Eficacia de la terapia con señales electromagnéticas pulsadas y transmitidas de manera dieléctrica monopolar en procesos dolorosos asociados a esclerosis múltiple. Estudio piloto

IntroductionPain is highly prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); it is chronic in 50% of cases and is classified as nociceptive, neuropathic, or mixed-type. Pain affects quality of life, sleep, and the activities of daily living. Electrotherapy is an interesting alternative or complementary treatment in the management of pain in MS, with new innovations constantly appearing.Material and methodsThis study evaluates the effectiveness of treatment with monopolar dielectric transmission of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) for pain associated with MS. We performed a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial including 24 patients, who were assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory, the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale.ResultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in maximum and mean pain scores, as well as in the impact of pain on work, personal relationships, and sleep and rest. Not significant differences were found between the treatment and placebo groups.ConclusionsTreatment with PEMF may be effective in reducing pain in patients with MS, although further research is necessary to confirm its effectiveness over placebo and to differentiate which type of pain may be more susceptible to this treatment.     

亚甲蓝甘油合剂封闭治疗三叉神经痛108例

目的观察亚甲蓝甘油合剂封闭治疗三叉神经痛的临床疗效并探讨其治疗机制。方法按国际头面痛学会分类委员会确定的诊断标准,108例原发性三叉神经患者随机分为两组:A组为亚甲蓝甘油合剂组(n=54),B组为单纯甘油合剂组(n=54);采用徐贵印推荐的三维测角穿刺半月神经节进行封闭治疗,对治疗后1周、3个月和2年分别进行疗效评判和随访观察。结果两组治疗后1周、3个月优良率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),两年后优良率比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组并发症没有明显差异,2例出现视力下降,3例因解剖变异未能穿刺成功,仅在卵圆孔周围进行了注射,外加眶下孔以及骸孔封闭。结论亚甲蓝甘油合剂用于治疗三叉神经痛远期疗效优于单纯甘油合剂,且亚甲蓝对神经未见明显损害(经2年随访)。     

Effects of capsaicin in temporomandibular joint arthritis in rats

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis was induced in female Lewis rats by unilateral injection of a suspension of heat-killed Mycobacterium butyricum in paraffin oil into the TMJ. Control rats received paraffin oil by the same route. Arthritic and control rats were pretreated either with capsaicin or denervation of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. Tissues were collected for neuropeptide extraction and analysed by radioimmunoassay and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. In all groups, the levels of substance P- (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide- (CGRP) and neuropeptide Y- (NPY) like immunoreactivity (LI) were higher in the trigeminal ganglia than in the TMJs. In control rats, capsaicin significantly lowered the levels of SP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not CGRP-LI and NPY-LI. In the arthritic rats, capsaicin pretreatment significantly lowered the SP-LI and CGRP-LI in the trigeminal ganglia and TMJ, but not the NPY-LI. In the trigeminal ganglia the unilateral denervation significantly lowered SP-LI in control rats, and in arthritic rats SP-LI and CGRP-LI. On the denervated side of the arthritic TMJ, NPY-LI, SP-LI and CGRP- LI were significantly lowered as compared to the arthritic control rats and to the contralateral side. In this rat model, pretreatment with capsaicin and surgical denervation decreased the neuropeptide content in the trigeminal ganglia and the TMJ. The results clearly demonstrate a close interaction between increased neuropeptide release from sensory and sympathetic neurones after induction of arthritis in the rat.     

Choice of open or percutaneous procedures in the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

The aim of this study was to define criteria for the selection of patients for percutaneous or open operations for the cure of drug-resistant trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Trigeminal percutaneous radiofrequency thermorhizotomy (TPRT) has an established place because of its safety in elderly patients, while microvascular decompression (MVD) has appeal in younger patients beause of its non-destructive nature and because it attacks what is believed to be the primary etiology of tic douloureux. Nevertheless, MVD is a successful operation only when true neurovascular conflict (NVC) is ascertained, rather than a simple arterial loop and neurovascular contract. Probably, many immediate failures and early relapses are the consequence of the inadequate patient selection for MVD on the presumption that this operation is in any case the ideal cure. The inadequate selection can be explained by the difficult preoperative diagnosis of NVC in the past. Indeed, angiography and computed tomography showed the neurovascular contact but not the size of compression. Fortunately, today magnetic resonance imaging is a reliable instrument to ascertain NVC. So, the diatribe between the supporters of percutaneous techniques and MVD can be concluded with the following: (1) percutaenous techniques are indicated for patients without demonstrated NVC (including patients with TN in multiple sclerosis) and in those with NVC if MVD is contraindicated by ill-health or refused by the informed patient; and (2) MVD is incated for patients with ascertained NVC who are in good health and who, informed of the surgical risk, favor this operation desiring no sensory deficit. Received: 23 June 2001 / Accepted in revised form: 24 August 2001     

Trigeminal amyloidoma: case report and review of the literature.

The authors present a case of amyloid infiltration involving the trigeminal nerve that mimicked a malignant cavernous sinus tumor with perineural tumor infiltration. A 64-year-old man presented with trigeminal nerve numbness. Imaging revealed a plaque-like enhancing lesion along the right lateral cavernous sinus extending anteriorly into Meckel's cave and involving the proximal V2 and V3 branches of the trigeminal nerve. The patient underwent an extradural frontotemporal craniotomy with middle fossa exposure of the cavernous sinus to diagnose and treat the presumed malignant cavernous sinus tumor. A reddish mass involving the lateral dural wall of the cavernous sinus was resected. The gasserian ganglion, V2, and V3, the latter of which was biopsied, were enlarged. Permanent histopathological studies showed microscopic eosinophilic, amorphous material, which stained positive for Congo red, and an absence of neoplastic cells. The final diagnosis was amyloidoma. Thus, amyloidomas can involve the trigeminal nerve or ganglia and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a cavernous sinus lesion mimicking a tumor. Patients may have symptomatic improvement of trigeminal neuropathy with resection of the amyloidoma outside the nerve capsule that is compressing the nerve, while resection of the lesion from within the capsule may result in permanent trigeminal nerve dysfunction.     

Somatosensory nuclei in the brainstem of the rat: independent projections to the thalamus and cerebellum

The dorsal column nuclei and the sensory trigeminal nuclei project not only to the ventrobasal thalamus but also to the cerebellum. In this study the numbers and distribution of neurones projecting to these two regions were examined for the following nuclei: the rostral part of the main cuneate nucleus, the external cuneate nucleus, nucleus x, the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, and the oral, interpolar, and caudal subnuclei of the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. A thalamic projection from nucleus x and from the external cuneate nucleus was confirmed, and a distinct group of neurones projecting to the ventroposteromedial thalamus was distinguished near the ventromedial aspect of the principal sensory nucleus. Of the 165,000 neurones examined, only one was found to be double labelled. It was concluded that the populations of neurones that project to the ventrobasal thalamus and to the cerebellum are separate, and that somatosensory neurones in the brainstem do not send axon collaterals to both regions.     

神经内结缔组织增生与三叉神经脱髓鞘的关系

目的探讨三叉神经痛（trigeminal neuralgia，TN）患者三叉神经患支内结缔组织改变与神经脱髓鞘的关系。方法对手术切取的TN患者三又神经患支标本及对照标本行髓鞘染色，在光镜及电镜下观察神经横截面形态改变，并采用图像分析仪进行半定量测量。结果形态观察及图像分析结果都显示TN患者三叉神经患支明显脱髓鞘，神经内结缔组织显著增生，F检验证实二者存在显著线性正相关。结论TN患者三叉神经惠支内神经内结缔组织增生，可能是TN发生的重要机制之一。     

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。     

经乙状窦后入路显微手术治疗继发性三叉神经痛37例

目的探讨经乙状窦后入路显微手术治疗桥小脑角占位性病变引起的继发性三叉神经痛的疗效。方法回顾分析我院2000年10月～2006年7月37例继发性三叉神经痛的临床资料，其中胆脂瘤18例，脑膜瘤8例，听神经瘤6例，三叉神经鞘瘤5例，均经乙状窦后入路显微手术切除肿瘤。结果肿瘤全切23例，次全切除10例，部分切除4例。35例疼痛症状消失（32例立即消失，3例术后2个月消失），随访3个月～5年无复发；2例无效。发生暂时性面瘫6例，面部麻木6例，无颅内感染及脑脊液漏。结论经乙状窦后入路显微手术是治疗继发性三叉神经痛安全有效的方法。     

原发性三叉神经痛的LEKSELL-C伽玛刀治疗

目的 探讨伽玛刀治疗原发性三叉神经痛的方法和效果.方法 对28例原发性三叉神经痛采用LEKSELL-C型伽玛刀治疗,均沿三叉神经走行在三叉神经根近桥脑处选择双靶点治疗.中心剂量75～85Gy,50%等剂量线限定靶点.结果 随访3～11个月,疼痛消失时间平均在术后3.5个月.按疼痛缓解评分,在随访时点,总有效率为96%.结论 LEKSELL-C型伽玛刀是治疗原发性三叉神经痛安全和有效的方法之一.