Disinhibition of somatosensory evoked potential recovery in alcoholics

The pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in alcoholics remains unclear. Previous studies suggested that diffuse white matter atrophy is associated with cognitive impairment in alcoholics. To elucidate this issue, the present study evaluated alcoholics with cognitive impairment using the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) recovery method, which is suitable for detecting subtle dysfunction at the cortical level. Subjects comprised 12 alcoholics with mild cognitive impairment [Mild group: Mini Mental State Examination Score (MMSE), ≥24; mean, 27.9 ± 1.6], 12 alcoholics with moderate to severe cognitive impairment (Moderate group: MMSE score, < 24; mean, 21.0 ± 2.5) and 12 normal subjects (Control group). SEP was recorded from the hand sensory area contralateral to the median nerve stimulated at the wrist. Single-pulse or paired-pulse stimuli at various interstimulus intervals (10–300 ms) were administered. Recovery functions of N9 (a peripheral nerve component), N20, N20-P25 and P25-N33 (cortical components) were studied. N20 recovery curves of both alcoholic groups were less suppressive than those of Controls, and P25-N33 recovery curves of the Moderate group were more excitatory than those of the Mild or Control groups. A disinhibited recovery pattern of N20 indicates subcortical dysfunction, and a disinhibited pattern of P25-N33 would be induced by cortical dysfunction. Therefore, subcortical dysfunction indicated by an abnormal N20 recovery pattern may contribute to the early cognitive impairment of alcoholics, whilst the cortical dysfunction indicated by an abnormal P25-N33 recovery pattern may contribute to the later cognitive impairment of alcoholics.     

亚低温治疗高温高湿环境下重型颅脑损伤的临床护理

目的 探讨亚低温治疗高温高湿环境下重型颅脑损伤的护理方法。方法 高温高湿环境下的重型颅脑损伤患者60例，随机分为亚低温治疗组和对照组。规范护理程序，严密观察病人生命体征变化，采取积极护理措施，减少并发症。结果 亚低温治疗24h后颅内压逐渐下降，脑组织PO2逐渐上升，伤后3个月亚低温治疗组的良好率明显高于对照组（P〈0.05），而死亡率明显低于对照组（P〈0．01）。结论 精心护理有助于改善亚低温治疗的高温高湿环境下重型颅脑损伤病人的预后。     

Caffeine restores regional brain activation in acute hypoglycaemia in healthy volunteers.

AIMS: Caffeine enhances counterregulatory responses to acute hypoglycaemia. Our aim was to explore its effects on cortical function, which are not known at present. METHODS: Regional brain activation during performance of the four-choice reaction time (4CRT) at different levels of complexity was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at euglycaemia (5 mmol/l) and hypoglycaemia (2.6 mmol/l) in the presence and absence of caffeine in six healthy right-handed men. RESULTS: During hypoglycaemia, caffeine enhanced adrenaline responses to hypoglycaemia (2.5 +/- 0.7 nmol/l to 4.0 +/- 1.0 nmol/l, P = 0.01) and restored the brain activation response to the non-cued 4CRT, the linear increases in regional brain activation associated with increased task complexity and the ability to respond to a cue that were lost in hypoglycaemia alone. CONCLUSIONS: Caffeine can sustain regional brain activation patterns lost in acute hypoglycaemia, with some restoration of cortical function and enhanced adrenaline responsiveness. A methodology has been established that may help in the development of therapies to protect against severe hypoglycaemia in insulin therapy for patients with diabetes and problematic hypoglycaemia.     

老年认知功能障碍与脑结构CT测量的相关性研究

目的探讨脑萎缩与老年认知功能障碍之间的相关性。方法对开滦集团公司1063名离退休职工进行健康查体,用简易精神状态量表(MMSE)评定认知功能,按分界值将本次研究对象分为认知功能障碍组和认知功能正常组,同时用CT线性测量脑的相关部位以诊断脑萎缩情况,并对各型脑萎缩与认知功能的相关系数及提示老年认知功能障碍的敏感度、特异度、准确度进行分析。结果1063名观察对象中符合入选标准并资料完整者共计511名,其中108名有认知功能障碍,髓质脑萎缩55名、皮质萎缩5名、混合型萎缩30名;认知功能正常者403名,髓质脑萎缩214名、皮质萎缩13名、混合型萎缩62名。认知功能障碍组脑萎缩的发病率高于认知功能正常组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.005);2组间颞叶海马钩回间距(26.86mm±3.73mmvs25.95mm±3.80mm)及海马钩回间距/大脑左右径的比值(0.21±0.02vs0.20±0.02)差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);海马钩回间距、皮质脑萎缩、混合型脑萎缩与认知功能障碍呈负相关(分别为r=-0.094,P=0.034,r=-0.156,P≈0.000,r=-0.147,P≈0.000),以海马钩回间距20mm提示老年认知功能障碍的敏感度最高(98.14%),混合型脑萎缩的特异度(84.86%)、准确度最高(72.80%)。结论CT测量相关脑结构,判断脑萎缩类型可以为老年认知功能障碍的诊断提供有价值的信息。     

Hippocampal size may contribute to prospective diagnosis of age-related dementia

Background: The hippocampus is a center of cognitive function and therefore hippocampal atrophy is the major factor in cognitive decline. Analysis of hippocampal size may make it possible to predict progression in cognitive impairment. To address this point, the present study investigated the relationship between hippocampal atrophy and dementia using magnetic resonance (MR) images and the Hasegawa Dementia Scale‐Revised (HDS‐R). Methods: The present study was performed on 274 subjects (14–97 years old; average, 66 years; 106 male and 168 female) who had no focal neurological deficit. Hippocampal area and whole brain area were measured in three series of coronal MR images taken from a 5‐mm slice rostrally along dorsal edge of the pons, and hippocampal size normalized by calculating summated hippocampal areas as percentages of summated whole brain areas. Dementia was screened for using HDS‐R. Results: Hippocampal size decreased and HDS‐R reduced with age. Hippocampal atrophy was highly correlated with cognitive deterioration; a critical normalized hippocampal size for HDS‐R of less than 20, which corresponds with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, was found in 65% of over 60‐years old subjects and 98% of subjects with HDS‐R of less than 20 were over 60 years old. Conclusion: There is a high probability that over 60‐year‐old people with a normalized hippocampal size of less than 1.0 would develop dementia in the future, even though their HDS‐R might presently be over 20. Measurement of hippocampal size with coronal MR imaging may therefore contribute to prospective diagnoses of age‐related dementia.     

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychotic Disorders: Current Issues and Future Developments

There is accumulating evidence, reviewed by Caudiano (this issue), that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is an effective adjunct treatment for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia treatment and research provides a range of challenges that are probably not present in other mental health problems. These include contextual issues, clinical issues, scientific and methodological issues, practical and pragmatic issues, public concern, and human rights issues. This paper discusses these issues with emphasis on the clinical and research challenges for the future.     

高温高湿环境下颅脑火器伤亚低温治疗的实验研究

目的 观察早期亚低温治疗高温高湿环境下犬颅脑火器伤的疗效。方法 选杂种犬60只，制作出高温高湿环境下（气温39°C±0．5℃．相对湿度80％-85％）颅脑火器伤的动物模型，随机分为亚低温组和对照组，每组30只犬。亚低温组在术中采用静脉内输入1．2℃±0．34℃冷冻生理盐水．输液量为体重的5％，术后采用降温毯降温，体温控制在33～35℃，持续48h。对照组按常规治疗。Powlab／8SP生理记录仪动态监测生命体征变化和记录两组动物的生存率，分析比较二组的治疗结果。结果 亚低温组动物生命体征平稳，死亡率40％（12／30）；对照组动物生命体征紊乱，死亡率70％（21／30），两组死亡率差异显著（P〈0．05）。结论 早期亚低温治疗高温高湿环境下颅脑火器伤可以降低动物的死亡率。     

轻刺激——从克罗米芬到来曲唑

长方案、短方案已在临床使用了20余年,这类超排卵方案采用降调节抑制内源性卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)合成和释放,降低了过早排卵导致的周期取消,但也导致了促性腺激素用量大增、促排卵时间延长,即使是卵巢储备正常者也可能出现超排卵反应低下导致周期取消;卵巢储备低下患者则因不能超排而无缘体外受精胚胎移植(IVF-ET);同时,垂体抑制使卵巢反应增加,重度卵巢过度刺激综合征(OHSS)发生率增加.因传统的超排卵技术有上述不足,最近几年关于微刺激或轻刺激的讨论逐渐增多,轻微卵巢刺激的理念已被业界所认可[1-3].     

图片学习测验在识别老年人轻微认知功能损害中的作用

目的　分析图片学习测验在识别老年人轻微认知功能损害 (MCI)中的作用。方法　选择符合MCI诊断标准的老年人 4 8例与正常对照组 5 6名完成图片学习测验、简易智能状态检查、听觉词语学习测验及多种非记忆测验。结果　图片学习测验的 3个记忆指标 (图片短时记忆、延迟记忆和学习记忆 )在MCI与正常对照组之间有非常显著的差异。已经给出这三个图片记忆指标区分MCI与正常老年人的划界分、敏感性和特异性。结论　图片记忆操作简便、信度和效度好 ,可以作为临床医师筛选MCI的有效工具