脑中风患者彩色多普勒超声特征研究

目的 用彩色多普勒超声观察中老年人脑中风患者颅内及颈动脉形态、结构和血流动力学改变。方法 应用2．5MHz线阵探头分别观察155例不同类型脑中风患者和80例正常人颈动脉内中膜厚度、斑块情况及颅内与颈动脉血流动力学改变情况。结果 （1）各型脑中风组颈总动脉（CCA）内中膜厚度均较对照组明显增厚,斑块有109例出现（70．3％）,而对照组仅4例（5．0％）出现斑块;（2）各型脑中风组颈内动脉时间平均流速（TAVICA）较正常组减低、阻力指数（RI）、搏动指数（PI）较正常组明显升高;（3）脑梗死组大脑中动脉时间平均流速（TAVMCA）较正常组低,脑出血组TAVMCA较正常组明显升高,混合性中风组可出现TAVMCA升高或降低两种情况。结论 中老年人各型脑中风患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度加重,斑块出现率高及斑块所引起的颈动脉狭窄,对脑中风有直接的因果关系,联合检查颅内动脉和颈动脉血流动力学改变可协助诊断不同类型脑中风,对其疗效观察,预防复发有一定的指导作用。     

颈动脉斑块的分割和三维图像显示

人体颈动脉和斑块在亮度分布和形态上有一定交叉和重叠，采用普通方式获得的CT或者MRI数据能清晰地反映斑块在颈动脉中的占位在临床上具有重要意义。本研究提出一种新的参数样条定义切割球簇分割得到颈动脉附近体素，并加强颈动脉和斑块的亮度对比和几何尺度放大，以达到与手术解剖颈动脉斑块基本一致的视觉效果。并将该方法与以血管中心线展开拉伸的血管分割方法进行了比较。实验结果表明本文方法可为颈动脉斑块组织分割提供可视的实时显示，可为相关治疗方法和疗效提供视觉分析。     

Automatic Active Contour-Based Segmentation and Classification of Carotid Artery Ultrasound Images

In this paper, we present automatic image segmentation and classification technique for carotid artery ultrasound images based on active contour approach. For early detection of the plaque in carotid artery to avoid serious brain strokes, active contour-based techniques have been applied successfully to segment out the carotid artery ultrasound images. Further, ultrasound images might be affected due to rotation, scaling, or translational factors during acquisition process. Keeping in view these facts, image alignment is used as a preprocessing step to align the carotid artery ultrasound images. In our experimental study, we exploit intima–media thickness (IMT) measurement to detect the presence of plaque in the artery. Support vector machine (SVM) classification is employed using these segmented images to distinguish the normal and diseased artery images. IMT measurement is used to form the feature vector. Our proposed approach segments the carotid artery images in an automatic way and further classifies them using SVM. Experimental results show the learning capability of SVM classifier and validate the usefulness of our proposed approach. Further, the proposed approach needs minimum interaction from a user for an early detection of plaque in carotid artery. Regarding the usefulness of the proposed approach in healthcare, it can be effectively used in remote areas as a preliminary clinical step even in the absence of highly skilled radiologists.     

Unilateral agenesis of the internal carotid artery presented as transient ischaemic attack: a case report

Dysgenesis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare vascular disorder with a variety of different grades (agenesis, aplasia, and hypoplasia). The left internal carotid artery is reported to be affected by dysgenesis three times more often than the right one. Most of the patients with dysgenesis of the internal carotid artery are asymptomatic. We report a case of a patient with right internal carotid artery agenesis presented to our hospital as transient ischaemic attack. CT scans at skull base level with bone settings showed absence of the right carotid canal, consistent with congenital agenesis of the internal carotid artery. MR imaging of the brain revealed signal void of the intracranial portion of right internal carotid artery. Maximum intensity projection reconstruction confirmed the agenesis of the right ICA, with the right middle cerebral artery fed through a dilated posterior communicating artery and the right anterior cerebral artery supplied by the anterior communicating artery (fetal type of collateral flow). In patients with agenesis of the internal carotid artery non-invasive imaging techniques are currently the mainstay of diagnosis.     

Carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery

We described 9 consecutive patients who underwent operative carotid artery exploration with attempted carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Indications for this surgery based on vascular imaging included segmental occlusion of the proximal ICA and also extensive occlusion of the distal ICA in selected patients in whom color-flow duplex ultrasound showed a poorly echogenic or anechoic thrombus with a flow void, suggestive of an acute thrombus. CEA was performed successfully to restore blood flow in all 9 patients:CEA in 5 and CEA with Fogarty thrombectomy in 4. Postoperative magnetic resonance (MR) angiography confirmed that revascularization had been successful in all 9 patients, and MR imaging displayed improved perfusion in 4 patients. Despite the lack of a generalized efficacy of surgical revascularization for symptomatic ICA occlusion, our study demonstrated that preoperative vascular imaging allows the selection of patients who may benefit from CEA.     

Giant intrasellar aneurysm presenting with panhypopituitarism and subarachnoid hemorrhage: case report and literature review

A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage, left ophthalmoplegia, and right hemiparesis. Previous symptoms and signs suggested the presence of panhypopituitarism. A giant intracranial aneurysm of the internal carotid artery, diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, showed the characteristic flow void phenomenon with black appearance. Analysis of endocrine function disclosed panhypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia. After proximal balloon occlusion of the aneurysm, diabetes insipidus developed. Pituitary function reassessed 6 months after initial admission confirmed anterior and posterior hypopituitarism and hyperprolactinemia. Possible mechanisms are discussed. A review of the literature on pituitary dysfunction caused by carotid artery aneurysms discloses that the pituitary-gonadal axis is the most frequently involved (67.5% of cases), followed by the pituitary-adrenal axis (48.6%) and the pituitary-thyroid axis (40.5%). These frequencies are very similar to those described in other types of hypopituitarism.Abbreviations ICA internal carotid artery - MRI magnetic resonance imaging - SAH subarachnoid hemorrhage Correspondence to: J.M. Fernandez-Real     

短暂性脑缺血发作患者脑血流动力学研究

目的探讨短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)的发病机制及血流动力学变化。方法52例符合TIA诊断标准的患者入选试验组,40例健康人作对照组。对上述受检者依次进行(1)经颅多普勒超声(TCD)检查:观察颅内血管有无狭窄、闭塞、侧支循环代偿状况;(2)彩色多普勒血流显像(CDFI)检查:了解颈动脉血管有无狭窄及斑块形态改变;(3)随访1年。结果52例TIA患者中,TCD检查发现40例(76.92%,40/52)有颅内动脉狭窄,其中多发动脉狭窄(两条或两条以上血管狭窄)26例(50%,26/52),单发动脉狭窄14例(26.92%,14/52),无狭窄10例(19.23%,10/52)。CDFI检查发现35例(67.31%,35/52)有1侧或双侧颈动脉狭窄。随访1年,48例完成随访的TIA患者中,13例有脑血管事件再发(27.08%,13/48),其中颅内外血管高度狭窄者脑血管事件再发率高于中度狭窄者(P<0.05);颈动脉软斑型粥样硬化狭窄患者脑血管事件再发率高于硬斑型粥样硬化患者(P<0.05)。结论TIA的发生与颅内外动脉狭窄有关,颅内外血管狭窄程度越高,脑血管事件再发的危险性也越大。颈动脉软斑型粥样硬化斑块比硬斑型斑块更不稳定,易引起脑缺血事件。     

颈动脉斑块的流固耦合数值模拟

目的 提出一种基于真实颈动脉狭窄患者的双向流固耦合计算方法,用于分析不同类型颈动脉斑块在病变处的血流动力学参数以及斑块自身的变形和应力变化。方法 对颈动脉中度狭窄病人CT血管造影数据进行3D建模,分离出颈动脉血管壁模型和斑块模型,并进行瞬态流固耦合计算。模拟颈动脉粥样硬化的早期到形成斑块,将斑块类型分为增厚斑块、脂质斑块、混合斑块和钙化斑块,其中增厚斑块视为无斑块的情况,代表血管内膜-中膜的增厚,并对不同斑块类型的狭窄颈动脉进行对比分析。结果 不同类型斑块对整体血流流动影响不大,但是脂质斑块病变处的壁面剪切应力低于其余斑块;以增厚斑块作为对照,斑块出现会抑制动脉的扩张,其中脂质斑块最为明显;钙化斑块有最高的平均结构应力,相反脂质斑块平均结构应力则是最低。结论 本文所提出的计算方法能够同时对流体和固体区域进行分析。研究结果有助于更好理解不同斑块类型对于颈动脉病变处的影响。     

Absence of the right common carotid artery

In a 33-year-old male patient with multiple sclerosis, brain magnetic resonance imaging incidentally showed a narrow right intracranial internal carotid artery. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography showed absence of the right common carotid artery. Right external and internal carotid arteries arose separately from the ipsilateral innominate artery and subclavian artery, respectively. Color-Doppler ultrasound confirmed this finding. Embriologically, the case could be interpreted as the disappearance of the third aortic arch with persistence of the carotid duct connecting the third and fourth aortic arches.     

MRI plaque imaging reveals high-risk carotid plaques especially in diabetic patients irrespective of the degree of stenosis

Background

Plaque imaging based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents a new modality for risk assessment in atherosclerosis. It allows classification of carotid plaques in high-risk and low-risk lesion types (I-VIII). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2) represents a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, but its specific influence on plaque vulnerability is not fully understood. This study investigates whether MRI-plaque imaging can reveal differences in carotid plaque features of diabetic patients compared to nondiabetics.

Methods

191 patients with moderate to high-grade carotid artery stenosis were enrolled after written informed consent was obtained. Each patient underwent MRI-plaque imaging using a 1.5-T scanner with phased-array carotid coils. The carotid plaques were classified as lesion types I-VIII according to the MRI-modified AHA criteria. For 36 patients histology data was available.

Results

Eleven patients were excluded because of insufficient MR-image quality. DM 2 was diagnosed in 51 patients (28.3%). Concordance between histology and MRI-classification was 91.7% (33/36) and showed a Cohen's kappa value of 0.81 with a 95% CI of 0.98-1.15. MRI-defined high-risk lesion types were overrepresented in diabetic patients (n = 29; 56.8%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed association between DM 2 and MRI-defined high-risk lesion types (OR 2.59; 95% CI [1.15-5.81]), independent of the degree of stenosis.

Conclusion

DM 2 seems to represent a predictor for the development of vulnerable carotid plaques irrespective of the degree of stenosis and other risk factors. MRI-plaque imaging represents a new tool for risk stratification of diabetic patients. See Commentary: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/8/78/abstract     

Experiences of duplex ultrasonography of carotid arteries performed by clinicians--correlation to angiography

One hundred and eleven carotid vessels in 56 patients were analysed by high-resolution duplex ultrasound. Vessels were graded as normal, 25, 50 or 75% stenotic and 100% occluded and the results were compared with similarly graded biplanar angiograms. There was absolute agreement in 68.5% of the vessels, agreement within one grade of severity of disease in 27.0%, while poor correlation was obtained in 4.5%. The results of ultrasound and angiography were also related to the surgical specimens obtained after thrombendarterectomy of 23 vessels in 20 patients. Good agreement was obtained between the three methods in 20/23 vessels. In one case ultrasound was better than angiography, in another case the reverse was true and in a third case both methods overdiagnosed a plaque. It is concluded that duplex ultrasound will work in the hands of a clinician and is a reliable non-invasive screening method for carotid artery disease leading to a more optimal selection of candidates for angiography.     

Late arterial erosion of a Crutchfield vascular clamp presenting with transient ischemic attacks: review of treatment options

Crutchfield clamps were once widely used for proximal carotid artery ligation in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and cavernous sinus fistulae. Consequently, there are a number of patients being followed who were treated with this device 10 to 15 years ago. The most important complication of this treatment modality in both the early and late postoperative period is thromboembolic phenomenon presenting as transient ischemic attacks, or a frank stroke. Because of the residual patient population with this device still in place, interval reports regarding the occurrence and treatment of late complications are important. We report a patient who underwent Crutchfield clamp application for control of a cavernous sinus fistula and had done well for 20 years when he developed transient ischemic attacks (TIA). Arteriography revealed a severe stenotic lesion (greater than 90%) in the common carotid artery with a patent internal carotid artery and no evidence of the previous fistula and an ulcerated plaque. At surgery, the pressure plate of the clamp had achieved an intraluminal position. The stenotic area was resected and an end to end anastomosis performed with complete resolution of symptoms after 18 months of follow-up. In this report we review the literature for complications of this device and discuss treatment options.     

缺血性脑血管病患者颈动脉粥样硬化的研究

目的:探讨颈动脉粥样硬化与缺血性脑血管病的关系。方法:将缺血性脑血管病患者99例分成TIA组,脑梗塞组,均接受颈部动脉多普勒超声检查,观察指标为动脉粥样硬化斑块的好发部位,超声分型及颈内动脉(ICA)颅外段狭窄度。结果:颈部动脉多普勒超声检查显示TIA组和脑梗塞组异常率均明显高于健康人,差异有显著性(P<0.01),TIA组与脑梗塞组异常率相比也有显著性差异(P<0.05)。病变血管分布与症状间有相关关系P<0.01)。从动脉粥样硬化斑块好发部位及超声分型来看,动脉粥样硬化斑最多见于颈总动脉分叉处(BIF).其次是颈总动脉(CCA),再其次是ICA起始部,TIA组与脑梗塞组均以扁平斑多见,其次是软斑和硬斑,溃疡斑少见。另外ICA颅外段狭窄度与症状间呈显著相关(P<0.01)。结论:颈动脉粥样硬化班块,是缺血性脑血骨病发生的重要危险因素之一。颈动脉粥样硬化程度越重.发生严重缺血性卒中的危险性越高。     

Changes of atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries due to severe Familial hypercholesterolemia following long-term plasmapheresis,assessed by duplex scan

Summary Three males, aged 15, 22, and 25 years, have been followed for Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) from 1968 and 1976 onward, being treated by plasmapheresis for 2 to 5 years continuously, at 1- to 2-week intervals. Whereas two patients have been continuously treated to date, the third discontinued plasma exchange after 4 years and has been reevaluated 6 years later. Discontinuation of plasma exchange led to progression of atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries documented by duplex scan, whereas one patient exhibited marked regression of former impressive soft plaque-formation and one patient showed no significant change. Two-dimensional computer-analysis suggested a reduction of plaque mass of up to 45% in one patient.Abbreviations CCA Common carotid artery - ECG Electrocardiogram - FH Familial hypercholesterolemia - HDL-c High density lipoprotein cholesterol - ICA Internal carotid artery - LAD Left anterior descending artery - LDL-c Low density lipoprotein cholesterol - LVH Left ventricular hypertrophy - RCprox Right coronary artery - sc. Scintigram - TC Total cholesterol This work was supported by grants from Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftDedicated to Professor Dr. N. Zöllner on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

烟雾病血管搭桥术后高灌注综合征的研究进展

烟雾病是一种以双侧颈内动脉末端及其分支血管慢性进行性狭窄或闭塞,并继发颅底异常血管网生成的脑血管病。烟雾病血管搭桥术主要通过连接颞浅动脉(STA)和大脑中动脉(MCA)以实现颅内外血管吻合并增加脑血流灌注,对预防烟雾病患者术后再发卒中具有治疗价值。脑血流高灌注综合征(CHS)是血管搭桥术后常见的一种并发症,可导致短暂性神经功能缺陷及颅内出血等。鉴于此,本研究从术后高灌注的临床表现、危险因素、临床研究、发病机制及影像学评估、治疗等方面作如下综述,以期为烟雾病血管搭桥术后CHS的临床治疗提供参考。     

颅内自膨式支架Enterprise治疗缺血性脑卒中颈内动脉狭窄的远期效果：随机对照临床试验方案

BACKGROUND: The Enterprise stent system is a closed-loop, recoverable self-expanding stent that is effective in the treatment of intracranial aneurysm. However, most studies on the treatment of intracranial aneurysm after ischemic stroke are case series or case reports. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of the Enterprise stent system for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis in patients with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke. METHODS: We will perform a single-center, double-blind, randomized parallel-controlled trial at the Department of Neurology, Beijing Chao-yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, China. A cohort of 100 patients with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke will be included after obtaining written informed consent from participants or their guardians, and then randomly allocated to undergo either Enterprise self-expanding intracranial stent implantation in combination with antiplatelet medication (stent implantation group, n= 50) or only antiplatelet medication (drug group, n= 50) for treatment of carotid artery stenosis. Four time points (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 years after stent implantation or antiplatelet medication) will be selected for outcome observation and evaluation. The primary outcome will be the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, which is used to evaluate neurologic deficits. The secondary outcomes will be the Barthel index and carotid stenosis rate. The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Chao-yang Hospital, Captical Medical University, China (approval number: GJCY16012) and will be performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, formulated by the World Medical Association. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT02802072). DISCUSSION: There is a lack of randomized controlled studies addressing the long-term effects of the Enterprise self-expanding intracranial stent system for carotid artery stenosis in patients with ischemic stroke. This study will investigate and further confirm the clinical significance of the Enterprise stent system in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis in patients with ischemic stroke.     

脑梗死患者间歇使用低分子肝素对颈动脉斑块和血清炎性标志物的影响

目的:脑梗死患者间断使用低分子肝素,观察其对颈动脉斑块和血清炎性标志物的影响.方法:选择脑梗死并具有颈动脉斑块的患者78例作为对象,随机分为常规组(37例)和低分子肝素组(41例),分别于治疗前后测定颈动脉斑块情况及血清高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)水平.结果:①治疗前比较,两组间颈动...     

The diameters of common carotid artery and its branches in newborns

The common carotid artery (CCA) bifurcation is of clinical importance due to its vascular access site for intravascular intervention. Additionally, it is also one of the most common sites of atherosclerotic plaque formation. There are numerous studies on the diameters of CCA, internal carotid artery (ICA), and external carotid artery (ECA) in adults, but few studies on newborns. Cadaver and angiographic studies have shown dimensional variations in the carotid arteries within/between individuals and also between different sexes. It is well known that the initial lesions of atherosclerosis begin very early in fetal life. Therefore, it is important to know the anatomical details of the CCA and its branches. In the present study, the neck regions of 20 (11 males and 9 females) fixed newborn cadavers were dissected. The CCAs were cut below the bulb of the carotid bifurcation further; ICA and ECA were cut above the bulb of the carotid bifurcation. The internal diameters of the CCA, ICA, and ECA were measured using a light microscopy. ECA/CCA, ICA/CCA, ICA/ECA ratios, and outflow to inflow area ratio were calculated. The mean outflow to inflow area ratio was 1.14±0.28. Our results highly correlated with the defined optimal ratio (1.15). The ECA/CCA, ICA/CCA, and ICA/ECA ratios were 0.78±0.12, 0.71±0.13, and 0.93±0.16, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between male and female and also between right and left sides. These findings are of importance in understanding the anatomy of carotid artery during newborn period.     

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is associated with macrophages and plaque rupture in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis

There is a strong correlation between macrophage infiltration and plaque instability in recently symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaques, and it is hypothesised that mechanisms related to macrophages may be involved in plaque vulnerability and rupture. We previously found high expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (UPAR) in human macrophages. The aim of this study was to investigate whether UPAR co-localises with macrophages in symptomatic carotid plaques, and whether UPAR expression is associated with plaque rupture. Real-time RT-PCR assays showed that UPAR expression levels were high in monocyte-derived macrophages and in carotid endarterectomies compared with a tissue panel. Serial transverse sections were prepared from carotid endarterectomies from 12 symptomatic patients, and analyzed with immunohistochemical staining for UPAR and for CD68-positive macrophages, and with histopathological assessment. UPAR co-localised with CD68-positive macrophages, with a high correlation (r=0.90, p<0.001) between immunostained areas in 12 carotid endarterectomies from symptomatic patients. High degrees of UPAR and CD68 staining were found in sections around the bifurcation level where rupture was most common, while low degrees of staining were found in sections of the common carotid artery end of the endarterectomy (p<0.05). Higher degrees of UPAR staining were observed in ruptured plaque sections compared with non-ruptured sections. In conclusion, UPAR was highly expressed in monocyte-derived macrophages and in symptomatic carotid plaques, UPAR co-localised with macrophages in carotid symptomatic plaques and UPAR was predominantly found in ruptured plaque segments. These findings support the hypothesis that UPAR is related to plaque rupture in symptomatic atherosclerotic lesions.     

The carotid plaque as paradigmatic case of site-specific acceleration of aging process: The microRNAs and the inflammaging contribution

Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries associated with the aging process. Many risk factors have been identified and they are mainly related to life-styles, gene-environment interactions and socioeconomic status. Carotid and coronary artery diseases are the two major atherosclerotic conditions, being the primary cause of stroke and heart attack, respectively. Nevertheless, carotid plaque assumes particular aspects not only for the specific molecular mechanisms, but also for the types of atheroma which may be associated with a better or a worst prognosis. The identification of circulating blood biomarkers able to distinguish carotid plaque types (stable or vulnerable) is a crucial step for the improvement of adequate therapeutic approaches avoiding or delaying endarterectomy in the oldest old individuals (> 80 years), a population predicted to growth in the next years. The review highlights the most recent knowledge on carotid plaque molecular mechanisms, focusing on microRNAs (miRs), as a site-specific accelerated aging within the conceptual framework of Geroscience for new affordable therapies.