Longitudinal Cerebral Fissure Anatomy Variations in Brachy‐, Dolicho‐ and Mesaticephalic Dogs and Their Importance to Brain Surgery

The study used a sample of 69 formalin‐fixed brains from adult dog cadavers (n = 69) and aimed (1) to characterize the longitudinal cerebral fissure (LCF) anatomy in brachy‐(B), dolicho‐(D) and mesaticephalic‐(M) dogs and their potential differences, and (2) to establish cranioencephalic relationships between the LCF and five classical craniometric points(cp): asterion(ast), bregma(b), stephanion(st), glabella(g), and pterion(pt). Anatomical records were collected using a digital caliper, and for statistical analysis P‐values < 0.05 were considered significant. The LCF length can be ranked, in ascending order as B < D < M, and if used as a surgical corridor, the M group had the greatest surgical corridor area, and the D group the smallest. LCF morphology was uniform among the three groups exhibiting dilated anterior(AR) and posterior(PR) regions and narrow middle region, where the most marked differences were registered. The LCF AR is the ideal spot to begin brain surgery if the LCF is to be used as a surgical corridor in B and M, while the LCF PR should be considered in D. The five cp selected were quite useful to understand LCF anatomical morphology, its projections over the external skull surface, and to establish cranioencephalic relationships between the LCF and vault; allowing us to consider the vault anterior area in B, and in M, and the vault posterior area in D for craniotomy initial burr‐hole placement. As for the distance from the cp projections in the brain surface to the LCF regions, major differences were registered by comparing the B group with the other two, and for both hemispheres. Anat Rec, 298:1612–1621, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Dorsal Sagittal Venous Sinus Anatomical Variations in Brachycephalic,Dolichocephalic, and Mesocephalic Dogs and Their Significance for Brain Surgery

Dorsal sagittal venous sinus (DSVS) is an encephalic structure located in the midline of brain dorsal surface, starting behind the frontal venous sinus and following the brain falx in its extension. Knowing DSVS morphology and cranial‐cerebral relationships it is very important for surgeon when he is planning the placement of craniotomies, in order to prevent the damage of this structure. The main purpose of this study were to establish craniometric points that can be used as key points of neurosurgical importance providing an anatomic framework to brain access regarding the localization of DSVS, and to characterize the morphology of DSVS in the three groups considered in study according their type of skull (brachycephalic‐B, dolychocephalic‐D and mesocephalic‐M). The study was performed on 138 formalin‐fixed cerebral hemispheres of 69 adult dog cadavers (23 of each group) which had been removed from the skulls after the introduction of plastic catheters through properly positioned burr holes placed on the five craniometric points considered: asterion(ast), bregma(br), glabella(g), stephanion(st) and pterion(pt). From the three groups, DSVS length and width were different, his geometry in B assumed a triangular appearance and in D, M a “butterfly” shape. From all craniometric points considered, only bregma (br) can be useful as a landmark to delimitate DSVS morphology in all three groups. Asterion in M, stephanion in B, glabella and pterion in all three groups, can not be used to compose a framework that help to understand skull surface projection of DSVS morphology, since their measurements were not uniform. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Selected Gray Matter Volumes and Gender but Not Basal Ganglia nor Cerebellum Gyri Discriminate Left Versus Right Cerebral Hemispheres: Multivariate Analyses in human Brains at 3T

Interest in the lateralization of the human brain is evident through a multidisciplinary number of scientific studies. Understanding volumetric brain asymmetries allows the distinction between normal development stages and behavior, as well as brain diseases. We aimed to evaluate volumetric asymmetries in order to select the best gyri able to classify right‐ versus left cerebral hemispheres. A cross‐sectional study performed in 47 right‐handed young‐adults healthy volunteers. SPM‐based software performed brain segmentation, automatic labeling and volumetric analyses for 54 regions involving the cerebral lobes, basal ganglia and cerebellum from each cerebral hemisphere. Multivariate discriminant analysis (DA) allowed the assembling of a predictive model. DA revealed one discriminant function that significantly differentiated left vs. right cerebral hemispheres: Wilks’ λ = 0.008, χ² (9) = 238.837, P < 0.001. The model explained 99.20% of the variation in the grouping variable and depicted an overall predictive accuracy of 98.8%. With the influence of gender; the selected gyri able to discriminate between hemispheres were middle orbital frontal gyrus (g.), angular g., supramarginal g., middle cingulum g., inferior orbital frontal g., calcarine g., inferior parietal lobule and the pars triangularis inferior frontal g. Specific brain gyri are able to accurately classify left vs. right cerebral hemispheres by using a multivariate approach; the selected regions correspond to key brain areas involved in attention, internal thought, vision and language; our findings favored the concept that lateralization has been evolutionary favored by mental processes increasing cognitive efficiency and brain capacity. Anat Rec, 298:1336–1346, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

不同年龄段成人大脑皮质厚度偏侧性的MRI研究

目的 探讨不同年龄段成人大脑皮质厚度的偏侧性差异。方法 前瞻性研究。2017年9月—2018年12月寿光市人民医院CT磁共振室招募右利手汉族21~80岁的健康志愿者360人,分为青年组(21~40岁)、中年组(41~60岁)、老年组(61~80岁)三个年龄段组,采用3.0 T MR对志愿者行颅脑扫描,获取原始数据。使用FreeSurfer脑成像软件分析,获得左右大脑半球、各感兴趣区脑回皮质的厚度。观察不同年龄组左右大脑半球的皮质厚度是否存在偏侧性。观察不同年龄组间,各脑回的皮质厚度是否存在偏侧性,对有偏侧性的脑区计算侧化指数;统计有偏侧性的脑区的数量及偏侧程度。结果 青年组全脑、左右大脑半球皮质厚度分别为(2.506±0.027)mm、(2.508±0.015)mm、(2.504±0.015)mm,中年组分别为(2.372±0.012)mm、(2.372±0.007)mm、(2.373±0.008)mm,老年组分别为(2.264±0.021)mm、(2.264±0.015)mm、(2.263±0.014)mm。同一年龄组中,左、右大脑半球皮质厚度差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05)。不同年龄组间,全脑、左右大脑半球的皮质厚度均随着年龄的增加逐渐减少,差异均有统计学意义(F=64.907、34.843、34.863,P值均＜0.01)。青年组、中年组、老年组大脑皮质厚度的偏侧性及侧化指数各不相同:3组中出现了侧化区域的保留(如外侧枕回、舌回、后扣带回、内嗅皮层等)、增加(如额下回三角部、中央前回、颞下回、颞极等)及减少(如额上回、额下回岛盖部、中眶额回、楔叶、前扣带回等)的现象;中年组侧化脑区数量多于青年组、老年组,呈倒“U”型模式;部分脑区皮质厚度偏侧性贯穿三个年龄段,但其偏侧程度有着明显的差异(外侧枕回、舌回呈现“大-小-大”模式,而后扣带回、内嗅皮层呈现“小-大-小”模式)。结论 成人大脑左右半球皮质厚度是不对称的,大脑皮质厚度的偏侧性及偏侧程度随年龄的变化而呈现不同模式的改变,为神经行为、神经生理疾病的认知提供了新的视角。     

Dorsal Fronto‐Parietal Connections of the Human Brain: A Fiber Dissection Study of Their Composition and Anatomical Relationships

The goal of this study was to detail the composition of dorsal fronto‐parietal connections in the human brain, focusing on the dorsal component of superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), short association fibers, their three‐dimensional organization, and relationships with adjacent projection and commissural fibers. Ten human cerebral hemispheres (five left and five right) were obtained from necropsy specimens. The technique for specimen preparation was adapted from that previously described by Ludwig and Klingler for spreading groups of white matter fibers, rendering tracts visible and dissectible. Near the superior border of the hemisphere, we observed an overall organization consisting of a succession of “U” fibers in both sides of a narrow and irregular intermediary layer of white matter. Dissection of the core fibers leads to the corona radiata (intermingled with the callosal radiations) on the lateral aspect and to the callosal radiations at the medial aspect of the hemisphere. Based on our findings, the fiber dissection technique does not provide evidence of the presence of long horizontal association fibers in such location, as suggested by brain imaging techniques. The results of this study lead us to hypothesize that dorsal regions of the frontal and parietal lobes superior to the level of the cingulate sulcus are connected by a succession of short association pathways. Dissectible long association fibers are only encountered in a zone restricted to a lower and deeper portion of the superior parietal lobule. These fibers are clearly integrated in the lower portions of the SLF/arcuate fasciculus complex. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Symmetric corticospinal excitability and representation of vastus lateralis muscle in right‐handed healthy subjects

The purpose of this study was to determine the size and location of the representations of the anterior thigh muscles on the human motor cortex in the dominant and non‐dominant hemispheres. Motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation were recorded from the right and left vastus lateralis (rVL, lVL) muscles. A total of ten right‐handed healthy volunteers participated in the study. In a single session experiment, we investigated VL muscle corticospinal excitability (motor threshold, MEP size, short interval intracortical inhibition, intracortical facilitation) and cortical representation (map area, volume, and location) in the dominant and non‐dominant hemispheres. The motor threshold, MEPs, and intracortical excitability did not differ significantly between the hemispheres (P > 0.05). Furthermore, no difference between sides was found in the location of VL motor representation (mediolateral and anteroposterior axis) or in map area and volume (P > 0.05). Vastus lateralis muscle corticospinal excitability and cortical map were symmetrical in right‐handed subjects. Future studies on patients with unilateral lower extremity injuries could examine side‐to‐side plastic reorganization in corticomotor output and map location in both hemispheres. Clin. Anat. 27:1053–1057, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The developmental characteristics of speech-motor areas 44 and 45 in the left and right hemispheres of the human brain in early postnatal development

Cytoarchitecture of speech areas 44 and 45 of human brain was studied on frontal series of sections of brain of a newborn, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years old child. Sections were stained with cresyl violet after Nissl. Density of neurons and gliocytes location as well as fraction of satellite gliocytes and surrounded by the latter, glia index were determined by quantitative methods. General principles of cortical areas 44 and 45 were distinguished as well as peculiarities of their formation if left and right hemispheres of human brain in postnatal ontogenesis. Heterochronia of postnatal development of areas 44 and 45 was demonstrated. A hypothesis on different activity of right and left hemispheres speech areas in different periods of speech development of the child was discussed.     

Progressive suppression of intracortical inhibition during graded isometric contraction of a hand muscle is not influenced by hand preference

GABAergic intracortical inhibition (ICI) in human motor cortex (M1) assists fractionated activation of muscles, and it has been suggested that hemispheric differences in ICI may contribute to hand preference. Previous studies of this issue have all been conducted at rest, with conflicting results. Testing during voluntary activation may reveal functionally relevant differences. In normal subjects, we assessed (1) operation of ICI circuits during selective activation of an intrinsic hand muscle at different forces, and (2) whether this differs between right and left hemispheres. Surface EMG was recorded bilaterally from abductor pollicis brevis (APB), first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles in eleven right-handed subjects. A circular coil applied paired transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with posteriorly directed current in the brain. Conditioning intensity was 0.8 × active threshold and interstimulus interval was 3 ms. TMS was applied to right or left M1 while subjects were at rest or performing isometric thumb abduction at different forces (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 N) with the contralateral hand. Conditioning TMS was less effective at suppressing the muscle evoked potential in APB during 2–10 N thumb abduction (P < 0.0001) versus rest, but not with lower target forces (0.5, 1 N). Conditioning TMS was less effective for FDI and ADM only during 10 N thumb abduction. We conclude that differential modulation of ICI in M1 during selective muscle activation is a function of target isometric force level. At low forces (<5% MVC), ICI is not modulated for the corticospinal neurons controlling the active or inactive muscles. There is a progressive reduction of ICI effects on corticospinal neurons at higher forces, which is largely restricted to corticospinal neurons controlling the muscle targeted for activation over the range of forces tested (up to ∼25% MVC). The pattern of ICI modulation with selective voluntary muscle contraction was similar in left and right hemispheres during this relatively simple static task. If hemispheric differences in operation of M1 ICI circuits contribute to hand preference, a more challenging finger movement protocol may be needed to demonstrate this asymmetry.     

完全性生长激素缺乏患儿大脑皮质脑沟深度与曲率变化的MRI研究

目的 探讨完全性生长激素缺乏(CGHD)患儿与特发性矮小(ISS)患儿大脑皮质脑沟深度与曲率的差异。方法 纳入2015年1月-2019年1月山东大学附属省立医院确诊的CGHD与ISS患儿各12例进行回顾性队列研究。CGHD组男8例、女4例,年龄5~14岁,生长激素刺激释放试验的峰值水平<5.0 μg/L;ISS组男9例、女3例,年龄5~14岁,生长激素的峰值水平>10.0 μg/L。选取患者首诊时所采集的颅脑T₁WI MRI数据进行后处理分析。双侧半球与全脑皮质的脑沟深度与曲率均值应用FreeSurfer软件获得。将同一脑区的脑沟深度与曲率测量值进行组内平均与组间相减,以分别获得每个脑区该测量值的组内均值分布图与组间差异值分布图。两组患儿上述测量均值的组间差异应用协方差分析。结果 两组患儿的年龄与性别分布差异均无统计学意义(P值均>0.05)。CGHD组左、右侧半球与全脑的脑沟深度分别为(0.405±0.073)mm、(0.416±0.073) mm、(0.411±0.060)mm;左、右侧半球与全脑的曲率(×10)分别为(0.264±0.023)mm^-1、(0.259±0.017)mm^-1、(0.261±0.019)mm^-1。ISS组左、右侧半球与全脑的脑沟深度分别为(0.493±0.069)mm、(0.502±0.062) mm、(0.497±0.057)mm;左、右侧半球与全脑的曲率(×10)分别为(0.250±0.021)mm^-1、( 0.247±0.025)mm^-1、(0.249±0.022)mm^-1。两组患儿的双侧大脑半球与全脑脑沟深度比较(F_左=9.288、F_右=8.874、F_全=12.545)、左侧半球与全脑曲率比较(F_左=4.688、F_全=5.132),差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.05)。两组患儿脑沟深度与曲率在全脑的分布规律相似,但存在脑区间测量值大小与分布范围的差异。结论 CGHD患儿与ISS患儿大脑皮质脑沟深度与曲率的MRI测量值存在差异,这可能与其运动、智力或其它相关功能发育相对落后相关。     

Neuromagnetic Changes of Brain Rhythm Evoked by Intravenous Olfactory Stimulation in Humans

Summary: To identify the changes in the respective frequency band and brain areas related to olfactory perception, we measured magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals before and after instilling intravenously thiamine propyl disulfide (TPD) and thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide monohydrochloride (TTFD), which evoked a strong and weak sensation of odor, respectively. For the frequency analysis of MEG, a beamformer program, synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM), was employed and event-related desynchronization (ERD) or synchronization (ERS) was statistically determined. Both strong and weak odors induced ERD in (1) beta band (13–30 Hz) in the right precentral gyrus, and the superior and middle frontal gyri in both hemispheres, (2) low gamma band (30–60 Hz) in the left superior frontal gyrus and superior parietal lobule, and the middle frontal gyrus in both hemispheres, and (3) high gamma band 2 (100–200 Hz) in the right inferior frontal gyrus. TPD induced ERD in the left temporal, parietal and occipital lobes, while TTFD induced ERD in the right temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. The results indicate that physiological functions in several regions in the frontal lobe may change and the strength of the odor may play a different role in each hemisphere during olfactory perception in humans. This study was supported by Japan Space Forum, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas -Higher-Order Brain Functions-from The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.     

完全性生长激素缺乏患儿大脑皮质形态变化的3.0 T MRI研究

目的 探讨完全性生长激素缺乏(CGHD)患儿与特发性矮小(ISS)患儿大脑结构的灰质体积、皮层表面积及皮层厚度的差异。方法 回顾性队列研究。纳入2015年1月—2019年1月山东省立医院确诊的12例CGHD患儿(男8例、女4例,年龄5~14岁,生长激素刺激释放试验峰值小于5.0 μg/L)与12例ISS患儿(男9例、女3例,年龄5~14岁,生长激素刺激释放试验峰值大于10.0 μg/L)。在首次就诊时采集患者高分辨率、高信噪比三维T₁WI MRI。利用FreeSurfer软件图像后处理方法获得两组患儿左右大脑半球及全脑灰质体积、皮层表面积与皮层厚度值,统计分析组间的差异情况。将每组患儿的上述形态学参数值分别进行平均以获得该组患儿的均值分布图。将两组患儿的测量均值进行相减,即获得两组患儿该测量均值的差异值分布图。结果 CGHD患儿左、右侧大脑半球的灰质体积分别为(228.50±36.72)cm³、 (229.10±34.95)cm³;皮层表面积分别为(737.02±140.48)cm²、(738.68±135.26)cm²;皮层厚度分别为(2.43±0.09)mm、(2.44±0.09)mm。ISS患儿左、右侧大脑半球的灰质体积分别为(272.36±34.77)cm³、 (272.54±32.76)cm³;皮层表面积分别为(841.88±141.75)cm²、(839.98±135.69)cm²;皮层厚度分别为(2.55±0.18)mm、(2.57±0.17)mm。CGHD患儿与ISS患儿的双侧半球与全脑的灰质体积(F_左=17.884, F_右=20.115, F_全=19.009)、皮层表面积(F_左=11.105, F_右=11.453, F_全=11.337)及皮层厚度(F_左=5.907, F_右=6.109, F_全=6.066)的差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.05)。测量值的均值分布图与均值的差异值分布图显示两组患儿的灰质体积、皮层表面积与皮层厚度在诸多脑区存在差异。结论 CGHD患儿较ISS患儿的大脑灰质体积、皮层表面积与皮层厚度均较小,这可能与其智力、运动或其它功能发育相对落后相关。     

Functional connectivity and laterality of the motor and sensory components in the volitional swallowing network

Functional neuroimaging has shown that multiple brain regions are active during volitional swallowing. Little is known, however, about which regions integrate motor execution and sensory feedback in the swallowing system. Although unilateral brain lesions in either hemisphere can produce swallowing deficits, some functional neuroimaging studies indicate that the left hemisphere has greater activation in certain sensory and motor-related swallowing regions. In this study, correlation coefficients were computed for five seed regions during volitional saliva swallowing to determine the functional relationships of these regions with the rest of the brain: the anterior and posterior insula, inferior frontal gyrus (BA44), primary sensory cortex (S1), and primary motor cortex (M1). A laterality index (LI) was derived that accounts for relative differences in total, positive connected voxels for the left/right hemisphere seeds. Clusters of significantly connected voxels were greater from the anterior and posterior insula than from the other three seed regions. Interactions of the insula with other brain regions were greater on the left than on the right during volitional swallowing. Group means showed laterality in the anterior insula (LI = 0.25) and the posterior insula (LI = 0.33). BA44 showed a lesser degree of difference in left versus right hemisphere interactions (LI = 0.12) while S1 did not show lateralization (LI = 0.02) and M1 showed some predominance of interactions in the right hemisphere (LI = −0.19). The greater connectivity from the left hemisphere insula to brain regions within and across hemispheres suggests that the insula is a primary integrative region for volitional swallowing in humans.     

Spatial Hadamard encoding of J‐edited spectroscopy using slice‐selective editing pulses

A new approach for simultaneous dual‐voxel J‐difference spectral editing is described, which uses spatially selective spectral‐editing pulses and Hadamard encoding. A theoretical framework for spatial Hadamard editing and reconstruction for parallel acquisition (SHERPA) was developed, applying gradient pulses during the frequency‐selective editing pulses. Spectral simulations were performed for either one (gamma‐aminobutyric acid, GABA) or two molecules (glutathione and lactate) simultaneously detected in two voxels. The method was tested in a two‐compartment GABA phantom, and finally applied to the left and right hemispheres of 10 normal control subjects, scanned at 3 T. SHERPA was successfully implemented at 3 T and gave results in close agreement with conventional MEGA‐PRESS scans in both the phantom and in vivo experiments. Simulations for GABA editing for (3 cm)³ voxels in the left and right hemispheres suggest that both editing efficiency losses and contamination between voxels are about 2%. Compared with conventional single‐voxel single‐metabolite J‐difference editing, two‐ or fourfold acceleration is possible without significant loss of SNR using the SHERPA method. Unlike some other dual‐voxel methods, the method can be used with single‐channel receiver coils, and there is no SNR loss due to unfavorable receive‐coil geometry factors.     

Asymmetric responses to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left and right primary motor cortex in a patient with lateralized progressive limb-kinetic apraxia

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (5 Hz-rTMS, 10 stimuli, 120% resting motor threshold intensity, RMT) produces in healthy subjects a progressive facilitation of motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude probably through a short-term enhancement of cortical excitatory interneurones. We had the opportunity to investigate the effect of 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over the right and left primary motor cortex (M1) in a patient with limb-kinetic apraxia of the left hand and fingers and reduced cerebral perfusion in the fronto-parietal cortex of the right hemisphere documented by single-photon emission computed tomography scans. Changes in the MEP size during the trains and the RMT were measured and compared between the hemispheres. 5 Hz-rTMS was also delivered in a group of healthy subjects over both hemispheres in order to compare changes in the MEP size from the right and left M1. In the patient, 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over the left hemisphere elicited normal MEPs that progressively increased in size during the trains whereas 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over the right affected hemisphere failed to facilitate the MEP size. RMT was similar in both hemispheres. In healthy subjects, 5 Hz-rTMS delivered over either hemisphere elicited a similar, significant MEP size facilitation. Despite the limitations of a single case, our findings suggest an altered response to 5 Hz-rTMS over the M1 of the affected hemisphere. This asymmetric response correlated with the altered perfusion in the right hemisphere and the patient's lateralized clinical manifestations of apraxia.     

2型糖尿病患者功能磁共振成像的局部脑区活动时空四维一致性

目的:利用功能磁共振成像（fMRI）及临床资料研究2型糖尿病（T2D）患者脑功能及血糖指标改变状况。方法:采集T2D患者（34例）及健康被试（37例）的fMRI信号,计算局部脑区神经活动时空四维一致性指标（FOCA）,采集被试者临床实验室检查信息,并分析二者的相关性。结果:与健康对照组相比,T2D患者的FOCA值在左侧颞中回、右侧颞上回显著降低,在右侧小脑显著增加。左侧颞中回的FOCA值与空腹血糖指标、餐后血糖指标呈现显著的负相关。结论:T2D患者会出现右侧小脑、右侧颞上回、左侧颞中回等脑区自发神经活动的紊乱,且左侧颞中回的活动异常与T2D患者空腹及餐后2 h血糖水平等指标具有相关性。     

The Contralateral Extremity has Also Benefit from the Locally Administered Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cells and Cord Blood Serum in Diabetic Ischemic Wound Healing

Objective

Impaired wound healing could be a disaster especially in diabetes and amputation is the major risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of BMMCs and CBS on wound healing.

Methods

Diabetic rats were underwent bilateral limb ischemia and wounding of skin defects on both extremities. The groups were formed as BMMCs (group A), BMMCs and CBS (group B), only CBS (group C), and phosphate buffer solution (group D) that were injected into wounds on right legs.

Results

The complete recovery of right legs was established as a mean of 21.4?±?1.1 days, 12.9?±?1.5 days, 30.0?±?0.0 days and 38.1?±?1.5 days according to Groups A, B, C, and D (p?<?0.05). The recovery of left legs were calculated as a mean of 27.0?±?0.0 days, 24.0?±?0.0 days, 35.6?±?1.1 days and 37.3?±?1.6 days according to Groups A, B, C and D (p?<?0.05). At the end of the recovery, the HE staining showed that vascularity was increased in groups A and B.

Conclusion

Transplantation of BMMCs and CBS to the ischemic wounds of the diabetic rats accelerate the repair. The recovery was also superior in the same group although the treatment was not applied to the left extremity directly.     

预观察右上叶支气管开口解剖对右双腔支气管导管对位的临床意义

目的探讨以纤维支气管镜预观察右上叶支气管开口解剖方位,对插右双腔支气管导管(R-DLT)对位的临床意义。方法选择插R-DLT成年患者160例,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组80例。实验组病例麻醉诱导后预先行支气管镜检查,主要测量右主支气管长度及右上叶支气管开口在右主支气管横切面的方位(以患者正前方12点钟位置为0度起点,按顺时针增大)。两组按常规方法将R-DLT插入右侧支气管,之后以纤维支气管镜检查调整导管位置。实验组按之前测定的支气管解剖调整导管深度并作适当的旋转,对照组只调整导管深度使蓝色的支气管套囊上缘在隆突之下见到。然后纤维支气管镜改从右管腔插入通过导管的侧孔查看右上叶支气管开口的对位情况,没有进一步调整就能够看到右上叶支气管开口即为初步对位成功。最后适当微调导管,直至能看清右上肺尖段、后段及前段3个开口。比较两组初步对位成功率以及插管失败率。结果实验组右主支气管长度(2.29±0.58)cm,其中短于1cm的有2例,占2.5%;右上叶支气管开口在右主支气管横切面方位(94.5±8.3)°,其中有4例(5.0%)明显偏前或偏后。实验组右上叶支气管开口初步对位成功实验组有77例(96.3%),而对照组为62例(77.5%),组间差异显著(P0.05)。两组各有1例插管失败,占1.25%,均为右上叶支气管开口与隆突距离较近(1cm)。结论预先以纤维支气管镜查看右支气管解剖有助于提高插R-DLT初步对位的准确性,并利于插管前发现右上叶支气管开口变异而选择合适的导管具有重要意义。     

Recognition of faces expressing emotions in patients with unilateral brain damage.

The experiment concerned the functional specialization of brain hemispheres in recognizing faces expressing emotions in patients with focal brain damage of the left and right hemispheres and in persons without damage of the central nervous system. Three types of faces were presented: happy i.e. expressing positive emotions, sad i.e. expressing negative emotions and neutral. The task of the subject was to recognize the test face exposed for 20 ms in the left or right visual field and point to the correct face on the response-card which contained three different faces. The errors made in recognizing of faces exposed in the right visual field (addressing the left hemisphere) and in the left one (addressing the right hemisphere) were analyzed. The patients with left hemisphere damage showed a similar pattern of hemispheric differences to that observed in the controls. In case of neutral and sad faces fewer errors were made in the left visual field exposures, in case of happy faces no significant differences between the two fields were stated. The results in patients with right hemispheric damage were different from both the other groups. In processing all the three types of faces, fewer errors were made in the left visual field presentations independently of the localization of the damage within the right hemisphere. Similar recognition level of different types of faces was also found in patients with left or right hemisphere damage as well as in controls. The above results suggest the crucial role of the right hemisphere in processing both positive and negative emotions expressed in faces.     

Optimized individual mismatch negativity source localization using a realistic head model and the Talairach coordinate system

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the difference between anatomical locations of mismatch negativity (MMN) generators using a realistic head model and the Talairach coordinate system. This was performed by dipole source analysis by using a high density 128 channel electroencephalography (EEG) acquisition system and the subjects' individual 3D magnetic resonance images (MRI) for the realistic head model, in 24 healthy subjects. For dipole source localization, both the Talairach coordinate system and the individual MRI realistic head models were used and location results were compared. The MMN generators were clearly localized in the superior temporal gyri, especially in Heschl's gyrus, according to each individual's structural MRI. Only 37.5% of subjects showed the same anatomical locations of the MMN generator in both hemispheres in the realistic head model and in Talairach coordinate system, but fifteen subjects (62.5%) didn't. This result indicates that individually registered functional locations are desirable for the precise localization of activated areas in functional imaging studies and that a brain coordinate system is needed which adequately accounts for ethnic differences.     

The ratios of 2nd to 4th digit may be a predictor of schizophrenia in male patients

The production of androgens (mostly testosterone) during the early fetal stage is essential for the differentiation of the male brain. Some authors have suggested a relationship between androgen exposure during the prenatal period and schizophrenia. These two separate relationships suggest that digit length ratios are associated with schizophrenia in males. The study was performed in a university hospital between October 2012 and May 2013. One hundred and three male patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM‐IV using SCID‐I, and 100 matched healthy males, were admitted to the study. Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. The second digit (2D) and fourth digit (4D) asymmetry index (AI), and the right‐ and left‐hand 2D:4D ratios were calculated. All parametric data in the groups were compared using an independent t‐test. The predictive power of the AI was estimated by receiver operating characteristics analysis. The 2D:4D AI was statistically significantly lower in the patient group than the healthy control comparison group. There were significant differences between the schizophrenia and the control groups in respect of left 2D:4D and right 2D:4D. There was no correlation between AI, left, or right 2D:4D, BPRS, or SAPS in the schizophrenia group. However, there was a negative correlation between left 2nd digit (L2D):4D and the SANS score. Our findings support the view that the 2D:4D AI can be used as a moderate indicator of schizophrenia. Even more simply, the right or left 2D:4D can be used as an indicator. L2D:4D could indicate the severity of negative symptoms. Clin. Anat. 28:551–556, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.