Biophysical foundations underlying TMS: Setting the stage for an effective use of neurostimulation in the cognitive neurosciences

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) induces electrical currents in the brain to stimulate neural tissue. This article reviews our present understanding of TMS methodology, focusing on its biophysical foundations. We concentrate on how the laws of electromagnetic induction apply to TMS; addressing issues such as the location, area (i.e., focality), depth, and mechanism of TMS. We also present a review of the present limitations and future potential of the technique.     

11^C-蛋氨酸的体内生物学分布和初步临床应用

目的研究新型脑肿瘤显像剂：11^C-蛋氨酸（11^C-MET）的体内生物学分布，探讨11^C—MET的临床显像方法及其在脑肿瘤显像中的应用．方法测定11^C—MET在小鼠体内的分布，对健康志愿者和病理证实胶质瘤患者进行PET脑显像．结果小鼠体内分布实验和脑PET显像发现，11^C—MET在血液中清除较慢，在肿瘤内有较长的滞留时问，平台期位于30—45min之间，延迟相对有利于脑瘤的显像，其余放射性主要集中在消化系统．结论11^C—MDT有较高的肿瘤／脑比值，是理想的脑肿瘤显像剂．     

The aging brain, a key target for the future: The protein kinase C involvement

The brain represents the primary centre for the regulation and control of all our body activities, receiving and interpreting sensory impulses and transmitting information to the periphery. Most importantly, it is also the seat of consciousness, thought, emotion and especially memory, being in fact able to encode, store and recall any information. Memory is really what makes possible so many of our complex cognitive functions, including communication and learning, and surely without memory, life would lose all of its glamour and purpose. Age-associated mental impairment can range in severity from forgetfulness at the border with pathology to dementia, such as in Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, one of the most relevant observations of research on brain aging relates to data indicating that age-related cognitive decline is not only due to neuronal loss, as previously thought; instead, scientists now believe that age-associated functional changes have more to do with the dysfunctions occurring over time. Within this context a prominent role is certainly played by signal transduction cascades which guarantee neuronal cell to elaborate coordinated responses to the multiple signals coming from the outside and to adapt itself to the environmental changes and requests. This review will focus the attention on protein kinase C pathway, with a particular interest on its activation process, and on the role of protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions to selectively localize the cellular responses. Furthermore, information is emerging and will be discussed on the possibility of mRNA stabilization through PKC activation. This review will also approach the issue on how alterations of these molecular cascades may have implications in physiological and pathological brain aging, such as Alzheimer's disease.     

磁共振脑表面成像在矢状窦旁脑膜瘤术中应用

目的 探讨磁共振脑表面成像技术在矢状窦旁腩膜瘤手术中的应用价值.方法 分析本院经头颅CT及MRI诊断为矢状窦旁脑膜瘤,利用显微手术技术切除并经病理证实的的22例患者;术前均运用磁共振脑表面成像技术评估与肿瘤关系密切的脑表面回流静脉情况.术中根据成像结果有目的 地保护重要的回流静脉,对比患者手术前后神经功能恢复状况,并进行随访来评价手术效果.结果 22例患者的术前磁共振脑表面成像中脑表面回流静脉与术中所见高度一致.术后患者恢复良好,未出现与静脉损伤相关的并发症.结论 磁共振脑表面成像技术能在术前明确矢状窦旁脑膜瘤与脑表面回流静脉之间关系,可在术前对患者肿瘤表面脑回流静脉做出正确的评估,对脑表面重要回流静脉的保护提供了准确的影像学依据,对患者神经功能的保护及术后恢复起到重要作用.     

Pathophysiological aspects of brain edema

Summary Two mayor types of brain edema, related to two different pathomechanisms, can be recognized: 1)cytotoxic type-where the main feature is the swelling of cellular elements of brain parenchyma and 2)vasogenic type-where an increased vascular permeability leading to accumulation of edema fluid inthe extracellular spaces plays the principal role. In this type of edema, there is a close interrelationship between extravasation of serum proteins and retention of water in the brain tissue. In theischemic brain edema both cytotoxic and vasogenic mechanisms are involved. A biphasic opening of the blood-brain barrier, associated with vasogenic edema, is observed following release of major cerebral artery occlusion. The first opening of the barrier is related to a reactive hyperemia which follows promptly recirculation. The second opening, recognizable after a delay, is associated with a severe ischemic brain tissue injury.Dedicated to Prof. F. Seitelberger on the occasion of his seventieth birthday     

Focal vulnerability of developing brain: CT studies on disproportionally dilated lateral ventricles

Summary Cranial computed tomography (CT) of 108 cases with dilated lateral ventricles was reviewed to elucidate the relationship between focal vulnerability of developing brain and disproportional dilatation of lateral ventricles. CT findings of 108 cases with symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles were classified into three types by morphometry of lateral ventricles: anterior horn predominant type (31 cases), diffuse type (36 cases), posterior horn predominant type (41 cases). Posterior horn predominant type has a tendency to occur in congenital anomalies and premature brain damage, and anterior horn predominant type in infantile brain damage. This disproportional dilatation of anterior or posterior horns suggests a vulnerability of periventricular structure in developing brain.     

脑源性神经生长因子和神经干细胞联合移植对大脑中动脉阻塞大鼠神经功能恢复的作用

目的 将脑源性神经生长因子(BDNF)和神经干细胞(NSCs)单独及联合移植应用于大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAo)模型大鼠,观察BDNF和NSCs移植对大鼠缺血性脑卒中神经功能恢复的作用及BDNF对内源性和外源性NSCs增殖、迁移及分化的影响.方法 体外分离、培养新生大鼠海马NSCs,BrdU标记.实验动物随机分为A组(MCAo组);B组(MCAo+BDNF组);C组(MCAo+NSCs组);D组(MCAo+BDNF+NSCs组),每组16只,移植后进行神经功能损害评分(NSS),用免疫组织化学行BrdU、nestin、BrdU/NSE检测,分析结果.结果 移植后的2、4周神经功能评分分别为:A组5.3±0.5、5.3±0.5;B组4.0±0.8、3.8±0.5;C组3.5±0.6、3.5±0.6;D组2.0 ±0.8、1.8±1.0,D组显著好于其他3组(P<0.05),B组与c组显著好于A组(P<0.05).nes.tin阳性细胞数:A组1.24±1.13,B组2.59±1.44(P<0.05),BrdU阳性细胞数:A组0.52±0.68,B组1.65±1.10(P<0.05).BrdU阳性细胞数:C组6.08±1.52,D组10.26±1.96(P<0.05),BrdU/NSE双阳性细胞数:C组1.74±1.04,D组3.58±1.20(P<0.05).结论 BDNF和NSCs移植单独及联合应用对MCAo大鼠的神经功能恢复均有作用,两者联合具有协同作用.BDNF对内源性NSCs的激活、增殖有促进作用,对外源性NSCs的增殖、迁移及分化有促进作用.     

动脉血质子自旋标记与动态磁敏感对比MRI在急性脑缺血患者中的应用价值

目的对比研究动脉血质子自旋标记（ASL）与动态磁敏感对比（DSC）MRI在急性脑缺血诊断中的应用价值。方法27例发病3d内的急性脑卒中患者，均采用3．0TMR行脉冲式ASL和DSCMR检查。观察2种技术的灌注表现，包括灌注不足、正常灌注、延迟灌注、过度灌注等，采用Mann—Whitney检验做定性分析。在扩散加权成像显示的病变部位及对侧正常半球的镜像区域分别确定3个感兴趣区（ROI），测量信号强度并计算信号强度比（病侧／对照侧），并将结果做配对t检验。结果定性分析显示27例患者中，2l例2种技术检查结果一致（灌注不足14例，正常灌注5例，过度灌注2例）。6例2种技术不一致，其中4例ASL显示灌注不足而DSC显示延迟灌注，2例ASL显示正常灌注而DSC显示延迟灌注，两者间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。定量分析示，2种技术的病侧与对照侧信号强度比值ASL为0．7l±0．46，DSC为0．73±0．42，两者间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论无创性ASL技术在检测灌注异常时与DSCMRI有相似的敏感性；ASL可与常规MR检查相结合，为临床诊断急性缺血性卒中提供有价值的信息。