Anterior displacement of the mandible for better exposure of the distal segment of the extracranial carotid artery

Summary Anterior displacement of the mandible (ADM) was performed in 34 patients undergoing surgery for malformations or atheromatous lesions of the distal segment of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). This procedure greatly facilitates surgical access to the upper cervical region and has several advantages over mandibulotomy-mandibulectomy, namely: A shorter operating time, sparing of the inferior alveolar nerve and of the mandibular branch of cranial nerve VII, with no need for post-operative immobilization of the mandible. ADM permits the correction of ICA lesions extending as far as the first cervical vertebra. For lesions extending into the carotid canal ADM needs to be supplemented by various other procedures via the base of the skull.     

Regional cerebral blood flow after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery

Occlusions of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) are mostly of embolic origin (appr. 80%) and give rise to about one third of all ischemic strokes, most of these being major strokes. MCA occlusions lasting for less than 1/2 h are tolerated without occurrence of permanent tissue damage. Occlusions lasting between 1/2 h to 4-8 h lead to permanent tissue damage and neurological deficits that are proportional to the duration of occlusion. Maximal tissue damage is obtained after 4-8 h occlusion. A cerebral blood flow of 8-23 ml/100 gr/min is sufficient for cellular viability but insufficient for normal tissue function ("ischemic penumbra"). Cellular function is completely abolished in the interval 8-16 ml/100 gr/min and flow at that level is tolerated only for 1-3 h before neuronal death ensues. In the interval 18-23 ml/100 gr/min there is some functional activity although it is reduced. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that flow in this interval may be tolerated for several days, months or even longer ("chronic ischemic penumbra"). After MCA occlusion the blood flow falls below 8 ml/100 gr/min in most cases and permanent MCA occlusion always leads to relatively large areas of frank infarction. The ischemic infarcts may be surrounded by collaterally perfused areas where the blood flow is pressure-dependent (impaired autoregulation) and quite commonly insufficient for normal neuronal function (below 23 ml/100 gr/min). Such collaterally perfused areas may include a "chronic ischemic penumbra". Emboli causing MCA occlusions commonly disintegrate and/or migrate more peripherally within the first few weeks post stroke. This leads to reperfusion and changes of ischemic infarcts into hyperemic infarcts where flow is severely increased. The vascular reactivity is completely abolished in hyperemic infarcts and the hyperemic state lasts for about two weeks. Probably, anemic infarcts are equivalent to ischemic infarcts while the hemorrhagic variety is equivalent to hyperemic infarcts. The "partial infarct" with selective neuronal necrosis occurs in experimental animals after MCA occlusions of less than four h but not after permanent MCA occlusion. The significance of partial infarction in human stroke is not clarified. The extent of irreversible tissue damage can be reduced only if therapy sets in within 4-8 h after the occlusion. If a "chronic penumbra" exists the extension of reversible tissue damage can be reduced if therapy aimed at increasing the blood flow in the penumbra sets in within weeks or even months after the stroke.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Intracerebral mass lesions in patients affected by AIDS

Summary Toxoplasma gondii cerebral abscess is a common opportunistic infection in patients affected by AIDS. Making a reliable diagnosis of acute cerebral toxoplasmosis is difficult in AIDS patients because of the lack of specificity of serological data and neuroradiological findings. Brain biopsy is the only procedure which enables a reliable diagnosis to be made a trial of specific medical therapy for toxoplasmosis in patients affected by AIDS and intracranial mass lesion can be advisable before performing brain biopsy. The authors report the cases of three patients affected by AIDS and cerebral toxoplasmosis.Tissue diagnosis was made in the first patient from autopsy material while a presumptive diagnosis was made in the other two cases since specific medical therapy resulted in a dramatic improvement of the neurological status.Despite the good possibilities in the treatment of this complication AIDS, however, carries a poor prognosis.     

中华眼镜蛇毒F组分对沙鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的：研究中华眼镜它毒F组分脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用,方法：结扎沙鼠双侧颈总动脉1h,造成前脑缺血模型,用比色法测定脑匀浆过氧化脂质的最终产物丙二醛（MDA）的含量及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性,结果：F组分0．9,0．3,0．1mg/kg可显著抑制脑内脂质过氧化,降低MDA的含量,并提高超化物歧化酶的活,性且呈一定的量效关系,同缺血再灌组比较P＜0．05,同阳性对照药尼莫通比较,P＞0．05,结论：中华眼镜蛇毒F组分对脑缺血再灌注损伤有保护作用,可能与抑制自由基的生成和促进自由基的清除有关。     

The impact of location and patency of the arteriovenous fistula on quality of life of kidney transplant recipients

BackgroundArteriovenous fistulae (AVFs) may remain patent after kidney transplantation (KTx), contributing to maladaptive cardiac remodeling. The flow in AVFs is associated with the diameter of its vessels and thus with the AVF location. The main objective of this study is to assess the influence of AVF location and its patency on the self-reported quality of life (QOL) of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with past history of hemodialysis.MethodsTo gain clinical data, during a scheduled visit, 353 KTRs were asked to fill out an anonymous questionnaire. From this group, 284 respondents were found eligible for analysis. The outcome was defined as prevalence of symptoms and health status, measured with the Left Ventricular Dysfunction-36 (LVD-36) Questionnaire in symptomatic patients.ResultsThe hemodialysis patients (n = 243) were divided into two groups according to AVF location, i.e., DAVF – distally located AVF – (n = 174) and PAVF – proximally located AVF – (n = 69). The proportion of patients with heart failure (HF) was higher in PAVF group (24% vs. 12%, p = 0.0482). In the multivariable regression, PAVF, serum creatinine levels, and the presence of HF or coronary artery disease (CAD) remained independent predictors of lower functional capacity. Among patients with heart disease, the presence of active AVF was independently associated with worse functional outcome (higher LVD-36 scores).ConclusionsThe influence of persistent PAVF in KTRs seems to be unfavorable, especially when coexisting with CAD or HF. Abbreviations: AVF arteriovenous fistula; BMI body mass index; CAD coronary artery disease; D-AVF distally-located arteriovenous fistula; EC exercise capacity; HD hemodialysis; HF heart failure; KTx kidney transplantation; KTR kidney transplant recipient; LVD-36 Left Ventricle Disfunction – 36; LVEF left ventricle ejection fraction; LVH left ventricle hypertrophy; NYHA New York Heart Association; P-AVF proximally located arteriovenous fistula; PD peritoneal dialysis; PRO patient-reported outcomes; QOL quality of life.     

Distal rectus femoris surgery in children with cerebral palsy: results of a Delphi consensus project

PurposeThe purpose of this study was for an international panel of experts to establish consensus indications for distal rectus femoris surgery in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using a modified Delphi method.MethodsThe panel used a five-level Likert scale to record agreement or disagreement with 33 statements regarding distal rectus femoris surgery. The panel responded to statements regarding general characteristics, clinical indications, computerized gait data, intraoperative techniques and outcome measures. Consensus was defined as at least 80% of responses being in the highest or lowest two of the five Likert ratings, and general agreement as 60% to 79% falling into the highest or lowest two ratings. There was no agreement if neither threshold was reached.ResultsConsensus or general agreement was reached for 17 of 33 statements (52%). There was general consensus that distal rectus femoris surgery is better for stiff knee gait than is proximal rectus femoris release. There was no consensus about whether the results of distal rectus femoris release were comparable to those following distal rectus femoris transfer. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level was an important factor for the panel, with the best outcomes expected in children functioning at GMFCS levels I and II. The panel also reached consensus that they do distal rectus femoris surgery less frequently than earlier in their careers, in large part reflecting the narrowing of indications for this surgery over the last decade.ConclusionThis study can help paediatric orthopaedic surgeons optimize decision-making for, and outcomes of, distal rectus femoris surgery in children with CP.Level of evidenceV     

亚低温减少大鼠短暂性全脑缺血后皮质iNOS诱导的神经元凋亡

为研究亚低温对大鼠脑缺血再灌注后皮质iNOS表达、NO产生及神经元凋亡的影响及探讨亚低温的神经保护机制,用大鼠短暂全脑缺血模型,采用Nissl染色观察存活神经元、免疫组化法检测iNOS、硝酸还原酶法检测NOx-水平和TUNEL染色结合电子显微镜观察检测凋亡神经元。结果显示:常温缺血组额叶皮质iNOS表达、NOx-水平增高,出现凋亡神经元;低温缺血组iNOS表达、NOx-水平明显低于常温缺血组,未检测到凋亡神经元。上述结果提示,脑缺血后iNOS来源的NO参与了神经元的凋亡过程,亚低温可减少大鼠短暂性全脑缺血后iNOS诱导的神经元凋亡。     

Hemolytic anemia and hexokinase deficiency associated with malformations

Summary Hexokinase deficiency in the red cells caused a hemolytic anemia in a 28 y. old woman who revealed multiple malformations and a latent diabetes mellitus.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant Go 236/2).     

内皮素与脑梗死

目的 :检测脑梗死病人的内皮素 - 1(ET - 1)水平 ,研究ET - 1与脑梗死的关系。方法 :检测脑梗死病人ET - 1的水平 ,并与正常对照组比较。结果 :脑梗死病人的ET - 1明显高于正常对照组水平 (U =13.45 ,P<0 0 1) ,还发现ET - 1与高血压、糖尿病、高血脂症有一定的关系。结论 :ET - 1的增高是脑梗死发病的内源性危险因素之一 ,ET - 1的增高不但与脑梗死的发病有关而且与脑梗死的发展有关