The hidden aspect of carotid lesions in traffic accidents: A little-known phenomenon

Vascular injuries that occur during traffic accidents are a commonly neglected aspect that can add more detail to the framework of a case. In this study, we analysed a case series of 150 traffic accidents, 39 of which were marked by microscopically identifiable vascular lesions. The purpose was to identify the presence of carotid injuries in individuals who died due to traffic accidents and had nonpenetrating trauma of the neck. We focused on the discrepancies regarding the macroscopical aspect and the histology and demonstrated how histological analysis of the carotids in cases of trauma can reveal injuries that are attributable to the trauma itself. We conducted a histological analysis of the lesions to describe their distribution and type and investigate potential correlations. The study offers insight on how to examine road accidents that involve traumatic injury of the carotid arteries. Indeed the main task of the forensic pathologist in the case of death is to establish the existence of a causal relationship between the micro- or macroscopic alterations observed in the autopsy and the traumatic event that led to the death of the subject. Thus, further morphological elements were provided to the forensic practitioners that may reveal injuries attributable to the trauma itself and should be evaluated in cases of trauma in traffic accidents.     

Endovascular management of multiple intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas

Background and purposeMultiply occurring intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) have been documented but rarely occur, and neither pathogenesis nor prognosis is clearly understood. This study was conducted to analyze angiographic characteristics of multiple dAVFs and to chronicle our treatment experience.MethodsBetween April, 2002 and January, 2018, data prospectively collected from 310 patients with intracranial dAVFs were systematically reviewed, assessing clinical and anatomic outcomes of endovascular treatment in 32 patients with multiple dAVFs (≥ 2 fistulas each). Lesions were categorized as multifocal or diffuse type, depending on presentation, and further characterized as progressive or non-progressive disease.ResultsOverall, 18 patients (56.3%) experienced aggressive presentations, including intracerebral hemorrhage or venous infarction. Cortical venous reflux (CVR) was observed in 26 patients (81.3%), and sinus thrombosis or occlusion was seen in 24 (75.0%). Clinical outcomes in patients with multifocal fistulas (n = 11) were excellent (100%), marked by a moderately high rate of complete occlusion (54.5%). Those with progressive disease (n = 10) regularly displayed certain angiographic findings, namely diffuse configuration (100%), sinus thrombosis (100%), and CVR (100%). Complete anatomic obliteration was achieved in 12 patients (37.5%), and in 26 patients (81.3%), clinical outcomes were favorable.ConclusionMultiple dAVFs are typically aggressive at presentation, given strong associations with CVR and sinus thrombosis. In diffuse-type fistulas, the potential to recur or progress is high. Although definitive treatment poses a challenge, outcomes of endovascular therapeutics may be still optimized in this setting through strategic procedural modifications and careful follow-up monitoring.     

颈动脉超声联合血清五聚素3、脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2检测对动脉粥样硬化脑梗死的诊断价值

目的探讨颈动脉超声联合血清五聚素3(PTX3)、脂蛋白相关磷脂酶A2(Lp-PLA2)检测对动脉粥样硬化脑梗死的诊断价值。方法随机选择2015年1月至2017年12月在本院神经内科就诊的急性缺血性脑卒中患者56例作为观察组,选择同期在本院体检的健康者50例作为对照组。2组研究对象均行颈动脉超声检查,并采集静脉血检测PTX3、Lp-PLA2的水平。比较2组血清PTX3、Lp-PLA2水平及颈动脉内膜中膜厚度(IMT)增厚、斑块、中重度狭窄检出率。分析颈动脉超声、PTX3、Lp-PLA2单独及联合检测对动脉粥样硬化脑梗死的诊断价值。结果观察组血清PTX3、Lp-PLA2水平显著高于对照组(P0. 05),颈动脉IMT增厚、斑块、中重度狭窄检出率显著高于对照组(P0. 05)。颈动脉超声联合PTX3、Lp-PLA2检测的灵敏度、准确率为89. 29%、77. 36%,明显高于PTX3(73. 21%、71. 69%)、Lp-PLA2(69. 64%、67. 92%)及颈动脉超声(80. 36%、76. 42%)的单独检测结果(均P0.05)。ROC曲线显示,颈动脉超声检查的曲线下面积(AUC)为0. 789,PTX3检测的AUC为0. 764,Lp-PLA2检测的AUC为0. 776,而联合检测的AUC为0. 909,差异有统计学意义(P0. 05)。结论颈动脉超声联合血清PTX3、LpPLA2检测能够显著提高动脉粥样硬化脑梗死诊断的灵敏度和准确率。     

Internal Carotid Artery Dissection Presenting With Dysgeusia,Horner Syndrome,and Hypesthesia of the Fifth Cranial Nerve: A Case Report

BackgroundCarotid artery dissection (CAD) is a significant cause of ischemic stroke. Early recognition and treatment of CAD is important to prevent accompanying cerebral ischemia. This case report presents an atypical clinical presentation of CAD and emphasizes the diagnostic challenge for emergency physicians.Case ReportA 54-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a bilateral headache of 4 days’ duration, hypesthesia of the left fifth cranial nerve, dysgeusia, and partial Horner syndrome on the left side. Magnetic resonance angiography showed a left-sided CAD without any signs of cerebral ischemic events. Antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel was started, and the patient did not show any deterioration in the weeks thereafter.Why Should an Emergency Physician be Aware of This?CAD can present with different combinations of cranial nerve palsies and should be in the differential diagnosis of dysgeusia and hypesthesia of the trigeminal nerve. Early recognition of CAD can be challenging in patients with rare cranial nerve involvement, but early treatment is crucial to prevent cerebral ischemic events.     

复荣通脉组方对老年糖尿病患者颈动脉内膜-中层厚度影响

[目的] 分析复荣通脉组方对老年糖尿病患者颈动脉内膜-中层厚度（IMT）影响。[方法] 选择2018年1月—2019年6月至河北中医学院附属沧州中西医结合医院进行2型糖尿病治疗的老年患者100例进行本次研究。使用随机数字法将患者分为观察组和对照组各50例。对照组患者给予常规治疗，观察组在对照组基础上给予中药汤剂复荣通脉组方治疗。比较两组患者治疗前后IMT水平、颈动脉斑块大小和数量变化，颈动脉血流变化情况。[结果] 两组患者治疗前颈总动脉内膜-中层厚度（CCA-IMT）和颈内动脉内膜-中膜厚度（ICA-IMT）无统计学差异（P>0.05），治疗后与治疗前相比均降低（P<0.05），但观察组（1.41±0.13）、（1.31±0.11）mm均低于对照组（1.48±0.14）、（1.37±0.15）mm，且具有统计学差异（P<0.05）。两组患者治疗前颈动脉斑块大小和数量无统计学差异（P>0.05），治疗后与治疗前相比均降低（P<0.05），但观察组（18.41±4.06）mm³、（2.51±1.30）个，均低于对照组（21.03±3.82）mm³、（3.06±1.57）个，且具有统计学差异（P<0.05）。观察组患者治疗后CCA-IMT、ICA-IMT分别减少11、12例，高于对照组4、4例；观察组颈动脉斑块数量治疗后减少67个，高于对照组54个，均具有统计学差异（P<0.05）。两组患者治疗前各项脑血流参数均无统计学差异（P>0.05），治疗后均有所改善，但观察组改善得更为明显，具有统计学差异（P<0.05）。[结论] 复荣通脉组方能够明显降低老年糖尿病患者IMT水平，缩小颈动脉斑块，改善患者脑血流情况，具有较好的临床应用效果。     

Characterization of Moyamoya and Middle Cerebral Artery Diseases by Carotid Canal Diameter and RNF213 p.R4810K Genotype

ObjectivesIt is sometimes difficult to differentiate middle cerebral artery disease from moyamoya disease because the two can present similarly yet have different treatment strategies. We investigated whether the presence of a narrow carotid canal and the RNF213 mutation can help differentiate between the two phenotypes.Population and MethodsWe analyzed 78 patients with moyamoya disease, 27 patients with middle cerebral artery disease, and 79 controls from 2 facilities. The carotid canal diameter was measured using computed tomography. The p.R4810K mutation was genotyped by TaqMan assay. A receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed to assess the significance of the carotid canal diameter for the accurate diagnosis of moyamoya disease.ResultsThe carotid canal diameter was significantly narrower in patients with moyamoya disease than in controls. The optimal cutoff values were 5.0 mm for adult males and 4.5 mm for adult females and children (sensitivity: 0.82; specificity: 0.92). Among the patients with middle cerebral artery disease, 18.5% and 25.0% of the affected hemispheres had the p.R4810K mutation and narrow canal (i.e., below the cutoff), respectively, whereas only 3.1% of those had both. Contrastingly, 68.8% of the affected hemispheres in patients with moyamoya disease had both these characteristics. Among the patients with moyamoya disease, those with the p.R4810K mutation tended to have narrower carotid canals.ConclusionsAlthough the presence of a narrow carotid canal or the p.R4810K mutation alone could not be used to distinguish those with moyamoya disease from those with middle cerebral artery disease, the combination of these factors could better characterize the two phenotypes.