Cutaneous afferent activity in the median nerve during grasping in the primate

Neural activity was recorded from the median nerve of a monkey during grasping and lifting, using a chronically implanted cuff electrode. At the onset of lifting, there was an initial dynamic response during which the intensity of the neural signal increased rapidly. This neural response attained its peak value well before the displacement, the load force or the grip force. The time course and peak of the rectified, integrated neurogram were best correlated with the rate of change of grip force. The neural activity declined exponentially to a steady value following the initial peak. During steady holding the mean amplitude of the neurogram was best correlated with the mean grip force. At the end of the holding phase there was a short burst of neural activity as the monkey relaxed the grip force and released the object. During some blocks of trials pulse perturbations were applied to the object. When the monkey did not increase the grip force in advance of the perturbation, the perturbation produced a relatively large displacement of the object and a burst of neural activity whose onset coincided with the onset of displacement. When the monkey anticipated the perturbation by increasing the grip force during the holding period preceding the perturbation, the perturbation produced a relatively small displacement and relatively little increase in neural activity.     

Myelinated fiber regeneration after crush injury is retarded in sciatic nerves of aging mice

To compare nerve regeneration in young adult and aging mice, the right sciatic nerves of 6- and 24-month-old mice were crushed at the sciatic notch. Two weeks later, both groups of mice were perfused with an aldehyde solution, and, after additional fixation, the sciatic nerves were processed so that the transverse sections of each nerve subsequently studied by light and electron microscopy included the entire posterior tibial fascicle 5 mm distal to the crush site. The same level was sectioned in unoperated contralateral nerves; these nerves served as controls. Electron micrographs and the Bioquant Image Analysis System IV were used to measure areas of posterior tibial fascicles and count the number of myelinated axons, the number of unmyelinated axons, and their frequency in Schwann cell units. In aging mice, the total number of regenerating myelinated axons was significantly reduced, but totals of regenerating unmyelinated axons in aging and young adults did not differ significantly. In aging mice, the frequency of Schwann cells that contained a single unmyelinated axon was greater, suggesting that before myelination began, Schwann cell ensheathment of axons also was slowed. After axotomy by a crush injury, the area of the posterior tibial fascicle was less than that in young adults and the distal disintegration of myelin sheath remnants also appeared to be retarded. The results indicate that responses of neurons, axons, and Schwann cells could be important in slowing the regeneration of myelinated fibers found in sciatic nerves from aging mice.     

老年与青壮年脑挫裂伤组织NGF的表达差异及意义

目的 研究衰老对脑挫裂伤组织神经生长因子（NGF）基因表达的影响,进一步探讨老年颅脑损伤病人神经功能缺失程度较重的分子生物学机制.方法 收集重型颅脑损伤开颅手术中的脑挫裂伤组织,应用免疫组化和医学数码图像分析技术,观察老年组（≥60岁）和青壮年组（19～59岁）病人脑损伤后3～9 h脑挫裂伤组织NGF蛋白的表达差异.结果 脑损伤后NGF在老年和青壮年脑挫裂伤组织中的表达均明显增强;老年组脑挫裂伤组织中的NGF蛋白表达显著性低于青壮年组（P＜0.05）.结论 老年人脑挫裂伤后NGF表达水平下降明显,提示其受损神经元的修复和生存能力降低,这可能是老年颅脑损伤病人恢复不良的重要原因之一.     

Lower limb blocks for children

Femoral and lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh blocks have been performed in a group of 50 children; the method has not previously been described in paediatric practice. The technique was judged to have been successful in 48 (96%) of the children. There were no early or late complications. It is concluded that these blocks are easy to perform, even in small children and infants, and that they can produce reliable postoperative analgesia for a variety of orthopaedic and plastic procedures.     

The pattern evoked response in disorders of the optic nerve

The pattern evoked electroretinogram (PERG) was investigated in 11 patients with unilateral optic nerve disease and in a series of age-matched controls. The visually evoked potential (VEP) was also measured. The PERG showed a similar reduction to the VEP in optic nerve disease. Serial studies indicate that the PERG may not be affected immediately in some instances but may show a gradual decline over several months.     

Microanatomy and surgical approaches to the infratemporal fossa: an anaglyphic three-dimensional stereoscopic printing study.

Objective: The infratemporal fossa (ITF) is a continuation of the temporal fossa between the internal surface of the zygoma and the external surface of the temporal bone and greater wing of the sphenoid bone that is sitting deep to the ramus of the mandible. The principal structure to understanding its relationships is the lateral pterygoid muscle. Other important structures are the medial pterygoid muscle, the maxillary artery, the pterygoid venous plexus, the otic ganglion, the chorda tympani nerve and the mandibular nerve. In this study, we describe the microsurgical anatomy of the ITF, as viewed by step-by-step anatomical dissection and also through the perspective of three lateral approaches and one anterior surgical approach. Methods: Eight cadaver specimens were dissected. In one side of all specimens, an anatomical dissection was done in which a wide preauricular incision from the neck on the anterior border of the sternoclidomastoid muscle at the level of the cricoid cartilage to the superior temporal line was made. The flap was displaced anteriorly and the structures of the neck were dissected followed by a zygomatic osteotomy and dissection of the ITF structures. On the other side were the surgical approaches to the ITF. The combined infratemporal and posterior fossa approach was done in two specimens, the subtemporal preauricular infratemporal fossa approach in two, the zygomatic approach in two, and the lateral transantral maxillotomy in two. The anatomical dissections were documented on the three-dimensional (3D) anaglyphic method to produce stereoscopic prints. Results: The lateral pterygoid muscle is one of the principal structures to enable understanding of the relationships into the ITF. The tendon of the temporal muscle inserts in the coronoid process at the ITF. The maxillary artery is the terminal branch of the external carotid artery that originates at the neck of the mandible and runs into the parotid gland. In our dissections the maxillary artery was lateral to the buccal, lingual, and inferior alveolar nerves. We found the second part of the maxillary artery superficial to the lateral pterygoid muscle in all specimens The anterior and posterior branches of the deep temporal artery supply the temporal muscle. In two cases we found a middle deep temporal artery. The different approaches that we used provided different views of the same anatomical landmarks and this provides not only safer surgery but also the best choice to approach the ITF according with the pathology extension. Conclusions: The ITF is a complex region on the skull base that is affected by benign and malignant tumors. The study through different routes is helpful to disclose the relationship among the anatomical structures. Although the authors have shown four approaches, there are a variety of approaches and even a combination of these can be used. This type of anatomical knowledge is essential to choosing the best approach to treat lesions in this area.     

腮腺手术中耳大神经后支保留的临床意义

目的 探讨腮腺手术中耳大神经后支保留的可行性、方法及临床价值。方法 我们对48例腮腺肿瘤患者，按常规隐蔽切口腮腺手术方法进行治疗，保留或不保留耳大神经后支。分别于术后10d及1、6、12个月进行随访，检测耳廓上部、耳垂、耳下区、耳前区和耳后区的触觉、痛觉，并观察其感觉变化情况。结果 48例中35例耳大神经后支保留，耳廓上部及耳后区感觉无减退。术后早期耳前、耳垂及耳下区感觉有不同程度的减退，以耳前区最明显，随着时间延长症状逐步好转，6个月时感觉接近正常。另13例耳大神经切断患者感觉减退症状更加明显，恢复时间延长。结论 腮腺手术中耳大神经后支保留是可行的，所采用的方法可靠，可减轻局部麻木感，提高患者术后早期生活质量，降低神经切断后产生局部永久性麻木的可能性。     

Curative Laparoscopic Resection for Pancreatic Neoplasms: A Critical Analysis from a Single Institution

Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery (LPS) has seen significant development but much of the knowledge refers to small and benign pancreatic tumors. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and long-term outcome of the laparoscopic approach in patients with benign, premalignant, and overt malignant lesions of the pancreas. This study, currently, is the largest single center experience worldwide. One hundred twenty-three consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic pancreatic surgery from April 1998 to April 2007, 20 patients with cysts or pseudocysts for acute and chronic pancreatitis, laparoscopic pancreatic drainage was performed, and were excluded from the analysis. The 103 patients were divided based on preoperative diagnosis: group I, inflammatory tumors for chronic pancreatitis (eight patients); group II, cystic pancreatic neoplasms (29 patients); group III, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (10 patients); group IV, neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors (NETs) (43 patients); and group V ductal adenocarcinoma (13 patients). The median tumor size was 5.3 cm. Pathologic data include R ₀ or R ₁ resection (transection margins on the specimen were inked). Perioperative data, postoperative complications, and resection modalities were compared using statistical analysis. Long-term outcomes were analysed by tumor recurrence and patient survival. The overall conversion rate was 7%. Laparoscopic distal pancreatic resection was performed in 82 patients (79.6%). Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (Lap SPDP) was performed in 52 patients (63.7%), but with splenic vessels preservation in 22% and without splenic vessels preservation in 41.5%. Laparoscopic en-bloc splenopancreatectomy (Lap SxDP) was performed in 30 patients (36.6%) and laparoscopic enucleation (Lap En) in 20 patients (19.4%). There was no mortality. The overall complication rate was 25.2, 16.7, and 40% after Lap SPDP, Lap SxDP, and Lap En, respectively. The overall morbidity rate was significantly higher (p > 0.05) in the group of Lap SPDP without splenic vessels preservation comparing with Lap SPDP with splenic vessels preservation because of the occurrence of splenic complications (20.6%). The overall pancreatic fistulas was 7.7, 10, and 35% after Lap SPDP, Lap SxDP, and Lap En, respectively; the severity of fistula was significantly higher in the Lap En group (p > 0.05). The mean hospital stay was within 1 week in all groups, except in the group of ductal adenocarcinoma, which is 8 days. In this series, 27 patients (26.2%) had malignant disease. R ₀ resection was achieved in 90% of ductal adenocarcinoma and 100% for other malignant tumors. The median survival for ductal adenocarcinoma patients was 14 months. This series demonstrates that LPS is feasible and safe in benign-appearing and malignant lesions of the pancreas.     

兔内听动脉阻断与听觉改变的关系

目的 探讨实验性内听动脉阻断与术后听力改变的关系及术中听觉监控的方法。方法 实验兔乙状窦后进路暴露小脑桥脑角，下压小脑暴露内听道及第Ⅷ神经复合体，分辨出内听动脉，予阻断不同时间，分别行蜗神经直接复合动作电位(DCAP)和畸变产物耳声发射记录(DPOAE)。结果对照组DCAPN1波潜伏期值无明显改变。内耳血供阻断10s和30s组在压迫开始后3min，DCAPN1波潜伏期值均恢复为初始值。内耳血供阻断1min组在压迫开始后3h，DCAPN1波潜伏期值未恢复为初始值假手术组DPOAE幅值无明显改变，内耳血供阻断10s、30s对DPOAE幅值无影响，内耳血供阻断1min使得DPOAE幅值下降结论兔内耳血供阻断1min可能造成兔听觉不可逆损伤。DCAP、DPOAE能有效、持续地监控内耳血供阻断，是耳神经外科手术中实用的听觉监测手段。     

周围神经端侧动脉套接后神经再生的研究

目的研究周围神经端侧动脉套接后神经再生的可能性及其特点. 方法取SD大鼠75只,在股骨中下段切断腓神经,将近断端逆转90度包埋于肌肉中.随机分为5组.A组:将截取的左颈总动脉套接于右侧正常胫神经侧方与腓总神经远端2 mm距离之间,缝合部胫神经外膜不予切除;B组:在胫神经套接部外膜开窗1.0 mm;C组:腓总神经切断14天后再予动脉套接,余同B组;D组:同B组,且于动脉套接部注入神经生长因子(neural growth factor, NGF)1 ml;E组:将腓总神经远端以端侧缝合形式直接缝合于胫神经的一侧,外膜开窗1.0 mm.术后4、8和12周分别行组织学、电镜和神经纤维计数等检查. 结果 4周时C、D及E组周边区域有神经纤维轴突和髓鞘再生,A组则无神经纤维生长; 8周时C、D及E组再生神经纤维较B组多,E组神经纤维较C、D组多,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05); 12周时C、D及E组神经纤维多于B组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);C组及D组有较丰富的神经再生,与神经端侧直接吻合的E组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05). 结论神经端侧2 mm距离动脉套接可作为修复周围神经损伤的一种可行方法.