Developing a Brief Neuropsychological Battery for Early Diagnosis of Cognitive Impairment

ObjectivesEarly diagnosis of cognitive impairment is increasingly emphasized in the literature to facilitate timely preventive interventions. Although bedside cognitive tests such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are widely used for such early diagnostic purposes, they may not have comparable performance to a full neuropsychological battery (FNB) in diagnosing early cognitive impairment. This study investigated whether a small subset of neuropsychological tests can be added on to MoCA to match its performance to that of the FNB in discriminating mild cognitive impairment and dementia (MCI/dementia) from normal cognition.DesignCross-sectional diagnostic study.SettingAlzheimer's Disease Centers across the United States.ParticipantsOlder participants (≥50 years) who completed MoCA and the FNB (N = 9187).MeasuresThe study sample was split into two: the derivation sample (n = 1837) was used to develop a brief neuropsychological battery that best discriminated MCI/dementia (using the best-subset approach with 10-fold cross-validation); while the validation sample (n = 7350) verified its actual performance in discriminating MCI/dementia.ResultsA 3-item neuropsychological battery was identified, comprising MoCA, Benson Complex Figure Recall, and Craft Story 21 Delayed Recall. It had excellent performance in discriminating MCI/dementia from normal cognition (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 90.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 89.2%-90.7%), which was comparable to that of the FNB (AUROC 88.4%, 95% CI 87.6%-89.2%). By contrast, MoCA alone had significantly worse AUROC (86.9%, 95% CI 86.0%-87.7%) than that of the FNB.Conclusions/ImplicationsUsing rigorous methods, this study developed a brief neuropsychological battery that maintained the brevity of a bedside cognitive test, while rivaling the diagnostic performance of an FNB in early cognitive impairment. This brief battery offers a viable alternative when the FNB is needed but cannot be feasibly administered in nonspecialty clinics. It can have a wider health systems effect of improving patients’ access to accurate diagnosis in early cognitive impairment and facilitating timely interventions to delay the progression of cognitive impairment.     

胚胎发育不良性神经上皮瘤的影像学与临床病理特征

目的探讨胚胎发育不良性神经上皮瘤（DNT）的MRI、CT表现及临床病理特征。方法回顾性分析经组织病理学证实的12例DNT的MRI、CT表现与临床病理特点。结果男6例，女6例，年龄12～68岁（平均36．7岁）。大多数病例以癫痫小发作为主，神经系统检查无阳性体征。MR检查病变均位于幕上结构，累及皮层，额叶（4例）及颞叶（3例）为主；最大径2-5cm不等，形态呈类圆形、分叶状或不规则状；2例累及白质，7例伴囊性变。病变在MRI均呈T1WI低信号，T2WI高信号，无病变周围水肿及占位效应；囊性病变在T1WI信号均匀，等于或略高于脑脊液。6例CT扫描病变均呈低密度改变，其中2例呈囊性分叶状，1例呈局灶性钙化；4例增强后病变无强化，1例病变内呈轻度不均匀强化。病理组织学DNT分为3型：单纯型（4例）、复杂型（6例）及非特异型（2例）。结论DNT是一种良性病变，MRI较CT更具特征性表现。     

Anton’s syndrome due to a giant anterior fossa meningioma. The problem of routine use of advanced diagnostic imaging in psychiatric care

Summary We present a case of blindness and Anton’s syndrome in a psychiatric patient with late diagnosis of a giant frontal meningioma. The criteria for advanced diagnostic imaging in the psychiatric population are discussed. We conclude that MR or CT scan is indicated in psychiatric in-patients who fail to improve with standard psychiatric treatment. This strategy should be submitted to a cost-benefit analysis.     

多体素1H-MRS对脑胶质瘤、转移瘤及脑脓肿的鉴别诊断研究

目的 探讨多体素氢质子磁共振波谱（^1H-MRS）在脑胶质瘤、单发转移瘤、体积较大脑脓肿鉴别诊断中的应用价值及胶质瘤瘤体周围的微观结构的改变。资料与方法 搜集脑胶质瘤26例、单发转移瘤9例、大体积脑脓肿4例，均行^1H-MRS检查。比较脑胶质瘤与单发转移瘤瘤体及瘤周胆碱（Cho）／N-乙酰天门冬氨酸（NAA）、Cho／肌酐类物质（Cr）、NAA／Cr值的差别，并做统计学分析；用HE染色、免疫组织化学、电镜检查等重点观察胶质瘤瘤周微观结构改变。结果 各个级别的胶质瘤与单发转移瘤瘤体之间Cho／NAA值分别为3．14±1．61和2．46±0．83，Cho／Cr值分别为2．57±0．93和2．90±1．93、NAA／Cr值分别为0．96±0．53和1．21±0．80，差异均无明显统计学意义（P值均〉0．05）；而瘤周之间的上述比值为1．74±0．98和0．98±0．23，1．72±0．51和1．09±0．35．1．11±0．30和1．11±0．25，除NAA／Cr外均有明显统计学意义（P值〈0．05）。脑脓肿内部出现特征性波谱，扩散加权成像（DWI）上脓腔显示为高信号。胶质瘤瘤周在光镜及电镜下发现已有瘤细胞浸润。结论 使用多体素^1H-MRS结合常规MRI可鉴别胶质瘤、单发转移瘤、不典型脑脓肿，胶质瘤的瘤细胞可以通过毛细血管转移浸润至瘤周。     

WHAT KIND OF BENEFIT DO WE EXPECT FOR PERORAL PANCREATOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTRADUCTAL PAPILLARY MUCINOUS TUMOR OF THE PANCREAS?

Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas is characterized by slow growth and a relatively favorable prognosis, however, invasive cancer originating in an IPMT is associated with a poor prognosis. Although various parameters in imaging modalities have been advocated to differentiate between benign IPMN and malignant ones, it is not easy to obtain definite diagnosis based on these parameters. Peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS) allows a clear and direct visualization of the pancreatic duct, providing useful information regarding tumor nature in IPMT. The authors have studied the usefulness of POPS in the diagnosis of IPMT. Nevertheless, its usefulness is not necessarily widely accepted and the significance of POPS is still controversial. In this review, the authors intended to address the diagnostic value of POPS and to clarify its role in the diagnosis of IPMT. The authors think treatment of IPMT can be improved by introducing POPS because the determination of surgical procedure as well as the area of resection based on the preoperative diagnosis of the involvement of the main pancreatic duct and branch duct is inevitable.     

新型隐球菌脑膜炎的诊断探讨及文献复习

目的:探讨新型隐球菌脑膜炎(CNM)的临床特点及诊断方法。方法:对18例CNM患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析并文献复习。结果:18例患者均经病原学确诊。大部分CNM患者为亚急性起病,临床表现无特异性,误诊率高,首诊误诊率为72％,其中误诊为结核性脑膜炎的占69％。结论:脑脊液中找到新型隐球菌是诊断该病的重要依据,多种快速检测手段结合可提高早期诊断率。     

CT对肾结核的诊断意义探讨

目的探讨肾结核的CT表现，分析CT检查在肾结核诊断中的意义。方法对42例肾结核患者进行CT检查及增强扫描并结合其他临床资料作综合分析。结果CT检查肾内有低密度病灶，空洞形成，多发空洞有特征性改变。结论肾结核的CT表现有一定的特征性，CT检查优于其他方法，在肾结核的诊断中有重要意义。     

胆囊结石伴胆囊癌的诊治分析

目的探讨胆囊癌与胆囊结石的关系及胆囊结石伴胆囊癌的诊断和治疗特点。方法对1993年1月至2004年12月间收治的27例胆囊癌合并胆囊结石患者进行回顾性临床分析。结果27例胆囊癌合并胆囊结石患者,男10例,女17例,男女之比为1:1.7。平均年龄68.5岁,其中60岁以上22例。临床症状最常见为腹痛(85.2%)。既往有明确胆结石病史患者15例,入院后发现胆结石的有12例。行B超检查的23例,诊断胆囊癌的有12例(52.2%)。CT结合增强扫描检查12例,诊断胆囊癌的有8例(66.7%)。行肿瘤根治切除者8例,根治率29.6%。随访13例,随访期为3个月~7年,获随访者的平均存活时间为12个月。结论胆囊结石是胆囊癌的发病因素之一,胆囊癌早期诊断困难,晚期治疗效果差,伴胆囊结石的胆囊癌关键是要引起重视,不能满足胆囊结石的诊断而遗漏胆囊癌。对胆囊结石患者要密切随访,高危患者要尽早手术。     

马兜铃酸对大鼠肾功能和组织病理学影响及川芎嗪与苯那普利的干预作用

目的:通过动物实验,观察大鼠灌胃马兜铃酸(AA)后,肾功能及肾脏组织病理学改变,及川芎嗪、苯那普利对肾损害的干预作用.方法:雄性Wistar大鼠98只,SPF级,随机分为4组:正常对照组20只,实验组分为模型组、川芎嗪组、苯那普利组,每组26只;各实验组按AA 20 mg·kg-1·d-1关木通浸膏灌胃,2 h后按分组灌胃给药.川芎嗪50 mg·kg-1·d-1,苯那普利1.8 mg·kg-1·d-1;正常对照组、模型组灌胃饮用水.各组每周测量体重,分别于第4、8、12周处死动物;腹主动脉采血分离血清,检测肾功能;取肾组织进行病理形态学检查.结果:AA灌胃4周后各组血肌酐/体重水平明显增加,与正常对照组比较有统计学差异;与模型组比较,川芎嗪、苯那普利组血肌酐/体重水平显著降低,提示有改善肾功能作用.肾脏组织病理学可见模型组早期有明显的肾小管坏死,部分小管结构紊乱较严重,空泡变性明显;后期出现间质灶性纤维化,纤维化面积＞30%.川芎嗪、苯那普利治疗组的肾功能和组织学损害程度较轻微,纤维化程度约15%～20%.结论:马兜铃酸对大鼠肾脏具有肾毒性,可导致小管间质损害和肾纤维化.川芎嗪、苯那普利对马兜铃酸肾损害有保护作用,能减轻马兜铃酸造成的肾组织病理损害,减少肾纤维化程度.     

Sensitivity and specificity of a self-administered questionnaire for familial screening of adult-onset dystonia.

We developed a self-administered questionnaire for screening the most common adult-onset dystonias. It was tested in 90 first-degree relatives of 22 adult-onset dystonia patients, yielding 79% sensitivity and 94% specificity. Simulation of a case-finding procedure based on serial application of the questionnaire and clinical examination of both subjects screening positive and subjects screening negative who had < 8 years of schooling increased sensitivity to 95% and specificity to 100%. This questionnaire may be an important screening resource for familial aggregation studies to be used in the context of a complex case-finding procedure.