the semi-enclosed East China Sea between the Eurasian continent and the Ryukyu arc, hosts more than 20 known vent sites but all within a relatively narrow depth range (600–1880 m). Depth is a significant factor in determining fluid temperature and chemistry, as well as biological composition. However, due to the narrow depth range of known sites, the actual influence of depth here has been poorly resolved. Here, the Yokosuka site (2190 m), the first OT vent exceeding 2000 m depth is reported. A highly active hydrothermal vent site centred around four active vent chimneys reaching 364°C in temperature, it is the hottest in the OT. Notable Cl depletion (130 mM) and both high H2 and CH4 concentrations (approx. 10 mM) probably result from subcritical phase separation and thermal decomposition of sedimentary organic matter. Microbiota and fauna were generally similar to other sites in the OT, although with some different characteristics. In terms of microbiota, the H2-rich vent fluids in Neuschwanstein chimney resulted in the dominance of hydrogenotrophic chemolithoautotrophs such as Thioreductor and Desulfobacterium. For fauna, the dominance of the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus aduloides is surprising given other nearby vent sites are usually dominated by B. platifrons and/or B. japonicus, and a sponge field in the periphery dominated by Poecilosclerida is unusual for OT vents. Our insights from the Yokosuka site implies that although the distribution of animal species may be linked to depth, the constraint is perhaps not water pressure and resulting chemical properties of the vent fluid but instead physical properties of the surrounding seawater. The potential significance of these preliminary results and prospect for future research on this unique site are discussed.

A 65-year-old woman underwent surgical treatment of an unruptured aneurysm in the left middle cerebral artery. Surgical craniotomy using arachnoid plasty with a fibrin sealant was completed without incident, but abrupt neurological deterioration occurred on the 9th postoperative day. Antibiotic treatment was given, but the symptoms did not resolve. Neuroimaging and physical findings indicated allergic reaction rather than infectious process. Therefore, systemic steroids were administered that resulted in dramatic resolution of symptoms. Nine months later, lymphocyte stimulation test of materials used in arachnoid plasty revealed positive response to a component of the combination pair in fibrin glue. The fibrin sealant placement method is a widely accepted and familiar technique, but surgeons should anticipate possible allergic reactions such as those observed in the present case.

S U M M A R YIn order to describe features of tectonic deformation in the Indochina Peninsula, Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous red sandstones were sampled at three localities in the Shan-Thai and Indochina blocks. Stepwise thermal treatment of most samples revealed the presence of characteristic remanent magnetization, which is generally unblocked by 680 • C. This component from Phong Saly (21.6 • N, 101.9 • E) and Borikhanxay (18.5 • N, 103.8 • E) localities yield positive fold tests with Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous directions of Dec/Inc = 28.8 • /32.1 • (k s = 15.4, α 95 = 8.8 • , N = 22) and Dec/Inc = 42.1 • /46.9 • (k s = 20.1, α 95 = 7.9 • , N = 18), respectively. Additionally, a syn-folding mid-Cretaceous characteristic magnetization is observed in the samples of Muang Phin locality (16.5 • N, 106.1 • E), which gave a mean direction of Dec/Inc = 30.8 • /39.9 • , k = 102.6, α 95 = 3.0 • , N = 23. This reliable Late Jurassic to Mid-Cretaceous palaeomagnetic directions from three different localities are incorporated into a palaeomagnetic database for Shan-Thai and Indochina blocks. Based on these compilations, tectonic deformation of the Shan-Thai and Indochina blocks is summarized as follows: (1) the Shan-Thai and Indochina blocks experienced a clockwise rotation of about 10 • as a composite unit in the early stage of India-Asia collision and (2) following this, the Shan-Thai Block underwent an internal tectonic deformation, whereas the Indochina Block behaved as a rigid tectonic unit during the same period. Comparison of our palaeomagnetic results with seismic tomographic images suggests that the strength of continental lithosphere beneath these blocks played an important role in the process of deformation rather than any other tectonic regime. In contrast to the Shan-Thai Block, an existence of continental roots beneath the Indochina Block prevented its internal deformation.