Distribution of temperature changes and neurovascular coupling in rat brain following 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) exposure

(+/?)3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) is an abused psychostimulant that produces strong monoaminergic stimulation and whole‐body hyperthermia. MDMA‐induced thermogenesis involves activation of uncoupling proteins (UCPs), primarily a type specific to skeletal muscle (UCP‐3) and absent from the brain, although other UCP types are expressed in the brain (e.g. thalamus) and might contribute to thermogenesis. Since neuroimaging of brain temperature could provide insights into MDMA action, we measured spatial distributions of systemically administered MDMA‐induced temperature changes and dynamics in rat cortex and subcortex using a novel magnetic resonance method, Biosensor Imaging of Redundant Deviation in Shifts (BIRDS), with an exogenous temperature‐sensitive probe (thulium ion and macrocyclic chelate 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetramethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetate (DOTMA^4?)). The MDMA‐induced temperature rise was greater in the cortex than in the subcortex (1.6 ± 0.4 °C versus 1.3 ± 0.4 °C) and occurred more rapidly (2.0 ± 0.2 °C/h versus 1.5 ± 0.2 °C/h). MDMA‐induced temperature changes and dynamics in the cortex and body were correlated, although the body temperature exceeded the cortex temperature before and after MDMA. Temperature, neuronal activity, and blood flow (CBF) were measured simultaneously in the cortex and subcortex (i.e. thalamus) to investigate possible differences of MDMA‐induced warming across brain regions. MDMA‐induced warming correlated with increases in neuronal activity and blood flow in the cortex, suggesting that the normal neurovascular response to increased neural activity was maintained. In contrast to the cortex, a biphasic relationship was seen in the subcortex (i.e. thalamus), with a decline in CBF as temperature and neural activity rose, transitioning to a rise in CBF for temperature above 37 °C, suggesting that MDMA affected CBF and neurovascular coupling differently in subcortical regions. Considering that MDMA effects on CBF and heat dissipation (as well as potential heat generation) may vary regionally, neuroprotection may require different cooling strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Packed red blood cell transfusion (PRBC) attenuates intestinal blood flow responses to feedings in pre-term neonates with normalization at 24 hours

Objective: To determine whether packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion affects post-prandial superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocities (SMA BFVs) in very-low birth weight (VLBW) neonates and if so, at what time point after transfusion restoration of previous SMA BFV patterns occurs.

Design/Methods: VLBW pre-term neonates, older than 14 days and tolerating bolus enteral feedings administered every 3?h were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Pulsed Doppler ultrasound was used to measure pre- and post-prandial (at 45?min) time-averaged mean, peak and end diastolic velocities (TAMV, PSV, EDV) immediately before and after 15?ml/kg of PRBC transfusion was given over 3?h; patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) status was also evaluated. Subsequent pre- and post-prandial SMA BFVs were recorded 24 and 48?h after the transfusion.

Results: Pre- and post-prandial measurements were obtained for 21 out of 25 enrolled infants. Post-prandial SMA BFVs were attenuated during the feedings immediately after transfusion; at 24 and 48?h after transfusion, changes in post-prandial SMA BFVs were similar to those measured prior to transfusion; the presence of the PDA did not affect results.

Conclusions: PRBC transfusion blunted SMA BFV responses to feedings immediately after the transfusion with normalization observed 24?h post-transfusion.     

Intraoperative cerebral blood flow monitoring in neurosurgery: A review of contemporary technologies and emerging perspectives

Intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood flow (CBF) has become an invaluable adjunct to vascular and oncological neurosurgery, reducing the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Several technologies have been developed during the last two decades, including laser-based techniques, videomicroscopy, intraoperative MRI, indocyanine green angiography, and thermography. Although these technologies have been thoroughly studied and clinically applied outside the operative room, current practice lacks an optimal technology that perfectly fits the workflow within the neurosurgical operative room. The different available technologies have specific strengths but suffer several drawbacks, mainly including limited spatial and/or temporal resolution. An optimal CBF monitoring technology should meet particular criteria for intraoperative use: excellent spatial and temporal resolution, integration in the operative workflow, real-time quantitative monitoring, ease of use, and non-contact technique. We here review the main contemporary technologies for intraoperative CBF monitoring and their current and potential future applications in neurosurgery.     

调整Kappa角及光学切削直径对准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术后的影响

目的　评价调整光学切削直径及Kappa角后对准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术（laser in situ keratomileusis，LASIK）后效果的影响。方法　选取2017年1月至12月在我院行LASIK手术的高度近视患者313例（626眼），根据切削直径分成两组，试验组157例314眼，切削直径设定为6.0 mm，对照组156例312眼，切削直径设定为6.5 mm。试验组患者激光切削前修正Kappa角，对照组不做修正。患者术前进行裸眼视力、主视眼确定、验光、眼压、暗室下瞳孔直径、泪液分泌试验、裂隙灯、散瞳验光、眼底检查、pentacam测量角膜厚度、角膜地形图测量角膜前后表面及Kappa角等检查。术后1 d、1周、1个月随访，并检查裸眼视力、角膜厚度、波前像差及夜间视力、光晕、眩光等情况。比较两组患者角膜厚度变化、手术所用时间以及两组患者术后的高阶像差的差异。结果　试验组与对照组患者年龄分别为18～44（24.19±5.33）岁、18～42（25.08±4.91）岁，屈光度分别为（-7.47±1.04）D、（-7.61±1.12）D。两组年龄、屈光度比较差异均无统计学意义（均为P>0.05）。试验组与对照组患者术前Kappa角分别为，X轴:（210±40）μm、（200±30）μm，Y轴:（190±30）μm、（220±40）μm，差异无统计学意义（P=0.210）。两组手术前后的角膜厚度及术后角膜基质床的厚度差异均无统计学意义（均为P>0.05）。试验组与对照组的手术时间分别为（15.56±1.89）s和（20.83±3.03）s，差异有统计学意义（P=0.000）。试验组的总高阶像差和垂直慧差的变化均明显低于对照组（均为 P<0.01），但两组间的水平慧差差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），对照组的球差低于试验组（P<0.01）。结论　LASIK手术中科学合理地调整Kappa角可有助于提高患者术后的视觉质量。     

糖尿病黄斑水肿患者病变程度与脉络膜厚度的关系

目的　利用频域光学相干断层扫描深度增强（enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography，EDI SD-OCT）观察糖尿病黄斑水肿（diabetic macular edema，DME）患者脉络膜厚度（choroidal thickness，CT）的变化及结构特点，探讨DME病变程度与CT的关系。方法　纳入2型糖尿病患者共123例204眼，其中69眼诊断为DME（DME组），135眼无黄斑水肿为对照组。DME眼依据OCT形态学特点进一步分为视网膜弥漫性增厚（diffuse retinal thickness，DRT）型（34眼）、黄斑囊样水肿（cystoid macular edema，CME）型（19眼）和浆液性视网膜脱离（serous retinal detachment，SRD）型（16眼），利用EDI-OCT分别测量黄斑中心凹下CT和以黄斑为中心上、下、鼻、颞500 μm、1000 μm、1500 μm、2000 μm处CT。结果　DME组黄斑中心凹下CT为（326.72±90.15）μm，对照组为（320.17±106.46）μm，两组之间无统计学差异，但黄斑中心凹下CT与视网膜厚度间具有明显正相关关系（r=0.270，P=0.025）。DME亚型CT分别为:DRT型（303.94±81.47）μm、CME型（304.42±73.98）μm和SRD型（401.63±88.80）μm，SRD型CT明显高于其他亚型（P<0.05），此外，SRD型的周边CT同样呈现均匀一致的增厚；鼻侧CT从500 μm至2000 μm呈距离敏感性降低（P<0.05），但SRD型鼻侧CT降低幅度明显变缓（P=0.195）。结论　SRD型黄斑水肿患者CT在中心凹下及周边部均显著增厚，CT与DME病变程度之间有一定相关性。     

Angiopathie amyloïde cérébrale ou atteinte des microvaisseaux cérébraux en rapport avec l’HTA : un challenge clinique

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a entity characterized by degenerative Amyloïd deposits in the walls of the meningeal and cortical vessels. It is considered as the second cause of primitives cerebral hemorrhage in elderly. The differential diagnosis between AAC and hypertension-related cerebral small vessel diseases is difficult and represent a true challenge for the clinician. We report two cases of cerebral small vessel diseases revealed by malignant hypertension.     

Dry eye signs and symptoms in aromatase inhibitor treatment and the relationship with pain

PurposeAromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception.MethodsThis cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated.ResultsAlmost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.