纹状体内囊梗死的临床特点分析

目的探讨纹状体内囊梗死(striatocapsular infarction,SCI)的临床特点和与大脑中动脉局部病灶的关系。方法 5例发病在24h内入院的基底节区梗死患者,病灶直径>3cm,对其临床表现、发病72h内的头、颈部磁共振和磁共振血管成像、全脑血管造影表现进行分析。结果 5例梗死灶均局限在基底节区白质,无皮层受累,4例有早期运动进展;1例为病灶侧大脑中动脉夹层,3例病灶侧大脑中动脉主干中度以上狭窄。结论 SCI患者易发生早期运动进展,可能与病灶同侧大脑中动脉主干狭窄有关。     

大脑中动脉狭窄与其深穿支供血区单发脑梗死的关系

目的 分析大脑中动脉(MCA)深穿支供血区单发脑梗死的形态学表现,进一步探讨其与MCA狭窄的关系.方法 连续入选2005年1月至2006年12月于北京协和医院神经科住院治疗急性脑梗死,并经头颅DWI检查明确急性梗死灶为单发,且位于MCA深穿支供血区域的55例患者;所有患者均行TCD和MRA检查,颅外颈内动脉狭窄>50%以及有可疑心源性栓子来源的患者从研究中排除.根据是否存在病灶同侧MCA狭窄将入选患者分为两组:MCA狭窄组(14例)与MCA正常组(41例).测量DWI上急性梗死灶的直径、面积和体积,并将直径≤2 cm归为经典腔隙性梗死,直径>2 cm归为纹状体内囊梗死.DWI上的梗死灶区分为基底节区、侧脑室体旁和同时累及上述2个部位,并判断MRI T2>像上皮质下多发陈旧性小梗死灶或白质疏松是否存在.结果 55例患者中,病灶侧MCA狭窄患者14例(25.5%),MCA正常患者41例(74.5%).MCA狭窄组中经典腔隙性梗死占71.4%,MCA正常组中经典腔隙性梗死占67.3%,差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.147,P=0.701).MCA狭窄组与正常组患者MCA深穿支梗死病灶的大小(包括直径、面积及体积)差异均无统计学意义.MCA正常组和MCA狭窄组病灶在基底节区、侧脑室体旁及基底节区+侧脑室体旁分布的比例依次为:正常组31.7%、17.1%和51.2%;狭窄组35.7%、28.6%和35.7%,两组间差异无统计学意义(χ2=1.272,P=0.529).同时存在皮质下多发陈旧性小梗死灶或白质疏松的患者在MCA正常组有23例(56.1%),在MCA狭窄组有3例(21.4%),二者差异有统计学意义(χ2=5.033,P=0.025).结论 MCA深穿支供血区梗死具有不同的发病机制,MCA狭窄和穿支动脉本身病变均可造成深穿支供血区单发脑梗死.梗死灶的大小、体积及梗死发生的部位与是否存在同侧大脑中动脉狭窄无明显相关性,而同时存在皮质下多发陈旧性小梗死灶或白质疏松对穿支动脉病变有提示作用.     

动脉粥样硬化性大脑中动脉区域TIA功能磁共振成像分析

目的利用弥散加权成像(DWI)、磁共振血管成像(MRA)对大脑中动脉(MCA)区域TIA进行解剖性定位,评价磁共振对临床实践的指导意义。方法对32例TIA患者,在发作1.5h~7d内行头部MRI、DWI、MRA检查,对DWI图像上的高信号与T2WI像、MRA、临床症状、体征进行对照研究。结果2例DWI正常,但MRA颅内大脑中动脉闭塞,病变血管与临床症状相一致。12例DWI正常,MRA仅轻度狭窄或正常。3例DWI有高信号,T2WI无相应病灶为超早期脑梗死,其中MRA1例动脉硬化样改变,2例大脑中动脉闭塞,病灶与体征相符。15例DWI有高信号、T2WI有相应病灶,2例为早期脑梗死、13例为腔隙性脑梗死,其中MRA8例颅内大血管轻到中度狭窄,2例严重狭窄。MRI显示20例(62.5%)存在多发陈旧腔隙性梗死灶。对于TIA患者发作时MRA相应病变进行χ2四格表精确检验,DWI异常组与正常组比较P<0.05,MRA大血管病变是TIA预后形成梗死的独立危险因素。结论对TIA患者行MRI、DWI、MRA检查,能及时发现超早期脑梗死,还能对新发腔隙性脑梗死准确定位,科学指导临床早期干预治疗。MRA可提供1.2级大血管的供血状态,指导后续的2级预防。     

大脑中动脉区梗死的DWI特点及与其供血动脉狭窄的关系

目的 探讨大脑中动脉(MCA)区脑梗死磁共振扩散加权成像(DWI)成像病灶分布特点及与其供血动脉狭窄程度的关系.方法 回顾性的分析经颅脑磁共振成像(MRI)的DWI序列诊断的急性脑梗死,选择病灶位于MCA分布区,且完善其供血动脉检查,包括头颈部CTA,或颅脑MRA加颈部血管超声的患者108例,排除心源性栓塞、特殊血管病变导致的脑梗死.将梗死按照部位分为腔隙型梗死(SSSI)、皮层下梗死(SI)和混合型梗死(MI),供血动脉分为正常、轻度(50％)、重度(50％)和闭塞.比较不同类型梗死组的供血动脉狭窄的发生率.结果 各种梗死类型的发生率之间差异无统计学意义(x2=1.08,P＞0.05).单纯MCA病变者53例(53/108,49.1％),单纯ICA病变者28例(28/108,25.9％),单纯MCA病变高于单纯ICA病变(x2=12.35,P＜0.01).同侧血管正常者以LI类型的梗死多见,而单纯ICA病变者以MI类型的梗死多见(x2=10.22;10.54,P＜0.01);三种梗死类型在单纯MCA病变患者中差异无统计学意义(x2=0.25,P＞0.05);在单纯MCA病变者中,SI梗死类型多见于MCA闭塞患者(x2=7.45,P＜0.05).LI梗死类型多见于MCA轻度或重度狭窄患者(x2=6.39,P＜0.05).结论 结合DWI和相应血管检查对于明确MCA区动脉粥样硬化性脑梗死的病因和机制有一定帮助.基底节区的腔隙梗死,相应血管检查正常提示小血管病的可能大;MCA存在一定狭窄则可能是穿支受累造成;ICA病变多累及皮层,包括皮层型分水岭区梗死;而不同程度的MCA病变其梗死形态没有本质区别,皮层下梗死更多见MCA闭塞患者.     

大脑中动脉狭窄脑深部小梗死发病机制的研究

目的 研究大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄患者脑深部小梗死的发生频率和发病机制。方法86例发病时间〈1周的急件脑梗死患者，行经颅多普勒超声、彩色超声、磁共振血管造影及功能磁共振成像等检查方法被明确诊断为症状性大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄，并排除颈内动脉病变、心源性栓塞以及非动脉粥样硬化性狭窄。利用磁共振扩散加权成像观察梗死灶的形态学表现及特点，分析其发病机制。结果37例（43．02％）症状性大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄患者存在深部小梗死，多呈孤立性单发病灶。其中内囊纹状体梗死及巨大腔隙者18例（20．93％），梗死灶体积多超过两个层面，少数病灶呈多灶分布的特点；直径较小的腔隙性梗死19例（22．09％），梗死灶体积〈15mm，多位于一个层面内。伴有大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄的深部小梗死的患者，病情多不稳定，预后较差。所有脑深部小梗死患者均伴有大脑中动脉主干支狭窄，且梗死灶体积与大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄程度有关，内囊纹状体梗死多见于大脑中动脉重度狭窄者。结论约50％大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄患者存在脑深部小梗死，其发病机制与大脑中动脉粥样硬化斑块或斑块残端血栓蔓延堵塞深穿支动脉入口有关。对此类患者的治疗不同于经典的腔隙性脑梗死。     

CT血管成像及灌注成像与前循环脑梗死

目的 探讨CT血管成像(CTA)联合CT灌注成像(CTP)在前循环脑梗死中的临床应用价值.方法 回顾性分析542例经头MRI DWI证实大脑半球有新发梗死灶的缺血性脑卒中患者资料,所有病例均具备头CTA及CTP检查,分析责任血管病变程度与病灶大小、病灶部位血流灌注异常情况的关系.结果 在本组病例中责任血管多见于大脑中动脉(58.6％),其次是颈内动脉颅外段(32.9％).不同的责任血管病变部位、狭窄程度及其支配区灌注异常情况,其梗死灶的大小均具有显著性差异(P分别为0.015、0.000和0.000),其中以大脑中动脉病变、血管闭塞或中重度以上的狭窄以及灌注程度低的病例梗死灶相对大(＞ 15mm).但仍有28例(12.6％)责任血管为重度狭窄或闭塞的患者表现为腔隙性脑梗死.此外,337例CTP异常患者中,86例(25.5％)存在低灌注区大于梗死灶.结论 本研究显示前循环脑梗死的责任血管多见于大脑中动脉.影像学显示的梗死灶的大小并不完全与血管病变程度一致.此外,约25％患者存在梗死面积与灌注降低不匹配现象.因此,对前循环脑梗死患者进行CTA联合CTP检查,对临床缺血性脑卒中的综合性评估和个体化治疗具有较重要的参考价值.     

大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄患者卒中类型分析

目的研究大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄或闭塞(MCAOD)患者的卒中类型及其发病机制。方法经TCD和(或)MRA确诊的症状性MCAOD的患者,依据头部弥散加权核磁成像(DWI)所示梗死灶的特点进行分类,并与MCA狭窄程度进行相关性分析。结果84例症状性MCAOD患者中,73.8%的患者表现为多发性脑梗死,主要累及内交界区(53.6%)、半卵圆中心(29.1%)和皮层(22.6%)。皮层区域内梗死、交界区梗死、深部小梗死灶的发生率分别为46.4%、56.0%和44.0%,以多发小灶性梗死为主,很少引起MCA主干支完全梗死。且皮层支完全梗死、半卵圆中心梗死与严重MCA狭窄有关,而腔隙样梗死多见于轻度MCAOD患者。结论MCAOD患者可表现为各种梗死类型,以交界区梗死最常见,且多发性脑梗死为MCAOD患者最常见的表现类型,主要累及皮层下白质等部位,病灶以链型或弧线型分布为特点,动脉-动脉栓塞为其发病机制之一;深部小梗死多为孤立病灶,与MCA主干粥样硬化斑继发的血栓堵塞豆纹动脉入口有关。     

小脑梗死的分型与后循环血管病变

目的 研究有无大血管病变患者小脑梗死灶的特征,探讨小脑梗死分型与后循环血管病变的关系。 方法 收集我科自2006年1月～2008年3月期间住院的小脑梗死患者共35例,所有患者均同时具备颅脑磁共振成像（magnetic resonance imaging,MRI）和血管造影检查,包括计算机断层摄影血管造影（computed tomographic angiography,CTA）、磁共振血管造影（magnetic resonance angiography,MRA）和数字减影血管造影（digital subtraction angiography,DSA）检查。根据血管造影检查的结果将入组患者分为两组：大血管病变组20例,小血管病变组15例,分析两组小脑梗死的分型和后循环血管病变（包括狭窄或闭塞）的关系。 结果 ⑴大血管病变组20例中,颅内血管（椎动脉颅内段或基底动脉）病变最多见（10例,50%）,梗死类型多为分水岭梗死（7例,70%）;其次为颅外血管合并颅内血管（椎动脉颅外段合并颅内段或基底动脉）病变（8例,40%）,梗死灶多为小脑后下动脉（PICA）供血区的区域性梗死（7例,87.5%）;单独颅外血管（椎动脉颅外段）病变最少见（2例,10%）,梗死分布无明显倾向性。⑵小血管病变组15例中,梗死灶亦多位于分水岭区（9例,60%）。 结论 由于小脑血液供应特点,小脑梗死中分水岭梗死和腔隙性梗死较区域性梗死更为常见。小梗死灶（直径≤2cm）可能存在后循环大血管的狭窄或闭塞,应予积极的治疗和干预,以防病情加重。     

大脑中动脉供血区梗死灶形态与可能发病机制的回顾性研究

目的 探索大脑中动脉(MCA)供血区的梗死灶形态与脑卒中可能发病机制之间的关系.方法 回顾性分析了148例连续的急性缺血性脑卒中患者,所有患者均为颈内动脉(ICA)系统脑梗死,DWI显示相应MCA供血区责任病灶,根据血管及心脏检查将患者分为ICA病变组、MCA病变组、ICA+MCA病变组、心源性栓塞组(CE组)及检查结果阴性组(NR组).将梗死灶形态分为单发和多发,前者按部位分为:穿动脉梗死灶(PAI)、皮质支梗死灶(PI)、分水岭梗死灶(BZ)、大面积梗死灶.结果 MCA供血区的梗死灶形态可分为12种;不同病变所致脑卒中的梗死灶形态存在差异(χ2=55.88,P=0.004).但在MCA组、ICA组、MCA+ICA组及CE组中,未发现各自特异的梗死灶形态,仅PAI更多见于MCA组;与NR组相比,ICA组患者中更多出现PAI伴PI(7/27,χ2=6.61,P<0.05),而MCA组和CE组均未见特征性的梗死灶形态.动脉狭窄的程度与梗死灶形态亦存在一定关联,重度ICA病变更多地表现为PAl伴PI(5/16,χ2=7.32,P<0.05);而重度MCA病变则好发PAI伴BZ(4/30,χ2=5.59,P<0.05)及PAI伴PI和BZ(6/30,χ2=6.41,P<0.05).结论 MCA供血区内的梗死灶形态与其颅内动脉病变之间存在一定的关系,揭示脑卒中发生的不同机制,可能与动脉-动脉栓塞、灌注不良有关;我们以检查结果阴性患者为对照比较,尚不能完全揭示MCA供血区内的梗死灶形态和与脑卒中的不同机制之间的相关性.     

不同程度大脑中动脉狭窄与闭塞患者的梗死类型

目的通过对比研究不同程度大脑中动脉(middle cerebral artery,MCA)狭窄与闭塞所致脑梗死的临床特点及梗死类型,为大脑中动脉狭窄的防治提供依据。方法回顾性分析61例由大脑中动脉狭窄与闭塞所致的MCA供血区梗死患者的临床和影像学资料。将患者根据磁共振血管成像(magnetic resonance angiography,MRA)结果分为中度狭窄组32例、重度狭窄组12例和闭塞组17例。对患者的临床资料、磁共振弥散加权成像(diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging,DWI)结果显示的脑梗死的部位进行对比。结果 MCA不同狭窄程度的3组患者的年龄、性别、有无高血压、糖尿病、冠心病、脑梗死、长期饮酒病史、血脂四项比较无统计学差异(P0.05),在有无长期吸烟史方面有统计学差异(P0.05)。Essen卒中风险评分与MCA狭窄程度无相关性(P0.05)。3组MCA病变程度的NIHSS神经功能缺损无统计学差异。不同MCA病变程度的患者梗死病灶数有统计学差异(P=0.004)。结论不同程度MCA狭窄与闭塞所致的脑梗死病灶数有统计学差异,而与NIHSS神经功能缺损无明显的相关性,因此关注MCA动脉粥样硬化斑块的性质、部位及发病机制对脑梗死的防治有重要意义。     

Neuroimaging in epilepsy in tropics

Epilepsy is a major public health problem in many tropical countries. Also, some of the tropical diseases are major contributors to the higher prevalence of epilepsy in these countries. The etiologic factors responsible for epilepsy in these countries are quite different from those in the developed world. This article discusses the etiologic factors and neuroimaging of epilepsy in light of the conditions in these tropical countries.     

癫痫与抑郁关系的研究进展

抑郁是癫痫患者中常见的精神障碍,严重地影响了患者的生活质量。传统的观点认为癫痫患者因为存在着诸多社会学问题易出现抑郁倾向,癫痫和抑郁是单向的联系,但大量的研究已经证明癫痫和抑郁之间存在双向的联系,一种异常状态的存在可能易转化为另一种异常状态的发展。癫痫和抑郁存在着共同的发病机制。本文主要就癫痫和抑郁的双向联系以及抗抑郁药物在癫痫患者中的应用进行阐述。     

Sudanophilic lipid accumulation in astrocytes in periventricular leukomalacia in monkeys

Summary Sudanophilic lipid accumulation is a characteristic feature of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) of infants. At least two types of lipid-containing cells have been identified, one being the macrophage, the other the pre-myelin glial cell. A third type of lipid-containing cell has been seen in two monkeys with spontaneous PVL. Electron microscopically this cell appears to be an astrocyte. This probably represents a reaction of the astrocyte to hypoxia and may be the equivalent of the hypertrophic astrocytes found in human infants.Supported in part by NIH grant HDO 8633 and the Regional Primate Research Center Grant RR-00166     

Increase in cathepsin D activity in rat brain in aging

Cathepsin D-like activity in homogenates of five brain areas of 3-month-old and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats was measured. With hemoglobin as substrate at pH 3.2, more than 90% of the activity was inhibited by pepstatin. In each area studied, activity was more than twice as high in the old rat brain: 140-160% higher in the cortex, cerebellum, pons-medulla, and striatum and 90-100% higher in the hippocampus and spinal cord. The greatly increased metabolic capacity in the absence of an increase in protein turnover may have a role in age-related pathological degeneration in the brain.     

Increase in noradrenaline-synthesizing enzyme activity in medulla oblongata in Parkinson's disease

Summary Dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH), the noradrenaline-synthesizing enzyme, and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), the adrenaline-synthesizing enzyme, were assayed in 18 areas of brain stem in eight cases of parkinsonian syndromes and of four age- and postmortem delay-matched controls. Dissection was performed by the punch technique and enzyme activities assayed by radiometric methods. No significant change was found for PNMT activity. DBH activity was significantly increased in the A2-C2 area of the medulla oblongata (including the nucleus tractus solitarius) in the cases of Parkinson's disease.The A2-C2 area is known to be implicated in the control of blood pressure in rats. These findings are discussed in relation to orthostatic hypotension and the influence ofl-dopa therapy.Supported by grants from INSERM ATP 657897, ATP 8179113, CRL 79-1-356-6, DGRST (80 E 0882), FRMF, and Sandoz-France France     

Issues in evaluation of cognition in the elderly in developing countries

Background:

Developing regions of the world host the majority of elderly subjects who are at risk for dementia. Reliable epidemiological data from these countries is invaluable in tackling this global problem. Scarcity of such data in literature is largely attributable to problems that are unique to developing communities worldwide.

Objective:

To classify and describe the problems that interfere with the collection of reliable epidemiological data on cognitive impairment in the elderly in developing communities, and to suggest practical solutions for some of them.

Methods:

Inferring from the experiences of a large, ongoing, population-based study on the cognitive impairments in the elderly in South India and from the review of literature.

Conclusion:

A fatalistic attitude regarding aging in the communities, significant heterogeneity in educational abilities and activities of daily living, high illiteracy among rural subjects, and lack of an organized health care system and updated demographic figures are some of the major factors that contribute to technical, namely, methodology-related problems and practical, namely, subject-related problems in such epidemiological studies.     

Suicide in the elderly in Austria

In most countries men and women have the highest suicide rates in age groups over 60 years. We investigated suicide rates for the elderly in Austria, a country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world, for the period 1980–1991, using data from the Federal Statistical Division. Suicide rates remained stable over the last decade at a very high level. The mean rate for men was 85.2, for women 28.6/100 000. In men and women rates rise with age. The mean rate of men rises from 51.2 (60–64 years) to 117.3/100 000 (over 85 years); in women there is an increase from 21.4 (60–64 years) to 32.8/100 000 (over 85 years). We did not confirm findings in other countries, where suicide rates have increased in recent years.     

Characteristics of nociceptors in the periodontium--an in vitro study in rats

Recent studies have indicated that nociceptors can be classified into various types according to their physiological properties. These studies have clarified that the frequency distribution of various nociceptor types is different among body sites and animal species. In the present study, we investigated the physiological properties of rat's periodontal nociceptors in an in vitro jaw-nerve preparation. Responses were recorded from functional single filaments in the inferior alveolar nerve. To determine the nociceptor type, calibrated von Frey filaments, heat, and bradykinin (BK) stimuli were used. We found five subtypes of nociceptors in the periodontal ligaments of the lower incisor: Adelta-high threshold mechanonociceptors (Adelta-HTM, n=28), Adelta-mechanoheat nociceptors (Adelta-MH, n=6), Adelta-polymodal nociceptors (Adelta-POLY, n=26), C-high threshold mechanonociceptors (C-HTM, n=3) and C-polymodal nociceptors (C-POLY, n=4). Most nociceptors were Adelta-innervated, while only a small number of C-innervated nociceptors were found. The present results suggest that periodontal nociceptors transmit mainly fast pain, and may thus play a role in rapid detection of injure-related stimuli during mastication.     

Ethnic disparities in problem behaviour in adolescence contribute to ethnic disparities in social class in adulthood

BACKGROUND: It is important for prevention of social class disparities to know how ethnic disparities in social class arise among migrant children. We contribute to this understanding by examining the role of problem behaviour in adolescence. METHODS: Prospective observational study with 753 Dutch native and 217 Turkish migrant adolescents (11-18 year) followed for 10 years. Internalising and externalising problems were assessed in adolescence and employment status and occupational level were assessed in adulthood. The difference in odds ratios (OR) before and after adjustment for internalising and externalising problems was an indication of the predictive value of disparities in internalising and externalising problems for the development of social class disparities. RESULTS: A total of 135 (62%) of the Turkish and 602 (80%) of the Dutch adults were employed. Internalising and externalising problems were not associated with employment status. Of the employed, 65 (48%) Turkish and 179 (30%) Dutch adults worked in low-level occupations (p < 0.0001). Internalising and externalising problems were associated with both ethnicity and occupation. The OR for low-level occupation for Turkish adults was 1.78 (1.19-2.65), indicating ethnic disparities. Adjustment for internalising problems lowered the OR with 36% to 1.50 (0.97-2.31), and adjustment for externalising problems lowered it with 8% to 1.72 (1.15-2.57). Findings were similar for men and women and did not vary by age. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic disparities in occupational level in adulthood could partly be attributed to disparities in mental health between Turkish migrants and Dutch natives in adolescence. Prevention of ethnic disparities in mental health at young age may therefore also contribute to the prevention of occupational differences in adulthood.     

Defects in Bioenergetic Coupling in Schizophrenia

Synaptic neurotransmission relies on maintenance of the synapse and meeting the energy demands of neurons. Defects in excitatory and inhibitory synapses have been implicated in schizophrenia, likely contributing to positive and negative symptoms as well as impaired cognition. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that bioenergetic systems, important in both synaptic function and cognition, are abnormal in psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. Animal models of synaptic dysfunction demonstrated endophenotypes of schizophrenia as well as bioenergetic abnormalities. We report findings on the bioenergetic interplay of astrocytes and neurons and discuss how dysregulation of these pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, highlighting metabolic systems as important therapeutic targets.