Central Nervous System Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis Presenting with Parkinsonism

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) is a potentially malignant lymphoproliferative disorder. The lung is the most common involved site, followed by the skin and nervous system. However, LG of the central nervous system presenting with Parkinsonism is very rare. We report a patient with LG who presented with parkinsonian features such as bilateral rigidity, bradykinesia, and agitation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multifocal punctuate enhanced lesions in both supra- and infratentorial areas. Steroid pulse therapy resulted in a dramatical improvement in the symptoms and MRI abnormalities.     

不同类型正常乳腺表观扩散系数值差异的研究

目的 研究不同类型正常乳腺表观扩散系数（ADC）值的差异，探讨ADC值与组织学分型之间的关系。方法 采用单次激发平面回波（EPI）技术，扩散敏感因子（b）值分别为0、500、1000s／mm^2，对62个正常乳腺（包括42例乳腺病变患者的对侧正常乳腺及10名健康志愿者20个乳腺）进行MR扫描及MR扩散加权成像（DWI）检查，计算62个正常乳腺分别在不同b值时的ADC值。将62个正常乳腺分为3型，比较3型之间ADC值的差异及不同b值时ADC值的差异。结果 42例乳腺病变患者对侧正常乳腺的DWI及ADC图与组织切片对比，不同类型乳腺组织学结构不同，其DWI及ADC图表现亦有差异。62个正常乳腺分为致密型10个，分叶斑点型42个及退化型10个。致密型和分叶斑点型乳腺随b值降低ADC值升高，而退化型乳腺随b值降低ADC值变化不明显。b=1000—0s／mm^2时，致密型、分叶斑点型、退化型乳腺ADC值分别为（1．70±0．37）、（1．93±0．46）、（1．18±0．65）×10^-3mm^2／s，3组间比较差异有统计学意义（F=12．998，P=0．000）。不同b值时每2种类型间进行单因素方差分析，致密型和分叶斑点型之间差异无统计学意义（F=2．167，P=0．147）；致密型和退化型之间、分叶斑点型和退化型之间差异均有统计学意义（F值分别为5．593、19．128，P值分别为0．029、0．000）。结论 3型正常乳腺ADC值受乳腺组织学结构的影响，致密型和分叶斑点型乳腺ADC值受b值高低的影响。     

散发型Creutzfeldt-Jakob病的MRI表现

目的探讨散发型Creutzfeldt-Jakob病（sCJD）的MR特点。方法回顾性分析3例临床诊断为sCJD的患者资料，MR采用SE T1 WI、快速自旋回波（FSE）T2 WI、扩散加权成像（DWI）扫描，观察其MR表现特征。结果3例SE TI WI和FSE T2 WI序列对基底节区和皮质的病变显示不佳，DWI则可清晰地显示病变，额、顶、枕叶皮质最常受累，表现为高信号，病变可对称，也可不对称，皮层下区脑白质信号未见异常。双侧尾状核、丘脑也可受累，DWI上呈高信号。晚期脑实质广泛萎缩，以皮质为著。结论sCJD采用DWI序列结合其特征性的临床表现可作出较为准确的诊断。     

ENDOSCOPY ASSISTED REMOVAL OF FERROMAGNETIC COINS WITH NOVEL MAGNETIC INSTRUMENT

Background: Ingestion of coins is a common clinical problem in children. Many of the coins are ferromagnetic and can be retrieved with the help of a magnet. We describe the use of a novel endoscopic accessory for removing ferromagnetic coins. Material and methods: Two magnet discs of 1.5 cm diameter were joined to a 200 cm steel wire of 0.75 mm thickness with a terminal 5 cm spring. A Teflon tube (160 cm, 7 F) was used along with this instrument as a sleeve. The use of this accessory was analyzed prospectively in subjects presenting with a history of coin ingestion. The time taken for removal of coins, complications during the procedure and failure rate was noted. Effect of the magnet on cardiac rhythm was also noted during the procedure. Results: A total of 55 children (mean age 5.1 ± 2.3 years) with coin ingestion presented over a period of 1 year. Forty‐four coins were ferromagnetic. All ferromagnetic coins were removed successfully. Mean time for removal was 68 ± 22 s. No complications were encountered. Conclusion: The novel magnetic instrument is precise, safe and quick for the removal of ferromagnetic coins under direct vision.     

Impaired modulation of motor cortex excitability by homonymous and heteronymous muscle afferents in focal hand dystonia.

A decrease of heteronymous median nerve-evoked inhibition of corticospinal projections to forearm extensor muscles was reported in a group of 10 dystonic patients by Bertolasi and colleagues in 2003. Here we tested the excitability of corticomotoneuronal connections to both wrist extensor (ECR) and flexor (FCR) muscles after conditioning stimulation of median and also radial nerve at rest in a group of 25 patients with focal hand dystonia compared to 20 healthy subjects. We also investigated the effect of the wrist dystonic posture, either in flexion or in extension, on the afferent modulation of ECR and FCR motor evolved potentials (MEPs). The heteronymous (median-induced) but also homonymous (radial-induced) inhibitions (interstimuli intervals 13-21 ms) of ECR MEP size observed in healthy subjects were decreased in patients. In addition, homonymous (median-induced) facilitation of FCR MEP size was also decreased in patients while heteronymous inhibition (radial-induced) was not. Neither the involvement of the target muscle in the dystonic posture nor the origin of the afferent volley (from a dystonic muscle) influenced the degree of impairment of afferent modulation of the MEP. These findings support the view that a global abnormal somatosensory coupling in focal hand dystonia may contribute to an inadequate motor command to wrist muscles.     

Mechanism of uptake and retention of F-18 BMS-747 158-02 in cardiomyocytes: a novel PET myocardial imaging agent

Background BMS-747158-02 is a novel fluorine 18-labeled pyridazinone derivative designed for cardiac imaging. The uptake and retention mechanisms of F-18 BMS-747158-02 in cardiac myocytes were studied in vitro, and the biodistribution of F-18 BMS-747158-02 was studied in vivo in mice. Methods and Results Fluorine 19 BMS-747158-01 inhibited mitochondrial complex I (MC-I) in bovine heart submitochondrial particles with an IC₅₀ of 16.6±3 nmol/L that was comparable to the reference inhibitors of MC-1, rotenone, pyridaben, and deguelin (IC₅₀ of 18.2±6.7 nmol/L, 19.8±2.6 nmol/L, and 23.1±1.5 nmol/L, respectively). F-18 BMS-747158-02 had high uptake in monolayers of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (10.3%±0.7% of incubated drug at 60 minutes) that was inhibited by 200 nmol/L of rotenone (91%±2%) and deguelin (89%±3%). In contrast, an inactive pyridaben analog, P-0 (IC₅₀ value>4 μmol/L in MC-1 assay), did not inhibit the binding of F-18 BMS-747158-02 in cardiomyocytes. Uptake and washout kinetics for F-18 BMS-747158-02 in rat cardiomyocytes indicated that the time to half-maximal (t_1/2) uptake was very rapid (approximately 35 seconds), and washout t_1/2 for efflux of F-18 BMS-747158-02 was greater than 120 minutes. In vivo biodistribution studies in mice showed that F-18 BMS-747158-02 had substatial myocardial uptake (9.5%±0.5% of injected dose per gram) at 60 minutes and heart-to-lung and heart-to-liver ratios of 14.1±2.5 and 8.3±0.5, respectively. Positron emission tomography imaging in the mouse allowed clear cardiac visualization and demonstrated sustained myocardial uptake through 55 minutes. Conclusions F-18 BMS-747158-02 is a novel positron emission tomography cardiac tracer targeting MC-I in cardiomyocytes with rapid uptake and slow washout. These characteristics allow fast and sustained accumulation in the heart.     

Cryoscopy: a novel enhancing method of in vivo skin imaging

BACKGROUND: It is a common observation that superficial freezing of normal skin and skin tumors may create a transient superficial whitening effect. In this respect, cryoscopy refers to the direct observation by dermoscopy, with or without digital recording, of the visual alterations of the frozen tissues. AIMS: To define the optimal method of cryoscopy and to describe the cryoscopy patterns of normal skin and selected skin lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The influence of (a) different cryogenic sources [solid carbon dioxide (-78.5 degrees C), liquid nitrogen (N(2), -196 degrees C), and a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane (-57 degrees C)], (b) various application methods (spraying, cotton chill tips, copper plate), and (c) freezing time was assessed with regard to clinical feasability, visualization quality, and persistance time of the whitening effect. Cryoscopy patterns of normal skin, callosities and of histologically proven seborrheic keratoses, verrucous hamartomas, molluscum contagiosum, keratoacanthomas, viral warts, condylomas, actinic keratoses, dermatofibromas, skin tags, basal cell carcinomas, angiomas, and melanocytic naevi were assessed. RESULTS: The cryoscopy images of skin highlighted the skin lines. They appeared similar regardless of the freezing source and the application method. The aspects differed according to the nature of the lesions. The cotton chill tip method provided a longer whitening period compared with the other cold sources, both in normal and lesional skin. Hence, it represented the most convenient way for performing digital recording cryoscopy. On normal skin, cryoapplication was limited to about 1.5 s due to pain, resulting in whitening times ranging from 6 to 9 s, which was too short for easy digital recording. On all studied skin tumors, a 10-s N(2) freezing time was not experienced as painful, and blanching time persisted for 20-34 s, allowing easy digital recording. The whitening time was longer with increasing freezing time on both normal and lesional skin. Every single examined normal skin site and all the skin lesions showed a strong whitening effect, except heavily cornified structures, including some keratoses, callosities, and viral warts. Increased contrast of the skin surface texture was observed in almost every studied lesion. CONCLUSION: The N(2) cotton chill tip technique appeared to be the most convenient technique for cryoscopy and provided longer whitening periods compared with the other freezing sources. Pain prevented its use on normal skin, but a series of exophytic skin lesions was conveniently accessible to cryoscopy. The differences in whitening periods of various epidermal components resulted in increased visual contrast, creating typical cryoscopy images for the different exophytic skin tumors. Cryoscopy represents a novel in vivo skin imaging technique that is rapid, non-invasive, cost-effective, and easily performed. It shows both investigative and diagnostic potentials. It is remarkable that cryoscopy pictures closely resemble those yielded by skin capacitance imaging.     

应用MRCP对63例肝移植术后胆道并发症的临床分析

目的评价MRCP在诊断原位肝移植术后胆道并发症中的临床应用价值。方法分析63例肝移植术后怀疑有胆道并发症患者的MRCP图像,并与手术、胆道造影、临床随访证实结果进行对照。所有病例均在高场强1.5T磁共振上进行。MRCP采用两种不同的成像方法:厚层块T2加权成像和薄层块多层T2加权成像。结果MRCP诊断移植术后胆道并发症的敏感性为95.3%(41/43),阳性预测值97.6(41/42),假阴性率为4.54%(2/44),假阳性率为2.27%(1/44)。总诊断准确率为95.2%(60/63)。MRCP作为唯一的诊断方法能为96.8%(61/63)的患者提供特异性诊断结果,仅2例患者需要ERCP和PTHC检查3.2%(2/63)。直接胆道造影作为一项治疗手段应用于22.2%(14/63)的患者中。结论MRCP是评价肝移植术后胆道并发症的有效影像学方法。     

螺旋CT和MRI诊断肝内胆管细胞癌的价值

目的:探讨螺旋CT和MRI诊断肝内胆管细胞癌的价值。材料和方法:回顾性分析经病理证实的18例肝内胆管细胞癌CT平扫和三期增强扫描,9例MRI平扫和动态增强扫描。结果:CT平扫13个病灶呈低密度,2个病灶呈高密度,4个病灶未能显示,病变检出敏感性为78.9%;CT增强扫描动脉期10个病灶表现呈周边薄环状增强,3个病灶呈高密度,4个病灶无增强呈等密度,2个病灶未能检出,病变检出敏感性为89.4%:门脉期11个病灶呈厚环状增强,4个病灶呈等密度,3个病灶均匀增强,呈高密度,1个肿块未见显示,病变检出敏感性为94.7%;延迟期7个病灶呈不定形轻度增强,呈低密度,4个病灶呈等密度,8个病灶明显增强,呈高密度,病变敏感性为100%。9个病灶MR平扫T1WI呈低信号,T2WI呈高或略高信号,病变检出敏感性为100%动态增强扫描6个病灶表现为缓慢增强型:3个病灶表现为快速增强型:病变检出敏感性为100%。结论:肝内胆管细胞癌螺旋CT三期增强扫描及MR动态增强扫描均具有一定的特异性,对于肝内与其它常见病变的鉴别诊断均有重要价值。