Brain impedance variation of directional leads implanted in subthalamic nuclei of Parkinsonian patients

ObjectiveConventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems with ring-shaped leads generate spherical electrical fields. In contrast, novel directional leads use segmented electrodes. Aim of this study was to quantify the impedance variations over time in subjects with the directional Cartesia-Boston® system.MethodsImpedance records, programming settings, and clinical data of 11 consecutive Parkinsonian patients implanted with DBS directional leads in two Italian centers (Udine and Vicenza) were retrospectively evaluated. Data were collected before starting stimulation (in the operating room and at days 5 and 40) and after switching stimulation on at the successive follow-up visits (1, 6 and 12 months).ResultsDirectional leads have significantly higher impedance than ring leads. Stimulated contacts had always lower impedance compared to non-stimulated contacts. Before DBS-on, all contacts had higher impedance in the operating room, with an initial decrease five days post-surgery and a subsequent increase at day 40, more evident for directional contacts. The impedance of directional leads increased post-implantation at 1 and 6 months with a plateau at 12 months.ConclusionsThere was a significant difference between the directional and ring leads at baseline (before activation of DBS) and during follow-up (chronic DBS).SignificanceOur study reveals new information about the impedance of segmented electrodes that is useful for patient management during the initial test period, as well as during long-term DBS follow-up.     

Cognition in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study of interval and continuous exercise

Objectives

The current study investigated the effects of two exercise interventions on cognitive function amongst breast cancer survivors.

Steep Decrease of Gender Difference in DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison of Two Nation-wide Surveys Conducted 10 Years Apart in Korea

While decreasing trend in gender differences in alcohol use disorders was reported in Western countries, the change in Asian countries is unknown. This study aims to explore the shifts in gender difference in alcohol abuse (AA) and dependence (AD) in Korea. We compared the data from two nation-wide community surveys to evaluate gender differences in lifetime AA and AD by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) were applied to all subjects in 2001 (n=6,220) and 2011 (n=6,022). Male-to-female ratio of odds was decreased from 6.41 (95% CI, 4.81-8.54) to 4.37 (95% CI, 3.35-5.71) for AA and from 3.75 (95% CI, 2.96-4.75) to 2.40 (95% CI, 1.80-3.19) for AD. Among those aged 18-29, gender gap even became statistically insignificant for AA (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.97-2.63) and AD (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.80-2.41) in 2011. Men generally showed decreased odds for AD (0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67) and women aged 30-39 showed increased odds for AA (2.13; 95% CI 1.18-3.84) in 2011 compared to 2001. Decreased AD in men and increased AA in women seem to contribute to the decrease of gender gap. Increased risk for AA in young women suggests needs for interventions.     

Endovascular deep brain stimulation: Investigating the relationship between vascular structures and deep brain stimulation targets

BackgroundEndovascular delivery of current using ‘stentrodes’ – electrode bearing stents – constitutes a potential alternative to conventional deep brain stimulation (DBS). The precise neuroanatomical relationships between DBS targets and the vascular system, however, are poorly characterized to date.ObjectiveTo establish the relationships between cerebrovascular system and DBS targets and investigate the feasibility of endovascular stimulation as an alternative to DBS.MethodsNeuroanatomical targets as employed during deep brain stimulation (anterior limb of the internal capsule, dentatorubrothalamic tract, fornix, globus pallidus pars interna, medial forebrain bundle, nucleus accumbens, pedunculopontine nucleus, subcallosal cingulate cortex, subthalamic nucleus, and ventral intermediate nucleus) were superimposed onto probabilistic vascular atlases obtained from 42 healthy individuals. Euclidian distances between targets and associated vessels were measured. To determine the electrical currents necessary to encapsulate the predefined neurosurgical targets and identify potentially side-effect inducing substrates, a preliminary volume of tissue activated (VTA) analysis was performed.ResultsSix out of ten DBS targets were deemed suitable for endovascular stimulation: medial forebrain bundle (vascular site: P1 segment of posterior cerebral artery), nucleus accumbens (vascular site: A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery), dentatorubrothalamic tract (vascular site: s2 segment of superior cerebellar artery), fornix (vascular site: internal cerebral vein), pedunculopontine nucleus (vascular site: lateral mesencephalic vein), and subcallosal cingulate cortex (vascular site: A2 segment of anterior cerebral artery). While VTAs effectively encapsulated mfb and NA at current thresholds of 3.5 V and 4.5 V respectively, incremental amplitude increases were required to effectively cover fornix, PPN and SCC target (mean voltage: 8.2 ± 4.8 V, range: 3.0–17.0 V). The side-effect profile associated with endovascular stimulation seems to be comparable to conventional lead implantation. Tailoring of targets towards vascular sites, however, may allow to reduce adverse effects, while maintaining the efficacy of neural entrainment within the target tissue.ConclusionsWhile several challenges remain at present, endovascular stimulation of select DBS targets seems feasible offering novel and exciting opportunities in the neuromodulation armamentarium.     

Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopical characterization of cerebrovascular and senile plaque amyloid in aged dogs'' brains

Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopical studies were carried out on 28 aged dogs' brains. Amyloid deposits were seen in the arteries and capillaries in the leptomeninges and in superficial areas of the cortices in 19 (67.9%) of the 28 dogs (10-22 years of age). Immunohistochemically, these amyloid deposits were reactive for anti-beta/A4 antibody. Additionally, a variable number of parenchymal deposits with diffuse beta/A4-immunoreactivity (diffuse plaques) was also noted throughout the cerebral cortex in 24/28 dogs (85.7%). However, these plaque lesions were undetectable in Congo red staining. Electron microscopically, amyloid fibrils, measuring 10 nm in width, were located mainly in the tunica media of the arteries, and in less involved vessels they tended to be present among collagen fibres in the adventitia and smooth muscle cells in the outer layer of the media. The plaque lesions appeared to contain sparse aggregations of amyloid fibrils. In immunoelectron microscopical examinations, all amyloid fibrils in both blood vessels and plaques were selectively labelled by gold particles. These findings indicate that aged dogs can provide a useful experimental model for research into the beta/A4-type of cerebral amyloidosis commonly seen in Alzheimer's disease.     

尼麦角林在脑血管病中的应用

尼麦角林是一种麦角生物碱衍生物，广泛应用于脑血管病患者认知障碍的治疗。多项临
床前研究显示，尼麦角林对于认知障碍的改善可能与以下因素有关：尼麦角林除能够改善脑循环，
促进神经递质释放外，还具有营养神经及抗氧化等作用。目前的研究认为，尼麦角林能够改善患者
卒中后抑郁相关的情绪障碍以及有效改善血管性痴呆，提高患者的日常生活能力。同时，尼麦角林具
有良好的安全性，目前暂无尼麦角林治疗导致纤维化或麦角中毒的研究报道。本文就尼麦角林在神
经系统的作用机制、临床疗效及安全性进行综述，以期为临床应用提供参考。     

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。     

利用圆形分布的统计方法分析急性脑梗死患者死亡时间昼夜节律特点

目的 回顾性分析64例急性脑梗死患者的死亡时间，探讨脑梗死患者死亡时间的昼夜节律变化的特点和规律，方法 分析64例死亡病例的临床资料，重点分析死亡时间，利用圆形分布的统计方法，计算出死亡高峰时刻和1天24小时内95％的死亡时间集中时段。结果 急性脑梗死患者的死亡高峰时刻为05：59：31，1天24小时内95％的死亡时间发生在01：04：23-10：54：39．结论 急性脑梗死患者的死亡时间有一定的昼夜节律分布的特点，清晨通常为死亡的高峰时段，与机体血栓性病理状态恶化或血压的昼夜波动有关，工作中应注意加强夜间和凌晨患者的管理和监测，必要时改变投药时间，最大限度地减少死亡率。     

新疆拜城县重病区与中病区内外环境无机元素含量的调查

本文于１９９３年４月调查了新疆拜城县重病区查尔齐农场中与中病区赛里木乡的饮水，土壤，粮食，学龄儿童头发中Ｚｎ，Ｃｕ，Ｍｎ，Ｃａ，Ｌｉ，Ｓｅ６种元素无机元素的含量。结果表明，重病区小麦中Ｃａ的含量显著高于中病区（Ｐ〈０．０５），重病区饮水及小麦中Ｍｎ的含量显著低于中病区（Ｐ〈０．０５）。这些结果揭示重病区查尔齐与中病区赛里木乡的病情相比较，除缺碘较为严重这一主要原因之外，高Ｃａ，低Ｍｎ也可能与查尔齐