Sources of Variability in the Detection of Cerebral Emboli with Transcranial Doppler During Cardiac Surgery

OBJECTIVE: The application of intensity thresholds for embolus detection with transcranial Doppler (TCD) can exclude from analysis an unrecognized proportion of high-intensity transient signals (HITS))whose intensities are below the threshold. The lack of consistent threshold criteria between clinical trials may explain part of the discrepancy in the reported HITS counts. We investigated the effect of choosing different thresholds on the sensitivity and specificity of detecting HITS during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Two observers independently analyzed TCD recordings from 8 patients under CPB. Doppler signals were classified as true HITS, equivocal HITS, artifacts, and Doppler speckles according to preestablished criteria. The relative intensity of Doppler signals was measured by two different methods (TCD software vs manual). Receiver Operating Characteristic curves determined the optimal threshold for each of the two intensity methods. RESULTS: Reviewers achieved agreement in 96% of 2190 Doppler signals (kappa = 0.90). Relative intensities calculated with the TCD-software method were 3 dB (95% CI: 3.0-3.4) higher than the manual method. The optimal threshold was found at 10 dB (sensitivity: 99%; specificity: 90.8%) with the software method and at 7 dB with the manual method (sensitivity: 96%; specificity: 83%). The use of an intensity threshold 2 dB higher than the optimal increased the rejection of true HITS by 8% and 14%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using intensity thresholds higher than the optimal for embolus detection decreases HITS counts. Choosing a threshold depends on the type of method used for measuring the signal intensity. Uniform threshold criteria and comparative studies between different Doppler devices are necessary for making clinical trials more comparable.     

创伤性休克的液体超负荷分析

目的 探讨创伤性休克患者发生液体超负荷的原因和治疗方法。方法 总结存活时间超过24h的286例创伤性休克患者，对休克纠正后出现全身性水肿患者进行分析，比较存活与死亡患者在伤后第1～8天的液体出入量。结果 286例创伤性休克患者中，出现水肿者262例（91．6％），存活232例（88．5％），死亡30例（11．5％）。死亡组的液体入量明显多于存活组（P〈0．05），液体出量则显著少于存活组（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。存活组在伤后第4、5天出现液体负平衡即液体出量大于液体入量600～700mL（P〈0．05），而死亡组未出现液体负平衡现象。结论 创伤性休克的抢救过程中容易造成液体超负荷，液体出量增加甚至出现液体负平衡现象，预示着病情好转，此时只要生命体征稳定即可，不宜过分强调出入量平衡而大量补充液体。     

Observations on the efficacy of combined acupuncture and medicine in Treating 50 cases of pseudobulbar paralysis

目的：观察针药结合治疗假性延髓麻痹的疗效。方法：采用完全随机抽样法分为针刺组50例，对照组48例。针刺组在西医治疗的同时，应用针刺进行综合治疗；对照组单纯接受西医药物治疗。结果：针刺组有效率为92．0％，对照组为62．5％。两组疗效差异具有非常显著性意义（P〈0．01）。结论：针药结合治疗假性延髓麻痹效果明显优于单纯西药治疗。     

脑膜癌病的临床与病理特点

目的探讨脑膜癌病的临床与病理特点。方法回顾性分析142例脑膜癌病患者的临床及脑脊液(CSF)细胞学资料和免疫细胞化学标记结果。结果本组患者临床特点:头痛123例(86.62%),头晕19例(13.38%),发热26例(18.31%),视物模糊10例(7.04%)。CSF检查及免疫标记:全部患者CSF中均发现癌细胞;癌细胞上皮膜抗原(EMA)( ),细胞角蛋白(CK)( ),CD14(-),胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)(-)。其中99例(69.72%)CK低分子( )、高分子(-),诊断为转移性腺癌;33例(23.24%)CK高分子( )、CK低分子(-),诊断为转移性鳞癌;10例(7.04%)CK高分子( )、CK低分子( ),考虑为腺鳞癌。105例找到原发灶,其中67例(47.18%)确诊为肺癌;23例(16.20%)在消化道内找到原发灶;9例(6.34%)为乳腺癌;子宫内膜癌、卵巢癌、肝癌各1例。另有37例(26.06%)未找到原发灶。诊断明确的患者中,15例失访,另90例中有82例(91.11%)于确诊后3～14个月死亡。未找到原发灶的患者中,有6例失访,另31例中有28例(90.32%)在确诊后2～13个月内死亡。结论脑膜癌病患者以头痛、头晕为主要临床表现,并可伴有发热及视物模糊。CSF细胞学检查是诊断脑膜癌病的主要依据,通过免疫细胞化学的方法,可以确定转移癌细胞。脑膜癌病患者预后较差。     

Poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin play an active role in the recovery of spinal cord injury

Objective To investigate the role of poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin in promoting the functional recovery of the injured spinal cord. Methods Poly-lactic acid ( PLA) or agarose was embedded in the space between two stumps of the hemisectioned spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry was used to show astroglia proliferation and the infiltration of RhoA-positive cells. Locomotor activity recovery was evaluated by testing the function of hindlimbs. Results Astrogli-as and RhoA labeled non-neuronal cells accumulated in the area adjacent to the implant, while the number of RhoA-positive cells was decreased dramatically in the absence of implant. Animals implanted with agarose gelatin recovered more quickly than those with PLA, concomitant with a higher survival rate of the neurons. Conclusion Both PLA and agarose gelatin benefited the recovery of spinal cord after injury by providing a scaffold for astroglia processes. Modulation of the rigidity, pore size and inner structure of PLA and agarose gelatin might make these biodegradable materials more effective in the regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS).     

进展性卒中与脑动脉狭窄的脑血管造影研究

目的探讨进展性脑梗死的影像学特点及与脑动脉狭窄之间的相关性。方法选择我院29例进展性脑梗死患者并与同期收治的31例完全性脑梗死患者比较,所有患者均行头颅MRI (或头颅CT)及脑血管造影检查(DSA检查),分析进展性脑梗死的影像特点及其与脑动脉狭窄的相关性。结果进展性脑梗死组分水岭脑硬死或侧脑室体旁梗死发生率72．4％(21／29)及脑动脉狭窄发生率75．86%(22／29)均明显高于完全性脑梗死组22．6％(7／31),35．48％(11／31)。进展性脑梗死组中重度狭窄发生率为55．17％(16／29),高于完全性脑硬死组的12．90%(4／31)。溃疡性斑块发生率在进展性脑梗死组48．28%(14／29)高于完全性脑梗死组16．13％(5／31)。结论中重度脑动脉狭窄及溃疡是进展性卒中的重要危险因素,应早期检查及处理脑动态狭窄以防止病情进展。     

后路半椎体切除矫治半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形

[目的]评价后路半椎体切除术治疗半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形的临床效果。[方法]2000年5月~2005年11月,采用后路半椎体切除及矫形固定融合术治疗14例完全分节半椎体所致脊柱侧后凸畸形患者。年龄2.5~14.4岁,平均7.4岁,半椎体均为侧后方半椎体,其中胸椎7例,腰椎7例。[结果]手术时间2~7 h,平均4.7h,术中出血量150~2 500 m l,平均560 m。l固定节段2~8个椎体,平均3.5。术后随访6~36个月。平均15.6个月。术后站立位脊柱正侧位X线片示冠状面Cobb's角由术前46.2°矫正到17.3°,平均矫正率62.6%,矢状面Cobb's角由术前48.3°矫正至术后16.2°,平均矫正率68.7%。终末随访时冠状面Cobb's角平均21.7°,丢失4.4°,矢状面Cobb's角平均18.7°,丢失2.5°。围手术期并发症包括:伤口愈合不良2例,术中术后椎弓根螺钉切割椎体2例。[结论]后路半椎体切除可直接去除致畸因素,在冠状面及矢状面均获得良好的矫形效果,与前后路手术相比可缩短手术时间,减少创伤,适用于从胸段到腰段的半椎体畸形。     

中青年脑梗死68例临床分析

脑梗死多见于老年人，但近年来中青年（16-45岁）患者逐渐增多且有年轻化趋势，深人探讨中青年脑梗死的致病因素及临床表现对其防治有重要意义。本文回顾性分析了我院自1998年1月到2004年12月问收治的中青年脑梗死患者68例，现报告如下。     

Co-localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, γ-aminobutyric acid and choline acetyltransferase in neocortical interneurons of the adult rat

Interneurons immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are integral elements of columnar organization patterns in the rat cerebral cortex. By application of the sensitive mirror technique, the co-localization of VIP with the classical inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), was investigated in neocortical neurons. Furthermore, the frequency of co-localization of ChAT with GABA was determined. In a sample of 118 VIP-immunoreactive neurons, mostly from the primary somatosensory cortex, it was demonstrated that virtually all of them reveal immunoreactivity for GABA and, therefore, are to be GABAergic. Moreover, 34% of mostly bipolar, VIP-positive neurons contained ChAT and are, thus, supposedly cholinergic as well. Co-localization of VIP and ChAT varied according to cortical laminae. Finally, 88% of a total of 60 ChAT-immunoreactive neurons were also immunostained for GABA. It is concluded that almost all VIP-immunoreactive neurons and most of the cholinergic neurons in rat neocortex represent partly overlapping subpopulations of inhibitory interneurons utilizing GABA.     

Spinal epidural hematoma. Report of a case and review of the literature

We report the case of a thoracic epidural hematoma at the T7-T9 level which occurred after placement of spinal epidural catheter for continuous anaesthesia in acute pancreatitis. The male patient felt a sudden back pain after six days of successful analgesia and became paraplegic 24 hours afterwards. An emergency laminectomy and removal of the hematoma were performed; however, the patient recovered only incompletely.We discuss the clinical signs and symptoms of spinal epidural hematoma as well as its diagnostics and therapy. The controversial views from the literature concernings its etiology are critically reviewed.