Connectivity measures suggest a sub-cortical generator of myoclonus in Angelman syndrome

ObjectiveThe clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of myoclonus in Angelman syndrome (AS) have been evaluated in single case or small cohorts, with contrasting results. We evaluated the features of myoclonus in a wide cohort of AS patients.MethodsWe performed polygraphic EEG-EMG recording in 24 patients with genetically confirmed AS and myoclonus. Neurophysiological investigations included jerk-locked back-averaging (JLBA), cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) and generalised partial directed coherence (GPDC). CMC and GPDC analyses were compared to those obtained from 10 healthy controls (HC).ResultsTwenty-four patients (aged 3–35 years, median 20) were evaluated. Sequences of quasi-continuous rhythmic jerks mostly occurred at alpha frequency or just below (mean 8.4 ± 1.4 Hz), without EEG correlate. JLBA did not show any clear transient preceding the jerks. CMC showed bilateral over-threshold CMC in alpha band that was prominent on the contralateral hemisphere in the patient group as compared to HC group. GPDC showed a significantly higher alpha outflow from both hemispheres toward activated muscles in the patient group, and a significantly higher beta outflow from contralateral hemisphere in the HC group.ConclusionsThese neurophysiological findings suggest a subcortical generator of myoclonus in AS.SignificanceMyoclonus in AS has not a cortical origin as previously hypothesised.     

Lingual lymph nodes: Anatomy,clinical considerations,and oncological significance

Lingual lymph nodes are an inconstant group of in-transit nodes, which are located on the route of lymph drainage from the tongue mucosa to the regional nodes in neck levels I and II. There is growing academic data on the metastatic spread of oral cancer, particularly regarding the spreading of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma to lingual nodes. These nodes are not currently included in diagnostic and treatment protocols for oral tongue cancer. Combined information on surgical anatomy, clinical observations, means of detection, and prognostic value is presented. Anatomically obtained incidence of lingual nodes ranges from 8.6% to 30.2%. Incidence of lingual lymph node metastasis ranges from 1.3% to 17.1%. It is clear that lymph nodes that bear intervening tissues from the floor of the mouth should be removed to improve loco-regional control. Extended resection volume, which is required for the surgical treatment of lingual node metastasis, cannot be implied to every tongue cancer patient. As these lesions significantly influence prognosis, special efforts of their detection must be made. Reasonably, every tongue cancer patient must be investigated for the existence of lingual lymph node metastasis. Lymphographic tracing methods, which are currently implied for sentinel lymph node biopsies, may improve the detection of lingual lymph nodes.     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

颅底中线区大型和巨大型脑膜瘤的显微手术切除

目的探讨颅底中线区不同部位大型和巨大型脑膜瘤手术入路和切除方式,并分析特殊类型脑膜瘤手术治疗方法。方法本组93例,男性26例,女性67例;平均年龄48.4岁。术前行神经影像学检查,根据肿瘤部位,选择相应手术入路,采用显微手术切除肿瘤。结果肿瘤全切除80例(86.02%),大部分切除13例(13.98%),死亡1例(10.75%)。除单条颅神经功能术前完全丧失外,术后神经功能改善者75例(81.52%),不变者10例(10.86%),加重者7例(7.6%)。经6月￣7年随访,13例(14.13%)肿瘤复发。结论颅底中线区大型和巨大型脑膜瘤手术切除难度大。要取得良好的手术效果,必须选择正确手术入路,采用分块切除方式,精心保护重要血管和神经。     

鼻咽癌颈静脉孔侵犯的影像学表现及临床分析

[目的]探讨鼻咽癌颈静脉孔侵犯的临床和影像学特征及临床意义。[方法]回顾性分析8例初治和4例复发鼻咽癌伴颈静脉孔侵犯者的临床表现、CT及MRI特征。[结果]12例中,5例表现为Ⅸ￣Ⅺ颅神经均麻痹的颈静脉孔综合征,7例仅表现为Ⅸ颅神经麻痹。12例,有10例合并舌下神经管受累,3例有一侧的胸锁乳突肌及斜方肌萎缩,2例有一侧舌肌萎缩。CT及MRI显示鼻咽癌颈静脉孔侵犯主要有3种途径,分别为:①鼻咽病变通过茎突后间隙直接蔓延(4例,包括1例茎突后间隙复发);②转移淋巴结直接侵犯(4例,其中2例为咽后淋巴结转移,2例为颈动脉鞘淋巴结复发);③颈静脉孔骨性结构直接破坏(4例,其中1例为单纯颈静脉孔复发)。[结论]鼻咽癌可通过直接蔓延、咽后和颈动脉鞘区转移淋巴结侵犯及骨质直接破坏侵犯颈静脉孔,临床上出现Ⅸ￣Ⅺ颅神经一支或多支均麻痹。CT和MRI,尤其是MRI对于病变的诊断、病变范围的确定和放射治疗计划的制定有非常大的作用。     

Female pelvic floor. Descriptive anatomy and clinical exploration by transvaginal ultrasound

In order to assess the state and pathology of the woman's pelvis minor, a number of methods are commonly used among practitioners, encompassing clinical exploration, radiology, MRN, urodynamics, endoscopy and echography.

Echography has been poorly used in clinical pelvic exploration and its reliability is actually a matter of controversy 1. However, echographic surveys can provide us with valuable gynecological data on the state and pathologies of the soft pelvis, within the genital regions or even going beyond them, i.e. the rectal channel, bladder, urethra, anus, vascular plexuses, and all of their supporting tissues.

At our research unit, we have been employing Transvaginal Ultrasound echography (TVU) for a long time in conjunction with other pelvis-focused methods in order to study different kinds of pelvic alterations. TVU has proven to be friendly to use, fast, harmless and inexpensive, allowing serial explorations and producing high-quality dynamic images (loop-cinema, video-tape). Furthermore, this method is fairly aseptic in that the occurrence of faeces in the rectal ampolla is not a nuisance but a bonus in tracking the contours of the rectum walls and other topographical features which would be otherwise difficult to survey.

A complete pelvic floor TVU may add no longer than 5-8 minutes to a routine gynecological examination, can be implemented by the general gynecologist and generates data that can be further studied by the appropriate specialist for a more insightful evaluation 2.     

抗大肠癌噬菌体人单链抗体的初步鉴定及序列分析

目的 :对抗大肠癌细胞的单克隆噬菌体单链抗体进行初步鉴定和测序分析。方法 :采用细胞ELISA ,免疫组化 ,DNA序列测定和计算机分析方法 ,对 5个单克隆噬菌体抗体 (CH2 73,CH2 0 5 ,CH2 0 9,CHA12 ,CH72 3)进行初步鉴定和序列分析。结果 :5个抗体均对人大肠癌细胞、人胚肾上皮细胞和其它某些人肿瘤细胞反应 ,也与人正常肝细胞有弱阳性反应 ,但不与鼠源性的癌细胞和正常细胞反应。细胞免疫组化进一步证实了ELISA结果的正确性。大肠癌免疫组化对大肠癌组织有特异性的结合反应 ,而不与正常大肠组织反应。测序结果为CH2 73ScFv全长 732bp ;V ,D ,J分别属于VH3 30 D1 2 6 JH3 linker V1 13 JL2 ,GenBank序号为AY0 2 8777和AY0 2 8996 ;CH2 0 5全长 36 6bp ,V ,D ,J分别VH1 4 6 D6 13 JH3,GenBank序号为AF35 936 5 ;CH2 0 9,CHA12和CH72 3的ScFv基因完全相同 ,全长 72 3bp ,其VH DH JH与CH2 73ScFv基因中的VH DH JH 完全一致 ,V ,D ,J分别属于VH3 30 D1 2 6 JH3 linker L2 Jκ2 ,GenBank序号为AF36 3774。结论 :噬菌体抗体具有结合人大肠癌组织和细胞的活性 ,为进一步开发临床应用人源抗肿瘤抗体和小分子抗体片段奠定基础     

应用卵圆孔定位仪治疗三叉神经痛

目的总结卵圆孔定位仪在选择性经皮温控射频热凝治疗三叉神经痛的应用方法和技巧。方法对三叉神经第Ⅱ、Ⅲ支疼痛者或第Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ支同时疼痛者应用Hartel前入路半月神经节射频热凝治疗,其中260例患者应用三叉神经卵圆孔定位仪辅助定位,对39例患者术中应用X线或三维CT进行卵圆孔靶点验证。结果所有病例穿刺成功。术后即刻疗效:优良206例,良好42例,无疗效12例,总有效率95.4%,无严重并发症发生。结论卵圆孔定位仪可用于射频热凝治疗三叉神经痛的辅助定位,可以提高穿刺的成功率和安全性。