Excitation of locus coeruleus neurons by an adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-activated inward current: extracellular and intracellular studies in rat brain slices

The firing rate of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons in rat brain slices was increased reversibly by agents that either elevate intracellular levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) or mimic its actions (e.g., forskolin, and activator of adenylate cyclase, 8-Br-cAMP, a membrane permeable analog of cAMP, and Ro20-1724, a preferential inhibitor of cAMP-phosphodiesterase). Intracellular recordings showed that 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin induce a depolarization of LC neurons, accompanied by a decrease in input resistance. The 8-Br-cAMP- and forskolin-elicited depolarization persisted in the presence of cobalt, a calcium channel blocker. Steady-state current-voltage curves revealed that in the voltage range of -50 to -120 mV, 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin induced an inward current, which did not reverse at the potassium equilibrium potential and could not be blocked by tetrodotoxin. Partial replacement of sodium with Tris or choline markedly reduced the depolarization elicited by 8-Br-cAMP. We conclude that 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin act through a common mechanism to increase the firing rate of locus coeruleus neurons by inducing a cAMP-activated inward current, carried out at least in part by sodium ions.     

耳源性脑疝25例临床分析

耳源性脑疝25例,抢救成功者19例。采用单纯脑脓肿穿刺抽脓抢救脑疝6例,仅1例成功;开颅减压术抢救脑疝20例,18例抢救成功。本组临床实践和文献报道都说明耳源性脑疝一旦发生应即刻行开颅减压术,能卓有成效地抢救生命     

Hypothalamic hamartoma with bilateral anophthalmia

Introduction Hypothalamic hamartomas are congenital malformations. Clinically, they can be asymptomatic, but they cause seizures, mental retardation and precocious puberty in many cases. Case report A 20-day-old boy with hypothalamic hamartoma and bilateral anophthalmia was presented. Except those, no other congenital anomaly was detected. Conclusion This is a rare case of hypothalamic hamartoma with bilateral anophthalmia. The mutations at SOX2 has an important role in the developing brain and eyes.     

Spectra of central nervous system melioidosis

Burkholderia pseudomallei infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is rare with less than 50 cases reported over the last 30 years. The retrospective melioidosis study at University Malaya Medical Centre has documented three cases of CNS melioidosis out of more than 160 cases of melioidosis since 1978. There were two patients with brain abscess and one with spinal epidural abscess. The predisposing factors were: one patient was an aboriginal farmer and the other two were diabetic. Their age ranged from 17 to 45 years. Prominent neurological features were limb weakness, cranial nerve palsy (6th and 7th) and visual disturbance. CT brain scan and MRI spine showed abscess formation, subdural collection, and spinal epidural collection, osteomyelitis of vertebra and occipital bone and also sagital sinus thrombosis. All these patients underwent surgical drainage leading to bacteriological diagnosis as well as appropriate long-term antibiotic therapy. All had good recovery at 6 months after completion of treatment.     

额、枕部直接冲击导致中脑损伤的力学机制研究

目的分析额、枕部直接冲击造成中脑应力响应,探讨颅脑直接冲击导致脑干损伤的力学机制。方法构建头颅三维有限元模型,模拟计算额、枕部直接冲击损伤,分析中脑上、下交界面节点应力分布,总结中脑应力响应。结果中脑-间脑界面在冲击初始阶段,2ms即出现应力增高,中脑-桥脑界面应力升高开始于冲击后期(10ms),两交界面节点应力在冲击时程中均持续升高,额部冲击比枕部冲击在中-间脑界面造成的应力峰值高。结论中脑在颅脑直接冲击伤的致伤机制中占有突出地位,中脑的应力改变可解释脑震荡的意识障碍及部分原发脑干伤的临床表现。     

放射性脑损伤和脑肿瘤复发的鉴别诊断

放射性脑损伤是放射治疗的严重的并发症,其与脑肿瘤复发的鉴别诊断非常困难,目前主要依靠影像学诊断,核磁共振弥散加权像、磁共振波谱、正电子发射型计算机体层显像、单光子发射计算机体层显像等被认为对于鉴别诊断有一定的帮助,但其敏感性和特异性还有待于进一步研究。最终确诊依赖标本的组织学检查。     

动态增强MR灌注成像在脑胶质瘤诊断中的价值

目的　探讨动态增强T2 WMR灌注成像在脑胶质瘤术前分级预测及鉴别诊断中的价值。资料与方法　有病理或追踪结果的 4 8例脑病变患者 ,其中胶质瘤 2 5例 (高、低级别胶质瘤分别为 16例和 9例 ) ,非胶质瘤病变 2 3例。全部病例均行常规T1WI、T2 WI和EPI SE序列动态增强MR灌注成像。计算每个病灶的最大相对脑血容量 (rCBV)比值 (病灶最大rCBV/对侧正常脑白质rCBV)。分析胶质瘤的最大rCBV比值与其组织学级别的关系 ,并比较胶质瘤与非胶质瘤的灌注异常及常规MRI强化表现。结果　高级别胶质瘤 ( 16例 )的最大rCBV比值为4 .6 0± 1.98( 2 .5 5～ 9.2 2 ) ,低级别胶质瘤 ( 9例 )的最大rCBV比值为 1.86± 1.5 2 ( 0 .85～ 5 .72 ) ,经t检验 ,两组之间有显著统计学差异 (P <0 .0 1)。脑膜瘤、转移瘤、血管母细胞瘤、淋巴瘤均显示有局部高灌注 ,最大rCBV比值为5 .35± 2 .39( 3.15～ 12 .39) ,而有强化表现的脑梗死、脑炎性灶及放射性脑损伤表现为低、等灌注 ,最大rCBV比值为1.2 7± 0 .36 ( 0 .85～ 1.72 )。结论　MR灌注成像在胶质瘤的术前影像学分级预测上有重要价值 ,在脑胶质瘤的某些鉴别诊断上亦具有一定的参考价值     

Leptomeninges as a site of relapse in locally controlled,diffuse pontine glioma with review of literature

Case report Leptomeningeal involvement in diffuse intrinsic brain stem gliomas is rarely diagnosed clinically and in majority of the instances diagnosed only on postmortem examination. We report two cases of diffuse pontine glioma diagnosed clinicoradiologically and treated with conventional radiotherapy.Observations On follow-up, both patients showed clinical features suggestive of meningeal spread although imaging for pontine tumor showed stable disease. Leptomeningeal disease in the spine was confirmed on imaging and in one case by cerebrospinal fluid examination also. During the follow-up of patients with pontine glioma, the possibility of leptomeningeal involvement must be borne in mind.     

脑肿瘤干细胞体外分化过程中的回逆现象分析

目的探讨脑肿瘤干细胞（BTSCs）体外分化过程中的回逆现象，为研究其分化抑制机制奠定基础。方法利用CD133免疫磁珠筛选系统，从肿瘤组织中分离获得的CD133^＋细胞（BTSCs）分成4组进行培养：（1）含10％胎牛血清（FCS）；（2）10％FCS＋丙戊酸钠注射液（VPA）；（3）无FCS＋生长因子；（4）无FCS＋生长因子＋VPA。取不同时间点上的细胞，相差显微镜观察其形态变化：流式细胞术检测与分化相关的标志物、细胞周期和DNA倍体变化；利用免疫激光共聚焦分析与分化相关标志物的共表达情况。结果无FCS条件下培养的BTSCs呈悬浮球状生长，高表达CD133和巢蛋白（nestin），不表达胶质纤维酸性蛋白（GFAP）和β-微管蛋白Ⅲ（β-TubulinⅢ）。G0／G1期细胞占大多数，G2／M期细胞接近0％，DNA都是异倍体，对VPA反应不敏感。含FCS培养的原本悬浮的细胞约4h开始贴壁。均呈圆形。此后逐渐向多形性分化，至7d时分化的细胞部分又返回至圆形。至10d-21d时，有的还能重新恢复球形，并呈悬浮生长。培养3d、7d、10d和21d时，CD133、nestin阳性细胞数先降后升，GFAP^＋和β-TubulinⅢ^＋细胞数始终处于较低水平。含FCS培养液中加入VPA。细胞形态上未见上述的回逆现象，CD133和nestin表达的先降后升现象消失，GFAP和β-TubulinⅢ在第7天以后表达明显升高，但极大部分细胞共表达nestin。而神经干细胞（NSCs）在含FCS培养至10d时，即以GFAP和β-TubulinⅢ表达为主，未见CD133^＋细胞。此外，含血清培养时BTSCs仍以异倍体为主。含少量的G2／M期细胞，加VPA诱导后细胞周期和DNA倍体变化不明显。结论BTSCs在含血清条件下培养出现的多向分化表型不稳定，时有去分化所导致的回逆。加入诱导分化剂VPA培养，虽然能阻止回逆现象出现，并有代表星形胶质细胞和神经元标志物表达上升．但因其共表达nestin而仍属于未完全分化细胞，表明BTSCs分化始终处于受抑状态。