Affective communication deficits associated with cerebellar degeneration

The cerebellum has extensive connections with the frontal lobes. Cerebellar injury has been reported to induce frontal-executive cognitive dysfunction and blunting of affect. We examined a patient with idiopathic cerebellar degeneration with impaired family relationships attributed to an “emotional disconnection.” Examination revealed ataxia, dysmetria, and adiadochokinesia more severe on the left and frontal-executive dysfunction; memory and cognitive functions were otherwise normal. Testing of emotional communication included assessments of emotional semantic knowledge, emotional prosody, and emotional facial expressions. Comprehension was normal but expression was severely impaired. Cerebellar dysfunction can cause a defect in facial and prosodic emotional communication.     

Ampelopsin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response through the inhibition of the NF-κB and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways in microglia

Increasing evidence suggests that microglia are a major cellular contributor to neuroinflammation. The present study investigated whether Ampelopsin (Amp), a type of flavanonol derivative from Ampelopsis grossedentata, may exert an anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 and primary microglia cells. We found that pre-treatment of microglia cells with Amp before LPS with a non-cytotoxic concentration range decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Amp also suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was obviously reduced by Amp. Our mechanistic study indicated that Amp suppressed LPS-induced activation of the IκB/NF-κB inflammation pathway without affecting changes in the phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in BV2 cells. Further studies revealed that Amp markedly reduced the phosphorylation levels of JAK2-STAT3 and STAT3 nuclear translocation. Overall, our data suggest that Amp can suppress the LPS-induced inflammatory response of microglial cells, indicating that Amp has potential for the treatment of inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative diseases.     

水平半规管良性阵发性位置性眩晕

良性阵发性位置性眩晕(Benign Paroxysm Positional Vertigo,BPPV)是一种阵发性、由头位变动引起的伴有特征性眼震的短暂发作性眩晕,是最常见的前庭疾病。后半规管BPPV(Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ofPosterior Semicircular Canal,PSC-BPPV)是最常见的BPPV类型,临床上推荐Dix-Hallpike试验作为诊断PSC-BPPV的"金标准",Epley法是目前治疗PSC-BPPV最有效的复位方法。水平半规管BPPV(Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigoof Horizontal Semicircular Canal,HSC-BPPV)发病机制复杂,是仅次于PSC-BPPV的常见BPPV亚型,其实际发病率可能被低估。临床实践中,HSC-BPPV其诊断与复位治疗方法与PSC-BPPV均不相同。本文即围绕HSC-BPPV研究的发展史及流行病学、分类、病因、发病机制、诊断及治疗复位方法的相关进展做一综述。     

Mammographically Occult Asymptomatic Radial Scars/Complex Sclerosing Lesions at Ultrasonography-Guided Core Needle Biopsy: Follow-Up Can Be Recommended

An increasing number of radial scars are detected by ultrasound (US), but their management is controversial. This study investigated the upgrade rate in mammographically occult radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions without epithelial atypia at US-guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy in asymptomatic patients. Nineteen mammographically occult benign radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions (median size, 7 mm; range, 3–23 mm) were included. Patients underwent surgical excision (n = 10) or vacuum-assisted excision, with follow-up US at least 6 mo after benign vacuum-assisted excision results (n = 8), or underwent US follow-up for 2 y after core needle biopsy (n = 1). Any cases with change in diagnosis to high-risk lesions or malignancy at excision were considered upgrades. The upgrade rate was 0.0%. Based on US findings, 15.8% (3/19) were Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3, 68.4% (13/19) were BI-RADS category 4a and 15.8% (3/19) were BI-RADS category 4b. Follow-up with US can be considered for mammographically occult benign radial scar/complex sclerosing lesions diagnosed by US core needle biopsy in asymptomatic patients.