Role of intracortical mechanisms in the late part of the silent period to transcranial stimulation of the human motor cortex

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) of the human motor cortex produce a silent period (SP) following motor evoked potentials (MEPs). The early part of the SP can be explained by decreased alpha motor neuron excitability, whereas the late part is presumably due to suprasegmental mechanisms. In order to determine the level of the suprasegmental contribution to the generation of SPs, we recorded excitatory and inhibitory responses to TMS, TES, and percutaneous electrical brainstem stimulation (PBS) in the voluntarily activated first dorsal interosseous muscle of the hand. Stimulus intensities were set so that PBS and TES induced MEPs with areas equal to or larger than those of MEPs obtained with TMS. This procedure revealed that SPs were 49% and 83% shorter with TES and PBS, respectively, than with TMS. As TMS is more effective than TES or PBS in activating cortical interneurons, these findings support the idea that a significant component of the SP arises from intracortical mechanisms.     

The HGAR1 familial hypercholesterolemia pedigree

Data on 232 members of a single pedigree, descended from two pairs of original parents, were made available to the participants of Genetic Analysis Workshop 8 (GAW8). In addition to information concerning age and sex, measurements for 10 quantitative traits and genotypes at 22 polymorphic marker loci were also provided for a subset of 193 of these family members. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Choice of open or percutaneous procedures in the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

The aim of this study was to define criteria for the selection of patients for percutaneous or open operations for the cure of drug-resistant trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Trigeminal percutaneous radiofrequency thermorhizotomy (TPRT) has an established place because of its safety in elderly patients, while microvascular decompression (MVD) has appeal in younger patients beause of its non-destructive nature and because it attacks what is believed to be the primary etiology of tic douloureux. Nevertheless, MVD is a successful operation only when true neurovascular conflict (NVC) is ascertained, rather than a simple arterial loop and neurovascular contract. Probably, many immediate failures and early relapses are the consequence of the inadequate patient selection for MVD on the presumption that this operation is in any case the ideal cure. The inadequate selection can be explained by the difficult preoperative diagnosis of NVC in the past. Indeed, angiography and computed tomography showed the neurovascular contact but not the size of compression. Fortunately, today magnetic resonance imaging is a reliable instrument to ascertain NVC. So, the diatribe between the supporters of percutaneous techniques and MVD can be concluded with the following: (1) percutaenous techniques are indicated for patients without demonstrated NVC (including patients with TN in multiple sclerosis) and in those with NVC if MVD is contraindicated by ill-health or refused by the informed patient; and (2) MVD is incated for patients with ascertained NVC who are in good health and who, informed of the surgical risk, favor this operation desiring no sensory deficit. Received: 23 June 2001 / Accepted in revised form: 24 August 2001     

经皮激光心肌血运重建术治疗心绞痛的临床疗效观察

【目的】观察经皮激光打孔心肌血运重建术治疗顽固性心绞痛的临床疗效。【方法】应用经皮激光 (HO :YAGlaser)心内膜心肌打孔治疗 2 7例顽固性心绞痛患者 ,以加拿大心绞痛标准分级和Naughton运动试验ST段下移至 1mm所需时间作为激光心肌血运重建术疗效的临床观察指标。【结果】每例打孔 5～ 15个 ,平均 (8± 4)个。打孔前和打孔后 1月、3月、6月按加拿大心绞痛标准分级 ,分别为 (3 5± 0 5 )、(2 2± 0 8)、(2 0± 0 6 )、(2 1± 0 5 )级 ;Naughton运动试验ST段下移至1mm所需时间则分别为 (36 0± 16 0 )s、(4 0 6± 2 6 0 )s、(4 2 0± 2 90 )s、(4 5 0± 312 )s。【结论】经皮激光打孔心肌血运重建术能降低患者心绞痛的严重程度 ,对不能常规施行经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA)或冠状动脉旁路搭桥术 (CABG)的严重冠心病心绞痛的患者 ,经皮激光心肌血运重建术是一种有效治疗方法。     

青年急性冠脉综合征冠脉造特点及随访

目的:探讨青年急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)冠状动脉(冠状)造影特点及其与远期心脏事件的关系。方法:比较青年ACS与老年ACS患者冠脉病变程度、范围,并进行心脏事件随访。结果:78例青年ACS患者有冠脉病变74例(94.9％),单支病变46例(58.9％);171例老年ACS患者有冠脉病变166例(97.1％),单支病变41例(23.9％)。平均随访9个月,青年ACS患者发生心脏事件者10例(12.8％),其中心绞痛再入院6例(7.7％);老年ACS患者发生心脏事件者47例(27.5％),其中心绞痛再入院30例(17.5％),两组比较差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:ACS患者冠状动脉粥样硬化青年时期之前已经发生,ACS预后与冠脉病变程度和年龄呈正相关。     

全反式维甲酸对防治经皮冠脉介入治疗后再狭窄的临床疗效观察

目的观察不同剂量全反式维甲酸（ATRA）对防治经皮冠脉介入治疗（PCI）后再狭窄（Rs）的疗效。方法2004年7月至2005年9月连续入院行PCI的冠心病300例。随机分为全反式维甲酸正常剂量组（10mgt．i．d p．o，甲组）、强化剂量组（20mgt．i．d p．o，乙组）、对照组（丙组）。6个月后分别比较甲乙丙三组的再狭窄率、心脏事件发生率和心功能。结果300例患者中男性228例、女性72例。住院期间甲乙丙三组比较：心绞痛9％VS8％VS9％；再次急性心肌梗死（AMI）O％VS2％VS1％；再次缺血性血运重建（TVR）3％VS2％VS3％；心源性死亡4％VS6％VS4％，P〉0．05，无显著统计学差异。随访期间三组比较：心绞痛12％VS9％VS20％；再次AMII％VSO％VS1％；心源性死亡2％VS4％VS4％，P〉0．05，无显著统计学差异；再狭窄率3／33（9．1％）VS2／30（6．7％）VS12／32（37．5％）；TVR3％VS2％VS11％，P〈0．05，有显著统计学差异。结论常规剂量ATRA防治再狭窄安全有效。     

Prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and relation to glycemic control therapies at baseline in the BARI 2D cohort

Abstract   We evaluated the associations between glycemic therapies and prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) at baseline among participants in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) trial on medical and revascularization therapies for coronary artery disease (CAD) and on insulin-sensitizing vs. insulin-providing treatments for diabetes. A total of 2,368 patients with type 2 diabetes and CAD was evaluated. DPN was defined as clinical examination score >2 using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). DPN odds ratios across different groups of glycemic therapy were evaluated by multiple logistic regression adjusted for multiple covariates including age, sex, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and diabetes duration. Fifty-one percent of BARI 2D subjects with valid baseline characteristics and MNSI scores had DPN. After adjusting for all variables, use of insulin was significantly associated with DPN (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.15–2.13). Patients on sulfonylurea (SU) or combination of SU/metformin (Met)/thiazolidinediones (TZD) had marginally higher rates of DPN than the Met/TZD group. This cross-sectional study in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and CAD showed association of insulin use with higher DPN prevalence, independent of disease duration, glycemic control, and other characteristics. The causality between a glycemic control strategy and DPN cannot be evaluated in this cross-sectional study, but continued assessment of DPN and randomized therapies in BARI 2D trial may provide further explanations on the development of DPN.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention in two occluded arms of a saphenous 'Y'-graft: the importance of protecting both of your arms.

Percutaneous intervention in saphenous vein grafts (SVG) carries a higher risk of distal embolization than intervention in a native vessel, and use of a distal protection device has been shown to improve the outcomes in SVG interventions. We describe an intervention done in an unexpected 'Y' SVG which required dual distal protection with Filterwires placed in both limbs of the diseased graft and which was performed via a 6 Fr guide catheter.     

瘦素、C-反应蛋白与老年急性冠脉综合征患者的相关研究

目的探讨急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者血浆瘦素(LP)及C-反应蛋白(CRP)水平的变化及其临床意义。方法测定急性心肌梗死组(AMI组)、不稳定型心绞痛组(UA组)、对照组(健康体检者)血浆LP及CRP浓度,分析LP、CRP与病情严重程度的关系以及LP与CRP的相关性。结果AMI组、UA组患者血浆LP、CRP浓度较对照组显著升高(P<0.01),2组患者血浆LP与CRP浓度之间均呈显著正相关;AMI组血浆LP、CRP浓度比UA组明显升高(P<0.05)。结论血浆LP及CRP浓度与ACS病情严重性呈正相关,且LP与CRP浓度呈正相关。说明LP与CRP共同参与组织炎症反应,是ACS重要的危险因素及预测因子。