Selective peripheral neurotomy (SPN) for spasticity in childhood

Overview Excess spasticity leads to disability that is marked by impaired locomotion, handicapping deformities and, if not controlled, discomfort and pain. Selective peripheral neurotomy in the child is indicated for severe focal spasticity, when botulinum toxin injections cannot delay surgery any longer. Materials and methods Preoperative motor blocks mimicking the outcome of the surgical procedure are essential to establish the objectives of neurotomy. In the lower limb, obturator neurotomy is indicated for spasticity in the adductor muscles, hamstring neurotomy for the knee flexion and tibial neurotomy for the spastic foot. Anterior tibial neurotomy is indicated for the extensor hallucis spasticity and femoral neurotomy for spasticity in the quadriceps. In the upper limb, neurotomy of the pectoralis major and teres major nerves is indicated for spasticity of the internal rotators of the shoulder. Neurotomy of the musculocutaneous nerve is indicated for spasticity of the flexors of the elbow, and neurotomy of median and ulnar nerves are indicated for spasticity of the pronators and flexors of the wrist and fingers. Conclusion Selective peripheral neurotomy is a valuable neurosurgical procedure in well-trained surgical hands for severe focalised spasticity.     

腹泻型、便秘型肠易激综合征和功能性便秘患者的直肠肛管测压比较

目的研究腹泻型、便秘型IBS和功能性便秘患者直肠肛管测压参数的不同，并评价性别和年龄对各项参数的影响，方法腹泻型IBS(n=18)、便秘型IBS(n=14)、功能性便秘(n=30)和健康对照组(n=18)，通过定点牵拉法进行直肠肛管测压。结果腹泻型IBS、便秘型IBS、功能性便秘以及健康对照组直肠肛管测压各项压力参数基本无差异，但三组患者的诱发RAIR所需的最小气体容量均显著高于健康对照组，便秘型IBS和功能性便秘模拟排便时发生矛盾运动的百分比显著高于腹泻型IBS和健康对照组；便秘型IBS和功能性便秘组中，肛管上部和下部最大紧缩压力，以及模拟排便发生矛盾运动的百分比男性均高于女性；腹泻型IBS组内男性模拟排便发生矛盾运动的百分比高于女性；健康对照组内男性肛管下部静息压力和最大紧缩压力高于女性；各组20-50岁人群和50-80岁人群的各项压力参数无显著性差异，但功能性便秘组青年组诱发RAIR所需的最小气体容量低于老年组。结论腹泻型IBS、便秘型IBS和功能性便秘患者的直肠肛管测压各项压力参数无助于这三型功能性肠病的鉴别诊断。男性的直肠肛管测压的多项压力参数显著高于女性，男性更易出现模拟排便矛盾运动，年龄对直肠肛管测压各项参数无明显影响。     

蛇毒Ⅱ类磷脂酶A2功能分化的分析研究

目的：研究蛇毒Ⅱ类磷脂酶A2(PLA2)中D49 PLA2和K49 PLA2的功能分化及其功能分化决定位点的鉴定。方法：运用序列比较分析，进化树构建和DIVERGE v1．04软件计算研究D49 PLA2和K49 PLA2的功能分化情况及其分化位点。结果：序列比较分析，进化树构建和DIVERGE v1．04软件计算结果表明蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2中D49 PLA2和K49 PLA2的确发生了功能分化，对于K49 PLA2来说，1S，7K，11Q，E12，R34，T56，N88，L92，E108，K116，K128可能为功能分化决定位点。对于D49 PLA2，L2，G33，G35，F46和Y118可能为功能分化决定位点。结论：我们首次通过序列比较分析，进化树构建和DIVERGE v1．04软件计算鉴定出蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2中D49 PLA2和K49 PLA2可能的功能分化位点，为今后通过基因重组和定点突变方法研究蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2结构功能关系提供了线索。     

带状灰质异位的磁共振弥散张量白质束成像研究

目的采用磁共振弥散张量白质束成像技术,观察带状灰质异位脑白质异常分布情况,探讨异位灰质的神经病理机制以及弥散张量白质束成像技术的应用价值。方法采用磁共振弥散张量白质束成像技术,对1例癫痫症状的带状灰质异位患者进行白质束描绘,观察其不同灰、白质的分布情况,并和1例正常人进行对比研究。结果弥散张量白质束成像技术很好地描绘了白质束结构。整体观察发现带状灰质异位患者脑白质整体结构紊乱,与正常人相比其联络弓状纤维稀疏、大部缺失,胼胝体纤维稀疏不整;局部分析发现内层灰质为主要的白质纤维发出处,而外层灰质仅发出细碎短小的纤维。结论对于带状灰质异位,异位的内层灰质不仅具有神经生理功能,并且可能起着主要作用,外层"正常"的灰质由于脑结构紊乱而丧失主要功能地位;灰质结构的紊乱导致白质纤维结构的缺失;弥散张量白质束成像技术可以很好地应用于带状灰质异位的神经机制研究。     

左心室造影功能成像的临床应用

为探讨左心室造影功能成像的价值与限度，我们选择冠脉及左心室造影者38例行左室功能成像，观察左室壁运动情况并与节段法室壁运动定量分析比较。结果示左室收缩正常18例，其各节段EF值平均39％，节段性收缩减弱7例，无收缩3例，矛盾收缩4例，普遍性收缩减弱6例，病变节段的EF值平均5～19％，明显低于正常者（P＜0．01）。结论：左室功能成像效果直观且客观，可作为室壁运动定量分析的一个重要补充。     

Isolated tricuspid valve stenosis caused by infective endocarditis in an adult: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 42-year-old man in whom dyspnea on exertion was found to be caused by isolated tricuspid stenosis. Two-dimensional echocardiogram showed thickening of the tricuspid valve with a markedly enlarged right atrium. A color-flow Doppler examination-revealed severe tricuspid stenosis without regurgitation and a Doppler-derived tricuspid diastolic pressure gradient of 23 mmHg. At the time of surgery, the patient was noted to have a stenotic tricuspid valve with thickened leaflets, fused commissures, and almost normal chorda tendineae. The valve leaflets were teased apart to the scattered specimen, and tricuspid valve replacement was successfully performed. Microscopic examination of the specimen demonstrated infective endocarditis. Isolated acquired tricuspid stenosis is extremely rare and, to our knowledge, this is the first case of infective endocarditis being involved as the primary cause.     

Contrast agents in functional MR imaging

Contrast agents have greatly expanded the role of MR imaging (MRI) to allow assessment of physiologic, or “functional,” parameters. Although activation mapping generally does not require contrast agents, other forms of functional MRI, including mapping of cerebral hemodynamics (eg, perfusion imaging), are best done with the use of contrast agents. Serial echo planar images are obtained after bolus injection of lanthanide chelates. Application of susceptibility contrast physics and standard tracer kinetic principles permits generation of relative cerebral blood volume maps. Deconvolution of cerebral blood flow and mean transit time parameters is also possible within technical limitations. By using diffusion and perfusion pulse sequences, an imaging correlate to the ischemic penumbra can be identified. Functional MRI perfusion imaging of intraaxial tumors is analogous to positron emission tomography for delineation of metabolic activity, yet may be even more sensitive to neovascularity and possesses improved image quality. Clinical applications include biopsy site selection and postirradiation follow-up. Further improvements in data analysis and map generation techniques may improve diagnostic accuracy and utility.     

Factor analysis of bowel symptoms in US and Italian populations

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are diagnosed by the presence of a characteristic set of symptoms. Aims of this study were to validate the Rome symptom criteria by factor analysis and to determine whether symptoms cluster in the same way in different cultures. METHODS: One thousand forty-one gastroenterology clinic patients in the US (response rate 53%) and 228 family members accompanying clinic patients in Italy (84%) completed a previously validated symptom questionnaire. Factor analysis identified clusters of symptoms which are highly correlated with each other, and these were compared to the Rome diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: In the US, 13 factors were identified. The irritable bowel factor was composed of three core symptoms corresponding to the Rome II classification system. Two dyspepsia factors were identified which correspond to the ulcer- and motility-like subtypes proposed in the Rome I classification system. All symptoms of constipation formed a single cluster as proposed in the Rome II classification system. Symptom clusters in the US agreed well with symptom clusters identified in Italian subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Empirically derived symptom clusters agree in most respects with the Rome II classification system and support their validity. These symptom clusters are independent of cultural differences in diet and behaviour.     

替勃龙改善绝经期功能性消化不良症状

目的 :探讨替勃龙能否改善绝经期功能性消化不良患者临床症状及其相关机制。方法 :14 3例绝经期功能性消化不良患者随机分成 3组 ,分别给予替勃龙、西沙必利及替勃龙 +西沙必利 ,治疗 4周 ,观察治疗前后各组患者上腹胀痛、餐后胀满、早饱、暖气等临床症状积分的变化。在随机分成的 3组中再随机各抽出 2 0例患者治疗前后测定胃 30min排空率及胃半排空时间 ,观察治疗前后胃动力的变化。结果 :3组药物治疗后 2周和 4周上腹胀痛、餐后胀满症状积分均明显下降。西沙必利治疗后 2周和 4周对早饱、暖气症状无明显缓解 ,替勃龙及替勃龙 +西沙必利则对所观察的所有症状均有明显缓解 ,替勃龙改善早饱和嗳气症状优于西沙必利 ,但与西沙必利合用无增强效应。 3种药物治疗后 ,胃 30min排空率均明显增加、胃半排空时间缩短 ,与治疗前比较有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,但 3种治疗方案之间无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :替勃龙能通过增强胃动力 ,明显改善部分绝经期功能性消化不良患者的临床症状 ,疗效优于促动力药。