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.     

Functioning and disability 6–15 years after traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden

Objectives –  To assess long‐term functioning and disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Material and methods –  Individuals (n = 88) in Norrbotten, northern Sweden, who had been transferred for neurosurgical care were assessed with internationally established TBI outcome measures 6–15 years post‐injury. Results –  There was an improvement in overall outcome from discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to follow‐up. Many individuals had a high degree of motor and cognitive functioning, which enabled them to live independently in their own home without assistance, but there remained a disability related to community reintegration and social participation. This affected their productivity and to some degree their marital stability. The remaining disability and reduced productivity were related to the age at injury and the injury severity. Conclusions –  Our data showed that individuals with a TBI can achieve and maintain a high degree of functioning many years after the injury. Increasing age and a greater injury severity contributed to their long‐term disability.     

危重型毛细支气管炎抢救体会：附31例分析

231例毛细支气管炎,危重型38例占16.4％,抢救成功31例占81.6％。本文讨论了危重型毛细支气管炎并多器官功能衰竭的发生与预后及平喘药物的合理选用。认为早期应用免疫疗法、迅速平喘、保护重要器官功能及合理治疗并存症是抢救成功的关键。     

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.     

Preparation of leukocyte-poor platelets by filtration

There is evidence that leukocyte contaminating red blood cells and platelet concentrates are responsible for refractoriness to platelet transfusions. The efficacy of a cotton-wool filter to remove leukocytes from red blood cells has been documented previously. The present study was designed to evaluate whether the cotton-wool filters can effectively remove leukocytes from platelet concentrates. Sixty pools of random-donor platelets and single-donor plateletpheresis products were filtered through a cotton-wool filter. The efficacy of filtration was determined by measuring the absolute numbers of leukocytes and platelets and subpopulations of mononuclear cells. The average platelet loss was 8% per pool of random platelets and 10% per plateletpheresis product. The average leukocyte removal was 99% from a pool of random platelets and plateletpheresis concentrates collected by CS-3000 and 90% from plateletpheresis concentrates harvested by single-stage COBE/IBM-2997. The filtration removed 100% of granulocytes, 95% of monocytes, 90% of B-lymphocytes, and 85% of T-lymphocytes. We conclude that filtration through a cotton-wool filter is an efficient and cost-effective method for preparation of leukocyte-poor platelets.     

平衡法门控心血池显像评价不同分级前壁心肌梗死患者左室收缩及舒张功能

目的我们应用平衡法门控心血池显像技术对不同Killip分级的前壁心肌梗死患者进行左室总体和局部收缩和舒张功能参数的对比分析。方法对照组15例（G0）,前壁心肌梗死KillipⅠ级17例（G1）,前壁心肌梗死KillipⅡⅢ级12例（G2）。利用平衡法门控心血池显像技术评价3组的左室总体和局部的收缩与舒张功能。结果①左室整体收缩功能,在LVEF,ESC 2个参数中,G1比G0有显著差异（P<0.05）,G2分别比G1和G0有显著差异（P<0.05）。在PER、1/3EF、1/3ER 3个参数中,G2分别比G1和G0显著下降（P<0.05）。②左室总体舒张功能,在PFR、1/3FF、1/3FR、EDC中,G1比G0有显著差异（P<0.05）,G2分别比G1和G0有显著差异（P<0.05）。③左室局部收缩功能,在以LVREF为参数时,G1在4个节段比G0显著差异（P<0.05）,G2在所有6个节段中比G1和G0均显著下降（P<0.05）。④左室局部舒张功能,在以LVR1/3FF为参数时,G1在4个节段比G0显著下降（P<0.05）,G2在所有6个节段比G0和G1均显著下降（P<0.05）。结论前壁心肌梗死后出现心功能受损或心力衰竭的主要原因为左室重构。     

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.