Features of pediatric head injury in Hong Kong

Head injury in children causes special concern in most communities. From 1989 to 1994, 2,785 children younger than 16 years old were admitted to our neurosurgical service because of head injury. Fall from a height was the major cause of head injury leading to admission in infants and children in preschool age groups, whereas traffic-related or bicycle-related accidents were more likely to be the cause of head injury for those aged 11–15 years. In all age groups there was a male preponderance. The overall mortality was 0.6%. Traffic-ralated accidents caused more severe injury and accounted for 67% of all fatalities. For patients under 6 years old, about 40% of head injuries occurred at home. Preventive measures for pediatric head injury in Hong Kong are suggested.     

电针对沙鼠急性脑缺血再灌注后神经原损伤的保护作用

本实验利用沙鼠急性脑缺血再灌注模型，研究电针对脑缺血及再灌注各期脑电活动的影响及组织病理学的改变。结果表明：缺血１０ｍｌｎ，脑电幅度受到严重抑制，甚至变平坦，总功率大大下降，再灌注后总功率难以恢复，在１２０ｍｉｎ时仅恢复到缺血前的２７．３９±１１．３１％，以后即不再进一步恢复，电针组动物缺血１０ｍｉｎ再灌注后，脑电的恢复明显比对照组快，１２０ｍｉｎ时恢复至缺血前的７１．４５±１６．４６％（Ｐ＜０．０１），２４０ｍｉｎ时继续恢复至缺血前的７５．２７±１８．４３％。同时电针能明显减轻缺血１０ｍｉｎ后再灌注２４小时的神经原缺血性损伤。结果提示：电针对急性脑缺血引起的神经原损伤具有保护作用，并能促进脑功能的恢复。     

Cyclosporine overcomes cold preservation/reperfusion injury of liver graft: Chemokine release and liver ultrastructure

There is a growing body of evidence that the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-ga), plays an important role in the development of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. We found that the immunosuppressants, cyclosporine-A (CsA), azathioprine, and FK506, have protective effects on such injury. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate mechanisms involved in these beneficial effects of the immunosuppressant, CsA, on liver injury following cold preservation and transplantation, with special reference to the suppression of TNF-α release. Rat livers were stored in Euro-Collins solution (EC) at 4°C for 6h and orthotopically transplanted. The animals allotted to two groups: group A (untreated controls) and group B (CsA pretreatment of recipients). CsA (10 mg/kg, p.o.) was given for 3 consecutive days preoperatively. CsA pretreatment of the recipients significantly improved the 2-week survival rate (0/6 for group A, 3/6 for group B;P<0.05) and this was associated with a significant decrease in serum TNF-α levels 2h posttransplantation (group A, 69.8±15.7 pg/ml; group B, 22.8±6.8; mean±SEM;n=12 each;P<0.05) and amelioration of sinusoidal endothelial injury, assessed by electron microscopy. Plasma endotoxin levels following reperfusion of the grafts were not altered by the CsA therapy. Morphologically, CsA pretreatment of the recipients did not alter activation of Kupffer cells. CsA pretreatment of the recipient aids in preventing cold preservation/reperfusion injury of the liver graft, possibly by modulating effects of TNF-α.     

Short-term lack of cerebral perfusion with good outcome. Advantages of early intracranial pressure monitoring

A 21-year-old man was injured by a tailboard of a truck. He suffered a severe head injury with bilateral depressed skull fractures necessitating surgical decompression. On admission to the hospital the patient showed bending to pain stimuli (Glasgow Coma Score 5). Anisocoria was noticed from the beginning. Initial intracranial pressure (ICP), measured 3 hours after injury, was 30 mm Hg, and the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was 70 mm Hg. During surgical elevation of the skull fracture on the right side an unexplainable rise of ICP to values of 100 mm Hg occurred, which corresponded to the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). At the same time both pupils were dilated and fixed indicating a lack of cerebral perfusion. Due to immediate trephination of the opposite side, the ICP was lowered to values below 20 mm Hg, and sufficient cerebral perfusion (above 50 mm Hg) was regained. The patient showed a good recovery and was transferred to a rehabilitation center 5 weeks after injury.This case report emphasizes the importance of early and continuous intracranial pressure monitoring for adequate therapy in neurosurgical emergencies.     

川芎嗪对脑外伤患者血栓素、前列腺环素及颅内压的影响

28例重度脑外伤患者分为川药嗪治疗组和一般治疗对照组,两组病人均于用药前和用药后3小时测定血浆和脑室内脑脊液(VCSF)中血栓素代谢产物(TXB_2)前列腺环素代谢产物6—酮—PGF_(la)(6KP)和颅内压。结果表明:两组治疗前血浆、VCSF中TXB_2及T/K均明显高于正常献血员对照组,川芎嗪能降低脑外伤患者血浆、VCSF中TXB_2及T/K值,对颅内压则无明显影响。提示川芎嗪能抑制脑外伤对血小板的激活、纠正循环血中TXA_2—PGI_2平衡失调,从而改善脑微循环。     

Mandibular fracture not shown by axial computed tomography: Benefit of computed reformation

A 36-year-old man was brought to the emergency department after being assaulted. A mandible series showed a nondisplaced fracture through the angle of the mandible extending through the left third molar tooth. Axial slices from a nonhelical computed tomographic (CT) examination of the head as well as a helical CT examination of the mandible failed to demonstrate the fracture. The fracture was well shown, however, on sagittal CT reformations. Although CT is generally regarded as more sensitive than plain radiography for the detection of fractures, fractures may be overlooked by CT if examination in only one plane is performed.     

亚低温在治疗急性颅脑创伤中的疗效和争议

二十世纪90年代初,国内外对亚低温脑保护的作用有了新认识。动物实验研究发现亚低温对实验性颅脑外伤具有显著的治疗保护作用。大多数前瞻性临床应用研究发现30～33℃亚低温能显著降低重型颅脑伤患者的死残率。但美国Clifton教授牵头的9个医学中心合作研究发现亚低温治疗组与对照组无统计学差异.仅能显著提高GCS 6～8分、年龄<45岁、伤后6h内达到亚低温水平的病人的治疗效果。最近一项欧州5家医院多中心前瞻性随机临床研究结果令人兴奋,他们研究证明亚低温对心跳骤停脑缺血缺氧病人有显著治疗保护作用。目前国内外有关亚低温治疗的争议焦点是亚低温治疗的指征、时间窗和时程。     

A method to quantitate axonal injury

The quantitation of diffuse axonal injury provides a more objective approach to the assessment of tissue damage in head injuries. The method designed in this study takes into account the anisotropy and structural inhomogeneity of the brain, and the distribution of lesions in diffuse axonal injury. The number of counts required for the statistical analysis is inversely proportional to the square of the desired accuracy, specified as the percentage of the mean value of the axonal balloons since the true mean is unknown from the outset. The number of fields are examined using an indexed-squares graticule in 10 different areas of the brain. Silver-stained sections from the brains of head injured patients that survived longer than 12 h must be used with this method. Difficulties may arise when patients of different survival times are compared since it takes some time for the axonal balloons to develop. A correlation with the survival time can be established with the quantitative data collected. The morphometric principles and the statistical rationale on which this methodology is based are briefly presented.