Ischemic Stroke in the Setting of Tuberculous Meningitis

The clinical syndrome of tuberculous (TB) meningitis leading to ischemic strokes is rarely seen today in immunocompetent adults native to North America. This entity is also notoriously difficult to diagnose because the presenting symptoms are often nonspecific. The authors describe a case of a man with TB meningitis which progressed to recurrent ischemic cerebral infarcts.     

Turboprop: improved PROPELLER imaging.

A variant of periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) MRI, called turboprop, is introduced. This method employs an oscillating readout gradient during each spin echo of the echo train to collect more lines of data per echo train, which reduces the minimum scan time, motion-related artifact, and specific absorption rate (SAR) while increasing sampling efficiency. It can be applied to conventional fast spin-echo (FSE) imaging; however, this article emphasizes its application in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The method is described and compared with conventional PROPELLER imaging, and clinical images collected with this PROPELLER variant are shown.     

Prediction and Detection of Secondary Hemorrhages after Thrombolytic Therapy in Ischemic Stroke

Abstract It is well established that thrombolytic therapy increases the risk of secondary intracerebral hemorrhage in ischemic stroke patients. However, the term “intracerebral hemorrhage” (ICH) covers a wide spectrum from tiny spots of blood to massive space-occupying hematoma. We will review the etiology and clinical consequences of secondary hemorrhage after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients and discuss the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict this phenomenon. MRI is a highly sensitive tool for detection of hemorrhagic transformation after ischemic stroke. The definitions of a so-called symptomatic hemorrhage after ischemic infarction differ considerably and will also be described. Attributing a causal relationship of a clinical deterioration to a secondary hemorrhage is not easy and should be only addressed when it exceeds at least 30% of the infarct volume. In other patients, secondary hemorrhage might be regarded as side effect of reperfusion within the region with the most severe perfusion deficit. Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are a frequent finding in patients with leukoaraiosis and appear to be a general marker of various types of bleeding- prone small vessel disease and a predictor of recurrent vascular events. Current data do not support the hypothesis that the detection of CMBs is a useful diagnostic criterion for the exclusion of patients with CMBs from thrombolytic therapy. However, an increased risk for the rare patients with numerous CMBs can not be ruled out.      

前循环缺血性卒中老年患者颈动脉斑块及其稳定性与血流壁切应力的关系

目的通过探讨前循环缺血性卒中老年患者颈总动脉分叉处血流壁切应力的水平分析其在颈动脉斑块形成过程中的影响。方法本研究选择前循环缺血性卒中老年患者,应用经皮血管彩超测量颈动脉斑块及其稳定性以及对研究对象测量患侧颈动脉血流速度、血管内径和血液粘滞度,通过公式计算血流壁切应力。结果无斑块组和有斑块组之间、高回声和低回声斑块组之间血流壁切应力均有显著性差异(P<0．01)。结论血流壁低切应力促进颈动脉斑块、尤其是不稳定斑块的形成。     

Derivation of Power M-Mode Transcranial Doppler Criteria for Angiographic Proven MCA Occlusion

BACKGROUND: Stringent transcranial Doppler (TCD) criteria for diagnosing occlusion are needed for more reliable TCD performance at bedside in the acute stroke setting. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: At three academic stroke centers, we performed TCD examination for patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA). We used a standard insonation protocol with power M-mode Doppler (PMD) TCD (TCD 100 M, Spencer Technologies Inc., Seattle, WA). We collected mean flow velocity (MFV), pulsatility indices (PI), and power M-mode resistance signature (absent, high, or low) in symptomatic middle (MCA), anterior (ACA), posterior (PCA), and in affected (a), ipsilateral (i), and contralateral (c-lat) cerebral arteries. Ratios of aMCA/c-lat MCA, aMCA/iACA, and aMCA/iPCA MFV were subsequently calculated. PMD-TCD flow findings were evaluated with a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for angiographically proven MCA occlusion. RESULTS: We studied 120 patients with acute cerebral ischemia with PMD-TCD examinations prior to or immediately after DSA. Lower aMCA velocities pointed to higher probability of occlusion (P= .055). The aMCA/iPCA MFV ratio was superior to the aMCA/iACA ratio and strongly predictive of occlusion at a threshold ratio of 0.5 (RR 2.31 CI(95) 2.13-2.51). High resistance or absent M-mode flow signatures in the proximal MCA were present in 87% of M1 and M2 MCA occlusions (probability 87%). In the presence of a low-resistance PMD signature, obtaining the aMCA/iPCA MFV ratio <0.5 increases probability of occlusion to 87%. Normal MFV ratios and low-resistance M-mode signatures are highly predictive of a negative angiogram for MCA occlusion. CONCLUSION: In acute cerebral ischemia, reliable criteria for proximal MCA occlusion have been developed based on combination of MFV ratios and M-mode flow resistance signatures. Validation of these criteria will require multicenter studies.     

超早期磁共振血管成像无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者的预后

目的研究超早期磁共振血管成像(MRA)无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者的临床结局及预测结局的因素。方法选择超早期(发病6 h内)完成急诊磁共振成像(MRI)检查且MRA无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者31例,收集其临床及影像学数据,在MRI检查前完成NIHSS评分,随访发病后24 h的NIHSS评分及3个月时mRS评分。结果31例患者中28例MRI弥散加权成像(DWI)提示梗死灶,治疗后24 h时NIHSS显著改善者17例,3个月随访mRS0-2分者28例,未发现预测结局的因素。结论超早期MRA无大血管闭塞的急性缺血性卒中患者中大部分DWI可见责任梗死灶,即使未溶栓,大多数患者临床结局也较好。     

一种新型的适用于延迟溶栓治疗的大鼠脑血栓模型的制作

目的 通过对血栓大小的改良,建立适用于延迟溶栓治疗的大鼠脑血栓模型.方法 将10个长度0.8～1.0 mm、宽度0.35 mm的白色血栓经颈内动脉分别注入栓塞脑动脉,形成局灶性脑血栓模型.接受脑血管栓塞的138只SD雄性大鼠被随机分为两大组,分别为单纯缺血组(n=68)和延迟溶栓治疗组(n=70).单纯缺血组不接受任何治疗;延迟溶栓治疗组分别在血栓注入3、6和9 h后,将10 mg/kg的rt-PA自股静脉缓慢注入.使用MRI评价梗死灶的位置、大小、栓塞后不同时间的相对脑血流量.末次MRI检查结束后,大鼠脑组织用4%甲醛固定,作病理检查.结果 共有131只大鼠在血栓注入后脑内形成明确梗死灶,模型成功率为95%,脑梗死仅位于同侧大脑半球占84.7%(111/131),局限于左侧顶叶皮质或(和)左侧基底节的占79.4%(104/131),局灶性脑梗死体积占同侧大脑半球(23.12±6.04)%;对侧大脑半球也同时出现梗死灶占14.5%(19/131).发生局灶性出血11只,大面积出血1只,出血率为9.2%(12/131),均发生在延迟溶栓组.单纯缺血组大鼠,在血栓注入后3、6和9 h的rCBV分别为(34.13±17.55)%、(40.67±25.91)%和(40.72±26.51)%,各组之间rCBV均无显著差异(分别为3 h和6 h,Z=-0.958,P=0.338,3 h比9 h,Z=-1.147,P=0.251).延迟溶栓后成活率高(24 h死亡13只;48 h死亡1只,溶栓后8 d和12 d各死亡1只).结论 改良后的大鼠脑血栓模型是可靠的可重复性的类似于人类大脑中动脉分支栓塞的脑血栓模型,适用于研究延迟溶栓治疗的大鼠脑血栓模型.     

超选择性动脉溶栓治疗急性缺血性脑卒中临床研究

目的评价超选择性动脉溶栓治疗急性缺血性脑卒中的疗效和安全性。方法选择2003年1月至2005年5月于本院进行超选择性动脉溶栓同时采用卒中登记方法收集的58例急性缺血性脑卒中患者,随访6个月,观察患者的预后。结果58例患者中并发脑出血6例(10．3%),其中症状性脑出血2例(3．4%)。1个月末、3个月末和6个月末分别死亡2例(3．4%)、4例(6．8%)和5例(9．3%)。3个月末和6个月未残疾或死亡例数分别为13例(22．4%)和9例(16．7%)。结论对选择的急性缺血性脑卒中患者进行超选择性动脉溶栓是有效和安全的。     

进展性卒中与脑动脉狭窄的脑血管造影研究

目的探讨进展性脑梗死的影像学特点及与脑动脉狭窄之间的相关性。方法选择我院29例进展性脑梗死患者并与同期收治的31例完全性脑梗死患者比较,所有患者均行头颅MRI (或头颅CT)及脑血管造影检查(DSA检查),分析进展性脑梗死的影像特点及其与脑动脉狭窄的相关性。结果进展性脑梗死组分水岭脑硬死或侧脑室体旁梗死发生率72．4％(21／29)及脑动脉狭窄发生率75．86%(22／29)均明显高于完全性脑梗死组22．6％(7／31),35．48％(11／31)。进展性脑梗死组中重度狭窄发生率为55．17％(16／29),高于完全性脑硬死组的12．90%(4／31)。溃疡性斑块发生率在进展性脑梗死组48．28%(14／29)高于完全性脑梗死组16．13％(5／31)。结论中重度脑动脉狭窄及溃疡是进展性卒中的重要危险因素,应早期检查及处理脑动态狭窄以防止病情进展。     

Responses of CDKs and p53 in Delayed Ischemic Neuronal Death

Stroke is a debilitating disease that affects millions each year.While in many cases cerebral ischemic in jury can be limited by effectivw resuscitation or thrombolytic treatment,the injured neurons wither in a process known as delayed neuronal death(DND).Mounting evidence indicates that DND is not simply necrosis played out in slow motion but apoptosis is triggered.Of particular interest are two groups of signal proteins that participate in apoptosis-cyclin dependent kinases(CDKs) and p53-among a myriad of signaling events after an ischemic insult.Recent investigations have shown that CDKs,a family of enzymes initially known for their role in cell cycle regulation,are activated in injured neurons in DND.As for p53,new reports suggest that its up-regulation may represent a failed attempt to rescue in jured neurons,although its up-regulation was previously considered an indication of apoptosis.These observations thus rekindle an old quest to identify new neuroprotective targets to minimize the stroke damage.In this review,the author will examine the evidence that indicates the participation of CDKs and p53 in DND and then introduce pre-clinical data to explore CDK inhibition as a potential neuroprotective target.Finally,using CDK inhibition as an example,this paper will discuss the pertinent criteria for a viable neuroprotective strategy for ischemic in jury.