Effects of APOE ɛ4 on brain amyloid,lacunar infarcts,and white matter lesions: a study among patients with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment

The relationship between the apolipoprotein E ?4 allele (APOE4) and factors associated with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is unclear. We aimed to examine the effects of APOE4 on brain amyloid beta using Pittsburg compound B (PiB) and subcortical cerebrovascular disease, as assessed by lacunes and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in subcortical VCI (SVCI) patients. We recruited 230 subjects with normal cognition, 111 subjects with cognitive impairment due to clinically defined Alzheimer’s disease (ADCI), and 134 subjects with clinically defined SVCI. A PiB retention ratio greater than 1.5 was considered to be PiB positive. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate whether APOE4 increased the risk for each cognitive impairment group. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate whether APOE4 was associated with brain amyloid beta, lacunes, and WMH. APOE4 did not increase the risk of PiB(−) SVCI (odds ratio [OR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79–2.84), whereas APOE4 increased the risk of PiB(+) SVCI (OR, 4.52; 95% CI, 1.70–11.97) and PiB(+) ADCI (odds ratio, 4.84; 95% CI, 2.54–7.91). In SVCI patients, APOE4 was positively associated with PiB retention ratio, whereas APOE4 was not associated with the number of lacunes or with WMH volume. Our results suggest that amyloid beta burden can occur in patients with and without subcortical cerebrovascular disease, and that it is associated with APOE4. However APOE4 might be independent of subcortical cerebrovascular disease.     

Serodiagnosis of Mycobacterium avium Complex and Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Pulmonary Disease by Use of IgA Antibodies to Glycopeptidolipid Core Antigen

An enzyme immunoassay kit that detects serum IgA antibody reacting to glycopeptidolipid core antigen derived from Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) was not useful for differentiating MAC pulmonary disease (PD) from Mycobacterium abscessus complex PD (MAB-PD). However, this assay could be useful for differentiating MAC- and MAB-PD from pulmonary tuberculosis. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00970801","term_id":"NCT00970801"}}NCT00970801.)     

Nanoparticles for drug delivery in Parkinson’s disease

Journal of Neurology - Although effective symptomatic treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been available for some time, efficient and well-controlled drug delivery to the brain has...     

Risk Factors of Transfusion in Anemia of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Purpose

Anemia of prematurity is frequent in preterm infants, for which red blood cell (RBC) transfusion remains the treatment of choice. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the characteristics and risk factors of anemia of prematurity, and suggest ways to reduce anemia and the need for multiple transfusions.

Materials and Methods

Preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g (May 2008-May 2009) were divided into two groups depending on whether they received RBC transfusions (transfusion group and non transfusion group). Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, phlebotomy blood loss, and the amount of RBC transfusion were analyzed. Risk factors of anemia and RBC transfusions were analyzed.

Results

Fifty infants that survived were enrolled in the present study: 39 in the transfusion group and 11 in the non transfusion group. Hb concentrations gradually decreased by eight weeks. In the transfusion group, gestational age and birth weight were smaller, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and sepsis were more frequent, full feeding was delayed, parenteral nutrition and days spent in the hospital were prolonged, and phlebotomy blood loss was greater than that in the non transfusion group.

Conclusion

Anemia of prematurity was correlated with increased laboratory blood loss, decreased birth weight, prolonged parenteral nutrition, and delayed body weight gain. Accordingly, reducing laboratory phlebotomy loss and parenteral nutrition, as well as improving body weight gain, may be beneficial to infants with anemia of prematurity.     

Hemodynamic Instability during Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting-Relationship of Calcified Plaque and Its Characteristics

Purpose

During carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS), hemodynamic instability (HDI) can occur, possibly causing post-procedural ischemic complications. The goal of this study was to investigate the risk factors of HDI focusing on characteristics of plaque.

Materials and Methods

Thirty nine CAS patients were retrospectively evaluated for HDI. Prolonged HDI that lasted over 30 minutes was analyzed in relation to characteristics of calcified plaque.

Results

Nineteen (48.7%) patients had HDI. Ten of the 19 had both bradycardia and hypotension, and nine had only bradycardia. All bradycardia was treated well with a transcutaneous temporary cardiac pacemaker. But eight patients presented with prolonged hypotension in spite of recovery of bradycardia. Calcified plaque was a related factor associated with HDI (odds ratio, 8.571; 95% confidence interval, 1.321-55.62; p=0.024). Extensive and eccentric type calcified plaques were associated with prolonged hypotension (p=0.04, and p=0.028, respectively).

Conclusion

The calcification of plaque is a predictable factor of HDI during CAS, and its extensive and eccentric calcified plaques may be related to prolonged HDI.     

White matter hyperintensity determines ischemic stroke severity in symptomatic carotid artery stenosis

Neurological Sciences - The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on stroke severity and prognosis in patients with symptomatic carotid artery...     

The effect of ankle and knee immobilization on postural control during standing

BackgroundThis study examined the effects of ankle and knee joint immobilization on postural control in healthy young adults while standing.MethodsThe 24 participants included in this study participated in postural standing tests under four different constraint conditions: free joints, ankle immobilization only, knee immobilization only, and ankle‐knee immobilization. Tests were performed using a commercial balancing equipment (Biodex^TM, Inc., NY, USA) and software.ResultsThe overall limit-of-stability score and duration to completion of task were obtained at 75% limit‐of‐stability (moderate level of difficulty). The overall limit‐of‐stability score of free joints (34.5 ± 9.1) were significantly different with the ankle immobilization only (26.0 ± 11.6), and ankle-knee immobilization (26.4 ± 7.4) conditions. The test duration increased in the following order: free joints (57.8 ± 10.9), knee immobilization only (62.5 ± 14.0), ankle immobilization only (68.0 ± 14.9), and ankle-knee immobilization (69.4 ± 17.7). The duration of the free joint condition greatly decreased than ankle immobilization only and ankle-knee immobilization conditions.ConclusionsThe ankle and knee joints have sufficient range of motion to prevent falls related to decrease postural stability due to insufficient range of motion or to improve postural stability.     

Surgical and radiologic anatomy of a cochleostomy produced via posterior tympanotomy for cochlear implantation based on three-dimensional reconstructed temporal bone CT images

Purpose

In this study, we evaluated the surgical and radiologic anatomy of a cochleostomy produced via posterior tympanotomy for cochlear implantation (CI).

Materials and methods

Twenty computed tomography (CT) images of the temporal bone from patients aged between 20 and 60 years were selected. The inclusion criterion was a radiologically normal temporal bone CT scan. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed images were obtained using high-resolution axial temporal bone CT scans. Eight points were used to evaluate the surgical anatomy of the posterior tympanotomy and cochleostomy. The length of lines between the points and the angles between the lines were measured.

Results

The mean length of line AB (superior-inferior length of the posterior tympanotomy for CI) was 6.48 ± 0.26 mm, while line AC (width of the chorda tympani and facial nerves) was 3.60 ± 0.2 mm. The mean angle of ABC (angle at which the chorda tympani nerve branched from the facial nerve) was 18.40° ± 1.05°. The mean length of line AD (distance from the facial ridge to the point of cochleostomy) was 9.58 ± 0.47 mm.

Conclusions

3D imaging of the facial recess and round window can be used to identify the facial recess before surgery. This may help to avoid injury to the chorda tympani nerve during posterior tympanotomy, and make it easier to insert the electrode array during CI by creating a large enough posterior tympanotomy to avoid injury to the facial nerve, which can cause immediate or delayed facial palsy.     

Horseshoe adrenal gland: a rare congenital anomaly

A solitary adrenal gland spanning the midline has been alternatively described as “Horseshoe” or “Butterfly” and is a rare congenital abnormality almost exclusively associated with neonates. There have been 65 reported cases in fetuses and infants, based on ultrasound and autopsy findings. Horseshoe adrenal gland is associated with several congenital anomalies, such as asplenia (52 %), neural tube defects (37 %), renal abnormalities (29 %), and diaphragmatic defects (1 %). Recently, Feldman and colleagues [2] reported the first case of an adult male with horseshoe adrenal gland and posterior midline diaphragmatic anomaly found incidentally with CT imaging. We present a second case of asymptomatic adult horseshoe adrenal gland with posterior midline diaphragmatic hernia in a 51-year-old woman discovered on CT imaging. In our patient these abnormalities were also associated with a 9th thoracic butterfly vertebrae and a unilateral region of underdevelopment of the paraspinal musculature at the level of the diaphragmatic defect. To our knowledge, this is the first time this abnormality has been documented with MRI.     

Assessment of Image Quality for Selective Intracoronary Contrast-Injected CT Angiography in a Hybrid Angio-CT System: A Feasibility Study in Swine

PurposeTo compare image quality in selective intracoronary contrast-injected computed tomography angiography (Selective-CTA) with that in conventional intravenous contrast-injected CTA (IV-CTA).Materials and MethodsSix pigs (35 to 40 kg) underwent both IV-CTA using an intravenous injection (60 mL) and Selective-CTA using an intracoronary injection (20 mL) through a guide-wire during/after percutaneous coronary intervention. Images of the common coronary artery were acquired. Scans were performed using a combined machine comprising an invasive coronary angiography suite and a 320-channel multi-slice CT scanner. Quantitative image quality parameters of CT attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), mean lumen diameter (MLD), and mean lumen area (MLA) were measured and compared. Qualitative analysis was performed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), which was calculated for analysis of interobserver agreement.ResultsQuantitative image quality, determined by assessing the uniformity of CT attenuation (399.06 vs. 330.21, p<0.001), image noise (24.93 vs. 18.43, p<0.001), SNR (16.43 vs. 18.52, p=0.005), and CNR (11.56 vs. 13.46, p=0.002), differed significantly between IV-CTA and Selective-CTA. MLD and MLA showed no significant difference overall (2.38 vs. 2.44, p=0.068, 4.72 vs. 4.95, p=0.078). The density of contrast agent was significantly lower for selective-CTA (13.13 mg/mL) than for IV-CTA (400 mg/mL). Agreement between observers was acceptable (ICC=0.79±0.08).ConclusionOur feasibility study in swine showed that compared to IV-CTA, Selective-CTA provides better image quality and requires less iodine contrast medium.