Cerebral angiitis caused by periarteritis nodosa

INTRODUCTION: We report a case of periarteritis nodosa revealed by a cerebral angiitis which recovered under treatment. OBSERVATION: A 52-year-old patient suddenly presented with a left sensory syndrome and a fluctuating aphasia due to ischemia involving both parietal lobes. The diagnosis of periarteritis nodosa was based on the following criteria: severe loss of weight, renal insufficiency, hypertension, angiography suggesting an arteritis. Instead of an ileo-cecal perforation, the patient recovered under corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke in periarteritis nodosa may occur early be and associated with a good outcome.     

Dysphagia and hemispheric stroke: A transcranial magnetic study

INTRODUCTION: Dysphagia is a common and distressing consequence of hemispheric stroke. STUDY AIM: To verify the usefulness of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies of swallowing in healthy subjects and in stroke patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: TMS studies of the motor cortical projections to the upper esophageal sphincter were performed in 45 patients with acute mono-hemispheric stroke (26 patients with dysphagia) and 20 healthy adult volunteers. RESULTS: TMS of either hemisphere in normal volunteers evoked motor evoked potentials (MEP) in the esophagus. The average point of optimal excitability was slightly more anterior in the right hemisphere; otherwise, MEP amplitudes and latencies were similar from both hemispheres as were the areas of the cortical map. The cortical map area and amplitude of MEPs were significantly smaller and the latencies longer after stimulation of the affected hemisphere compared with the unaffected hemisphere and pooled control data. Twenty-four dysphagic patients (92.3%) had abnormalities of MEP of the affected hemisphere, while only five non-dysphagic patients (26%) had these abnormalities. Dysphagic patients were older and had more disability compared with non-dysphagic patients. MEPs of the affected hemisphere of patients with dysphagia were later and smaller in amplitude than MEPs of non-dysphagic patients. The cortical map area was also smaller. CONCLUSION: The esophagus is represented bilaterally in motor cortex, but the hot spot lies more anterior to Cz in right hemisphere compared to left hemisphere. Both the severity of stroke and neuroplasticity of the unaffected hemisphere have implications in the development of dysphagia.     

Percevoir un visage dans la petite enfance

Faces are very complex objects. Face processing is a set of sophisticated skills that serve several mental functions (species recognition, recognition of others as similar to self and vice-versa; idendity, emotional expressions, communication signals recognition, affective position, attachment, and so on). A part of neural networks and mechanisms that are involved in face processing belong to different levels of neural integration and are also involved in other object processing (including processing of body and body parts). Another part is involved in social and affective competences and attachment. It is assumed that among neural computations involved in face processing, some are face specific (and might be common to all primates), others are less specific, some are grossly primed from birth and later, and their development results from progressive specialisation through interaction with the perceptual and social environment. Uncovering the face ‘primers’ and disentangling the complex set of interactions between brain and environment is the task of developmental studies.     

Neurofibromatosis type 2 service delivery in England

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a complex disease characterized by the development of multiple schwannomas, especially vestibular schwannomas, as well as other types of benign tumours including meningioma and spinal ependymoma. Due to its multisystem nature, the management of NF2 requires a multidisciplinary approach. In England, the delivery of care for NF2 patients has been centralized to four-“hub” centres in Manchester, Cambridge, Oxford and London each having associated “spoke” centres. Each centre has a core multidisciplinary team consisting of genetics, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, paediatrics, neurology, audiology, radiology, psychology, physiotherapy, specialist nurses and administrative staff. In addition, the core team has access to plastic surgery, ophthalmology, peripheral nerve surgery and adult and paediatric oncology. There are weekly multidisciplinary clinics each with six to eight patients. Each patient is discussed during a team meeting and the management decisions that are made are then discussed with the patients. All patients are reviewed at least annually and have annual head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three yearly spinal MRI. Annual audiological assessment is performed. Cochlear implantation and auditory brainstem implantation are offered if indicated. Surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery and bevacizumab therapy are available for the management of intracranial and spinal tumours. The integration of the service in England has provided significant benefits to patient care and, in the long term, will provide robust patient outcome data that will provide an evidence base to assist in optimizing management of patients with NF2.     

单纯无名动脉灌注的主动脉弓置换术21例

目的 探讨主动脉弓置换术中使用单纯无名动脉灌注进行脑保护的安全性和有效性.方法 2004年1月至2007年7月,2l例主动脉弓置换者使用单纯无名动脉灌注技术进行脑保护,男19例,女2例;年龄29-72岁,平均(46.5±11.4)岁.A型(Stanford分型)主动脉夹层19例,其中7例合并主动脉瓣关闭不全;升主动脉及主动脉弓真性动脉瘤伴降主动脉受累2例.所有病例均在深低温、使用单纯无名动脉选择性脑灌注下进行升主动脉、主动脉弓置换+降主动脉覆膜支架置入术.同时行Benlall手术6例,David手术1例.结果 升主动脉阻断(109.6.4-29.6)min;体外循环(186.7±56.2)min;最低鼻咽温(19.O±3.3)℃;选择性脑灌注时间(38.3.4-11.5)Ⅲ.m,流量每分钟(6.8±2.6)ml,l‘g.术后无中枢神经系统并发症.呼吸机辅助(38.6±29.O)h.1例因低心排输出量综合征于术后第5 d死亡.术后随访2-45个月,平均(24.0±12.5)个月,无死亡及心脑血管意外发生.结论 深低温、单纯无名动脉选择性脑灌注下行主动脉弓置换是安全、有效的.     

Thrombus aortique compliquant un traumatisme thoracique balistique

We report the case of a stroke due to a ballistic thoracic traumatism. The vascular injury, provoked by the passage of the bullet, associated to a procoagulating state led to the formation of a thrombus in the ascending aorta. The migration of this thrombus caused a stroke, finally reversible upon medical treatment only.     

Bases physiopathologiques des états de mal épileptiques

The mechanisms that induce epileptic activity and make it durable, leading to status epilepticus (SE), are poorly known. They probably result from an imbalance between the activating systems of neuronal depolarisation (excitatory amino acids release with postsynaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate [NMDA] receptor activation, spreading depolarisation following abnormal progression) and the inhibiting systems (GABAergic synapses). Status epilepticus leads to many direct and indirect cerebral disorders, as well as systemic disorders, with intertwined mechanisms and consequences. These disorders are more frequent in case of convulsive SE with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Direct neuronal damage (selective neuronal loss and epileptogenesis) results mostly from excitotoxicity, which arises from enhanced and extended neuronal activation. Indirect neuronal damage results from the inability of the circulatory system to supply sufficient oxygen and glucose contribution compared to the high metabolism level of the highly depolarized and synchronized neurons. This energetic deficit is usually patent after 30 minutes of SE, when systemic compensation mechanisms (cardiac output increase) are exhausted. Understanding these pathophysiologic aspects is essential for effective treatment of SE.     

Fatigue in neurological disease: different patterns in stroke and multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue is a complex, subjective experience, frequent in multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke patients. The tiredness these patients experience can take on many features depending not only on the cerebral location of the lesions and mood aspects, but also on the pathophysiology of the disease. Thus, it is reasonable to expect that fatigue may have different implications in MS and stroke. The aim of the present work was to compare fatigue syndrome in these two populations. Patients were matched for handicap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine stroke and 39 MS outpatients were included with the following inclusion criteria: i) patients with possible or relapsing-remitting MS with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score<2.5, disease duration<6 years, and stable medical condition for at least 6 weeks; ii) stroke patients with mild neurological impairment, i.e. scoring<3 at the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) one year after stroke; iii) absence of functional impairment (Barthel index=100) and similar negligible handicap (Rankin scale<2 for both groups); no or mild cognitive deficit; iv) neither DSMIV criteria of depression, nor significant anxious/depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale; HAD; score<8) in both groups. The Fatigue Assessing Instrument (FAI) was used to assess fatigue. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent of stroke and 46 p. cent of MS patients had a significant score on the FAI (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis using groups, gender and age as factors showed a group effect in 3 out of 4 subscales: MS patients scored higher than stroke patients mainly for psychic impact (4.86 vs. 3.28), but also for severity (mean 3.86 vs. 2.97) and specificity (4.36 vs. 3.32). Response to rest (5.36 vs. 6.06) only tended to be better in the stroke group. In the subpopulation with significant fatigue scores, psychic impact was more elevated in the MS group. The functional consequence of fatigue in physical, professional and social activities were similar. DISCUSSION: Fatigue was more severe in MS than stroke patients, independently of disability. The most significant factor in the MS group was the psychic impact, reflecting impaired motivation, concentration and irritability, despite the absence of depression. However, subjective consequences of fatigue on work, family and leisure activities were comparable in both groups.     

Cerebral monitoring with somatosensory evoked potentials in carotid surgery. A review of 141 carotids

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate postoperative and mid-term results of carotid surgery (CS) with somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) monitoring. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2006, 141 CS in 124 patients were performed under general anesthesia. Selective shunting was based on SEP abnormality. Shunting criteria were: reduction up to 50% of the amplitude or latency increasing up to 10%. Early results and follow-up data are analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Shunting rate was 6%, 3 strokes (two transient strokes) occurred and one patient died of perioperative myocardial ischemia. The cumulative stroke and death rate at 30 days was 1.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-operative SEP monitoring with selective shunting may be safely performed in carotid surgery.