MotivationBioContainers (biocontainers.pro) is an open-source and community-driven framework which provides platform independent executable environments for bioinformatics software. BioContainers allows labs of all sizes to easily install bioinformatics software, maintain multiple versions of the same software and combine tools into powerful analysis pipelines. BioContainers is based on popular open-source projects Docker and rkt frameworks, that allow software to be installed and executed under an isolated and controlled environment. Also, it provides infrastructure and basic guidelines to create, manage and distribute bioinformatics containers with a special focus on omics technologies. These containers can be integrated into more comprehensive bioinformatics pipelines and different architectures (local desktop, cloud environments or HPC clusters).Availability and ImplementationThe software is freely available at github.com/BioContainers/.

Summary:Purpose: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) after focal status epilepticus has demonstrated focal alterations of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the epileptogenic zone. We hypothesized that localized dynamic alterations of brain diffusion during the immediate postictal state will be detectable by serial DWI and correlate with the epileptogenic zone.Methods: Nine adult patients (four men, five women) with medically intractable epilepsy were prospectively examined with a total of 25 DWI scans taken 2-210 min after a seizure.Results: The interictal ADC was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in the ictogenic hippocampus in all patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. The following postictal changes of the ADC were seen: (a) decreases by maximally 25-31%, which were most pronounced in the epileptogenic zone (n ‫ס‬ 2); (b) generalized ADC changes after generalized seizures (n ‫ס‬ 1) or prolonged complex partial seizures (n ‫ס‬ 2); (c) no major changes after short-lived seizures or if the time to first DWI scan was >15 min or both (n ‫ס‬ 3); and (d) widespread bilateral ADC increases after a flumazenil-induced seizure (n ‫ס‬ 1).Conclusions: ADC changes seen during serial postictal DWI are complex and appear to reflect origin and spread of the preceding seizure. A delineation of the epileptogenic zone appears to be possible only in complex-partial seizures of >60 s duration that do not secondarily generalize. Key Words: Diffusion-Epilepsy surgery-MRI-Epileptogenic focusPostictal.Transient postictal phenomena attributed to the epileptogenic zone have been observed clinically (e.g., hemiparesis), by EEG/electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings (slow foci and attenuation), and by comparison of interictal with ictal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT; hypoperfusion vs. hyperperfusion) (1-4). They provide good to excellent data as to the localization or lateralization of the epileptogenic zone.Descriptions of focal postictal alterations in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or CT are limited to a few patients and have mainly been based on T 2 imaging sequences (5-10). They appeared to rely on long-lasting seizure activity such as focal status epilepticus (6-8,11). In addition, local postictal hyperperfusion was seen by Penfield during epilepsy surgery and documented by angiography (12,13).Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) is a noninvasive tool for the early detection of acute ischemic lesions in humans and in animal models of focal status epilepticus (14-17). Furthermore, data from animal experiments in epilepsy suggest that brain-diffusion changes after focal status epilepticus may persist for hours and even days. Experiences in humans have targeted investigation of focal status epilepticus and are limited to a small number of patients (11,(18)(19)(20)(21). In these patients, postictal decrease of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and increase of the DWI signal were seen (22,23).Latest-technology DWI imaging now allows highresolution, serial measurements of diffu...

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Objectives: Lung-protective ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome aims for providing sufficient oxygenation and carbon dioxide clearance, while limiting the harmful effects of mechanical ventilation. “Flow-controlled ventilation”, providing a constant expiratory flow, has been suggested as a new lung-protective ventilation strategy. The aim of this study was to test whether flow-controlled ventilation attenuates lung injury in an animal model of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Design: Preclinical, randomized controlled animal study. Setting: Animal research facility. Subjects: Nineteen German landrace hybrid pigs. Intervention: Flow-controlled ventilation (intervention group) or volume-controlled ventilation (control group) with identical tidal volume (7 mL/kg) and positive end-expiratory pressure (9 cm H2O) after inducing acute respiratory distress syndrome with oleic acid. Measurements and Main Results: Pao 2 and Paco 2, minute volume, tracheal pressure, lung aeration measured via CT, alveolar wall thickness, cell infiltration, and surfactant protein A concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Five pigs were excluded leaving n equals to 7 for each group. Compared with control, flow-controlled ventilation elevated Pao 2 (154 ± 21 vs 105 ± 9 torr; 20.5 ± 2.8 vs 14.0 ± 1.2 kPa; p = 0.035) and achieved comparable Paco 2 (57 ± 3 vs 54 ± 1 torr; 7.6 ± 0.4 vs 7.1 ± 0.1 kPa; p = 0.37) with a lower minute volume (6.4 ± 0.5 vs 8.7 ± 0.4 L/min; p < 0.001). Inspiratory plateau pressure was comparable in both groups (31 ± 2 vs 34 ± 2 cm H2O; p = 0.16). Flow-controlled ventilation increased normally aerated (24% ± 4% vs 10% ± 2%; p = 0.004) and decreased nonaerated lung volume (23% ± 6% vs 38% ± 5%; p = 0.033) in the dependent lung region. Alveolar walls were thinner (5.5 ± 0.1 vs 7.8 ± 0.2 µm; p < 0.0001), cell infiltration was lower (20 ± 2 vs 32 ± 2 n/field; p < 0.0001), and normalized surfactant protein A concentration was higher with flow-controlled ventilation (1.1 ± 0.04 vs 1.0 ± 0.03; p = 0.039). Conclusions: Flow-controlled ventilation enhances lung aeration in the dependent lung region and consequently improves gas exchange and attenuates lung injury. Control of the expiratory flow may provide a novel option for lung-protective ventilation.

Summary:Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the regional relative interictal and postictal perfusion changes in temporal and parietal lobe epilepsy.Methods: We investigated interictal and postictal magnet resonance perfusion changes in five patients with temporal lobe epilepsy either with hippocampal sclerosis (n = 3) or without (n = 2), and in one patient with extratemporal (parietal lobe) epilepsy. T 2 * -weighted single-shot echo-planar images were acquired after bolus application of 0.2 mmol/kg gadoliniumdiethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (GD-DTPA) at baseline and after intervals of 2-12 min, 15-23 min, 28-50 min, 63-72 min, and 180-240 min. The bolus-peak ratio was calculated in regions of interest in the hippocampus (HIP), parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), thalamus (THA), cortex (COR), and white matter (WM), yielding relative perfusion changes.Results: Interictally, we found relative hyperperfusion of the ictogenic side in five of six patients in the HIP. Postictally, the perfusion decreased in the HIP by 25-39% as compared to baseline, whereas the PHG showed a reverse pattern. In the late postictal phase, perfusion increased in the HIP again and decreased in the PHG. In the THA, the inter-and postictal changes were small (5-19%). COR and WM showed equivocal results.Conclusion: Postictal relative hypoperfusion in the HIP appears to be associated with the cessation of neuronal ictal discharge, whereas postictal hyperperfusion in the PHG lags behind and may reflect increased metabolism to restore the interictal state of neuronal excitability. Key Words: Brain perfusion-MRI-Temporal lobe epilepsy-Bolus-peak-ratio-Postictal.Electrophysiological characteristics of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with or without hippocampal sclerosis (HS) have been studied extensively (1-3). Seizures confined to the hippocampus (HIP), however, may be missed by surface EEG recording and necessitate invasive monitoring by subdural or intraparenchymal electrodes (4). The application of other less invasive techniques to delineate the ictogenic zone could possibly contribute valuable information on ictal pathophysiology.Alteration of cerebral blood flow during epileptic seizures was first observed by Penfield. He noted an arrest of arterial pulsation at the beginning of a seizure, reddening of the COR at the presumed seizure focus, and an enlargement of the adjacent veins with an arterial hue. He concluded from his observations that focal seizures show an increase in regional perfusion due to an opened capillary bed persisting beyond the end of the focal seizure (5,6). Penfield's observations were limited to the brain surface.