Diagnostic sensitivity of electrophysiology and ultrasonography in ulnar neuropathies of different severity

ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying clinical severity in 135 consecutive patients.MethodsClinical severity of ulnar neuropathy was graded on a 4 point scale from very mild (symptoms only) to severe (marked atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles). Sensitivity and localization ability of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound were assessed for each point of the scale.ResultsUltrasound had higher sensitivity than electrophysiology in clinically very mild (20% and 3% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) and mild (62% and 47% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) neuropathies, had greater localizing ability in axonal ulnar neuropathies, and identified nerve hypermobility.Ultrasound nerve cross-sectional area had strong positive correlation with both clinical and electrophysiological severity scores, but with significant overlap across the severity groups.ConclusionThe diagnostic work-up of ulnar neuropathies was improved by using both electrophysiology and ultrasound at all levels of clinical severity. Ultrasound increased the diagnostic yield in very mild and mild neuropathies, localized all the ulnar neuropathies with abnormal non-localizing electrophysiology and identified nerve hypermobility.SignificanceThis is the first detailed analysis of the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying severity.     

Ligustrazine inhibits high voltage-gated Ca~(2+) and TTX-resistant Na~+ channels of primary sensory neuron and thermal nociception in the rat:a study on peripheral mechanism

Objective Ligustrazine, also named as tetramethylpyrazine, is a compound purified from Ligusticum chuanxiong hort and has ever been testified to be a calcium antagonist. The present investigation was to determine the antinoci-ceptive effect of ligustrazine and, if any, the peripheral ionic mechanism involved. Methods Paw withdrawal Latency ( PWL) to noxious heating was measured in vivo and whole-cell patch recording was performed on small dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Results Intraplantar injection of ligustrazine (0.5 mg in 25μl) significantly prolonged the withdrawal latency of ipsilateral hindpaw to noxious heating in the rat. Ligustrazine not only reversibly inhibited high-voltage gated calcium current of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron in dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 1.89 mmol/L, but also decreased tetrodotoxin (TTX) -resistant sodium current in relatively selective and dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 2.49 mmol/L. Conclusion The results suggested that ligustrazine could elevate the threshold of thermal nociception through inhibiting the high-voltage gated calcium current and TTX-resistant sodium current of DRG neuron in the rat.     

环化酶激活剂对大鼠感觉神经元保护作用的实验研究

目的探讨环化酶激活剂（前列腺素E1、腺苷及Zn^2＋离子）对周围神经损伤后感觉神经元的保护作用.方法在大鼠坐骨神经夹毁模型术后21 d,取背根节用图像分析法观测前列腺素E1（PGE1）、腺苷（Ade）和高Zn^2＋饲料（Zn^2＋）对背根节细胞数、核偏心率及核等圆径的影响,并与人胎盘神经生长因子（hNGF）的作用相比较.结果NGF及环化酶激活剂组与夹毁对照组相比都能增进背根节细胞的存活和减轻核偏移（P＜0.05）;NGF组和高Zn^2＋饲料组在背根节细胞存活数、核偏心率及核等圆径方面与假手术组无差别（P＞0.05）.结论PEG1、Ade及Zn^2＋离子等环化酶激活剂对DRG神经元均有保护作用,其中Zn^2＋离子的保护效应与NGF无差别.     

大鼠骶髂关节传入神经通路的实验研究

目的:通过逆行神经追踪法研究大鼠骶髂关节的传入神经通路。方法:30只雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠随机分成非交感神经切除组(A组)和交感神经切除组(B组),每组15只,交感神经切除组切除左侧L1以下椎旁交感干。两组左侧骶髂关节注入30%的辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)20μl,72h后取出双侧的L1-S1背根神经节(DRG),TMB法染色后在光学显微镜下观察HRP阳性神经元细胞并计数。结果:两组左侧L1、L2背根神经节内HRP阳性神经元差异有显著性意义(P<0·05),B组HRP阳性神经元明显减少;左侧L3-S1背根神经节内HRP阳性神经元差异无显著性意义(P>0·05)。结论:L1-S1神经节含有支配同侧骶髂关节的传入神经元,同侧椎旁交感干可能是骶髂关节到L1-L2神经节重要的传入神经旁路,而不是到L3-L5神经节的传入旁路或重要的传入旁路。     

肱骨内上髁骨折致尺神经卡压1例

患者,男,17岁,因右肘肿痛,活动受限30min于2005年6月15日来我院就诊。患者于30min前与同学扳手腕时突感右肘内侧疼痛难忍,逐渐肿胀,活动受限,右手各指无麻木。查体:右肘内侧肿胀明显,压痛,可触及骨擦感,右肘伸屈活动及前臂旋转活动受限,右手各指活动良好,感觉正常。X线片示右肱     

人胚雪旺细胞组织工程神经修复坐骨神经缺损的实验研究

目的：探索人胚雪旺细胞作为组织工程的种子细胞修复周围神经缺损的可行性。方法：通过组织工程方法用PLGA导管和polyglactin 910纤维负载人胚雪旺细胞预先构置好人工神经，然后用于修复大鼠20mm的坐骨神经缺损，并与神经切断后原位缝合以及用单纯的PLGA导管进行修复的实验组进行对照。通过活体肢体功能观察、靶器官肌肉测量、电生理检测、辣根过氧化物酶示踪、连续组织切片图像分析以及透射电镜等检查神经再生情况。结果：人工神经修复组神经再生良好，效果接近于神经原位缝合组，明显优于单纯的PLGA导管修复组。结论：人胚雪旺细胞构建的人工神经可以修复20mm的周围神经缺损。     

神经电生理对腓总神经卡压的诊断价值

目的 观察神经电生理检测对腓总神经卡压的诊断价值。方法 对腓总神经卡压的临床特征及病因进行分析，并作神经传导速度和肌电图检测和分析。结果 21条患病神经中1条神经波形消失。其余有不同程度的传导速度减慢，尤其是跨腓骨小头段，波幅降低，传导时间延长，42块腓总神经支配的肌肉中有30块出现失神经电位。结论 神经电生理检查在腓总神经卡压的诊断中有重要意义。     

超短波对大鼠坐骨神经损伤后脊髓内GAP-43和CGRP表达的影响

目的探讨超短波对坐骨神经损伤后大鼠脊髓中GAP-43和CGRP表达的影响。方法60只成年雌性SD大鼠制成右侧坐骨神经钳夹损伤模型，随机分为超短波治疗组和非治疗对照组。免疫荧光方法观察术后1周、2周、4周、8周和12周不同时间点两组大鼠脊髓中GAP-43和CGRP表达的动态变化规律。结果大鼠坐骨神经损伤后脊髓内GAP-43和CGRPmRNA表达增强。术后1、2、4和8周超短波治疗组的变化与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05），且GAP-43的表达在时间上早于对照组。结论超短波在早期能够明显增加GAP-43和CGRP的表达量，提示早期应用超短波治疗能够促进周围神经的     

颈椎后纵韧带骨化症后路术后C5神经根麻痹

目的：探讨颈椎后纵韧带骨化症（OPLL）术后C5神经根麻痹的临床特点、治疗及预后。方法：2000年3月至2005年1月．采用后路减压手术治疗OPLL患者157例．其中9例术后卅现C5神经根麻痹。回顾性分析9例患者的临床资料，所有患者术后均进行功能康复训练，其中5例患者给予高压氧辅助治疗，随访观察预后情况。结果：本组C5神经根麻痹的发生率为5．7％．包括单开门椎管成形术2例、全椎板切除减压术7例。其临床表现为三角肌、肱二头肌肌力下降至1～2级，肩部及上臂外侧感觉障碍，肱二头肌腱反射减弱或消失。随访1～4年，9例患者的肌力均恢复至3～4级，7例感觉恢复正常。结论：C5神经根麻痹是颈椎后路手术治疗OPLL的并发症之一，经过功能康复训练等保守治疗后肌力、感觉均可获得一定恢复。