Functional magnetic resonance imaging based on changes in vascular space occupancy.

During brain activation, local control of oxygen delivery is facilitated through microvascular dilatation and constriction. A new functional MRI (fMRI) methodology is reported that is sensitive to these microvascular adjustments. This contrast is accomplished by eliminating the blood signal in a manner that is independent of blood oxygenation and flow. As a consequence, changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV) can be assessed through changes in the remaining extravascular water signal (i.e., that of parenchymal tissue) without need for exogenous contrast agents or any other invasive procedures. The feasibility of this vascular space occupancy (VASO)-dependent functional MRI (fMRI) approach is demonstrated for visual stimulation, breath-hold (hypercapnia), and hyperventilation (hypocapnia). During visual stimulation and breath-hold, the VASO signal shows an inverse correlation with the stimulus paradigm, consistent with local vasodilatation. This effect is reversed during hyperventilation. Comparison of the hemodynamic responses of VASO-fMRI, cerebral blood flow (CBF)-based fMRI, and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI indicates both arteriolar and venular temporal characteristics in VASO. The effect of changes in water exchange rate and partial volume contamination with CSF were calculated to be negligible. At the commonly-used fMRI resolution of 3.75 x 3.75 x 5 mm(3), the contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR) of VASO-fMRI was comparable to that of CBF-based fMRI, but a factor of 3 lower than for BOLD-fMRI. Arguments supporting a better gray matter localization for the VASO-fMRI approach compared to BOLD are provided.     

中心性浆液性脉络膜视网膜病变的PERG．PVEP

用自制的银氯化银钩形电极记录PERG,同步记录PVEP,对照组各波潜伏时,波幅与国外报告结果近似。中浆患眼40%P_m波下降,且与视力下降相关(r>r.05)。b波下降者仅15%,与视力不相关。两者反应的不同,提示PERG较少受外层视网膜病变的影响,能够直接反映内层视网膜的机能状态。但P_m波延迟者,b波多不延迟,未能证明视网膜内传导迟滞。     

Monkey hippocampal neuron responses to complex sensory stimulation during object discrimination.

The purpose of this study was to investigate, during the performance of an object discrimination task, responses of neurons in the monkey hippocampal formation to the sight of several objects that have biological meaning, and compare these responses with those of amygdalar neurons studied previously using the same task. Neuronal activity in the hippocampal formation of conscious monkeys was recorded during performance of a task that led to presentation of familiar rewarding, familiar aversive, or unfamiliar objects. Of 864 neurons recorded in the hippocampal formation and adjacent cortices, 160 (18.5%) responded to the sight of a certain object(s). Responses to the sight of different kinds of objects were analyzed in detail. Nondifferential neurons (n = 73) responded to different objects with no significant difference in response magnitudes, and differential neurons (n = 87) responded to different objects with different response magnitudes. Of the differential neurons, 23 responded more strongly to rewarding objects than to other objects (rewarding-object-dominant neurons), but the magnitude of responses to objects did not necessarily correlates with the order of preferences to the objects as determined from observation of animal behavior. Aversive-object-dominant neurons (n = 13) responded more to aversive objects than to other objects. Unfamiliar-object-dominant neurons (n = 7) responded more to unfamiliar objects than to familiar objects. Selective neurons (n = 10) responded selectively to only one object or one category of objects. Fourteen of the rewarding- or averse-object-dominant neurons were tested in extinction or reversal trials. In 12 of 14 neurons, responses to a rewarding or aversive object did not change, or slightly weakened, in extinction or reversal trials. The results suggest the following. (1) Responses of rewarding- or aversive-object-dominant neurons may be involved in object-reward or object-aversion association. However, responses of many of these neurons might reflect past inputs to reinforcement rather than extant emotional processing. (2) Responses of unfamiliar-object-dominant neurons may be involved in recognition of objects based on their familiar or unfamiliar aspects. These results are further discussed and compared with responsiveness of amygdalar neurons.     

Statistical analysis of the factors affecting the outcome of extradural haematomas: 115 Cases

Summary 115 traumatic extradural haematoma cases who were treated surgically at Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty Neurosurgery Department between 1987 and 1992 are evaluated.When factors affecting the outcome were examined, a strong correlation was found between the result andGlasgow coma scale (GCS) (p<0.00001). The existence of a fracture, the interval between onset of haematoma symptoms and intervention and the existence of an intracerebral haematoma together with contusion accompanying intradural haematoma, affect the outcome in a negative direction. There was no statistical correlation between the outcome and the age of patient, localization of the haematoma and aetiology.     

Auditory Perception and the Control of Spatially Coordinated Action of Deaf and Hearing Children

From birth onwards, auditory stimulation directs and intensifies visual orientation behaviour. In deaf children, by definition, auditory perception cannot take place and cannot, therefore, make a contribution to visual orientation to objects approaching from outside the initial field of view. In experiment 1, a difference in catching ability is demonstrated between deaf and hearing children (10-13 years of age) when the ball approached from the periphery or from outside the field of view. No differences in catching ability between the two groups occurred when the ball approached from within the field of view. A second experiment was conducted in order to determine if differences in catching ability between deaf and hearing children could be attributed to execution of slow orientating movements and/or slow reaction time as a result of the auditory loss. The deaf children showed slower reaction times. No differences were found in movement times between deaf and hearing children. Overall, the findings suggest that a lack of auditory stimulation during development can lead to deficiencies in the coordination of actions such as catching which are both spatially and temporally constrained.     

不同检测方法预测白内障术后视力的观察

目的 评价各种检测方法在预测白内障术后视功能恢复的作用。方法 白内障197例(214眼)术前行闪光视网膜电图(F-ERG)、闪光视诱发电位(BVEP)、视网膜计、光定位、色觉及注视性质等综合检测，术后3月复查最佳矫正视力。结果 术前F—ERG的b波、F—VEP的P1波、潜视力、色觉均与术后视力存在显著相关性，其中F-ERG、F—VEP、潜视力预测术后视力的可靠性分别为62．6％、79．0％、60．6％。但排除白内障完全成熟及高龄者(超过80岁)，潜视力预测的可靠性则达82．6％。结论 对于非完全成熟及非高龄者，视网膜计是术前预测白内障术后视力比较理想的方法，而对于完全浑浊及高龄者，视网膜计检查结果的准确性欠佳，应结合F-ERG、F-VEP、色觉及注视性质等多方面因素进行综合讲价。     

Measurement of quality of life in bone marrow transplantation survivors

This study was designed to assess the reliability and validity of a Quality of Life (QOL) instrument on a sample of 179 allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) survivors. The QOL-BMT tool was developed specifically for this population and was based on the investigators' prior research and a conceptual model of Quality of Life. Patients who were at least 100 days post BMT completed the 30 item visual analogue questionnaire. The instrument measured physical symptoms (e.g., weight loss, frequent colds, skin changes, cataracts, sexual problems), psychological to illness, social concerns (e.g., relationship adjustment, return to work), and spiritual well-being (e.g., sense of control, future goals). Psychometric analysis of the instrument included measures of reliability and validity. The study findings demonstrate the unique aspects of QOL dimensions in BMT survivors and the value of QOL assessment in clinical practice and research.This study was supported by the City of Hope National Medical Center, NCI Cancer Center Core Grant, R30 CA 33572 and the City of Hope BRSG Grant Support.     

单纯脑白质疏松症与皮质下动脉硬化性脑病的临床对比研究

目的探讨单纯脑白质疏松症(LA)和皮质下动脉硬化性脑病(BD)的临床表现、影像学及脑诱发电位的改变特征。方法(1)调查114例单纯脑白质疏松症患(LA组)和41例皮质下动脉硬化性脑病患(BD组)的发病危险因素和临床表现。(2)两组患均行CT检查，并按照脑白质异常程度分为3型。(3)LA组74例患，BD组35例患行MRI检查，根据T2WI显示的脑室周围高信号分为5型。(4)两组分别选择部分伴有高血压的患进行躯体感觉诱发电位(SEP)、脑干听觉诱发电位(BAEP)和视觉诱发电位(VEP)检查。结果(1)LA组患的危险因素呈多样化，无神经局灶体征，临床表现仅为轻度记忆力减退、步态不稳。CT显示脑白质异常以1型为主，占70．2％(80／114)；MRI脑白质异常也同样以1型为主，占71．6％(53／74)，均无脑室扩大。电生理学检查显示，SEP异常率为83．7％(36／43)，其中轻度60．5％，中度23．2％；BAEP异常率为62．8％(27／43)，潜伏期和峰间期延长；VEP异常率为53．5％(23／43)，各波潜伏期延长，均无波形消失。(2)BD组患危险因素以高血压为主(95．1％)，临床表现以神经局灶体征、明显认知功能障碍和卒中样发作为主。CT分型以3型多见，为73．2％(30／41)；MRI检查显示3型为54．3％(19／35)，4型45．7％(16／35)，41例患均有双侧脑室对称性扩大。电生理学检查显示，SEP异常率为96．7％(29／30)，其中轻度6．7％，中度46．7％，重度43．3％；BAEP异常率86．7％(26／30)，潜伏期和峰间期进一步延长，部分伴有Ⅲ、Ⅴ波缺失；VEP异常率为83．3％(25／30)，各波潜伏期进一步延长，部分P2单侧波形消失。结论单纯脑白质疏松症无特征性临床表现，诊断主要以影像学1型脑白质异常为依据；诱发电位表现为各波潜伏期延长，无波形完全缺失。皮质下动脉硬化性脑病的危险因素为高血压，临床有较明显的认知功能障碍，常见卒中样发作等特征，影像学检查CT显示3型脑白质异常，MRI显示3型或4型为诊断依据；诱发电位呈现各波潜伏期进一步延长并伴有部分波形完全缺失。