早期康复对脑出血患者神经功能恢复、日常生活能力及焦虑抑郁症状的影响

目的观察早期康复对脑出血患者神经功能恢复、日常生活能力及焦虑抑郁症状的影响。方法将67例脑出血患者随机分为康复组(32例)和对照组(35例),均进行规范药物治疗,对照组按传统康复训练要求进行,康复组患者同时接受早期综合康复治疗。治疗前和治疗3个月后分别对两组患者进行美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)评分,采用Barthel指数(BI)、汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)和汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)等测试。结果治疗3个月后,两组患者神经功能缺失明显减轻,与入院时比较差异均有统计学意义(P均0.05),康复组改善更明显,与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);康复组患者治疗后BI、HAMA、HAMD评分与治疗前比较以及与治疗后的对照组患者比较,差异均有统计学意义(P均0.05)。结论早期综合康复能明显促进脑出血患者神经功能恢复,提高日常生活能力,减轻焦虑、抑郁症状,有效提高患者生存质量。     

The functions of the orbitofrontal cortex

Parkinson's disease is commonly accompanied by cognitive issues that limit participation in activities of daily living. Unfortunately, most current treatment paradigms and pharmacotherapeutics fail to address the cognitive impairment demonstrated in this population. Mounting evidence in healthy older adults suggests that aerobic exercise may improve cognitive function. This article describes a patient with Parkinson's disease prescribed 8 weeks of aerobic exercise. Despite very high performance at baseline, the participant improved on several cognitive measures post exercise. The results of this investigation mimic the research in healthy older adults. We therefore suggest that future large scale randomized trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of aerobic exercise for ameliorating declines in cognitive performance in persons with PD.     

重组人粒细胞集落刺激因子对脑出血大鼠神经功能的影响

目的 探讨重组人粒细胞集落刺激因子(rhG-CSF)对脑出血大鼠神经功能的影响.方法 将48只SD大鼠按随机数字表法分为模型组和rhG-CSF治疗组,均应用大鼠脑立体定位仪注射自体不凝血法制作脑出血模型,其中rhG-CSF治疗组于造模后1h开始腹腔注射rhG-CSF[60μg/(kg· d)],模型组注射等量生理盐水.造模后第7天及第14天对2组大鼠分别进行神经功能评分,流式细胞仪检测外周血CD34+细胞的含量,免疫组化染色观察脑出血灶周围组织微管相关蛋白2 (MAP-2)的表达. 结果 rhG-CSF治疗组第7天及第14天的神经功能评分(0.407±0.057,0.649±0.014)、外周血CD34+细胞含量(0.381％±0.054％,0.205％±0.088％)及MAP-2表达(0.205±0.088,0.281±0.054)均明显高于模型组(0.168±0.066,0.326±0.047; 0.074％±0.028％,0.030％±0.057％;0.080±0.017,0.124±0.028),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05). 结论 rhG-CSF可促进脑出血区神经细胞的增生和修复,对出血后脑组织具有保护作用,从而改善脑出血后神经功能.     

脑梗死后皮质脊髓束Wallerian变性的DTI纵向研究

目的探讨应用扩散张量成像（DTI）观察脑梗死后从早期、亚急性至慢性期同侧皮质脊髓束（CST）的DTI参数随时间变化的规律,由此检测皮质脊髓束发生Wallerian变性的时间演变过程。方法选取2008年11月至2010年1月间在复旦大学附属中山医院住院治疗的皮层下运动通路脑梗死患者34例,发病时间从5h至2年。在入院时行MRI＋DTI检查。34例中选取5例患者,在发病1W内、第2周、1个月、3个月、6个月和1年分别行MRI＋DTI检查。采用工作站之Functool软件,重建出平均弥散系数（MD）、各向异性分数（FA）的参数图。通过放置兴趣区（ROI）的方式计算出FA值、MD值、rFA、rMD。ROI放置在双侧大脑脚。结果脑梗死后病灶同侧大脑脚区rFA在1月内下降最明显,1个月至3个月下降变慢,3个月后rFA变化幅度很小基本保持平稳。而rMD在脑梗死2W内无明显变化,2W至3个月上升,3个月后基本保持稳定。5例患者不同时间点的DTI研究能够显示这种变化过程。结论脑梗死后从早期、亚急性至慢性期同侧大脑脚处皮质脊髓束的FA值进行性减少。DTI有利于检测脑梗死后皮质脊髓束发生Wallerian变性的程度及动态演变过程。     

Long-term impacts of different posterior operations on curvature,neurological recovery and axial symptoms for multilevel cervical degenerative myelopathy

Purpose

To investigate the long-term impacts of different posterior operations on curvature, neurological improvement and axial symptoms for multilevel cervical degenerative myelopathy (CDM), and to study the relationship among loss of cervical lordosis, recovery rate and axial symptom severity.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 98 patients with multilevel CDM who had undergone laminoplasty (Group LP, 36 patients), laminectomy (Group LC, 30 patients), or laminectomy with lateral mass screw fixation (Group LCS, 32 patients) between January 2000 and January 2005. Loss of curvature index (CI) was measured according to the preoperative and final follow-up radiographic parameters. The recovery rate was calculated based on the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Axial symptom severity was quantified by Neck Disability Index (NDI).

Results

Analysis of final follow-up data showed significant differences among the three groups regarding loss of CI (F = 41.46, P < 0.001) between preoperative and final follow-up JOA scores (P < 0.001), final follow-up JOA score (F = 7.81, P < 0.001), recovery rate (F = 12.98, P < 0.001) and axial symptom severity (χ² = 18.04, P < 0.001). Loss of CI showed negative association with neurological recovery (r = −0.555, P < 0.001) and positive correlation with axial symptom severity (r = 0.696, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Excellent neurological improvement was obtained by LP and LCS for patients with multilevel CDM, while loss of CI in groups LP and LC caused a high incidence of axial symptoms. Loss of CI was correlated with poor neurological recovery and axial symptom severity. Lateral mass screw fixation can effectively prevent loss of postoperative cervical curvature and reduce incidence of axial symptoms.     

Erythropoietin reduces white matter damage in two-day-old rats exposed to hypoxic/ischemia injury

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether erythropoietin (EPO) could protect against white matter damage (WMD) in a preterm equivalent neonatal rat hypoxic-ischemia (HI) model.

Methods: 113 two-day-old male rat pups were divided randomly into three groups: sham-treated, bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO)-treated, BCAO + EPO-treated group. EPO (50 U/10 g body weight) or saline alone was administered intraperitoneally immediately after BCAO surgery. Body weight, brain weight, brain water content, and expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) were assessed at day 1, 3, 7, and 14 after HI insult. Morris water-maze (MWM) test was used to assess neurological behavior from day 31 to 35 after HI insult.

Results: Body weights of BCAO + EPO group were greater than those of BCAO group rats (P < 0.05). Specifically, at day 3 and 7 after HI, brain weights of BCAO + EPO-treated rats were higher than BCAO-treated animals (P < 0.05); at day 7 and 14 after HI, MBP of BCAO + EPO-treated rats were higher than BCAO-treated animals (P < 0.05). Similarly, the brain water content at day 3 after HI in BCAO + EPO-treated rats was lower than BCAO-treated animals (P < 0.05). The body weight, brain weight, brain water content, and MBP expression in BCAO + EPO-treated group were comparable to those in the sham-treated group. Spatial learning and memory of BCAO + EPO-treated rats was significantly improved over the BCAO-treated group and was comparable to the sham-operated animals.

Conclusion: EPO treatment could be a potential intervention in treating WMD for preterm infants.     

Management and outcome of primary spinal ependymomas: A single center experience from Taiwan

Background

Surgical treatment of spinal ependymomas requires careful consideration of the relative risks of neurological worsening from surgery. Our aim was to determine the risk factors of neurological deterioration after surgery for spinal ependymomas.

Material and methods

This 20-year study included 17 patients (seven men and 10 women; 44.65 ± 13.62 years) with histologically confirmed spinal ependymomas. The basic features were reviewed and the functional status was assessed by using the modified McCormick classification. We subdivided the patient population into two groups according to whether neurological deterioration occurred after primary tumor resection (N = 5) or not (N = 12), and compared their clinical characteristics.

Results

The average duration of presenting symptoms in the 17 patients was 23.53 ± 21.45 months. Three (17.6%) patients underwent subtotal or partial resection and 14 (82.4%) patients underwent gross total resection. The incidence of neurological deterioration after primary resection of spinal ependymomas was 29.4%. There were five (100%) and two (16.7%) male patients in the neurological-deterioration and no-deterioration groups, respectively (p = 0.003). The duration of presenting symptoms was 24 months or over in all the patients with neurological deterioration and five of the 12 patients with improved or stabilized function (p = 0.044).

Conclusion

The risk associated with surgical resection of spinal ependymomas should not be overlooked because of the significant incidence of neurological deterioration. The male gender and long-standing symptom (≥24 months) are risk factors of postoperative neurological worsening. Early diagnosis and surgery are therefore critical for successful treatment of spinal ependymomas.     

The effectiveness of memory rehabilitation following neurological disabilities: A qualitative inquiry of patient perspectives

The evidence for the effectiveness of memory rehabilitation following neurological conditions, mainly studied through quantitative methodologies, has been equivocal. This study aimed to examine feedback from participants who had been through a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing two types of memory rehabilitation with a self-help control. It was envisaged that this information would offer a detailed understanding of patient experience of going through a trial and the perceived effects of having attended group sessions. Through 31 in-depth interviews, data collected were thematically analysed. The seven themes identified highlighted improvements in insight and awareness of memory problems and their neurological conditions, knowledge and skills about using memory aids; and as a consequence, improvements in cognitive functions, mood, and confidence, assertiveness and control over their condition. Participants also reported an altered perspective of life that helped them deal with their problems, and the therapeutic effects of attending group sessions. While these improvements were mainly reported in the intervention groups, even those in the control group reported some benefits. This study highlights that it is both feasible and advantageous to embed qualitative research within the traditional RCT methodology to arrive at a more nuanced understanding of patient experiences and intervention outcomes.     

Anglo-French neurological interactions in the 19th and early 20th centuries: Societies and Journals

We have reviewed seminal interactions between British and French physicians prior to and following the establishment of the Paris and London Schools of Neurology from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries. Our first article focused on British and French physicians, places and events. In this second part of our review we have examined the interactions between British and French Neurological Societies and Journals, including: (1) The Neurological Society of London founded in 1886, which became the Section of Neurology of the Royal Society of Medicine; (2) The Société de Neurologie de Paris founded in 1899, later renamed as The Société Française de Neurologie; (3) The journal Brain and its precursors and successors; (4) The journal Revue Neurologique and its precursors. We illustrate the constructive influence of Anglo-French interactions on the early development of neurology by the distinguished physicians who were corresponding members respectively of the British and French Neurological Societies and the scientific articles published by French authors in Brain and by British scientists in Nouvelle Iconographie de la Salpêtrière, Archives de Neurologie and Revue Neurologique.