Quantitative MR and cognitive impairment in cryptogenic localisation‐related epilepsy

For patients with chronic cryptogenic localisation‐related epilepsy (CLRE), conventional MRI does not provide measures to discern between patients with or without cognitive complaints. We investigated, in a preliminary study, whether it is possible to detect cerebral biomarkers of cognitive impairment in patients with CLRE using sensitive quantitative MRI techniques. Neuropsychological assessment and quantitative 3.0 T MRI, comprising T2 relaxometry, diffusion tensor imaging, and spectroscopic imaging, were applied to 35 patients with CLRE and 21 healthy controls. Analysis included the left and right hippocampi, and frontal and temporal lobes. Differences between the groups and correlations with cognitive and clinical characteristics were assessed. Patients with epilepsy scored significantly worse on cognitive tasks compared to healthy controls. Significantly larger CSF fractions in the hippocampi and left temporal lobe, a longer T2 relaxation time in the left hippocampus, and a significantly higher concentration of glutamate/glutamine in the left frontal lobe were observed in patients with epilepsy. Moreover, poor memory performance was significantly correlated with larger CSF fractions in the right hippocampus and left temporal lobe in patients. In the temporal lobe, an association between subtle changes in morphology (indicative of atrophy) and memory performance was found, consistent with previous literature. These results may help to explain the alterations in brain functioning in patients with epilepsy.     

Effect of fruit and vegetable intake on oxidative stress and inflammation in COPD: a randomised controlled trial

Epidemiological evidence supports a positive relationship between fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increasing FV intake may attenuate the oxidative stress and inflammation associated with COPD. An exploratory randomised controlled trial to examine the effect of increased consumption of FV on oxidative stress and inflammation in moderate-to-severe COPD was conducted. 81 symptomatically stable patients with a habitually low FV intake (two or fewer portions of FV per day) were randomised to the intervention group (five or more portions of FV per day) or the control group (two or fewer portions of FV per day). Each participant received self-selected weekly home deliveries of FV for 12 weeks. 75 participants completed the intervention. There was a significant between-group change in self-reported FV intake and biomarkers of FV intake (zeaxanthin (p = 0.034) and β-cryptoxanthin (p = 0.015)), indicating good compliance; post-intervention intakes in intervention and control groups were 6.1 and 1.9 portions of FV per day, respectively. There were no significant changes in biomarkers of airway inflammation (interleukin-8 and myeloperoxidase) and systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein) or airway and systemic oxidative stress (8-isoprostane). This exploratory study demonstrated that patients with moderate-to-severe COPD were able to comply with an intervention to increase FV intake; however, this had no significant effect on airway or systemic oxidative stress and inflammation.     

Fourier analysis of STimulated echoes (FAST) for the quantitative analysis of left ventricular twist

Purpose:

To validate a novel method for the rapid and facile quantification of left ventricular (LV) twist from tagged magnetic resonance images and demonstrate the potential clinical utility in a series of 20 healthy volunteers.

Materials and Methods:

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) short‐axis images were acquired with tissue tagging in 20 healthy subjects and six canines. The tagged images were processed using a novel Fourier Analysis of the STimulated echoes (FAST) method, which uses a series of Fourier‐space operations to measure LV twist with limited user interaction. A subset of eight healthy subjects and the canine data were compared to results from previously validated “gold standard” software (FindTags). Interobserver and intraobserver coefficients of variation (CV_INTER and CV_INTRA), linear regression, and Bland–Altman analyses were used to assess agreement between observers and methods.

Results:

CV_INTRA for peak systolic twist (2.9% and 2.6%) and CV_INTER (4.3% and 4.2%) were all small. Linear regression analysis of the FAST and FindTags twist values indicated very good agreement in healthy subjects (R = 0.91) and in canines (R = 0.95). Bland–Altman comparison of the FAST and FindTags twist results indicated excellent agreement in healthy subjects (bias of ?0.5°, 95% confidence intervals (?4.3°, 4.3°)) and canines (bias of 0.2°, 95% confidence intervals (?2.7°, 3.1°)). Peak systolic twist in healthy subjects averaged 10.5 ± 1.9° degrees.

Conclusion:

The FAST method for quantifying LV twist produces results that are not significantly different from the current “gold standard” in a fraction of the user interaction time and has demonstrated feasibility in human subjects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:587‐593. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

     

Atypical dermatitis herpetiformis in two patients with internal malignancy

Two patients with bullous dermatoses indistinguishable from dermatitis herpetiformis clinically, but with atypical immunological and histological features are reported. Both died within a few months of the initial dermatologic presentation of disseminated malignancy involving the bronchus in one case and uterine endometnum in the other. The significance of these observations and the possible association of bullous disease and malignancy is discussed.     

Histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells and human basophils induced by the free radical generator 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)

Inflammation Research -     

抑肽酶对常温体外循环中TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8的影响

目的 :探讨抑肽酶对常温体外循环术中、术后炎性反应的抑制作用。方法 :4 0例常温体外循环下行心脏直视手术的风湿性心瓣膜病患者随机分为 2组。试验组 2 0例 ,于转机前加入抑肽酶 5万kIU·kg-1,对照组 2 0例未用抑肽酶。分别于麻醉前、主动脉阻断 10min、停机后 10min、术后 2 4h及术后 4 8h采取动脉血标本 ,酶标放免法分别测定血浆IL 6、IL 8及TNF α水平。结果 :2组麻醉前各因子血浆水平差异无统计学意义 (P >0 .5 ) ,对照组各因子在体外循环后各时点均升高 (P <0 .0 1) ,术后 4 8h恢复至基础值 ,而试验组各时间点各因子水平也升高(P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1) ,但均较对照组低 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1)。试验组与对照组相比 ,围手术期输血量及术后胸腔引流量明显减少 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :抑肽酶可减轻常温体外循环术中、术后患者全身炎性反应综合征 ,减少术后渗血及围手术期输血量