复发缓解型多发性硬化患者深部灰质核团体积和灌注改变与临床评分的相关性

目的 采用基于体素的形态学（VBM）方法及3D伪连续动脉自旋标记（3D pCASL）技术探讨复发-缓解型多发性硬化（RRMS）患者深部灰质体积和灌注改变,及其与临床扩展残疾状态量表（EDSS）和神经心理学量表评分间的相关性。方法 对30例RRMS患者（RRMS组）和24名健康志愿者（对照组）行EDSS量表和神经心理学量表测试,评估其记忆功能。行3D T1WI及3D pCASL扫描,并应用Matlab平台的SPM 8及VBM 8软件对图像进行预处理。采用SPM统计软件,分析RRMS患者深部灰质体积、灌注改变,进一步提取深部灰质体积、灌注显著改变脑区的参数值与EDSS和神经心理学量表评分进行相关性分析。结果 与对照组比较,RRMS组双侧丘脑、左侧海马、左侧壳核、右侧苍白球体积显著下降（P均<0.05,FDR校正）,双侧丘脑、双侧尾状核脑血流量（CBF）显著下降（P<0.05,FDR校正）。RRMS组左右侧丘脑体积、右侧苍白球体积、左侧丘脑CBF与符号数字转换测验评分呈正相关（r_s=0.757、0.709、0.463、0.454,P均<0.05）,左右侧丘脑体积、左侧丘脑CBF与Rey听觉词语学习测试-即刻记忆评分呈正相关（r_s=0.565、0.503、0.492,P均<0.05）,与EDSS评分均无明显相关性（P均>0.05）。结论 RRMS患者深部灰质体积和灌注均发生改变,深部灰质体积和灌注下降均与记忆功能受损有关。     

纤维束示踪成像评价复发缓解型多发性硬化患者边缘系统纤维通路损伤

目的 利用扩散张量纤维束示踪成像评估多发性硬化（MS）边缘系统纤维通路损害。方法 对20例复发缓解型MS患者（MS组）和20名健康志愿者（对照组）进行纤维束示踪成像。追踪扣带束、穹窿、钩束,获得相应纤维条数、FA值、MD值。并进行统计学分析。结果 与对照组比较,MS组扣带束、穹窿、钩束FA值均减低（P均<0.01）,MD值均升高（P均<0.05）。MS组穹窿纤维条数较对照组减少（P<0.001）。MS组中左侧与右侧钩束纤维条数、对照组中左侧与右侧钩束FA值、纤维条数差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。MS组扣带束、钩束FA值与EDSS评分呈负相关（r=-0.572、-0.665,P均<0.05）,MD值与EDSS评分呈正相关（r=0.627、0.603,P均<0.05）。结论 纤维束示踪成像对评估MS边缘系统纤维通路损害及监测临床进程有重要应用价值。     

基于三维准连续动脉自旋标记成像评估单侧突发感觉神经性耳聋患者脑血流灌注改变

目的 基于三维准连续动脉自旋标记成像（3D pCASL）评估单侧突发感觉神经性耳聋（SSNHL）患者脑血流灌注改变。方法 对34例临床诊断单侧SSNHL患者（SSNHL组）和33名年龄、性别及受教育年限与之匹配的健康对照者（HC组）行3D pCASL扫描；评估SSNHL组平均听力阈值（PTA），以中文版耳鸣残疾量表（THI）、耳鸣评价量表（TEQ）、耳鸣响度视觉模拟评分法（VAS）、抑郁自评量表（SDS）及焦虑自评量表（SAS）观察其心理声学特征及情绪状况；基于体素水平分析组间脑血流量（CBF）存在差异的脑区，提取其空间标准化及归一化后的相对CBF （rCBF），分析SSNHL组异常灌注脑区rCBF与THI、TEQ、VAS、SDS及SAS评分的相关性。结果 与HC组相比，SSNHL组右侧三角部额下回及后扣带回CBF增高，左侧楔前叶、双侧中央后回、右侧额中回及右侧顶上小叶CBF减低（P均<0.05）。SSNHL组左侧楔前叶及左侧中央后回rCBF与SDS评分呈负相关（r=－0.441、－0.437，P=0.015、0.016）；SSNHL组异常灌注脑区的rCBF与其余量表评分均无明显相关（P均>0.05）。结论 单侧SSNHL患者右侧额叶、双侧顶叶及后扣带回等多个脑区存在灌注改变。     

2型糖尿病患者脑血流和功能连接变化及与记忆功能的关系

目的 纵向观察2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者脑血流量（CBF）及功能连接（FC）变化,分析CBF、FC与记忆功能的关系。方法 对27例T2DM患者（T2DM组）及36名健康志愿者（对照组）行头部MR检查及记忆功能测评,并于5年后随访复查。对CBF行重复测量方差分析,以CBF改变存在显著组别×时间交互效应的脑区作为种子点行FC分析,评估FC的交互效应,并分析CBF、FC与记忆功能之间的相关性。结果 双侧枕叶皮层CBF存在组别×时间交互效应（FDR校正,P<0.05）。T2DM组与对照组枕叶皮层基线CBF差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;5年后T2DM组枕叶皮层CBF显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。视皮层左侧V1背侧区（LV1d）亚区与双侧颞叶间FC的组别×时间交互效应显著（FDR校正,P<0.05）。T2DM组右侧颞叶基线FC高于对照组（P<0.05）,5年后随访时T2DM组双侧颞叶FC均较基线水平下降（P均<0.05）。T2DM患者LV1d与右侧颞叶间基线FC与短时记忆表现呈正相关（r=0.446,P=0.033）;5年后随访时枕叶皮层CBF与数字顺背评分呈正相关（r=0.493,P=0.012）。结论 T2DM早期视听皮层间FC代偿性增强,随着血流供应减少,视听皮层间FC代偿逐渐下降,这可能是T2DM患者记忆功能下降的神经机制之一。     

多序列MRI评估复发缓解型多发性硬化患者大脑皮层厚度改变

目的 观察多序列MRI所示复发缓解型多发性硬化(RRMS)患者大脑皮层厚度改变,并探讨其与皮层病灶及认知功能损害之间的相关性。方法 纳入41例RRMS患者(RRMS组)及30名健康人(对照组),比较其数字广度测验(DST)及符号数字转换测验(SDMT)评分。基于颅脑3D-T1W、液体衰减反转恢复(FLAIR)及双反转恢复(DIR)序列获取2组颅脑体积、皮层厚度及RRMS组皮层病灶数量和体积,分析RRMS组皮层厚度与皮层病灶数量、病灶体积及临床认知量表评分的相关性。结果 RRMS组DST及SDMT评分均低于对照组(P均<0.05),灰质体积小于对照组(P<0.05),白质体积大于对照组(P<0.05)。于36例(36/41,87.80%)RRMS共检出186个皮层病灶,总体积为16 880 mm³。相比对照组,RRMS组皮层萎缩范围更广(P均<0.05),主要集中于额叶和颞叶,且部分脑区皮层萎缩与皮层病灶数量、体积及DST评分具有相关性(P均<0.05)。结论 RRMS患者存在广泛大脑皮层萎缩,并与皮层病灶数量、体积及认知功能损害存在相关性。     

静息态fMRI观察脊髓型颈椎病患者初级躯体感觉皮层功能连接

目的 采用静息态fMRI观察脊髓型颈椎病（CSM）患者大脑初级躯体感觉皮层（S1）功能连接的改变。方法 对33例CSM患者（CSM组）及23名健康志愿者（对照组）行静息态fMRI,将双侧S1各分为6个感觉亚区（手指、上肢、下肢、胸部、背部和头面部）作为ROI,提取ROI信号,并与大脑其他脑区行基于体素水平相关性分析,获得功能连接系数并构建功能连接图;以双样本t检验比较CSM组与对照组间大脑功能连接的差异,并分析差异脑区功能连接值与临床功能量表评分间的相关性。结果 与对照组比较,静息状态下CSM组S1左侧上肢感觉亚区与左侧角回、左侧颞下回、右侧颞中回功能连接减低;S1左侧下肢感觉亚区与左侧角回功能连接减低;S1右侧胸部感觉亚区与双侧角回、双侧额上回、左侧内侧额上回、左侧额中回、左侧颞中回/颞下回、右侧小脑后叶功能连接减低;S1右侧下肢感觉亚区与左侧角回功能连接减低（P<0.05,FDR校正）。CSM患者S1左侧上肢感觉亚区与左侧角回的功能连接值与颈椎功能障碍指数评分（NDI）呈负相关（r=-0.377,P=0.031）;S1左侧上肢感觉亚区与左侧颞下回的功能连接值与上肢感觉日本骨科协会（JOA）评分呈正相关（r=0.353,P=0.044）;S1右侧下肢感觉亚区与左侧角回的功能连接值与下肢感觉JOA评分呈正相关（r=0.406,P=0.019）。结论 CSM患者存在与感觉运动相关功能连接异常,提示CSM患者已发生大脑皮层功能重组。     

Granger因果分析1型糖尿病患儿静息态fMRI数据

目的 观察1型糖尿病（T1DM）患儿静息态fMRI双侧海马效应连接的变化。方法 对1型T1DM患儿（n=18,T1DM组）和健康儿童（n=13,对照组）行静息态fMRI数据采集,以双侧海马为ROI进行Granger因果分析。结果 与对照组比较,以左侧海马为种子点,T1DM组左侧海马对双侧额中回、岛盖部额下回、三角部额下回、中央后回、辅助运动区、脑岛、前扣带和旁扣带脑回、内侧扣带和旁扣带脑回、缘上回,左侧内侧额上回、中央前回,右侧背外侧额上回的外向流显著减弱;以右侧海马为种子点,T1DM组右侧海马对双侧辅助运动区、内侧扣带和旁扣带脑回,左侧的额中回、岛盖部额下回、三角部额下回、内侧额上回、中央后回、前扣带和旁扣带脑回、缘上回外向流显著减弱。结论 T1DM患儿海马功能可能受到损伤,导致额叶、辅助运动皮层、扣带皮层对海马信息的提取能力减弱;与右侧海马相比,左侧海马可能对认知处理的参与度更高;海马外向流减弱对T1DM相关认知损害具有早期警示作用。     

动态对比增强磁共振成像观察复发缓解型多发性硬化微循环改变

目的 应用动态对比增强磁共振成像（DCE-MRI）分析复发缓解型多发性硬化（RRMS）病灶的渗透、灌注及直方图参数及其与临床评分的相关性。方法 对27例RRMS患者行常规MRI和DCE-MRI检查并应用Tofts模型进行后处理,定量分析MS患者病灶及看似正常白质（NAWM）的容积转移常数K^trans、脑血流量（CBF）和脑血容量（CBV）,并与临床扩展残疾状态量表（EDSS）评分及病程进行相关性分析。结果 ①强化病灶的K^trans值明显高于非强化病灶、病灶旁NAWM及远离病灶NAWM（χ²=24.771,P<0.001）;非强化病灶的K^trans值明显高于病灶旁NAWM与远离病灶NAWM（P均<0.05）。②强化病灶的CBF、CBV明显高于非强化病灶及NAWM,但非强化病灶的CBF、CBV与病灶旁、远离病灶NAWM的差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。③直方图结果显示非强化病灶的偏度值与强化病灶的差异无统计学意义,但后者分布更接近于正态分布;两者的峰度值均低于正态分布的峰值。④K^trans、CBF、CBV与EDSS评分及病程均无相关性（P>均0.05）。结论 DCE-MRI结合Tofts模型可显示MS病灶及NAWM的微血管渗透及灌注异常,直方图可能对MS不同病灶类型的鉴别具有一定的帮助。     

复发缓解型多发性硬化患者脑深部灰质核团铁沉积特征及与脑静脉血氧含量的相关性

目的 采用磁敏感加权成像（SWI）探讨复发缓解型多发性硬化（RRMS）患者脑深部灰质核团铁沉积的特点及其与脑静脉血氧含量的关系。方法 收集42例RRMS患者（RRMS组）及52名健康志愿者（对照组）,行常规MRI及SWI。应用SPIN软件生成并处理滤过后相位图,测量双侧大脑内静脉（ICV）、大脑中深静脉（DMCV）、双侧基底静脉（BV）、丘纹上静脉（STV）及双侧尾状核头（HCN）、苍白球（GP）、壳核（PUT）、丘脑（THA）、黑质（SN）及红核（RN）的相位值。结果 除双侧THA及右侧RN相位值外,RRMS患者双侧HCN、GP、PUT、SN及左侧RN相位值均较对照组减低（P均<0.05）。RRMS组BV、DMCV与左侧PUT（r=0.41、0.44, P均<0.05）、右侧PUT相位值呈正相关（r=0.38、0.43,P均<0.05）,ICV与左侧PUT相位值呈正相关（r=0.37,P=0.01）。结论 RRMS患者脑深部灰质核团的铁沉积明显增高,且与脑内静脉血氧含量降低具有相关性。     

头颈部CTA联合全脑CT灌注一站式扫描中时间间隔对灌注参数的影响

目的 探讨头颈部CTA联合全脑CT灌注（CTP）一站式扫描中,时间间隔对灌注参数的影响。方法 回顾性分析60例急性脑缺血症状患者的标准脑CTP图像（标准组）,于颅脑CTP图像中将动脉峰值期前后各1组扫描数据剔除,使得其前后间隔时间增加至4.5 s,模拟头颈部CTA联合全脑CTP一站式扫描（模拟组）。计算标准组与模拟组灌注参数[脑血流量（CBF）、脑血容量（CBV）、平均通过时间（MTT）]绝对百分比误差值,并分析脑灰质左侧与右侧、白质左侧与右侧灌注参数比值（rCBF、rCBV、rMTT）的相关性。结果 基底核层面CBF、CBV、MTT的绝对百分比误差值均值均<10%。灰质左侧与右侧rCBF（r=0.988,P<0.001）、rCBV（r=0.963,P<0.001）、rMTT（r=0.983,P<0.001）均呈正相关,白质左侧与右侧rCBF（r=0.980,P<0.001）、rCBV（r=0.957,P<0.001）、rMTT（r=0.986,P<0.001）均呈正相关。结论 头颈部CTA联合全脑CTP一站式扫描中时间间隔对灌注参数的影响较小。     

Guns and Knives in New Mexico: Patterns of Penetrating Trauma, 1978–1993

Objective: To identify patterns of nonfatal and fatal penetrating trauma among children and adults in New Mexico using ED and medical examiner data.
Methods: The authors retrospectively sampled in 5-year intervals all victims of penetrating trauma who presented to either the state Level-1 trauma center or the state medical examiner from a 16-year period (1978–1993). Rates of nonfatal and fatal firearm and stabbing injury were compared for children and adults.
Results: Rates of nonfatal injury were similar (firearm, 34.3 per 100,000 person-years; stabbing, 35.1). However, rates of fatal injury were significantly different (firearm, 21.9; stabbing, 2.7; relative risk: 8.2; 95% confidence interval: 5.4, 12.5). From 1978 to 1993, nonfatal injury rates increased for children (p = 0.0043) and adults (p < 0.0001), while fatal penetrating injury remained constant. The increase in nonfatal injury in children resulted from increased firearm injury rates. In adults, both stabbing and firearm nonfatal injury rates increased.
Conclusions: Nonfatal injury data suggest that nonfatal violence has increased; fatal injury data suggest that violent death rates have remained constant. Injury patterns vary by age, mechanism of trauma, and data source. These results suggest that ED and medical examiner data differ and that both are needed to guide injury prevention programs.     

Interprofessional approaches to creating safe,high quality health care

Three supplementary perspectives are presented arguing that interprofessional collaboration is both necessary and desirable. Nonetheless, there are often too many serious intra-professional barriers and obstacles to interprofessional collaboration to make it successful. Some of these barriers, it is argued and illustrated, are found in the multiple ways in which professional identity is tacitly acquired and embodied in the practitioners' habitual, everyday practice. The paper then explores ways in which reflection, especially Second order reflection, can help to elucidate and overcome these obstacles, as well as increasing professional adaptability and competence.     

Systematic Reviews Published in the January 2011 Issue of The Cochrane Library

ABSTRACT

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly as a DVD and monthly online. The January 2011 issue (first quarterly DVD for 2011) contains 4515 complete reviews, 1985 protocols for reviews in production, and 13,521 one-page summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 641,000 randomized controlled trials, and 14,018 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The health technology assessment database contains over 9300 citations. One hundred and seven new reviews have been published in the last 3 months, of which five have potential relevance for practitioners in pain and palliative medicine.     

Prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases by mass drug administration

The prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases, including soil-transmitted helminthiasis, shistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and trachoma, through mass drug administration, are exemplified by the elimination of the trachoma as a public-health problem in Morocco. In spite of this and other striking successes, mass drug administration programs are faced with major challenges resulting from suboptimal coverage and lack of efficacy. At current suboptimal coverage rates, programs may need prolongation for an extended period, increasing costs and undermining sustainability. Community participation through health education and information appears to be crucial to improve coverage and to achieve sustainability. Implementation of complementary measures, such as vector control, improved hygiene and environmental sanitation, are important to further control transmission and to prevent re-emergence of the infection and, again, may only be achieved effectively through community-based initiatives. To reduce costs and to relieve pressure on the health system, combining neglected tropical disease programs in areas where diseases coexist and integration with existing control programs for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS is advocated. The risk of developing drug resistance is of particular concern in view of the lack of alternative drugs, and reduced treatment efficacy due to emerging resistance is evident for the soil-transmitted helminths and onchocerciasis. Given the risk for the development of drug resistance and the need for a high degree of participation, close attention should be paid to the monitoring of the coverage and efficacy of the different program components.     

Bacterial meningitis: an update of new treatment options

The outcome of bacterial meningitis critically depends on the rapid initiation of bactericidal antibiotic therapy and adequate management of septic shock. In community-acquired meningitis, the choice of an optimum initial empirical antibiotic regimen depends on the regional resistance patterns. Pathogens resistant to antibacterials prevail in nosocomial bacterial meningitis. Dexamethasone is recommended as adjunctive therapy for community-acquired meningitis in developed countries. In comatose patients, aggressive measures to lower intracranial pressure <20 mmHg (in particular, external ventriculostomy, osmotherapy and temporary hyperventilation) were effective in a case–control study. Although many experimental approaches were protective in animal models, none of them has been proven effective in patients. Antibiotics, which are bactericidal but do not lyse bacteria, and inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases or complement factor C5 appear the most promising therapeutic options. At present, vaccination is the most efficient method to reduce disease burden. Palmitoylethanolamide appears promising to enhance the resistance of the brain to infections.     

Prise en charge des entorses externes de cheville : étude clinique préliminaire sur l’efficacité du dispositif Myolux™

Ankle sprains are the most common injury of the musculoskeletal system and are associated with significant societal and economic impacts. It has been proven that classical therapeutic strategies may not be effective in preventing recurrent injuries: the recurrence rates reported in the literature can reach 73%. In order to provide an effective rehabilitation solution, a destabilizing orthosis was developed. This device is equipped with a mechanical articulator reproducing the subtalar mechanics and placed under the heel. In this paper, we present the main results of a preliminary clinical study conducted between 2004 and 2007. All subjects included in this study were treated with the abovementioned orthosis during 10 rehabilitation sessions of 30 minutes each. Data show a relatively low recurrence rate of 12% for the overall population. Moreover, it's of primary importance to note that this satisfactory ratio is largely reduced (3% of recurrence rate) for the 29 patients who performed one training session per month after the 10th initial rehabilitation sessions. Hence, the destabilizing orthosis appears to be an effective solution to prevent recurrent ankle sprains. However, joint protection requires long-term and regular training sessions. This result has motivated the development of a similar device allowing patients to perform training sessions at home. Finally, data obtained in this study are promising awaiting the final results of the comparative, multicentric and independent clinical trials currently managed by the Hospices Civils de Lyon.     

Imaging choices in occult hip fracture

Background: Hip fracture is a common injury, with an incidence rate of > 250,000 per year in the United States. Diagnosis is particularly important due to the high dependence on the integrity of the hip in the daily life of most people. Objectives: In this article we review the literature focused on hip fracture detection and discuss advantages and limitations of each major imaging modality. Discussion: Plain radiographs are usually sufficient for diagnosis as they are at least 90% sensitive for hip fracture. However, in the 3–4% of Emergency Department (ED) patients having hip X-ray studies who harbor an occult hip fracture, the Emergency Physician must choose among several methods, each with intrinsic limitations, for further evaluation. These methods include computed tomography, scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: We present an evidence-based algorithm for the evaluation of a patient suspected to have an occult hip fracture in the ED. Also outlined are future directions for research to distinguish more effective techniques for identifying occult hip fractures.     

Systematic Reviews Published in the April 2012 Issue of the Cochrane Library

ABSTRACT

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly as a DVD but monthly online. The April 2012 issue (second DVD for 2012) contains 5045 complete reviews, 2182 protocols for reviews in production, and 17,084 short summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 674,000 randomized controlled trials, and 15,400 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The health technology assessment database contains just over 11,000 citations. One hundred and seventeen new reviews have been published in the last 3 months of which 12 have potential relevance for practitioners in pain and palliative medicine. The impact factor of the Cochrane Library stands at 6.186. Readers are encouraged to access the full report for any articles of interest as only a brief commentary is provided.     

Platelets,thrombosis, coagulation,and atherosclerosis

When I first got the invitation to join a medical delegation going to Moldova, I thought for a moment that our destination was the fictional country in the old Marx Brothers movie Duck Soup. On further checking, it turns out that entertaining place was called Freedonia. I now know that Moldova is indeed a real country, bordered on the west by Romania and on the other three sides by the Ukraine. It is a proud country, rich with traditions, and its people are warm, giving, eager to learn ways to improve their healthcare system, and deeply appreciative of our attempts to help them in the task.