Transcutaneous pressure adjustable valve for the treatment of hydrocephalus and arachnoid cysts in adults

Summary The authors report a series of 75 adults treated over the last four years for hydrocephalus (69 cases) or arachnoid cysts (6 cases) by using a transcutaneous pressure adjustable valve (Sophy SU 8), the mechanism of which is recalled.The shunt was ventriculo-atrial 46 times, ventriculo-peritoneal 23 times and cysto-peritoneal 6 times. The opening pressure of the valve was initially adjusted 56 times to the medium, 9 times to the high, and 10 times to the low position, according to each particular patient's needs. Following the evolution of the neurological status and/or the CT findings, the opening pressure was secundarily modified in 27 patients (i.e., in 36%), and in some of them several times.It was raised 16 times: 10 times because of subdural hygroma(s) (complicated by a subdural haematoma which required surgical removal, in one case), and 6 times because of clinical symptoms of intracranial hypotension associated with hyperdrainage signs on CT.It was diminished 20 times because of the absence of clinical improvement and persistence of dilated ventricles on CT.In these 27 patients the Sophy SU 8 valve allowed modification of its opening pressure according to the clinical and CT evolution, without need for re-operation.It is concluded that the patients who can benefit most from this valve system are patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus or with arachnoid cysts.     

CSF1PO、TH01和TPOX复合扩增系统的研究

目的研究CSF1PO、TH01和TPOX复合扩增最佳体系。方法设计正交实验进行聚合酶链式反应(PCR),应用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离显带技术检测扩增片段。结果 最佳反应体系组成为:10 × PCRbuffer2.5μl、0.72 mmol/L dNTP、2.5 mmoL/L MgCl2、2.0 U Taq酶,各基因座引物终浓度(μmol/L)CSF1PO:0.4,TH01:0.4,TPOX:0.6。结论获得复合扩增条件各反应因素较为满意的参数。     

CSF hydrodynamics after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Recent reports have shown that despite an apparently satisfactory recovery from previous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), many patients still have minor sequelae when specifically looked for. The cause of this so-called post-SAH-encephalopathy is uncertain. This prospective study comprises 54 patients who underwent aneurysmal surgery after SAH between September 1978 and March 1985. One patient died, and 6 patients were non-biased drop-outs. CSF hydrodynamics, determined by infusion test and isotope cisternography, were evaluated on the remaining 47 patients in the recovery stage. Five patients (11%) were found to have typical clinical, CSF dynamic and radiological manifestations of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), and all were shunted with good results. Twelve (26%) had abnormal results consistent with disturbed CSF-hydrodynamics, although there were no clinical or radiological findings supporting the diagnosis of shunt-demanding NPH. Disturbed CSF-hydrodynamics as one of the possible etiological factors of post-SAH-encephalopathy is discussed.     

促甲状腺素释放激素对犬肠缺血性休克脑脊液和血浆β-内啡肽的影响

采用犬肠缺血性休克模型,同时观察脑脊液(CSF)和血浆β-内啡肽样免疫活性物质(ir-β-EP)含量变化及促甲状腺素释放激素(TRH)对其影响,结果发现:CSF和血浆ir-β-EP随休克加重呈进行性升高,两者共同参与休克的发生发展。但两者升高无相关关系,可能来源不同。应用TRH可明显抑制CSF和血浆中ir-β-EP的升高,推测是由于TRH抑制了下丘脑释放β-EP入CSF和垂体释放β-EP入血循环。     

Percutaneous needle trephination for external CSF drainage: experience with 226 punctures

We report on our experience with 226 percutaneous needle trephinations in a total of 192 consecutive patients. Trephination was performed with a hand-driven drill. A special puncture needle was inserted into the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle. The main indication for this procedure was the treatment of occlusive hydrocephalus in an emergency. Duration of drainage ranged from 1 to 34 days and was 7 days on the average. We encountered 14 cases of infection (6.2%) and one case of symptomatic bleeding (0.4%). All these complications eventually resolved without permanent sequelae. In our opinion, ventricle puncture with this device is a simple and effective method and can especially be recommended for external CSF drainage in cases of emergency.     

Selective damage to the cerebellar vermis in chronic alcoholism: a contribution from neurotoxicology to an old problem of selective vulnerability

J. B. Cavanagh, J. L. Holton and C. C. Nolan (1997) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 23 , 355–363
Selective damage to the cerebellar vermis in chronic alcoholism: a contribution from neurotoxicology to an old problem of selective vulnerability
The curiously consistent localization of cerebellar cortical damage in chronic alcoholism is re-evaluated in the light of selective damage, with a similar topography in the cerebellar vermal region, in superficial siderosis in man and in experimental animals exposed to certain toxic substances. Attention is drawn to the capacity for Purkinje cell dendrites and Bergmann glia to extract materials from the CSF, and to the close anatomical relationships of the susceptible lobules I-II, IX and X to the roof of the IVth ventricle and to the cistern of the great cerebral veins. This restriction of damage to vermis and paravermis may reflect some compartmentalization of CSF flow within leptomeninges, consistently increasing exposure of these cerebellar surfaces to materials circulating in the CSF. In other circumstances when this pattern of damage is encountered it raises the question as to whether other environmental agents, gaining access to the CSF, may be similarly distributed.     

Usefulness of determining a protein induced by vitamin Kabsencein detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective　Protein induced by vitamin Kabsence or antagonistⅡ（PIVKAⅡ），also called des－gamma－carboxy prothro mbin（DCP），is a sensitive marker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC）inJapan and the United States since the sensitive kits were available（1998）．PIVKAⅡis not usedin clinicaldiagnosis in China so far．The aimofthis study was to assess the diagnostic value of PIVKAⅡin Chinesepatients with HCC． Methods　Seru mPIVKAⅡandα－fetoprotein（AFP）levels were determined in 60 patients with HCCand 30patients with cirrhosis not carrying HCC． Results　The mean serumconcentration of PIVKAⅡin HCCpatients（784．3±1364．1，x±s）was higherthan thatin cirrhosis patients（16．1±31．7）；this difference was highly significant（P＜0．0001）．When thecutofflevelof 40 mAU／ml was used as the level of discriminating HCCfromcirrhosis，51．7％of patients（31／60）with HCChad PIVKAⅡvalues above this level（sensitivity）．Only 4 patients with cirrhosis hadsuch high PIVKAⅡlevels．Thus，the specificity of this test was 86．7％（26／30）．Total accuracy was62．2％［（31＋26）／（60＋30）］．Seven of 19 small HCCs（36．84％）had PIVKAⅡvalues above the cutofflevel．Concentrations of AFPabove 20 ng／ml were observed in 34 of60 patients with HCC（56．7％）and in11 patients with cirrhosis（36．7％）．Eleven of 26 patients with HCC（46．2％）withoutincreased AFPhadconcentrations of PIVKAⅡgreater than 40 mAU／ml．No significant correlation was found between serumlevels of AFPand PIVKAⅡthat were measured in 60 HCCpatients（rs＝0．101，P＝0．247）．Combiningthe information fromPIVKAⅡand AFPshowed anincrease of approximately 21．6％over AFPand 26．7％over PIVKAⅡalone．For small HCCpatients，combining the information from PIVKAⅡand AFPshowedan increase of approximately 15．8％over AFPalone and 21．1％over PIVKAⅡalone． Conclusion　PIVKAⅡis a useful early diagnostic marker for HCCand may be more sensitive whencombined with AFPin Chinese patients．     

Electrolytes, Amino Acids and Proteins in Lumbar CSF during the Treatment of Acute Leukemia in Childhood

Abstract. We performed analyses of electrolytes, amino acids, albumin, alpha₂-macroglobulin, gamma-globulin and LDH in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of children undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin-lymphoma or acute myeloid leukemia. At the time of diagnosis signs of a disturbance of the blood-brain barrier were found in some patients. During induction treatment with L-asparaginase a rise of glutamic acid and a decrease of glutamine occurred. This finding correlated with slowing of the EEG. Treatment with vincristine was associated with a slight drop of sodium and chloride concentration in serum, but not in the cerebrospinal fluid. Central nervous system prophylaxis with cranial irradiation, and to a lesser degree with intravenous medium-dose methotrexate, gave rise to a further deterioration of the blood-brain barrier function as indicated by an increase in albumin, alpha₂-macroglobulin and LDH levels. During radiotherapy the concentration of several amino acids rose, probably due to a disturbance of active carrier mechanisms. Patients with elevated albumin at the end of radiotherapy more often suffered an early leukemia relapse while still on treatment. No other clinical or electroencephalographic correlations of altered barrier function could be found.     

Mobilization of CD34+ cells by glycosylated and nonglycosylated G-CSF in healthy volunteers — a comparative study

Abstract: In vitro studies indicate that lenograstim (glycosylated G–CSF) is more potent than filgrastim (nonglycosylated G–CSF) on a weight for weight basis. However, such a difference has not yet been shown in vivo. The primary objective of this trial was to compare the efficacy of equivalent doses (μg) of lenograstim and filgrastim in mobilizing CD34+ cells. Thirty-two healthy male volunteers, median age 27 yr (19–44 yr), were randomized to receive either lenograstim 10 μg/kg followed by filgrastim 10 μg/kg or vice versa with a washout period of a minimum 4 wk. Both drugs were administered as s.c. injections once daily for 5 d (d 1–5). CD34+ cells were mobilized with a similar kinetics, peaking at median d 6 (5–6) for both drugs. A significant difference in favour of lenograstim was shown for peak number of CD34+ cells/μl blood (104±38 vs. 82±35, mean±l SD, p<0.0001, paired t-test, n=30) and number of CFU-GM/μl blood at d 6 (14.6±8.4 vs. 10.2±4.6, p<0.0001), respectively. There was no difference in the d 6 number of CD3+ cells. Both drugs were generally well tolerated and did not differ with respect to number of adverse events. In conclusion, lenograstim 10 μg/kg/d mobilizes PBPC more efficiently than the identical dose of filgrastim, indicating a difference in in vivo potency between the two G–CSFs.     

一例中度骨髓型急性放射病合并局部极重度放射性损伤病人的临床报告

目的通过对１９９６年１月５日吉林市发生的一起辐射事故病人“文”的救治，对急性放射病合并局部极重度放射性损伤诊断与救治提供新经验。方法通过物理模拟试验、染色体畸变分析、淋巴细胞微核率及局部组织ＥＳＲ的检测，估算全身受照射剂量及局部不同部位受照射剂量，并通过临床症状、造血系统等临床资料综合分析，确定了损伤程度。结果全身受照后吸收剂量（红骨髓干细胞存活计权等效剂量）为２．９±０．３Ｇｙ，右下肢最大吸收剂量达３７３７．８Ｇｙ。照后２小时５０分出现频繁的恶心呕吐。照后第１～２天淋巴细胞计数为０．９～０．４×１０９／Ｌ，为保全生命，于照后第８天行右大腿及左手腕截肢术。白细胞、血小板计数于照后第１７天降至最低值（分别为０．６５×１０９／Ｌ及１９×１０９／Ｌ）。照后４～２３天应用ｒｈＧ－ＣＳＦ，极期仅持续５天便进入恢复期。结论本例为中度骨髓型急性放射病合并局部极重度放射损伤，后者又会加重全身急性放射病的病理改变，在治疗中不能忽视对局部损伤的及时处理，早期应用ｒｈＧ－ＣＳＦ有助于造血功能的恢复，心肌酶的检测有助于局部严重放射损伤的判定。