Reproducibility (test–retest) of vestibular evoked myogenic potential

IntroductionThere is still no consensus in the literature as to the best acoustic stimulus for capturing vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP). Low-frequency tone bursts are generally more effective than high-frequency, but recent studies still use clicks. Reproducibility is an important analytical parameter to observe the reliability of responses.ObjectiveTo determine the reproducibility of p13 and n23 latency and amplitude of the VEMP for stimuli with different tone-burst frequencies, and to define the best test frequency.MethodsCross-sectional cohort study. VEMP was captured in 156 ears, on the sternocleidomastoid muscle, using 100 tone-burst stimuli at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, and sound intensity of 95 dB nHL. Responses were replicated, that is, recorded three times on each side.ResultsNo significant difference was observed for p13 and n23 latencies of the VEMP, captured at three moments with tone-burst stimuli at 250, 500, and 1000 Hz. Only the frequency of 2000 Hz showed a difference between captures of this potential (p < 0.001). p13 and n23 amplitude analysis was also similar in the test–retest for all frequencies analyzed.Conclusionp13 and n23 latencies and amplitudes of VEMP for tone-burst stimuli at frequencies of 250, 500, and 1000 Hz are reproducible.     

Short-term brain ‘plasticity’ in humans: transient finger representation changes in sensory cortex somatotopy following ischemic anesthesia

Transient rearrangements of finger representation in primary somatosensory cortex induced by an anesthetic block of the sensory information from adjacent fingers have been shown invasively in animals. Such a phenomenon has been now replicated in seven healthy human volunteers. Somatosensory Evoked Fields (SEFs) have been recorded during separate electrical stimulation of the 1st, 3rd, or 5th finger. Recordings were obtained in control conditions (stage A), following complete ischemic anesthesia of the 4 non-stimulated fingers (stage B), and after regaining sensation (stage C). SEFs were recorded using a 28-channel DC-SQUID magnetometer; a single position of the sensor was enough to identify the source of N20m, P30m and following components using the Equivalent Current Dipole (ECD) model. The amount of afferent input during stages A through C was monitored with surface electrodes placed on the nerve at wrist and elbow. No variation of the nerve compound potential was observed during stages A through C. In stage A, the localizing algorithm was able to discriminate the individual finger representation in accordance with the somatotopic organisation of the sensory homunculus. It was observed that the ECDs responsible for the cortical responses from the unanesthetized finger were significantly changing following a relatively brief period of sensory deprivation from the adjacent fingers. Such changes of the ECDs with respect to the control conditions were characterized by an increase in strength and deepening for the middle finger, and by a shift on the coronal plane for the thumb and the little finger (medial for the former, lateral for the latter). Such changes became progressively evident in stage B, but were persisting in stage C.     

Scalp and Limbic P3 Event-Related Potentials in the Assessment of Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Auditory oddball scalp and limbic P3s were recorded from 18 patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) prior to seizure surgery. Limbic P3s were unilaterally absent ipsilateral to the seizure focus and were present in the nonepileptogenic temporal lobe in all 18 cases studied. Scalp P3s, recorded from C3 and C4, on the other hand, were elicited bilaterally and there was no significant difference in amplitude or latency between the epileptogenic and nonepileptogenic sides. These data concur with studies of scalp P3 performed following surgery and suggest that the assessment of the contribution of limbic P3 to scalp P3 may be masked by volume conduction effects and other generators of P3. We conclude that the P3 recorded from central scalp sites, unlike its limbic counterpart, offers little clinical information in the presurgical assessment of patients with TLE.     

Evoked potentials in patients with non-neurological Wilson's disease

Summary In Wilson's disease neurological manifestations result from the damage in the basal ganglia, even if a widespread degeneration of the brain occurs. The few studies performed using evoked potentials with the aim of identifying subclinical dysfunction in the three major sensory pathways have never shown abnormalities in patients without neurological manifestations. To verify this observation we studied 12 patients suffering from Wilson's disease in a pre-neurological stage by using pattern visual evoked potentials (VEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to median nerve stimulation and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). Four of these patients had not yet been treated with penicillamine or trientine (triethylenetetramine dihydrochloride), while the remaining 8 patients were on treatment for at least 1 year. In 3 patients of this second group and in 1 patient of the first group we observed a significant (3 SD over the mean) increase in P100 wave latency, while SEPs and BAEPs were found to be abnormal in only 1 patient, respectively.     

闪光视觉诱发电位监测甘露醇降颅压效果的临床研究

目的利用闪光视觉诱发电位监测颅内高压患者颅压水平,研究降颅压效果与甘露醇用量以及其他影响因素的关系。方法选择60例颅内高压患者,应用NIP-200型无创颅内压监测仪监测患者每日颅压,计算最高颅压与最低颅压间的差值(降颅压效果),采用多元逐步回归方法分析降颅压效果与性别,年龄,最高颅压时的心率、血压以及降至最低颅压时甘露醇总用量的关系。结果60例患者最低颅压平均值为(213·4±66·8)mmH2O(83·5~364·5mmH2O),患者的颅压水平从入院至最低值时甘露醇总用量的平均值为(1870·8±861·9)ml(375~4000ml)。降颅压效果与最高颅压时的血压(舒张压和收缩压)和心率无相关性(P>0·05),与性别、年龄显著相关(P<0·05),与甘露醇用量显著相关(P<0·01)。结论甘露醇有明显的降颅压作用,但是用到一定的剂量后,便不再有降颅压作用。女性患者比男性患者降颅压的效果好。患者年龄越小,降颅压效果越好。     

瞬目反射及脑干听觉诱发电位对脑干梗死疗效的评价

目的探讨瞬目反射和脑干听觉诱发电位对脑干梗死患者疗效的评价作用。方法40例经临床症状、体征定位于脑干髓内并经头部MRI检查明确诊断的脑干梗死患者(脑桥梗死31例、中脑梗死4例和延髓梗死5例),分别计算治疗前后瞬目反射各成分的平均潜伏期;观察脑干听觉诱发电位波形及各波潜伏期、峰间期的变化。结果经治疗后40例患者临床症状及体征均有不同程度改善,治疗前后瞬目反射各成分平均潜伏期之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);3例脑桥梗死患者R1波恢复正常,临床基本痊愈。治疗前后脑干听觉诱发电位各波潜伏期及峰间期比较,差异亦无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗后中脑梗死及脑桥梗死患者各有2例恢复正常,临床症状明显好转。结论瞬目反射与脑干听觉诱发电位均能敏感地反映脑干功能的变化,与临床表现具有一致性,但在发病15d内大部分病例的电生理活动不能恢复正常。     

Increased NoGo-anteriorisation in first-episode schizophrenia patients during Continuous Performance Test

OBJECTIVE: NoGo-stimuli during a Continuous Performance Test (CPT) activate prefrontal brain structures such as the anterior cingulate gyrus and lead to an anteriorisation of the positive electrical field of the NoGo-P300 relative to the Go-P300, so-called NoGo-anteriorisation (NGA). NGA during CPT is regarded as a neurophysiological standard index for cognitive response control. While it is known that patients with chronic schizophrenia exhibit a significant reduction in NGA, it is unclear whether this also occurs in patients undergoing their first-episode. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine NGA in a group of patients with first-episode schizophrenia by utilizing a CPT paradigm. METHODS: Eighteen patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 18 matched healthy subjects were investigated electrophysiologically during a cued CPT, and the parameters of the Go- and NoGo-P300 were determined using microstate analysis. Low resolution tomography analysis (LORETA) was used for source determination. RESULTS: Due to a more posterior Go- and a more anterior NoGo-centroid, NGA was greater in patients than in healthy controls. LORETA indicated the same sources for both groups after Go-stimuli, but a more anterior source in patients after NoGo-stimuli. In patients P300-amplitude responses to both Go- and NoGo-stimuli were decreased, and P300-latency to NoGo-stimuli was increased. After the Go-stimuli false reactions and reaction times were increased in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Attention was reduced in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, as indicated by more false reactions, prolongation of reaction time, P300-latencies and by a decrease in P300-amplitude. Significantly however, the NGA and prefrontal LORETA-sources indicate intact prefrontal brain structures in first-episode schizophrenia patients. Previously described changes in this indicator of prefrontal function may be related to a progressive decay in chronic schizophrenia. SIGNIFICANCE: The results support the idea of a possible new biological marker of first episode psychosis, which may be a useful parameter for the longitudinal measurement of changing prefrontal brain function in a single schizophrenia patient.     

高危新生儿脑干听觉诱发电位的近期观察

目的 为了解高危新生儿脑干及听觉功能障碍情况.方法 于1995年8月～1996年1月对128例高危新生儿进行脑干听觉诱发电位(Anditory Brainstem Responses—ABR)测定.结果 急性期高危新生儿ABR异常率为51.4%,其中高胆红素血症,低体重儿,窒息和丁胺卡那霉素应用组ABR异常率分别为61.1%、66.7%、53.8%和 2.8%.血清胆红素(Sb)值>290.7μmol/L和重度窒息儿ABR异常率明显高于Sb<290.7μmol/L和轻度窒息儿.早产儿和足月小样儿ABR异常率无明显差异.丁卡组对听阀的近期影响不大.结论 高危新生儿是脑干和听觉功能障碍的高危人群,应当密切随防和早期干预.     

接触性热痛诱发电位检测方法的建立

目的 建立接触性热痛诱发电位(CHEP)的检测方法,估测介导此诱发电位的外周神经传导速度.方法 受试者取卧位,应用CHEP刺激器,于两个强度水平(49.5℃和54.5℃)应用可调节脉冲,刺激部位为鱼际肌、手背、前臂的掌侧面.受试者在每次刺激后,按照视觉模拟评分标准对刺激强度分级.以Keypoint仪器记录,记录点为Cz和Pz.测定刺激强度和疼痛分级的关系、诱发电位的主要成分及外周神经传导速度.结果 刺激强度和疼痛分级的关系为:49.5℃和54.5℃刺激鱼际肌皮肤,疼痛分级分别为(3.2±0.3)、(4.4±0.5)级;54.5℃刺激手背和前臂掌侧面皮肤,疼痛分级分别为(6.3±0.8)、(7.2±0.5)级.于记录点记录到3个主要成分:Cz/N550、Cz/P750和Pz/P1000.介导此诱发电位的外周神经传导速度分别为(12.9±7.5)、(1.7±0.4)m/s,分别与Aδ纤维和C纤维的传导速度相对应.结论 CHEP能较为稳定、可靠地引出,介导此诱发电位的外周神经为Aδ纤维和C纤维.     

GABAergic suppression prevents the appearance and subsequent fatigue of an NMDA receptor-mediated potential in neocortex

We have investigated the regulation of anN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic potential by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibition using extracellular and whole-cell voltage clamp recordings in rat auditory cortex in vitro. Single afferent stimulus pulses at low intensity elicited a slow extracellular negativity (Component C) that was mediated by NMDA receptors. At higher intensities, Component C was suppressed by recruitment of GABAergic inhibition. To understand the actions of GABAergic inhibition on Component C, we determined the effects of: (i) paired-pulse stimulation, which depresses GABAergic inhibition; (ii) pharmacological antagonism of GABA receptors; and (iii) afferent stimulation in slices from neonatal rats prior to the development of cortical inhibition. The results indicate that GABAergic inhibition prevents Component C fromoccurring, thereby preventing its reduction upon repeated stimulation. Whole-cell voltage clamp recordings were used to test the hypothesis that GABAergic suppression occurred by way of membrane hyperpolarization. At hyperpolarized holding potentials no NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic current was elicited, even with paired-pulse stimulation. At depolarized holding potentials a significant NMDA synaptic current was elicited despite the presence of GABAergic synaptic currents. We conclude that membrane hyperpolarization by GABAergic inhibition prevents the appearance and subsequent fatigue of an NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic potential. Reduction of inhibition can act as a ‘switch’ to fully release the NMDA potential as frequently as once every 10–20 s.